Speculation: Caps Roster General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines/etc) | 2024-25 Summer Edition

[HTFN]

He needs to earn that, though, and it's not like his current role hasn't been super insulated. If he can't show much of a spark in easy minutes he doesn't deserve better linemates. Being outplayed by Sgarbossa isn't a great look. I don't think his struggle are on anything more than him. It's not linemates, it's not the role, it's not the staff. He showed up expecting it to be easy it seems. Who knows what the deal is but I'm confident the staff will make the right call with him.

Maybe they'd regret dealing him. I wouldn't rush to throw him overboard or anything but for the right type of return (ideally a cheap quality RD or goalie prospect) I'd definitely consider it. Unlike with McMichael or Protas it's not like skating is the main issue. His skating is just fine. It's the strength and perhaps also the toolbox in being able to effectively simplify and win just enough battles to be effective. With so many wingers on the way the clock is definitely ticking if he doesn't start becoming a more formidable battler if nothing else.

I don't think it's the minutes, I think it's the mentality. Might even just be as simple as who he's playing with, we could have just seen chemistry with somebody like Protas last year and not fully identified what's going on. I just saw him pretty comprehensively better (and way more natural, even backchecking) when he was being asked to fly and create for the guy in Ovechkin.

I couldn't tell you what he's being asked to do right now, to be fair, but the most familiar refrain for guys with minutes like these is to simplify and not lose ground in the bigger territory war and I'm just not sure if that mentality fits for who he is as a player. Simplify, sure, could always use a bit of that, but I don't think it's in his developmental interest to put him in a limited place that magnifies mistakes and provides limited opportunity and touches to negate that.

No doubt, you'd like that to be earned. I'm in agreement and said it's not really worthy of promotion on paper based on the results... but there's a non-zero chance this is our square peg/round hole guy on the roster right now.

 

[895]

Do we really think rookie Leonard is going to be better than Mangiapane at 3RW?

I highly doubt it.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Do we really think rookie Leonard is going to be better than Mangiapane at 3RW?

I highly doubt it.

I wouldnt be so sure he comes to the Caps this season. Thats still a big IF until he states hes going pro.

Lets hope he wins the Champ and can leave on top this year.

 

[Hivemind]

Do we really think rookie Leonard is going to be better than Mangiapane at 3RW?

I highly doubt it.

If Leonard goes pro, the concept is he attempts to earn 3RW while Mangiapane shifts to 3LW.

 

[qc14]

I don't think it's the minutes, I think it's the mentality. Might even just be as simple as who he's playing with, we could have just seen chemistry with somebody like Protas last year and not fully identified what's going on. I just saw him pretty comprehensively better (and way more natural, even backchecking) when he was being asked to fly and create for the guy in Ovechkin.

I couldn't tell you what he's being asked to do right now, to be fair, but the most familiar refrain for guys with minutes like these is to simplify and not lose ground in the bigger territory war and I'm just not sure if that mentality fits for who he is as a player. Simplify, sure, could always use a bit of that, but I don't think it's in his developmental interest to put him in a limited place that magnifies mistakes and provides limited opportunity and touches to negate that.

No doubt, you'd like that to be earned. I'm in agreement and said it's not really worthy of promotion on paper based on the results... but there's a non-zero chance this is our square peg/round hole guy on the roster right now.

My reasons Lappy is struggling, in order

1) he's 22yo and played 96 total games last season
2) Vrana (and Milano to a lesser extent) are doing that line no favors in d-zone coverage
3) he himself is already not a great in-zone defender
4) he's been pretty unlucky to not have more points (3.7% oISH%!!!!!), which both changes outside perception and affects #5
5) he's lost a lot of confidence and in his own head

Going to Hershey probably helps with 4 and 5, but does nothing about 2 and is probably actively harmful on 1 and 3. At a certain point, it's not developmentally better to go back to what's comfortable and easy and I think Lappy has earned the right to be past that point, especially when I think it's still pretty clear he's one of the 13 best forwards under contract.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

With Eller on board they can afford to be patient with Lappy either at the NHL or AHL level. He's clearly struggling, and he's been vocal about being his own worst enemy and getting inside his head too often. I don't think they need to trade him but this relieves the pressure of having to perform at a certain level. Think this can definitely be a positive for his development if all parties take the right approach.

Scarbs is a nice fill-in but not a 3C on a contender. Moving CMM or Pro to 3C and breaking up two great lines to fix a bottom six line is an unnecessary risk.

Non-zero possibility, as @HTFN said, that Lapierre is this year's version of Burakovsky a few years ago when the team traded for top six help (PLD <--> Oshie) and he was beat out of a top six role by a fellow prospect (CMM <--> Vrana) and is left without a clear fit on the team.

I also don't think they should be in a hurry to trade him. McMike was rumored to be surplus to requirements and evidently was a part of trade talks this summer between Winnipeg and Washington before cementing himself now as someone who is not available and is considered a core piece moving forward.

 

[caps4cup]

Do we really think rookie Leonard is going to be better than Mangiapane at 3RW?

I highly doubt it.

I’m not sure Leonard would be better than Miroshnichenko. I would doubt it to be honest.

Last year on the Caps, among semi regular forwards, he was 3rd in xG% (behind Strome and Mantha), 2nd in xGF/60% (Strome), 3rd in Shots/60 (Pacioretty and Ovechkin), and 1st in ixG/60. His finishing ability has been a lot better in the AHL this year and if he scored 2/3 more goals last year in his NHL stint, I’m not sure he doesn’t start the season penciled into the lineup. He’s a point per game player in the AHL as a 20 year old and like Leonard, plays a heavier game than you would think based off his size. Either of them would seemingly be a great stylistic fit with Mangiapane and Eller.

 

[Random schmoe]

"Jakub Vrana and Dylan McIlrath are here to stay, as the Capitals told both to find places to stay after a couple of months of hotel living."

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/news/washington-capitals-vrana-mcilrath-hotel-upgrade-permanent-place

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856792874374828497