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

[stephenball]

One of my favorite things about the Caps being so good at coming back in games this year is seeing the usual suspects talking about how bad we are early in GDT’s and then disappearing as the game turns in our favor and we win.

 

[Maruk moustache]

Aside from the very noticeable improvements of McMichael and Protas, my eyes tell me Sandin is way better right now than he was last year, both offensively and defensively. Early this season I was thinking about coming here to ask y'all if I was wrong to think that Sandin kinda sucks, and then I started seeing good things here and there at the beginning of the season, so I didn't. But I feel like he has been getting even better in front of my eyes as the season has rolled along. At this point I see a pretty valuable player really. To me, right now, he seems like the most improved.

 

[zappa4ever]

Capitals become the 3rd team in NHL history to earn wins in 9 consecutive road games all in regulation
(BUF 10W Dec 10 1983 to Jan 23 1984 and LAK 9W Oct 17 2023 to Nov 24 2023)

 

[Capsman]

Aside from the very noticeable improvements of McMichael and Protas, my eyes tell me Sandin is way better right now than he was last year, both offensively and defensively. Early this season I was thinking about coming here to ask y'all if I was wrong to think that Sandin kinda sucks, and then I started seeing good things here and there at the beginning of the season, so I didn't. But I feel like he has been getting even better in front of my eyes as the season has rolled along. At this point I see a pretty valuable player really. To me, right now, he seems like the most improved.

The eye test and +/- tells me he’s a better player. Once in a while he will make a really terrible play that leads to a scoring chance but overall driving play well.

 

[Monsterrain]

Aside from the very noticeable improvements of McMichael and Protas, my eyes tell me Sandin is way better right now than he was last year, both offensively and defensively. Early this season I was thinking about coming here to ask y'all if I was wrong to think that Sandin kinda sucks, and then I started seeing good things here and there at the beginning of the season, so I didn't. But I feel like he has been getting even better in front of my eyes as the season has rolled along. At this point I see a pretty valuable player really. To me, right now, he seems like the most improved.

I don’t think hes very good defensively. Good skater and can move the puck but he makes mistakes in the dzone.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Rangers tire fire continues to burn. Lose 2-1 at home to the worst team in the NHL

Oops - Wrong thread

 

[twabby]

Aside from the very noticeable improvements of McMichael and Protas, my eyes tell me Sandin is way better right now than he was last year, both offensively and defensively. Early this season I was thinking about coming here to ask y'all if I was wrong to think that Sandin kinda sucks, and then I started seeing good things here and there at the beginning of the season, so I didn't. But I feel like he has been getting even better in front of my eyes as the season has rolled along. At this point I see a pretty valuable player really. To me, right now, he seems like the most improved.

The numbers agree with you. He's been fantastic.

He's kind of taken over the Orlov role of being an even strength dynamo who excels in transition. I'd be interested in the microstats but I have to suspect he is their best exit and entry defenseman.

 

[Maruk moustache]

View attachment 942619

The numbers agree with you. He's been fantastic.

He's kind of taken over the Orlov role of being an even strength dynamo who excels transition. I'd be interested in the microstats but I have to suspect he is their best exit and entry defenseman.

Gosh. I have no idea how those stats work, but I don't not believe in it.

It is hard to believe that there is not some good coaching at the root of the improvement I have noticed in him and other returning players.

I hope Miro stays up here after Ovie returns. I don't know if that makes any sense really, but I got a good feeling about him too.

 

[Lou Sassole]

Gosh. I have no idea how those stats work, but I don't not believe in it.

It is hard to believe that there is not some good coaching at the root of the improvement I have noticed in him and other returning players.

I hope Miro stays up here after Ovie returns. I don't know if that makes any sense really, but I got a good feeling about him too.

He's been on the ice for more even strength goals than the entire Preds squad. So yeah, your eyes are seeing things clearly.

 

[DWGie26]

On PLD/Keumper trade. Right now we won. We’ll see how it plays out long term but no indication that our lead on trade will diminish.

On the management haters… I remember feeling like i was on an island with a couple of other supporters. The two differences are law of numbers catching up to hits, and coaching which enables the first. Mac has been awesome. now GMCP but Mac still around. I think one of the top five run franchises. Even throw Leonsis in there for winning his funding. Good for team.

Culture in our room is insane. I think that also comes from top down. hard to build a strong team when management sucks. When good, with right leaders, good shit happens. We have some great leaders in the room right now.

Sandin now playing at/above his contract. I thought we might have to move this with Chyrchun and Fever contracts coming up. Our defense is expensive but you get what you pay for!

 

[HTFN]

He's been on the ice for more even strength goals than the entire Preds squad. So yeah, your eyes are seeing things clearly.

f*** me, that’s wild.

I still have enough crow to feed them that I don’t feel bad about saying I was wrong for clowning on Twabby last year with that contract offer… provided this is who he keeps playing like.

Last year it’d still have been absolutely embarrassing but now he’s playing like a guy that justifies being paid, and that stat is just bananas.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

On PLD/Keumper trade. Right now we won. We’ll see how it plays out long term but no indication that our lead on trade will diminish.

On the management haters… I remember feeling like i was on an island with a couple of other supporters. The two differences are law of numbers catching up to hits, and coaching which enables the first. Mac has been awesome. now GMCP but Mac still around. I think one of the top five run franchises. Even throw Leonsis in there for winning his funding. Good for team.

Culture in our room is insane. I think that also comes from top down. hard to build a strong team when management sucks. When good, with right leaders, good shit happens. We have some great leaders in the room right now.

Sandin now playing at/above his contract. I thought we might have to move this with Chyrchun and Fever contracts coming up. Our defense is expensive but you get what you pay for!

Totally agree with this take. One factor that you mention but I'd underscore is coaching ... starting with Carbs and seemingly flowing through the entire staff and their respective roles. The front office acquires the ingredients but coaching has to blend them into a tasty dish. E.g., the PP started poorly but has righted, most likely due to coaches' tweaks and players' increasing comfort with and confidence in their mates. (Obv the PP has been somewhat better in Ovie's absence, but it had been improving before his injury.)

 

[Kolzilla]

On PLD/Keumper trade. Right now we won. We’ll see how it plays out long term but no indication that our lead on trade will diminish.

On the management haters… I remember feeling like i was on an island with a couple of other supporters. The two differences are law of numbers catching up to hits, and coaching which enables the first. Mac has been awesome. now GMCP but Mac still around. I think one of the top five run franchises. Even throw Leonsis in there for winning his funding. Good for team.

Culture in our room is insane. I think that also comes from top down. hard to build a strong team when management sucks. When good, with right leaders, good shit happens. We have some great leaders in the room right now.

Sandin now playing at/above his contract. I thought we might have to move this with Chyrchun and Fever contracts coming up. Our defense is expensive but you get what you pay for!

I'd say we have one of the best value defense squads in the NHL (our goaltending squad is def best value), despite being a slightly higher % of our total cap. Thank god we didn't give out $9+ million dollar contracts on ppl like Seth Jones, Darnell Nurse, etc. I totally agree with this entire rest of this post.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

On PLD/Keumper trade. Right now we won. We’ll see how it plays out long term but no indication that our lead on trade will diminish.

On the management haters… I remember feeling like i was on an island with a couple of other supporters. The two differences are law of numbers catching up to hits, and coaching which enables the first. Mac has been awesome. now GMCP but Mac still around. I think one of the top five run franchises. Even throw Leonsis in there for winning his funding. Good for team.

Culture in our room is insane. I think that also comes from top down. hard to build a strong team when management sucks. When good, with right leaders, good shit happens. We have some great leaders in the room right now.

Sandin now playing at/above his contract. I thought we might have to move this with Chyrchun and Fever contracts coming up. Our defense is expensive but you get what you pay for!

Before Ryan Leonard, the last time we drafted in the top 10 was 2007 (Alzner at 5th). GMBM and GMCP are proving that you don't have to completely tank to rebuild a team into a contender. They have a strategic plan and have made some very shrewd moves. Their formula for success seems to be:

* Avoid trading 1st round picks and find value in later round picks.
* Draft prospects they feel have been undervalued (like skating defiencies).
* Cook the prospects without rushing them on a very good development team (Hershey).
* Have a stable of cheap young players to save salary cap space and inject energy in the lineup.
* Find value free agents to plug smaller holes and avoid contracts that could become untradeable and put you into salary cap hell.
* Be willing to take chances on players who haven't worked out with other teams (Diamonds in the rough).
* Create and maintain a winning culture with the right mix of veterans and youth. Become a place where players want to go (and stay). Avoid acquiring players that disrupt chemistry.
* A coaching staff that develops a system to match the players and isn't afraid to give young players a chance to succeed.


I'm sure there's points that I forgot, but it's clear that the Caps have a very good strategic plan and have been able to rebuild the team successfully without having the luxery of high draft picks. Looking around the league, ther are so many teams that have stripped their rosters bare and all they have to show for it is a neverending rebuild. So glad we don't have to go through that.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Endorse all of the above.
Suggested add:
* When necessary, admit your mistakes (e.g., when you "take chances on players who haven't worked out with other teams"), cut your losses/preserve locker room culture/whatever, and move those players (like Panik & Mantha) when an acceptable arrangement can be made.

 

[qc14]

I'm sure there's points that I forgot, but it's clear that the Caps have a very good strategic plan and have been able to rebuild the team successfully without having the luxery of high draft picks. Looking around the league, ther are so many teams that have stripped their rosters bare and all they have to show for it is a neverending rebuild. So glad we don't have to go through that.

While I totally agree with this, 90% of chess is tactics and I think building a winning team is no different -- all of this great strategy wouldn't work out if they didn't have the great amateur and particularly pro scouting necessary to go out and execute the plan

 

[Marshall]

Caps fan Soul Balm

 

[twabby]

Tom Wilson will be a bubble boy for 4 weeks.

 

[Kazer]

Endorse all of the above.
Suggested add:
* When necessary, admit your mistakes (e.g., when you "take chances on players who haven't worked out with other teams"), cut your losses/preserve locker room culture/whatever, and move those players (like Panik & Mantha) when an acceptable arrangement can be made.

I will add one more of my own:

Patience. In a league where young players often do not thrive right away, the Caps have been rewarded for their patience with young players like McMichael, Protas, and Sandin. This patience needs to continue as the next generation comes up plus Lapierre right now. Player development is not linear.

 

[Calicaps]

Tom Wilson will be a bubble boy for 4 weeks.

Broken face. Score 2 for the win. A month in an aquarium mask. Will play as scheduled. WARRIOR