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

[CapitalsCupReality]

Just to make sure I'm reading this correctly: after finally succesfully retooling we are seriously in debate of giving up multiple great prospects for a player from Buffalo who is a UFA at the end of the season.

Just double checking to make sure we are somehow still not scarred from Forsberg for Erat. Personally I'm not trading Cristall, CMM, or Parascak for anybody. At the same time it's cool to see that the pipeline is deep enough for anybody in the fanbase to even seriously consider the merits of this.

I would think between

Elder Protas
Lil Protas
Leonard
Cristall
Parascak
Frank
McMichael
Lapierre
Miroschnichenko

Mateiko and Thomas are a big stretch to throw in that category but...

There's got to be at least 1 superstar and another first line talent in that group. I honestly feel like it will just be entertaining and delightful to see who it is and how many there end up being.

Sidenote at what point do we consider Protas and CMM potentially bonafide first line caliber players? (Both still pacing for 30+ goals

Superstar?!? No…don’t see it. Some perennial all star level players…hopefully…

 

[Ridley Simon]

Hold on how are you putting CMM on the same tier of Lappy, Fever, TVR, etc.

CMM himself holds more value than Tuch. The others sure. Trade them.

CMM has more value than Tuch? Wow, no way that flies in the general hockey public.

I like CMM. Quite a bit, but he’s done for 40 games (while tailing off ATM), what Tuch has done for the past 3.5 seasons.

Yeah, Tuch is older, but they are simply not the same player, for the next 2 yrs (Ovy’s window). Tuch is much better.

 

[Ridley Simon]

If they suck ass and need more good players, why would they choose to trade one of their best players for assets that might become good players? It's like the boat / magic box scenario from Family Guy.

The only way Tuch is moved, in my opinion, is if he tells them he's not re-signing after next season. It's far more likely they try and do a reverse Bowem/Middlestadt and look to trade one of their many LHD for a top six forward.

If you look at Buffalo's roster, I think Tuch is probably top two or three of their least likely players to move along with Dahlin and Thompson.

I have been wrong before and will be wrong again, but there'd be added sting to trading Tuch because he was the centerpiece around the Eichel deal. Fans are already ready to mutiny, trading a fan favorite and saying we hope this will help us get better in year 14 of our rebuild isn't going to go over well in or out of the locker room.

Fair enough.

The thought process is that Tuch has 2yrs left on his contract. He will be 30 at the end his current contract.

Currently they have 4 players signed long term for north of 7m (7m, 7.5m, 8.3m, and 11+m). That’s not counting Byram who is an RFA coming off a 3.75m deal. They have other youngsters who will be RFA’s before Tuch is an FA (Peterka and Benson).

They aren’t making the playoffs this year. They haven’t in a gazillion years.

So why would he sign there again, and do they even want to pay a 30yr PF a lot of coin, with all of their youth signed or needing to be signed?

Anyway. Now is the time to deal him, were I in their shoes.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Just to make sure I'm reading this correctly: after finally succesfully retooling we are seriously in debate of giving up multiple great prospects for a player from Buffalo who is a UFA at the end of the season.

Just double checking to make sure we are somehow still not scarred from Forsberg for Erat. Personally I'm not trading Cristall, CMM, or Parascak for anybody. At the same time it's cool to see that the pipeline is deep enough for anybody in the fanbase to even seriously consider the merits of this.

I would think between

Elder Protas
Lil Protas
Leonard
Cristall
Parascak
Frank
McMichael
Lapierre
Miroschnichenko

Mateiko and Thomas are a big stretch to throw in that category but...

There's got to be at least 1 superstar and another first line talent in that group. I honestly feel like it will just be entertaining and delightful to see who it is and how many there end up being.

Absolutely agree here. I'm also surprised to see many of the very smart and reasonable posters on here so quick to move assets for a "star", will just have to.agree to disagree on this one. We have so much potential, and many potential stars - and so many opportunities for surprise synergies when Leonard and others get here.

No moves please.

Unless Shattenkirk is available, of course.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Contrary to the prior conclusion, if the team really does 'suck ass', then adding Tuch isn't going to change that so why bother mortgaging the future?

FWIW, I'd love to add Tuch but not at the cost of Cristall.

Buffalo sucks ass.

Not Washington.

So you have confused me

 

[Ridley Simon]

Just to make sure I'm reading this correctly: after finally succesfully retooling we are seriously in debate of giving up multiple great prospects for a player from Buffalo who is a UFA at the end of the season.

Just double checking to make sure we are somehow still not scarred from Forsberg for Erat. Personally I'm not trading Cristall, CMM, or Parascak for anybody. At the same time it's cool to see that the pipeline is deep enough for anybody in the fanbase to even seriously consider the merits of this.

I would think between

Elder Protas
Lil Protas
Leonard
Cristall
Parascak
Frank
McMichael
Lapierre
Miroschnichenko

Mateiko and Thomas are a big stretch to throw in that category but...

There's got to be at least 1 superstar and another first line talent in that group. I honestly feel like it will just be entertaining and delightful to see who it is and how many there end up being.

Sidenote at what point do we consider Protas and CMM potentially bonafide first line caliber players? (Both still pacing for 30+ goals

Good Sir —

Tuch isn’t an FA after this season. So, your entire premise is flawed.

 

[zappa4ever]

The bad: we're not playing 2 good games in a row
The good: we're not playing 2 bad games in a row
The bad: 8 road gms incl 5 in a row w/only 5 home gms until 4Nation break
The good: it comes with a free frogurt!

Hope Carbs/team can solve their Potassium Benzoate problem and get back on track

Feels a lot like Lavi-era when D pinched all the time and gave up odd-man rushes on the reg

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

If were going to fleece Buffalo why not go for Tage?

 

[stephenball]

I think Tuch is a great player and would fit in on the Caps extremely well, I just don’t know about paying the hefty price he would demand even if the Sabres want to move him which I feel like they don’t.

 

[wickedwitch]

If were going to fleece Buffalo why not go for Tage?

Heck, if we're talking about imaginary trades with Buffalo, I want Dahlin over Tage Thompson or Tuch.

 

[DWGie26]

Absolutely agree here. I'm also surprised to see many of the very smart and reasonable posters on here so quick to move assets for a "star", will just have to.agree to disagree on this one. We have so much potential, and many potential stars - and so many opportunities for surprise synergies when Leonard and others get here.

No moves please.

Unless Shattenkirk is available, of course.

I think the feeling of trading for high impact star has risen because (a) we have a legit open window at cup with OV for two years and (b) we have a great pool of prospects and draft collateral.

Not all of our prospects will be able to crack our roster which is young and talented. So moving out a promising piece for a known star is a viable move right now.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[hb13xchamps]

Shep officially recalled. Looks like he’ll be there for the week at least. Lindgren probably has a concussion.

It is a little worrisome that the concussion spotters allowed him to continue playing after taking the elbow to the head and then hitting his head off the post on the way down. That seems like an easy decision to send him to protocol, especially with how dazed he looked. Do goalies have a different set of rules compared to skaters?

 

[Melkor]

If were going to fleece Buffalo why not go for Tage?

Funny enough, Caps could have gotten Tage for free in his draft year, he was right there when they were on the clock but they traded down and took Lucas Johansen lol.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Acquire a new 3C and/or LW stat. Thank you.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

It is a little worrisome that the concussion spotters allowed him to continue playing after taking the elbow to the head and then hitting his head off the post on the way down. That seems like an easy decision to send him to protocol, especially with how dazed he looked. Do goalies have a different set of rules compared to skaters?

My initial real-time take was he was OUT for a couple of seconds. I was surprised the sitters were slow on this.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Going through this malaise and still being No. 1 in the conference is telling.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

 

[Agent37]

Is it really necessary to shuffle everything? That being said I guess they have to try something. They have not been playing great hockey recently

 

[Holtbyisms]

Like to see 16 and 88 swap but other than that not bad.

 

[Kazer]

Like to see 16 and 88 swap but other than that not bad.

I disagree - Mango seems to have really found a home on the 4th line and Raddysh - Eller - Frank has been effective so far.

I don't think that 3rd line is sustainable. Having said that, I'd love to be wrong, and I'd give them some rope to prove it.

I don't love the D-pairings though (mostly Fehervary - Roy). I would like to see Sandin back with Roy and Fehervary back with Carlson. Chychrun - TvR is fine.

 

[um]

Like to see 16 and 88 swap but other than that not bad.

88 looks way better on the “4th line”.

 

[Holtbyisms]

88 looks way better on the “4th line”.

Dowd makes all of his wingers look good, he almost always has. That's what makes him one of the best 4th line centers in the league. No matter who flanks him the 4th line has always been good and he's the one constant. Mangiapane is better utilized in a scoring roll. That third line needs to be offensively oriented and the 4th line needs heavy lifting in the D zone and late in games to close leads out come playoff time.

 

[Monsterrain]

I disagree - Mango seems to have really found a home on the 4th line and Raddysh - Eller - Frank has been effective so far.

I don't think that 3rd line is sustainable. Having said that, I'd love to be wrong, and I'd give them some rope to prove it.

I don't love the D-pairings though (mostly Fehervary - Roy). I would like to see Sandin back with Roy and Fehervary back with Carlson. Chychrun - TvR is fine.

I dont like the 38/74 combo. Too many defensive lapses between them.

 

[um]

Dowd makes all of his wingers look good, he almost always has. That's what makes him one of the best 4th line centers in the league. No matter who flanks him the 4th line has always been good and he's the one constant. Mangiapane is better utilized in a scoring roll. That third line needs to be offensively oriented and the 4th line needs heavy lifting in the D zone and late in games to close leads out come playoff time.

Our 4th line is our 3rd line and I trust Mangiapane as much as Raddyish if they’re a defensive minded 3rd line.

I don’t consider either defensive studs. I’m
curious what the fancies would say.

The eye test tells me Mangiapane brings more than Raddyish to that line. Raddyish goes quiet for stretches, while Mangiapane brings more speed and quickness that the line needs. It is a small sample size of course.