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

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Okay.

EP for Leonard, Lapierre and 1st., plus Mangiapane, Eller and Milano for cap reasons.

Yes?

Ovechkin-Strome-Protas
CMM-Dubois-Wilson
Miro-EP-Frank
Du-Do-Ra

Leonard on his rookie contract is going to be very valuable and he might already be better then EP

 

[Calicaps]

I think people act like the 2018 Cup team (and every Cup winner before and after) was simply the top player possible at each position, therefore they won the championship. Its an utter failure to understand team building and to understand that team chemistry trumps individual talent, all day long.

Teams that win the Cup are rarely the ones that make a big splash while in the presidents trophy race. They are the teams that come together with chemistry, and health, in the playoffs, despite a few seemingly weak spots in the lineup.

Who among you thought our 4th line, with DSP leading the way, would score so many key goals in the 2018 playoffs?

Have we learned nothing from our own history? Its not about protecting the nutz (prospects and picks). Its about protecting the chemistry that has this team playing well above the sum of its parts, which is usually what it takes to win a Cup anyway.

Best sports movie this side of Slapshot.

I agree that the big splashy rental trades are often the ones that fail. But I think that in many respects it's because those are trades for trades' sake. It's OH LOOK! We could get That Guy! Rather than we could really use a guy like this if we can find the right one. Those kinds of smart trades that upgrade without disrupting chemistry are possible and our management team is very good at it.

 

[Roshi]

I find the dichotomy of our predicament, amusing. Truly.

We have a team that is tied for #1 Overall in the league (and #2 in Goal Diff), and has scored the 2nd most GG in the league. All extremely positive signs that would scream “GO FOR IT!!”.

And we have a transcendent player that has just 1.5yrs left on a contract — where we should do all we can to get HIM (and US) our 2nd Cup!!

Yet we have posters that want to hoard nuts and are afraid of “the future”.

JFC people. Make this team as good as it can be, this year and next. Then see where you are.

Please STOP hoarding nuts!

NO ONE is advocating some stupid Erat type trade, so do not go there. But you need to give, to get.

Sudzalev or Muggli or “blank” plus a 2nd and Mangiapane (for salary) won’t get us dicksquat. It just won’t.

Do we want another Cup? Or do we simply want to worry about making the playoffs 4yrs from now?

SMH

Its not about hoarding nuts.

We already have the team to try and win it all with. We are at the top of the league and our depth is great.

STOP thinking about the nuts and just let these guys go for it.

Sure, give me someone like Marner or Rantanen. Go full all in for the next 1,5 years. But thats not the nuts that are in play. Thats Leonard/Hutson, the premium price. Its another debate.

Dont settle for less though. Something like trading a prospect like Cristall for some UFA-rental is a train wreck waiting to happen.

And to extend Mangiapane is not a hole, he is good player for his role and gelling with the team. With upside, yet. Why the f should we play with our nuts to upgrade him for someone, say Vatrano, who likely doesnt move the needle anywhere.

We are in position to just have faith with the team we have and try not to overthink it. Classic quote; ”sometimes the best trades are the ones that didnt happen”.

I like the splash as much as the other guy and even if trading for Mantha or Shattenkirk or even Erat didnt work out for us, it was ok because there was a timing to make those splashes then. This team isnt about making splashes though, im not seeing Shattenkirk-esquee trade really giving this team another edge.

And i understand this wasnt the point that you were making, just got carried away after first sentence

 

[Coldnwindy]

We could have used a bigger 3C scoring/playmaking threat than Eller, but what's done is done and I doubt the management is looking to upgrade this position now. I can't think of any other trade that would meaningfully upgrade this team for the playoffs at this point. Sometimes it's better to stay put than trade your nuts for the sake of trading nuts.

 

[Silky mitts]

I find the dichotomy of our predicament, amusing. Truly.

We have a team that is tied for #1 Overall in the league (and #2 in Goal Diff), and has scored the 2nd most GG in the league. All extremely positive signs that would scream “GO FOR IT!!”.

And we have a transcendent player that has just 1.5yrs left on a contract — where we should do all we can to get HIM (and US) our 2nd Cup!!

Yet we have posters that want to hoard nuts and are afraid of “the future”.

JFC people. Make this team as good as it can be, this year and next. Then see where you are.

Please STOP hoarding nuts!

NO ONE is advocating some stupid Erat type trade, so do not go there. But you need to give, to get.

Sudzalev or Muggli or “blank” plus a 2nd and Mangiapane (for salary) won’t get us dicksquat. It just won’t.

Do we want another Cup? Or do we simply want to worry about making the playoffs 4yrs from now?

SMH

If you were talking about a 1st, + for Rasmus Andersson I'd be into it - no one should be against trading for available RHD - but when you're talking about trading for Tuch or any big time forward, first you're either pushing CMM out of the top 6 or trading assets to bolster the 4th line for the regular season since you can presumably count on Lenny for the postseason, and second are you creating an obstacle to signing Lenny in April? And that's before you get into nuts.
I'd be into Marchand on principle of having the 2 most hated players in the league and he wouldn't cost Cristal but if CMM slides down for him, is it worth a potential chemistry hit?

 

[Ridley Simon]

Tuch isn't transcendent.

He's on pace for 27 goals and 59 points despite playing nearly 20 minutes a game (with a good amount of PP time) primarily with Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka (sometimes with McLeod at center when Thompson was injured and occasionally with Zucker as the other winger instead of Peterka).

So you're going to take that player and drop him onto our 3rd line with Eller and Frank/Miro/Vrana/Milano/Raddysh/Mango? How do you think that's going to impact his production and TOI?

If you want to upgrade the 3rd line, fine by me. But trading Cristall for Tuch is not the answer.

Also, everything kicksavedave just said. Best deadline we ever did was Kempny for a 3rd and Jerabek for a 5th.

LOL dude. My comment about a transcendent player was for …..

OVECHKIN.

OUR transcriber player. Not some trade pic up (as you’ve alluded to, I like Tuch … but he’s no more transcendent than I am)

PROTECT THE NUTZ

Protect your own Nutz, my man

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Okay.

EP for Leonard, Lapierre and 1st., plus Mangiapane, Eller and Milano for cap reasons.

Yes?

Ovechkin-Strome-Protas
CMM-Dubois-Wilson
Miro-EP-Frank
Du-Do-Ra

I’m not acquiring EP for him to be 3C. Do not like as constructed.

I’m not gutting my team to make an upgrade.

As @Langway said, just continue to be bold and explore options. The big splashy trade just might not be there this year.

 

[PlushMinus]

PROTECT THE NUTZ

Thankfully our Caps board has less nuts to hoard than some of the others - Pens, Rags, Leafs spring to mind

Edit: after reading further and seeing some of the trade discussions, perhaps we DO have a lot of nuts in here!

 

[Ridley Simon]

If you were talking about a 1st, + for Rasmus Andersson I'd be into it - no one should be against trading for available RHD - but when you're talking about trading for Tuch or any big time forward, first you're either pushing CMM out of the top 6 or trading assets to bolster the 4th line for the regular season since you can presumably count on Lenny for the postseason, and second are you creating an obstacle to signing Lenny in April? And that's before you get into nuts.
I'd be into Marchand on principle of having the 2 most hated players in the league and he wouldn't cost Cristal but if CMM slides down for him, is it worth a potential chemistry hit?

CMM or Vrana or Mangiapane or Eller or whomever haven’t yet earned anything on this years team.

Do we want to win the Cup?

Do we???

Or do we just want to insulate our players from some bad feelings, and ensure everyone is happy. While we lose on the first/second round again?

I don’t care about Leonard. He had a chance to come last year and help this team. He decided it was “right” for him. OK Then Bud.

But he loses any slots. If he comes and wins one, then Greeaaaattttt. But Jesus.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

We could have used a bigger 3C scoring/playmaking threat than Eller, but what's done is done and I doubt the management is looking to upgrade this position now. I can't think of any other trade that would meaningfully upgrade this team for the playoffs at this point. Sometimes it's better to stay put than trade your nuts for the sake of trading nuts.

Here we go again..

 

[Forsbergaura21]

Frank - how has he played so far? Is he likely to stick with Caps for rest of the season?


Thanks

 

[wickedwitch]

Frank - how has he played so far? Is he likely to stick with Caps for rest of the season?


Thanks

He's played very well, but my guess is he gets sent down when Milano gets back (probably within the next 2 weeks).

 

[Langway]

As @Langway said, just continue to be bold and explore options. The big splashy trade just might not be there this year.

Another consideration, for now at least, also needs to be that they need to get Chychrun and Thompson extended. It's difficult to say structurally whether that could be jeopardized should they acquire a non-rental at the deadline. Anything coming in would need to be offset via subtractions, more than likely Mangiapane. But while those two situations are unresolved I'm not sure I'd further commit to someone non-exceptional up front instead. Doesn't mean they can't sign them eventually--perhaps even before the deadline--but for now it remains a complication when it comes to structural planning.

You'd think Chychrun should be the easier situation. Giving him something closer to max term shouldn't be too difficult. But with the way Thompson is playing...he's holding a lot of cards. Hopefully he considers the fit and is amenable to something that doesn't put the team over a barrel and esp. doesn't shoot for the moon on term.

 

[notDkristich]

He's played very well, but my guess is he gets sent down when Milano gets back (probably within the next 2 weeks).

I could see a possibility of him staying up if he stays hot. I don't think Milano (Sprong 2.0) will solve the 3rd line 'woes'

 

[895]

Apparently our target is Yanni Gourde

I don’t hate it and it’s a classic caps move. Mid round pick for 2nd/3rd liner.

Only thing is he apparently hasn’t played centre for a long time according to Krackheads. So… could be another not what we need at 3c scenario.

 

[Silky mitts]

CMM or Vrana or Mangiapane or Eller or whomever haven’t yet earned anything on this years team.

Do we want to win the Cup?

Do we???

Or do we just want to insulate our players from some bad feelings, and ensure everyone is happy. While we lose on the first/second round again?

I don’t care about Leonard. He had a chance to come last year and help this team. He decided it was “right” for him. OK Then Bud.

But he loses any slots. If he comes and wins one, then Greeaaaattttt. But Jesus.

OK so your premise is that we’ve got to upgrade on CMM in the top 6 to give us the best chance of winning the cup, even if we lose the trade? After GMBM goes on a Dinaggio like streak pummeling teams in trades - how far back do you have to go to find a trade you didn’t like and/or didn’t work out - you want the new front office to break years of tendencies and go all in on one guy like they did with Shattenkirk?
Seeing what the front office has done with picks has conditioned me to hoard nuts, when you say “do we want to win the cup?” the reason it’s plausible was getting more than seemed possible for 3rds last offseason, imagine the ask for a 1st or Cristal when they settled on Jensen and a 3rd for Chychrun.

 

[g00n]

Don't care as long as the net gain to chemistry is neutral or positive.

 

[Caps8112]

I find the dichotomy of our predicament, amusing. Truly.

We have a team that is tied for #1 Overall in the league (and #2 in Goal Diff), and has scored the 2nd most GG in the league. All extremely positive signs that would scream “GO FOR IT!!”.

And we have a transcendent player that has just 1.5yrs left on a contract — where we should do all we can to get HIM (and US) our 2nd Cup!!

Yet we have posters that want to hoard nuts and are afraid of “the future”.

JFC people. Make this team as good as it can be, this year and next. Then see where you are.

Please STOP hoarding nuts!

NO ONE is advocating some stupid Erat type trade, so do not go there. But you need to give, to get.

Sudzalev or Muggli or “blank” plus a 2nd and Mangiapane (for salary) won’t get us dicksquat. It just won’t.

Do we want another Cup? Or do we simply want to worry about making the playoffs 4yrs from now?

SMH

All for trying to win but who would you replace and who is even available to acquire that moves them above first place.

 

[kicksavedave]

Watching Miracle recently?

Constantly!

 

[marcel snapshot]

My periodic reminder that the year we won the Cup our sole deadline addition was Michael Kempny for a 3rd round pick. It was not splashy. But it was highly effective

 

[Devil Dancer]

My periodic reminder that the year we won the Cup our sole deadline addition was Michael Kempny for a 3rd round pick. It was not splashy. But it was highly effective

They brought in another D at the same time whose name escapes me. I think he played the first game or two against CBJ and then was never heard from again.

I remember thinking he would be better than Kempny from early appearances.

 

[twabby]

My periodic reminder that the year we won the Cup our sole deadline addition was Michael Kempny for a 3rd round pick. It was not splashy. But it was highly effective

How soon we forget Jakub Jerabek. The glue.

 

[wickedwitch]

What's up with Chychrun's terrible analytics? His underlying numbers are some of the worst on the team despite getting very favorable zone starts. Obviously, his shot is excellent, but I genuinely don't know to what extent it makes up for his issues.

(I've been wanting to ask this for a while, but I wanted to save this question until after a good win, so it didn't look like it was merely a reaction to a bad game or a loss.)

 

[Melkor]

Pettersson is not a good fit on this team, I don't know why is he constantly brought back into this conversation. I'm not moving PLD on the wing to make a room for EP at C and not investing almost 30 a year in the C position by acquiring him, that's just being stupid with your money.

You go for a C right now only if he makes sense in terms of money and quality. I support the sentiment that if there's a clear upgrade on the table you take it and run and give no shits about losing some picks/prospects. But it has to be a CLEAR upgrade, I mean it has to be clear for everybody involved. If you're spending you better not miss.

 

[Jags]

CMM or Vrana or Mangiapane or Eller or whomever haven’t yet earned anything on this years team.

Do we want to win the Cup?

Advising caution in any trade talk when you're already a league-leading team who has played half the year strong in every phase with no glaring weaknesses? That's just smart.

Show me the squeaky wheels. Our top 6 clicks, our fourth line is the best in the league, Eller can't leverage wing talent, and no one sane wants to f*** with our defense. Is there a difference-making keeper available? What wing on the market upgrades what we have? You could upgrade Eller, but he moves the needle everywhere but the scoreboard, so again, gotta be cautious.

52 days to the trade deadline. We'll see where we stand and what kind of talent shakes loose then. But with all the talk about how high the cap could jump this year, I'd expect slim pickins this TDL. GMs might have serious room to keep literally anyone willing to stay put.

So yeah, right now it kinda feels like folks advocating for trades just because. I'm always all for a good trade, but with the team playing the way they are and the lean market, what even is a "good trade" for us at the moment? Do you have something specific in mind?