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

[CapitalsCupReality]

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?

But that’s not what’s happening….nuts are just being hoarded. There no cautioning, just shutting down the idea of upgrading any of our weak spots. The discussion of upgrading those spots is not just advocating trades just because…

And if you think this team has no glaring spots that could be upgraded….I mean come on.

All along I’ve said I only expect depth adds, but I hope they’re staying aggressive and always looking for meaningful upgrades where it makes sense.

 

[Ridley Simon]

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?

I’ve mentioned specific players a few times.

I thought Brady Tkachuk would be a huge target. BUT, the Sens are winning and may eke out their first playoff spot in years. So I am sure he’s not available.

I think Alex Tuch would be a great add. I know he’d be expensive. He’s been someone I’ve trumpeted. Would be really good on this team.

I like Anders Lee a lot. As well as Brock Nelson. Either would add a LOT of scoring depth for the playoffs.

I liked Michael Granlund, before we got Eller. I think he’d be very useful for the top 9.

As you can see, I don’t want to screw w the defense. I think they need another top 9F.

But I’m a heathen for wanting to add to Ovy’s best chance since 2018. And possibly last best chance. Things have broken right so far. Not every year goes that way.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Extend LT. Like now.

 

[Jags]

And if you think this team has no glaring spots that could be upgraded….I mean come on.

We'd all like to conjure an upgrade in goal, but that's what we'd have to do. Not likely to be one available that's significantly better than what we have.

The third line is what it is offensively with Eller at pivot, and it's a tradeoff they seem to be okay with because of what else he brings. If they're willing to upgrade that spot (and actually pull it off) then yeah, we could maybe find a C that has that gear AND make a deal for a wing to seize the spot no one else has been able to all year.

But that's a lot of ifs and maybes, and you can't really do one without the other because Eller is where wing offense goes to die. The only wing to ever thrive by his side was Connolly, and that dude was opportunistic in a way that defied Eller's lack of offensive awareness. Maybe find his clone?

I wouldn't call those glaring spots, but you do you.

All along I’ve said I only expect depth adds, but I hope they’re staying aggressive and always looking for meaningful upgrades where it makes sense.

Our management staff always does this, and I'm sure they try to even when nothing much comes of it. A lack of pursuit of meaningful upgrades hasn't been an issue for our GM staff since BMac took over. I guess we'll see if it continues. Fingers crossed.

But I’m a heathen for wanting to add to Ovy’s best chance since 2018. And possibly last best chance

No one said anything like that. You're just coming on awfully strong, asking us if we want to win a Cup like anyone's saying anything that runs contrary to that goal, two months ahead of the TDL, about a team in first place that's playing as complete a game as this franchise has since their Cup run.

Do we want to win a Cup? CMM hasn't earned anything? You're proselytizing to folks that don't need converting. We're on board. You're antsy for no reason. 51 days to go. Take a deep breath.

Things have broken right so far. Not every year goes that way.

"A new pilot will fly into cloud cover. There’ll be no visibility. And they’ll check their gauges, they’ll look at the artificial horizon, it’ll show them level, but they won’t trust it. So, they’ll make an adjustment and then another and another… The number of new pilots who fly out of clouds completely upside-down would knock you out."

-- Senator Howard Stackhouse, The West Wing


No reason to look up all day, waiting for the sky to fall, Rid. Let time and circumstance determine our needs ahead of the deadline. Management is keenly aware of our situation, and I'm sure they have their ears to the ground. You're coming off like they've got a track record of pissing away golden opportunities. Just ain't so.