Tuch is a much better player than CMM. We can agree to disagree if you feel otherwise.
Even if this is true, and it certainly could be, you would rather have the difference between CMM and Tuch as a benefit than to just add Tuch and have both of them?
And secondly, there's better and there's more valuable. So much of what CMM did during his long hot streak clearly wasn't a fluke because it relied on doing the right things -- chemistry with linemates, knowing where to go, fighting to get there, having the ability to capitalize. You can't fake most of that shit.
This doesn't mean that McMike is a superstar or equal to or better than Tuch, but he has another restricted contract ahead of him. We could lock him in to a number similar to what Tuch's is right now. Years of bang-for-your-buck goodness. There is tremendous value in that, especially with the cap going up significantly and reliably now and in the midst of building what could be a long-lasting playoff caliber roster, with or without Ovechkin.
You simply do not jettison an asset like that unless you absolutely have to, and I don't think the difference between McMike and Tuch is so profound that it's worth giving that up. Especially not in addition to a 1st and another prospect. Madness, that.
Also, I still don't think Buffalo trades Tuch. They will try to re-sign him first which they can't do until the summer.
Exactly. Might be fun to talk about, but the only trade rumors around Tuch in the last year were purely speculative, and that speculation almost entirely comes from fans assuming that organizations that players typically don't want to play for (Ottawa, Winnipeg, Buffalo, Columbus) only exist to trade their best players away and take on bad contracts.
Buffalo's a rejuvenated sports town with Allen making the Bills such a draw, and the Sabres have accumulated some talent to build around if they can hold on to it. Tuch is a real impact player that they've got locked in to a great number for another year. If they're serious about building a winner, moving Tuch makes no sense unless he's informed them already that there's a 0% chance he re-signs there, or someone offers them a bananas deal like what Ridley's willing to give (that the Caps absolutely would not).
The issue with Tuch for me is his next contract. I mean sure, it's great for 1½ seasons.
I think we could handle extending him if the ask was in line with his actual value. He's not a superstar, and won't become one this year. If he becomes one next year, at 30? He won't get top money if he gets top term, and vice versa. If his plan is to cash in for the max no matter what, he'd be crazy not to test free agency. But if he's realistic about signing a deal he can live up to, there's potentially a really good contract to be had there.
The question for me is whether there is or should be room for another wing here, because...
If CMM is the real deal like I think both he and Protas are and Leonard will be, where does Lappy fit. Especially if Crystal, Pro Jr., Miroshnichenko, Mateiko, and Parascak actually turn out to have more potential/higher ceilings.
...of this point. It's not crazy to think Lappy can get his shit together, Miro has shown real promise in his NHL stints, Leonard is clearly an NHLer, Cristall might be, and we've got a couple others with similar potential a couple years behind. The amount of cost-controlled years we'd have ahead of us on that many guys is something we could build a little dynasty around.
Even if none of them are superstars, we'd have a window where we could afford to bring a couple in (especially with Ovi's hit to spend), dealing away the overages for additional assets as they outgrow their cheap deals and we can no longer afford them.
Now this is clearly an "If Everything Goes Right" scenario, but a lot of these guys are genuinely showing that kind of promise. Absolutely deal one or two for the right acquisitions in the meantime if you must, but don't lose sight of the big picture. The Caps could be a strong, deep organization for years to come if we play these cards right.
The 3rd line is a glaring hole IMO in terms of having a Cup worthy roster.
I agree for the most part, but I don't think it'd take a Ridley Simon deal (CMM plus a first plus another prospect) to shore up that line. A center with an offensive gear could leverage the wing talent we already have (plus Leonard) down the stretch, and an impact wing wouldn't have to cost what Tuch would. Both might be had via relatively cheap rentals at the deadline. Might be a couple guys out there with trade clauses that could be waived to join a top contender for a couple months.
In any honest, neutral assessment of this roster is there a definite gaping hole?
I really don't think so. I don't think a "gaping" hole can be easily filled. Most of what we need could be easily remedied, in my opinion. If management sees holes, I don't think they'll have to overpay at the deadline to rent solutions. Just might not be the flashy types of upgrades some appear to want.
