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

[Langway]

Yeah big pass on the tumor that is JT Miller.

 

[Silky mitts]

That would be hilarious if they traded for JT Miller to create the situation LAK had with PLD

 

[Nogatco Rd]

How are people feeling about this Sandin / Carlson top pairing? Particularly as compared to Fehervary/Carlson?

 

[Agent37]

Who was acquired how? A successful trade!

Became an instant core piece and integral to winning the Cup. I think Rids is envisioning a similar impact with this acquisition. Players do tend to do well here after moving on from worse franchises, so that’s what you would hope to replicate with a Tuch add.

If he’s back to 30g, 70+ points for the next handful of years…..that’s enticing.

Hmm... When you put it like that I better understand where Rid is coming from. I do see the appeal there. I still stand by my point that I wouldn't give up CMM. I mean I'm of the stance that we should hoard all the major nuts for now, anything 2nd round draft pick+ aside. We still don't fully know how he'll pan out, if the beginnning of the year was a one time thing or a flash of what could be consistent in his future). It's a very interesting discussion when you put it like that. It's an interesting spot figuring out what this organization will be like on wing in a few years with Wilson, Cristall, Miro, Leonard, Parascak, (CMM & Aleksei Protas if neither are moved to center), Ilya Protas, Frank, etc. We'll see what happens with the roster.

How are people feeling about this Sandin / Carlson top pairing? Particularly as compared to Fehervary/Carlson?

We'll have to see how it pans out as far as how well they defend together.

 

[um]

How are people feeling about this Sandin / Carlson top pairing? Particularly as compared to Fehervary/Carlson?

Not big on it. Not big on Fever-Roy either.

It's not just the media. A former teammate recently said he thought Miller was too hard on EP. Boudreau has also confirmed it.

Boudreau would have some good intel on the Canucks. Could give us an advantage.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Hes scoring tonight

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Decent chance this is a preview of the first round.

Thompson in net tonight I’m assuming?

 

[alphabetical]

I see a lot of proposed trade targets in here that are past their prime (tuch included), and I hope management doesn't try to chase success acquiring depreciating assets. I doubt they will, given their recent track record.

I'd like to see frank get some more time on the third line to see how he fits in. Adding speed is always a good thing, and that guy's got one hell of a shot, too. He could be the piece that completes that line, but only time will tell.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I see a lot of proposed trade targets in here that are past their prime (tuch included), and I hope management doesn't try to chase success acquiring depreciating assets. I doubt they will, given their recent track record.

I'd like to see frank get some more time on the third line to see how he fits in. Adding speed is always a good thing, and that guy's got one hell of a shot, too. He could be the piece that completes that line, but only time will tell.

Care to take a guess how old Oshie was when acquired?

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Why is the game thread closed?

 

[Neil Racki]

I love that on purpose hard wide shot as an entry zone play

 

[Langway]

Logan Thompson Bacon Savior.

 

[itsjustsurvival]

Logan Thompson Bacon Savior.

Seriously.

 

[DWGie26]

the few years caps have been great at drafting, developing prospects, developing hi potential cast offs. I think they have a forumula for what they are looking for and it is someone with 200+ (maybe now 300) games played, 27 or younger, sturdy, and leadership tenants.

The Caps have several NHL ready now or within a year guys. There could be some gems in there so if you are going to make an impact trade it needs to be a top 6 guy and probably a LW that fits the above. If you can’t find that guy with the right dance partner I don’t think you make a move other than a depth rental.

I’d spend to get a top 6. Would be fine sitting pat.

 

[usiel]

I've been ready for a Caps change at the TV announcing level but get well Laughlin.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/01/16/craig-laughlin-washington-capitals-heart-surgery/

So here’s the hiccup: Saturday’s game against the Penguins will be Laughlin’s last for a bit. The short version: He has some heart issues, and he needs surgery. The long version involves a scan at the urging of a friend, a flight home — and an unexpected call.

“I spoke to him,” said Alan May, a Capital in Laughlin’s early days on the broadcast, a longtime pre- and postgame analyst now. “He was quiet. And then as we went over it, there was some shock. And I said, ‘Hey, I love you. And you’re fine. We just got to figure out what it is and how to take care of it.’”

Back up a bit. One of May’s longtime friends from his Capitals playing days was a doctor in Maryland who moved south and eventually started Life Guard Imaging, a facility in Tampa that offers full-body, three-dimensional CAT scans that can serve as early detectors for cancer, heart issues and other medical problems.

May’s call, then, was jarring. Laughlin had a high calcium score. A combination of the Life Guard Imaging scan and follow-up appointments with cardiologists revealed more issues: a condition called a bicuspid aortic valve, which is an aortic valve that has two flaps instead of three and can cause the heart to work harder; an aneurysm; and a blocked left anterior descending artery (LAD), which also is known as the “widowmaker.”

 

[Nogatco Rd]

I've been ready for a Caps change at the TV announcing level but get well Laughlin.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/01/16/craig-laughlin-washington-capitals-heart-surgery/

Sounds a little ominous leaving it at that last sentence, i added the next 2 paragraphs below — seems like the outlook is overall pretty positive

“It was like a trifecta,” Laughlin said.
Laughlin should be fine. He is scheduling surgery for late January or early February. Then time away from the rink is to rest and repair. He is hoping to rehab, and then return to the booth by the end of the season.

“I’m so lucky ‘May Day’ got me to get that scan,” Laughlin said. “I just feel, I guess, blessed that we caught it because I could have been walking along — it could have been catastrophic.”

 

[g00n]

The widowmaker. A friend of mine dropped dead in a board meeting a few years ago during a presentation. Get your shit checked.

Rest up, Locker.

 

[MileHighCapsFan]

Care to take a guess how old Oshie was when acquired?

Insert reminder of the Erat trade and how that worked out.

For every Oshie trade, we have a multitude of trades that did NOT work out.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I've been ready for a Caps change at the TV announcing level but get well Laughlin.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/01/16/craig-laughlin-washington-capitals-heart-surgery/

Wow. My younger brother died from a widowmaker.

Get well Locker. We are all with you.

Insert reminder of the Erat trade and how that worked out.

For every Oshie trade, we have a multitude of trades that did NOT work out.

Basing moves off of fear isn’t a recipe for success

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Insert reminder of the Erat trade and how that worked out.

For every Oshie trade, we have a multitude of trades that did NOT work out.

You think Tuch is another Erat? You think if they add another legit top-6 forward at the cost of the likes of a CMM plus a 1st, you think we’re getting another Erat?

That’s the context of the type of trade being discussed, if you’re following along.

You can’t run an organization successfully from a position of fear. Certainly not from being afraid of duplicating a trade made damn near 12 years ago.

Pretty soon, It’s gonna be “remember 20 years ago when that dipshit who was fired made that one boneheaded blunder”….

 

[Kazer]

Not big on it. Not big on Fever-Roy either.


Boudreau would have some good intel on the Canucks. Could give us an advantage.

It got buried in the Tuch discussion (which I'm tired of except that I now love referring to assets as nuts), but I hate the current d pairings.

I'd go:

Fever - Carlson
Sandin - Roy
Chychrun - TvR

Fever - Carlson has the best fancy stats on the team. Sandin is above water with anyone, and Chychrun has not done well with Roy (but been fine with TvR).

Chychrun - Roy and Fehervary - Van Riemsdyk have probably been our worst pairings both in terms of actual goals for/against and also in terms of expected goals. Those pairings should be avoided. I'm also totally fine with Carberry's late game approach of putting Chychrun with Carlson (which has also been solid).

And then beyond the fancy stats, the pairs just make sense to me. Fever's speed and steadiness with Carlson's offense. Sandin/Roy is super balanced at both ends (plus Roy is physical and Sandin is our softest left D). Chychrun/TvR allows Chychrun to be more of a rover whereas with Carlson they sometimes get caught.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Reminder Oshie will be allowed to play in the Playoffs. If he can work his way back to NHL level.

I do think he looks retired now

 

[Dr John Carlson]

It got buried in the Tuch discussion (which I'm tired of except that I now love referring to assets as nuts), but I hate the current d pairings.

I'd go:

Fever - Carlson
Sandin - Roy
Chychrun - TvR

Fever - Carlson has the best fancy stats on the team. Sandin is above water with anyone, and Chychrun has not done well with Roy (but been fine with TvR).

Chychrun - Roy and Fehervary - Van Riemsdyk have probably been our worst pairings both in terms of actual goals for/against and also in terms of expected goals. Those pairings should be avoided. I'm also totally fine with Carberry's late game approach of putting Chychrun with Carlson (which has also been solid).

And then beyond the fancy stats, the pairs just make sense to me. Fever's speed and steadiness with Carlson's offense. Sandin/Roy is super balanced at both ends (plus Roy is physical and Sandin is our softest left D). Chychrun/TvR allows Chychrun to be more of a rover whereas with Carlson they sometimes get caught.

I don't like Fehervary with anybody but Carlson, to be honest. Roy especially is a bad fit imo. Whoever South Carolina is running as their top pair has more puck skills than those two. And that's only a slight exaggeration...

 

[g00n]