Nelson is a pending UFA. I wouldn’t do either of those deals, honestly. Too much going the other way.
Palmeiri isn’t bad. I’d like to aim a little higher though
Speculation: Caps Roster General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines/etc) | 2024-25 Summer Edition
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Palmeiri isn’t bad. I’d like to aim a little higher though
Melkor
Registered User
Wasn't asked but none of them. All three stink of Glencross smell
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
- 67,441
- 22,621
Glenncross was out of the league after we traded for him. Doesn’t seem quite the same here. That said, don’t love those deals either.
Silky mitts
It’s yours boys and girls and babes let’s go!
- Mar 9, 2004
- 4,992
- 4,135
Based on the Pettersson, Granlund, and Rantanen deals this is what the rental market is like this year. Even Taylor Hall essentially at $1.85M for a top pick in the 3rd. And then anyone with term will probably cost more.
Donato absolutely a reasonable target for the 2nd rd pick. and there are reasons he 1st should be in play, but if you’re not upgrading the top 6 maybe it shouldn’t be. And if Nelson are Marchand are the only upgrades to the top 6 they’ll be pricy, maybe silly pricy
Jags
Mildly Disturbed
If the cap works I think you keep Eller and put him at 4W so that you have him for the PK and center depth should injury occur. Also keep Mangiapane if we can afford to; might pair well with ROR.
This is assuming that the whispers ROR may be available prove true. Otherwise I think Nelson as a pure rental is probably the best bet. I wouldn't be shy about giving up this year's 1 for the right guy, and we'd need retention if we want to hang on to our guys in his case. ROR I think we could fit without, but I'd need to check on that when I get home.
Same thing with Nelson though. Keep Eller if possible. You could keep the top 6 as is, have an Eller/Dowd/Duhaime 4th, and stick ROR or Nelson between Mangiapane and Frank to start with. Adjust from there, shop for a wing swap if there's one out there that's an additional upgrade.
I personally think 3C is the spot we'd benefit most from upgrading. Getting one that can do what Eller does but also has that offensive gear would also upgrade wing performance on that line, with or without adding another wing (or banking on Leonard to provide a boost he may not be ready for), in my opinion.
SecretaryofDefense5
Registered User
GMCP isn’t trading a 1st (even a late round pick) for a third line player. If that pick moves it’s someone who can play in the top part of the line-up IMHO.
Jags
Mildly Disturbed
I don't disagree in general, but we're talking about 2 guys that aren't 3rd liners. That's just what they might be here, at least initially. If we're deep enough to roll 3 lines that can score, playing time won't really feel like "3rd line" minutes, we'd stop sheltering the 3rd, and we'd be able to deploy our 4th line more strategically.
ROR is playing on the top line in Nashville last I checked. Nelson is a 2C at the moment. And if either clicks here and works their way into the top 6, more power to them, no? ROR's gotta be frustrated with how things are going in Nashville, and Nelson figures to be a pure rental. He's a NYI lifer, so he could just be open to taking a shot at a Cup for a few months and going back home. Maybe he extends here for a year or two. Who knows? His contract intention could affect his price.
Anyway, we're currently in the luxury position of maybe building out more of an impact 3rd line with TDL top-sixers. No reason to think of it as giving up key futures for a third liner.
Devil Dancer
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2006
- 18,801
- 6,167
The more I read about the players available the more I want the Caps to stay put with the team they have. Not to protect nuts, I'm all for moving assets outside of Lenny, but because I don't see a lot of names that would improve their chances in the playoffs. And with a team this tight any add might throw off the vibe. Subtraction by addition.
I'd love to acquire a difference maker, but that will probably have to be in the offseason. And with Miller and Rantanen already moved, who's left in that tier anyway?
I'd love to acquire a difference maker, but that will probably have to be in the offseason. And with Miller and Rantanen already moved, who's left in that tier anyway?
Ovechkins Wodka
Registered User
I think our 1st should be enough for ROR. Is this a move we make? I think I would want someone a bit younger as good as he is.
SecretaryofDefense5
Registered User
This. If we are giving up assets of value I’d rather the player have term and not be on the wrong side of 30.
Jags
Mildly Disturbed
ROR and Nelson are both having down years, but so are their teams, so it's a "chicken or the egg" situation. I haven't seen enough of their games this year to get a read on it, but both guys were strong last year. Both 34 this year. So it's all about that evaluation.
If they've still got gas in the tank and the organization doesn't think Lappy or McMike can hold down a top-9 C spot, I wouldn't mind ROR at his current number, nor would I mind extending Nelson for a year or two at the right price. Whether they would be 3C here would be up to them.
I would typically agree, but we've pretty suddenly found ourselves in a "might be able to win a Cup in the next 2 years" position. Given that, a late 1st in an iffy draft and/or a prospect we like isn't too much to pay for a couple years of nailing down that 3C spot in impressive fashion.
Again, if management thinks we have that guy in-house right now, great. Don't do it. But if we have an early playoff exit and our 3rd line sucked in the process, I think we'll be kicking ourselves for settling.
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Calicaps
NFA
Since the trade, Rantanen has 2 points in 6 games while Necas has 9 in 8. Suggests that both guys' prior numbers were more a product of their teammates than folks thought. I totally trust our front office to find the right guys, but it's a legitimate question whether the "higher tier" guys we think about here really are that.
Fred22406Capsfan
Registered User
- Jan 19, 2020
- 588
- 788
Definitely amateur hour for me, but I'm more in the stand pat until the offseason camp than not. Think the chemistry in the room raises the team. A trade may disrupt, especially if it's not a guy who's bought into DC. Wiser heads than mine will decide but it's been a fun ride so far this year.
Jags
Mildly Disturbed
I agree, but I'd look at it the other way around. Each of those teams had a good player they felt they had to swap. We'd be trying to remedy a weak spot. So for me it's less about whether "higher tier" guys are really higher tier, and rather purely about whether they'd be better than Lars Eller.
Both guys we're talking about have well-established pedigrees, where the question is whether they're *still* what they were and, like you, I trust our front office to make that evaluation; that they won't make the trade unless they think it's the right thing.
Calicaps
NFA
If upgrading Lars is your primary goal, then I agree. For me, and I think for some other posters here, the primary goal would be to add a dynamic play driver to the top 6, with a 3C/W upgrade as a secondary goal. And it's in that context where I think the results of last offseason really prove my point: We need to be looking for the right guys, not always the "best" guys. And I say all of this while very deliberately not naming names. I don't have a good sense of who would be a good add in that role, even ignoring whether said guy could be had right now.
Jags
Mildly Disturbed
Yeah, I see where you're coming from, and I'd be lying if I said that part of the reason I think the 3rd would be my primary focus is that I'm not seeing any great options in the "top-6 play driver" category. I also think we're long at wing and short at center, and it's pretty clear we're sheltering our 3rd line a bit, depending on how you look at it.
Playing driving has as much to do with matchups as anything else, so having 3 lines that can press in the offensive zone can solve that so long as they're good in transition. We've got good wings, another coming, and a guy or two in the press box and on the farm that can pitch in.
Our top centers are both considered 1b types at best, though I think we have every reason to be happy with them. Wouldn't mind adding a third that can swap up and down the middle, bolster the 3rd, and allow us to roll 4 lines with no worries in the postseason.
Adding a play driving wing would be great, but it'd still be bumping a skill guy down to the 3rd to languish offensively with Eller. Not sure I see the virtue in that unless that new wing is a real star, and a real star will require subtraction from what's currently working.
So 3C feels like the spot to focus on to me. Depth wins Cups.
Calicaps
NFA
All totally fair points, and yes 100% on depth. I'd only say that I'd rather not go into this playoffs with this version of McMike at 2W, not for offense reasons but because his decision-making in the neutral zone has been very suspect lately.
Also was just listening to yesterday's episode of 32T and Fridge thinks Caps are looking for a forward but didn't specify beyond that. Guess we'll see.
caps4cup
Dynasty
- Dec 31, 2010
- 6,166
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Not really sure what they end up doing, but there’s not much angst IMO. They have made a lot of good moves/decisions the last few years and if they do make some moves before the TDL, I feel pretty confident that will continue.
twabby
Registered User
- Mar 9, 2010
- 14,468
- 16,592
I'd love for them to be aggressive this year with their first round pick. Don't throw it away for giggles, but I'd consider an overpay to get a guy they deem will fit with their style.
They are almost surely winning the Metro and the East, and they should avoid a strong first round opponent unless I guess Tampa Bay falls to WC2. I suspect Ovechkin is more likely than not to retire after next season. So why not go for it this year and give Ovechkin one last shot at glory?
I don't think they should trade McMichael unless a deal for a true impact player can be made, but I also don't think he's strong enough to go into the playoffs as a top 6 winger. I'd much rather see him on the third line in a more sheltered role where maybe some of his skill can be utilized against weaker opposition.
As I mentioned before I think Bjorkstrand is a fine target and I'd be more than happy to part with their first round pick for him if he's available, especially since he's not a rental. Seattle is going nowhere fast and they need to consider dealing some of their pieces that aren't going to be there long term.
Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson
Protas-Dubois-Bjorkstrand
McMichael-Eller-Mangiapane/Leonard/Frank
Duhaime-Dowd-Mangiapane/Raddysh
It's a forward group that could do some damage. Certainly not a top tier group, but adding a top 6 forward and pushing McMichael down to the third line could allow the third line to take slightly more and slightly tougher minutes which I think would benefit Ovechkin and Strome who aren't really capable of matching thr opposition's best.
They are almost surely winning the Metro and the East, and they should avoid a strong first round opponent unless I guess Tampa Bay falls to WC2. I suspect Ovechkin is more likely than not to retire after next season. So why not go for it this year and give Ovechkin one last shot at glory?
I don't think they should trade McMichael unless a deal for a true impact player can be made, but I also don't think he's strong enough to go into the playoffs as a top 6 winger. I'd much rather see him on the third line in a more sheltered role where maybe some of his skill can be utilized against weaker opposition.
As I mentioned before I think Bjorkstrand is a fine target and I'd be more than happy to part with their first round pick for him if he's available, especially since he's not a rental. Seattle is going nowhere fast and they need to consider dealing some of their pieces that aren't going to be there long term.
Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson
Protas-Dubois-Bjorkstrand
McMichael-Eller-Mangiapane/Leonard/Frank
Duhaime-Dowd-Mangiapane/Raddysh
It's a forward group that could do some damage. Certainly not a top tier group, but adding a top 6 forward and pushing McMichael down to the third line could allow the third line to take slightly more and slightly tougher minutes which I think would benefit Ovechkin and Strome who aren't really capable of matching thr opposition's best.
Calicaps
NFA
Agree. And I like Bjorkstrand a LOT. My only concern with going for a RW who's not obviously a rental is that Lenny isn't signed yet, and until his John Hancock is on the paperwork, we don't want to do anything to give him the idea that he's being passed over or blocked or whatever.
