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

[DWGie26]

Okay, then I guess I'm getting tangled up in how he worded it...



The idea that we need Eller more than we need McMichael paints a picture to me that might not be what he intends; that Eller is better for this team than McMichael.

Following that by saying McMichael has more value speaks directly to what you're saying -- that he's young with another year at a great number, and that has real value. But it's only a great number and that combo only has real value if McMichael's play is also valuable, which just feels contradicted to me by the first statement.

I suppose the first statement could mean that we need an impact 3C more than we need whatever McMichael is giving us today, specifically for the perils of playoff hockey. But specifically Eller? If the TDL rumors are true, Eller is WAY easier to upgrade.

Anyway, my apologies If I'm misunderstanding something here. I just don't see how those two sentences flow together. "We need Eller for a cup run more than we need McMichael," just doesn't compute for me.

@DWGie26, I know you were replying to a silly post comparing the two; that it wasn't you that took the convo there. But I guess I'm just not quite grasping your reply.

Been out all day. But short of what i was trying to describe is there are very few players I think (a) can fetch value, and (b) I am willing to move. McMichael is IMO the best piece we can move. Young, value contract, still an RFA at contract end. Replaceable given our pool of prospects.

Eller is established, won a cup with us, playing well. Not going to fetch much in a trade to bring something back. He is worth more to us than what we could fetch in a trade. And he is gone after this year so we’ll be working on 3C in offseason. McMichael definitely the better player, but in the vacuum of this season, the better value is Michael out (brining back an impact top 6) and Eller staying.

I know we are long past this but hope this helps clarify.

 

[Roshi]

Not going into the McCann debate, but there was question asked that i would be interested looking closer.

Which one do we value more, which one would you rather trade/keep? McMichael or Cristall? Which one has more value for other teams?

Im propably more high on Cristall and would trade CMM if it ever became between them for getting a true top6 helper.

And... going into the McCann debate.. im not sure. He has good numbers. He has contract security with nice cap hit. In his prime for the length of it.

But something about him makes me skeptical. Propably havent seen him much with Seattle where he has played his best hockey and I just remember him from the Pens-days, where he was kind of forgettable. In Seattle he has been put in a position where he can succeed. Thats always a question, in a mid-bad teams a first liner, will he produce at that level elsewhere with a more specific role. See; Mangiapane.

He is not the guy id sell our farm for, dont want to give something wild like 1st+McMichael. Thats basically the same package JT Miller got. McCann is not JT Miller level. A lone 1st with a small add, ok. Ill take it.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Ovi - Strome - Leonard
McMichael - PLD - Cristall
Miroshnichenko - Protas - Wilson
Milano - Frank - Duhaime

This lineup has all the rookies playing their natural positions and with skillsets that I think best compliment the other two players on their lines. 4th line is made up of all the players we currently have signed for next year.

For this year I'm on the trade for Boeser/Bjorkstand camp, as neither of them would require parting with a current roster player.

I'd be happy with this too. Protas was a C and has potential there certainly. I suspect Milano had a serious concussion and maybe the best for his health and quality of life is ride the LTIR and invest his nest egg wisely and enjoy life. I have always loved him as a personality.

And your point with Frank is valid. He may have a shot at sticking with us in the NHL, though he may also be a trade chip...

So many options, so much potential in house. And lots of opportunities to mix and match and see who gels with who and in what role.

Part of our culture is letting players know they have a path and have opportunities to shine in a range of roles.

 

[Kazer]

Protas' game has improved significantly, but he's horrendous on faceoffs (39.8% for his career and 28% on the handful he has taken this year). He seems at his best as a havoc-wreaking forechecker. Protas' in zone play has benefitted heavily from being down low. If he had to constantly rotate up high on defense, I do not believe he would be as effective. I'd rather see Protas stay at wing than move to center (although he could certainly fill in if injuries arise).

Unless Lapierre steps up, I do not believe our 25-26 3C is in the organization right now.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Protas is not a center. He has spent the majority of his pro career on the wing. If the organization viewed him as a center they would have used him in that 3C role at some point this year prior to making the Eller deal IMO.

 

[JayBeagleFanAccount]

id be on board for a mccann move but moving an established roster player like mcmichael for him seems like, at best, a lateral move. trade some picks with lapierre and bring him in, hes a really nice middle 6 option for a playoff push and hes beings a nice profile that we lack.

 

[Misery74]

id be on board for a mccann move but moving an established roster player like mcmichael for him seems like, at best, a lateral move. trade some picks with lapierre and bring him in, hes a really nice middle 6 option for a playoff push and hes beings a nice profile that we lack.

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Kinda my thoughts. If we are trading CMM, it needs to be a player in their 20’s as a return.

 

[895]

I want the Caps to trade 1st+ Lapierre for the best possible forward, rental or not. That's a successful trade deadline to me.

 

[Cappy76]

Ehlers in the off-season gets my vote

 

[Devil Dancer]

I see Gourde's name keeps coming up, but he's a no go. Had sports hernia surgery last month.

 

[hb13xchamps]

 

[Misery74]

I thought the All Star Game was my peak hatred of the NHL. I was wrong, this sucks.

Targets that have been identified:

B. Marchand - $6.2m UFA
B. Nelson - $5.7m UFA
K. Palmieri - $6m UFA
R. Strome - $5m x 3
A. Tuch - $4.75m x 2
N. Schmaltz - $5.85m x 2
J. Schwartz - $5.5m x 2
B. McCann - $5m x 3
B. Schenn - $6.5m x 4

Strome Brothers and Protas Brothers?

 

[895]

MacT for Lapierre + 1st ???

Zegras for Miro, Lapierre +1st?

 

[qc14]

MacT for Lapierre + 1st ???

Zegras for Miro, Lapierre +1st?

McTavish, Terry, and Vatrano are the only interesting guys on Anaheim to me and I seriously doubt they would move any of the three of them

 

[Silky mitts]

Tried to get the wife to clean up the dog's vomit, she said What'll you give me? I said Lappy and a 1st.

 

[Roshi]

MacT for Lapierre + 1st ???

Zegras for Miro, Lapierre +1st?

Would say MacT has more value than Zegras right now.

As exciting talent as he is, wouldnt part with anything substantial for Zegras at this point of the curve. Reclamation project. Pass. Dont see him as a fit.

MacT would def be worth to look for, but i dont think he is really avaivable. 22 year old 3rd overalls dont move much.

 

[Misery74]

McTavish, Terry, and Vatrano are the only interesting guys on Anaheim to me and I seriously doubt they would move any of the three of them

No interest in Strome Senior?

 

[Coldnwindy]

Would say MacT has more value than Zegras right now.

As exciting talent as he is, wouldnt part with anything substantial for Zegras at this point of the curve. Reclamation project. Pass. Dont see him as a fit.

MacT would def be worth to look for, but i dont think he is really avaivable. 22 year old 3rd overalls dont move much.

We have a couple of 3rd overall centers already. 3x3?

 

[qc14]

No interest in Strome Senior?

Eh his play-driving numbers, especially defensively, are pretty awful. He doesn't score enough either to really make him an improvement in the top 6. If they hadn't already gotten Eller I would be fine with him for a smaller price as a 3c for the next couple of years but Eller is a better fit for this season and there are better internal or UFA candidates for the two after this one.

 

[Roshi]

We have a couple of 3rd overall centers already. 3x3?

Yes! But we’ll have to wait until he is 25 and thought as a liability before we sign him for free/cap dump to follow the pattern.

Hmm.. starting to like Zegras too.

 

[Coldnwindy]

Yes! But we’ll have to wait until he is 25 and thought as a liability before we sign him for free/cap dump to follow the pattern.

Hmm.. starting to like Zegras too.

We're halfway there. His coach called Mason a "third line guy that has offensive ability" a few weeks ago.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Ethan Bear, you are a Duck!

 

[wickedwitch]

I think Anaheim would value MacT over Zegras. I think, for the Caps this season, Zegras would be a really good addition. They currently don't have much creativity from their forwards, which Zegras would bring in spades. A Eller/Zegras/Leonard line could be really fun in the playoffs. Eller could play the center role in the d-zone while Zegras played it in the o-zone. He's also played wing, so you could put him in the top 6.

Anaheim fans love Zegras and see his lower production as completely a function of Cronin. And nobody but the Anaheim GM likes Cronin. Ex-Ducks were publicly complaining about him, which never happens.

If the Caps could do 1st+Lappy or Miro for Zegras, I'd do that in a heartbeat. My guess is Anaheim would favor Miro over Lappy.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I have little interest in Zegras what about his game makes you think he can help us win a playoff game? Doing dumb trick plays for last place teams doesnt do much for me if winning the cup is the goal. He seems like Kuzy without the clutch.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Could also be a prospect for prospect type swap. Is there a defenseman in Anaheim's system that could be borderline NHL ready and potentially has higher upside than Iorio?