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

[usiel]

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?

Gauthier for Iorio.

 

[qc14]

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.

Carbery would play Zegras for maybe 8 minutes a night in a playoff matchup. He can't defend at 5v5, doesn't PK, hasn't been particularly effective on the powerplay, and doesn't score a crazy amount either. No need to be looking for reclamation projects in-season when the team is good.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Gauthier for Iorio.

*Bob McKenzie voice*

The deal is 1 for 1

 

[wickedwitch]

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.

With regards to whether he is clutch, may I present his highlights from the 2021 WJC where he was the MVP:

I think he could give the team a dimension that it doesn't currently have, which should make them harder to defend. He had two 60+ point seasons before Cronin. You don't get to 60 points once let alone twice without real skill. There's much more to his game than trick plays.

 

[Ridley Simon]

With regards to whether he is clutch, may I present his highlights from the 2021 WJC where he was the MVP:

I think he could give the team a dimension that it doesn't currently have, which should make them harder to defend. He had two 60+ point seasons before Cronin. You don't get to 60 points once let alone twice without real skill. There's much more to his game than trick plays.

He’s part of the new breed of US “me first” players though, I’ve heard. Him, Gauthier, McGroarty…..

Not sure I’d want him in the room. I mean, everyone can yield to the sword and all (Ovechkin), but unless he’s really inexpensive to acquire, I’d look elsewhere, IMO.

 

[EroCaps]

I’m guessing it’s Killorn but they’d have to eat that contract. He’s still a solid middle 6 veteran 2 way wing.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

I’m guessing it’s Killorn but they’d have to eat that contract. He’s still a solid middle 6 veteran 2 way wing.

He’s a traditional Caps killer every time they play against him.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

With regards to whether he is clutch, may I present his highlights from the 2021 WJC where he was the MVP:

I think he could give the team a dimension that it doesn't currently have, which should make them harder to defend. He had two 60+ point seasons before Cronin. You don't get to 60 points once let alone twice without real skill. There's much more to his game than trick plays.

Its kindof telling he didnt make Team USA for the 4N... Maybe hes not a winning player?

 

[DWGie26]

Surprised everyone is calling for Lappy to be the one traded. He is a bit more unique of a prospect because he is a center and we don’t have many of those and none close with his skill. We have several forwards that are NHL ready now.

Plus I’d rather trade a roster player because due to roster spots. A first and Frank could fetch a middle 6 upgrade. Probably a rental. Will be interesting to see what the prices are.

 

[EroCaps]

Zegras could be a sneaky reclamation project. 23 year old two time 60 point player subjected to a defensive low talent lineup and dealing with a couple serious injuries.

He matures a bit he may thrive with a guy like Carbs and then boom… you’ve got a sub 25 year old star C.

Trades like these are literally how Washington made itself relevant again.

Only issue is he has no spot in the lineup unless they decide to go full Vegas and roll 3 lines.

 

[Jags]

Zegras could be a sneaky reclamation project.

Or he might be a one-dimensional 20-goal guy looking terrible for most of two seasons that got paid too much, too early by a cellar-dweller so eager to turn things around that they under-cooked him.

He's an interesting player that might blossom, but I'm not sure I'd pay $6 million plus the cost to get him to find out.

 

[wickedwitch]

Its kindof telling he didnt make Team USA for the 4N... Maybe hes not a winning player?

Or maybe management is dumb -- they didn't choose Carlson either.

Seriously, Caps fans referring to someone as "not a winner" based on international team selection is doubly stupid.

He may or may not be a winner, but there's no evidence of the latter besides the narrative that he's not a winner. His performance in big games has been great.

 

[Langway]

Or maybe management is dumb -- they didn't choose Carlson either.

I mean, Tage Thompson didn't make that team. Way bigger names up front before Zegras deserves mention. Even his teammate Troy Terry probably has a stronger case.

Zegras isn't really a center, more of a LW. In the off-season, esp. if they don't manage to re-sign Chychrun and have ample room, then it could make sense. At the moment, though, I agree with the notion that they need a more established and lower maintenance all-around talent. The other issue is they'd need to add him at around 50% of his AAV to avoid subtracting Mangiapane. With another year remaining it's hard to say how much additional cost that adds. Anaheim could do it and a third-party could help further but it is a complication.

It will be interesting to see whether they're open to adding a player with term or not. They're a bit up against it with a projected $3.65M in space at the deadline before subtractions. Waiving Vrana and bundling Milano elsewhere could boost it a bit. Previously I've thought Mangiapane was disposable enough if need be but now I'm thinking they'll look to avoid it unless it's a pretty exceptional addition. Instead I'd look for them to more simply boost the middle six LW spot without weakening depth.

I still think Donato is the sneakiest value add they can make. Good enough to push McMichael for time. Good enough to be added to the PP. Not as established as some but at 28 still young enough to be middle six help beyond this season. He'd have to thrive to earn an extension all things considered. But Donato for a 2nd vs. Nelson for a 1st seems a lot more wise. Otherwise there's not an option that really stands out to me at the moment as a deadly finalizing piece. They may have to venture into left field to find it. RD is perhaps a bit of an underwhelming top target but the value is there IMO and with some modest upside in bringing more to 3LW, perhaps also bringing elements that would mesh alongisde Leonard and then pushing CMM a bit.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Or maybe management is dumb -- they didn't choose Carlson either.

Seriously, Caps fans referring to someone as "not a winner" based on international team selection is doubly stupid.

He may or may not be a winner, but there's no evidence of the latter besides the narrative that he's not a winner. His performance in big games has been great.

OK Team USA is dumb.
Caps fans looking at his career stats are stupid.

I guess we are all missing something

 

[trick9]

Brutal.

 

[Misery74]

Brutal.

Zegras isn’t someone we should be considering. He’s a better Sonny Milano.

The guy everyone is sleeping on is Ryan Strome.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Zegras isn’t someone we should be considering. He’s a better Sonny Milano.

The guy everyone is sleeping on is Ryan Strome.

Strome makes more sense if they truly want to upgrade the 3C spot. But he also has this year and two more at $5 million. That’s a decent chunk of change for a 3C