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

[Silky mitts]

I think it was pretty clear that Lindholm was in serious decline last year and probably wasn't the piece Vancouver needed.

If they trade for Brock Nelson, Marchand, Gourde, or ROR it's the same situation. Frederic, Evans, Laughton are they any different than Eller? If they trade for Donato there's some upside, maybe they sit Eller the rest of the year to give Donato (or another center) an audition, or they split time, either way it's a distraction for a center worse than Lindholm who apparently everyone knew would ruin Vancouver.

 

[qc14]

For the sake of argument, let’s assume our lines if tonight was game 1 of the first round would be the following. Leonard will likely draw in, so I’d assume that pushes Frank or Raddyish out. Where else would you want to upgrade? McMike in theory could be upgraded. Eller is playing well when he’s not saddled with Vrana.

Ovi-Strome-Pro
McMike-PLD-Wilson
Mangiapane-Eller-Frank
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddyish
extras: Milano, Vrana

I just don’t see a ton of moves to be made. ROR makes some sense if they want to admit defeat on Eller. Could stand to improve Raddyish I think, though Leonard or Frank would fill that need. I like Mangiapane on the third line and doubt you’d find an upgrade on him available for a reasonable price.

It’s good and well to say we need to go all-in… but where? Really the only guys I see that could be upgraded are McMike, Eller, and Raddyish, and I don’t know that any of those guys really needs to be upgraded.

I think there are two pretty obvious areas. Number one is getting another top 6 forward. I'll pick Nelson in this example. It gives you a ton of flexibility if someone gets hurt or goes through a slump. Do Raddysh or Frank "deserve" to come out of the lineup in this scenario? No, but tough shit.

Ovi-Strome-Protas
Nelson-PLD-Wilson
McMichael-Eller-Mangiapane
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh

That's just one lineup, but I think you could rotate Nelson with pretty much anyone on the third line and it would still make sense.

Number two is an upgrade at 13F over Milano and Vrana. I do not feel comfortable with either of them in the playoffs. Even Miro or Lappy I'd prefer don't need to play. Vrana especially has completely tanked Eller's numbers. Give me Justin Brazeau for a 4th for example. If someone goes down, I feel much more comfortable slotting him at 4w and moving everyone else up a slot than I do putting Vrana at 3w.

No one needs to be upgraded but if the right guy comes available for a fair price then pull the trigger. I think this year's class is weak but there are certainly guys out there that I like a lot

If they trade for Brock Nelson, Marchand, Gourde, or ROR it's the same situation. Frederic, Evans, Laughton are they any different than Eller? If they trade for Donato there's some upside, maybe they sit Eller the rest of the year to give Donato (or another center) an audition, or they split time, either way it's a distraction for a center worse than Lindholm who apparently everyone knew would ruin Vancouver.

I would rather have this year's version of Nelson, Marchand, or ROR over last year's version of E Lindholm, Gourde is kind of a push. I don't think Frederic, Evans, or Laughton are meaningfully different than Eller but they are meaningfully different than Milano or Vrana.

 

[Kazer]

No prospects should be truly untouchable. Having said that, I probably would not trade Leonard, Hutson, or Protas (Protas because his value to us is higher than external). I would consider trading anyone else for the right deal, including Cristall, Parascak, and Miro.

On Frank, I would still put Milano (if 100%) above him just because of track record. Frank has been super impressive from a puck possession pov, but he is shooting 22% and has 5 points in 17 games (note: his oiSh% is also high). If he were shooting a more normal (but still relatively high) 12%, then he's sitting at 2 goals, 3 points in 17 games.

Milano has scored 10+ goals and 30+ points multiple times in his career (often in way less than 82 games); was a good play-driver last year [3rd best forward by xGF% last season]; and has the ability to play up and down the lineup.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

If it ain’t Jimi, we need a 3c. Eller is a 4c.

Ideally, we’ll find a 2c and play him 3c.

Mangiapane - new c - Leonard

Eller is not replacing Dowd. And Eller has been playing well since he got paired with Mango and Frank.

 

[Coldnwindy]

Carbs should get our backup D in Alexeyev and McIlrath some games in or at the very least get sent down for conditioning stints in Hershey before the trade deadline... Gonna need to know if we need to grab a depth D for the playoff run.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

For the sake of argument, let’s assume our lines if tonight was game 1 of the first round would be the following. Leonard will likely draw in, so I’d assume that pushes Frank or Raddyish out. Where else would you want to upgrade? McMike in theory could be upgraded. Eller is playing well when he’s not saddled with Vrana.

Ovi-Strome-Pro
McMike-PLD-Wilson
Mangiapane-Eller-Frank
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddyish
extras: Milano, Vrana

I just don’t see a ton of moves to be made. ROR makes some sense if they want to admit defeat on Eller. Could stand to improve Raddyish I think, though Leonard or Frank would fill that need. I like Mangiapane on the third line and doubt you’d find an upgrade on him available for a reasonable price.

It’s good and well to say we need to go all-in… but where? Really the only guys I see that could be upgraded are McMike, Eller, and Raddyish, and I don’t know that any of those guys really needs to be upgraded.

Well that is 25% of your starting forward lineup lol…

Then what do we do with Dowd? He's been a A level 4C for a while now

You play Dowd over Eller is what you do.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Well that is 25% of your starting forward lineup lol…



You play Dowd over Eller is what you do.

Really it’s zero percent, because nothing needs to be upgraded. There are no glaring holes or flashing red warning lights at any position.

 

[hockeykicker]