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

[Silky mitts]

LeBrun & Friedman both suggesting the Caps will add a depth forward rather than something big. Meh. If so hopefully that's more on the Donato/Zucker side of things than a more offensively-challenged one. Friedman has said a Laughton type, who seems more like bottom six injury insurance than a legit sizeable upgrade.

Adding another checker really just seems like tinkering. Are they really thinking they can check their way to a deep run? It seems like an incredibly tall ask, even in a wide open East. While I think this group would manage a numbers game a lot better than in the past why create one without a significant upgrade being made? Even aside from the 23 man roster going away on deadline day it seems far from ideal to carry an extra four or five players down the stretch. Vrana could be waived. Milano also could be waived but, again, it just seems a bit redundant focusing on depth rather than something that could more significantly boost their chances.

Of all the pending UFA on teams less than 99% to make the playoffs, the top 3 scorers are Marchand, Zucker, and Donato, there aren't scorers available

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Of all the pending UFA on teams less than 99% to make the playoffs, the top 3 scorers are Marchand, Zucker, and Donato, there aren't scorers available

That’s why a good GM wouldn’t be looking at just the surface candidates the ones that everyone knows COULD be available.

 

[Silky mitts]

That’s why a good GM wouldn’t be looking at just the surface candidates the ones that everyone knows COULD be available.

Real gs move in silence like lasagna but the market is bare and they seem to be tempering expectations for the deadline

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Real gs move in silence like lasagna but the market is bare and they seem to be tempering expectations for the deadline

The market isn’t what’s just publicly known….

I’ve said all along I only expected depth pickups, but I think they probably need something more substantial to win a Cup again.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

If there’s a deal to be made that they think will improve the team they’ll make it. And they have proven time and again they’re not afraid to make hard choices and bold moves. Why people continue to think they won’t look under every rock baffles me, this is not George “we like our team” McPhee.

None of their larger moves were leaked or even hinted at before things went down. There wasn’t a peep that Mac was going to bring in guys like Oshie, Mantha, Shattenkirk, Eller, Sandin, Chychrun, PLD, Mangiapane, Thompson, etc. Many (most?) moves have worked out, a few have not, but I would wager to guess GMCP, BMac, and team are not just waiting for The Athletic to upgrade their trade big board to figure out their to-do list at the deadline.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Shocking news...


Really I cant believe we were giving Max important playoff min and PP time last season.

 

[trick9]

Yanni Gourde is an interesting guy if he's actually healthy. I think injury concerns have driven his price down but if healthy he's a really good player known to up his game in the Playoffs (12 points in last 13-game run). Also i have a soft spot for forwards who work their ass off to climb all the way from ECHL to NHL regular.

That said, with the injury risk, it's not a guy i'd move a 1st for. Unless it's a 1st for Gourde + 2nd kind of a deal.

 

[Silky mitts]

None of their larger moves were leaked or even hinted at before things went down. There wasn’t a peep that Mac was going to bring in guys like Oshie, Mantha, Shattenkirk, Eller, Sandin, Chychrun, PLD, Mangiapane, Thompson, etc. Many (most?) moves have worked out, a few have not, but I would wager to guess GMCP, BMac, and team are not just waiting for The Athletic to upgrade their trade big board to figure out their to-do list at the deadline.

I googled Brian McClellan saying we're looking to upgrade our top 6 2024, tons of quotes describing looking for the types of acquisitions Mangi and PLD were

Google Search

For Sandin they said the were looking to add NHL ready players at the deadline

 

[Langway]

Sources: Sabres’ phones buzzing with interest in JJ Peterka, who joins Trade Targets board

Peterka, Mario Ferraro and Brad Marchand are among the new names in the top 45.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

Peterka would be a very good add. BUF should wait until the off-season to shake it up but who knows?

I get the temptation to add a Playoff Style player...a guy with jam that's Hard to Play Against. But with this group and some of their 5v5 limitations the target ought to be higher and more decisive. They're not going to lack intensity when the playoffs roll around. I'd wager the shortage will be skilled poise to a much, much greater extent. Many of their 5v5 metrics are much closer to mid than their standings placement.

A true offensive difference maker may or may not be available. A Brock Nelson may be short of that but still worth the upgrade over Eller IMO. We'll see if he becomes available. One would think the Caps won't make moves until deadline day barring an exceptional circumstance. Until then they ought to be shaking all of the cupboards...

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I googled Brian McClellan saying we're looking to upgrade our top 6 2024, tons of quotes describing looking for the types of acquisitions Mangi and PLD were

Google Search

For Sandin they said the were looking to add NHL ready players at the deadline

That a lot different than looking at the big trade board and going “nope nothing to be had”.

Back then he was saying “open for business”. No specific big names linked to us that ultimately moved right?

 

[Silky mitts]

That a lot different than looking at the big trade board and going “nope nothing to be had”.

Back then he was saying “open for business”. No specific big names linked to us that ultimately moved right?

Right, really only saying they doesn't expect to trade a 1st, I'm not really against a 2nd for Donato or one of the Islanders but there are a lot of teams in the mix and not a lot of forwards available, I just don't think anyone else not already out there will be sneaky available but now maybe Tuch is available so who knows

 

[wickedwitch]

my impression of GMCP's press conference:
-very few teams have decided to sell (thus far)
-GMCP seems inclined to err on the side of not making a move. (I think he's a pretty open guy, but obviously it's possible he's saying this as a negotiating strategy.) He mentioned multiple times that moves often don't move the needle much historically and highlighted the times the Caps were best served by not making a move.
-whether that literally means no moves or just some extra depth that could be stashed in Hershey or even a bottom 6 forward, I don't know.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

my impression of GMCP's press conference:
-very few teams have decided to sell (thus far)
-GMCP seems inclined to err on the side of not making a move. (I think he's a pretty open guy, but obviously it's possible he's saying this as a negotiating strategy.) He mentioned multiple times that moves often don't move the needle much historically and highlighted the times the Caps were best served by not making a move.
-whether that literally means no moves or just some extra depth that could be stashed in Hershey or even a bottom 6 forward, I don't know.

He’s right about one thing, bad trades don’t move the needle, so I’d recommend avoiding bad trades lol. They have had their share at the deadline.

Didn’t see the interview. Which times specifically did he refer to that the Caps were best served NOT making any trades? They made depth adds and won a Cup. Can’t think off the top of a my head any Cups we won NOT bolstering the lineup with a body or two.

 

[Kazer]

I get not wanting to mess with chemistry but last night clearly illustrated to me why the Caps need to make at least one move. Outside of Leonard (assuming he signs), there is no one in the organization right now who I want playing in the top 6 in case of injury.

When the Caps won in 2018, they had Bura, Stephenson, a much younger Eller, and Connolly who could all play top 6 minutes in a pinch and several of them did so quite effectively.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I get not wanting to mess with chemistry but last night clearly illustrated to me why the Caps need to make at least one move. Outside of Leonard (assuming he signs), there is no one in the organization right now who I want playing in the top 6 in case of injury.

When the Caps won in 2018, they had Bura, Stephenson, a much younger Eller, and Connolly who could all play top 6 minutes in a pinch and several of them did so quite effectively.

Mangi was suppose to be that guy

 

[wickedwitch]

He’s right about one thing, bad trades don’t move the needle, so I’d recommend avoiding bad trades lol. They have had their share at the deadline.

Didn’t see the interview. Which times specifically did he refer to that the Caps were best served NOT making any trades? They made depth adds and won a Cup. Can’t think off the top of a my head any Cups we won NOT bolstering the lineup with a body or two.

You can watch it here:

 

[Kazer]

Mangi was suppose to be that guy

Of all the offseason moves, Mangiapane has definitely been the most disappointing*. Not that he has been bad, but he has not been that top 6 guy you were hoping for.

Replicating his 35 goal, 55 point 21-22 campaign was obviously unrealistic, but I was hoping that he could be a 20+ 40+ guy. He's on pace to score 15 goals and 28 points, and he has not been particularly effective when moved up either. I wouldn't ship him out for a box of chocolates, but he's definitely replaceable.

*Compared to what I expected

 

[Jags]

I get not wanting to mess with chemistry

Yeah, I don't think anyone's for that, yet folks keep cautioning us against it. Eller is not a chemistry player. He does nothing to elevate the play of his wings. And we knew that going in because we know him well. But now we've arrived at a place where it seems we have a legit Cup shot and suddenly "better than a misfiring Lapierre" isn't the metric we should be striving for anymore. We can do better.

Getting a 3C that IS a chemistry player is the hope. There are a few out there rumored to be available that certainly fit that bill. They may not be the most coveted or most attractive on the stat sheet or the players they were a few years ago, but they're better than Eller right now and better fits for what we'll need for a deep playoff run, IMO.

 

[Kazer]

Yeah, I don't think anyone's for that, yet folks keep cautioning us against it. Eller is not a chemistry player. He does nothing to elevate the play of his wings. And we knew that going in because we know him well. But now we've arrived at a place where it seems we have a legit Cup shot and suddenly "better than a misfiring Lapierre" isn't the metric we should be striving for anymore. We can do better.

Getting a 3C that IS a chemistry player is the hope. There are a few out there rumored to be available that certainly fit that bill. They may not be the most coveted or most attractive on the stat sheet or the players they were a few years ago, but they're better than Eller right now and better fits for what we'll need for a deep playoff run, IMO.

There's team chemistry versus line chemistry. It's not just about the 3C slot but how trading for a new 3C slot results in a number of corresponding moves - likely waiving or trading two of Frank, Vrana, and Milano (once healthy) [note: possibly AA or McIlrath if they choose to keep 14 F].

When the Caps acquired Kempny, it made Djoos and Orpik the 3rd pair and pushed Bowey out of the lineup. When making a move like this, there's often multiple impacts (how would Kempny pair with Carlson? how would Bowey take being benched? how would Djoos and Orpik play with each other?) to consider.

FWIW, I agree that trading for a new 3C to displace Eller makes the most sense to me out of all the options, but it's not as simple as changing a tire.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Yeah, I don't think anyone's for that, yet folks keep cautioning us against it. Eller is not a chemistry player. He does nothing to elevate the play of his wings. And we knew that going in because we know him well. But now we've arrived at a place where it seems we have a legit Cup shot and suddenly "better than a misfiring Lapierre" isn't the metric we should be striving for anymore. We can do better.

Getting a 3C that IS a chemistry player is the hope. There are a few out there rumored to be available that certainly fit that bill. They may not be the most coveted or most attractive on the stat sheet or the players they were a few years ago, but they're better than Eller right now and better fits for what we'll need for a deep playoff run, IMO.

Eller not a chemistry player???? We got him bc hes 100% that. The locker room loves him, hes a good teammate, Knows how to play with the vets, Cup winning goal hero, Almost 0% chance to blow up the locker room when we got him... I can keep going

We might have a different view of what a chemistry player is.

 

[Langway]

Lost in the shuffle a bit I suppose is Sonny Milano but it's always been hard to tell whether he figures into their plans or not. He wasn't good in the pre-season or in his quick three games of action (albeit playing mostly with Lapierre). I suppose Zucker or Donato may not be massively better than him but it's hard to gauge how well he may play after missing so much time. Is he still a fit more in a third-line role? Does his systems/personnel familiarity offset what healthier more marginal options may provide?

Milano has typically been a pretty efficient offensive player yet it's hard to say how well he'd mesh alongside, say, Eller/Frank or Eller/Leonard. More likely I'd count on Milano essentially replacing Vrana as the extra but we'll see. He's seemingly still some way off from returning and with a role that remains unclear. I think I'd give Milano a shot over Mangiapane to be that depth X factor scorer but we'll see if the staff agrees. I'd rather that at least than adding Laughton and just sort of surrendering with their bottom six mix until Leonard arrives.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Everyone is a GMCP expert already, love it.

 

[qc14]

Eller not a chemistry player???? We got him bc hes 100% that. The locker room loves him, hes a good teammate, Knows how to play with the vets, Cup winning goal hero, Almost 0% chance to blow up the locker room when we got him... I can keep going

We might have a different view of what a chemistry player is.

In addition to this, he's pretty clearly elevated the play of his wings when they're not two of the worse defensive players in the entire league.

Lost in the shuffle a bit I suppose is Sonny Milano but it's always been hard to tell whether he figures into their plans or not. He wasn't good in the pre-season or in his quick three games of action (albeit playing mostly with Lapierre). I suppose Zucker or Donato may not be massively better than him but it's hard to gauge how well he may play after missing so much time. Is he still a fit more in a third-line role? Does his systems/personnel familiarity offset what healthier more marginal options may provide?

Milano has typically been a pretty efficient offensive player yet it's hard to say how well he'd mesh alongside, say, Eller/Frank or Eller/Leonard. More likely I'd count on Milano essentially replacing Vrana as the extra but we'll see. He's seemingly still some way off from returning and with a role that remains unclear. I think I'd give Milano a shot over Mangiapane to be that depth X factor scorer but we'll see if the staff agrees. I'd rather that at least than adding Laughton and just sort of surrendering with their bottom six mix until Leonard arrives.

Milano is somewhat in the Leonard category to me where if he comes back as the ~.5ppg guy he's been then great, but I think you have to plan like he's not going to be able to play. Missed too much time and did not look great the couple of games he did play this season.



After doing some more thinking and reading the GMCP interview, 32T, LeBrun, etc. ... give me Nelson if the price is a 25 1st or less. If it's more, i'll take Brazeau for a late round pick or NAK for FC. Pass on everything else.

 

[Jags]

It's not just about the 3C slot but how trading for a new 3C slot results in a number of corresponding moves - likely waiving or trading two of Frank, Vrana, and Milano

I'm not afraid of those moves. Vrana and Milano are the odd men out now, and I don't think we miss them. So they're the candidates to go if we acquire another forward and Leonard signs. Then Frank and another guy become the extra forwards (Raddysh?). I'm fine with that. You'd have to explain to me why I shouldn't be, because I can't think of a reason.

We might have a different view of what a chemistry player is.

I'm talking about the product on the ice. I don't think we're likely to lose Eller in the deal for a new 3C (unless the other team wants him). So he's still got an opportunity to play if he's a better 4W than whoever's left. Still in the locker room, still a good teammate.

I'm not going to prioritize Eller's feelings over increasing our Cup chances. And neither should he. The dude has zero offensive vision, and that was okay when the bar was lower for us or years ago when our 3W talent was sparse. But the bar is high now for this year's team, and we have 3W talent that can be put to good use with a different center.

I don't want Leonard out there settling for "good on the forecheck" grades, with the odd puck going in because of individual efforts. He deserves a center that can run with him in the offensive zone and help him do the things he does. Same goes for Mangiapane and Frank or Milano or Miro. A Cup winner needs their 3rd line to contribute more than sweat.

"Cup winning goal hero?" So many comments here about Nelson, Pageau, and O'Reilly not being who they were a few year ago. And they're not wrong. But Eller's not the player he was 7 years ago either. Today's team needs more from that spot than what he brings to the table. Chemistry in the locker room will be fine if chemistry on the ice pays dividends.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I'm not afraid of those moves. Vrana and Milano are the odd men out now, and I don't think we miss them. So they're the candidates to go if we acquire another forward and Leonard signs. Then Frank and another guy become the extra forwards (Raddysh?). I'm fine with that. You'd have to explain to me why I shouldn't be, because I can't think of a reason.



I'm talking about the product on the ice. I don't think we're likely to lose Eller in the deal for a new 3C (unless the other team wants him). So he's still got an opportunity to play if he's a better 4W than whoever's left. Still in the locker room, still a good teammate.

I'm not going to prioritize Eller's feelings over increasing our Cup chances. And neither should he. The dude has zero offensive vision, and that was okay when the bar was lower for us or years ago when our 3W talent was sparse. But the bar is high now for this year's team, and we have 3W talent that can be put to good use with a different center.

I don't want Leonard out there settling for "good on the forecheck" grades, with the odd puck going in because of individual efforts. He deserves a center that can run with him in the offensive zone and help him do the things he does. Same goes for Mangiapane and Frank or Milano or Miro. A Cup winner needs their 3rd line to contribute more than sweat.

"Cup winning goal hero?" So many comments here about Nelson, Pageau, and O'Reilly not being who they were a few year ago. And they're not wrong. But Eller's not the player he was 7 years ago either. Today's team needs more from that spot than what he brings to the table. Chemistry in the locker room will be fine if chemistry on the ice pays dividends.

OK. You want a better hockey player then Eller... I get it, I never said Eller was good anymore, He was washed last time we traded him. But we brought him back for his chemistry with the team.
I would also like a better 3C but really dont see a fit unless Barry trades us ROR.