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

[SecretaryofDefense5]

Not expecting much. I get the nostalgia for Eller but he doesn’t do much at this point besides his defensive game. Injuries happen in the loffs and I don’t see him being able to move up the line up which I find a little worrisome. Also, Ovi and Strome really need a winger they can play with.

 

[DWGie26]

Building a playoff team is different than building an all-star team. Everyone needs to have a role and chemistry is absolutely king. The other really important thing is quality depth including young up and comers but not as your first options.

So if I’m GM, I’m looking for a savvy vet who can play legit center or wing and has some playoff experience. Two-way and grit because that is needed in the playoffs. The two options i like the best are:

- ROR: I know I was against this before because of his term and blocking Lappy. But he does check all of the boxes above and as someone noted, could be a good center to bring in with Leonard. And probably a contract we can move if needed.
- Jared McCann - he brings grit and scoring. So i think he fits our personality with much more offensive upside that Frederic who
- Alex Tuck is my first choice but i think that is a pipe dream and also not able to play forward
- Nelson i would consider but only a a value price

If Caps are targeting someone they REALLY want then i could see a move coming before TDL. Otherwise I think they will kick tires and see if there is a value to be had last day or two of TDL as teams get nervous.

 

[um]

Not expecting much. I get the nostalgia for Eller but he doesn’t do much at this point besides his defensive game. Injuries happen in the loffs and I don’t see him being able to move up the line up which I find a little worrisome. Also, Ovi and Strome really need a winger they can play with.

Protas and Wilson seem like 2 good choices.

No right-winger is gonna turn Strome into a 1C or make Ovie younger.

We may not have an elite first line, but we can be a very deep team.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

I'll play devils advocate here and ask if we do add a 3C have we discussed Donato? Twabby, do you have a chart please.

It seems he is certainly producing, 19G and 21A, with an expiring 2M cap hit. Maybe for a 2nd?

Thoughts?

 

[Misery74]

I'll play devils advocate here and ask if we do add a 3C have we discussed Donato? Twabby, do you have a chart please.

It seems he is certainly producing, 19G and 21A, with an expiring 2M cap hit. Maybe for a 2nd?

Thoughts?

Is he playing center? I’m not sure he does.

 

[hb13xchamps]

Alexeyev conditioning stint is interesting timing wise. He doesn’t hold much value IMO but I wonder if the conditioning stint isn’t to get him games in front of certain scouts/teams that might have interest

 

[wickedwitch]

Alexeyev conditioning stint is interesting timing wise. He doesn’t hold much value IMO but I wonder if the conditioning stint isn’t to get him games in front of certain scouts/teams that might have interest

The Caps literally have no LD depth if they trade him. Literally none. So unless they trade him for another depth LD (why?), they won't trade him. I guess he could be part of a package with a worse LD coming back.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Is he playing center? I’m not sure he does.

I was just going off what PuckPedia has listed so I'm not sure.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

The Caps literally have no LD depth if they trade him. Literally none. So unless they trade him for another depth LD (why?), they won't trade him. I guess he could be part of a package with a worse LD coming back.

That’s simply where TVR moves over as he’s done pretty well before.

 

[hb13xchamps]

The Caps literally have no LD depth if they trade him. Literally none. So unless they trade him for another depth LD (why?), they won't trade him. I guess he could be part of a package with a worse LD coming back.

I genuinely don’t know. But to have him do a conditioning stint this close to the TDL seems odd timing wise.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I genuinely don’t know. But to have him do a conditioning stint this close to the TDL seems odd timing wise.

As @DWGie26 stated, I think it makes a lot of sense. Opens a roster spot, maybe rotate Mac down soon also, get a space for Sonny to come back to test it out, maybe showcase him in a trade, or maybe he takes a spot from someone. Plus both guys haven’t seen real action in forever. We don’t really want to go into the playoffs having not even seen them play and suddenly they’re in NHL postseason emergency duty.

 

[Langway]

Worth mentioning that Nashville used their third and final salary retention spot in this transaction. Though with the way the Caps are trending I'd definitely put Mangiapane in play to maximize flexibility.

 

[twabby]

I'll play devils advocate here and ask if we do add a 3C have we discussed Donato? Twabby, do you have a chart please.

It seems he is certainly producing, 19G and 21A, with an expiring 2M cap hit. Maybe for a 2nd?

Thoughts?

 

[Misery74]

I hope the “stand pat” crew can see what’s plainly obvious, this team needs some reinforcements.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I hope the “stand pat” crew can see what’s plainly obvious, this team needs some reinforcements.

Im now in the dont over spend crew lol.

I really want to see what Barry wants for ROR

 

[hb13xchamps]

As @DWGie26 stated, I think it makes a lot of sense. Opens a roster spot, maybe rotate Mac down soon also, get a space for Sonny to come back to test it out, maybe showcase him in a trade, or maybe he takes a spot from someone. Plus both guys haven’t seen real action in forever. We don’t really want to go into the playoffs having not even seen them play and suddenly they’re in NHL postseason emergency duty.

Is that how it works? I thought conditioning loans still count towards the cap and they still are on the 23 man roster

 

[Lou Sassole]

Is that how it works? I thought conditioning loans still count towards the cap and they still are on the 23 man roster

They are.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

Posted it in the GTD, but this team needs a game changer. Go get Marchand and Freddy. 1st, Lapi, 2/3, +. Similar to the Dima + Hath deal two years ago. We need to go all-in this year and we have the prospect cupboard to get away with doing so. We need a play driver for the third line or we aren’t going to make a deep run.

 

[DWGie26]

Is that how it works? I thought conditioning loans still count towards the cap and they still are on the 23 man roster

It looks like in fact they still count on the roster. Shows the transaction but still 23 players and Alexyev is listed in the active players. So maybe it is just a conditioning stint.

As others mentioned, we can’t move a LD. If they waive a Dee in favor of then having 2 extra forwards, then i think it is Mac who will go down. That said, their have been some claims this last week.

 

[tycoonheart]

Not expecting much. I get the nostalgia for Eller but he doesn’t do much at this point besides his defensive game. Injuries happen in the loffs and I don’t see him being able to move up the line up which I find a little worrisome. Also, Ovi and Strome really need a winger they can play with.

They should have seriously run with Sgarbossa. He looked decent when he played that 3C position for a couple of games. Not as good defensively as Eller for sure but much better offensive game.

 

[kicksavedave]

I hope the “stand pat” crew can see what’s plainly obvious, this team needs some reinforcements.

I really don't think we're seeing the same thing. They're not losing because one or two players halfway down the lineup are not adequate. Upgrading Eller, or Mangi, for example, aren't why they are on a three game losing streak. Reinforcements are not the solution, because the problem is that the entire team is playing unmotivated and sloppy, for whatever reason. Slight upgrades to 3C or 3W, or even a new fresh 2nd liner, isn't going to make the other 16 or 17 skaters step back up and play like the dominant team they were for much of the season.

Unless you think upgrading incrementally from Eller to whoever else will make the rest of the team play better, you're not seeing the solution because you're solving for the wrong problem. The whole team needs a kick in the ass, or to find some new motivation considering they have practically locked up the division already. Teams ebb and flow. Swapping one or two players doesn't change that fact. It never has.

 

[twabby]

I'm not sure what the exact solution is except they need one more impact top 6 forward. Could be a center or a playdriving winger.

I agree with Langway that Strome hasn't been right for a while and they shouldn't just expect him to round into form. They need to either push him down the lineup or target someone specifically to play on his wing to enhance his play and the line as a whole.

Standing pat because prices are way too high is fine. Standing pat because "we like our team" would be foolish. Plenty of room for improvement.

 

[DWGie26]

These last three games don’t have much influence on what i think our TDL strategy should be. Injuries would change it but not three bad games. In order:

* Scroing threat who can play top 6 (or down to third line)
* Top 9 talent depth for long playoff run - every team needs it
* Push third line players down

 

[Random schmoe]

I saw a PuckPedia armchair GM yesterday casually drop a Marcus Johansson to the Caps for a 7th rounder as a cap clearing move for the Wild alongside other deals. And now I'm absolutely terrified.

 

[DWGie26]

I'm not sure what the exact solution is except they need one more impact top 6 forward. Could be a center or a playdriving winger.

I agree with Langway that Strome hasn't been right for a while and they shouldn't just expect him to round into form. They need to either push him down the lineup or target someone specifically to play on his wing to enhance his play and the line as a whole.

Standing pat because prices are way too high is fine. Standing pat because "we like our team" would be foolish. Plenty of room for improvement.

Yep. This. ROR or Brock Nelson.

ROR has term which is both good and bad and he can play wing or Center. Right now he is playing 1C for NSH.

Nelson can play center or left wing and is a big body which is good for our style. 6’4 212 UFA at end of season.

Both in mid 30’s (34 and 33) which is fine given all the youth coming and some old guys expiring this year and next.