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

That’s why I quoted it! 😂

Seriously though I love your optimism, but no chance those guys all make the team next year. Let’s say we come up just short for a Cup….they’re not going younger, they’ll be trying to get more Cup ready.
And yes i love to be optimistic. If I were to step it back maybe Cristall starts in the AHL, and maybe stays there for the season.

It's LittlePro that may be the big surprise and to me getting to the point where it wouldn't surprise me.

Also am thinking Miroshnichenko is ready and can pull a CMM and shine after going back down for a while.

Even if I'm off by a year, I think the lineup i posted has high potential.
 
I'll add that we want these guys to blossom and overachieve. It goes beyond the obvious cost benefits, it a part of why our culture is as good as it is. Everyone here with potential knows they have the opportunity to step up and grab the ring, and that is hugely motivating.
 
I remain baffled by anybody who wants to reduce Big Pro's icetime by putting him on the 3rd line. He's been arguably their best player this season!
Because I said explicitly it not the 3rd line.

This team rolled its best earlier in the season where the lines were all getting roughly close to equal TOI and everyone is clicking.

It the opposite of the Edmonton/Toronto one-super line model. Three lines rolling and producing
 
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Just a gut feeling but I think they'll keep Beauvillier. The rest will likely go elsewhere
Beauvillier I like as I feel he would be a regular fit on the 3rd line. If Raddysh(7g, 20a is fairly good for a 4th liner) walks then who do you put in his place on the 4th line? Mangiapane I like as well, but only if he takes a pay cut down to like $3 million from his $5.8 million cap hit.
 
Dowd extended, 2 years @ $3M AAV (UFA 35+ contract)

Like Dowd, like the term, not sure about more than doubling the salary of a player heading into his 35-37 year old seasons
Don't mind this. As far as Beagle the last year he was with the caps he did look like he starting to lose his speed. Plus wasn't it 3 years for Beags?
It's 'sneaky good' everything though. That's what I like most about him -- no deficiencies to his game. We've had great defensive, 2-way centers for years that were/are beloved (Beagle, Eller), but there's always that hint of -- no matter how great they are at their specialties -- "...but their line won't score much." So there's this nagging thing where you have to worry that Wilson won't (and kinda didn't) develop on the 4th, or Leonard wouldn't on the 3rd, or this guy is wasted on a line with X center, and so on.

You don't have that with Dowd. He has wheels enough to run with speed, vision enough to see and execute the bang-bang play when playing alongside skill, the ability to develop offensive chemistry with his wings -- and that's all in addition to his two-way play and inexhaustible motor.

I was thrilled when Beags got paid in free agency -- by someone else. And to be clear, I LOVED Beagle and hated to see him go. But I'm just as happy that Dowd's getting paid, ESPECIALLY here. Worth every penny, in my opinion.
I don't think the 4th line this season had as a good as chemistry as it did last year but just going on my recollection and not hard data. Don't think that was on Dowd in any way.
 
What do we know about the two injuries? Is Protas skating? LT taking shots in practice?
 
What do we know about the two injuries? Is Protas skating? LT taking shots in practice?
LT is practicing with the team again, so I would say he's close(might be a matter if he feels good in rhythm in practice to get the start against the Pens).

Protas, I think I read somewhere that he has some kind of wrap on his foot. With very little meat on top of the foot, I don't think you can even stitch that skate cut area. So it has to heal. I'm just wondering if he can play on it with a very tight wrap on it with tape on over it? The issue I would think is tolerance/comfort level. If you are feeling it too much/thinking about it, it can throw your game off.
 
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Don't mind this. As far as Beagle the last year he was with the caps he did look like he starting to lose his speed. Plus wasn't it 3 years for Beags?

I don't think the 4th line this season had as a good as chemistry as it did last year but just going on my recollection and not hard data. Don't think that was on Dowd in any way.
Beagle was 4 years @ $3M per signed in the summer of 2018. Loved Beagle but had to pass on that.

Thumbs up on the Dowd extension.
 
Cristal and I. Protas both need to spend a season in Hershey before we start discussing them being regular NHL players. Not only to get stronger and prepare for a long season against men but to integrate into the culture that Hershey and Washington have built together. Next year I think we'll probably see something like this. The third line is a little scary but you could always drop Leonard or Miro down to the "4th" and add the vet UFA presence(be it Raddysh, Beauvillier or a new vet) to the Lapierre line to stabilize the youth. Realistically that Lapierre line will play 4th line minutes unless they take off.

A. Protas - Strome - Ovi
McMichael - Dubois - Wilson
Miroshnichenko - Lapierre - Leonard
Duhaime - Dowd - FA
Trineyev/FA

Sandin - Carlson
Fever - Roy
Chychrun - TVR
Iorio/McIlrath

Thompson
Lindgren
 
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This team has the potential to move even more toward effectively having 3 #1 lines, plus your concept of the face off line.

More about synergies than a ranking.

I'm starting to think LittlePro is potentially going to force his way onto the team next year.

Ovi - Strome - Miroshnichenko
CMM - PLD- Wilson
Protas - Protas - Leonard
Cristall - Dowd - Duhaime

Lapierre/Frank

And some room in there to mix and match and juggle some...

It's established this is a culture where youth can step in and step up so the door is open for an evolution like this if LittlePro, Miroshnichenko, and Cristall can take the spots based on their play. Time will tell.
Micah Mccurdy mentioned something along those lines on some Caps podcast - that ideally you have as many lines as possible that function similarly so you can move guys up and down with injuries and penalties. Protas is one of the youngest guys in his class, I’m more ready to have a place for Cristal next year than him. Granlund is the biggest 3C upgrade that might take a shorter term deal that would fit.
Ovy Strome Wilson
CMM PLD Protas
Cristal Granlund Leonard
Duhaime Dowd Miro or a minimum UFA
 
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Integrate Leonard/Lapierre/Miro into the lineup next season on 3 different lines with 2 of the current top 6 vets on each line to stabilize them. Re-sign Beau/sign cheap FA as backup in case they don't work out. Done.
 
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I could see Beauvillier back but the other bottom 6 UFAs are likely gone.
Raddysh is an easy no. Happy that Duhaime is signed for another year. I like Mangi, but I think he will be looking for more money than his value. I would like Beauvillier back, I've been impressed, but I think it a $ vs value vs Miro calculation. Miro just turned 21 and went through Hodgkins and looks like a quality hockey player. I'm happy to give him plenty of space.
 
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I see Miro as the more likely 4th line guy next year:

OV-Strome-Pro
CMM-PLD-Wilson
Beauvillier-Lappiere-Leonard
Duhaime-Dowd-Miro (Frank as 13F)

I could see us going after a center/LW type as insurance if Lappy falters again. That would push Miro down to Hershey as he has one more year of waivers exemption.
 
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I see Miro as the more likely 4th line guy next year:

OV-Strome-Pro
CMM-PLD-Wilson
Beauvillier-Lappiere-Leonard
Duhaime-Dowd-Miro (Frank as 13F)

I could see us going after a center/LW type as insurance if Lappy falters again. That would push Miro down to Hershey as he has one more year of waivers exemption.
I keep thinking of Pius Suter as solid Lappy insurance (or 3LW). He surprisingly scored 25g this year tho, so he might not be as cheap anymore.

I also like the idea of Miro (or Leo) on the Dowd line.
 
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I think there's zero chance they go into the season again in a situation where they have to rely on young guys taking a step. Would also add that McMichael and Protas are not centers

Ovi-Strome-Wilson
McM-PLD-Protas
UFA-UFA/Lappy-Leonard
Duhaime-Dowd-UFA/Miro
Frank

Pius Suter would be a good fit at 3c but probably has priced himself out. Granlund ... eh.
 
I think there's zero chance they go into the season again in a situation where they have to rely on young guys taking a step. Would also add that McMichael and Protas are not centers

Ovi-Strome-Wilson
McM-PLD-Protas
UFA-UFA/Lappy-Leonard
Duhaime-Dowd-UFA/Miro
Frank

Pius Suter would be a good fit at 3c but probably has priced himself out. Granlund ... eh.

Thing is Lapierre is an RFA this summer and I believe he's about to lose his waiver-exempt status. He's going to be 23; it's time for him to graduate and run with a full-time spot or find a new home. I think they'll give him the leash to carry the 3rd line and if he can't perform,, they'll trade for a guy in the fall like they did Eller this year. They'll have the cap space to get a higher-upside guy than Lars.
 
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This interview with Dowd was pretty good. Congrats to Nic on his new contract. I think it's a great signing. Kudos to the front office on getting all of our key players under contract before the playoffs. No distractions so the boys can go out and give it their best. Looking around the league, I'm really thankful that our team is drama free.

 
I would strongly wager Game 1 on Sunday and Game 2 on Tuesday

The only question is Game 1 timing.
 
Next season Lappy, Iorio, Trineyev, Rybinski and Stevenson will all be eligible for waivers. (I think.)

They're listed in the order I think they'd be claimed. The first two for sure. Trineyev would be interesting, he's shown enough to believe there is an NHL role for him, but other teams likely already have guys like him.
 
It must be a real kick in the crotch for our kids seeing vets and trades happening at their position... after grooming them for 5 years their heart sinks when they see plain as day their time here will never happen. Especially seeing the recent moves done at their positions in the time since we won the cup... and yet never even winning a playoff series.

Like AA seeing Sandin Chych brought in...double nut punch when they get extended. I assume these kids dreams slowly fade into realistic expectations so its a little easier pill to swallow. All they can do is hope for injuries or a trade because at that point they are largely already cooked to their max potential.

I hate Sunday afternoon playoff games. I want an 8pm start and the fanbase roasted and raucous.
 
Beauvillier I like as I feel he would be a regular fit on the 3rd line. If Raddysh(7g, 20a is fairly good for a 4th liner) walks then who do you put in his place on the 4th line? Mangiapane I like as well, but only if he takes a pay cut down to like $3 million from his $5.8 million cap hit.
With Raddysh I'm assuming they let him walk to make room for someone in Hershey that's cheaper but he's well liked by the coach so it's possible they re-sign him as well.

Mangiapane definitely won't make ~ $6mil again but I think he's the most likely to move on
 
I would like to see a short term upgrade in the top-6 and I think Nick Schmaltz would be a great target. 1 yr remaining at 5,85.

Ovie-Strome-Schmaltz
Protas-Dubois-Wilson
McMichael-Lapierre-Leonard
Duhaime-Dowd-Beuvaillier
Sutter-Trienyev

Let Miro cook one more year in Hershey and be the 1st call up.
Lil-Pro and Thomas can get regular minutes as C’s in Hershey with Lappy and Sutter moving up.
 
Ovechkin-Strome-Protas
McMichael-Dubois-Wilson
X-Lapierre-Leonard
Duhaime-Dowd-X

X being Cristall, Miro, Protas, Frank, Milano, etc.

We have no big holes to fill. I’d rather give the kids a chance than overpay for some depth player.

If none of them are ready and Lapierre disappoints again, then you make your moves.
 
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