Does anyone want to talk about the Capitals

[Suntouchable13]

Easy jinx thread

Oh look, a thread on HFboards has no effect on what happens on the ice. Whoda thunk it?

 

[GRob83]

7-2-1 in the 10 games that Ovechkin has been out. He's still 12th in the league and shares the team lead with 15 goals. They are scoring by committee and looking very fluid and driven with a high compete level in every game. They have a ton of comeback wins and it provides for some very exciting hockey games. This season has been amazing so far.

 

[stephenball]

Yeah, was it the 13th comeback win for them this year yesterday?

 

[JPT]

Yeah i do. Why is their name plural when there's only one national capital?

 

[Susannah]

Yeah i do. Why is their name plural when there's only one national capital?

Maybe, "capitals" is not the referring to nation's capital.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

They're so f***ing good man lmao

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Yeah i do. Why is their name plural when there's only one national capital?

More importantly, why is the word “capitals” written in all lower case on their jersey?

 

[Turin]

I'm still ignoring them but it's getting increasingly difficult and am descending into cope.

 

[JPT]

Maybe, "capitals" is not the referring to nation's capital.

The team that plays in the US capital city and has had multiple logos depicting the US Capitol building isn't referencing the nation's capital? Big, if true.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Next man up mentality . Admirable

 

[stephenball]

They're so f***ing good man lmao

Caps and Devils fans have seen a lot of each others teams so far, the games have been wild. Would be a crazy playoff series.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Caps and Devils fans have seen a lot of each others teams so far, the games have been wild. Would be a crazy playoff series.

Ya, I said it earlier in this thread, that's the matchup I want to see. Plus the travel to games would be easy on players + fans. Would definitely make it down to DC if that was round 1. The Capitals have to lose a bit for that though which they clearly have different intentions

 

[stephenball]

Ya, I said it earlier in this thread, that's the matchup I want to see. Plus the travel to games would be easy on players + fans. Would definitely make it down to DC if that was round 1. The Capitals have to lose a bit for that though which they clearly have different intentions

Let’s just be the top 2 seeds and meet in the ECF. Wouldn’t be round 1, but we could all be happy. Not saying it’s going to happen, still a ton of hockey to be played this season.

 

[carjackmalone]

Crosby will either ask for a trade or retire after his 2 year contract is up at the age of 39.

He won't want to be part of a rebuild in Pittsburgh at the age of 40.

Crosby hit all his milestones Games played,Goals,assists and points this season in a pens uniform

He will be traded now that is out of the way

 

[BKarchitect]

It’s crazy that Hershey are a powerhouse yet again in the AHL even with all the graduations and staff movement over the years.

This is the secret sauce IMO. I think the way the Caps have been able to develop players - both high end and out of nowhere role players - on a really good AHL team that has great synergy over a long history with its NHL parent - is really undervalued. You get players developed in a highly energized, historically important AHL franchise that is constantly playing in high-leverage games and playoff runs. People outside of hardcore prospect followers don’t know names like Trineyev and Iorio but these are the guys who are going to fill in the gaps over the next few years and they’ve been loaded with winning experience in Hershey. I wouldn’t put it past guys like Frank or Dube to get some NHL time as older guys either. There’s more Beck Malentyn’s down there IMO. And sure, Hershey, as a rule, generally grab a lot of high end AAAA vets - but that only reinforces it as a great place to develop younger guys.

It’s also been the cauldron to develop staff like Carbery himself. I mean he worked his way up not only from Hershey but the Caps long-time ECHL affiliate, South Carolina.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

It’s crazy that Hershey are a powerhouse yet again in the AHL even with all the graduations and staff movement over the years.

This is the secret sauce IMO. I think the way the Caps have been able to develop players - both high end and out of nowhere role players - on a really good AHL team that has great synergy over a long history with its NHL parent - is really undervalued. You get players developed in a highly energized, historically important AHL franchise that is constantly playing in high-leverage games and playoff runs. People outside of hardcore prospect followers don’t know names like Trineyev and Iorio but these are the guys who are going to fill in the gaps over the next few years and they’ve been loaded with winning experience in Hershey. I wouldn’t put it past guys like Frank or Dube to get some NHL time as older guys either. There’s more Beck Malentyn’s down there IMO. And sure, Hershey, as a rule, generally grab a lot of high end AAAA vets - but that only reinforces it as a great place to develop younger guys.

It’s also been the cauldron to develop staff like Carbery himself. I mean he worked his way up not only from Hershey but the Caps long-time ECHL affiliate, South Carolina.

All great points. The culture is underrated for sure.

 

[GRob83]

Last check the Capitals, Bears and Stingrays are Division Leaders in their respective leagues. The organizational success and depth is incredible and doesn't even include Leonard, Cristall or Parascak yet. They have a 2nd Protas putting up big points in Junior as well.

 

[EdmFlyersfan]

No

 

[Coffey]

It’s like some sorcerer from DC swapped their skill with the Rangers after last playoffs.

 

[moropanov]

It seems this Washington team is stronger without Ovecjkin when they get adjusted playing without him/it.

 

[stephenball]

Yeah, they were only what, like, 13-4-1 with Ovechkin in the lineup or something? You’re right.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

It seems this Washington team is stronger without Ovecjkin when they get adjusted playing without him/it.

Ironically the power play is doing much better without him, but their 5 on 5 play has fallen off since he’s been out.

If Ovi returns at the same fitness level he had to start the year, the team is without a doubt better with him in the lineup. If he looks like early 2023-2024 Ovi, you may have a point.

 

[ozzie]

I was really expecting them to fall back downt to earth. But they seem to be getting better and better, almost machine like. You have to think once Ovie comes back, they will be at another level. It's crazy how well they are playing and being coached.

 

[moropanov]

I was really expecting them to fall back downt to earth. But they seem to be getting better and better, almost machine like. You have to think once Ovie comes back, they will be at another level. It's crazy how well they are playing and being coached.

Hard to see they would get better when Ovy returns.. almost certainly theyr record will get worse. They wont get 85% of points .. theyr player material after all isnt better than NHL average level and this kind of think cant last for too long. Or are other team's just so badly coached in NHL.. its kind of shameful for other team's that Washington's doing so good atm makes to think what are these other team's/coaches doing playing pond hockey without structures at all..

 

[Nogatco Rd]

I was really expecting them to fall back downt to earth. But they seem to be getting better and better, almost machine like. You have to think once Ovie comes back, they will be at another level. It's crazy how well they are playing and being coached.

Tbh the regression has started, they aren’t nearly as explosive offensively as they were to start the season. They are getting outstanding special teams and goalie play right now, which I don’t expect to last, at least at this level.

I do think they “know how to win” close games though, dating back to their play style from last year.

I think the East playoff bracket will be tough sledding though almost no matter who they draw. Not betting on an extended run and it doesn’t appear the oddsmakers are either.