Does anyone want to talk about the Capitals

[lionsDen]

I don’t get to catch them much being on the west coast, looks like a team I could get behind.

 

[GlitchMarner]

Strome, Dubois doesn't scream Cup winning center depth. If they win Stanley, it would be an exception.

Two big centres who were drafted third overall and are in their primes? I think a team can do worse at the position.

Plus, when you have Ovechkin, Wilson, Protas and McMichael as wingers, those guys have plenty of offensive and physical support.

 

[ozzie]

Somehow they just keep taking care of business even under the pressure of the chase. The team is built for the playoffs with a nice combination of young players and resurgence of players. Balanced attack. They've been so steady all season.

I also wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people aren't convinced and it's all smoke and mirrors. I guess the question will be, does the team have another gear or intensity level for the playoffs.

 

[Bank Shot]

Two big centres who were drafted third overall and are in their primes? I think a team can do worse at the position.

Plus, when you have Ovechkin, Wilson, Protas and McMichael as wingers, those guys have plenty of offensive and physical support.

Teams can do worse for sure. Stanley Cup Winning teams haven't done worse however.

O'Reilly-Schenn would be the most comparable, but I think most would argue O'Reilly was a much better two way center than either of the Caps guys.

 

[Demandedace]

Backstrom and Oshie's contracts come off the books after this season and they are going to add Ryan Leonard who is a legit top 6 talent. They have a lot of money to play around with this offseason and are probably not going away.

Backstrom and Oshie’s contracts are already for all intents and purposes off of the books, nothing changes with regard to them/that this off-season.

You are correct about Leonard though

 

[Herregud]

Strome, Dubois doesn't scream Cup winning center depth. If they win Stanley, it would be an exception.

To date, it's a combination that's been exactly as successful at winning the Cup as McDavid and Draisaitl. Which isn't me trying to drag the Oilers, just saying that no combination is a winning combination until they win.

Also, Dubois has been an incredible two-way player in DC. Strome, on the other hand... well... You take what you can get.

 

[Bank Shot]

To date, it's a combination that's been exactly as successful at winning the Cup as McDavid and Draisaitl. Which isn't me trying to drag the Oilers, just saying that no combination is a winning combination until they win.

Not sure why you are even bringing the Oilers up if we are talking about recent Cup winners.

Cup winners almost always have a first rate center. For example, Washington had Backstrom when they won their Cup.

The only real exception in the cap era are the Blues and O'Reilly is better than either of the Washington guys.

History has shown you almost always need to be exceptionally strong at center ice. Maybe you don't like that fact, but its the truth until a team proves otherwise.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Not sure why you are even bringing the Oilers up if we are talking about recent Cup winners.

Cup winners almost always have a first rate center. For example, Washington had Backstrom when they won their Cup.

The only real exception in the cap era are the Blues and O'Reilly is better than either of the Washington guys.

History has shown you almost always need to be exceptionally strong at center ice. Maybe you don't like that fact, but its the truth until a team proves otherwise.

The Caps #1 center when they won the Cup was Kuznetsov. No one thought of him as the Caps #1C since they had Backstrom but he just exploded in the 2018 playoffs.

I’m not saying Strome or PLD will do the same, but I don’t think the Caps center depth is their weakness. Dowd is arguably the best #4C in the league. Eller is dependable as well and surrounded by very good wingers like Mangiapane (and maybe Leonard soon).

 

[GlitchMarner]

Teams can do worse for sure. Stanley Cup Winning teams haven't done worse however.

O'Reilly-Schenn would be the most comparable, but I think most would argue O'Reilly was a much better two way center than either of the Caps guys.

Who were some of the Blackhawks' number two centres when they won their Cups?

I get what you're saying. Teams that win the Cup usually have a superstar centre and a strong one-two punch. But a winning team's strength can be elsewhere or in its depth. The Lightning won the Cup without much help from Stamkos in 2020 and then he wasn't exactly stellar in their 2021 Cup run (he was basically just another good player on a stacked team). I think Kadri was COL's two C in 2022. Kuznetsov stepped up big for WSH in 2018. I'm not sure people though those were guys that could be key centres on Cup winners until they were.

 

[Herregud]

Not sure why you are even bringing the Oilers up if we are talking about recent Cup winners.

Cup winners almost always have a first rate center. For example, Washington had Backstrom when they won their Cup.

The only real exception in the cap era are the Blues and O'Reilly is better than either of the Washington guys.

History has shown you almost always need to be exceptionally strong at center ice. Maybe you don't like that fact, but its the truth until a team proves otherwise.

Partially because the Oilers have far and away the best offensive 1-2 punch at C in the league and still haven't won (although they were dang close). Partially to make the point that there's no such thing as "looking like" cup-winning depth. Teams either win or they don't.

What I don't understand is why you're acting like the Caps are wet noodles at the C position. PLD regularly (not always) shuts down almost any other vaunted top C his line faces. Strome is experiencing a massive resurgence lately after a bit of a lull and no one will ever convince me that there's a better 4c in the league than Dowd.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Caps have both a Coach of the Year & GM of the Year candidate. They are going to be tough out as they have size, scoring and defensive capability coupled with very solid goaltending.

 

[57special]

I would like their name to be changed to the Capitols.

 

[TS Quint]

Not sure why you are even bringing the Oilers up if we are talking about recent Cup winners.

Cup winners almost always have a first rate center. For example, Washington had Backstrom when they won their Cup.

The only real exception in the cap era are the Blues and O'Reilly is better than either of the Washington guys.

History has shown you almost always need to be exceptionally strong at center ice. Maybe you don't like that fact, but its the truth until a team proves otherwise.

"Almost always".... it's a fact

 

[Dingo]

I would like their name to be changed to the Capitols.

 

[Fist of Fury]

Tom Wilson, hate the guy as an opponent, but damn wish he was an Islander.

 

[Dingo]

Strome
Protas
McMichael

It might not be too flashy, but I dont think they are weak down the middle, honestly.

 

[max21]

It’s pretty remarkable how they were able to rebuild their prospect pool and stay extremely competitive at the same time

 

[flyfysher]

Somehow they just keep taking care of business even under the pressure of the chase. The team is built for the playoffs with a nice combination of young players and resurgence of players. Balanced attack. They've been so steady all season.

I also wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people aren't convinced and it's all smoke and mirrors. I guess the question will be, does the team have another gear or intensity level for the playoffs.

First to 16 wins in the SC POs will expose every team’s deficiencies whatever that might be. Glad the Caps are doing well. This is good for their organization and for hockey in general.

 

[Ghost of Murph]

Heading closer to the playoffs, the thing I think that makes the Caps a very legit Cup threat is that they can get scoring from so many players beyond their stars. They don't rely on just a few players for goals. We see teams all the time in the playoffs lose because the other team game plans around stopping a couple stars. Can't really do that to the Caps since they have very capable offensive talent up and down their roster.

The Caps have great goaltending and a solid D. Hard to see them not making at least the ECF unless the whole team goes cold at once.

Scary that as great as the Caps are this season, they could easily be better next season. GM, coach, and players are getting the job done.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Salem, Oregon has got to be one of the most obscure and difficult to remember capitals.

 

[Lou Sassole]

Teams can do worse for sure. Stanley Cup Winning teams haven't done worse however.

O'Reilly-Schenn would be the most comparable, but I think most would argue O'Reilly was a much better two way center than either of the Caps guys.

Then you haven't watched PLD play this year.

 

[KingsFan7824]

When the Caps won the Cup, their top 3 centers were playing as well as they ever did, at the same time.

To win the Cup, you basically need everything to fall your way. Your top guys have to produce, obviously. Your goalie probably has to steal at least one series, if not multiple games from each series. Your depth has to come up big, in general, or because of injury. And you always have to have that one guy who, for no rational reason, has the playoff of a lifetime. You never cared about him before, you never hear from him again, but for 1-2 months, he is just dialed in. He gets 10 goals in 24 games, when he had 10 goal in the 82 regular season games. Or that one checker who, is just a monster for 2 rounds. Wins every faceoff on a penalty kill, or whatever he has to do.

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

Excited to see Ryan Leonard join the Capitals

 

[flyfysher]

When the Caps won the Cup, their top 3 centers were playing as well as they ever did, at the same time.

To win the Cup, you basically need everything to fall your way. Your top guys have to produce, obviously. Your goalie probably has to steal at least one series, if not multiple games from each series. Your depth has to come up big, in general, or because of injury. And you always have to have that one guy who, for no rational reason, has the playoff of a lifetime. You never cared about him before, you never hear from him again, but for 1-2 months, he is just dialed in. He gets 10 goals in 24 games, when he had 10 goal in the 82 regular season games. Or that one checker who, is just a monster for 2 rounds. Wins every faceoff on a penalty kill, or whatever he has to do.

You also need luck, good calls and no or few bad calls that aren’t outcome determinative. It’s damn hard to win the SC.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

This year's Cinderella team. Will eventually run out of steam in the playoffs. Do t think they go far, maybe round 2. Roster isn't built for the playoffs