GDT: GM#3: Dallas @ DC - 7pm-ish

[Neil Racki]

I dont follow hockey other then the Caps. hard enough to find time for 60 or so Caps game a year so I just dont watch other teams unless they play the Caps.

PLD has an upright glide to him .... kinda like Andy Dufresne strolling through the prison yard like a man in a park without a care or worry in the world

 

[Devil Dancer]

I put zero stock in team performance through the first 5-10 games, but it's been a fun week of hockey.

Hopefully they're for real?

 

[Ridley Simon]

In GMBM I trust. So I think it’s for real.

Caps made shrewd acquisitions = talented players in wrong environment = buying low.

Caps made shrewd signings = leveraging Cap space and other teams constraints = buying low

PLD, Chychrun, Mangiapane, Thompson = all buy low.

Roy, Duhaime, Raddysh, Vrana = using market to help to also buy low here.

Pretty pretty pretty good.

BUT, SSS!!!!!! (small sample size)

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Dont forget we have alot of cap space left what only gets more valuable at the season goes on.

 

[Misery74]

In GMBM I trust. So I think it’s for real.

Caps made shrewd acquisitions = talented players in wrong environment = buying low.

Caps made shrewd signings = leveraging Cap space and other teams constraints = buying low

PLD, Chychrun, Mangiapane, Thompson = all buy low.

Roy, Duhaime, Raddysh, Vrana = using market to help to also buy low here.

Pretty pretty pretty good.

BUT, SSS!!!!!! (small sample size)

We pay our goalies less than $2m combined. They are both good.

This last offseason has been transformative.

 

[Marshall]

This last offseason has been transformative.

There it is.

 

[895]

Interesting how GMBM's first and last offseason were the best.

Really make u fink

 

[IafrateOvie34]

I believe!

 

[Ridley Simon]

Interesting how GMBM's first and last offseason were the best.

Really make u fink

Nah. Post 2017 was great too. Keeping it together and keeping the correct pieces. And NOT making other changes that were being requested.

GMBM has a lot of great off-seasons. Only one came after a Cup, but that’s not always his fault

 

[Calicaps]

Nah. Post 2017 was great too. Keeping it together and keeping the correct pieces. And NOT making other changes that were being requested.

GMBM has a lot of great off-seasons. Only one came after a Cup, but that’s not always his fault

Also, this one may have really been GMCP's first, based on BMac's comments about it being time for a fresh approach. Seems odd to make this many big changes and then be like, here you go! Bring on a new vision!

Seems more likely this IS the new vision.

 

[Langway]

I know Lapierre had a better game against Dallas, drew a couple of penalties, but I wonder how long they're willing to tolerate an unproductive center that tends to get cratered in possession. McMichael's back-check continues to make me intrigued by him at (nominal) 3C, esp. since Mangiapane may do just as well at 2LW. Better to be as strong as possible up the middle when the games really count.

Hard to believe Lapierre's fundamentals suggest a future breakout candidate. It doesn't seem like he's poised to put it all together and it's disappointing coming off of his AHL MVP run. Strength remains a real limitation but there's more to it. He hardly seems like a transitional threat either. With PLD & Strome seemingly locked into top six center spots they can contemplate dealing Lapierre if they don't believe he'll put it all together here (nor perhaps even thrive in a super insulated depth role).

They have options and can move pieces around if need be. They can cobble it together for now but the clock is ticking on any depth piece with the players on the way. He's definitely a piece I could see them putting in play if they want to be aggressive down the stretch if he's not showing more signs of figuring it out.

 

[usiel]

I know Lapierre had a better game against Dallas, drew a couple of penalties, but I wonder how long they're willing to tolerate an unproductive center that tends to get cratered in possession. McMichael's back-check continues to make me intrigued by him at (nominal) 3C, esp. since Mangiapane may do just as well at 2LW. Better to be as strong as possible up the middle when the games really count.

Hard to believe Lapierre's fundamentals suggest a future breakout candidate. It doesn't seem like he's poised to put it all together and it's disappointing coming off of his AHL MVP run. Strength remains a real limitation but there's more to it. He hardly seems like a transitional threat either. With PLD & Strome seemingly locked into top six center spots they can contemplate dealing Lapierre if they don't believe he'll put it all together here (nor perhaps even thrive in a super insulated depth role).

They have options and can move pieces around if need be. They can cobble it together for now but the clock is ticking on any depth piece with the players on the way. He's definitely a piece I could see them putting in play if they want to be aggressive down the stretch if he's not showing more signs of figuring it out.

Still feels its early on Lapierre here.

 

[DWGie26]

Was at the game last night (and Tuesday). Two fun nights of hockey. My takes aren’t really that different that others. Second line has been been awesome including McMike at wing. 4th line is actually… improved! Which is shocking because it has been good for a while now. Dee is looking solid and just a lot less getting to goalies. But both goalies have been really strong.

But what a i want to call out is Protas. I watched him closely last night (Dowd was my watch Tuesday). He is big with long stride and gets to a lot of pucks. But then he controls. He had several chances to score last night and i can’t wait for to see him start to find back of net. He also seems to have a bit more snarl to him. We sit close to glass and he took some good shots in front of us. I love if he can bring that physical element consistently.

 

[wickedwitch]

Still feels its early on Lapierre here.

Especially since he's improved with every game.

Obviously, I want to see him score, but I'm not remotely worried.