Is there a narrative that the Capitals are sacrificing everything to get Ovechkin the Goal Record? Is there a double standard with regards to Crosby?

[Toby91ca]

I don't think people realize how lucky we were to watch both Ovechkin and Crosby's entire careers.

Probably the same for people that got to watch Gretzky and Lemieux's entire careers.

What about those of us that got to watch entire careers of all 4?

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Are you talking about the current process or drafting Crosby and Malkin back-to-back almost 20 years ago? Because currently the Capitals are drafting well (Leonard, Cristall) and making more moves to remain competitive (Thompson, PLD, Mangiapane). Pens seem rudderless at the moment, unless they're banking on more lottery luck.

And why can the Caps draft well? Because they didn't go as “all in” as the Penguins did and it shows in the results between the two teams.

Yes the Penguins should have kept ahold of picks and transitioned sooner but it is much easier to do with a team that won a lone Stanley Cup compared to a core of players that went to 4 and won 3.

Some people seem to think that the transition should have happened over night. Yeah in a perfect world def should have happened a couple of years ago.

Not overly surprising or mind shattering to see the FO f*** it up by a couple years.

The Penguins process isn't markedly better they just got lucky to get two all-time players in back to back drafts. And it's not like a Steph Curry/NBA situation where you go wow how did they know, they got the #1 and #2 overall pick and all-time no brainer talents were there.

I'm not saying their selections were made of some genius ability to recognize talent better than the rest of the league. I am stating that the process of tanking for grade A prospects seems to be the better move than a retooling on the fly.

 

[Toby91ca]

All first round draft picks (except Crystal who was 40 OA and leading the WHL in points with 16 points in 6 games). 3 of those guys aren't even in the NHL yet, but they absolutely will be.

I'm assuming you mean Cristall. He could very well turn out to be a great player, but I always discount great stats in Junior being put up by guys that in their 4th and 5th years there.....time will tell.

Because currently the Capitals are drafting well (Leonard, Cristall).

What is it about those picks where we can say they drafted well? Neither has played a second in the NHL.

 

[SkinsFan09]

I think they know they have a middle of the pack team and are treading water for now. They know its a long shot to make the playoffs so why waste resources.


So what is the goal this year? Wild card at best? Likely miss and have a middle of the pack pick again. If it happens, no one is complaining, but lets not pretend that management went ham to make a real run at the Cup.

There is no reason they cannot compete to be top 3 in the Metro. I don't think people appreciate how much the Oshie and Backstrom contracts, and Kuznetsov disaster were dragging their roster down.

Also brand new coaching staff and a first time NHL coach learning the ropes as they are reshaping the roster. Last year and this year are night and day.

 

[Midnight Judges]

I'm assuming you mean Cristall. He could very well turn out to be a great player, but I always discount great stats in Junior being put up by guys that in their 4th and 5th years there.....time will tell.

I do too, but in the NHL preseason he played really well. He's got slick hands and he's a very good passer of the puck. So for me it's more eye test than his ridiculous WHL stats.

There is no reason they cannot compete to be top 3 in the Metro. I don't think people appreciate how much the Oshie and Backstrom contracts, and Kuznetsov disaster were dragging their roster down.

It's pretty painful to say it because those guys are Capitals legends. None of them will ever have to buy beer in DC again. But yeah it was to a point where this was addition by subtraction. For Oshie and Backstrom it was just injuries - the kind that NOBODY can overcome.

 

[Sol]

The caps having the most prolific goal scorer in history to be a franchise long player is much greater than getting on the right path two years quicker

 

[benfranklin]

There is no reason they cannot compete to be top 3 in the Metro. I don't think people appreciate how much the Oshie and Backstrom contracts, and Kuznetsov disaster were dragging their roster down.

Also brand new coaching staff and a first time NHL coach learning the ropes as they are reshaping the roster. Last year and this year are night and day.

Anything can happen and therye still good enough to win games obviously. For me. I would want my team to either go for it or go for the lottery. Im not a fan of living in mediocrity and thats what I feel therye doing until Ovi leaves.

Injuries can happen and obviously they can sneak in like last season, but lets be honest, every team will hope they get them for an easy win. We saw it years ago with the Lightning/BJ's and the BJ's sold the farm to win a round and have been clawing back since and are still a lottery team.

IMO and could be wrong, but I feel the Rangers, Devils, and Hurricanes are way ahead of the Caps so its wild card or bust. More than likely theyll miss and get a 10-15 overall pick, but lets assume they make it again, have fun with the Rangers or Panthers.

As a fan, Id rather have a badass prospect than a round 1 disister.