GDT: Lightning vs Capitals. 7pm. Verizon Center. 4.13.2013

[Calicaps]

What part? I like Erat but he needs to signifiantly outperform the kid for at least a couple years and be a part of a Cup run or this trade is laughably bad.

It's true, but for the love of Pete, let's give the guy a chance to at least learn his way around the dressing room.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Just finished watching on DVR.

cant go to sleep with big leads.

that said 2 points 7w streak. Ovie #1 in goals

come ready to play 60 min next game

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Not really. Unproven prospects of the caliber of Forsberg typically are traded for great players, or at least players of the trading team's position of most need

All indications are that George made a panic trade and got fleeced because of it.

this.

even if its a wash on production. 2 years of fillip on league min vs 2 years of Erat at 4.5m cap hit at a lowered cap.

horrible trade for a invisible player

 

[Mothra]

Come on Mothra, just admit it's a terrible trade. Even if FF never amounts to anything he's a prized asset today, and should have returned more than a good-but-not great player with a fairly high cap hit and a marginal prospect.

It's objectively a bad trade. Move on.

Like ive said, not a fan of the trade....but this is ridiculous. If he never amounts to anything its a terrible trade? Because why? The HF community values prospects more than proven hockey players?

 

[Mothra]

What part? I like Erat but he needs to signifiantly outperform the kid for at least a couple years and be a part of a Cup run or this trade is laughably bad.

I expect him to be a much better NHL hockey player for the next couple years

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

No, but if he can come into the league and perform roughly as well as Erat...Milbury esqu deal ftl.

Latta has the potential to be a pretty good player. Ideally suited for the new division IMO.

We'll have to wait and see.

 

[Capathetic]

What are some examples of one unproven prospect getting back a great player? Those tend to be package deals.

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Just finished watching on DVR.

cant go to sleep with big leads.

that said 2 points 7w streak. Ovie #1 in goals

come ready to play 60 min next game

Same here. These kind of games happen sometimes and with it being Tampa Bay, I'm not surprised. They can score goals in bunches and sneak back into games.

 

[EroCaps]

Latta has the potential to be a pretty good player. Ideally suited for the new division IMO.

We'll have to wait and see.

Any better than a guy like Beagle? Coz those guys are fairly easy to find. The jury is out but the DNA evidence on this one is pretty convincing.

 

[mdurbin1234]

Listen, I have no problem at all with people hating on GMGM.

But get this -

We were involved in a 3 player trade.

We got 2 players.

1 out of the 3 players has played ANY NHL hockey

for 2.5 games

on a new team

in a new system

in victories


To label the trade and the player after this short amount of time is inherently ignorant and idiotic. I mean seriously, are you guys this dumb? Calling Erat a scrub after 3 games? I mean really?

I just don't get some people. This isn't rocket science. Feel free to hate on GMGM and call for the execution of Jesus himself if this trade doesn't pan out - but in the meantime, stop the *****ing and enjoy the win steak.

 

[edamer]

Listen, I have no problem at all with people hating on GMGM.

But get this -

We were involved in a 3 player trade.

We got 2 players.

1 out of the 3 players has played ANY NHL hockey

for 2.5 games

on a new team

in a new system

in victories


To label the trade and the player after this short amount of time is inherently ignorant and idiotic. I mean seriously, are you guys this dumb? Calling Erat a scrub after 3 games? I mean really?

I just don't get some people. This isn't rocket science. Feel free to hate on GMGM and call for the execution of Jesus himself if this trade doesn't pan out - but in the meantime, stop the *****ing and enjoy the win steak.

Yes, winning steak is my favorite kind of steak.
Joking aside, well said.

 

[caps4cup]

What are some examples of one unproven prospect getting back a great player? Those tend to be package deals.

This. I'd much rather give up Forsberg for Erat and Latta, then Forsberg, Barber, 1st for Pominville.

 

[Devil Dancer]

Like ive said, not a fan of the trade....but this is ridiculous. If he never amounts to anything its a terrible trade? Because why? The HF community values prospects more than proven hockey players?

HF is collectively capable of evaluating trades involving prospects to an extent. The Caps have traded prospects for veterans in the past that HF has collectively approved of (see e.g. Ruth for Fedorov; Eakin +2nd for Ribeiro). Plus one of the TSN guys, I can't remember which, reacted negatively to the trade when it happened.

In other words, it's not just HF that didn't like the trade for the Caps.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Not really. Unproven prospects of the caliber of Forsberg typically are traded for great players, or at least players of the trading team's position of most need

All indications are that George made a panic trade and got fleeced because of it.

Give me one instance where an unproven prospect alone has fetched a great player in return.

 

[Langway]

While it's too early to evaluate Erat the actual thinking behind the trade will always appear questionable. Poile set the bar incredibly high and was content to address the situation in the off-season when more teams could have been in the mix. McPhee crumbled. Simple as that. It's wasn't a trade made from a position of strength. It was uncharacteristically aggressive yet lacking in the necessary potential impact IMO to make it worthwhile. They're still fundamentally waiting on Kuznetsov to boost secondary scoring and for Orlov to get the chance to emerge as a top 4 LD. I could maybe see it if Erat completed a strong second line that clearly lacked a LW but the problems with that line run deeper.

My perspective is the players and coaching staff are gaining valuable experience, albeit with limited practice time, and the coaching staff is getting a better sense of what they have and what's needed. The East is fairly weak so who knows but this still seems like more of a transition year. Ovechkin & Green returning to form would be huge big picture but they still lack the across the board threats and top to bottom downhill game. The key will be taking the right next steps when the time comes and, for now, just enjoying the ride.

 

[Capsman]

Well, I guess we will soon find out a little bit about what we gave up in Forsberg. I was at the game last night, and to be honest, wasn't too impressed with Erat. He really was unable to make anything of his board battles and I didn't see those sweet passes we saw in her first game. But it was his first game back so I'll give him a pass. MP was really really good. He is making a good case to be a 3rd line regular, and I'm not so sure he can't handle a 2nd line role.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

I keep hearing McPhee got fleeced, and I was furious at the time of the trade, but it's fairly evident that he never wanted FF and wasn't high on him, nor was anyone on his staff. He clearly values Wilson at RW over FF.

Also, chill with the Erat hate. He's coming off what appeared to be a season-ending injury. He looked very strong in his 1st 2 games. Most of you will never give him a chance because you want him to be terrible to further your agendas.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Give me one instance where an unproven prospect alone has fetched a great player in return.

In a package -- Brayden Scheen for Mike Richards.

 

[tycoonheart]

And I'm not sure if GMs around the league were too high on him considering the fact that fell all the way to us.

So this whole idea that "he should've fetched us more 'coz he is a big time prospect" isn't all that accurate either. Big time prospects in the eyes of the fans sure. But I'm not sure GMs in the league view him the same way, which is evident because of the fact that he fell.

He could still turn out to be a hell of a player. Who knows.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

I keep hearing McPhee got fleeced, and I was furious at the time of the trade, but it's fairly evident that he never wanted FF and wasn't high on him, nor was anyone on his staff. He clearly values Wilson at RW over FF.

Also, chill with the Erat hate. He's coming off what appeared to be a season-ending injury. He looked very strong in his 1st 2 games. Most of you will never give him a chance because you want him to be terrible to further your agendas.

If McPhee and his scouting staff never wanted FF, he would never have picked him in the draft. There were several prospects they could have justified drafting instead (Grigorenko, Faksa, Girgensons, Teravainen).

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

In a package -- Brayden Scheen for Mike Richards.

So who would you have packaged with FF? And what would have been your target? Because an unproven player alone doesn't return a great player, so in this instance you're looking at Filip Forsberg + Marcus Johannson + 2nd round pick for ___________ ?

 

[Mothra]

HF is collectively capable of evaluating trades involving prospects to an extent. The Caps have traded prospects for veterans in the past that HF has collectively approved of (see e.g. Ruth for Fedorov; Eakin +2nd for Ribeiro). Plus one of the TSN guys, I can't remember which, reacted negatively to the trade when it happened.

In other words, it's not just HF that didn't like the trade for the Caps.

again....im not a fan of the trade either. That said the idea that an 18 year old player is going to step into the NHL and add what a proven vet adds is a bit much....especially when the vet has been a productive player and is hardly over the hill.

I know they are different style players but look at Johansson. He is 22 and been through a couple NHL playoffs and he still struggles to be a consistent top 2 line guy....Maybe FF's style of game and maturity just fit NHL play better and he is a 50 point player who is good in all zones right away....but thats very rare.

It seems like to many, its not only a forgone conclusion that FF will be a better player than Erat when he matures, but he's pretty much close to that right now. If thats the case then its a terrible trade....and i dislike it even more. Ive just seen WAY too many of these exact kind of prospects have ho-hum careers, if any.

So then people say....they should have gotten a better player than Erat. I guess...again, not thrilling to me either, but who? I do think he is being sold short and from what ive seen so far, ive liked.

so then its desperation.....maybe I suppose. I asked this before but had they been fighting for seeding instead of just making the playoff, would people feel differently? To me, around deadline time this team looked like it was going to make the playoffs.....or that it certainly could. They blew a couple games around that time but it just seemed to be coming together.

I think trying to link this move to not resigning Ribeiro is just grasping...that can be spun so many way. They could just as easily already know they arent going to resign him. I know GMGM is thought of as an idiot, which is funny because he clearly is not a dumb man. Not agreeing with him, or hating the way he built this team does not mean he is stupid. To believe they brought in Erat as a non-rental and think they would suddenly realize the $$ situation with Ribeiro is kind of funny.

To me this move means he has the support of Ted. If his job was on the line based on making the playoffs im not sure they allow a move like this. He still has time....

I'll say this....I like the style of hockey they play under Oates. I think its effective hockey that translates well in the spring. I also find it an entertaining style... I like this team

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

And I'm not sure if GMs around the league were too high on him considering the fact that fell all the way to us.

So this whole idea that "he should've fetched us more 'coz he is a big time prospect" isn't all that accurate either. Big time prospects in the eyes of the fans sure. But I'm not sure GMs in the league view him the same way, which is evident because of the fact that he fell.

He could still turn out to be a hell of a player. Who knows.

He fell all the way to 11, most likely due to the run on defensemen. This isn't a guy falling to the mid-20s.

And we know of at least one GM around the league that was extremely high on him.

This whole idea that Forsberg is only a big time prospect in the eyes of fans is absurd.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

So who would you have packaged with FF? And what would have been your target? Because an unproven player alone doesn't return a great player, so in this instance you're looking at Filip Forsberg + Marcus Johannson + 2nd round pick for ___________ ?

Mark Giordano, Joe Pavelski, Keith Yandle.

Those are just guys that are conceivably available. With that package, there might even be other trade opportunities that open up.

 

[tycoonheart]

What does "run on defense" have anything to do with it? If he is a big time prospect, GMs around the league would've picked him earlier. Really its as simple as that. They didn't see him as that, which is why he fell.

This whole thing reminds me of Matt Leinart's draft.

Sometimes GMs know more than us fans.