CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
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League News: NHL Talk - (News n' Scores n' Stuff) - 2021-2 Regular Season Edition, Vol. 2
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shtorm2005
Registered User
It's gonna be uuuuuggly for a few years after Ovi.
Yup, most likely. It almost always is. Look at the Red Wings after Yzerman and Federov, the Pens after Mario and Jagr, the Avs after Sakic and Forsberg, etc. Unless there’s some draft luck or some of their prospects take a huge leap they’ll likely stink for a while after the Ovi Era, which is why I don’t understand all the negativity around here all the time. A painful rebuild is likely on the horizon so enjoy this while it lasts. In a salary cap world and with the Draft set as it is it’s almost inevitable that every team will go through the suck after they’re good for a while.
Langway
In den Wolken
- Jul 7, 2006
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On the other hand they should have cap space at their disposal and not just whenever Ovechkin hangs them up but before then as well. They should have options both via free agency and trade to make creative use of resources to guard against a mandatory suck period. It may be inevitable but there are too many variables to be sure. That will be a judgement call on their viability but also what their organizational goals are by then. At the very least I'd hope that when some of these legends hang them up some stick around to learn the ropes on the management side and solidify the organization's vision. That's what could keep them in good stead IMO and something hasn't happened much historically. You'd think Leonsis will be wanting to change that.
Criticism isn't just blind negativity. I like to think I keep it on point and don't just bang the same drum all the time. If anything seeing how special Ovechkin still is only reinforces their need to maximize this window of opportunity. What comes down the line is anyone's guess. I'm not sure it has to be extremely painful for an extended period. A season or two? I could see. An extended rebuild of 3-5 years? I don't know that Leonsis is going to have the appetite for that, esp. if the Wiz are also rebuilding. There's plenty both franchises can do to remain in the muddled middle and I tend to expect that more often than complete tear-downs. Tear-downs are only as good as the lottery and draft classes allow for so it's hard to unconditionally bank on that as a strategy. More crucial I think will be a clear organizational vision and being more and more resourceful in acquisitions and self-assessment.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
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Spending on overpriced free agents after 19/8 seems like the quickest path to mediocrity. They might be just good enough to keep themselves from drafting high again, which is what they will need.
Very Redskinny strategy. I for one hope for a complete rebuild when the time comes.
Very Redskinny strategy. I for one hope for a complete rebuild when the time comes.
Langway
In den Wolken
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I think it depends on a lot of things. Free agents lately are less overpriced than they used to be and the trade route for salary dumps could be viable. They could also use cap room as an asset to gain assets while taking on good players. There are advantages to being in transition if that's what they end up being more severely. Just because they'd have cap space doesn't mean they have to use it. They could afford to be selective and patiently exploit the market. They could perhaps deal for an immediate core piece in the 26-28yo range that's a pending FA on a troubled team, extend him and keep it moving. It's really hard to say this far out what their core group may look like come ~2026. Does this beast Ovechkin have it in him to keep playing past then to continue to have fun and pile on the goals? I wouldn't necessarily doubt it. What a force.
You'd think Mahoney should have a key say in shaping any transitional period but, again, it's so far out that it's hard to unconditionally say what they need to do. While sucking and drafting high is the surest route to breakthrough type talents it could also end up netting them a Lafreniere or Kakko depending on the draft class. And Edmonton proves a useful example that this alone doesn't secure all that much as far as viability and stability goes. Management will have to be at the forefront.
You'd think Mahoney should have a key say in shaping any transitional period but, again, it's so far out that it's hard to unconditionally say what they need to do. While sucking and drafting high is the surest route to breakthrough type talents it could also end up netting them a Lafreniere or Kakko depending on the draft class. And Edmonton proves a useful example that this alone doesn't secure all that much as far as viability and stability goes. Management will have to be at the forefront.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
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The biggest thing their post-Ovechkin transition strategy hinges around IMO, is whether Kuzy could transition to a Superstar, but since that’s unlikely….I see a rebuild coming.
lots of time and things could still happen to change that…..like hitting on a few unexpected all-star level studs in the draft.
lots of time and things could still happen to change that…..like hitting on a few unexpected all-star level studs in the draft.
ovikovy817
Registered User
The most important thing is to know if the owner
1) is ready to be f****** suck
2) for how long? (how many years without PO are allowed after Ovi's and Backy's retirement?)
1) is ready to be f****** suck
2) for how long? (how many years without PO are allowed after Ovi's and Backy's retirement?)
Langway
In den Wolken
- Jul 7, 2006
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Kuznetsov by then will be like as old as Backstrom is now, though. Hard to expect him to be that singular franchise piece. It's going to have to be much more of a committee approach. How they eventually use Backstrom's cap space will be a big key I think and who knows how soon that could end up being sadly (via LTIR).
Sucking may be unavoidable but I wonder if Leonsis would do another teardown. Would he go and slash salary down to the cap floor and the like? I think the team vibe would have to be really sour to trigger that. Otherwise I think he'll likely want to continue to spend and cash in further on the goodwill this era has earned them. Who knows how much of the fanbase would be turned off by a more extreme rebuild and the impact on STHs and the like. They may feel obligated to spend freely if they're remotely competitive and have what they consider to be an at least middling roster. They're going to need to do a better job in the draft the next three years probably for that to be viable.
Sucking may be unavoidable but I wonder if Leonsis would do another teardown. Would he go and slash salary down to the cap floor and the like? I think the team vibe would have to be really sour to trigger that. Otherwise I think he'll likely want to continue to spend and cash in further on the goodwill this era has earned them. Who knows how much of the fanbase would be turned off by a more extreme rebuild and the impact on STHs and the like. They may feel obligated to spend freely if they're remotely competitive and have what they consider to be an at least middling roster. They're going to need to do a better job in the draft the next three years probably for that to be viable.
Devil Dancer
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2006
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My #1 takeaway from the Ovie era is you need two really good centers to win in this league.
Really good centers are very difficult to acquire, so that alone is going to drag the team down after Backstrom and Kuzy regress/retire.
I don't think there are two Backstrom/Kuzy-level C prospects in the organization, and there may not be one. It's way too early to draw conclusions, but CMM, Jimi and Protas look like decent 2-3 Cs in the making right now, not playoff series-defining #1s.
Really good centers are very difficult to acquire, so that alone is going to drag the team down after Backstrom and Kuzy regress/retire.
I don't think there are two Backstrom/Kuzy-level C prospects in the organization, and there may not be one. It's way too early to draw conclusions, but CMM, Jimi and Protas look like decent 2-3 Cs in the making right now, not playoff series-defining #1s.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
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The decision about Kuzy and his ceiling carrying them through any transition period will be made much sooner than 19/8’s retirement date……if it hasn’t already been made. I suspect it has.
2-3 years with no playoffs seems likely to me.
2-3 years with no playoffs seems likely to me.
RedRocking
Registered User
Not just Kuzy, but also Wilson and maybe Mantha. It may make sense to trade some of them at that point for younger pieces, and future assets.
Just because Ovi can play at a high level at this age, doesn’t mean the rest of the old core will - so the timing of some form of a tear down will be key and interesting to watch.
I’d be fine with a few years without POs if we have a group of exciting young pieces, learning and playing together. I mostly trust the Caps organization to be smart through this process as well as knowing when to spend on FA’s.
Just because Ovi can play at a high level at this age, doesn’t mean the rest of the old core will - so the timing of some form of a tear down will be key and interesting to watch.
I’d be fine with a few years without POs if we have a group of exciting young pieces, learning and playing together. I mostly trust the Caps organization to be smart through this process as well as knowing when to spend on FA’s.
Hivemind
We're Touched
Huh? Yzerman retired in 2006. Wings won the Cup in 2008 and were finalists in 2009. Rest of your examples were legit, but the Wings kept rolling after Yzerman and Fedorov. They had Zetterberg and Datayuk yo take over the reigns.
Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
So all we need to do is to draft the new Zetterberg and Datsyuk using our 6th round picks and hope Fehervary can become the new Nick Lidstrom. Then, we pick up either McDavid or Draisaitl in free agency and we create a dynasty. Rebuilding is easy
txpd
Registered User
I think people should come to grips with the fact that rebuilds fail more often than they succeed. I am not looking forward to the teaming doing that. The Capitals have been a top half of the draw playoff team almost every season since they got Rod Langway. Their Ovechkin rebuild was done in record time. When they made the playoffs for the first time in the Ov era there were only 2 top 5 picks in the lineup and Backstrom was a rookie. That's not going to happen again.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
- 66,414
- 21,417
guess they better start drafting better then….
and who cares about the likelihood of a “successful” rebuild today? They probably won’t have a choice but to regress then try to improve….
txpd
Registered User
Looks to me with Fehervary, McMichael, Lapierre, Protas and Leason, their drafting has been just fine
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
- 66,414
- 21,417
if you’re super high on that lot keeping them in the playoffs, you’re more optimistic than I. They’ll need to hit on some star level guys IMO.
txpd
Registered User
Fehervary looks like the 2nd coming of Karl Alzner(with modern wheels). I think Protas is going to be a star.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
- 66,414
- 21,417
Protas wasn’t suppose to even sniff the lineup though and made the team out of camp. The offense will come him handling the game as he has so far this season is a great sign.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
- 66,414
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not down on the guy, I’ve been a supporter since he was drafted…..I said I don’t see “star” in him yet. It remains to be seen if he can develop high end offensive skills.
Gotcha looked at it wrong in my end. I think his offense will develop at the pro game over time but it’ll be slow like 4+ seasons from now
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