League News: NHL Talk - (News n' Scores n' Stuff) | 2024-25 Summer Edition

[Ridley Simon]

So the Caps would be trading their most punchable face for the league's most epically punchable face... neat trade and a huge upgrade in hate-ability for the team!
Since the grass is always greener, over there... I say they should definitely tear down everything they've worked towards for the last few years, and the amazing success they are currently having, and risk pissing it all away for a shiny new toy!
I mean it worked with Jagr right!?!?
/s

Brady Tkachuk would become instantly our …. Maybe best player?

LOL at the Jagr comp. I get it, but good lord man.

It’s fine. You don’t like Tkachuk. We are ALL enamoured with the CMM break out we are seeing. I get that too.

But don’t be obtuse when it comes to how good Tkachuk is. That I do NOT get. Like at all.

 

[DWGie26]

We have a lot of peaking assets right now (either by play or hype). Yeah I’d move some assets for a 6’4 100 point guy who is only 25. But it’s gonna cost. Either McMichael or Leonard would be on the table for me. I would even package another prospect with NHL experience (Lappy, Miro, Fever or Sandin who has high value right now).

As others have said, the trade is going to hurt. Gonna have to give to get. But yeah, for Brady T I would definitely jump in the conversation.

 

[AllAlphas]

Brady Tkachuk would become instantly our …. Maybe best player?

LOL at the Jagr comp. I get it, but good lord man.

It’s fine. You don’t like Tkachuk. We are ALL enamoured with the CMM break out we are seeing. I get that too.

But don’t be obtuse when it comes to how good Tkachuk is. That I do NOT get. Like at all.

I'm certainly not "obtuse" about Brady's value as a player, he's a solid franchise cornerstone.
But blowing up what looks like one of the most successful, single season retools in recent history to get a guy who they already have versions of in Ovechkin and Wilson is just being greedy and shortsighted. The fact that he looks like a Downsy Gerber baby who just shit his diapers is just the rancid icing on the cake for me.
I get that this proposal was just an example of silly mid season mental masturbation, but to come from fans of the team that is unanimously considered to be the surprise success of the season is completely irrational.
Everyone should just take a deep breath and relax... it's a great time to be a Caps fan.
No need to self sabotage the franchise because some people are bored with all this damn winning!

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Did he refuse to change your flat lol? It’s clear you just dislike the player. You can’t even have a what if convo without insults and flipping out lol…

 

[Ridley Simon]

I'm certainly not "obtuse" about Brady's value as a player, he's a solid franchise cornerstone.
But blowing up what looks like one of the most successful, single season retools in recent history to get a guy who they already have versions of in Ovechkin and Wilson is just being greedy and shortsighted. The fact that he looks like a Downsy Gerber baby who just shit his diapers is just the rancid icing on the cake for me.
I get that this proposal was just an example of silly mid season mental masturbation, but to come from fans of the team that is unanimously considered to be the surprise success of the season is completely irrational.
Everyone should just take a deep breath and relax... it's a great time to be a Caps fan.
No need to self sabotage the franchise because some people are bored with all this damn winning!

I don’t think you are getting it, from where some of us sit.

And that’s fine.

I am breathing deeply. I can swear to that! and I simply feel that Brady Tkachuk is worth a LOT. I’ve said that multiple times. Certainly more than a couple of players that are having a great start (CMM), but are so LESS proven than Tkachuk. Start a post on the main boards and see if giving up CMM would be a nonstarter for ANY fan that doesn’t love the Caps.

You do not, obv agree, And that’s fine. But don’t act like it’s outrageous to think that a guy like him helps to win things, and he’d be very useful towards that.

We can agree to disagree.

PS — you DO understand that Tkachuk is only 15mo older than CMM. They aren’t even in the same stratosphere as players. But you hoard your nuts my man.

 

[AllAlphas]

I don’t think you are getting it, from where some of us sit.

And that’s fine.

I am breathing deeply. I can swear to that! and I simply feel that Brady Tkachuk is worth a LOT. I’ve said that multiple times. Certainly more than a couple of players that are having a great start (CMM), but are so LESS proven than Tkachuk. Start a post on the main boards and see if giving up CMM would be a nonstarter for ANY fan that doesn’t love the Caps.

You do not, obv agree, And that’s fine. But don’t act like it’s outrageous to think that a guy like him helps to win things, and he’d be very useful towards that.

We can agree to disagree.

PS — you DO understand that Tkachuk is only 15mo older than CMM. They aren’t even in the same stratosphere as players. But you hoard your nuts my man.

Of course, a one for one trade would be a no brainer. Even a two for one might be tempting depending on who they wanted.
But there is no way in hell Ottawa is giving up their captain, the face of their franchise, for the peanuts you guys are dreaming of offering.
It would be the equivalent of three firsts plus at a minimum, and probably us taking on a bad contract as well.
It would gut the retool, almost certainly sour the locker room, and leave us with three "captains" and definitely less depth.
There are no legitimate signs that Ottawa wants to move Brady and also no signs that he wants to eject. That means they would have to massively overpay for him.
The Caps are in the drivers seat right now as far any possible trades are concerned because it's a want and not a need for them. They also have lots of the newest, cool toys that everyone is talking about and all the neighborhood kids are mad jelly. They have all the power.
This is no time to be throwing all our eggs in one basket and trying to trade for a potential golden goose that is happy where it's at.
Stand pat, enjoy the great hockey, and let Brady wallow in mediocrity in frigid Canada for the rest of his career.
P.S. Brady couldn't handle my Makita torque wrench... and I sure as hell wouldn't let him touch my jack.

 

[DWGie26]

you have draft capital. Prospects capital. Player capital. You can use it to match your goals… or even change your goals. Brady is 25 and cost controlled at 8.2M for 2 more past this season.

That could be a franchinsing changing move. We have some really good moves and the sum is greater than the parts, but Brady would be a franchise move. Gotta pay for that.

BTW… let’s not forget Matthew went to FL and won the cup. Them genes be good.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Of course, a one for one trade would be a no brainer. Even a two for one might be tempting depending on who they wanted.
But there is no way in hell Ottawa is giving up their captain, the face of their franchise, for the peanuts you guys are dreaming of offering.
It would be the equivalent of three firsts plus at a minimum, and probably us taking on a bad contract as well.
It would gut the retool, almost certainly sour the locker room, and leave us with three "captains" and definitely less depth.
There are no legitimate signs that Ottawa wants to move Brady and also no signs that he wants to eject. That means they would have to massively overpay for him.
The Caps are in the drivers seat right now as far any possible trades are concerned because it's a want and not a need for them. They also have lots of the newest, cool toys that everyone is talking about and all the neighborhood kids are mad jelly. They have all the power.
This is no time to be throwing all our eggs in one basket and trying to trade for a potential golden goose that is happy where it's at.
Stand pat, enjoy the great hockey, and let Brady wallow in mediocrity in frigid Canada for the rest of his career.
P.S. Brady couldn't handle my Makita torque wrench... and I sure as hell wouldn't let him touch my jack.

Moving the goalposts here dude. I’m responding to people that said they wouldn’t trade CMM for Brady Tkachuk.

Perhaps that wasn’t you.

 

[Jags]

you have draft capital. Prospects capital. Player capital. You can use it to match your goals… or even change your goals. Brady is 25 and cost controlled at 8.2M for 2 more past this season.

Don't have the cap space though. That's the big sticking point for a trade happening any time soon involving BT. Assuming we could put a package together that would top all others to land him, it wouldn't be all that likely to include any outgoing cap hits. So in addition to giving up those trade assets, you're also going to have to clear space by moving other assets with cap hits for futures.

Good to get some futures back, but we'd be gutting our current winning roster to get one guy. A great guy for sure, but we're not set up for it at the moment.

Unless something big changes, next season's the earliest we might add via a trade like that, and even then it'd be tight. Given our current trajectory, it's probably best to wait until Ovi's hit comes off the books and make that splash then.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Don't have the cap space though. That's the big sticking point for a trade happening any time soon involving BT. Assuming we could put a package together that would top all others to land him, it wouldn't be all that likely to include any outgoing cap hits. So in addition to giving up those trade assets, you're also going to have to clear space by moving other assets with cap hits for futures.

Good to get some futures back, but we'd be gutting our current winning roster to get one guy. A great guy for sure, but we're not set up for it at the moment.

Unless something big changes, next season's the earliest we might add via a trade like that, and even then it'd be tight. Given our current trajectory, it's probably best to wait until Ovi's hit comes off the books and make that splash then.

You are 100% accurate. Off-season deal, IF ever.

 

[Kazer]

Moving the goalposts here dude. I’m responding to people that said they wouldn’t trade CMM for Brady Tkachuk.

Perhaps that wasn’t you.

I'm not sure it's as much as of a slam dunk you think it is. Obviously, CMM is having a breakout whereas B. Tkachuk is established as a star but with that caveat:

Tkachuk's pace (13/15/28 in 24): 44 goals, 96 points
McMichael's pace (14/10/24 in 25): 48 goals, 78 points

Obviously, Tkachuk is ahead but not by a huge margin. One for one, it's an easy trade. But if you're looking at a package like Leonard / McMichael / 1st... that's a hard no for me.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I'm not sure it's as much as of a slam dunk you think it is. Obviously, CMM is having a breakout whereas B. Tkachuk is established as a star but with that caveat:

Tkachuk's pace (13/15/28 in 24): 44 goals, 96 points
McMichael's pace (14/10/24 in 25): 48 goals, 78 points

Obviously, Tkachuk is ahead but not by a huge margin. One for one, it's an easy trade. But if you're looking at a package like Leonard / McMichael / 1st... that's a hard no for me.

More likely….ONE of Leonard and CMM along with other pricey pieces.

Both?! Hard pass.

 

[um]

Don't have the cap space though. That's the big sticking point for a trade happening any time soon involving BT. Assuming we could put a package together that would top all others to land him, it wouldn't be all that likely to include any outgoing cap hits. So in addition to giving up those trade assets, you're also going to have to clear space by moving other assets with cap hits for futures.

Good to get some futures back, but we'd be gutting our current winning roster to get one guy. A great guy for sure, but we're not set up for it at the moment.

Unless something big changes, next season's the earliest we might add via a trade like that, and even then it'd be tight. Given our current trajectory, it's probably best to wait until Ovi's hit comes off the books and make that splash then.

The cap wouldn't be a problem for an in-season trade. It would be built around Mangiapane (5.8) + McMichael/Protas (2.1/3.3) for Tkachuk (8.2). From there, you tweak for value.

 

[um]

I'm not sure it's as much as of a slam dunk you think it is. Obviously, CMM is having a breakout whereas B. Tkachuk is established as a star but with that caveat:

Tkachuk's pace (13/15/28 in 24): 44 goals, 96 points
McMichael's pace (14/10/24 in 25): 48 goals, 78 points

Obviously, Tkachuk is ahead but not by a huge margin. One for one, it's an easy trade. But if you're looking at a package like Leonard / McMichael / 1st... that's a hard no for me.

what caveat? if anyone has caveat it's McMichael who is 25 games into his first great season.

 

[Ridley Simon]

We can’t take CMM’s literal “best run ever”, see that it’s “kinda” where BTkachuk always is, and then use that as “proof” that they are similar.

I mean, come on. That’s just laughable.

Sure, if CMM pots 40g/80pts, then OK. BIG IF.

We are also not taking into consideration what a player like Tkachuk could do in THIS (Carbery’s) system. LOTS of our players are having career defining starts to the season, none more than our glorious captain.

I mean — Ottawa has 75 goals in 24 games. Capitals have 102 in 25. No even close to the same. Tkachuk would benefit from that in a BIG way as well.

Just saying.

 

[Kazer]

what caveat? if anyone has caveat it's McMichael who is 25 games into his first great season.

The caveat is collectively that Brady is established as a star while McMichael is having a breakout season.

My point remains that I don't see Ottawa doing a one-for-one trade. If you're doing a McMichael+ trade for Tkachuk, you have to account for what the plus is. McMichael's value doesn't buy you one Brady Tkachuk, but it has certainly surged from where it was this past offseason. That's true even if he slows down and finishes with a 25 goal, 60 point campaign.

Also, let's not forget that Brady Tkachuk plays with Tim Stutzle. It's not like he's playing with chopped liver over there.

 

[MW6]

This doesn’t seem impossible, especially with the way Vegas and Tampa has had success.

Could we see this with Oshie as well?
https://x.com/hockey_robinson/status/1864361703733121167?s=46&t=vzbPWIC_EZ3jC7SBEkbVHw

 

[Jags]

The cap wouldn't be a problem for an in-season trade. It would be built around Mangiapane (5.8) + McMichael/Protas (2.1/3.3) for Tkachuk (8.2). From there, you tweak for value.

Mangiapane is a good player, but he has next to no value in a trade like this as a rental. They'd really have to want him in particular, want him bad enough to get him now instead of going after him in free agency, or just want to do us the favor of helping us fit Tkachuk's cap hit in. They would see him as a throw-in at best just to make the money work. He wouldn't count toward the value they'd be looking to get back for BT.

They'd have to want McMichael or Protas, too. That'd be mandatory for us unless we make another deal. If we give up either of those guys, we'd be very reluctant to give up Leonard, who they would most likely prefer. Then there's whatever picks we'd have to give up.

So you're talking about us having very limited flexibility in what our package could even be. That would have to suit Ottawa 100%, in addition to being the most attractive offer they get for Brady Tkachuk.

In other words, we're living in a dream world here. Fun to talk about, but zero chance it happens.

 

[um]

Mangiapane is a good player, but he has next to no value in a trade like this as a rental. They'd really have to want him in particular, want him bad enough to get him now instead of going after him in free agency, or just want to do us the favor of helping us fit Tkachuk's cap hit in. They would see him as a throw-in at best just to make the money work. He wouldn't count toward the value they'd be looking to get back for BT.

They'd have to want McMichael or Protas, too. That'd be mandatory for us unless we make another deal. If we give up either of those guys, we'd be very reluctant to give up Leonard, who they would most likely prefer. Then there's whatever picks we'd have to give up.

So you're talking about us having very limited flexibility in what our package could even be. That would have to suit Ottawa 100%, in addition to being the most attractive offer they get for Brady Tkachuk.

In other words, we're living in a dream world here. Fun to talk about, but zero chance it happens.

Mangiapane is only in the trade for Cap reasons. Ottawa would probably turn around and trade him for a mid-round pick.

Yes, it's absolutely a long shot. There will be 31 teams inquiring about Tkachuk. Our best hope is that the Sens don't want to collect more prospects; they want young, already good NHLers. Given their long rebuild, this may be the case.

Maybe on top of acquiring McMichael/Protas they want to shore up their defence with one of Sandin/Fever.

It's almost impossible to discuss the right value when we don't know what Ottawa actually wants.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Mangiapane is a good player, but he has next to no value in a trade like this as a rental. They'd really have to want him in particular, want him bad enough to get him now instead of going after him in free agency, or just want to do us the favor of helping us fit Tkachuk's cap hit in. They would see him as a throw-in at best just to make the money work. He wouldn't count toward the value they'd be looking to get back for BT.

They'd have to want McMichael or Protas, too. That'd be mandatory for us unless we make another deal. If we give up either of those guys, we'd be very reluctant to give up Leonard, who they would most likely prefer. Then there's whatever picks we'd have to give up.

So you're talking about us having very limited flexibility in what our package could even be. That would have to suit Ottawa 100%, in addition to being the most attractive offer they get for Brady Tkachuk.

In other words, we're living in a dream world here. Fun to talk about, but zero chance it happens.

Wouldn’t they just flip him (Mango) at the deadline?

He’s there for salary cap reasons…..Mango + CMM ++ is probably what Ottawa would want. The ++ being another top prospect and a 1st probably…..

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

Sens traded us JC6 for Jensen so maybe they would like Sandin. They might want a young D

 

[kicksavedave]

Even if CMM and BT finish this year with exactly the same G/A/P totals, which all by itself would make this entire board orgasm simultaneously, BT is 6'4'' 225 lbs and CMM is 6' 180. They're different players for sure and one is built for the playoff long haul, one is a question mark there. BT hits like a playoff beast, CMM, well, I dunno.

So yeah, I'd contemplate a CMM plus for BT, but the plus HAS to be the right value overall. CMM plus a 1st probably doesn't get it done, but the remaining plus cannot be Leonard or Miro, or even Lappy. I would do CMM, 1st and a few more very valuable picks, possibly even another 1st and a 2nd. BT could take over 1LW for Ovi for the next decade.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

In a vacuum, sure, BT is more valuable as an asset than CMM. But I don't think he's the same talent tier as his brother. He's the Jordan Staal to Matthew's Eric.

I don't think he's the player you empty the futures tank for.

 

[Langway]

Seems like the Caps may have no one at the 4 Nations. Wonder how common that will be league-wide? Can't imagine there are that many.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

In a vacuum, sure, BT is more valuable as an asset than CMM. But I don't think he's the same talent tier as his brother. He's the Jordan Staal to Matthew's Eric.

I don't think he's the player you empty the futures tank for.

Maybe a waaaay better offensive version of JS lol….the gap between the Tkachuk brothers seems much smaller to me.