Confirmed Trade: [WSH/BUF] Alex Tuch (signs 8 years, $10.5M AAV) for David Kampf, 2027 3rd round pick

[Boss Man Hughes]

They are pretty unquestionably the 2nd best team in the Metro, on paper at least.

Yes that is how mediocre the division is.

 

[is the answer jesus]

I don't. They are a significantly worse team right now they went from winning the division to losing 2 high level contributors. They might be a wild card team now?
That doesn't mean replacement wont come from within via natural progression, but that has to actually happen.

I hope for their sake they have a trade for an impact player up their sleeve.

I would have rather paid Tuch than whatever likely bad contracts they are gonna throw around on July 1 to someone who is much worse than him. They have this money to play with but the toys to spend it on are thrift store level.

I think Jarmo will keep his options open. He'll absolutely be aggressive if an impact player that fits Buffalo's needs becomes available, but I think he'd be just fine keeping the picks and re-stocking the cupboards if it comes to that. I don't think Buffalo is going to be throwing around stupid money in free agency. Outside of a few years here and there they've never operated that way. The priority will be locking up their young core, Benson being at the top of the list. It's then a matter of being proactive and seeking out trades for high end players and using smart FA signings that fill in the holes.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Yes that is how mediocre the division is.

Well then I guess that 27 teams should just stand pat and wait for the 5 best teams to get worse before adding anybody.

 

[Ghost of Murph]

With the cap headed where its headed this is a fine signing. Too much term blah blah. Seems like a common theme. It's simply the cost of getting players around Tuch's age. Been happening for years. Going to keep on happening.

I very much like what the Caps have done so far. They are setting themselves up nicely to remain competitive for the foreseeable future.

 

[Strangle]

10.5 for a 60 point center? Does that make Elias Petterson overpaid by only ~$1 million then?

I’d say this makes petterson’s contract not look nearly as bad as it did last year

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Well then I guess that 27 teams should just stand pat and wait for the 5 best teams to get worse before adding anybody.

The point is that being 2nd in the Metro or the Pacific is no big accomplishment.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Good on caps being aggressive that's how you win.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

The point is that being 2nd in the Metro or the Pacific is no big accomplishment.

It puts them comfortably in a playoff spot. Also, it's not like they're behind the entire Atlantic either.

 

[Silky mitts]

But it's not ''from time to time'', he never elevated his game during playoffs.

Regular season : 0.78 pts per game.
Playoffs : 0.50 pts per game.

Meanwhile, a guy like Kempe, same age, almost the same contract ...

Regular season : 0.66 pts per game.
Playoffs : 0.97 pts per game.

I don't like players who gets noticeably worse when it matters. You do?

This comment is so snarky when Kempe's teams are 8-24 in the playoffs never making the 2nd round and Tuch's are 45-34 winning 8.

 

[RyCam]

$10.5M AAV for Tuch seems kinda insane, but I guess that's what the market is these days.

 

[Calicaps]

Why can't both be true?

Analytics can suggest its a great move for 2-3 years with diminishing returns past that time. But what player like Tuch can you acquire for a 3rd rounder, and/or on FA?

I mean look at their cap situation. 2030-31 is looking like the great exodus. If they don't do much with that group, it's rebuild time like it or not, because none of those contracts are going to look good in 4 years

So in short, the Caps might not be looking past that 3-4 years mark anyway because they see the wall coming.

Except this is the Caps' MO. They structure their contracts in waves so that guys age out at the same time. They did it with Ovi/Backstrom/Oshie/Carlson, and they're doing it with their new core. It's part of why they've been able to retool on the fly. And I'm sure they expect our young guys to be the core by the time the PLD/Wilson/Chychrun wave hits its contract expirations.

 

[joestevens29]

He's not exactly wrong. The 8th should lower the cost when staring down only 7 year options in a week.

7 could’ve been 12mil who knows

 

[Monsieur Miz]

This comment is so snarky when Kempe's teams are 8-24 in the playoffs never making the 2nd round and Tuch's are 45-34 winning 8.

Who would you want on your team come playoff time? Kempe or Tuch?

 

[ashs]

Phew glad we didn't get him at that price.

 

[Carlzner]

Why can't both be true?

Analytics can suggest its a great move for 2-3 years with diminishing returns past that time. But what player like Tuch can you acquire for a 3rd rounder, and/or on FA?

I mean look at their cap situation. 2030-31 is looking like the great exodus. If they don't do much with that group, it's rebuild time like it or not, because none of those contracts are going to look good in 4 years

So in short, the Caps might not be looking past that 3-4 years mark anyway because they see the wall coming.

I’m not arguing with any of that, I just am saying the term hail mary likely isn’t accurate. The front office has always been very intentional with their acquisitions

 

[KristichBabych]

Buffalo in total regression… With all the picks maybe they can hire someone who wants to play for Buffalo more than a year?

 

[Legion34]

Do they have like 43 right wingers?

 

[joestevens29]

W

Who would you want on your team come playoff time? Kempe or Tuch

Whoever is willing to come to my team

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

Nice add for Washington.

Everyone is trying to get bigger in the East.

 

[sxvnert]

Caps adding tuch + kyrou makes them lethal.

 

[joestevens29]

I’m not arguing with any of that, I just am saying the term hail mary likely isn’t accurate. The front office has always been very intentional with their acquisitions

I think other thing that is missed is unless ownership is willing to rebuild gms have no choice in the matter.

If an owner wants you to be playoff team you try make your team a playoff team and add when it looks like your time

 

[Jeune Poulet]

Imagine giving a 3rd round pick, just so you can make an even longer mistake...

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

The washington mutants become even more mutanty. I like it

 

[SlyWalker]

9x8 was more like it.

 

[Fred22406Capsfan]

Do they have like 43 right wingers?

44 actually. Going with the classic C-RW-RW (just shift left a little) lineys this year