Speculation: Acq./Rost. Bldg./Cap/Lines etc. Part LXIX (2016 TDL Pre-Game Pt1)(2/27-Laich waived)

[Ridley Simon]

This is why I wouldn't move Vrana. If Oshie isn't retained we have nobody internally to slot into a top 6 role. Of course it's not a guarantee he evolves into that position but it's the ideal option.

That's what trading and UFA's are also for. Part of why I was pushing for JVR before his injury.

Also-- the depth of Defensive and Goaltending youth should allow the Caps to barter for offense. Everyone save Orpik is under 30. So it's not like the defense is aging.

Bowey comes up and turns into what they "think" he can? that makes Orlov, Schmidt...or even Carlson potentially available.

 

[txpd]

well...something occurred to me. Chorney. He is locked up for two more years all of a sudden. wouldn't that tend to run off any team that would snag him off waivers?

personally I think Laich is gone based on MacLellan's comments or even Latta because they brought in Richards to replace Latta. But....Chorney's contract and the timing of that did make me curious.

 

[Roughing]

Something like: Laich + 2nd for a good, ~$2M, Bottom6 who's a pending UFA.

Amirite? Who fits that best?

 

[Ridley Simon]

well...something occurred to me. Chorney. He is locked up for two more years all of a sudden. wouldn't that tend to run off any team that would snag him off waivers?

personally I think Laich is gone based on MacLellan's comments or even Latta because they brought in Richards to replace Latta. But....Chorney's contract and the timing of that did make me curious.

I think your first thoughts were accurate. It's the "pay him to shut up" move for getting moved down the depth chart. He's probably now #8, and giving him security helps to ease that move. Being a UFA, you know players count on performance to get next contract

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Not really. Caphit difference is 2M. Real salary diff next year is 1M. So that dump has to be cheap. A proven leader (proud Canadian guy) with good defensive game (Laich) for eurotrash. A minor prospect could do the trick. Or some 4th round pick, maybe 5th.

2M caphit space is enough to get McGinn or Grabner or Gordon with 50% retained. In other words, getting PKer back for Laich (Korpi) + space this year (enough for bottom-6 specialist of any kind) + 2M next year (sufficient for our needs supposedly).

2M is really good for next year. And it's a player who can replace Chimera or even go to another team without much problem (if required).

Money aside, that's a damn marginal upgrade at the position. If they're going for it, do it with some balls and get more talent.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

This is why I wouldn't move Vrana. If Oshie isn't retained we have nobody internally to slot into a top 6 role. Of course it's not a guarantee he evolves into that position but it's the ideal option.

Sorry misread, exactly why I wouldn't move Vrana.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

It's ok. Neither is Laich anymore.

They'll never play on anything but the 4th line....if at all.

So replace Superbad1 with Superbad2 and 3?

 

[Efactor]

I think your first thoughts were accurate. It's the "pay him to shut up" move for getting moved down the depth chart. He's probably now #8, and giving him security helps to ease that move. Being a UFA, you know players count on performance to get next contract

You're both wrong. The way he played this year and that low of a cap number would make him more likely to get claimed. He played very well. The reason it was done now is because some other team would have offered more $ and potentially another year in the offseason. We got Weber because we didn't want to know if Ness has playoff game. Weber also adds grit. Get into a series like we had against the Islanders and you may want to dress him even as a 7th D for that game. Great addition. He's a rental. Chorney has a future with this team as a good player with a great price. He is what will allow us to pay Alzner and maybe move another guy with a higher cap hit and still be good.

 

[442]

We've been talking about potential trades for weeks now and I can't think of a single deal in which I'd include Samsonov, Bowey or Vrana. I agree w/ GMBM the top 6 (maybe 9) are set baring injury and I can't see how any depth acquisition would require moving any of those 3 assets. I'd be inclined to move the 1st before any of those and if it was required to trade Laich.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

I will be pleased if Laich is gone and we still have our top 5 assets (1st, Bowey, Vrana, Samsonov, Sieg) come my return on Tuesday.

 

[strungout]

So replace Superbad1 with Superbad2 and 3?

with all three off the books for next year! Superbadless.

But really...I'm just spitballing. I want a move that makes sense and helps win. That's all.

 

[artilector]

That's also where you see a Riley Barber fill in, where you hopefully take this draft and next to get a forward injection into the system to combat these problems now that the next 3-5 years of defense isn't a huge question mark.

The RW hole will need filled, yes, but I'm saying it's a fool's errand to fill it with Oshie at that point. That's what bad teams do to handcuff themselves out of a window. Oshie doesn't really look fast right now, by the end of that next contract he's Good Soldier 2.0.

You can't keep everybody, but you can prioritize the youth, and in your list Oshie and Williams are the two obvious men out.

I'm not attached to Oshie, not arguing that he specifically needs to be kept. My meaning would have been more clear if I wrote that the Caps would need lots of money to re-sign/replace 1RW, 2RW, 2C, 5/6D, 2LW, but that's kind of awkward to write.

As for specific names... so far, Oshie has not been able to take the top-6 to another level, so sure, Caps should consider alternatives. Williams is a different story -- at this point would hold on to him as long as the guy can lace up his own skates.

 

[MoJoSauce]

I am completely in with Steinberg here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...s-must-do-at-nhl-trade-deadline-nothing-much/

If anything I think this team needs a depth forward that can win faceoffs and PK. Thats it. We have all the parts and plenty of backup pieces that can play. Just need an extra body in the press room in case someone tweaks something and misses a round. Thats it.

 

[Ridley Simon]

So replace Superbad1 with Superbad2 and 3?

If that's all the can do and it gets rid of Laich? Yes. Grabner is a decent PK'er. He is no worse than Laich, and we don't have the contract to deal with this summer.

In a perfect world, they could send Laich to a team that could send back a nice player. But those 2 things may not be able to happen in same deal.

So move Laich for whatever you can, or just for space. If they can do that asap (before Monday), then great. Allows some time to fill Laich's cost slot before the TDL is over.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

I am completely in with Steinberg here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...s-must-do-at-nhl-trade-deadline-nothing-much/

If anything I think this team needs a depth forward that can win faceoffs and PK. Thats it. We have all the parts and plenty of backup pieces that can play. Just need an extra body in the press room in case someone tweaks something and misses a round. Thats it.

That's great. And then LA, Chicago and Florida add Hamhuis, Boedker and Ladd.

 

[MoJoSauce]

That's great. And then LA, Chicago and Florida add Hamhuis, Boedker and Ladd.

Per Dimitri Filipovic

Mikkel Boedker is on pace for 50+ points, a career year. Someone is going to look at those superficial boxcar numbers and pay for them

Boedker also leads the league in total power play usage amongst forwards. He's 133rd in pts/60 in that time. I'd be awfully wary of buying.

If you look at him and think he's going to move the needle for you as a high end point producer, then boy do I have some snake oil for you.

 

[artilector]

Something like: Laich + 2nd for a good, ~$2M, Bottom6 who's a pending UFA.

Amirite? Who fits that best?

Pretty much exactly how I see it. Dunno who, don't much care

But... I think the Caps keep Laich and postpone the cap pruning until the summer (if they do it at all, lol). Mostly because at this point, replacing Laich with another 4th line player is just too marginal of an upgrade, even from a "Laich-hater" perspective. Team glue and all that. Boyd effin Gordon is a great player and all, but seriously, who cares.. And as for clearing next year's cap space, it might be cheaper to make that trade in the summer, certainly more time to do it.

(Just to be clear, I would be very happy to see Laich finally moved to get rid of nagging cap space concerns for next year. But I think the Caps at this point might be content to address it in the summer... ahem, hopefully).

Maybe they can scrounge up enough cap space to add another warm body right now without needing to unloadLaich. Otherwise, not sure why they would care about 50% retained on Weber -- seems that moving Laich would've been quite enough cap clearing for Weber + random 4th guy. Asking for 50% retained would make sense if they wanted to make room for somebody pretty significant while trading Laich -- or, if they just wanted to fit some warm body(s) in without needing to trade Laich (if I have my logic right).

Basically... if the Caps are indeed just gonna do Laich+2nd for 4th line guy, why did they need 50% retained on Weber?

 

[BiPolar Caps]

The more discussions and seeing the proposals from Leafs fans on the main boards has me leaning more and more to working a deal with the Yotes for Boyd Gordon. His stats are Laich like this season, but he's still strong at the dot, still good on the PK and seems like a Trotz type of 4th liner.

Still have nightmares from Fehr losing the FO to the Rangers in overtime in game 7 last year, not too mention Kuzy getting taken to lunch by Giroux recently with one leading directly to a Voracek goal. Can't overlook faceoffs.

Gordon is a pending UFA, Yotes have ample cap space, Laich + Carrick for Gordon.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

If that's all the can do and it gets rid of Laich? Yes. Grabner is a decent PK'er. He is no worse than Laich, and we don't have the contract to deal with this summer.

In a perfect world, they could send Laich to a team that could send back a nice player. But those 2 things may not be able to happen in same deal.

So move Laich for whatever you can, or just for space. If they can do that asap (before Monday), then great. Allows some time to fill Laich's cost slot before the TDL is over.

Only it's not the only thing. I can't advocate mediocre moves when there are better ones to be made.

I hope GMBM is shooting higher if he's trading Laich.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

Per Dimitri Filipovic

Who scored 2 GWGS in the SCF last year when Kane, Hossa, Toews and Keith disappeared? You want better high end depth because players like Johansson and Wilson aren't going to carry the load when inevitable slumps hit in a 28 game slog.

Sub him for Eriksson if you still don't like him.

 

[txpd]

Only it's not the only thing. I can't advocate mediocre moves when there are better ones to be made.

I hope GMBM is shooting higher if he's trading Laich.

you don't agree with BMac saying he is happy with his top 3 lines?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I am completely in with Steinberg here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...s-must-do-at-nhl-trade-deadline-nothing-much/

If anything I think this team needs a depth forward that can win faceoffs and PK. Thats it. We have all the parts and plenty of backup pieces that can play. Just need an extra body in the press room in case someone tweaks something and misses a round. Thats it.

Love those comments from Chimmer and GMBM....not messing up the locker room gets casually dismissed way too often by many around here.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

you don't agree with BMac saying he is happy with his top 3 lines?

I agree. I trust their judgement. I'm saying if Laich is being moved I want a better player than what I see kicked around here often. Only Komorov really excites me as a 4th line upgrade.

 

[Langway]

Sub him for Eriksson if you still don't like him.

Or the Rangers adding Staal for instance.

I'll reiterate what I said at the end of the last thread, if the Caps are willing to move their first rounder they will be one of only a few teams. Chicago is obviously in at that level but who else? Maybe no one.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

Love those comments from Chimmer and GMBM....not messing up the locker room gets casually dismissed way too often by many around here.

Like the disastrous adds of Vermette and Gaborik the past two years.