g00n
Retired Global Mod
- Nov 22, 2007
- 30,674
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I don't think we're going to agree here. You are using hindsight and judging results and not process for the most part.Williams was one of the worst caps in the playoffs this year. It was a fine signing. Yes, Caps got Oshie but gave up another guy they had in top 6, a top prospect, and a draft pick.
Add Oshie and Williams but lost Green, Brouwer, Fehr, and Ward.... You trying to tell me Caps got better that way? It's a push id say. Top 6 was fine - but once again bottom 6 had to have someone like Richards come in and center. Sorry, but you're not getting secondary scoring with Richards and Beagle centering those lines.
Also, I'm not against some of the moves he has made - it's mainly the moves he hasn't made. He hasn't just went and got a player - a real difference maker. For each person he's added - he's basically given up similar value in return. The only additions without giving up similar roster players have been minor like Weber/Glencross/etc. Things that did nothing.... Or has overpaid big time (over 11 million for Orpik and Nisky).
I just want to see the top guys get real help. Just once. That's all. Eller and Connolly aren't going to lead this Caps team to 3 more series wins this year.... Unless Cals win the lottery - and by now Caps know luck is never on their side.
I'm not trying to be difficult or anyone - and trust me - I wish I did like GMBM and believed in him. My opinion is just that I don't see anything that impresses me or his past work showing me he's really different. Only thing he's done differently than GMGM is overpay for 2 defenders thus far. All other moves like adding Williams is just like adding Ribeiro, etc. I just want so badly to see this team win a cup before Ovi's prime is completely wasted away..... Or at least get closer than 2nd round
Williams was one of the worst caps in the playoffs this year. It was a fine signing. Yes, Caps got Oshie but gave up another guy they had in top 6, a top prospect, and a draft pick.
Add Oshie and Williams but lost Green, Brouwer, Fehr, and Ward.... You trying to tell me Caps got better that way? It's a push id say. Top 6 was fine - but once again bottom 6 had to have someone like Richards come in and center. Sorry, but you're not getting secondary scoring with Richards and Beagle centering those lines.
Also, I'm not against some of the moves he has made - it's mainly the moves he hasn't made. He hasn't just went and got a player - a real difference maker. For each person he's added - he's basically given up similar value in return. The only additions without giving up similar roster players have been minor like Weber/Glencross/etc. Things that did nothing.... Or has overpaid big time (over 11 million for Orpik and Nisky).
I just want to see the top guys get real help. Just once. That's all. Eller and Connolly aren't going to lead this Caps team to 3 more series wins this year.... Unless Cals win the lottery - and by now Caps know luck is never on their side.
I'm not trying to be difficult or anyone - and trust me - I wish I did like GMBM and believed in him. My opinion is just that I don't see anything that impresses me or his past work showing me he's really different. Only thing he's done differently than GMGM is overpay for 2 defenders thus far. All other moves like adding Williams is just like adding Ribeiro, etc. I just want so badly to see this team win a cup before Ovi's prime is completely wasted away..... Or at least get closer than 2nd round
The fact people still put all the blame on GMBM's shoulders and give Trotz a free pass is mind blowing to me.
And I disagree: having a real structured forward corps can be the difference, as long as the coach plays his hand correctly.
Copley was hardly a top prospect and they recovered the pick when they moved down a couple spots in the first round. Brouwer had no real business in the Caps top six even if he was more than adequate there for the Blues. The Caps got softer last year and it's still a pretty big issue given that they never adapted towards playing a faster or more skilled game.
Yes, they still need to restructure somewhat. No, it's not really the salary cap limiting what they can do. If they've been prepared to sign Johansson for around $4M or just keep him at arbitration price for a year then there's no excuse. They decide how they're structured and be it personnel or tactics it's still largely a matter of convenience. The projected money given to all of Johansson, Orpik, Orlov and Winnik could be put to better use. That's most likely over 20% of the cap between those four players.
Not CBOing Laich was maybe MacLellan's biggest mistake in not being sufficiently gangsta.
They had room if they wanted to make it. They seemingly chose value and a speculative buy low 3C add in Eller to use their free space on and are content to bring back the rest of the roster plus Connolly and maybe a rookie winger if they earn it. We'll see what happens with 90 and 9 but it's setting up to be MacLellan's quietest off-season to date.Didn't have room to sign Yandle or Goligoski.
No room for Okposo, Nielson, Stamkos, Lucic, or any of the other 6m forwards.
What other deals were made that the Caps should have been involved in? I'm sure I'm missing something as I'm doing this off the top of my head. Serious question.
Outside of Orpik, my only problem with GMBM is his drafting, and I could be wrong about that in the long term, since his picks haven't had time to play out yet.
I'd like to see him leverage Samsonov rather than keeping him in-house for the long term. I'm still annoyed with that pick, along with the Walker debacle.
They had room if they wanted to make it. They seemingly chose value and a speculative buy low 3C add in Eller to use their free space on and are content to bring back the rest of the roster plus Connolly and maybe a rookie winger if they earn it. We'll see what happens with 90 and 9 but it's setting up to be MacLellan's quietest off-season to date.
As far as free agents go Stempniak looks like quality value. I think Hudler could be as well, although there were some concerning trends last season. He was battling a groin injury and that's tough for a smaller guy that isn't going to overpower people.
Ultimately I think it's the blueline that's still pretty questionable when it comes to being Cup level. They're banking on experience making the difference when that's a tough hill to climb in short order. Plus, their ongoing general hockey sense and consistency issues. A splashier sequence of personnel moves wouldn't have solved that but I'd like a bit more urgency. Maybe that waits until next summer. They're kind of running out of time in being able to shift pieces around correctly without ending up having to bank on guys Vrana and Bowey to come through and make a difference on the cheap.
Nobody outside the organization is precisely sure how the Capitals draft board functions, and who gets the final say. We do know Mahoney had a lot of sway and we do know that George was the one who pulled the trigger on any draft trades (although interviews imply he certainly took advice from Mahoney when considering pick/prospect value).does he even draft? thought mahoney did that
Interesting little detail there. I don't think they could even promise the same for DiPauli and it's probably not realistic to unconditionally guarantee that to Sanford either. But it goes to show the leverage these college players have as they inch closer to the free agent option.The Capitals were rumored to offer Sanford some guaranteed time in the NHL next season as extra incentive to sign.
http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/hoc...capitals?_ga=1.260154253.128926864.1410032569
Interesting little detail there. I don't think they could even promise the same for DiPauli and it's probably not realistic to unconditionally guarantee that to Sanford either. But it goes to show the leverage these college players have as they inch closer to the free agent option.
Yes, not all UFA want to come to Washington but if you take yourself out of the running it's impossible to know. I'm not saying this UFA class was great overall but UFA inflation has dampened down the past two years. The LW group in particular wasn't great but they did have some options if they wanted to change the mix to a greater extent. They restricted themselves to a Connolly level signing from the outset it seems with a very specific and cheap shortlist. It suggests they're content seeing 90 through for another season and not much else happening. As much as they want to hold the line on 90's contract, they also allotted for it to the point where kicking it down the road another year is acceptable. They still have another, oh, eight months or so to finalize the roster for the next run but for now a lot rides on Eller breaking out and strides made by their youth.
True. But we are also "forgetting" that the team was a hairs breadth away from ECF and probably SCF (not to mention regular season juggernaut).
Not a lot more needs to happen for them to be in a really good spot, regardless. And frankly the next "on fire hot" team just needs to come through another division to allow progress. Pittsburgh will most likely not repeat their "roll", as most teams don't, and teams will also figure out to play them better.
Caps need to hold their level of play, with some upticks, to really be hard to beat. Frankly, they are already hard to beat....but its shades of gray now, as to where it ends up.
And back to your original premise, pre Draft/UFA moves, is that much of the changes may just need to come from Trotz and the way they attack the game. If that happens, it probably won't matter a lick what MaJo, Eller, or Orlov do.
We'd be very hard pressed to find any teams that wouldn't trade spots with us, right now.
It's funny how we went from missing the playoffs and many just hoping the change in leadership doesn't make things WORSE... to acting like we're owed a Cup... in 2 years.
Almost making the ECF in the first year, and probably overachieving a bit, really raised expectations.
It's funny how we went from missing the playoffs and many just hoping the change in leadership doesn't make things WORSE... to acting like we're owed a Cup... in 2 years.
Almost making the ECF in the first year, and probably overachieving a bit, really raised expectations.
Its also funny how with the expectation now in place that the coach that made that jump from missing the playoffs is the reason they havent gotten that owed cup and needs to be fired.