Series Talk: Around the NHL: 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs — First-round

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Grabner scratched?

What an amazing trade by Grotans.

Got great assets for a guy we signed as a UFA and then beaned the Devils, all in one fell swoop.

 

[haveandare]

Nice for the Devils that they made it this far, but looking at the lineup I hardly expect them to win a game.

How many guys are really fit for the roles they have in that lineup? I'd say maybe 5.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

What an amazing trade by Grotans.

Got great assets for a guy we signed as a UFA and then beaned the Devils, all in one fell swoop.

That reporter has mesmerizing handwriting.

 

[Loff]

Guess Grabs really got his Toronto crabclaws back.

Or maybe he's f***ing them over on purpose.

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

Come back home Grabner

(for <2M)

I don't even care if he scores, he can play on the 4th line a kill penalties.

 

[NYR94]

If the Capitals lose in the first round, does Trotz get fired? Associate coach Todd Reirden is often talked about as a future head coach. Washington did not let him interview for head coaching positions last summer.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

If the Capitals lose in the first round, does Trotz get fired? Associate coach Todd Reirden is often talked about as a future head coach. Washington did not let him interview for head coaching positions last summer.

Yes and I'm low key worried that he'd be high on the Rangers' list.

 

[Irishguy42]

Going strictly off of Gorton's words, I don't think we need to be worried about Trotz being hired here.

That being said, anything can happen.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Yes and I'm low key worried that he'd be high on the Rangers' list.

Better then the articles I see about Scott Stevens

 

[chethejet]

a coach I think would be a very good hire is J Martin from the Pens. He is the brains behind the system and D success of the team. Very low key but he can coach. Raw deal in Montreal and wtf have they won since he left. He is great teacher, knows the system and is a winner.

 

[Cassano]

a coach I think would be a very good hire is J Martin from the Pens. He is the brains behind the system and D success of the team. Very low key but he can coach. Raw deal in Montreal and wtf have they won since he left. He is great teacher, knows the system and is a winner.

Please no. He was horrible with the Habs.

 

[Captain Lindy]

Going strictly off of Gorton's words, I don't think we need to be worried about Trotz being hired here.

That being said, anything can happen.

If we want to win in the playoffs, Trots is NOT the guy you want coaching.

 

[JimmyG89]

If we want to win in the playoffs, Trots is NOT the guy you want coaching.

I think having Trotz for 2-3 years to help build a winning foundation would be good. He's was good with young players in Nashville. They went out and got Laviolette and have taken off. We could look at something similar.

Trotz wouldn't be the opposite of AV, and he won't be Torts, but he falls in the middle somewhere, probably closer to Torts than AV. I think that is what Gorton is looking for.

 

[TheTakedown]

Trotz is most likely being let go of anyways. I think unless they go crazy deep, they're going to make some huge changes.

Barry Trotz on contract: ‘I’ve been doing this too [expletive] long to worry about it’

- They have Samsonov in the KHL, one of the better goalies in the KHL.
- Grubauer is definitely a solid backup
- They can move on from the older core and move the reigns to guys like Kuznetsov and Burakovsky
- They can start with a fresh coach after this offseason
- They can move Backstrom, Holtby, and Oshie and get some massive returns

OR

They can just hire AV and go balls to the wall on offense and see if that wins them a cup.

 

[chosen]

It's always fun watching fans disagree about the pluses and minuses of coaches. No one has a clue, because it's all about personnel (high-end and depth), hot goaltenders, and luck.

 

[FJB]

Trotz first day as NYR head coach:

"Ah $@(*#@! no Ovechkin on this team!"

 

[Roo Returns]

Happy Calvert got the goal from a personal POV, but that probably will drive his price up. He's a guy a few of us have been lobbying for. He's all motor. Similar player to Fast/Callahan.

Trotz has a pretty good track record with younger players. Sometimes it takes a coach a few teams to get over that playoff hump (look at Claude Julien).

Only problem with Trotz is the Shattenkirk comments. I'm not saying that's a dealbreaker, but from management's POV, they could view that as disrespectful.

 

[TheTakedown]

Other thing with Trotz is that he is 55 years old. Gorton wants a guy who can grow with the team. Doesn't seem like they want to hire a guy for 3 years to develop players, then fire him and bring in yet another new coach.

Seems to me like Gorton is trying to find his Mike Babcock--someone they can build with, not around (which is what AV was).

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Happy Calvert got the goal from a personal POV, but that probably will drive his price up. He's a guy a few of us have been lobbying for. He's all motor. Similar player to Fast/Callahan.

Trotz has a pretty good track record with younger players. Sometimes it takes a coach a few teams to get over that playoff hump (look at Claude Julien).

Only problem with Trotz is the Shattenkirk comments. I'm not saying that's a dealbreaker, but from management's POV, they could view that as disrespectful.

I love Calvert but he's going to get a bloated contract for what he brings as players of his ilk always do.

He's really good at what he does though.

 

[Larrybiv]

If the Capitals lose in the first round, does Trotz get fired? Associate coach Todd Reirden is often talked about as a future head coach. Washington did not let him interview for head coaching positions last summer.

I have a better question. Does Washington even think about blowing it up? I mean, how many times will they win the division and/or Prez trophy only to get knocked out in 2nd round and now maybe even the first. When does this madness end?

 

[Larrybiv]

Would be horrific for Hank AND Ovie to never hoist Lord Stanley.

 

[FJB]

Would be horrific for Hank AND Ovie to never hoist Lord Stanley.

They probably would if they were on the same team...

 

[silverfish]

They probably would if they were on the same team...

They both hit UFA in 2021, just sayin...

 

[NYR94]

I have a better question. Does Washington even think about blowing it up? I mean, how many times will they win the division and/or Prez trophy only to get knocked out in 2nd round and now maybe even the first. When does this madness end?

Well Carlson is a UFA this summer so he's probably as good as gone. That's one core player lost already. I think Ovi is a Cap for at least the remainder of his contract, until he's 35. Plus he finished with his highest point total since 2009-2010. So they're in a tricky spot. If you stick with this team there isn't much there compared to Pittsburgh, Tampa or Boston. There's Ovechkin, Kuznetsov and Backstrom and then not much else. That Oshie contract is too long but he's actually a good playoff performer for Washington. Maybe Burakovsky/Vrana takes a big step forward next season. At some point Ovechkin will start to irreversibly decline and who will be there to pick up the slack?

 

[Roo Returns]

I love Calvert but he's going to get a bloated contract for what he brings as players of his ilk always do.

He's really good at what he does though.

He's a guy I wouldn't mind slightly overpaying for a four year deal. Unless Kovalchuk goes Jagr 2005-06 next season, this team is going to need four solid lines to be be competitive. He's the perfect guy to have around to help the team get to the next level; extremely competitive, all motor, excellent PKer, and has some offense in him. Him, Fast, Grabner in the bottom 6 is excellent.....and you never know Fast might get a lot of top six time if he continues to produce with Ziba/Kreider.