What's Next for Washington?

[General Disarray]

This gets asked every year. Assuming they lose this series and yet again do nothing in the playoffs, do the Capitals blow it up? Or do they tweak the core and try a different coach?

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[Seanaconda]

This gets asked every year. Assuming they lose this series and yet again do nothing in the playoffs, do the Capitals blow it up? Or do they tweak the core and try a different coach?

Keep trying till ovie is done unless they wanna trade him out of respect to a contender probably taking back a bad contract and retaining cap

 

[Poulin 0n My St1ck]

They should blow it up because the vets on that team aren't going to magically start winning playoff series after all these years of futility, but Leonsis makes too much money off Ovechkin to blow it up. So the team will gradually decline until they bottom out and/or Ovechkin retires or leaves the NHL.

 

[Vachon23]

they had alotes of coach and nothing changed ! they need to change something else ! change something in the Core I don't know

 

[Jtown]

new coach, new gm, still same results. Its time to focus on blowing up that core. Get what you can for backstrom, ovi, and holtby.

 

[Gsus]

They should blow it up because the vets on that team aren't going to magically start winning playoff series after all these years of futility,

Well the Sharks almost did that.

 

[Samkow]

What's next?

At least two more games, very likely more.

 

[Machinehead]

Maybe they should try icing a decent defense for the first time god damn ever.

 

[BlackDogg]

Trade 8 to Edm so they can win the Art Ross and Rocket and not still make the playoffs?
Seriously though, he has to be traded at some point.

 

[Apotheosis]

They won't ever win, which is sad for Ovie. They had their chances but I really don't see them ever getting through the East now with Ovie getting older, Pitts is still good, Tampa+Boston+Toronto rising as well.

 

[Evincar]

If they lose Carlson to UFA they might as well rebuild.

 

[Kranix]

Game 3 in Columbus

 

[Machinehead]

If they lose Carlson to UFA they might as well rebuild.

Might be the best thing for them.

Get somebody who plays defense and 5v5 hockey for a fraction of the price.

If they extend Carlson, they're done with this core.

 

[COHawk]

I feel like we should maybe wait until Columbus wins 2 more games...

 

[Seb]

Having Karl Alzner now on the Habs I can see why they weren't able to win before

 

[Poulin 0n My St1ck]

Well the Sharks almost did that.

I wish they did. Except with the Sharks, Martin Jones came in and more or less stole the show in net in his first season with the Sharks. Before that, they had Nabokov, who was a playoff choker, and then Niemi...

 

[Foppberg]

f*** if I know. It's a mystery really, have had fantastic teams over the years but have never gotten past the 2nd round? Man...

 

[Trap Jesus]

I'm shocked they don't have any no-movement clauses. They have some no-trade clauses but shouldn't have much trouble unloading any of those players if they choose to.

I don't know how you don't blow it up at this point. They didn't even have any pressure on them this year (nobody expects them to win anymore) and they're still managing to lose in heartbreaking fashion. They've tried tinkering with almost everything but the core. I think something's gotta give.

 

[haveandare]

I'd move out most of the older guys save for OV. He's still one of the best goal scorers alive - they're likely not going to get equal value back for him. Move Backstrom, Oshie, Orpik if possible, Eller, etc. They have way too many underwhelming vets on the roster. Need to move them while they still have value and try to be smart about getting good young players back. Backstrom is still very, very good and they can likely get a big haul for him if the play it right.

 

[CuriousGeorge]

This gets asked every year. Assuming they lose this series and yet again do nothing in the playoffs, do the Capitals blow it up? Or do they tweak the core and try a different coach?

Is this really a question? What is next for them? Get better.

 

[Seanaconda]

**** if I know. It's a mystery really, have had fantastic teams over the years but have never gotten past the 2nd round? Man...

The second round winner kept being the cup winners so nbd. Last year they were the most stacked they have been in years they could still beat cbj.

Should just keep trying or do a one year retool

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Maybe they should try icing a decent defense for the first time god damn ever.

I’d argue Carlson Niskanen and Orlov is a fine top 3. And when they had Shattenkirk that was an awesome top 4.

 

[GordieHowsUrBreath]

how do you get better by trading your best players?

fire trotz, hire sutter

 

[Machinehead]

I’d argue Carlson Niskanen and Orlov is a fine top 3. And when they had Shattenkirk that was an awesome top 4.

Carlson sucks and Orpik played more than Shattenkirk.

Carlson is only good in one zone. He actually is what Karlsson and Shattenkirk get accused of being.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I’d argue Carlson Niskanen and Orlov is a fine top 3. And when they had Shattenkirk that was an awesome top 4.

Yet they've been terrible defensively this season and hasn't been that good in the past.