Speculation: Acq./Rost. Bldg./Cap/Lines etc. Part LXV (Any Given Someday)
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Chukcha
Registered User
the 3rd line needs someone who can hold the puck and make wise decisions. Definitely it's neither 25 nor 83.
BobRouse
Registered User
- Mar 18, 2009
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Bottom six has to be fixed from within. Players playing better or finding the right mix of players who compliment each other there.
Maybe we'll see Wilson and Burakovsky on the 3rd line together along with Stephenson and roll Laich/Chimera/Beagle as our 4th line soon. I think that maybe the best bet.
Make a young hungry more offensively inclined line and a veteran "average shutdown" line.
Wilson kinda sucks. Love the guy, but I have doubts of him amounting to anything more than a 3rd liner. Even that may be generous.
hockeykicker
Moderator
- Dec 3, 2014
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This move could also light a fire under some people. As many of you had said the offense had gone coldish, people were probably a little comfortable
There are so many iterations that Trotz can "try", if he leaves the top line alone.
8-92-77
21-19-14
65-90-43
25-83-46
Or
8-92-77
65-19-43
21-90-14
25-83-46
The combo's are endless.
8-92-77
21-19-14
65-90-43
25-83-46
Or
8-92-77
65-19-43
21-90-14
25-83-46
The combo's are endless.
artilector
Registered User
- Jan 11, 2006
- 8,351
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I'd like the Caps to try something like that.
Right now the Caps basically have 7 "skilled" players.
3 on one/top line, and then:
Either 3 on one line and 1 kind of wasting with grinders,
or -- 2 on each of two middle-6 lines, giving 2-way balance.
Also guys like Chimera, Wilson, Laich, when there are two of them on a line, that line can only play "grinder" hockey. When it's just one, with two skilled players, these guys might be able to hang -- and in case of Wilson, there's a bonus in terms of hopefully developing his skills.
Agreed. Take the remaining 4 offensively skilled players and add one of Chimera, Laich, Beagle, Wilson to each twosome. I'd probably separate Backstrom and Williams under that plan, so you can have a vet offensive forward with either Majo or Bura.
Part of me would really like to see what Backstrom can do with Bura and Wilson. As line 2.
That would leave either Laich/Chimera to play with Majo and Williams as line 2b.
Then Laich/Chimera with Beagle and Latta as line 4.
Barry Amsterdam
Nättias Dänielstrom
- Apr 2, 2013
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laich with backstrom and williams? yuck
if we want to punish our stars
8-83-43
21-19-14
25-92-77
65-90-46
txpd
Registered User
Beagle is 7thamong forwards in ES TOI/Game right now. Him being dropped to the 4th line isn't realistic.
Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
Yeah Beagle is pretty much a permanent fixture at #3C. Bura won't and shouldn't displace him in that role. They should just have Bura as a permanent winger, forget about the C experiments. Kuz has already filled the gap in the top 6.
g00n
Retired Global Mod
- Nov 22, 2007
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We've seen Trotz move guys all over the lines for various reasons. Anything is possible, other than maybe Ovechkin moving off the first line, and even then we've already seen him benched for a game.
Hivemind
We're Touched
I disagree that Wilson should be anywhere near a skilled line at this point. His overall play is better than in year's past, but that's mostly been evident on the PK. He's still bad in terms of sustaining possession and keeping the play alive. He's purely a forecheck missile and transition threat, and he's not a high enough percentage player in the transition game to warrant him seeing time with skilled players. At this point, he's basically a lesser version of Jason Chimera (and at least Chimera can play an effective cycle game). They have a few options, but putting a guy like Wilson or Laich in the top six would compromise the lines that are already effective.
I've lowered my hope that he'd be a 15-20g guy, it's just never going to happen. He needs to focus his efforts on being an expert in the areas he currently succeeds in.
CapitalsCupReality
It’s Go Time!!
- Feb 27, 2002
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Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
There have been less talented players than Wilson in the history of the NHL who could score 20 goals.
It can absolutely happen.
It can absolutely happen.
Hivemind
We're Touched
Can it happen? Sure. Hell, Chris Clark had a 30 goal season.
Is it a good move to try and force it to happen? No. Hoping that Wilson pulls a David Clarkson and scores 30 deflections while shoehorned into a scoring role is not advisable.
Rather than compromise the team's performance in an attempt to get the best results from Wilson, it makes a lot more sense to relegate Wilson into a role he can execute more proficiently.
artilector
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- Jan 11, 2006
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I think Wilson will be fine. Not sure if he can improve fast enough to make a significant impact goal-wise on the current team, but I think he'll get there eventually.
He actually made significant progress this year -- big improvement in his skating. So he is capable of making improvements. He has the size to carve out space around the crease. And he already brings enough useful qualities to ensure that he's always going to be in the lineup.
So he has ~10 years to improve skills and/or find out to maximize his impact. Plus, Trotz likes him and is gonna work on getting him to improve.
He might be a late bloomer, but I think he'll get there.
He actually made significant progress this year -- big improvement in his skating. So he is capable of making improvements. He has the size to carve out space around the crease. And he already brings enough useful qualities to ensure that he's always going to be in the lineup.
So he has ~10 years to improve skills and/or find out to maximize his impact. Plus, Trotz likes him and is gonna work on getting him to improve.
He might be a late bloomer, but I think he'll get there.
The Wilson obsession is legit.
He's never shown an inkling of scoring more than 10 goals at this level. The offensive talent simply isn't there. Everyone, (including some within the org) are way too impressed by his man-boy persona and pugilism.
10 years to improve his skills...who gets this kind of leash?
He's never shown an inkling of scoring more than 10 goals at this level. The offensive talent simply isn't there. Everyone, (including some within the org) are way too impressed by his man-boy persona and pugilism.
10 years to improve his skills...who gets this kind of leash?
Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
Of course you don't compromise the team's performance just to get the most out of Wilson, but even in a checking bottom 6 role he could create more offense than he currently does. Ideally, I'd like Wilson to be a 15 goal gritty two way power forward. He has improved on all aspects of his game during the summer, after being rushed in the league by a bunch of morons.
BrooklynCapsFan
No more choking!
People should stop using Chris Clark as an example of a plug who scored. He was a very talented player and had years of great hockey ahead of him before destroying his wrist.
If you want to name plugs with numbers talk Brown, Prucha, Clarkson, Boyes and Cheechoo.
artilector
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- Jan 11, 2006
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What leash, lol.
He is useful enough to play without big offensive contribution. That's why he has time to improve skills.
Dr John Carlson
Registered User
All I see is a guy who is faster. I don't know if his defensive abilities improved because he hasn't been used on the PK until this year.
His offensive ability is at best slightly better, and that is due to his quickness. Some might look at him being 22 and think that he is still very young with lots of time to improve, but I look at it as him starting his 3rd full season in the NHL with barely any improvement of his puck skills, offensive awareness, and board play.
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