Speculation: Acq./Rost. Bldg./Cap/Lines etc. Part LXVIII

[MW6]

The lighthouse hockey article on the subject, which is the first thing Google brought up for me, says it is 3.

Haha, there you go. Was just going off of memory. As you were then

 

[txpd]

Ovechkin - Backstrom - Oshie
Versteeg - Kuznetsov - Williams
Chimera - Richards - Wilson

I really see this as a major upgrade over any potential top 9 combination the Caps currently have. That's A LOT of Stanley Cups and hungry veterans. 4th line would be excellent defensively with Mcclement, Beagle, Latta all of whom can take faceoffs and leaves Burakovsky as an extra forward.

the caps trade a primary member of the pp1 so they can make Burakovsky a scratch? that's not going to fly here.

 

[Sam Spade]

the caps trade a primary member of the pp1 so they can make Burakovsky a scratch? that's not going to fly here.

The top three lines are set. The only thing to be decided up front will be who gets scratched between Laich and Latta. Fourth line will be Beagle/Richards and one of Laich or Latta.

If they pick up anyone it would a Dman, but honestly I will be shocked if they do anything. Richards was their move.

 

[Ridley Simon]

I think a deal that moves Laich would look something like:

Laich
Carrick
Mid-round pick

for

Legwand
Mike Weber

Id do that. Would Buffalo? I thinking we'd need to add something else to get them to take Laich. Obv I'd add Galiev to any deal, as there is no room for him in DC, and he is out of options.

 

[hockeykicker]

Washington Capitals

All eyes will be on veteran Brooks Orpik, who is expected to return to action Tuesday night after missing more than three months with a lower-body bone injury. Orpik has been credited with helping John Carlson elevate his game and was playing more than 19 minutes a night for one of the league's top defensive teams, so he's a big part of the Capitals' Stanley Cup plans. If Orpik steps back into the rotation at full speed, it would take pressure off general manager Brian MacLellan to make an impact move at the deadline. The Caps will still be looking for defensive depth, but if Orpik remains healthy, MacLellan could pay less for a player like Fedor Tyutin. If there are concerns about Orpik's durability, however, maybe the Caps would turn to bigger targets like Dan Hamhuis, who played for Capitals coach Barry Trotz back in Nashville and would come at a bigger premium. Mike Richards has fit into a fourth-line role, and Jay Beagle is recovering from injury, which likely will negate the need for any serious additions up front.

from espn

 

[BiPolar Caps]

I think a deal that moves Laich would look something like:

Laich
Carrick
Mid-round pick

for

Legwand
Mike Weber

I completely understand the reasoning for moving Laich, cap implications/his declining play (though he's been decent on the PK). But I would be very surprised if this does indeed happen. I just see a similar situation with Laich as Dean Lombardi had had with Richards http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-kings-mike-richards-contract-20140620-story.html. Some would say that Lombardi was loyal to a fault with Richards, but I can see the Caps being the same way with Laich when they are possibly so close to a good cup run. Lou Lamoriello in discussing the Dion Phaneuf trade spoke of decisions of the head should always take precedence over decisions of the heart, but I just see Leonsis and even Trotz wanting Laich to finish out this season as a Cap. There's also the locker room implications, Laich's name never surfaces negatively, he comes off more of being a good citizen.

Now I've probably jinxed it so he'll be traded within 24 hours.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Id do that. Would Buffalo? I thinking we'd need to add something else to get them to take Laich. Obv I'd add Galiev to any deal, as there is no room for him in DC, and he is out of options.

I don't see any reason for Buffalo not to do it, bar a better offer for one of those guys. They've got oodles of cap room next year, and essentially get Carrick and a mid-round pick for two very modest assets.

 

[hb12xchamps]

I don't see where Tyutin fits. He has the same contract as Laich but for longer term.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Tyutin is garbage. He and Prout bleed goals against.

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

No thanks to boot scootin' Tyutin.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Tyutin? Puke.

 

[Raikkonen]

Mike Weber is one tough SOB by my recollection. And he's UFA (as well as Legwand).

NBTW wins.

Btw, is Legwand even faster than Richards nowadays?

 

[Hivemind]

I know it goes against pretty much everything I typically espouse, but if they do plan on trading Laich, I hope they scratch him for a couple of games first to see how the team reacts/performs. Team chemistry, "glue guy," and whatnot.

 

[Langway]

They'll be fine. Or, more accurately, if losing a long-time vet but fading PK specialist puts them in a mental funk then they weren't going to be champions anyway.

 

[artilector]

They'll be fine. Or, more accurately, if losing a long-time vet but fading PK specialist puts them in a mental funk then they weren't going to be champions anyway.

Yep.

This kind of hand-wringing over a marginally useful player, even if he's a good citizen, could be understood if he were a former franchise player, or captain (paging Chris Clark) or if the team just won the Cup the previous year... for Laich, I don't understand it. Caps are certainly not so far above competition (if at all) that they shouldn't still seek every chance to improve meaningfully -- and Laich's cap space is the most obvious means to doing that.

The only question is who is available and how much it would cost...

 

[Brian23]

Am I the only person who really questions the "Laich is an internal leader" bit? I've always felt he's seen like that due to the media loving to go to him for quotes, but that had more (in my opinion) to do with him being a good looking big talker so they'd have something to plaster all over articles.

Since Trotz came in, I feel he's seemed like the black sheep of the group and have heard very little from or about him minus about how disappointing he's been.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

What on Earth is that based on? Spend a lot of time in the locker room?

 

[txpd]

Am I the only person who really questions the "Laich is an internal leader" bit? I've always felt he's seen like that due to the media loving to go to him for quotes, but that had more (in my opinion) to do with him being a good looking big talker so they'd have something to plaster all over articles.

It has more to do with the C being Russian and not always an in depth quote. So they go to Laich, Alzner and Oprik.

 

[Devil Dancer]

The team has given 21 a hell of a lot of leway, which makes me think he's contributing something more than just what we see on the ice.

 

[tmljeh19*]

If this team can't overcome the departure of Brooks Laich then they don't belong anywhere near a Stanley Cup. That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

 

[Langway]

The team has given 21 a hell of a lot of leway, which makes me think he's contributing something more than just what we see on the ice.

Scratching him regularly isn't going to do any good. He has a limited role, primarily on the PK, and as-is that gives him value to them and keeps him in the lineup.

Beyond that I've got to believe they're looking at the cap and trying to move the contract while making modest depth upgrades. I don't believe he's ever been a really strong leader on this team. He's a strong defensive forward...at his best an all-situations player...but with so much experience added between 44/2/14/10 there's no reason to think Laich is some irreplaceable presence.

 

[Brian23]

The team has given 21 a hell of a lot of leway, which makes me think he's contributing something more than just what we see on the ice.

I mean...who do we have not getting a jersey that fills that role? I'd expect him to sit when Beagle returns but until then all our younger guys are more offensive orientated or are lacking in defensive ability at an NHL level.

 

[Zoidberg Jesus]

I mean...who do we have not getting a jersey that fills that role? I'd expect him to sit when Beagle returns but until then all our younger guys are more offensive orientated or are lacking in defensive ability at an NHL level.

Fair point on the first part, but Beagle's return will be the end of the Latta/Galiev 4RW revolving door, not Laich. 4th line will probably be Laich-Richards-Beagle with Richards and Beagle each taking faceoffs on their respective sides. Personally, I'm fine with that as our 4th line. It'll be a miracle if they ever score, but they're all at least pretty good defensively.

 

[Brian23]

Fair point on the first part, but Beagle's return will be the end of the Latta/Galiev 4RW revolving door, not Laich. 4th line will probably be Laich-Richards-Beagle with Richards and Beagle each taking faceoffs on their respective sides. Personally, I'm fine with that as our 4th line. It'll be a miracle if they ever score, but they're all at least pretty good defensively.

I mean, do you really think they sit Latta? Actually you're probably right but looking at stats and thinking about usefulness, I think Latta adds more to the team then Laich at that point. Beagle fills the PK hole for Laich sitting and Latta has been a MUCH better FO guy then Laich's been (52% vs. something like mid 30%) so he has that utility to him.

I just really don't see what it is that Laich brings to the team at all right now while at least Latta adds spunk and can win FO when necessary.

 

[Zoidberg Jesus]

I mean, do you really think they sit Latta? Actually you're probably right but looking at stats and thinking about usefulness, I think Latta adds more to the team then Laich at that point. Beagle fills the PK hole for Laich sitting and Latta has been a MUCH better FO guy then Laich's been (52% vs. something like mid 30%) so he has that utility to him.

I just really don't see what it is that Laich brings to the team at all right now while at least Latta adds spunk and can win FO when necessary.

In a Laich/Latta-Richards-Beagle line, whoever's at 4LW will never need to take a faceoff, so I don't think that's an important factor. As for the PKing, having Laich in the lineup means ~2 fewer minutes of PKing for guys like Williams or Oshie each night. Oshie in particular is already playing 19:32 a game. It'd be nice if we could ease off his TOI when Beagle comes back, help him save his energy. I think that and Laich's better defensive play is worth more than whatever slight edge Latta has for offense and chippiness. I like the idea of a Laich-Richards-Beagle 4th line with no weak link defensively. You could throw it out against any opponent and not have to worry about goals being scored (by either team).