Speculation: Acq./Rost. Bldg./Cap/Lines etc. Part LXXXIII -- Summer Free Agency 2017

[AlexBrovechkin8]

I will probably stop watching hockey this year if the Caps lose Schmidt for nothing to Pittsburgh. It would certainly cement McFail as my most disliked person in all of sports (not that that means a damn thing).

 

[RandyHolt]

I am still pissed. I hate everything. The expansion draft. The new jersey thing. Jersey. It just reeks of trying to bump up jersey sales by making subtle and unneeded changes. Being old school, I kind of miss home whites.

And I'll blame Hive for planting the seed in George's head, and hashing out the details of Schmitt to Pitt, if it happens. He'll be an all star in that system.

 

[Langway]

I hate everything.

That's me after reading this:

@TarikCSN: Holtby on playoffs (to reporters in Vegas): “Obviously it’s still hard. It’s still…[we] still don’t know what went on. It’s strange.†#Caps

 

[Hivemind]

I am still pissed. I hate everything. The expansion draft. The new jersey thing. Jersey. It just reeks of trying to bump up jersey sales by making subtle and unneeded changes. Being old school, I kind of miss home whites.

And I'll blame Hive for planting the seed in George's head, and hashing out the details of Schmitt to Pitt, if it happens. He'll be an all star in that system.

Can I also get the blame when Justin Williams inevitably signs with Pittsburgh?

 

[third man in]

Those jerseys are terrible. Why they just can't go back to the "thirds" as their FT jersey is beyond me. So, so much cleaner.

They'll bring out the better ones next year after fans that need the latest buy up these. They are horrible though. Nashville's are even worse.

 

[RandyHolt]

Can I also get the blame when Justin Williams inevitably signs with Pittsburgh?

Blame.. credit, Shirley.

I checked Vegas no pun intended and he is the odds on candidate to finish us in a game 7 a year from now.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[twabby]

I can't believe the NHL is rubbing it in the Capitals' faces AGAIN. Playing a reigning Eastern Conference Finalist at their home opener is just a giant FU to Capitals fans who are already down on their luck.

 

[Langway]

I can't believe the NHL is rubbing it in the Capitals' faces AGAIN. Playing a reigning Eastern Conference Finalist at their home opener is just a giant FU to Capitals fans who are already down on their luck.

Triggered.

 

[Roughing]

I can't believe the NHL is rubbing it in the Capitals' faces AGAIN. Playing a reigning Eastern Conference Finalist at their home opener is just a giant FU to Capitals fans who are already down on their luck.

Maybe we should ****ing win something.

 

[ovikovy817]

No banner for Ottawa, so no problem.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I can't believe the NHL is rubbing it in the Capitals' faces AGAIN. Playing a reigning Eastern Conference Finalist at their home opener is just a giant FU to Capitals fans who are already down on their luck.

Response from Ovechkin:

'Is good to be Ovy?".

 

[g00n]

That's me after reading this:

@TarikCSN: Holtby on playoffs (to reporters in Vegas): “Obviously it’s still hard. It’s still…[we] still don’t know what went on. It’s strange.†#Caps

That's because you guys are all MENTAL.

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[Raikkonen]

So we dont need to worry about cap space for Schmidt now. Nice!

 

[hockeykicker]

So we dont need to worry about cap space for Schmidt now. Nice!

well they kinda need a replacement for him

 

[Langway]

That's because you guys are all MENTAL.

 

[OV Rocks]

Now it is time to see what Mac is made of

 

[hockeykicker]

Now it is time to see what Mac is made of

This is said every year and he always delivers doesn't he?

 

[OV Rocks]

This is said every year and he always delivers doesn't he?

It was all relatively easy for him before, get defense (Niskanen, Orpik), get a 1st line RW (Oshie), get a 3 center (Eller). He did good in getting them but what is the blue print now?

For a team with 2 histrionically great regular seasons there will be a steeepppp decline this season especially if Oshie and Williams leave. 2 out of 6 d, gone. 2 out of the top 6, gone. You don't replace players at that magnitude by moving players up, that creates gaps through the rest of the lineup.

 

[Hivemind]

As a reminder, all the top free agents are basically the Capitals 2017 roster castoffs.

 

[g00n]

It was all relatively easy for him before, get defense (Niskanen, Orpik), get a 1st line RW (Oshie), get a 3 center (Eller). He did good in getting them but what is the blue print now?

For a team with 2 histrionically great regular seasons there will be a steeepppp decline this season especially if Oshie and Williams leave. 2 out of 6 d, gone. 2 out of the top 6, gone. You don't replace players at that magnitude by moving players up, that creates gaps through the rest of the lineup.

Easy? How do we know those moves were easy?

Look, we're pretty sure no big moves get made without Ted's approval. Aka Ovie and Nick aren't going anywhere. What more can gmbm do that he hasn't done? He's plugged every roster hole that's come up, on PAPER. The problem is the "best laid plans of mice and men" don't always pan out.

And it is NOT LUCK as some say every damn year. The Penguins staged a rebuild practically parallel to the Caps. Several teams rose and fell in the Ovechkin era. Many have made the Finals or won Cups more than once. You don't make FOUR FINALS like the Pens did based on LUCK. Sure you need some, but it's not an accident.

Some players have the heart and determination to pull something EXTRA when it COUNTS. That's what this team lacks and has always lacked, except maybe 1998 and even then they were just outmatched by a Detroit team with at least as much swagger and more talent, iirc.

This organization does not have "it". They have the playoff yips. They need performance psychologists more than some magic TDL move.

 

[strungout]

Gotta sign Oshie.

Go with the younger D. Chorney...step up or get out the way.

Orlov - Niskanen
Chorney - Carlson
Orpik - Bowey

Get Djoos, Lexington, and Williams some games as needed.

Maybe?

Ovie - Kuznetsov - Oshie
Mojo - Backstrom - Wilson
Burakovsky - Eller - Boyd
Walker - Beagle - Barber/Graovac

Maybe throw in a UFA $1million guy in there somewhere.

 

[hb12xchamps]

Resign Oshie and Williams (1 or 2 year for Williams) and trade Mojo to Minnesota for Brodin or one of their other surplus of D that they want to part with