Speculation: Acq./Rost. Bldg./Cap Part LXII (Arbitration MADNESS)

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

If Wilson is getting 3rd line minutes, the last thing he needs is Jay Beagle centering his line. At some point you've got to put the kid into a positive developmental position.

 

[SpinningEdge]

Let's be honest.... 90% of these convos are all about what lines would be best/etc.

...... and next season we will probably have 40 different forward lines over the course of the season, haha.

I think It's simple.... you try to get the 12 best forwards you can and then play with them until things are clicking... and when things are going well - you keep them the same. if things are not going well, you change it up.

So that's why I'm okay with Johansson and matching his price. Instead of thinking of "Oh, he's not a third line guy and isn't a good center at winning faceoffs!" - I think the more simple answer is...... "Is he good enough to be one of your top 12 twelve forwards on the team by adding him". If the answer is yes (which it is), you sign him and figure it out.

 

[hockeykicker]

Here's my question as an outsider:

Why isn't Beagle penciled into the 3C? The guy wins faceoffs at an awesome rate for the third line, and had a career year last year. Put him with a bruiser like Wilson and a skilled Mojo and I think it's a pretty solid third line. Finally lets Wilson get some real minutes instead of 4th line minutes, and Mojo can stay out of the top 6. Williams gets 2nd line minutes, and Ovi and Backstrom FINALLY get an actual bonafide 1st line RW in Oshie. It's a win-win-win. Paying Laich 4.5 to sit on the bench or play the 4th line hurts, but that pain is almost over.

Everything you mentioned is happening already except for beagle being 3C. With johannson and Wilson on two sides they need someone who is a little more skillful to make that line work thus why they are going out getting a center leaving chimera laich beagle latta on linen4

 

[Hivemind]

Here's my question as an outsider:

Why isn't Beagle penciled into the 3C? The guy wins faceoffs at an awesome rate for the third line, and had a career year last year. Put him with a bruiser like Wilson and a skilled Mojo and I think it's a pretty solid third line. Finally lets Wilson get some real minutes instead of 4th line minutes, and Mojo can stay out of the top 6. Williams gets 2nd line minutes, and Ovi and Backstrom FINALLY get an actual bonafide 1st line RW in Oshie. It's a win-win-win. Paying Laich 4.5 to sit on the bench or play the 4th line hurts, but that pain is almost over.

Because Jay Beagle is not a third-line caliber center, especially not for a team with aims at contention. 10 goals is far and away his career high, and that is both mediocre for a 3rd liner and came by way of beating up on crummy teams. More than likely his scoring is going to regress (he shot 4% higher than his career average last season), and his possession numbers have never been anything to brag about.

Beagle has a role as a faceoff specialist and PKer on a team, but he's simply not a top 9 player on a contender.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

IMO sign Fehr since he is still looking for a team and we're looking for our 3C. Or sign then dangle Mojo and see what options that reveals.

Worst case signing Fehr to a 1 year deal doesn't hurt.

 

[RandyHolt]

IIWBT

Ovi Kuz Oshie
Bura Back JWille
Chim MJ TWillie
Laich Beagle Latta

If MJ is worth what his agent says he can lead our 3rd line and learn how to man up and pull fiddy in the dot.
LOB / Galiev

 

[hockeykicker]

IMO sign Fehr since he is still looking for a team and we're looking for our 3C. Or sign then dangle Mojo and see what options that reveals.

Worst case signing Fehr to a 1 year deal doesn't hurt.

I dont understand the need to trade johannson (unless your implying using him to get a 3C and i misunderstood)
Johannson is a fine 3W

 

[Sisyphus*]

If Wilson is getting 3rd line minutes, the last thing he needs is Jay Beagle centering his line. At some point you've got to put the kid into a positive developmental position.

Wilson is not a top six forward, nor will he ever be one. Am I alone...anybody else?

 

[KevinM]

Wilson is not a top six forward, nor will he ever be one. Am I alone...anybody else?

My personal feelings are that the best we'll see from him is competent 3rd line numbers, but he is still exceptionally young so there is a chance he may develop into a complementary top 6 piece. He looked good at times on the first line when given the opportunity but lacked consistency so the potential is there, I just don't know if he'll be able to maintain the intensity he needed to be effective there over the course of a season.

 

[CapsJunkie]

Here's my question as an outsider:

Why isn't Beagle penciled into the 3C? The guy wins faceoffs at an awesome rate for the third line, and had a career year last year. Put him with a bruiser like Wilson and a skilled Mojo and I think it's a pretty solid third line. Finally lets Wilson get some real minutes instead of 4th line minutes, and Mojo can stay out of the top 6. Williams gets 2nd line minutes, and Ovi and Backstrom FINALLY get an actual bonafide 1st line RW in Oshie. It's a win-win-win. Paying Laich 4.5 to sit on the bench or play the 4th line hurts, but that pain is almost over.

Imo Beagle is a good 3c...I believe what managment is looking at is Backsrom is having wrist and hip surgery this off season. He may not be strong enough to start the season, if not Kuzzy can take 1st line but Beagle isn't good enough to play 2c. then if Kuzzy gets hurt for a couple of games caps are screwed

 

[MW6]

My issue with Mojo is that he's a hard player to fit on a line with his characteristics. Pass first, weak on the boards, bad at face offs, not a physical player, but great skater and good playmaking ability. And might soon be overpayed for his role on the team.

If he'd improve his face offs (and signed for < 3,5M$ I'd gladly slot him as 3C. X-Johansson-Wilson is somewhat enticing as a 3rd line, but I'd want a veteran goal scoring left wing as the X and he isn't on the team yet, nor will they have the cap space to sign him.

Have Trotz ever given an explanation to why the MoJo at C audition ended really fast?

And I don't think the Caps can afford to have two players in their bottom-6 paid ~4M.

 

[CapsJunkie]

I think mojo is a winger instead of center is because of his speed. Mojo, Ovi, and Chimmy's speed keep D-men from pinching and cheating on the play. You give any of these wingers a step and no one can catch them

 

[g00n]

Mojo is TERRIBLE at faceoffs. Two seasons ago he had 274 FO attempts and was at 34.7%. Last season under Trotz he only took 16 all year.

For comparison, Backstrom took over 1,600 (53.6%).


Mojo will never be a center under Trotz unless he goes to Faceoff Camp and comes home with more than a participation trophy.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I dont understand the need to trade johannson (unless your implying using him to get a 3C and i misunderstood)
Johannson is a fine 3W

Pretty much what I was implying, dangle him and see if the return is worth it. Otherwise sign fehr and hope he stays healthy.

 

[capitalsrock]

Imo Beagle is a good 3c...I believe what managment is looking at is Backsrom is having wrist and hip surgery this off season. He may not be strong enough to start the season, if not Kuzzy can take 1st line but Beagle isn't good enough to play 2c. then if Kuzzy gets hurt for a couple of games caps are screwed

No, they've gotta be looking for a #3C, GMBM has mentioned several times Burakovsky could start the season at center if Backstrom isn't ready and he is more than capable to play #2C for a few games.

 

[hockeykicker]

I wonder if gmbm will try and acquire a 3C with just draft picks (like a second or a third rounder) instead of using players

 

[OV Rocks]

Any interest in a guy like Lecavalier to fill the 3C spot not saying I want him but a guy like that could be swapped for Laich and probably could produce more. Philly has said they are trying to move him. Mojo-Lecavalier-Wilson isn't horrible

 

[hockeykicker]

Any interest in a guy like Lecavalier to fill the 3C spot not saying I want him but a guy like that could be swapped for Laich and probably could produce more. Philly has said they are trying to move him. Mojo-Lecavalier-Wilson isn't horrible

Why does laich need to go? If laich is on the 4th line he cant hurt anyone and he is a great pk guy

They should just keep everyone and add fehr or Boyes or tlusty and call it an off season

Also he does make 6million a year so johannson and laich to get lecavalier?

 

[PRicci09]

Any interest in a guy like Lecavalier to fill the 3C spot not saying I want him but a guy like that could be swapped for Laich and probably could produce more. Philly has said they are trying to move him. Mojo-Lecavalier-Wilson isn't horrible

With 3 years left on that contact, I would be shocked if they went anywhere near Lecavalier

 

[PB12]

Guys....quit bringing up players who are way past their prime.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Its not that Ovi can't do anything without an elite center, its that putting Beagle on the Top line is basically forcing our Top line into a eternal PK. Its more a comment on what I think of Beagle as a top 6er then Ovi.

He's not advocating Beagle as the top line center with Ovechkin. Read his initial post on this topic, please. He's just saying that Ovy can carry a center. And he can. See Zubrus, et all that first year plus.

Ovechkin could get centered by Laich or Johansson, perhaps, along with Oshie as the RW. We don't have to be so myopic to think that Ovechkin can only play ES with Backstrom or Kuznetsov.

That is what he's saying. Beagle has nothing to do with it.

 

[capitalsrock]

Any interest in a guy like Lecavalier to fill the 3C spot not saying I want him but a guy like that could be swapped for Laich and probably could produce more. Philly has said they are trying to move him. Mojo-Lecavalier-Wilson isn't horrible

No, it is horrible because lecavalier is beyond horrible, he's more useless than Laich

 

[Hivemind]

Guys....quit bringing up players who are way past their prime.

So, we shouldn't bring up Williams or Orpik?

 

[ryan519*]

So, holtby believed to be asking for 6.5 or more, and mojo 4mil+. Damn

How does this arbitration process work anyway, an arbitrator is able to award holtby the amount he wants?

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Wilson is not a top six forward, nor will he ever be one. Am I alone...anybody else?

I think the "nor will he ever be one" statement is absurd at this point in his career.