GDT: Capitals at Leafs Nov 23, 2013 7:00 PM ET

[PuckBuddy]

"Out beyond comparables of Backes and Ya$hin,
there is an ice rink. Brooks Laich will meet you there."
-Rumi, "A Great Wagon"

 

[Chukcha]

Our PP sucks with Carlson on the blueline. Too predictable.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Traded Varlamov for 1st and 2nd
+
Traded Colorado's 2nd + Eakin for Ribeiro
+
Used Colorado's 1st for Forsberg
+
Traded Forsberg for Erat and Latta
=
Traded Varlamov + Eakin for Erat, Latta (lost Ribeiro)

That doesn't scream 16 years of success?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

‏@TedStarkey: It's been 215:33 of play since someone not named Ovechkin scored goal for Washington, dating back to John Carlson's 2nd period goal Sunday.

SSDY is right. I'm back to watching primarily to see if Ovechkin scores.

Absolutely feel the same. Rocket Richard or bust. Sucks when even your hardcore fan base has next to ZERO faith in the postseason chances....

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I thought Laich looked good last night and over the last few games, seems to be rounding into form.

The negative hyperbole towards him is getting absurd.

Blah blah blah.

They need someone to hate on while the team struggles....this is cap-world fan angst now. Handwringing anytime a fairly expensive player misses time due to injury, god forbid they don't return to form immediately. It's now 'what have you done for me lately' every year.

Laich has been playing better. He's still bad for the locker room, but they can live with him as 3C with Chimera and Ward or as a complimentary winger on a line with real players. Not selling Brouwer while he still has some value is really stupid.

BWHAHAHAHAH....are you serious? He's now a NEGATIVE influence in the locker room? Flew by the marijuana's and went right to the acid?

 

[txpd]

Absolutely feel the same. Rocket Richard or bust. Sucks when even your hardcore fan base has next to ZERO faith in the postseason chances....

if you are a caps fan for any period of time, that post season faith is long gone. most fans here thought they had no shot on 09-10.

I will believe it when I see it. but I don't also think they suck.

I think they need to add a 30+ year old veteran to the defense. 3 players that are rookie or close to rookies shouldn't be playing at the same time and its killing the offense of the team. plain and simple. the defense suffers too but its the offense that cant get started.

Carlson and Alzner check the opposing top line well but they also move the puck reliably and aren't chimera and ward out there a lot v the opposing 1st line? green is playing with a rookie and nothing will kill his attack game faster than having to be the daddy. then two rookies together is unacceptable except for injury reasons.

I am not going to get all fire George over this but its just a reality that it cant work

 

[Liberati0n*]

BWHAHAHAHAH....are you serious? He's now a NEGATIVE influence in the locker room? Flew by the marijuana's and went right to the acid?

Because he's all talk and little legitimate action. And because players like him are "leaders" on teams with cultures of mediocrity (like the Capitals). I'm surprised you disagree, since he's the perfect McPhailure player.

 

[Ajax1995]

I've got to think Laich/Brouwer being the top PK forward tandem is why both are effectively immune from being scratched.

Well considering the PK is just 25 for 34, 73.5% effective, over the last 9 games I wouldn't call PK brilliance a reason to keep anyone in the lineup. And while we are at it the PP is 2 for 23 over over the last 7 games so I wouldn't call his role on PP1 a reason not to scratch Brouwer either.

 

[Ajax1995]

does strachen know how to throw?

seeing his beeline after clarkson, along with the shove back at the face off, it had me wondering if he can/is willing to drop the mittens....

http://www.hockeyfights.com/players/7397

Yeah some.

 

[CrashTheNet9]

does strachen know how to throw?

seeing his beeline after clarkson, along with the shove back at the face off, it had me wondering if he can/is willing to drop the mittens....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGg_nAE0ysw

 

[Raikkonen]

You can't seriously believe that Brooks Laich has any value.

Laich has value for Caps. Even if as 3C, PK specialist and injury replacement. It is indeed value.

He is overpriced. Yes. But it's not the end of the world.

Switching Laich to 3C and Grabo to 2C we got closer to what we need as C depth.

Ribeiro and Perreault were less fitting for playoffs ES play (on the paper), and now we have more capable players for that.

In the end Rib's salary + MP's salary was not much less than BL's + MG's is now. But you know Ribs and MP didn't play PK ))


In short, I'm fine with Brooks as 3C. His contract is history.

 

[Langway]

Well considering the PK is just 25 for 34, 73.5% effective, over the last 9 games I wouldn't call PK brilliance a reason to keep anyone in the lineup.

Brilliance lately, no, but the overall numbers remain strong and they're the go-to PK forward tandem. I don't think breaking up PK pairings is that big of a deal but would anyone really be surprised if there's yet another example of stubbornness at play here?

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Because he's all talk and little legitimate action. And because players like him are "leaders" on teams with cultures of mediocrity (like the Capitals). I'm surprised you disagree, since he's the perfect McPhailure player.

I believe his TYPE of player is someone the Caps need more of, not less. He talks the talk and has walked the walk when healthy in the past. He's the kind of foot soldier Cups are won with IMO. Hard to see him struggle, but he's not alone and other higher paid guys have gone through longer tougher times....I'd like to see him return to form to some extent before looking to dump him for nothing....

 

[Chukcha]

guys, what do you think about our PP and PK units last several games? Much worse than a couple of weeks before.

 

[trick9]

guys, what do you think about our PP and PK units last several games? Much worse than a couple of weeks before.

I think the PK unit has been too heavily dependant on Alzner, Carlson and goaltending. They still give up lots of shots, and Latta seems to be the only center who can actually win faceoffs.

 

[FloridaCap]

guys, what do you think about our PP and PK units last several games? Much worse than a couple of weeks before.

Regression to what we actually are.

We're not a 90% PK team. We're more like an 80-82% PK team.

Our PK is far too passive to be elite. Look around at all of the elite PK's. They pressure the puck.

 

[Ajax1995]

guys, what do you think about our PP and PK units last several games? Much worse than a couple of weeks before.

You tell me, the PK is just 25 for 34, 73.5% effective, over the last 9 games and the PP is 2 for 23 over over the last 7 games...

 

[FloridaCap]

You tell me, the PK is just 25 for 34, 73.5% effective, over the last 9 games and the PP is 2 for 23 over over the last 7 games...

Green missed 3 games and hasn't really played the PP in the 2 since he's been back.

That's 5/7 games. Coincidence? I think not.

Playing Carlson on PP1 right now over Carlson is just ridiculous. Carlson is a solid PP2 guy. He is NOT the #1 PPQB for the best PP in the NHL.

 

[Halpysback*]

Laich has value for Caps. Even if as 3C, PK specialist and injury replacement. It is indeed value.

He is overpriced. Yes. But it's not the end of the world.

Switching Laich to 3C and Grabo to 2C we got closer to what we need as C depth.

Ribeiro and Perreault were less fitting for playoffs ES play (on the paper), and now we have more capable players for that.

In the end Rib's salary + MP's salary was not much less than BL's + MG's is now. But you know Ribs and MP didn't play PK ))


In short, I'm fine with Brooks as 3C. His contract is history.

Latta is better in the 3c spot.

Beagle is better in the 4c spot.

Perreault was amazing in the playoffs and is a better es player. His entire freaking career was built on es play. You remember him being on any special team, ever? No, he drew dumb penalties instead of taking them.

No need for laich. At all. This board's mancrush on him defies all reason. He's the poster child for mcphees failed approach to team building.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

You can't possibly believe Laich doesn't have any value.

That's delusional.

He's got a better rep around the league than Erat did last year, and what'd he fetch in a trade?

 

[Halpysback*]

Except we don't have a McPhee to trade with.

And Erat was universally held in a higher regard. Perennial 60 point player on a Trotz team with well established offensive attributes - speed and playmaking, in addition to good defensive play and some grit.

Laich has 24 GP, 5 points, -10, coming off of a groin injury, hasn't produced offensively since the president's trophy year, signed to 4.5 million per for multiple years. What the hell is the upside for trading for him unless it's a straight dump for Liles or Gleason or Booth or someone? You might get a 45 point player (if you're willing to let him drag down your top 6, sub 40 point player in a 3rd line) who can wing it on special teams? BLOW UP THE PHONES EVERYONE!

 

[KevinM]

MP85 used to play along the half boards on the right side a la Backstrom on the second PP unit which never saw a ton of TOI.

 

[Halpysback*]

I believe his TYPE of player is someone the Caps need more of, not less. He talks the talk and has walked the walk when healthy in the past. He's the kind of foot soldier Cups are won with IMO. Hard to see him struggle, but he's not alone and other higher paid guys have gone through longer tougher times....I'd like to see him return to form to some extent before looking to dump him for nothing....

Except he hasn't actually walked the walk, ever. If the amount of smoke he blew about working on his skating or going to the bakery correlated with his on ice play he'd be Crosby 2.0. As things are he's always remained an average skater, always sucked along the boards (hallmark of a "walking the walk player") and aside from a couple years has been a non-factor as a net presence. Chimera and Ward walk the walk more than he does.

I guess for some people talk is all they need, it's how McPhee still has a job.

 

[Halpysback*]

MP85 used to play along the half boards on the right side a la Backstrom on the second PP unit which never saw a ton of TOI.

Good point, forgot about that. He still made pretty much all of his positive contributions at ES.

 

[KevinM]

Well, sure, I was just remembering and stuff.