I havent said once that they're terrible. I said they are not a contender and not top-10 on D. Terrible is synonym of a bottom feeder in my book. I think they're okay as a team, the D is pretty bad but the offense still able to kinda hold the forth. That said, I don't think that they will be among 8 teams in the run the next May.
No, bro, we're talking about getting past the 1st round. You said its the likeliest outcome for everyone who makes it to get eliminated in the 1st. I took it as everyone is more likely to lose in the 1st than to win. I think it was a misunderstanding.
What are you talking about when you say we haven't given up a lot of chances when the opposition moves the puck laterally? Did you not see some of the goals we have given up.
You think the Caps will be underdogs to any team from the East in the 1st round?
I think they lack speed as a whole and lack structure and skill on the back end. To me, those are critical weaknesses for anyone who wants to be called a contender. I think Ovechkin, Backstrom, coke guy, 77 ,Vrana and Carlson are still the guys who can even with a very average goaltending drag this bunch up to the postseason but I don't expect anything more.
Whatever I come back with in terms of statistics and empirical evidence it’s not going to match up with maaco vision but yes I’ve watched a lot of the NHL this season.
No such concerns with their likeliest opponents, Rangers, Penguins, Panthers, Sabres?
What kind of answer is that? I have watched every Capitals game and we have given up a few goals on quick lateral passing plays. I was trying to make sense of your comment.
They’ve given up “a few” tough chances in 5 games against some of the best teams in the league, allowing 2nd fewest shots, therefore the defense sucks?
I really don't think Pens are getting in without Malkin but it's the Pens, anything can happen. I don't know about the Sabres, more sticking to what I said in the summer - Flyers will be in the playoffs barring any injury bug. Rangers and Panthers have the advantage in speed and looking at Caps goaltending performance last season and this season, I think any speedy team that the Caps don't have an advantage over at goaltending is not a good looking match up because goaltending is key in making up for defensive disasters and losing races for the pucks in your own zone.
Based on that, I feel the more reasonable take would be “If the Caps don’t put in Fehervary and Samsonov to improve their skating and goaltending they’ll lose to a better skating team with better goaltending” vs everybody sucks.
No, it wouldn't. Thats just ridiculous to think that Fehervary can solve their D problems at this point of his career in any way, shape, or form. He has a good upside on the offensive side but still makes mistakes at the other end, mishandling pucks in high-danger zones etc. I'm not sold on Samsonov unless he shows 10-15 games streak where he gives a consistent, high-level performance for the team.
The problem is Jensen is signed on long term contract and with intention to replace Niskanen. The fact that he's a bad defenseman didn't stop them from doing that so now they have to give a big role to him to prove the point and also because they don't have a legit solution for the 2 pairing problem. Gudas is nothing impressive as well. You get more calming and stabilizing vibes from him now than from Jensen but once the game gets real fast he will be that guy the opposing coaches will try and get their top players on the ice against. I wasn't even a fan of Niskanen when he was on the team but in comparison to those two, he had been a great player up until that last season.
So what would you do now/what would you have done differently for this defense that has gone from Stanley Cup winning to sucking in 16 months and 1 week despite moving on from certainly the worst skater of the D and probably the 2 worst.
I'd drive Jensen and Gudas to the airport at the very first opportunity of getting rid of them for anything of worth. They're not winning this season anyways so the sooner they build a proper defense the better.
OK you do realize that team defense I clues our forwards? I would say our forwards are the strength of our team defense. I would rate our d core average at best.
I was hoping it would be Jensen or Sieg but right now it’s Carlson, and so many forwards have contributed defensively. Caps have the 3rd highest cap hit for forwards so they should be asked to do more, plus they’re missing a top pair guy in Kempny, maybe a factor in Stephenson playing every game. I think Fehervary can be that shutdown guy from the skating, physicality, reach and coaching.
