Speculation: Caps General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines etc) - 2021 Off-Season Pt. 2

[txpd]

The thought of starting the season with a Samsonov-Copley or Samsonov-Fucale tandem, while spending $4,250,000 on 4th line wingers and $7,900,000 on Schultz and Dillon is just perplexing. What I don’t understand is why they allowed themselves no room to manoeuvre not only for last year, but for this year too - what if Samsonov proved unready for no.1 duties and Lundqvist had decided to retire this year? Or Lundqvist proved he wasn’t capable of being more than an NHL backup and Samsonov needed more help? To me, that’s the part of the Schultz signing that doesn’t make sense. Has there ever been a cup-winning team that budgeted such a small amount for goaltending?

1. Its helpful the think of the Caps 4th line more as their 3rd line. Thats more the kind of ice they work. If you want to call the Eller line the 3rd line, you end up with Sheary and Sprong there who often dont play a lot and dont carry a primary role on any of the special teams. There is nothing perplexing about the money that either Hagelin or Hathaway get. Hagelin is the primary force between the Caps top 5 pk last season and the 26th pk they had when he arrived. Hathaway is a force. There is a reason that Hagelin Dowd Hathaway stayed together all season and played so much. You can believe the Caps cant afford their PK anymore and should get rid of their specialists and hope for the best, but with Samsonov as the goalies, I would suggest that is dangerous.

 

[tenken00]

It all comes down to Ovechkin.

I’m sure it’s all been laid out for him. The offers they have to cut salary, and what it means to the team. He will have a LOT of say in what they do.

It's not too late for my team members photoshopped as homeless PowerPoint presentation idea!

 

[txpd]

Injuries aren't the only reason some players fade away, especially goalies. Holtby is 32 when the season starts and his career has gone downhill ever since our Cup. We can't afford to go with a boom-or-bust kind of guy behind Samsonov. We need a backup that can play a pretty high number of games and get us wins.

His career was on the downhill since Oates ran him into the ditch. Had a bounce back seasons with the Presi teams. If we are talking about some off the bargain heep veteran goalie as our back up plan to Samsonov, I would go with Holtby. He was a leader in the room when he left. Its comfortable surroundings. If he is going to be needed, IMO his best chance at a run is with the Capitals. I wouldnt pay him half of his contract in a trade, but if bought out and willing to play for around the minimum, I would take him over the other $1m or less options.

 

[Langway]

Even in light of recent performance I venture to guess Holtby will land more than the ~$1M they're going to want to spend on a 1b/back-up. All of the back-to-back games make it essential they add someone better than Copley/Fucale but I expect someone like Reimer, Dubnyk, Hutton, Brossoit or McElhinney. Never say never. Being thrifty could be costly but I'm not sure they're going to want to move another regular skater to open space to upgrade, esp. since the best options should be off the market pretty quickly. They can exceed the cap and straighten it out later but it's a tough maneuver.

Lots of teams are in the market for goalie upgrades, both in free agency and via trade. Toronto, Pittsburgh, Carolina, Buffalo, San Jose, New Jersey and Chicago are all looking for starter upgrades and can offer a lot of minutes. Colorado will either keep the top UFA in Grubauer or snag another. Vegas may move one of theirs. Perhaps Dallas moves Bishop. There's Kuemper and perhaps Georgiev. Maybe one of the CBJ goalies move as they make more changes. The Caps can offer a winning environment but at their likely price point it's probably not going to be one with strong opportunities elsewhere. Samsonov hasn't established himself fully so there's definite opportunity in DC but are they enough of a destination to take a drastic pay cut? I'd pretty much rule out Grubauer, Andersen, Mrazek, Holtby, Raanta, Bernier, Ullmark or Halak, as they'll probably land more money elsewhere. From there exclusively via UFA it's a pretty picked over group. They could play musical chairs and hope someone gets left out but I'd still be surprised if it ended up being someone above that cheaper tier.

 

[txpd]

I hope Ovechkin takes a lot of money so that changes need to be made. I’d hate to see him take $8 million and for them to bring back largely the same roster. IMO Ovechkin taking $10 million+ is the best thing he could do for the franchise.

Yea, that is what Ovechkin wants. He wants his contract to result in losing most of his friends on the team. To result in at minimum short term losing. To result in canning the coach and maybe the GM. To result in his goal scoring to drop off because his crew will be gone and replaced with players that arent at the same level and dont know him. Yup. That sounds like our Ov

 

[txpd]

Even in light of recent performance I venture to guess Holtby will land more than the ~$1M they're going to want to spend on a 1b/back-up.

The idea of counting on an $800k veteran as a 1b is pretty scary.

 

[racingmoose]

1. Its helpful the think of the Caps 4th line more as their 3rd line. Thats more the kind of ice they work. If you want to call the Eller line the 3rd line, you end up with Sheary and Sprong there who often dont play a lot and dont carry a primary role on any of the special teams. There is nothing perplexing about the money that either Hagelin or Hathaway get. Hagelin is the primary force between the Caps top 5 pk last season and the 26th pk they had when he arrived. Hathaway is a force. There is a reason that Hagelin Dowd Hathaway stayed together all season and played so much. You can believe the Caps cant afford their PK anymore and should get rid of their specialists and hope for the best, but with Samsonov as the goalies, I would suggest that is dangerous.

I agree that Hathaway & Hagelin have been key role players on that 4th line and the PK. But perhaps it's time to start looking inside the organization for a number of reasons, such as cap space, getting younger, and also providing opportunities.

Dare I say that Malenstyn (if recovered from his injury) can take on Hathaway's role. Between Fjalby, Pilon, and Gersich (yes Gersich), you have players with speed, 2 of which are on par with or better than Hagelin. All of these guys play a 200 foot game and have developed into solid PKers. They also have more scoring touch as well. Maybe it's time to start giving these guys a chance.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

Caps need to move a majority of Dillon, Jensen, Kempny, Hagelin, Hathaway....Frees up cap, gets rid of redundant players, and allows them a path to add players in FA/Trade & promote some youth.

 

[pman25]

If we're going bare minimum at goalie back up, plug in Fucale. I'd rather go that route than sign an Aaron Dell or Carter Hutton. We're already punting on goalies at that point, might as well go with the guy the organization has committed too and has had some development hand in

 

[tenken00]

I agree that Hathaway & Hagelin have been key role players on that 4th line and the PK. But perhaps it's time to start looking inside the organization for a number of reasons, such as cap space, getting younger, and also providing opportunities.

Dare I say that Malenstyn (if recovered from his injury) can take on Hathaway's role. Between Fjalby, Pilon, and Gersich (yes Gersich), you have players with speed, 2 of which are on par with or better than Hagelin. All of these guys play a 200 foot game and have developed into solid PKers. They also have more scoring touch as well. Maybe it's time to start giving these guys a chance.

Is Beck the Check's recovery going smoothly? I haven't seen a word about him since the horrible injury a year ago.

 

[Devil Dancer]

Based on what? GMBM’s press conference?

No, based on the cap situation of potential suitors and the fact that we just went through a heavy trade window and he's still here.

 

[Hivemind]

Periodic reminder that among all Capitals PK regular forwards last year, Carl Hagelin gave up the most goals against/60 on the PK, and it wasn’t particularly close.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Hathaway brings grit not so easily replaced. I’m not sure any of those guys brings what he does.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

No, based on the cap situation of potential suitors and the fact that we just went through a heavy trade window and he's still here.

well….I just got an article sent by the NHL that’s titled “NHL trade activity expected to increase ahead of free agency”….we’ll see. Looooooong way to go.

 

[pman25]

its not like penalty killing is a particular difficult thing to learn. You run and chase guys. It's probably one of the easier parts of the game to pass off to a young guy looking to make an impact. We have players capable of doing that, so I'm not overly concerned about the PK impacts of dumping Hagelin

 

[racingmoose]

Hathaway brings grit not so easily replaced. I’m not sure any of those guys brings what he does.

If Malenstyn has recovered from his injury, he brings just as much grit in my opinion. The big question mark is the recovery from injury.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

If Malenstyn has recovered from his injury, he brings just as much grit in my opinion. The big question mark is the recovery from injury.

Where have you seen this grit, this willingness to antagonize and fight that GH shows?? Certainly not at GH’s level of shit stirring IMO. If we’re looking to make cuts, I’d look for more high-priced spots to make a real impact.

(He’s also a LW….so really not a GH replacement candidate IMO)….

 

[racingmoose]

its not like penalty killing is a particular difficult thing to learn. You run and chase guys. It's probably one of the easier parts of the game to pass off to a young guy looking to make an impact. We have players capable of doing that, so I'm not overly concerned about the PK impacts of dumping Hagelin

Umm, I don't think there's a coach, scout, or former player that would agree with that.

 

[pman25]

Umm, I don't think there's a coach, scout, or former player that would agree with that.

well thats what coaches are for, certainly they can coach players to be penalty killers

 

[g00n]

Periodic reminder that among all Capitals PK regular forwards last year, Carl Hagelin gave up the most goals against/60 on the PK, and it wasn’t particularly close.

Ackshualalyy, Mr. Ackshaually, he was 2nd highest among "regulars" (at least 30GP, sorted by SH TOI/G). Chara gave up the most PP GA/60 on the PK but also logged the most minutes/G, with Hagelin at 3rd. And it mostly scales down from there. If anything the stats show Jensen and Dowd are probably pretty good given their minutes on the PK.

So how did those two fare in the same stat, compared to other players with similar PK min/g? Not very bad:

Duncan Keith....woof.

 

[racingmoose]

Where have you seen this grit, this willingness to antagonize and fight that GH shows?? Certainly not at GH’s level of shit stirring IMO. If we’re looking to make cuts, I’d look for more high-priced spots to make a real impact.

I'm not saying Hathaway doesn't fill a role and he does it very well. Just suggesting maybe it' s time to consider some of the young guys who can also fill specific roles. A number of fellow scouts have their eye on him and his recovery. Brings speed, hockey sense, superior PK ability, vicious hitter, and willingness to drop the gloves if needed.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

well thats what coaches are for, certainly they can coach players to be penalty killers

yet the Caps struggled for a few years to fix their PK until Hags arrived.

I feel like the oversimplification of PKing is a giant hockey myth.

Anyone who can skate can PK (well)! wrong….

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I'm not saying Hathaway doesn't fill a role and he does it very well. Just suggesting maybe it' s time to consider some of the young guys who can also fill specific roles. A number of fellow scouts have their eye on him and his recovery. Brings speed, hockey sense, superior PK ability, vicious hitter, and willingness to drop the gloves if needed.

No problem fitting in young guys….but not at the cost of the guys who fill certain roles and always show up ready to battle.

But, by all means….if the Hershey guys can actually displace a vet in camp, have at it. No gift spots.

 

[pman25]

yet the Caps struggled for a few years to fix their PK until Hags arrived.

I feel like the oversimplification of PKing is a giant hockey myth.

Anyone who can skate can PK (well)! wrong….

I'd prefer to keep Hagelin too but given the cap crunch pickle we're in, I'd look to him as a guy we should probably cut and sell as a Top PKer to some team in desperate need of good penalty killing and try to develop his replacement internally.

But Schultz is my #1 for a cap dump, and then Hagelin.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I'd prefer to keep Hagelin too but given the cap crunch pickle we're in, I'd look to him as a guy we should probably cut and sell as a Top PKer to some team in desperate need of good penalty killing and try to develop his replacement internally.

But Schultz is my #1 for a cap dump, and then Hagelin.

I’m actually ok with Hags leaving because his salary is so misplaced, but damn they can’t just create a giant vacuum on the PK.

agree on Schultz….