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

[txpd]

If you want to understand Oshie's value to this team, look no farther than the 2019 Carolina series. Reirden and Kempny aside, the loss of Oshie affected the team emotionally in a way that they could not overcome. Heart and soul stuff matters a ton.

Add to that when his contract was up most of the team told MacLellan in the exit interview that he needed to keep Oshie. The loudest of that came from Brooks Orpik.

He's been described as the heartbeat of the team. I have seen nothing to contradict that

 

[HTFN]

Kuznetsov's iCF rates and point shares haven't taken a nosedive like Oshie's have. That's the difference in my book. Oshie's a goalscorer more than a playmaker, and when his individual shot production starts to decline that's a red flag. Kuzy's iCF isn't what it was during 2016-19, but it's rebounded nicely compared to last season and isn't terribly far off from his career average. And Kuzy also makes up for it with his playmaking, and his on-ice stats are still very promising in that regard. Oshie's is the lowest since he's arrived in Washington, and about a 24% decrease compared to his first few years. His ixG is also the lowest since he arrived.

But what are your eyes telling you? This is one of those times. Oshie doesn't look slower or worse than the year before and his shifts are still effective. If you're really a pure stats guy aren't there too many short term changes to weigh here, between coaching changes and a COVID season against just one division?

So, first check: does he look like his new numbers or not?

 

[Calicaps]

Part 3