Confirmed with Link: Caps trade for Mantha for Vrana, Panik, 2021 1st, 22 2nd

[DWGie26]

Or run players off the team?

Yep... and that is going to happen. That is what leaders do. Can’t be liked by everyone. Agree with sentiment of motivated Kuzy >>> motivated Vrana. So you win some and lose some. But to me a win to get Mantha who better fits our system. Also won on Sheary, Sprong, Jensen, entire 4th line, Schultz has been a good pickup. I still like Dillon long term but he has had some rough stretches for sure.

As saying goes... Fail fast. Vrana was an issue. No need to let it linger!

 

[Silky mitts]

I told my wife I don’t want to sound like a hater, but the Caps has a lower on ice shooting percentage with Vrana than any other player in each of the last 3 playoffs. She said Wow, you really do sound like a hater.

 

[lilidk]

Why did Vrana play so little v Dallas?

He scores too much , he needs to learn Detroit way. Don't worry Blashill will fix that

 

[Enders Game]

Do something Mantha

 

[txpd]

Do something Mantha

Did you watch the game? Outstanding pass to Ovechkin for his goal.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

We look slow and Vrana would definitely help with that. Mantha has zero goals in his last 13 games. I would like to think Vrana could at least match that pace.

 

[Misery74]

This trade looks bad. Partly, because of the ridiculous Panik signing, BMac forced his own hand.

Mantha had a fine assist, but holds the puck too long.

BMacs veteran signings have been largely terrible. He signs guys for too much, for too long.

This pattern will close the window faster than our aging stars.

 

[EroCaps]

2 pts in 3 games. He's been better than Vrana in the playoffs but a 1st and a 2nd better? Eh...

 

[CapsCrazyX17]

We look slow and Vrana would definitely help with that. Mantha has zero goals in his last 13 games. I would like to think Vrana could at least match that pace.

Friendly reminder that Vrana has zero points in his last 15 playoff games and is a -8 over that period. I was a big Vrana fan but we looked old and slow against the Islanders in the bubble last year and V didn't really help with that.

Say what you will about Mantha but at least he has two points in three games, which by the way is more than Carlson, Backstrom, Schultz, and Sheary.

 

[CapsDC]

We look slow and Vrana would definitely help with that. Mantha has zero goals in his last 13 games. I would like to think Vrana could at least match that pace.

Mantha has had some juice out there, even if he's not been scoring. I think if Vrana were still here we'd still be complaining about how slow the team looks, particularly the aging vets. Not saying I love this trade, mostly because of giving the draft picks along with Vrana. It was clearly a cap move the team was forced to make because of previous moves, but Vrana was gone either way after this season right? Unless they unloaded other guys to make room for his bigger salary.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

Mantha has had some juice out there, even if he's not been scoring. I think if Vrana were still here we'd still be complaining about how slow the team looks, particularly the aging vets. Not saying I love this trade, mostly because of giving the draft picks along with Vrana. It was clearly a cap move the team was forced to make because of previous moves, but Vrana was gone either way after this season right? Unless they unloaded other guys to make room for his bigger salary.

I am not defending Vrana either. He definitely did not perform well on a consistent basis in the playoffs. My point is more about Mantha. Is this the best return we could get for Vrana and the draft picks? I understand the cap dump associated with Panik but we really couldn’t do any better?

 

[Langway]

If Vrana was still around he might be getting the Sprong treatment given Lavi's third line decisions and his general mentality. One can debate the merits of that and whether it's viable. It's possible they end up purging their two fastest finesse top sixers in Vrana and Kuznetsov for a coach whose shelf life may not last very long (and whose systematic approach with skilled players looks at least a bit questionable).

As for Mantha to me his 5-on-5 hockey IQ and anticipation remains better than his linemates most of the time. Mentally he seems a step ahead whereas for Backstrom much of the time it's just a slog these days. You'd like for Mantha to just take over with his size now and then but his playmaking is still valuable. His linemates often haven't had much to contribute, mainly due to lacking pace to open up ice to attack more dangerously. The price was rich but even as more of a cycler/playmaker and PP2 shooter the value is fine IMO. A lot of things could be better from an execution standpoint from the top-six to get in better positions to produce. He's had chances he needs to bury but at least he's getting them. I'm a lot more concerned with the core play from 8, 19, 74 and 92 regardless of whatever injuries they're nursing. It's mind over matter season and their ability to control play looks all but lost much of the time.

 

[kicksavedave]

I'm a lot more concerned with the core play from 8, 19, 74 and 92 regardless of whatever injuries they're nursing. It's mind over matter season and their ability to control play looks all but lost much of the time.

It should not need to be said here, but if those 4 players continue to be the worst contributors relative to their ice time and salary, we won't ever win anything at all, ever. Literally, we need our four best players to play like our four best players if we have any hope of winning at all. Without them, the 4th line can only carry so much weight and they've been carrying ALL the weight so far.

Granted, all four of them were out with injury recently, which sucks, but if they can't get their effort right soon, it will be too late. Even without ANYTHING from them, we're dead even overall vs the Bs. If those four get closer to what they are capable of, this series is ours. If not, its theirs. Simple as that.

 

[Melkor]

I'll give you this: maybe neither Mantha nor Vrana are issues. They both have their deficiencies and definitely not capable of being an alpha on a winning team. But it might very well be the core has been the issue all along. Young guys just can't use their strengths to the max with them for whatever reason.

 

[trick9]

Mantha is getting to the right areas and making plays to get him into scoring areas. He just hasn't found the net. Which is tough because he has had a ton of chances.

 

[g00n]

12 Caps have points. Mantha's 2 points puts him behind only Ovie, Hathaway, and Oshie. He's even with Wilson, Orlov and Dowd who we all say have been mostly great so far.

I don't get the Mantha bashing other than possibly some resentment from Vrana fans.

 

[Scorlov]

Mantha is like an American Kozlov. Solid player but not gamebreaker and not adding much to a lineup that was slow and big already though he could be an impact player for a smurf team like Vancouver. Vrana could create goals out of nothing a la Byron today for the Habs. Something this team's top 9 is sorely missing. 4th line is looking as good as it is because they're skating better than everyone else.

Yeah Vrana hasn't scored in the Reirden era playoffs but if we judge the rest of the roster by the Reirden era playoff benchmark 80% of it has to go.

At this point losing to the Bruins may be mercy as it would save us from watching the Pens tear holes through us with their afterburners

 

[txpd]

Mantha has 12 shots on goal so far. Thats good for the team lead. He has 2 primary assists out of 8 total goals. He's one point off the team lead. The guy has played his first 3 ever playoff games

 

[TheLegendOfPatPeake]

If y’all think Mantha is the reason we are losing to the Bruins you’ve lost your god damn mind. He is the LEAST of their problems.

 

[Silky mitts]

I’d be shocked if Mantha didn’t lead the Caps in 5 on 5 zone exits and zone entries so far

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

This is Mantha's first playoffs. He is doing well but he is going to have to ramp it up for the Caps to win.

 

[AussieCapsFan]

This is Mantha's first playoffs. He is doing well but he is going to have to ramp it up for the Caps to win.

I was told by Detroit fans he had a beast mode. I WANT TO SEE THE BEAST MODE!!! Where is it??

They lied! Curse them!

 

[g00n]

Underappreciated post from @trick9 in the series thread:

Series Discussion: - Capitals vs Bruins

Take a look at that again. The only player on the team who was more dangerous than the opposition while on the ice 5 on 5 has been....Mantha. He hasn't buried the chances yet but as I said before I think that's him holding the puck a half beat too long to pick a spot. If he starts letting it rip right away he's going to pot a few.

 

[g00n]

Mantha is like an American Kozlov. Solid player but not gamebreaker and not adding much to a lineup that was slow and big already though he could be an impact player for a smurf team like Vancouver. Vrana could create goals out of nothing a la Byron today for the Habs. Something this team's top 9 is sorely missing. 4th line is looking as good as it is because they're skating better than everyone else.

Yeah Vrana hasn't scored in the Reirden era playoffs but if we judge the rest of the roster by the Reirden era playoff benchmark 80% of it has to go.

At this point losing to the Bruins may be mercy as it would save us from watching the Pens tear holes through us with their afterburners

Have you seen many breakaways this series, from either team? Vrana is a breakaway specialist. His set piece offense is mediocre to sub-par due to his soft perimeter play. He'd likely be faring no better than Sprong right now.

The 4th line isn't just skating they're playing with jam and heart. They're still doing what they do, which is hitting and puck pursuit. The top 6 are playing like they're afraid of penalties, or maybe their jockstraps are on backwards. Other than G1 Oshie, Mantha has been the most consistent of the top 6 in terms of generally producing good plays. The only thing missing from him in 3 career playoff games is the finish, which will come if he releases quicker.

 

[Kuz]

Take a look at that again. The only player on the team who was more dangerous than the opposition while on the ice 5 on 5 has been....Mantha. He hasn't buried the chances yet but as I said before I think that's him holding the puck a half beat too long to pick a spot. If he starts letting it rip right away he's going to pot a few.

Probably not the only player. As you can see from the post Chara-Jensen have very good stats 5v5. The only one in the top 6 and its impressive that he is so far ahead of his linemates. I would guess the 4th line has a pretty decent stat aswell and Eller/Raffl also have looked efficient 5v5.