troyerlaw
Life is party again
Orlov was a stud too. He has been playing really well lately
Post-Game Talk: Fish Stix vs WashingtonlessOviens - 7pm
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Just back from the game! Wow! So good to be back in the building! This sport is so much better live. Can see so much happening away from the puck. We just dominated puck possession. Always in good dee posture. VV was timely and solid.
The player that stood out to me the most is Sprong. He skated hard on every shift both forecheck and back check. Created opportunities. Scored. That game consistently and he is our 3RW next year. In meantime we have 13 solid forwards. I like all that that brings.
txpd
Registered User
I would think if Schultz were exposed, Seattle would pass on him because he would only have one year of contract left.
Which means Vanecek is a higher risk. Don’t think they will take Jensen but that would be better.
- Feb 10, 2010
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Totally agree. Earlier in the season it seemed like Orlov wasn't getting the green light to play much offense or something. But he can bomb it - you gotta get him some shots here and there.
TRASHCAT
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Alexander the Gr8
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He knows we’re really good Cali... he knows
Lol. Coming from the King of “hot takes”? That’s rich my man. Very rich.
bur and 666 others
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- Jun 13, 2012
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Wanted to write last time. Sprong can be our Connolly , he wears #10 too, only with much higher potential.
Glad that our young goalies are doing well. Hopefully they continue into the playoffs.
artilector
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- Jan 11, 2006
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I gotta say I'm impressed with the Caps' win today, and this series against the Isles in general. They're actually starting to show that extra gear in terms of collective effort and precision that they're gonna need to contend against the faster teams -- something they've been missing for a long time. And lately it doesn't look like a fluke, either.
Sprong has been a huge success story for the Caps, the Connolly comparison fits, he could be a big difference maker in playoffs with a few timely goals. With all due respect to Raffl, who's been fine, give those reps to Sprong when Ovi returns.
Eller deserves a healthy dose of appreciation IMO, haven't looked at the numbers, but to my eyes he's just always working like a mule to make sure that his line does well in battle for possession - and he finally has some linemates that can help him with that.
Now the main thing... Mantha oozes talent -- not just the obvious physical tools, but he's reading plays well, making tricky precise passes, and it all seems pretty effortless for him - just a natural born 1st line winger with a complete offensive toolbox. And especially compared to Vrana, his fit with Backstrom & Oshie is just on a whole different plane.
Overall, the Mantha trade has made a big difference. It sucks that the Caps couldn't get the most out of Vrana and had to basically sell low, but it looks like they've at least hit a home run with Mantha -- all the forward lines have almost immediately clicked into place. It's like they've replaced a malfunctioning part with exactly the right gear, and now the whole mechanism is coming back online.
Sprong has been a huge success story for the Caps, the Connolly comparison fits, he could be a big difference maker in playoffs with a few timely goals. With all due respect to Raffl, who's been fine, give those reps to Sprong when Ovi returns.
Eller deserves a healthy dose of appreciation IMO, haven't looked at the numbers, but to my eyes he's just always working like a mule to make sure that his line does well in battle for possession - and he finally has some linemates that can help him with that.
Now the main thing... Mantha oozes talent -- not just the obvious physical tools, but he's reading plays well, making tricky precise passes, and it all seems pretty effortless for him - just a natural born 1st line winger with a complete offensive toolbox. And especially compared to Vrana, his fit with Backstrom & Oshie is just on a whole different plane.
Overall, the Mantha trade has made a big difference. It sucks that the Caps couldn't get the most out of Vrana and had to basically sell low, but it looks like they've at least hit a home run with Mantha -- all the forward lines have almost immediately clicked into place. It's like they've replaced a malfunctioning part with exactly the right gear, and now the whole mechanism is coming back online.
AussieCapsFan
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HecticGlow
Registered User
Which means they get either a 2nd or 1st rounder for him at the TDL, or trade and retain right off the back to a cap-strapped contender. Everyone seems to forget Seattle has to draft 30 players (and likely an extra couple of guys via protection trades) for 22 NHL spots – not everyone they draft will be drafted to play for them long-term, and at least 5 or 6 guys will be drafted to be traded right away.
Expansion draft teams don’t just draft the BPA from each team, but rather the best player who fills:
- Their draft quotas (enough Ds, enough Fs, 3 Gs) and either
- fits their on-ice needs (would Dillon be one of their top-3 LD? Do they draft enough RDs? Do they have enough forwards who can shoot? Is Vivek an upgrade on whoever else would be their number 2 goalie?) or
- Helps them acquire as many draft picks and/or A/B prospects over the first two years as possible.
- Sprong (man can he shoot)
- Dillon (leadership and physicality)
- Schultz (PP QB and offensive-D man)
- Jensen (Strong PKer with good wheels)
- Vanecek (NHL goaltender who’s still developing and cheap for 1 more year)
- TVR (good #6 on a great contract – either cheap for Seattle or highly tradeable)
- Dowd (good PKer, good on faceoffs, energy, scoring punch from 4th line)
- Hagelin (4th liner but plays with energy, great wheels, forecheck and strong PKer)
- Hathaway (can PK, good wheels, plays with grit and not afraid to get dirty)
HecticGlow
Registered User
(What a game by the boys, by the way. VV didn’t stand on his head to get us the shutout, but we want games where our Gs don’t have to stand on their heads to get the win. Good response by the forwards and defense after an offensively-strong previous game where they gave up a little too much. I think Trotz is doing everything he can with what he’s been dealt this year, but they don’t have the scoring power to go as far as they did last season, I don’t think.)
- Feb 15, 2005
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Sprong is showing he can be successful a top 6 forward in this league. I’m not sure about his ability to survive as a bottom 6 guy though - where there’s a higher premium on attributes like defensive responsibility and puck management. Those areas of his game looked OK last night, but they’ve been pretty inconsistent all year. If he wants a permanent place in our lineup it would have to be as bottom 6 guy (unless you flip him and Mantha, so he plays with Nick and Oshie and that seems like a bad idea), and I think the jury is still out on him in that role.
Raffl may not have anything close to Sprong’s scoring touch, but he’s otherwise shown himself to be a very solid 3rd liner so far, and all the things he’s good at as a 3rd liner (and that Sprong is still a little spotty on) are things you need in a 3rd line in the playoffs, where that line’s top responsibility is to neutralize the opposition’s top 6. Sprong plays much more of a “trade chances” kind of game, which makes him an uneasy fit on the 3rd line
Raffl may not have anything close to Sprong’s scoring touch, but he’s otherwise shown himself to be a very solid 3rd liner so far, and all the things he’s good at as a 3rd liner (and that Sprong is still a little spotty on) are things you need in a 3rd line in the playoffs, where that line’s top responsibility is to neutralize the opposition’s top 6. Sprong plays much more of a “trade chances” kind of game, which makes him an uneasy fit on the 3rd line
Ovie's Neighbor
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- Jan 23, 2007
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The passing was great again last night and that is really the key with this team. When they pass well they look amazing.
That was one of the best games I've seen the Caps play in years. That was relentless from start to finish. Isles had nothing.
- Feb 10, 2010
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g00n
Retired Global Mod
- Nov 22, 2007
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From a team performance standpoint, that was total playoff hockey. Great passing, energy, awareness, decision making, etc. Top notch TOP NOTCH.
But you don't want the refs having any chance to nullify all that with a couple of shitty power plays, as they almost did.
So no thanks on the 1-0 games. Too little room for error. Pile it on and don't stop.
ovikovy817
Registered User
For a moment I though that #28 took possession of #10 lol.
5/6 against the Isles in this moment of the season it's very good.
5/6 against the Isles in this moment of the season it's very good.
Portable Mink
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tenken00
Oh it's going down in Chinatown
- Jan 29, 2010
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I think it's generally amusing how all these series are supposed to determine who is going to be #1 in the East throughout this season. Philadelphia-Washington, Boston-Washington, NY Islanders-Washington, and now this week Pittsburgh-Washington.
I'm beginning to see a pattern here.
I'm beginning to see a pattern here.
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