GDT: G5: Leafs @ Caps - 6:08pm

[Alexander the Gr8]

Is it just me or does Matthews, with that stache, look like Freddie mercury circa 1979?

Yeah, always got that vibe for him. I used to think the stache was a ridiculous look on him, but now I can't picture him without it.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Great chance for Kuzy there. I guess the magic is gone.

 

[Brian23]

Not if you’re evaluating a GM’s performance

No it isn't.

I guess being a Commanders fan for my entire life has really jaded me, but it really seems like Caps being bad is going to make so much discussion around them completely insufferable. Just ignoring reality.

 

[Chokingdogs]

Well, after careful consideration, I’m going to watch Engine Masters.

Once I’m done with that I’ll watch this game, on FF1 speed, in case I missed anything.

 

[Capitals40]

Great chance for Kuzy there. I guess the magic is gone.

But, that was a really good save

 

[troyerlaw]

No it isn't.

I guess being a Commanders fan for my entire life has really jaded me, but it really seems like Caps being bad is going to make so much discussion around them completely insufferable. Just ignoring reality.

What’s the reality we’re ignoring by pointing out GMBM has been mediocre

 

[Coldplay619]

Nationals, Wizards, Commands and Capitals all terrible.

 

[Brian23]

What’s the reality we’re ignoring by pointing out GMBM has been mediocre

Because the only thing you're ignoring is reality. The only deal one can really complain about is maybe Wilson, but he'd still be playing here the exact same way even if they didn't resign him. He's not even on his new deal yet. Give him more then 4 games too get it together.

The rest? You don't get a cup. You don't get to bitch and moan about having to clean up after the party if you were one of the one's enjoying the ride. The bill comes due at some point.

 

[Hivemind]

Because the only thing you're ignoring is reality. The only deal one can really complain about is maybe Wilson, but he'd still be playing here the exact same way even if they didn't resign him. He's not even on his new deal yet. Give him more then 4 games too get it together.

The rest? You don't get a cup. You don't get to bitch and moan about having to clean up after the party if you were one of the one's enjoying the ride. The bill comes due at some point.

Literally not a single player on this roster is on the same contract as they were when they won the Cup, so none of this is cup hangover.

(edit - correction - TJ Oshie is the lone player on the same contract)

 

[StrikingDistance]

Caps player passes to the other Caps player's skates and they lose possession (repeat).

 

[JohnCarlsaurus]

I'm not watching. Was Kuemper bad on the 4 goals?

Goals 3 & 4 I can't blame him for because 3 was a breakaway that went bardown and 4 was a oneT by Matthews from the slot

 

[ClevelandCapsfan]

Just switched from ESPN+ to ESPN broadcast. Picture improvement is tremendous. Too bad it didn’t improve the Caps play.

 

[Brian23]

Literally not a single player on this roster is on the same contract as they were when they won the Cup, so none of this is cup hangover.

(edit - correction - TJ Oshie is the lone player on the same contract)

And most were signed the year following the cup win, what kind of bitchfest would we have had they just let every single one of them walk after wards? What kind of culture does the team cultivate at that point? There isn't a world where a guy like Ted is letting the band break up right after they hit the mountain top.

Hell, people still whine about letting Trotz go.

 

[SherVaughn30]

What’s the reality we’re ignoring by pointing out GMBM has been mediocre

Let us evaluate this from both sides(fan and team sides). At face value, BMac didn't trade Oshie/Mantha/Gave Backstrom too much. But from Ted's incompetence view, Oshie is a fan favorite, he doesn't like buying out contracts and Backstrom's extension was a reward despite it badly handcuffing the teams salary cap situation. Ted has made BMac look a lot worse than he has really been.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

The Caps as a team and most of them individually are barely in pre-season form.

 

[ClevelandCapsfan]

Toronto forecheck is killing the Caps.

The Caps as a team and most of them individually are barely in pre-season form.

What are you talking about? They look in late season form; unfortunately the end of last season.

 

[troyerlaw]

Because the only thing you're ignoring is reality. The only deal one can really complain about is maybe Wilson, but he'd still be playing here the exact same way even if they didn't resign him. He's not even on his new deal yet. Give him more then 4 games too get it together.

The rest? You don't get a cup. You don't get to bitch and moan about having to clean up after the party if you were one of the one's enjoying the ride. The bill comes due at some point.

Hahaha. What an absolute loser mentality - one Cup is enough, no decisions or deals can be made to keep a team competitive.

Tampa, Boston, Vegas, Colorado, even LA all seem like valid counterexamples.

 

[Hivemind]

And most were signed the year following the cup win, what kind of bitchfest would we have had they just let every single one of them walk after wards? What kind of culture does the team cultivate at that point? There isn't a world where a guy like Ted is letting the band break up right after they hit the mountain top.

Hell, people still whine about letting Trotz go.

Keeping the core together a few more years is one thing, but at a certain point there needs to be a reckoning. Just because a player has a contract doesn't mean they can't be traded (and GMBM has traded away plenty of players, they just tend to be the younger guys rather than anyone who gets to skate on PP1). And GMBM has continued to give out more of these retirement contracts that have led to so much trouble, beyond just that season after the Cup.

Keep Carlson, Kuzy, and Oshie around short-term, sure, but that doesn't mean they have to be Caps-for-life.

 

[Raikkonen]

Jensen standing still there and watching was funny.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Jensen standing still there and watching was funny.

He and his mates are saving themselves for tomorrow's match.

 

[Langway]

Only the fifth team to not hold a lead in their first five games. Kudos!

 

[ClevelandCapsfan]

Caps’ futility now being compared with the California Golden Seals. Wonderful.

 

[Capitals40]

1st of 4 games in 6 days..could get much uglier

 

[Raikkonen]

No playoffs for this team obviously.

 

[SherVaughn30]

Goals 3 & 4 I can't blame him for because 3 was a breakaway that went bardown and 4 was a oneT by Matthews from the slot

I have to look at the vid clips when I get a chance. The one thing about Kuemper is he's considered a big goalie being 6'5", but not the most mobile for his size. In other words sometimes he plays small for his big size, but I never saw that when he played for the Coyotes, Kings and Avs. It leads me to believe he trying to trust Scott Murray, but Murray is teaching him the wrong techniques and reads! Vanacek had the same problem with Murray. He would open up so many holes for shooters as soon as went down early in the butterfly. Meanwhile, the Finnish goalie coach is working well with the goalies down in Hershey...