I like that I can just enjoy wins without the race to the bottom in the standings looming in the back of my mind (for now).
I like that I can just enjoy wins without the race to the bottom in the standings looming in the back of my mind (for now).
"For now"is the key, with the way these guys are playing I'd say we have a legit 1st line that can go toe to toe with the best, probably won't best the best but atleast hold their own. The thing is though that they're not in teens, they're entering their prime age, and by picking between 5-10oa we're probably picking a guy that will take 2-3 years before they can contribute in a meaningful way unless we hit a steal.
I just hope we don't waste their prime by failing to bottom out, only to slowly progress and fail to draft elite talent.
You keep bringing this up, and it's wrong every time. The defensive corps of peak Green, Poti, Schultz, Erskine, and Jurchina is better than what we have now. Having a historic season from Alex Ovechkin doesn't hurt either.I keep pointing this out, but teams have made the playoffs with worse defense and goaltending.
2007-08 Washington Capitals Roster and Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com
In any case, this is still a rebuilding year. I just want to watch exciting hockey and that top line makes the team worth watching.
Yeah, people are kind of missing the fact Mantha is six years older and is now looking like the Mantha we drafted.To be fair, Mantha struggled hard for a lot longer than we've had Zadina. Like 4 years longer.
Short memories round here.
My hope is that at least two of Veleno, Rasmussen, Zadina, Svechnikov are able to become second liners within two-three years. I don't think that is too big of an expectation. What the team really needs are defensemen. I think Cholowski and Hronek are both going to be second/third pair tweener guys. Seider might be first pair. The team needs another first-pair guy, whether through signing, trade, or development.
With the emergence of BLM as a legit scoring line, and AA's ability to score at least 25 goals from any spot in the lineup, the team is actually closer to set at F than you would think. They really just need a couple of decent second/third liners, and those are easily acquired in FA. With the forward group coming up likely being locked to RFA contracts, the Wings could feasibly build a very strong, stacked F group over the next 3 years. I feel like th defense is going to hold them back.
To add to your list of potential second-liners there's also Berggren and Mastro (btw we should call him Maestro) with a solid shot at becoming top-6 wingers. So yeah I definitely believe that there's enough forwards in our system to make up a solid fwd group, especially if you can add a FA signing. However I don't see that group capable of making the wings true contenders, this is ofcourse up for the debate, but that is my opinion atleast.
For the defense, well this is a hard nut to crack. If you look at the current 1#D's in the league and then look at how long it took them to become true 1#D, even though the numbers vary you're atleast looking at a average of 4 years with some exceptions. With 4 years in mind I don't see that lining up with the time-line of our current FWD group, they will all be pushing 30 at that point.
Best bet would probably be to stack the fwd core with high draft picks, either to make up for the lack of a 1#D or use as trade chips for a trade.
You are literally the only person I've heard say Biega is trash....Apparently we traded Pope for Biega, Biega is trash.
He just got traded for David Pope. He's a 31 year old fringe NHL D that won't be on the team next year, sorry if I don't get excite.You are literally the only person I've heard say Biega is trash....
He just got traded for David Pope. He's a 31 year old fringe NHL D that won't be on the team next year, sorry if I don't get excite.
2007 - 2008 was Green's first full season, I wouldn't call it peak which happened only a couple of years later. Poti was getting old and slow, and if you think Schultz, Erksine, Jurcina, and Morrisson were NHL caliber, history has already proven you wrong. Those 4 were AHL fodder, Schultz couldn't skate and literally couldn't shoot. You should watch some video, he was by far the most horrendous d-man in the history of the league to play on a top pair in the playoffs. He skates like Bambi on ice. Erskine and Jurcina were just as slow as McIlrath. I watched games the whole season, because of Green, Ovy, Backstrom, Semin, and Fedorov at the deadline.You keep bringing this up, and it's wrong every time. The defensive corps of peak Green, Poti, Schultz, Erskine, and Jurchina is better than what we have now. Having a historic season from Alex Ovechkin doesn't hurt either.
2007 - 2008 was Green's first full season, I wouldn't call it peak which happened only a couple of years later. Poti was getting old and slow, and if you think Schultz, Erksine, Jurcina, and Morrisson were NHL caliber, history has already proven you wrong. Those 4 were AHL fodder, Schultz couldn't skate and literally couldn't shoot. You should watch some video, he was by far the most horrendous d-man in the history of the league to play on a top pair in the playoffs. He skates like Bambi on ice. Erskine and Jurcina were just as slow as McIlrath. I watched games the whole season, because of Green, Ovy, Backstrom, Semin, and Fedorov at the deadline.
65 goals and 112 pts from Ovechkin is damn impressive, but it's not historic by any means. The top 3 scorers put up a combined 112 goals, something that the Wings' top line is capable of this year.
Not saying that the Wings will make the playoffs, but if the top line and AA manage to have career years, this team won't finish at the bottom despite the defense.
I'm a Caps fan, and you are dead wrong.
Edit: Here's a video of Jeff Schultz #55 getting Dubinsky'ed, worse than a pylon because pylons don't fall over by themselves. There is not a single D on the Wings or GR that skates that bad.
If you're talking about dividing the goals by league average, Phil Espisito still wins. It's hard to compare eras because the equipment, goalies, and quiality of training has all changed.65 goals was historic. Go check the prorated numbers and see where he ranks for that season.
2007/2008 wasn’t the 80’s where goalies just flopped all over the place and goals were a joke.
If you're talking about dividing the goals by league average, Phil Espisito still wins.
I didn't bother doing a spreadsheet, just eyeballed one that would be higher.IIRC by that metric Brett Hull's 86 goal season is the best.
There are many things wrong with your post, but that one is the worst offender of them all. This is the arguably the best individual season since Sakic's 2000-01. You really have no leg to stand on here.2007 - 2008 was Green's first full season, I wouldn't call it peak which happened only a couple of years later. Poti was getting old and slow, and if you think Schultz, Erksine, Jurcina, and Morrisson were NHL caliber, history has already proven you wrong. Those 4 were AHL fodder, Schultz couldn't skate and literally couldn't shoot. You should watch some video, he was by far the most horrendous d-man in the history of the league to play on a top pair in the playoffs. He skates like Bambi on ice. Erskine and Jurcina were just as slow as McIlrath. I watched games the whole season, because of Green, Ovy, Backstrom, Semin, and Fedorov at the deadline.
65 goals and 112 pts from Ovechkin is damn impressive, but it's not historic by any means. The top 3 scorers put up a combined 112 goals, something that the Wings' top line is capable of this year.
Not saying that the Wings will make the playoffs, but if the top line and AA manage to have career years, this team won't finish at the bottom despite the defense.
I'm a Caps fan, and you are dead wrong.
no you didnt . lmaoAnthony Mantha aka Tony Manthtanna say ello to my lil friend
OK, let's say it is. That still doesn't change my point that the Wings top 4 combined is as capable as the '07 - 08 Caps top 4 combined, and that a team can win with a crap defense.There are many things wrong with your post, but that one is the worst offender of them all. This is the arguably the best individual season since Sakic's 2000-01. You really have no leg to stand on here.