This move is imho an upgrade over one of young defenders in the gm eyes. whoever says it's an upgrade over orpik is clueless (mostly the main board), no one in their right mind goes to the playoffs with basically 3 rookies on D. we will see brooks orpik in the playoffs and we will see him a lot.
as for shmidt, this move in my eyes is basically GM admitting he screwed up with shmidt. he basically looked for shmidt and got this guy, only shmidt has a solid playoffs resume. bad asset management all around.
I have a feeling they are gonna resign him. Seems more of a long term guy then a rental
If y'all think this move bumps Orpik, your delusional. Trotz will keep him on the 3rd line...
They'll send Bowey to Hershey
It meant waiving Chorney. See if he clears.
They need to trade Orpik. Get Detroit to take him in a deal for Mike Green
If they can somehow con the Wings into taking Orpik - great, but I don't see how you do it without giving up key pieces / picks. I wouldn't be willing to trade a #1, or any blue chippers for Greenie (who I liked more than most when he was here).
Oh they would have to include the #1. But if that got them Green while also removing the Orpik headache, I would do it. Wouldnt need to have Det retain either.
Niskanen-Orlov
Carlson-Djoos
Green-Kempny
Bowey
Thats a lot better defense than what we are trotting out now.
I'd sooner fire MacLellan than let him deal the first rounder to get rid of what was obviously going to be a problem contract. But it is straight out of the Grunfeld playbook and we've seen how viable that's been in remaining employed by Ted. It's a huge problem for them right now but it's not the only one by any stretch. Part of the problem in even dealing Orpik at this point is how soft their blueline would become, esp. with 2/74 playing so weak. Orlov would be their toughest, most consistent defender (and, I mean, imagine that not all that long ago).
There is a lot wrong with this team when it comes to playoff style hockey. Orpik's contract sticks out in restricting them in making further upgrades but even if they manage to pull that off I'm not at all convinced they have the right mix or attitude regardless. It's why a house cleaning remains the most viable move to make for a franchise that seems to lack vision. While I do believe MacLellan understands their current competitive shortcomings there's a failure to tighten it up and make tangible strides that I can't doesn't speak well to anyone's leadership. They're chugging along as usual but an all-in type mentality again at the deadline without that crossing over into how they conduct themselves in practice is idiotic.
Twabby doesn’t believe in the value of physicality in the playoffs. It’s ok to be wrong.
Ahh yes.....futile attempt to lay team blame at the feet of an individual you’ve carried a grudge for since arrival.
Ended with the classic sad faced Caps fan defense.....”Bring up Penguin success”.....forgetting to mention that formula requires two elite centers....perhaps among the greatest of all time for the formula to work.
I'm not blaming him for the failures of the team. I'm saying he and his style of play are not important for a team looking to compete for a Cup.
Also... Siegenthaler could be expendable if we are getting Hjalmarsson or similar player. Another chip that is not #1
Pittsburgh may not have had a bruiser but they were tenacious from top to bottom and weren't really soft either. They were quick and could move the puck but guys like Dumoulin and Hainsey are pretty diligent defensive players that I'd consider hard to against. Letang has some bite to him at times (see his suspension). Whereas the Caps don't share that work rate as much--starting with their exits--and likely still wouldn't have that tenacity to them if you put Hjalmarsson or McDonagh into the top four. It's in part cultural.How have the Capitals fared recently in the playoffs with Orpik in the lineup?
How have the Penguins, with one of the least physical blue lines in the NHL, fared in the playoffs?
Pittsburgh may not have had a bruiser but they were tenacious from top to bottom and weren't really soft either. They were quick and could move the puck but guys like Dumoulin and Hainsey are pretty diligent defensive players that I'd consider hard to against. Letang has some bite to him at times (see his suspension). Whereas the Caps don't share that work rate as much--starting with their exits--and likely still wouldn't have that tenacity to them if you put Hjalmarsson or McDonagh into the top four. It's in part cultural.
I don't dispute at all that they would be better without Orpik but his physicality (albeit one-dimensional) is an aspect they would nonetheless miss. I don't think there's a realistic series of trades that changes the uncomfortable reality that this is a transition season and by going away from relying on Djoos and/or Bowey they may only lengthen that transition period or potentially stunt their development by jerking them around and not giving them a vote of confidence when they're not really the problem. It's just seems like the typical anxiety regarding a lack of experience that should be trumped by hockey sense, confidence in the process and an accountability level that should be way higher than it actually is.
I’d consider a first and Orpik for Green but I have to believe other teams would offer better packages for Green.
If they are going to trade their first round pick I’d rather trade it for a guy like Hjalmarsson who has an additional year on his contract. Arizona could easily eat Orpik’s salary or at least most of it.