Speculation: Offseason changes. You are the GM.

[txpd]

ov gets pummelled? ov gets pummelled like green? where?

 

[KevinM]

Have you ever been to the mainboards? Also way to avoid the entire bulk of his post

 

[Liberati0n*]

Have you ever been to the mainboards? Also way to avoid the entire bulk of his post

Obviously they both meant among Capitals' fans.

 

[KevinM]

Ovi still takes a lot of flak about defensive-zone play and not being able to create for himself or being a PP/one-timer specialist, a one-dimensional player, etc. He's certainly not immune to criticism on these boards either.

I'm sure people have questioned his leadership and the C as well.

 

[OldHat]

who passes the puck to ov? ov? backy and Wilson I could see. latta isn't the right guy at all

I think Latta could actually be the guy. I believe he was used in lots of situations including on the pp this year in Hershey and ended up with 14g 20a - 34 pts in 52 games. He showed he had hands to finish while he was in DC. Not to mention he has some of the attitude this team desperately needs.

I don't know if he will get the chance under Oates because he doesn't play the 'right way'... 134 pims in 52 games.

 

[OldHat]

If Ovechkin is double shifted that would be fine to chuck him on that line.

Bruce double shifted Ovechkin a bunch. I just don't see Oates doing it and Hunter if anything cut him down.

Maybe its b/c Ovie has less energy now but I'd like to see him put on a couple lines when he is in the groove. Maybe I missed that these last couple years but sure hasn't seemed as prevelant.

Think about Bob. OV wasn't exactly playing on the first line for stretches last year. Sure you can list it at the top, but there's no way I am going to call a line centered by Beags my '1st line'. The 1st line, no matter who played with OV, rarely looked or performed like a 1st line.

I'd bet the farm that putting him on a line with Latta and Wilson would get his motor running like we haven't seen in a long time. That trio would absolutely wreak havoc - the hits and attitude those guys would be doling out would be electric and OV would be beaming. That's the kind of support OV needs - the antithesis of Jojo.

But you're right. I don't see Oates doing it. Just one of the many reasons I hope he and George hold hands on the way out the door.

 

[BobRouse]

Think about Bob. OV wasn't exactly playing on the first line for stretches last year. Sure you can list it at the top, but there's no way I am going to call a line centered by Beags my '1st line'. The 1st line, no matter who played with OV, rarely looked or performed like a 1st line.

I'd bet the farm that putting him on a line with Latta and Wilson would get his motor running like we haven't seen in a long time. That trio would absolutely wreak havoc - the hits and attitude those guys would be doling out would be electric and OV would be beaming. That's the kind of support OV needs - the antithesis of Jojo.

But you're right. I don't see Oates doing it. Just one of the many reasons I hope he and George hold hands on the way out the door.

Didn't we try something similar with Beagle/Crabb or Volpatti/Beagle?

Again its fine if we do that. But only in a double shift situation. He need to play with guys who can get him the puck or at least be able to bury a pass he gives them.

Put 8/19 on first line. When ovie is in a groove double shift him. Put him on line 1 and line 4.

 

[txpd]

I think Latta could actually be the guy. I believe he was used in lots of situations including on the pp this year in Hershey and ended up with 14g 20a - 34 pts in 52 games. He showed he had hands to finish while he was in DC. Not to mention he has some of the attitude this team desperately needs.

I don't know if he will get the chance under Oates because he doesn't play the 'right way'... 134 pims in 52 games.

well....ok. Latta is a first line center. I guess I am not hockey savy enough to see that, but if true, somebody must have seen it.

That would mean trading for Latta was........

 

[Efactor]

Latta is going to be a great 4th line center next year. Aggressive, gritty, and decent hands. Year after that hopefully he works in as a very good third line center. That is really his ceiling and that isn't bad at all. A tougher Brooks Laich replacement.

 

[BobRouse]

Latta is going to be a great 4th line center next year. Aggressive, gritty, and decent hands. Year after that hopefully he works in as a very good third line center. That is really his ceiling and that isn't bad at all. A tougher Brooks Laich replacement.

Brown looks like a very good 4th liner next year as well.

Put Beagle with them and thats a decent 4th line in my book. Let the kids develop and go from there.

This would require Wilson being moved up which should be a no brainer.

 

[trick9]

well....ok. Latta is a first line center. I guess I am not hockey savy enough to see that, but if true, somebody must have seen it.

That would mean trading for Latta was........

When Latta was drafted he was often compared to Mike Richards and when he lead the Admirals in scoring they thought that his best-case scenario in the NHL would be quality 2C. So he's not exactly a 4th line scrub/AHL-scorer like some people think.

I think that could work, and it's pretty much the only option not yet tried aswell.

 

[OV Rocks]

Sign Hainsey @ 2M
Sign Moulson @ 6M
Trade Brouwer and 1st pick for M. Richards, if he is not bought out, 5-6M
Trade MOJO and Carrick for M. Grabner
Trade Fehr for Boychuck

This is with a 68M cap


CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
Caps Dream
FORWARDS
Alex Ovechkin ($9.538m) / Nicklas Backstrom ($6.700m) / Michael Grabner ($3.000m)
Matt Moulson ($6.000m) / Mike Richards ($5.750m) / Evgeny Kuznetsov ($0.900m)
Andre Burakovsky ($0.894m) / Brooks Laich ($4.500m) / Tom Wilson ($0.894m)
Jason Chimera ($2.000m) / Michael Latta ($0.950m) / Joel Ward ($3.000m)
DEFENSEMEN
Karl Alzner ($2.800m) / John Carlson ($3.967m)
Ron Hainsey ($2.000m) / Mike Green ($6.083m)
Dmitry Orlov ($2.000m) / Johnny Boychuk ($3.367m)
GOALTENDERS
Braden Holtby ($1.850m)
Jean-Sebastien Giguere ($1.500m)
BUYOUTS
Jeff Schultz ($0.000m)
John Erskine ($0.629m)

 

[OV Rocks]

Trade for Boychuck or McQuiad no preference I just chose Boychuck for the cap hit against the Bruins

 

[trick9]

Sign Hainsey @ 2M
Sign Moulson @ 6M
Trade Brouwer and 1st pick for M. Richards, if he is not bought out, 5-6M
Trade MOJO and Carrick for M. Grabner
Trade Fehr for Boychuck

This is with a 68M cap

Take out the 1st from Kings deal and instead put 2nd to the Boychuk deal. I don't know if they would still take it but Caps should keep that 1st rounder.

 

[Liberati0n*]

Johansson AND Carrick for Grabner? No way. Either one is overpayment, and Grabner sucks anyway.

 

[BobRouse]

Richards is NOT worth that. In fact he's not worth that contract! Examine ONLY if he gets bought out which I believe he will.

Chara and Seidenberg aren't getting younger. Not sure why the Bs would move a player like Boychuck.

Grabner is a good 3rd liner. We have plenty of those. We need top 6 forwards and I don't think Grabner is really that at all. He's a Chimera type player.

I'm not a huge Moulson fan. Even less if the price is $6M which it very well maybe given GM Insanity these days fueled by Holmgrens.

 

[OV Rocks]

What I am looking for is a line up with speed and grit. The first line with Grabner is much faster, he makes defenseman have to be aware of him on one side and Ovi on the other because of his speed. Richards adds the grit, and having a forechecking play maker and Moulson battling in front of the net, Kuzy will have a lot more time and space. The third line pairs youth with a veteran. Willy and Laich will both put their bodies on the line, and Burakovsky has play making abilities that will benefit Laich and Willy. Then the fourth line brings their forechecking and grinding abilities with the added Latta. As I said the only reason I chose Boychuck over McQuaid is because of the cap hit and one year left on the contract, and the Bruins are going to need to make some cuts to get under the cap next year. Either one would be very good for Orlov to play with

 

[txpd]

When Latta was drafted he was often compared to Mike Richards and when he lead the Admirals in scoring they thought that his best-case scenario in the NHL would be quality 2C. So he's not exactly a 4th line scrub/AHL-scorer like some people think.

I think that could work, and it's pretty much the only option not yet tried aswell.

if Latta become a solid 2c in the nhl, it might well be that Forsberg is no better a player than Latta. Wouldn't that be a hoot.

 

[Liberati0n*]

Latta is absolutely not going to be a 2C. I love the guy, but 3C is clearly his ceiling, and he may not even reach it.

 

[OldHat]

well....ok. Latta is a first line center. I guess I am not hockey savy enough to see that, but if true, somebody must have seen it.

That would mean trading for Latta was........

Semantics... Like I said, would you really consider Jojo-Beags-OV a "1st line". I wouldn't. For some time now OV hasn't gotten first line minutes. He is way down in terms of even strength minutes.

I didn't say put Latta on the first line. I said I'd like to see him center OV and Wilson.

When Latta was drafted he was often compared to Mike Richards and when he lead the Admirals in scoring they thought that his best-case scenario in the NHL would be quality 2C. So he's not exactly a 4th line scrub/AHL-scorer like some people think.

I think that could work, and it's pretty much the only option not yet tried aswell.

This is pretty much what i'm sayin. Given the opportunity, I think he will be better than many think. The space those guys would create for OV would be just as important, if not more, than the 'creativity' of 19/90.

Didn't we try something similar with Beagle/Crabb or Volpatti/Beagle?

Again its fine if we do that. But only in a double shift situation. He need to play with guys who can get him the puck or at least be able to bury a pass he gives them.

Put 8/19 on first line. When ovie is in a groove double shift him. Put him on line 1 and line 4.

Latta/Wilson is a HUGE upgrade over Beagle/Crabb-Patti

 

[Raikkonen]

DEFENSEMEN
Karl Alzner ($2.800m) / John Carlson ($3.967m)
Ron Hainsey ($2.000m) / Mike Green ($6.083m)
Dmitry Orlov ($2.000m) / Johnny Boychuk ($3.367m)

Don't see the new true top-4 D here.

Is Hainsey a placeholder for Orlov and future 3LD? OK, maybe, then Orlov-Green again soon enough?

But it's still better than current group ofc.

 

[PucktotheHead]

Semantics... Like I said, would you really consider Jojo-Beags-OV a "1st line". I wouldn't. For some time now OV hasn't gotten first line minutes. He is way down in terms of even strength minutes.

I didn't say put Latta on the first line. I said I'd like to see him center OV and Wilson.



This is pretty much what i'm sayin. Given the opportunity, I think he will be better than many think. The space those guys would create for OV would be just as important, if not more, than the 'creativity' of 19/90.



Latta/Wilson is a HUGE upgrade over Beagle/Crabb-Patti

Hey wow. There is an OldHat on this other board I'm on but he mostly posts fat chicks in bikinis. It's terrible.

 

[OldHat]

Hey wow. There is an OldHat on this other board I'm on but he mostly posts fat chicks in bikinis. It's terrible.

To say 'mostly' is hyperbole.

 

[PucktotheHead]

To say 'mostly' is hyperbole.

I have suffered significant visual trauma induced by your reckless use of Rally Fats. It seems like mostly.

 

[BobRouse]

So...Monday is THE day now. Let's hope.

Before I can embrace playing armchair GM fully I will need to know the new GM and coach to see what style we are going to go with.

Go back to Hunterhockey?
Stay with Oates nebulous hockey?
Go back to fire wagon hockey?

Obviously I have made it clear I prefer the fire wagon brand with emphasis on creativity and physical play.