Golden_Jet
Registered User
- Sep 21, 2005
- 22,740
- 11,089
What does Washington do differently than us?
- Thread starter Jacquestrapless
- Start date
Washington would probably like to know too. They lost some pieces the previous summer and didn't have assets or cap room to replace them. They went into this season spinning their wheels a bit, with a lame duck coach, probably not expecting much. Then bam. Stanley Cup final.
Their plan? Patience through over a decade of underachieving, then winning somewhat randomly when you weren't even really pushing for it. Apparently.
It's sports. Sometimes shit just happens.
Their plan? Patience through over a decade of underachieving, then winning somewhat randomly when you weren't even really pushing for it. Apparently.
It's sports. Sometimes shit just happens.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 78,720
- 53,254
Same thing happened to Detroit. They couldn't win a cup posting a 62 win season and 131 points on the board in 1996, but somehow won it all the next year with only 94 regular season points. Then again in 2006, they had 124 points but couldn't win, two years later they get 115 points and they finally win.
LeafingTheWay
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- May 31, 2014
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phillipmike
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- Oct 27, 2009
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Sticking with it? Remember after last years loss to the Penguins there was rumblings of trade Ovechkin or Backstrom. Leafs after every little bump in the road it's like trade Marner/Nylander for D. Having a little patience goes a long way.
God forbid people might actually have to shut up about that
An elite core is an elite core regardless of its composition. And we have an elite core.
steam whistle
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LeafingTheWay
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- May 31, 2014
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Coachcorner
Senor Martinez
- Sep 28, 2017
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A very different approach yeah you got that right. They even got that big one guy on the first line in Wilson. He hit harder than anybody. Played rough too. Smith-Pelly.. a wreckin ball, 7 goals in the playoffs. Finals like 3 goals or 4.... man that hard right there. Oshie hit tha thang, Ovechkin hit tat thang real hard. Others as well, Beagle, Orpik, mayne they hard. Trotz. He hard.
Pookie
Wear a mask
- Oct 23, 2013
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We just aren’t built for the playoffs. Maybe relying too much on our new stats bias.
Tell me this isn’t hitting the nail on the head as to the difference:
“Sometimes those stay-at-home guys are very valuable. They can box you out, they can protect your goaltender in terms of not have to have second and third shots, those type of things,” said Capitals coach Barry Trotz, who has defended Orpik’s low analytical and advanced-stat ratings. “So they’re quite valuable in series where there’s a lot of net pressure and a lot of low play.”
A very intriguing point of argument to the stats nerds indeed.
FWIW - Engelland and McNabb smashed a lot of Jets players faces when they tried to get in Fleury's face.
Throw More Waffles
Unprecedented Dramatic Overpayments
- Oct 9, 2015
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Their best player showed up, and ours played like a drunken psychopath.
But to be fair Matthews is still young. Hopefully he learns how to play better than a drunken psychopath in future playoff series.
But to be fair Matthews is still young. Hopefully he learns how to play better than a drunken psychopath in future playoff series.
CantLoseWithMatthews
Registered User
- Sep 28, 2015
- 49,694
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It took them over a decade to win with their franchise player. Winning the cup is hard
you do need a goalie playing very good hockey, doesnt have to be elite hockey...we have a goalie capable of playing very good hockey, even though hes been just decent the last two playoffs, we know andersen can play some good hockey for us
after that you of course need offensive talent and skills...we have enough imo
and then of course you need a strong defensive 4 on D and some offense back there...maybe our biggest need, but i love how good dermott and liljegren look so we have potential here
if you were to name a 4th thing, and imo its what the caps have a big advantage over us, they have a lot of physical guys, guys that will hit you, and isnt afraid of contact and being hit, and they skate and all play some decent hockey
after that you of course need offensive talent and skills...we have enough imo
and then of course you need a strong defensive 4 on D and some offense back there...maybe our biggest need, but i love how good dermott and liljegren look so we have potential here
if you were to name a 4th thing, and imo its what the caps have a big advantage over us, they have a lot of physical guys, guys that will hit you, and isnt afraid of contact and being hit, and they skate and all play some decent hockey
pulfordfan
Registered User
They got Ovi, and patiently built a team around him. Took a while. The main thing is they got the franchise player, and seen what pieces they needed, made the right moves and built a team to win, this took smart management and patience. Close for many years, did not blow up the team, but tweaked until they won. Good on them.
bluumax
Registered User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 2,169
- 185
People need to look at the Caps since they drafted Ovie and prepare for a similar road to the cup.
The simple truth is; there is no formula or template to follow.
The Caps have through the years made big trades, shipping big pieces out and big pieces in (including significant draft picks) some have hit, some have missed.
At the same time they've drafted quite well and developed those players, inserting them into the line-up where necessary/where there's a fit. They haven't been afraid to deal prospects either.
They've also not been shy in free agency.
Key thing here? The Caps have built a team using all available tools, they've addressed weaknesses when they've become apparent, even when it means trading significant assets/paying over the odds in free agency. They've developed some prospects that fit their line-up and not clung to the ones that haven't. They've identified a core, and built around it but not for it, Ovie has had to adapt to a system just like any other player, not the other way around.
The simple truth is; there is no formula or template to follow.
The Caps have through the years made big trades, shipping big pieces out and big pieces in (including significant draft picks) some have hit, some have missed.
At the same time they've drafted quite well and developed those players, inserting them into the line-up where necessary/where there's a fit. They haven't been afraid to deal prospects either.
They've also not been shy in free agency.
Key thing here? The Caps have built a team using all available tools, they've addressed weaknesses when they've become apparent, even when it means trading significant assets/paying over the odds in free agency. They've developed some prospects that fit their line-up and not clung to the ones that haven't. They've identified a core, and built around it but not for it, Ovie has had to adapt to a system just like any other player, not the other way around.
They're better in all the important spots. They have depth down the middle with two #1C's, an upper tier 3C in Eller who can slide up and down and play any role, and one of the better 4C in Beagle who's a PK specialist. Their defense core is well balanced overall, with a solid #1 in Carlson, And Niskanen and Orlov aren't exactly slouches either.
Oh, and they have a Vezina winning goaltender in Holtby who had been a strong playoff performer historically.
Maybe even more importantly, they're not one dimensional and can beat you several different ways. They can play heavy and wear you down, they can win a shootout due to their firepower up front, they can win a low scoring, defensive battle with Holtby in net.
Building from the net out with depth down the middle, a upper echelon defense core and elite goaltending remains the magic formula to win a cup.
The Leafs aren't even remotely close to a championship in my opinion. Upgrades on Kadri, Andersen and a #1D are still needed
Oh, and they have a Vezina winning goaltender in Holtby who had been a strong playoff performer historically.
Maybe even more importantly, they're not one dimensional and can beat you several different ways. They can play heavy and wear you down, they can win a shootout due to their firepower up front, they can win a low scoring, defensive battle with Holtby in net.
Building from the net out with depth down the middle, a upper echelon defense core and elite goaltending remains the magic formula to win a cup.
The Leafs aren't even remotely close to a championship in my opinion. Upgrades on Kadri, Andersen and a #1D are still needed
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MR4
Registered User
- Oct 20, 2014
- 6,270
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Upgrade on Kadri? What the f***? He's a 1B C, and can be a 2C on a cup winner. Ideally Nylander is the offense-first 3C next season.
And Andersen is good enough to go on a cup winning worthy hot streak, which is really the main thing a team needs from its goalie, the potential to put up 930%+ on the playoffs stretch. And who knows, Sparks may surpass Andersen.
But top line RD definitely needs a huge upgrade. We need to have the patience to wait 1 more year, target the Doughty/Karlsson/OEL UFAs, and if that fails make a trade for one
taurine330
Registered User
BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
This biggest takeaway from Washington winning the cup is: patience. It's taken those core guys a long time to finally put it together and win the cup. Just goes to show how hard it is to making it all the way through the playoffs. Food for thought.
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