Who adds what?
Joined: Jul. 2017
Posts: 13,677
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This was a good idea. Pirri usually plays on pace for 30 points, and just doesn't get into more games because he's not great defensively. He cleared waivers this year, but he can still be a good contributor on any team that wants more points. I think the Caps wanted to tighten up their defense and their PK this summer, and they did pretty well, but Pirri's a really skilled guy who, in big minutes, could almost be a decent middle six wing.
Another guy who cleared waivers and is on pace for exactly 30 even strength points this year, with 8 pts in 22 games, is Madison Bowey. But he's younger and supposedly plays defense. Obviously Bowey is -13 in 22 games, so he's on pace for -48. That's bad, even with tough minutes and zone starts on a defensively bad team. But now that he's cleared waivers the Caps can play him in Hershey to let him learn defense against slower, smaller players, and build up some confidence in his own end. Then if they have an injury down the stretch, they know they can bring him up with Siegenthaler, Jensen, Kempny, Orlov, or Gudas covering back for him. If they get a big lead, they can try him out in some defensive situations and see if he's worth re-signing. But there aren't that many 30 point defensemen, with or without defensive skills.
Also, Bowey has 8 points and is -13. Green has 5 points and is -16. Bowey>Green, by enough that you can tell from boxcars.