Young player target tier list

Team: 2023-24 Washington Capitals

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 9, 2024

Published: Jan. 9, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Given that it's rumored the Caps are looking to add another younger player (much like how they got Sandin last year even when they were sellers at the deadline) I thought I'd make a wishlist based off of my opinion of the player, the fit, and what I think the acquisition cost would be.

Go for it:
Chychrun -- a 1/2d is a hugely underrated need for this team and Chychrun has been a beast this year. Given the precedent with Ottawa and the DeBrincat deal, I don't think the acquisition cost for him would be too prohibitive.
Frost -- Torts has been an underrated and over-hated coach his entire career but analytics guys are right about how poorly Frost has been used in PHI. Could probably be gotten without giving up any real premium future assets.
Johnson -- went through a rough patch with the org earlier in the year, also stuck long-term behind Fantilli and Sillinger. Would expect around the Sandin package to get him.

Eh:
Zegras -- high end offensive skill but not convinced he's a real driver. Asking price could be ridiculous
Chabot -- I think he's worse than Chychrun and has a much worse contract. There's a reason OTT hasn't had much success with him as their 1d. Have no idea what OTT would want
Norris -- Forward version of Chabot basically. Also think asking price would be way too high.
Krebs/Broberg -- putting them together because of how similar their situations are. Worth a flier if available for cheap but would not want to give up more than a 3rd for either. Would probably be behind Lapierre/Iorio on the depth chart.
Kaako -- not convinced he's anything more than a 3w but would be intriguing with a bigger role. Assume NYR would be hesitant to give up / would want a more win-now package. Something around Dowd maybe?

Hard pass:
Laine -- poor man's Ovi / wing Kuzy. Has not had a good year since his rookie season.
Mangiapane/Kuzmenko -- both are good players but not the right age range/contract status I would be aiming for, and probably overvalued by their current teams.
Lindholm -- not a 1c on a good team and asking for that kind of money
Tarasenko/Monahan -- good players but not what this team needs right now.
Kubalik/Oloffson -- same as above but take out the good players part
Vrana -- give it up guys, it's not happening


Probably not available/price definitely prohibitive:
Konecny -- with PHI looking good I don't see why they move him, especially in division
Ehlers -- there was a world as recent as this offseason where he was underutilized and under-appreciated on a jets team that looked like it was going nowhere, none of those things are true now.
Kyrou/Thomas -- these two as players/fits for what the caps need are probably the best out of anyone on this list. Doesn't seem like STL is rebuilding though and even if they do I think the asking price for either would probably include Leonard which I wouldn't do.

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