Edited Feb. 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.
Quoting: Sad_Siegs
Hes played like 30 games for the caps, and that is not true in the slightest.
What? The guy was a goal per game with DC when he arrived, and was fine in the playoffs as well (dealing with injured line mates and being forced to do Ovi levels of play was not his fault). His injury is my one concern, but there is absolutely no reason to trade him. Yeah Caps fans had an emotional connection to Vrana, but the guy was horrid on his way out of DC, that shouldn’t knock Mantha in any way.
On top of this, the Samsonov trade is ridiculous. Despite the popular narrative, he’s been alright this year, with many of the goals given up at the fault of the defense (looking right at you, Carlson, Schultz, and Kempny), and he has great potential for the future. To dump everything for a Hail Mary in Sorokin would be insane.
Also, why would Washington look to make half of these moves in lines? Dowd is a great 4C, benching him for Pilon would be crazy given the energy Dowd brings to his line and the game. Alexeyev also shouldn’t be forced to play on the right when you have TVR who plays well there and Orlov also able to play RD? If you really want to force Alexeyev and Johansen to play, move Orlov to the Right, and have Fehervary, Alexeyev, Johansen on the right.
The Capitals need to look at defensive help (and perhaps a trade of Carlson should they get an elite RD back somehow), not at goaltending. That’s just been the scapegoat all year, and I hope it stops soon, but it seems Caps fans have been spoiled by years of Elite goalie play with Kolzig, Varlamov, Holtby, Grubauer, the couple months of Halak, that as soon as the goaltending isn’t the best in the league and takes a slight step down, people freak the hell out.