Capitals should absolutely not do this.

why? honestly asking. i already know McM is going to be really good but we are trading him for Sandin who is also VERY good. We have already shown that we have zero interest in playing him at the NHL level... sending him back to the AHL would delete an entire year of his development. Sandin can instantly walk onto the roster and be an upgrade at RSDor LSD. he might even be better than MF. havent seen enough of him to confidently say that but its def possible

I think the Caps can hold onto McM.

GMBM wants McM to get minutes at center. Eller should be the odd man out since he's on an expiring contract. Next season, if Lapierre is ready, you can bring him up and if you keep Strome and move him to the wing.

Leafs accept

Sandin hasn’t proven a ton. If you’re trading McM than package him for somebody proven who you know can help win whether that’s on the front end or back end.

Eller offload could still happen opening up 3C for him or they throw him in a middle 6 wing role this year. They’ll have room for him just throw jojo on the fourth line. I’m not saying they absolutely shouldn’t trade him. I’m saying they should only do it if it’s for an impact player who can help over the next 2-3 years. Not for somebody who also might be good but we’re not sure yet bc he hasn’t gotten an opportunity either.

no way the dont play Eller... imo THEY should just trade him for any type of return but we are talking about the Washington Capitals. We played Chara over Seigs.. sign Panik over playing Stephenson. Theyll send him to the AHL and kill a year of development. not to mention why would he sign long term with the Capitals?

I agree for the most part. I just wonder if they really go out and sign Strome if they don't make some other corresponding move with Eller if they care about McM's development.

i dont disagree with your point about packaging him for a better player. i was more looking to myake a 1 for 1 for a similar upside player at a position of need for this upcoming season / future. could swap Sandin with Durzi or someone similar to that

things capitals care about in order

1) top priority ... ovechkin goal record
2) compete / be good enough to sell tickets
3) makie playoffs
4) win cup



9) player development

Love Sandin, but at the same time a kid 3rd line of Knies - McMichael - Robertson could be really fun to watch. I'm very conflicted

i was conflicted making the trade... i think that means its a good trade lol.

Caps should trade Eller and not McMike, Eller has one year left and is ineffective. Sandin would be a good return but McMike needs to stay. Long term he will be a solid 2C or a great 3C. Backy will probably never be back imo. That leaves us with Kuzy, Strome (who will be an RFA and I expect the caps to keep longer term), McMike, Lappy, and dowd. One of them will have to move to the wing and I expect that to be Strome or Lappy.

If the Caps do not trade Eller they are blind and stunting the growth of one of our only substantial prospects

"If the Caps do not trade Eller they are blind and stunting the growth of one of our only substantial prospects".. nothing new for this team tbh

Chara over seigs was indefensible, but when the caps traded Stephenson he was already 25 with 33 points in 168 games. They gave him plenty of chances, and were right to move on given that they couldn't give him the center job between Pacioretty and Stone.

I really don't know why people are freaking out about McMichael's development/playing time. Should he have gotten more time last year? Probably a bit. But it is clear that his finishing and defensive awareness were not at the point last year where he was definitively beating out anyone in the lineup, including Eller. That said, Lav and Mac have repeadetly said this offseason that they are going to play McMichael at center and give him more time. There has been ZERO indication that they will send him to the AHL unless he has a terrible camp and is beaten out by two or three of Lappy, Protas, Borgstrom, AJF, at which point he SHOULD be playing in the AHL. As for him getting annoyed and not wanting to sign long term, until he shows that he actually can be a 2/3c, tough luck -- you need to earn that right.

Trading him 1-1 for Sandin makes no sense, especially with that contract you signed him to. At that point, submit the offer sheet for a second and there is a very good chance the Leafs don't match. While Sandin was good last year in a third pairing role, he is like McMichael no guarantee yet. They should only be moving out top prospects for established NHL players, not other risky bets like Sandin.

No need at all to freak out about McMichael yet, even with Strome an RFA and Lapierre coming. When has having too many NHL centers ever been a bad thing?

Stephenson was able to center the capitals 3rd line vs the penguins when Backy was out. during the cup run. He had a lot of speed... Lets assume they never promoted Wilson to top line. Wasnt he in the exact same position until given a proper opportunity? Vegas gave him a chance and he has done a lot with it. Trading him for a 5th was dumb then having to give up a 1st (or 2nd depending on how you view the Vrana trade) to dump his replacement Panik makes it worse.

CMM
52.24 CF% 52.86 FF% 56.45xgf% ESP/60 1.532
Eller
50.60cf% 50.56ff% 48.49xgf% ESP/60 1.813

his defensive numbers are ***** fantastic

nobody offersheets anymore and Sandin and him are in similar situations and Sandin might actually be better than MF. makes perfect sense actually unless you think Lappy isnt going to play at the NHL level soon or that Strome wont sign long term

When we have 2 really great prospects and nowhere in a packed lineup to play them

i truly hope you are right bout them playing him

While McMichael's overall defensive numbers were very good, he (similarly to Carlson) was liable to make massive individual mistakes that ended up costing goals like the one that knocked them out in game 6 OT.

There is definitely no guarantee that Strome signs long term. Even if he does and both McMichael and Lapierre turn out at center, it would be extremely beneficial to the team to have the luxury of moving Strome to wing.

Sandin may be better than Fehervary, but he isn't so good and the caps aren't in such dire straits at LD that they need to go and move probably their best of only four premium future assets for him.

McMichael already got a great year of unplanned and ahead of schedule NHL experience last year. Absolutely zero need to freak out about his development or think that we have to move him because there is no spot ...