I’m not trying to overreact and be one of those fans but. Maybe we should make a holy shi* move like we did with the vrana trade.


Horvat, Kuzmenko/Travis K, mayfield.


If we move on from Mantha, fine, mayfield would help a lot since Carly is out and Carly does play pk minutes
Should we move Kuznetsov for horvat, a great two way center much like strome and having four defensively responsible centers down the middle that would be perfect. I think we need to clean up. Creating space is another thing we need to work on and the overpassing is so noticeable. Get pucks on net. People saying because the core is coming back shot numbers are down. It’s because we are over passing or just creating turnovers with not catching pucks. Going to rewatch this last game to see what’s the issue and the Columbus game also. What do you guys think. I’m not trying to overreact. But can Lavi get his head out of his ass and put Mantha over Eller.

I would like to add a top 6 winger if Lavi won’t play Mantha in the top 6.

We need Tom and backy on the third line and then the top 6 should play better until they get up to speed.

Either play Mantha top 6 or give stuff up for false kuzy

Really wish Connor Brown didn’t go down.

wanted us to make a move on him last deadline. didnt know it would actually happen. so angry at noah juulsen. that man is dead to me

We had to expect hiccups when two core players (Backy and Wilson) come back at the exact same game (which to me, is still confusing as to why the Caps did that but anyways). I am not worried / overreacting - we knew there would be hiccups and time for chemistry to grow (or re-grow). I actually understand what Lavy is trying to do with the lines - play players together who have recent experience playing together -> Ovi and Kuzy; Eller/Backy/Oshie; Sheary and Strome; 4th line.

But I will say - Eller needs to be out and Mantha needs to be in. Yes that creates a huge hole on PK - but you can't play someone solely for their PK ability.

Once we get Mantha in, let the lines rock. Let them go for at least 2 games - build some of that chemistry.
Secondly, like said above - shoot the puck. Get the puck to the front of the net, good things happen.

No, I am not overreacting and no I actually would prefer to NOT make a trade at this moment. We are just getting guys back - let them get their legs and play with this team, that was absolutely dominating all of December up until early Jan.

If Eller comes out of the lineup, I'd like to see Strome get a chance at pk. If not him, possibly MoJo.

I'd like either one honestly, and I think both could do it. Also, I think Kuzy actually looked quite good on the PK (I know he only got a few shifts), but he was reading plays really nicely. Having Dowd and Strome/MoJo and 2 PK centers with Kuzy also being able to rotate in occasionally would be fine.

EDIT: I just want to say - I actually do like Eller's play. I think, although not a "point getter", he is defensively responsible and I think a good 3c. But on wing -> hard no. Playing over Mantha -> hard no. But, he would help any team who does not have great center depth.

Let’s say we go on a four game losing streak. But are we gonna do about it

I think the next 5 games are going to be the adjustment period.

Once that’s up we can start to judge the team again.

If they commit to playing Mantha top 6 then there should be no trade, if not we need to add a top 6 guy

9 games until the All-Star break. First 4 are fine, the next 4 are very tough, then finishing with CBJ. Would be really great if we could go 6-3 over the next 9 (projected wins against PHI, NYI, ARZ, AVS, PIT, CBJ). Even 5-4 would be decent, considering the new cast of players coming back

Today I learned, @All_Knowing went to the Elliotte Freidman school of abbreviations

But yeah, definitely agree with that. I'd like to see the team be in the best position for the inevitable post All-star break slump.

If where obsessed with putting sheary on the top line. Garland could be a fit

Issues for me in order of importance:

1) get ovi and strome back together, and ovi and kuzy as far away from one another as possible -- very easy fix
2) get wilson and backstrom back up to speed -- will take a couple more games
3) fill the carlson hole with a trade. fehervary has been bad, and jensen and orlov have declined a bit the last 5 or so games -- this is the hardest issue to fix imo
4) sort out the mantha situation -- either bring him back in the lineup or trade him
5) hope oshie and sheary play better -- both have been very bad the last 10 games imo

Would you fill the carlson hole with mayfield?

Strome and Ovi need to be back together. Tom and backy need third line mins until they get up to speed.

I think Marty has been dragged down a bit by his partners play but do think we need a top 4 RD.

Mantha needs to be taken care of in the next 10 games or so.

I think all forwards will play better once everyone is up to speed and the chemistry is back

Thoughts on Sean Durzi? Not totally sure his worth, but could be a few trade options here...

On a kings post, I saw the following:

Sean Walker -> 3rd round pick
Matt Roy -> 2nd
Sean Durzi -> 1st and a B prospect

Based on that, could go for the following trades for Durzi:

1) 2024 1st and Snively
2) 3rd and McM (although they are pretty set at center I believe)
3) Mantha --> not sure who adds here, but the Kings do need forward help
4) Something with Eller

I really, really hope the Caps do not give up the 2023 1st, as the Caps prospect pool is finally starting to show signs of life, and this draft class is very deep apparently.

But I was thinking today, the Caps do need assist on D (as stated above). Gudas would be solid as he is low-ish value and physical, but not sure the Panthers will be "sellers". Sean Walker could be interesting. Durzi would be great because he is signed through next season (relatively low cap as well) and then a RFA. Could be a great top 4 guy with Iorio following shortly...

good player but the complete wrong profile and don't know why the isles would move him on

Well we have Gus. So we don’t really need to fill carlsons role.

How about Jordan Spence

Definitive tier list of trade targets -- taking into account how good I think they are, fit on the team this year, acquisition cost, how it impacts the team in future years

Carlson replacements:
Durzi, Dumba, Ghostisbehre /// Roy, Shattenkirk, Gudas /// Hronek, Walker, Karlsson /// Gavrikov /// McCabe, Murphy, Edmundson, Klingberg

Depth forwards:
literally no one

Impact forwards:
Kuzmenko /// Meier /// DeBrincat, Reinhart /// Garland, Tarasenko /// Bennet, Larkin, Horvat, Monahan /// Kane /// Duclair, Boeser, Mangiapane /// O'Reilly, Toews /// Drouin, Dadonov, Nyqvuist, Kubalik, Domi /// Matt Cooke, Aaron Asham, Sean Avery, Ryan Reaves /// Anderson

Goalies if god forbid one gets hurt long term:
Raanta, Reimer, Stolarz

Durzi could be interesting, I wouldn’t be super opposed but giving up a 1st would not be a great situation imo. I’ve also seen some issues with his decision making, great offensive guy but has his defensive struggles. Could still be a fun piece for the future though, and I don’t doubt it would improve.

Spence would be nice but likely far too expensive.

How would you guys feel as a barbanov.

Alex Ovechkin — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Connor Sheary/Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Sonny Milano — Nicklas Backstrom — Tom Wilson
T.J. Oshie — Nic Dowd — Anthony Mantha
Marcus Johansson/Dylan Strome — Lars Eller — Garnet Hathaway

Erik Gustafsson — Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Dmitry Orlov — Nick Jensen
Alexander Alexeyev — Martin Fehervary

Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren

The worst lines I have ever seen. Fading the boys tomorrow.

It's not this hard to get the lines right.

Lavi is doing everything he can to keep Eller in.

"Strome is a great top 6 center and really bad on the wing. Lets move him from his top 6C roll and make him rotate in at 4th line Lw"

WTF

I'd be on the fence about it. I'd equate it to a discussion @All_Knowing and I had earlier today about Kubalik, though I think Barabanov may come slightly cheaper than Kubalik. I think it all depends on how you feel about Milano and his next contract. i'm not confident in Washington being able to afford him so I would not be opposed to a buy like that.