Quoting: OldNYIfan
You should also get reactions from my esteemed brethren PuckLuck_77 and tryger about our RhDs; sometimes my opinions vary from theirs.
Some framework of Walker for Alexeyev or Johanson is a good short-term idea for you guys. You're right that we don't need forwards, so Eller, Mantha and McMichael wouldn't be on our shopping list.
Your prospect pool is shallow -- you absolutely HAVE to keep your 2023 first.
Quoting: All_Knowing
Got it. Really appreciate the information.
Caps were loosely connected to the Kings as the Kings as good RHD options, which the Caps need.
I think the Caps initial trade pieces would be the following (in no order):
Eller -> (I believe a center is not really needed for the Kings)
Mantha -> (big winger with a great shot - honestly, no idea why Lavy does not play him. Analytical, he's been one of the best players on the Caps. Needs a change of scenario imo)
Any pick outside 2023 1st -> (I believe they try to keep their 1st this year as their prospect pool is growing)
McMichael -> (center isn't necessarily a need for the Caps as of now - Lapierre and Protas are really developing nicely)
Lucas Johanson (former 1st - I think best potential would be a bottom 4 LHD/RHD defender)
Alexeyev (this one is a maybe - I think Caps are banking on him being the cheap, 3rd pairing LHD/RHD next year)
If the Caps go after a big name, this list obviously changes. But in my view, I think the Caps go after a defender similar to TVR - someone who can be steady until Carlson comes back.
Things are getting a bit interesting for the Kings, Blake has some difficult decisions to make and he needs to think long term. On the right side (in addition to Dougty and not including Walker who is the most likely to be moved from now to the off season), the Kings have 3 solid defensemen who are likely to be NHLers: Sean Durzi, Brandt Clarke, and Jordan Spence. Each of these players (including Doughty), are best deployed as offensive-defensemen. They definitely need a Matt Roy type player on the left-side and there might be a possibility of Matt Roy being moved, to obtain such a player.
Roy is your prototypical puck possession-oriented stay-at-home, safe-play defenseman. He was the most solid player defensively last season, and was relied upon for heavy minutes against top competition. This season we have seen some of that defensive value decline, which could be a result on a.) poor goaltending, b.) partnering him with Sean Durzi, and/or c.) issues with the new offensive-heavy system. He went from + 23 / 52.6 % CF / 53.9 % FF to -3 / 46.6% CF / 48.3, additionally, he has seen a decline in minutes (likely due to Doughty taking on more difficult minutes, which is why his stats taking such a hit is confusing). But what is clear is that his play is definitely benefiting Sean Durzi, both Matt Roy and Sean Durzi are near the top of the league in blocked shots, which makes me believe goal tending is why we are seeing such a down swing on numbers. Since the Kings are a bunch of analytics nerds, they need to figure out what is best for this team:
Option 1: Offensive Boost: Find a better defensive partner for Matt Roy, something like Chychrun-Roy would be phenomenal together. Durzi can switch back to RD and pair with a more sheltered defenseman like Bjornfot or Moverare after Edler leaves. But now the question is, what do you do with Brandt Clarke and Jordan Spence who are just wasted in the AHL.
Option 2: More Balanced Defence: Keep Matt Roy and Durzi (on his offside) together as your future third pair, and find the defensive defenseman partner for your future in Brandt Clarke. Let's say this is someone like Gavrikov. Gavrikov can pair with Sean Durzi, Matt Roy can pair with Walker/Edler and you eventually can move Clarke or Spence up this line up.
Option 3: Cap Space Move: You trade Matt Roy for a similar type of LD, so let's say the Kings trade Roy for Forsling (picks or whatever to offset), you now can have Forsling playing his natural position with someone like Sean Durzi, and eventually move up Clarke or Spence. You also cleared some cap room to start paying some of your young studs.
The point I'm making is the Kings are likely open to alot of moves, but it needs to be for a very specific piece, a top-4 LD asset.