Quoting: staytru20
I'm not arguing against the values of Couture and Barabanov, I'm just not sure it makes a ton of sense for the Capitals right now to trade a first in 2025 (or 2024 for that matter) when you really don't know if the team is going to be pushing for the playoffs in a really tough Eastern Conference. The Caps should be in a spot where they can have a "shorter" rebuild after this current contention window ends for sure. I just think that if the Caps were willing to move high end picks for roster players, we would have seen those trades already this summer.
Since Kuznetsov who's really worked out for WSH in the First round since 2010 anyways?
Now Ryan Leonard i fully believe is an upgraded Tom Wilson type and a player im jealous you got for sure.
But outside that its good on Paper but not in Practice like Miroshnichenko who's playing with Yakupuv in the KHL well behind his peers taken way later in the draft.
I mean MTL's 4th round pick finished 24th among Rookies with 25pts in 64 games at 19 a full year + ahead of Miroshnichenko who bounced from KHL to AHL equivalent to Junior Equivalent where he stayed.
MTL's younger later pick Konyuskov was taken the same draft and was a year older accomplishing more then your guy despite being smaller in a position that takes years to grow into a regular role there.
He literally walked in out of the draft and took a top 4 spot producing at both ends without being a defensive liability like our other Prospect who's taken the Miroshnichenko path to the KHL in Kostenko.
Despite all the opportunity in the KHL and their version of the AHL for minutes
Your boy simply cant adjust and find any success while our midget RD is thriving all around at greater minutes.
Its kinda the tale of WSH picks as Mcmicheal WSH 1st round pick has played more games and had less success then MTL's 201st OA pick that year who nearly doubled his Goals in half the games.
Alexyev went before Romanov, but finishes behind him in every respect as he has 2 Gagarin cup finals with 1 cup , SCF with no cup be 22
Johanson went way before Mete and despite being a Midget its Mete who has a NHL Career to speak about. Hell even Pezzetta finished well ahead of Johanson that draft.
Its the same trend in WSH year in and out since Ross Mahoney was Promoted to GM and never found a True Heir while he's spread thin trying to do it all.
MTL was like that too which is why i stopped talking crap at 2016/2017 when we began re-staffing our Draft Dept.
WSH has the same guy leading Player Development for 23 years which seemed good until about 8 years ago give or take.
Mahoney can draft them but if Richmond cant develop it , its a waste of a draft pick even if Mahoney was batting at a high average he used to before promoted.
Fire Richmond and hire Mahoney a replacement for real