When you look at their roster, who they lost, who they replaced them with, you have to ask how it's possible that this team beat out Pittsburgh, Detroit, and New Jersey?
The leading scorers on the Caps are
Dylan Strome 27-40-67
Alex Ovechkin 31-34-65
John Carlson 10-42-52
After that the dropoff is stark. Nobody else on the team has more than 35 points.
They lost their 2 best centers in Backstrom & Kuznetsov and they still made the show.
Those teams they beat out also have significantly better scoring depth.
So how did they do it? They did it the same way the Habs did it for years: Team defense & Goaltending. That's what wins championships. Big scoring numbers is fun. Superstars with name recognition are fun. But making the playoffs with a low scoring group IS possible, if that group gets above average goaltending and good defense.
Common knowledge at the start of the year from every analyst was that Washington were done and would miss the playoffs. Every fan knew it too. And yet... Here we are. They made it, and they embarrassed a whole bunch of know it all pundits along the way. As they say ... That's why they play the games!
I think the Habs need to look at this and take heart. They are going to have a hard time improving their offense in the offseason. There are not enough UFAs and RFAs for them to target where they can realistically win some bids. But they can target 2-way forwards who improve defense as well as providing secondary scoring.
Chandler Stephenson should be our number one target. He'll be number 5-6 on most team's shopping lists, so if we overpay we can use our cap space to get him. He's the best, bar none, 2-way forward available this offseason. He's like Danault. Remember how under-rated Danault was in Montreal? Both by the pundits and the Habs management. Stephenson is the same. His light doesn't shine that brightly, but he's so important to the success Vegas has enjoyed.
I would also target another 2nd line forward, but I am unsure if that's a UFA like Monahan, or an RFA like Lundell. I am open to whatever.
The point is: If you are a Habs fan and you desperately want the Habs to do what New Jersey, Ottawa, Buffalo, Anaheim has been doing to rebuild, consider the lowly Caps and how they did it this year. We don't have to do the same thing everyone does. We can be contrarians and leapfrog a few teams by trusting good vets to bring great all around 2-way play.
Notes: Anderson gets the Armia treatment. If he doesn't come to camp ready... We do what we have to.
We have interacted on this site for me to know you're more optimistic than I am but this is exactly what I don't want.
I get the troubles with the teams you listed examples but those are the teams with far brighter futures than Washington. If the Habs can add a veteran for a reasonable price this off season, like Marchy under 7 million, then do it. I'd still rather this team go super young next year, see what the kids really are and then add once you know what you have to add
They are not ready to make those moove right now.
This summer i wanna see hugues find a top 6 RW under 25 to grow and play with Dach and also a Stud RW with experience to play top pairing with Matheson or Ghule, that will help the young defensemen developpement
We have interacted on this site for me to know you're more optimistic than I am but this is exactly what I don't want.
I get the troubles with the teams you listed examples but those are the teams with far brighter futures than Washington. If the Habs can add a veteran for a reasonable price this off season, like Marchy under 7 million, then do it. I'd still rather this team go super young next year, see what the kids really are and then add once you know what you have to add
Adding Marchessault to me... It feels like the ducks adding Killorn. I personally would rather Stephenson.
There really are no forwards getting blocked here. Farrell, Beck, Kapanen, Mesar, F. Xhekaj, L. Tuch... Kidney? None of those guys are ready for NHL duty.
In 2025-25, when Dvorak, Evans, Armia come off the books, I would be shocked if 3 of those kids ready.
They are not ready to make those moove right now.
This summer i wanna see hugues find a top 6 RW under 25 to grow and play with Dach and also a Stud RW with experience to play top pairing with Matheson or Ghule, that will help the young defensemen developpement
I think you meant a stud RD, right?
For the Dach RW, what if Dach IS the RW and we get a LW or C to play with him? I think we more or less have the same plan but you want Dach at center, and I want him to start on the wing.
For the Dach RW, what if Dach IS the RW and we get a LW or C to play with him? I think we more or less have the same plan but you want Dach at center, and I want him to start on the wing.
We really are not so far apart on our vision.
I really think Dach is a Center, might be a better center than Suzuki and yess a meant a RD stud
wanting to be the caps is a weird take out from all of this. dont want my team to be the caps, they barely made the playoff with an aging core.
I am not saying I want to be the Caps. I am saying that sometimes people on this site especially, are scared to support a contrarian opinion.
There is not one person who commented on this thread, including me, who thought the Caps would make the playoffs.
I'm sure everyone expects them to lose in the 1st round as well.
The point I'm trying to make is, I think there are reasonable moves the Habs can make which will not sacrifice the future, but get them to a much better present. Giving 5-6 years to one, or even two, 30 year old vets is not a terrible way to build this team.
Handing top 6 minutes or even NHL roles to players who have not earned them, is.
I do not expect us to be the Caps. I expect us to be the Habs and not a failed clone of the Colorado Avalanche.
I have said this for years, you build a contender from the net out and build a playoff roster as opposed to a regular season roster. There are teams built to win championships and teams built to win the regular season, most of the time these two do not align. Habs need to focus on building the right way, from the net out and worry less about regular season scoring titles
I have said this for years, you build a contender from the net out and build a playoff roster as opposed to a regular season roster. There are teams built to win championships and teams built to win the regular season, most of the time these two do not align. Habs need to focus on building the right way, from the net out and worry less about regular season scoring titles
Love this comment. Thanks for sharing a contrarian perspective!
I really think Dach is a Center, might be a better center than Suzuki and yess a meant a RD stud
I would also add... Let Dach "prove it". Don't just hand it to him. If he beats out Newhook, Lundell, Stephenson, and Suzuki for 1C... the team is all the better for it.
I am not saying I want to be the Caps. I am saying that sometimes people on this site especially, are scared to support a contrarian opinion.
There is not one person who commented on this thread, including me, who thought the Caps would make the playoffs.
I'm sure everyone expects them to lose in the 1st round as well.
The point I'm trying to make is, I think there are reasonable moves the Habs can make which will not sacrifice the future, but get them to a much better present. Giving 5-6 years to one, or even two, 30 year old vets is not a terrible way to build this team.
Handing top 6 minutes or even NHL roles to players who have not earned them, is.
I do not expect us to be the Caps. I expect us to be the Habs and not a failed clone of the Colorado Avalanche.
I sort of agree with this. I expect the habs to make some of these moves too eventually. the question is when. With our defense so young and unproven, i can understand if they wait a year to get more help.
I sort of agree with this. I expect the habs to make some of these moves too eventually. the question is when. With our defense so young and unproven, i can understand if they wait a year to get more help.
Our D need another 150 games each. Hopefully some of them are like Guhle and you can see the upward trajectory. Harris and Barron REALLY disappointed this season.
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