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All_Knowing

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Forum: Washington Capitals4 hours ago
Thread: 2023-24 Season Thread
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>All_Knowing</b></div><div>Thanks for the response here - I do agree with pretty much everything you said above.

Kuemper / Bear being moved would be fine if the right deal came (similar mindset with Kuzy - getting a 3rd for him with retention was definitely the right deal).

Caps should 100% be looking to compete - I truly believe they have the right balance of young vs veterans - they just need more skill (easier said than done).

Regarding the players you mentioned - I couldn't agree more with your defender list. For forwards, Marner / Ehlers would be great. Not so high on Zegras. Norris possibly. Reinhart possibly, but doubt he signs with the Caps. Same with Guentzel.
I'd also throw in Keller. I am very curious to see what the Coyotes (UTAH HC) does here. Are they trying to compete? I would offer a very large package for Keller &amp; Schmaltz...
What would that package look like, I'm not sure...but off the top of my head, something like Chesley, McM (or Lappy), Jensen, 2024 1st, 2025 1st, and a 2nd...probably would need more? Idk.

Regarding the left side, I am also not convinced Sandin is the best option here...I will say though, AA has impressed me recently. I think he has played very well and if it continues, I would be fine with him being on the 3rd pair (while playing 2nd pairing minutes in a pinch).

Another thought here...I think it is becoming more and more prevalent that the Caps don't have as much physicality throughout the lineup. Maybe I am used to the old Caps where they were really big and tough, but imo, the defenders aren't physical enough (besides Fehervary). The forwards (besides Wilson and Beck) aren't quite physical either...
Am I crazy to think that signing a guy like Bertuzzi on a 1 year deal wouldn't be a bad thing. Yes he has struggled this year, especially offensively, but his play has picked up recently and TOR isn't the easiest place to play...I think he would fit nicely on a 3rd line with Milano and Lappy, which would move Protas down to the 4th line</div></div>

Unfortunately all of the chatter on Utah (including from Friedman, who IMO is the only reliable source for this kind of stuff) is that they are going to be big players and almost certainly spend to the cap. Not only does it make Keller probably not possible, but I think they will be in on some guys the Caps could be interested in. I agree we need more physicality, and that's honestly why I would prefer an upgrade over NAK (and possibly Malenstyn) -- both of them hit, but don't really have the mean streak that a guy like Hathaway did. I like Bertuzzi fine but he would be in that tier with for me Monahan and Tofolli (or honestly Mantha) where he's a secondary guy who needs to play with top players that we just don't have.
Forum: Washington Capitals6 hours ago
Thread: 2023-24 Season Thread
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>All_Knowing</b></div><div>Looking ahead, I have a few high priority questions for this offseason (which imo, it is the biggest offseason in a very long time):

In no particularly order...
1. What do the Caps do with Kuemper?
- High price for a backup...a few options would be trade (with a sweetener and probably retention) or buy-out (which would be costly down the road)…whatever the Caps do, Kuemper should not be back
2. What do the Caps do with their 2024 1st? Use it as a package piece?
- I'd use it in a package to get a young forward (not totally sure who though...)
3. What do the Caps do with Bear?
- Only 1x~2m but every cent counts I'd say.
4. What is the overall need for the Caps?
- I'd say a top 6 forward (maybe 2 at this point) and a top 4 defender (preferably a RHD)
5. Since FA class is pretty weak, what trade options are out there?
- I could see Pesce being a RHD signing (although it might have to be an overpay since WSH might not be a very desired place with an older team looking towards a potential rebuild/retool). Outside of that, I don't see any other FA signings that intrigue me...Maybe Debrusk at the right price? I'm not sure
6. Going off of that, what do the Caps do about their RHDs?
- Jensen / TVR / Bear / Iorio -&gt; who stays, who goes? Is Iorio ready? Imo, I see Jensen traded / TVR on the 3rd pairing / Bear I have no idea / Iorio stays in Hershey one more year to develop more.

Am I missing anything? Please feel free to answer any of these questions - would love to hear other people's thoughts</div></div>

1. I don't see any real urgency w/ Kuemper TBH. Overpaid -- certainly -- but they're in a spot where they don't NEED the dollars and as you said getting out of a contract like that will be a pain no matter how you do it. Shepard has been great in Hershey but looked overmatched in the NHL to me and I don't think he's a goalie-of-the-future type that you need to clear room for. Stevenson I think does have an NHL future but can take one more year in Hershey. If something comes along do it but not a top priority for me.

2, 4, 5. If they're serious about competing, which I think they should be, you need one legit top line forward and one legit top pair defenseman at the minimum. Move that first rounder for the forward. Still has more value than a real contender's first but right in the spot of this year's draft where the quality (supposedly) falls off a cliff. Best case scenario IMO is a playoff collapse leads to Marner or Ehlers finally shaking free. While I'm still lower on Zegras than most, I think he's the type of bet you make if the price is right. PLD? BUF might be looking to consolidate some of their younger pieces as well, although I'm not enamored with any of them. Josh Norris is the one I keep coming back to as making the most sense for all parties. Forward UFA options aren't very exciting beyond Reinhart and Guentzel. Would stay far far away from Stamkos, Lindholm, Stephenson, Marchessault, Monahan, Toffoli. Not convinced by Sutter as an internal promotion, I'd look for another checking UFA to upgrade NAK. I'm making McM, Lappy, Miro available in the right deal as well.

On D, there's still enough quality in UFA even though I'm very annoyed VGK resigned Hanifin. Pesce, Skjei, Walker would be my first choices. Roy, Montour would be nice as well and guys like Tanev, DeMelo, Carrier, Dillon aren't top 2 guys but are great depth options.

3, 6. I think you can find someone who will give you assets for Jensen. I would keep TVR, I don't think they're finding someone better and cheaper in UFA. Bear is in the Kuemper boat for me -- not great but not THE problem and not worth the headache of trying to move. Iorio I think can challenge but hasn't done enough to not have to fight for a spot. I'm also not so impressed with Sandin (and a long-time AA hater) that making the move at LD is beyond the question for me. Get the best guy you can and make the other moves around that guy's handedness

I'm really bummed that BC lost the Natty and Leonard isn't signing, because I think he would have been a massive help next year. I think you're looking at this lineup in an ideal world:

X - Strome - X
Ovi - McM - Wilson
Milano - Lapierre - Protas
Malenstyn - Dowd - X
Miro

Fehervary - Carlson
Sandin - X
X - TVR
AA - Iorio/Bear

Lindgren
Kuemper
Shepard/Stevenson
Forum: Armchair-GMWed. at 12:13 p.m.
Thread: Cant believe they made the playoffs lol
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>All_Knowing</b></div><div>While it would have been a great story due to the wings last 2 games (and the comebacks they had)...the overall story is way better with the Caps (or even the Pens).

A Caps team that no one expected to be close to the playoffs (and even sold at the TDL) making the playoffs is a fantastic story. Plus, having Ovi back in the playoffs is great (just like if Pens/Crosby made it).
A Pens team with Crosby, who had an absolute fantastic, impressive year, making the playoffs is a great story as well

Wings who continue their questionable franchise growth / path making the playoffs is whatever

But then again, I am a Caps fan so definitely am bias</div></div>

hahaha, true, i just mean in the last 2 games, 2 comeback on back to back night is more impressive than the caps scoring an empty net in a tie game.

Nothing against the caps, in the end the wings only have themselves to blame.
Forum: Armchair-GMWed. at 11:11 a.m.
Thread: Cant believe they made the playoffs lol
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Bee</b></div><div>There gonna get swept</div></div>

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>All_Knowing</b></div><div>Yup - probably will be golfing in a week or so...but that's okay - no one expected the Caps to make it anyways

Will probably see the Leafs on the golf course as well! LOL</div></div>

It's really kid of sad. You look at the playoff brackets right now.
Does anyone really think NYI or WSH is going to win? They would both be lucky to win a game.
You look at TOR and BOS, bet 80% of people already have a feeling on how that's going to go as well.
You got like 1 series in the whole east FL at TB that is even remotely interesting.

If it wasn't for the western conference the playoffs would be looking bust for the 1st round.