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Sportnilsson

Swedish Caps fan
Member Since
Jun. 23, 2019
Favourite Team
Washington Capitals
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121
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Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 23, 2023 at 9:31 p.m.
Thread: read description
As for this upcoming year, I have a lot of confidence in the D group. Carlson remains one of the most underrated players in the entire league (and was completely robbed of a Norris like Mike Green before him). Jensen and TVR are also really great and underrated 3s and 4s. Fehervary is a solid role player, and while Edmundson's advanced stats have been declining the Caps really did miss a big crease-clearing defenseman last year and gave up so many tips and rebounds. The biggest question there is whether Sandin can replace what Orlov brought as the 2D, which I'm not as certain about. As for prospects, Fehervary and Alexeyev have aged out of that group for me and Iorio and Chesley need at least another year in Hershey to cook, although I have high expectations for Iorio especially.

Kuemper and Lindgren are an extremely solid, above average pair. Kuemper's injury history is a bit scary but he played around as many games as I would've expected going into the year. Stevenson and Gibson are intriguing prospects and the Caps have a great track record at developing later round goalies but neither are more than potential backups.

The real problem is the forward group. The Caps basically have what would be a great second line on a contender (Ovi-Strome-Wilson) and then 3 great third lines (Pacioretty-Kuzy-Mantha, Milano-Backstrom-Oshie, Protas-Dowd-NAK). Protas-Dowd-NAK is legitimately one of the best fourth lines in the league, and Dowd is IMO the best 4c in the league. They severely lack star power however beyond Ovi. Backstrom, Pacioretty, and Oshie are too old to reach that level again. Wilson and Strome are great complimentary top-6 guys but don't have the skill to ever reach it. Mantha is ... who the hell knows. Kuzy has the potential to be that guy, like he showed in 2018 and 2022, but is a massive question mark. I really wanted them to take a run at a guy like DeBrincat or Nylander to add that true second star that the offense needs, but I don't think it's coming. Prospect-wise, they are relying on McMichael being ready to contribute immediately, probably starting on the wing in Pacioretty's spot while he's still recovering from injury. He had a really good year in Hershey and a great playoffs as they won the Calder Cup, but it's basically make-or-break time in the NHL for him next year. I think he has the hockey sense and skating to make it as a complimentary middle 6 guy, but I really doubt he sticks in the middle full time and his shot and lack of elite offensive pop limits his ceiling. Lapierre is basically almost exactly the same but a year behind, I see no scenario in which he makes the team this year. Miroshnichenko and Suzdalev have great offensive upside but need probably two years in the AHL. I'm so excited about Leonard and think he's going to kill it in college this year and could even see a scenario in which he makes the team next year. They also (in order to stack Hershey) have a ton of AAAA guys that aren't really prospects but I could see getting NHL games. Snively, Phillips, Limoges, Malenstyn, Sgarbossa, Frank will all fight for that 13th or 14th forward and could all fill in well for a couple of games or so but don't really have long-term NHL upside.

At a broader level, the goal of management and honestly what i as a fan want as well is to be competitive enough over the next 3 seasons to be around the playoff race and make sure the top end of the lineup (and most importantly powerplay) are potent enough for Ovi to break the record. That's basically what they were last year until an absolutely brutal run of injuries -- especially the Carlson one -- forced their hand into a quick sell-off. That sort of flexibility and transition -- plan to be competitive, if they're really out of it transition and sell off the good assets -- is exactly what I think they should be doing going forward. That's why I really liked the Pacioretty and Edmundson moves -- if they work out, great and we make the playoffs. If they don't, pivot at the deadline and move them to a contender. There will be plenty of time for this team to be bad once Ovi retires and no amount of selling now is really going to change that. I also hate the ultra min/maxing mindset of if you're not one of the top 8 teams in the league you should be rebuilding. As a fan, I would much rather see Wilson finish his career as a Cap (and become the next captain), Oshie stay in DC, Backstrom continue to play than moving all of them in order to go full rebuild just yet. From an outside perspective it seems like they're stuck in the middle/past, which to a large degree they are. As a fan though, that's exactly where I want them to be. Doing anything other than trying to be competitive while Ovi is still playing would be a giant middle finger to the player and fans that have transformed DC into one of the best hockey markets in the US
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 23, 2023 at 3:55 p.m.
Thread: read description
I just can't see this team as a playoff team. Maybe competitive, but not a playoff team. Part of it is the financial situation of the league hamstringing the trade market. Part of it is this team just not being set up right. Hoping that so many guys on the wrong side of 30 can suddenly be consistently healthy and play a faster style of game does not engender hope in me. Running back a core that hasn't done anything for 5 years doesn't do anything for me. And idk how their young prospects like McMichael are supposed to contribute when he doesn't have a place to play in his natural position and they don't even have enough cap space right now to add him to the roster. My hope for this team this year is certain older guys produce somewhat and they can move their contracts at the deadline for assets and prospects and prepare for the last two seasons of Ovi when they have more cap space and roster spots open.
Forum: NHL SigningsJul. 15, 2023 at 6:38 p.m.
Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins signed Ty Smith (1 Year / $775,000 AAV)
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Brian2016</b></div><div>Will Butcher 2.0. Decent offensive potential, but a major liability in his own zone. Not gonna be an NHL difference maker; Not a player you win with.</div></div>

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>datools</b></div><div>I agree that's his "style" but calling him a player you don't win with at 23 years old is a little unfair.

+3 and 4 pts in 9 games with penguins averaging 20 mins a night replacing for injuries is a great first step last season.

Obviously rushed by NJD, let's let him have a chance</div></div>

Needs to be paired with a complementary blueliner and put in "sheltered" minutes to be effective. He still has a 4th/5th defenseman with PP2 upside but he needs to "own" the AHL on a top unit with full responsibility before an NHL team gives him that opportunity outside of injury fill-in time.

He's Torey Krug with 33% less points/minute.

To be frank, if there were anyone that is borderline NHL defenseman that should consider moving to forward it might be him.
Forum: NHL SigningsJul. 14, 2023 at 4:54 p.m.
Thread: Arizona Coyotes signed Zachary Sanford (1 Year / $800,000 AAV)
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>svensk_forskare</b></div><div>feels like this is a response to them cutting Galch needing someone new for Tucson...
what a sad world to be the backup who gets signed to replace Galch</div></div>

Sanford is another Armstrong pick. Plays a heavy game. Maybe a chance at an NHL gig, but it's tight.

Keller-Hayton-Schmaltz
Zucker- Bjugstad- Guenther
Macceli- McBain- Crouse
Kerfoot-Boyd --

So one full-time spot, three roster forwards to go.

Two of the guys fighting for a spot have one-way deals (Carrcone and O'Brien). Jenik is make or break bc his eligibility is up. O'Brien is an ideal thirteenth forward. So he is battling Jenik most likely for a spot.

Someone half-way decent depthwise is going through waivers (and probably on to Tucson). Possibly more if they want to carry Geekie for a period.

Also, Bear likes to run 7d-11f, so there should be plenty of camp competition.
Forum: NHL TradesJun. 27, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.