GDT #58 Caps at Hurricanes @ 8pm

[alta]

Mantha got a stick in nuts on that

[alta]

I don’t see the Caps scoring 4 in the 3rd, so let’s just not get shutout

[Mickstix]

Definite shutout unless Carolina scores on themself.

[alta]

there goes the shutout

THE BIG WILLY SCORES

[Mickstix]

Holy shit! They should pay him Mantha type money! 

[alta]

i absolutely hate fire sales, but this squad needs one

[alta]

That’s four loses in a row.
 

[Mickstix]

Only 3 more years of this and they can start the rebuild! 


See what happens on Tuesday. 

[BlackIce]

It really is time for management to face the fact that the ship has sailed on this generation of the Capitals being Stanley Cup contenders.  They simply cannot compete with the best teams in the league now.  This team SHOULD be a seller rather than a buyer at the deadline, and we can hope that the teams close to the Caps in the standings go by them, so our draft position improves.


Of course, I saw some hockey writer a couple of weeks ago arguing that as long as the Caps have Ovechkin they need to make a good-faith attempt to be a contender every year.  Hogwash.  It's time to do what needs to be done to avoid the dreaded cycle of mediocrity.

[Beaglefan2]

I lost the last 1% of respect I had for Mantha when he started the fight. For maybe the first time ever, he apparently thought he would try and fire up the team by getting in a fight - so then he finds a much smaller guy that is not a fighter and cross checks him as he is getting up, then drops his gloves before the guy was even standing and starts throwing silly little rabbit punches.


End result, he makes the Caps look like a cheap shot team and we go shorthanded. The guys gotta go!

[Mickstix]

Of course, I saw some hockey writer a couple of weeks ago arguing that as long as the Caps have Ovechkin they need to make a good-faith attempt to be a contender every year. 

Im finding it hard to picture how keeping these core guys together does anything but hinder Ovi's shot at the scoring title, much less make them a contender. They're really only good for PP's, and even then they're too slow to get the thing setup. Ovi will struggle to reach Gretzky, within his current contract, with this group of old folks.


They can probably afford to keep Nicky, for Ovi's (nostalgia) sake. But, Oshie could be moved. Kuznetsov could be moved. Carlson could be moved. Orlov doesn't need to get a raise, or just let him walk. Mantha could (hopefully) be moved. Eller could be moved.


Either way, you just can't afford to keep Oshie, Kuzy, Nicky, Carlson and Ovechkin on this team and do anything but die in quicksand. You can keep maybe 3 of them, TOPS.