R1G3 Caps vs Rangers @ 7pm

[BlackIce]

We aren't alone in our misery.  Three of the four East Conference series are 3-0.  And after all, the Rangers/Caps series WAS the most lopsided-looking series coming in.


The Caps are an elite NHL team in one way only:  Competitive integrity.  They actually found a way for this group of players to sneak into the playoffs despite having one of the least talented rosters in the league.  And their reward??  Draft picks buried in the middle of the NHL pack.  There is no obvious way for the franchise to escape mediocrity or worse for several years, at least.  Even a couple of bonafide stars probably wouldn't be enough to lift this franchise to be a Stanley Cup contender.

[alta]

The only way the Caps were going to be contenders in the draft lottery was to lose more than %50 of their games since thanksgiving. And, the draft lottery is no guarantee of anything. It is extremely rare that a 1st round pick makes a difference in the first three years of their career. I think our perception has been skewed by a few select players. I can count five off the top of my head since Ovechkin was drafted, 18 years ago.

Team management needs to have a come to Jesus moment to see the reality they are dealing with. Such religious moments are rarer than 1st round picks making an immediate impact on a team.

[Mickstix]

You need to pick top 3 for a season 1 difference maker. Not sure we'll ever be bad enough to do that? We always stay just competitive enough to draft mid pack. I do know, I'd go with the biggest fastest player available when we do pick. Hopefully teach him whatever else he needs, but speed and some size is something you can't teach. And as slow as we are, we'll never be a "contender".
 
I'd be looking for a buyer for Protas now. He's gonna end up a 4th liner getting paid as a 2-3.  Can't wait to see what they give McMike in the offseaon. It better not be over 3.5/4 (if that). I know he's young, but guys with the "it" factor show it. He's a guy, but not THE guy. Same with Miroshnichenko.. Looks decent but nothing special, unfortunately.


Once again, we'll be pretty decent from the 2-4 lines, but lack difference makers on the top Forward line and top D pair. Need a couple/few superstars in those spots. As usual..

[richkrt99]

Oof.  Not that we expected differently, but this hasn't been fun to watch.  As soon as Rags tied it within a minute of JC's goal, I knew it was over, and that SHG just took any hope anyone had left.

Caps just don't have it.  They spent everything they had in the tank just to get here, and it wasn't like they were "peaking" at the right time...it was just everything they had. 
You have a mediocre team, playing above its talent level to get here, all its stars are aged, AND has 2 starting D out of the lineup (that was barely average to begin with), AND you're facing the best team in the league this year which just happens to be firing on all cylinders, AND you throw in terrible officiating, AND the bounces all go against you, and it adds up to lopsided hockey.  Sucks to be on this side of it, but that's where this team is.
I'm not knocking our team or their effort...they just don't have enough to compete.   

It's over.  The Caps won't win game 4.  Get the brooms out.

[waynerivers]

Mercifully, one left to go.  This has been completely as expected but it's still quite embarrassing.  The team is so short of talent that, even with first class management, they'd need at least 3 years to start to make some noise.  I have no faith in the current management to make this team relevant again anytime soon.  On another topic, Ovie has been pathetic.  He barely looks interested.  Remember, playoff goals don't count.

[waynerivers]

Oof.  Not that we expected differently, but this hasn't been fun to watch.  As soon as Rags tied it within a minute of JC's goal, I knew it was over, and that SHG just took any hope anyone had left.

Caps just don't have it.  They spent everything they had in the tank just to get here, and it wasn't like they were "peaking" at the right time...it was just everything they had. 
You have a mediocre team, playing above its talent level to get here, all its stars are aged, AND has 2 starting D out of the lineup (that was barely average to begin with), AND you're facing the best team in the league this year which just happens to be firing on all cylinders, AND you throw in terrible officiating, AND the bounces all go against you, and it adds up to lopsided hockey.  Sucks to be on this side of it, but that's where this team is.
I'm not knocking our team or their effort...they just don't have enough to compete.   

It's over.  The Caps won't win game 4.  Get the brooms out.

Yep.  Fans just need to face the fact that the team is dreadful and is likely to remain so for a long time.  You watch the other playoff games and see the speed and skill and immediately realize how bad they really are.

[Iafrates Ghost]

Hello fellow Caps Fans!


New to this site and hoping we can win one tomorrow and also hoping to see Rempe get pummelled by Wilson!

[Beaglefan2]

Yep.  Fans just need to face the fact that the team is dreadful and is likely to remain so for a long time.  You watch the other playoff games and see the speed and skill and immediately realize how bad they really are.

Yes - take a look at the Winnipeg-Colorado games for instance.  The pace of those games have been amazing. Pretty much every other series has been played at a much fast pace with much more skill.  The Rags look good compared to the Caps, but they are no where close to 5 or 6 other teams.  I will enjoy watching them lose the next series.

[Mickstix]

Welcome to the carnival Iafrates Ghost! lol Yep, still hoping we can stretch it to 5, but it's not looking good..

[Beaglefan2]

The only way this team becomes competitive is with the burnoff of the Backstrom, Oshie, Ovi and Carlson contracts and the simultaneous development of their recent draft picks and the new draft picks coming up.  They really need some of these kids to develop into top line talent and then use their coming Cap space to add some really nice players.  Three years from now, they could be decent again.

[Mickstix]

It's like the old saying: "You want it done fast, cheap or right. Pick 2." That applies to most everything, including rebuilding a team.