The ‘24-‘25 boredom thread..

[richkrt99]

Well one of my sons has a HULU account and we looked on there last night, but cant tell if we actually get to watch it.  He (well his GF actually) has Hulu & Disney, but they dont have the "sports package" that includes ESPN+.
Stupid to give Hulu this game, where a large percentage of hockey fans would want to see this game and can't.  How is this promoting the NHL?

[Mickstix]

Guess who has hulu -and- the disney+espn package?? 


<----------------HINT!! 

[alta]

Vrana in for Milano tonight. Apparently Milano suffered an upper body injury vs Nashville and will miss a few games. It seems odd they would have sent Sgarbossa down knowing this because now they are going call somebody back up.


The only other line change appears to be the goalie, Lindgren in net.

[richkrt99]

Guess who has hulu -and- the disney+espn package?? 


<----------------HINT!! 

You notice this redneck didn't post this in time for anyone to get to his place in time.  sum bitch
Thats all right...He be the only one watching the Caps play their worst game of the year so far.

[Mickstix]

It's probably for the best, I rarely answer the door if the bell rings anyway.   


Hulu+Espn+ package isn't too bad! Like 87$ a month with locals and all the channels they offer. Saves around 50$/month from the same shit Directv offered. Just gotta get used to the "stream" part. Menus and shit aren't as user friendly. And everything "live" is about 30 seconds behind. 

[alta]

Today the Caps recalled Sgarbossa from Hershey, moved Milano to IR and took Chychrun off IR.

[richkrt99]

Caps schedule next 8 games - Oof.  It's probably the toughest matchups of any 8-game stretch this year - all good teams.
Toronto, Avs, Vegas, Utah, Avs, NJ, Florida, Tampa Bay.  2 back to backs in there as well.


Guess we see what this team is truly made of in November

[alta]

He’s only 29, he should be able to recover from this..

https://novacapsfans.com/2024/11/11/calgary-flames-former-washington-capital-anthony-mantha-done-for-season-with-torn-acl/

[Mickstix]

Oof. Fucking ACL's.. Hope the best for him! Today's medicine, he'll recover, if he really wants to!

[alta]

Grubauer last played for Seattle on Nov 5, he will miss another week at a minimum. It appears he took a horse hoof to the face.

“Grubi had an unfortunate accident at home, and he’s fine,” head coach Dan Bylsma said


He owns a horse and volunteers with a horse rescue.

[Mickstix]

Knew a girl in high school who took a (horse) kick to the head. She recovered, eventually.

[BlackIce]

Caps schedule next 8 games - Oof.  It's probably the toughest matchups of any 8-game stretch this year - all good teams.
Toronto, Avs, Vegas, Utah, Avs, NJ, Florida, Tampa Bay.  2 back to backs in there as well.


Guess we see what this team is truly made of in November

   


This is a VERY good point.  We are now 1/6 of the way into the season, and we have a first glimpse of what we have, but we need more information.


We now have the full defense corps in place, so we can get a read on them.  MAYBE we've got enough, but we'll see as the season plays out.


I think for better or worse we are going to ride the two goalies we have through the season, so there won't be any changes there.


Re:  the forwards:  With Protas looking like a fabulous complement on Ovie's opposite side and McMichael's breakout, lines 1, 2, and 4 look set.  The ONLY uncertainty looks to be line 3.  Mangiapane should be a perfectly fine fixture there, but Lapierre has been the one clear offensive disappointment so far, Sgarbossa is a career AHL'er, and I don't know whether I believe in Milano/Vrana at LW.   The nice thing is, with some money to spend at the trade deadline this year, one thing that can reasonably be expected to be available at manageable cost would be upgrades to line 3, if it comes to that. 


Of course, injuries are something that can derail a team at any time, and could necessitate additional moves, but that's something that can't be anticipated.


It's way too early to draw any definitive conclusions about this team, but the early indications are quite promising.

[richkrt99]

I agree with BlackICE - the 3rd line need work.  Sgarbossa looked great vs the Blues and that line generated some good scoring chances...but I agree Sgarbossa is a career AHL guy, and only reason he is here is Lappy isnt cutting it.  With Lappy, that line has been a total defensive liability to go along with zero scoring threat. Sgarbossa at least settles that line and makes it more defensively responsible, but there has to be better options.
I think we would have seen McMike at 3c already except that he's been tremendous at 2LW.
Sucks for Lappy - he looked better than McMike at times last year, but Lappy has regressed and McMike has just been impressive.
Anyway, time will tell.

Go Caps

[Mickstix]

Lappi is same size and weight as McMike. 1 year younger.. I think he'll get there! Like was said, last year he seemed ahead of McMike at times.

[BlackIce]

I think part of the reason McMichael didn't look good at times last year was that he was forced by injuries into being a top-line CENTER - which he wasn't ready for.  He was competing against higher level opponents, with the Center's primary responsibility of driving the play.  Now he is on the wing, where his primary responsibility is scoring the puck.  It sure is looking in the early going as if his talents in that area are more suitable to high-line placement than his talents as a center. 


Can we send Lapierre back to Hershey without exposing him to waivers?  If so, maybe he should go back to get consistent playing time for awhile and hopefully get his mojo back.  Or, who knows?  Maybe his skill set is more suited to the wing, as well?  I don't know here.

[Mickstix]

Holy Shit!! Caps get Lars Eller back from the Pens! 3rd line Center say whaaaaat!!!


3rd and a 5th for Lars, who makes 2.45m and is a UFA next year. I like it!! Let Pierre go back to Hershey for another year and be ready for 2025-26.


https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1856480034409562418

[Surreylily]

I'm good with this.   

[alta]

The Caps have been abysmal at the faceoff dot, this should help quite a bit. Sgarbossa sent back to Hershey, and I assume this moves Lapierre to permanent scratch.

[Beaglefan2]

I really wish Lappy would have stepped forward this year and I feel like they should have given him more time, but at this point management gets the benefit of the doubt.  I always liked Lars, but we were all complaining about him at the end of his time with the Caps.  Maybe coming  back to a team that seems to have some potential will fire him up and it will be a great move.

[Mickstix]

Shit, if Lapierre is just gonna be a healthy scratch it kinda dampens the mood. Was hoping he'd go back to Hershey and gain that experience with lots of ice time.