The ‘24-‘25 boredom thread..

[Mickstix]

Not sure I'd resign him and Dowd. Dowd makes 1.3 and earns every penny. Lars makes 2.5  Dowd will probably get a raise. Maybe if you do both for 4m total? But I'd look for an upgrade at 3c if possible. I like Lars but he's lost a step. He's solid, but should probably be 4c.

[Surreylily]

Guess they have plans for BigMac in Washington?!?! Hope we get to see him on ice sometime soon!


Lil will be happy Torts got canned, again. 

 

[Surreylily]

If it 'ain't broke, don't try to fix it.   

[richkrt99]

Not sure I'd resign him and Dowd. Dowd makes 1.3 and earns every penny. Lars makes 2.5  Dowd will probably get a raise. Maybe if you do both for 4m total? But I'd look for an upgrade at 3c if possible. I like Lars but he's lost a step. He's solid, but should probably be 4c.

Oh wait....I think I gave him a lifetime pass after scoring a certain GWG in a certain playoff game a few (okay several) years back.
Re-sign him! 

[alta]

https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2025/03/28/craig-laughlin-return-capitals-broadcast-booth-sunday-sabres/

[BlackIce]

If it 'ain't broke, don't try to fix it.   

Ah, but sometimes you have decisions to make and have to decide when to hang on and when to move on .....


Dowd is a year younger than Eller, which isn't a huge deal in isolation, but Dowd will turn 35 in May, and Eller 36.  Not everyone can play effectively to upwards of age 40; Ovie's year this year is the exception that proves the rule.  Even if you want to sign both of them, do you want to sign them to more than a 1-year deal at this point?  I sort of agree with Mick here; I think Dowd is still great for the 4th line center/PK work he is slotted for.  Eller at this point in his career doesn't really fit what the Caps need, especially longer-term.  I thought maybe McMichael would be that guy, but he has now solidified himself into a top-6 wing role.  And I wasn't sure exactly where Protas was going to fit, but I thought it was going to be somewhere in the bottom 6 as well, until he exploded this year.   


It just goes to show that you never can be sure how things are going to develop.  12-18 months ago I was "sure" that with Ovie's departure, Kuzy's implosion, and Backstrom/Oshie reaching the end, the Caps were going to have to tank, have a complete rebuild, and reconstruct almost their entire top 6.  Now, things look completely the reverse, and what we don't see on the horizon are the bottom 6 players. 


Which makes the Caps' anticipated pick in the upcoming draft, at least in the mid-high 20's, just fine.  Let the teams above them pick all the potential game-breaking forwards and pp defensemen.  I'd think the Caps in the first round would be going for less scoring potential but a big, solid, either playmaking center or defensive defenseman, which they should be able to get one of the best of, if teams above them are chasing glamour.

[Surreylily]

I agree that we have to evolve and look to the future, however I don't see any viable upgrades to Dowd or Eller at this moment in time.  Certainly not within our cap space.   I would re-sign them both to one or two years and then look primarily to the farm.

It's our D that needs tinkering with. imho and that's where our priorities should be, regarding upgrades.   Breaking out of our own zone has been an issue.   There are two, maybe three Dmen that I would be okay replacing.   I would like to see a little more of McIllrath.   


A lot will depend on how we do in the playoffs.

[richkrt99]

I'd agree sign Dowd to a one year and maybe Eller, but what if they want 3 years?  That's a no for me.  If they get to FA and someone offered them 3 years at 1.5m per, they'd have to grab it I would think.
Come summer there will be plenty of FA's out there - guys like Eller and Dowd are a dime a dozen.  I'm not knocking either one, and I like them both, and not advocating for them to be pushed out, but replacements for 34d/4th line guys are easier to come by.  The Caps need is a guy who can win face offs - that's a weak spot on this team.  Actually I looked it up and as a team we are 50.3% on the season, which is better than I expected.
Strome 54.3% , PLD 49.1%, Dowd 49.8, Eller 52.6%  Honestly, I am surprised by this - thought our FO stat was much worse.
Dowd made the league minimum with the Kings for 3 years after his 1 year entry level contract.  Then he signed 1 year deal with the caps at league minimum, followed by a 3 year deal at league min, then his current 3 year deal at 1.3m per.  He has family here so I expect he wants to stay, but it would be hard to turn down a bigger offer elsewhere based on his "modest" career earnings.
Eller might be harder to nail down his value.  He's has been a good all around player and good utility guy anywhere in lineup, mostly slotted at 3c, but he is aging - has certainly lost a step.  Not sure I'd offer him more than a 1 year deal.
I do think the Caps will sign Dowd before he becomes a FA.  Maybe 2 years at 1.25 or something.  He has been a good fit here I think
while we are at it...Raddysh will be an FA also.  He makes 1m this year which is bargain - I'd go up to 3 years on him for similar figure.  He's not a great scorer, but he's shown some potential here and there and he's only 27, and he HITS people.  Same goes for Beuvy - although he doesnt have great size.  Wow...didnt realize he had made 4.15m/yr over a 3 year deal with the Islanders prior to his 1 year 1.25m deal with Shittsburgh.
Mangipanne, Eller, Dowd, Raddysh, and Beuvillier are our only FA's.  I don't see how the Caps could/would choose to afford Mangi; 5.8 is crazy number for him.  The other four I could take or leave.

BTW...Ethan Frank has been a healthy scratch since Beauvillier arrived.

[BlackIce]

Rich - Beauvillier SEEMS like a similar player to Frank, but he will probably provide more points per game, and he is much more of a physical player despite his lack of size.  Much better suited for the playoffs.   


Which brings us to Ryan Leonard.  Thee Caps are widely expected to sign him and MAYBE bring him into the lineup after his college season is over.  A lot of his appeal is that he plays with intensity and an edge, in addition to being a scorer.  The frozen four is sort of screwy, though.  If Leonard's team wins their game tomorrow, they advance to the final four - which isn't played until April 10/12!!  I'm wondering if the Caps aren't secretly hoping that he loses tomorrow.  The difference between playing in the final four vs. not is two weeks, during which the Caps play 7 games.  I would think that there is an ENORMOUS different between Leonard having up to 9 games to acclimate himself to the NHL vs. having no more than 2 games before the playoffs start.

[richkrt99]

does the active roster size increase for playoffs?  Can you carry more guys on the roster?  I know the cap doesn't apply.

[alta]

I’m pretty sure the roster does increase in the postseason, based on what teams have done in previous seasons, and there isn’t a new CBA for another year that would effect that.

[Beaglefan2]

I think Eller will be gone.  It's a shame that Dowd hasn't been paid better.  He has given the Caps more effort on a consistent basis than anybody.  He's not a top talent, but he deserves to be paid more.


I hope they keep Radysh for the same reasons - solid and can be physical.  I think we are really going to appreciate him the playoffs.


I think everyone is expecting Leonard to make the team next year which would be nice, but that is not a certainty by any means.  Even if his team loses and they got him on the roster earlier, I doubt that he would see any playing time in the playoffs.


Don't forget that we still have Lappy and Miro, as well as Frank and maybe Lappy has a resurgence like McMike did this year.

[Mickstix]

https://twitter.com/Tarik_ElBashir/status/1906524783837098141

[BlackIce]

Well, now we'll find out what the Caps' plan is for Leonard.

[alta]

The kid looks amazing against other college kids. The NHL is a different world entirely, and during the playoffs is not where I’d put him in for his debut.

[Mickstix]

He's not seeing ice in the playoffs. Not unless we have (at least) 2 injuries to wingers.. But there's 9 games left. Perfect time to get him, Frank and Big Mac some ice. Team looks like shit lately anyway.

[BlackIce]

Well, that didn't take long.  Leonard is signed (of course, given the restrictions on entry level contracts, there isn't much to negotiate.)   


Now we'll see what happens next.   


It's hard to believe he'll see ice time right away.  He won't even have time to practice before the Caps' next two back-to-back games.

[richkrt99]

I know he tore it up in college, but I don't expect to see him in a Caps sweater until next year's rookie camp.  But....WTF do I know?
I didn't realize he was that big...6'-0 200lbs...not a giant, but pretty thick for a 20 year old.


So the article states "he ends his collegiate career with..."  Does that mean he is committed to NOT returning to BC for his junior/Senior years?
I know he has signed a "pro" deal, but does that require absolutely he is done in college?

[Beaglefan2]

Excellent!  I'm going the game in Boston tomorrow night and hopefully they put him in the lineup.  Never been there so it should be fun, although I am disappointed that I can't boo the Rat.

[alta]

The interwebs says a team can call up from the the minors a max of four additional players after the trade deadline until the end of the season, but still must remain under the salary cap. So, would Lenard technically have to be signed to Hershey first? Or South Carolina because of his age?


According to these people, the Caps currently have $3.3M of cap space..

https://capwages.com/teams/washington_capitals