The ‘25-‘26 boredom thread..

[alta]

Protas has been activated from IR. Wilson has been put on IR, retroactively, and will be eligible to play Sunday. Leason stays, for now.

[alta]

https://brobible.com/sports/article/ahl-hershey-bears-mites-on-ice-brawl/

[Mickstix]

From morning skate, sounds like Chych is on the ice, but not on either PP (Game time decision) and no Sourdif or Wilson tonight. Joy! 

[waynerivers]

What's it now, 80-81 straight games that Lapierre has not scored in?  Why in hell is he here while Protas, Jr. is in Hershey?  Imagine going the equivalent of a whole season without scoring.  It's tough to do.

[richkrt99]

awe man, no Wilson or Sourdiff?  We gonna get manhandled by the Fn Canadiens?.  Quick, somebody call up some them kids from the mites brawl...that goalie maybe

[richkrt99]

Caps seriously need to find some replacement D next year.  TVR is done.  Carlson SHOULD be done. Mac is done.
That's 2 guys from the starting 6, plus the biggest toughest D in the barn.
Chicky is a stud, Roy has been great this year and is very reliable. Fever is off this year, but I believe he will be solid again, Sandin is what he is...a small O-minded puck mover.
TVR is a liability with no real upside.  Carlson is a D liability and has lost much of his upside.  I really hope he signs elsewhere but I doubt that.
I'm not sure about Chisholm?  Maybe he's a bottom 2 D guy that can play 80 games?  He just turned 26 so not a youngster, but maybe can still improve.
I don't see any real stand-outs on D in Hershey, but I don't follow them either.  Hutson is supposed to be a future star, but he's 19, 5'-10", 165lbs ...(25lbs lighter than Sandin)
Iorio has played 20 games with the Sharks this season - he's not lighting it up, but he's getting 16.25 TOI/G.  Not sure we should have let him go.  He's 23, 6'-4", 220lbs.
Caps seemingly have quite a few forwards in Hershey with potential - not seeing anything on D that really tickles me.

[Beaglefan2]

Agree on the issues with the D.  They will have to look for a good free agent in the summer. Hopefully, they don't do something stupid at the trade deadline.  We have to just hope that they don't give Carlson any kind of extension - even if it is cheap.  I know some people will say he has been a longtime Cap and the "owe" him an extension so he can finish his career here, but that just ticks me off. They pay these guys millions and millions over a lot of years - and they are "owed" something?


Don't get me wrong, I do value loyalty and love when guys finish their career with one team, but if a player has declined to the point that he is hurting the team, then we don't "owe" him anything.


The one exception to that is Ovi, and I fear we are going to have to do an extension.

[alta]

Wilson skated full contact this morning, and Chychrun appears ready as well. Nothing official yet. Frank skated with Strome and OV on line 1.


Sourdif a definite no for Thursday.

[richkrt99]

Agree on the issues with the D.  They will have to look for a good free agent in the summer. Hopefully, they don't do something stupid at the trade deadline.  We have to just hope that they don't give Carlson any kind of extension - even if it is cheap.  I know some people will say he has been a longtime Cap and the "owe" him an extension so he can finish his career here, but that just ticks me off. They pay these guys millions and millions over a lot of years - and they are "owed" something?

Don't get me wrong, I do value loyalty and love when guys finish their career with one team, but if a player has declined to the point that he is hurting the team, then we don't "owe" him anything.

The one exception to that is Ovi, and I fear we are going to have to do an extension.

I agree on all this...I feel bad about not wanting a guy back that has "given" so much to this team (Carlson), but to put it in perspective.....He has career earnings of $89 million!.  Okay, i don't feel bad anymore...send him packing.  DON'T re-sign him. 
If he really wants to stay and feels loyalty to stay, then he should play a 1 year 1 million dollar contract - he could mentor younger guys and help the team.  I bet he wants $6-7m though.
Ovi is a bit different in that he IS still scoring, AND let's face it he MADE this franchise what it is, and the best ever goal scorer to ever play.  I mean he's old and slow, but his job is to score, and he still does that.  Not quite like he used to, but 35G a year is still pretty damn good for anyone, much less his old ass. Limiting his minutes has helped his game I think.  People do still flock to the rinks everywhere to see him play....so he does have some other value - marketing or $$$$ putting butts in seats.
I expect Ovi will play next year unless something happens before end of season.

[Beaglefan2]

I wouldn't want Carlson back if he played for $1.  I'm sure that he is well liked in the lockerroom and is a good guy. They big problem with him, besides his defensive lapses, is his casual attitude and lack of fire. I think for years the Caps have lacked guys that will do anything to win - run through fire, run over their mother, etc... We need more of that now and Carlson is the exact opposite.  We also need to let Chychrun run this defense and step into a bigtime leadership role - without Carlson.


I am coming to believe that Ovi will be back. I can not explain how he has 20 goals so far as his skllls have really fallen off. He can't skate, and is missing on a ton of shots - many times just whiffing.  He must be getting in the right places and there is a talent to that, but if he was even close to having the same shot skills he would have 40 goals. I think if you subtracted his empty net goals and 2 or three that have hit him on the way to the goal, he really only has about 10 good goals this year.


The other question with Ovi, is if he does come back, what kind of money would he want?  Would he do a team-friendly deal that would theoretically help us be a Cup contender - say $7-8 million, or would his pride say he needs to be the top paid player?  Whatever he demands - maybe $15M - then Leonsis has to pay it.  There is no way he could/would let Ovi not finish our with the Caps on a high note.

[richkrt99]

good thought Beags.  I didn't think about Carlson holding back (at least on some level) Chicky's leadership.
Agree on Ovi as well.  I think he will be back unless something really changes dramatically in the 2nd half of the season.  He really doesn't look great out there, but somehow he does score.  There is a bit of fire every now and then and he does rip a rocket on occasion (I think his last PPG in a game we got destroyed was a real gem), but yeah somehow he manages to get goals despite his seemingly stumbling efforts.
I would hope he would do a somewhat friendly deal.  How bout the nice number 8...million.  THat's what I had in my head.  I certainly would hope he wouldn't want to be a top cheese player salary at this age and level he is playing, but who knows. 

[Mickstix]

Agree agree.. Though, Carlson could replace TVR, Mac or Chiz for around 3.5m and I'd not mind. (doubt he'd go for that # though) But it's the responsibility shifts he gets that piss me off. He's just not that guy anymore. If Sandin could find the net once in a while and learn to setup Ovi on the PP, that's all that needed to replace Carlson.


And, no surprise here that Ovi still scores goals now and then.. He's the GREAT FUCKING 8 

[Beaglefan2]

Last night was another miserable game where they played lazy and stupid.  I think they got exposed for being a slow old team as the 18 year olds skated circles around them.


Dowd had his worst game - slow and in the wrong spots and lousy at faceoffs. Seemed like we didn't win a faceoff all night.


Strome had a rotten game as well. Other than chipping in the goal, he was terrible. He lost the puck that lead to a goal and his skating is just like molasses.


And Carlson ...... a perfect example of his casual attitude was him skating back a couple steps behind the guy heading to the net on the third goal.  All he had to do was skate a little bit to catch up and at least hook the guy. Instead, he just glides around.  If they re-sign him, ........ aaaarrrg!

[richkrt99]

Boys sure don't smell like Napalm in the morning lately.Yes Carlson was bad yesterday.  Dowd was a clown show.  Carlson got 1 penalty (at least) that was from just lazy play - trying to stick check Celebrini blowing by him instead of hustling.
I was starting to wonder if Carlson is nursing something because he does seem worse lately, slower and less hustle then usual, etc...or maybe he's disgruntled because they aren't contract talking - but then how would we know if they are.  If it's just pure aging causing the decline, then we need to run the other way from him.

[alta]

Rumor this afternoon is Carlson and Caps management are talking about a contract extension.

[richkrt99]

Just watched 20ish minute interview with GM....was hoping it was announcing something, but no...
Carlsons name came up and they are talking to him contract wise 

[Mickstix]

Carbery is playing them with one hand tied behind their back. Starting to set lines like he does in OT or SO's.. Leonard on the 4th line 2/3 of the night. McMike getting less than 16 minutes TOI.. It's like he's trying to punish them or something, by handicapping the entire team. We just don't have the resources to do stupid shit. Ovi, Strome and Pro should not be getting 5-6 more minutes (20+) a game than Leo and McMike. Leonard should be leading the forwards in ice time. 4 of the last 5 games we can't break the 2 goal mark in regulation. And don't see Leonard with Dowd and Beauvi fixing any of that. Just suspect decision making, again, from coach.. 

[richkrt99]

I think Carbs is a lot about playing the right way and defensive responsibility. (not unlike the Dale Hunter coaching experiment)  Partly....because he KNOWS we have a lack of talent.
But hell yeah, I'm like play the young skill guys and let the old guys rest.
Fine line between being responsible and giving the guys enough leash to go out and win when we know we are short on talent.  Carbs mantra seems to be...if you can be responsible enough, we will give you more minutes, but damn SOMEONE has to score, so put some guys out there that can.
Everyone has to play a two-way game to be successful, but you can't make everyone a defensive specialist.  Some of the guys are here to score goals.
Especially with the age of some of this team, I would be giving more ice to Leno, McMike, Frank, etc.
Hell I'd like to see Leno, McMike and Frank on a line together...speed kills and these guys would dance around some dudes.  Yeah they be a liability defensively, but IF you could actually get the puck in the O-zone, the enemy rarely scores from there.
My lines for the next game:
Ovi - Strome - Beauvy
Protas - Sourdiff - Wilson
Leonard - McMike - Frank
Duhaime - Dowd - Leason

Although....Sourdiff is not gonna play (per Carbs today).  Put Lappy with Willy and Protas and give the kid a shot - or move McMike up and put Lappy with Leno and Frank - fn GENERATE some O!

Let's Fucking GO!!!!!!!

[Mickstix]

Yea, if they were -constantly- irresponsible on D or something it may make some sense. But all 4 of those guys, Lappi, McMike, Frank and Leno are decent defensively, imo. And they all hustle! You can't punish guys every time they make a mistake. Chychrun, Carlson, Ovi etc. don't get their minutes reduced for fucking up. Hell, last night Leno entered the O zone (on 4th line) and 3 guys went to him. lol He may learn to protect or play better D, but he damn sure aint gonna score many that way. And we aint winning many games on 2 goals a night.    
Im reserving hope that after the Olympics we'll finally get "healthy" and go on a tear.. 

[waynerivers]

The team just isn't serious if it's extending Carlson.  Now, I here they're in the market to pick up some veteran forward like they're tweaking for a SC run.  It's a joke.  This group needs big turnover.  At least half the defense and probably 6-7 guys up front if you're being honest.  I'm really hoping Ovie retires.  He's done everything he set out to do and hanging around now is simply going to take the shine off.  He should go out on top and not get to where he's embarrassing himself on the ice and not helping the team.  That is not far off from what I'm seeing.  They need to look ahead, think youth and speed and let the old guard ride into the sunset.