The ‘25-‘26 boredom thread..

[richkrt99]

Well here's one good thing to come out of the season ending game last night....

https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/capitals-recall-ilya-protas


Now put him on the 4th line and give him 6 minutes of ice 

[BlackIce]

Well here's one good thing to come out of the season ending game last night....

https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/capitals-recall-ilya-protas


Now put him on the 4th line and give him 6 minutes of ice 

I have to believe that the first time he hits the NHL ice, it will be on a line with his brother.  Maybe even starting the game.

[alta]

He will probably still only get 6 minutes of TOI

[Mickstix]

Now put him on the 4th line and give him 6 minutes of ice 

I had to steal that one. 

[richkrt99]

Its just odd to me that he has to learn the ropes and earn his way into a chance in Hershey (which he has done IMO), yet guys like Leno and Hutson they pull straight from 2 years of college and play them right away.  I realize they are high draft pics and maybe their pedigree is better, and they likely negotiated that, but just based on our lack of scoring success all year and no real stand outs in the lower lines, why not bring Lil Pro up and give him a shot before now.  Its not like we are so loaded with scoring talent we just can't make room.

Who loses a sweater to make room for Pro?  Lappy...Frank?

[BlackIce]

Its just odd to me that he has to learn the ropes and earn his way into a chance in Hershey (which he has done IMO), yet guys like Leno and Hutson they pull straight from 2 years of college and play them right away.  I realize they are high draft pics and maybe their pedigree is better, and they likely negotiated that, but just based on our lack of scoring success all year and no real stand outs in the lower lines, why not bring Lil Pro up and give him a shot before now.  Its not like we are so loaded with scoring talent we just can't make room.

Who loses a sweater to make room for Pro?  Lappy...Frank?

Ilya was playing junior hockey last year, and is only 19 years old.  I think that college hockey is considered some steps above junior, which is why Leonard and Hutson were pulled directly into the NHL.  I don't think Hershey is making the AHL playoffs this year, are they?  The Caps may have been wanting him to experience a playoff-type atmosphere in Hershey, but if that is now by the boards, then maybe that's why they feel that now is the time to bring him up.  I mean, we HAVE to figure that he has the inside track to a roster spot next season, right? 

[Mickstix]

Lappi, Deuhaime, Beauvi, Frank, Sourdif, McMike. We've seen plenty from all those guys.. Even if they're not going anywhere, they can catch a few games from the box seats.
Need Miro, Kampf and now LilPro to play the rest of the games and get a decent look. But we won't cause, "Caps"..   

[Rey Capalpatine]

"Alex Ovechkin will wait until the offseason to decide whether this will be his final season in the NHL, the Washington "Capitals captain said in an interview posted by the team on social media.

The 40-year-old left wing is nearing the end of his 21st NHL season and is in the final season of a five-year, $47.5 million contract ($9.5 million average annual value) he signed with Washington in 2021. That’s led to speculation throughout this season about whether this will be the NHL’s all-time leader in goals’ last in the League."

https://www.nhl.com/news/alex-ovechkin-says-decision-on-nhl-future-will-come-in-offseason


I'm not going to lie, seeing Capitals hockey without Ovechkin is going to be weird? As long as I've been watching the sport he was always there? 😢

[alta]

I’ve been watching since Lacher was playing. It’s always odd when a long term player leaves, especially one that’s been here 21 years.


Lindgren out, upper body, day to day. Gibson called up.

[Beaglefan2]

So Leno and Hutson definitely negotiated to be guaranteed to play straight to the NHL and get at least 10 games so they burn a season off their entry contract before they can become an RFA. That is a big benefit for the player and the team loses a year of control. I get why the Caps did it for Leonard as they thought they had a shot last year, but I think they should have not done it with Hutson. Should have called his bluff and there is no way he was going back to college for another year.


Lil Pro didn't have the leverage of threatening to go back to college so they waited to bring him up until the very end so they don't burn a year off him.

[BlackIce]

So Leno and Hutson definitely negotiated to be guaranteed to play straight to the NHL and get at least 10 games so they burn a season off their entry contract before they can become an RFA. That is a big benefit for the player and the team loses a year of control. I get why the Caps did it for Leonard as they thought they had a shot last year, but I think they should have not done it with Hutson. Should have called his bluff and there is no way he was going back to college for another year.


Lil Pro didn't have the leverage of threatening to go back to college so they waited to bring him up until the very end so they don't burn a year off him.

   




...... except that Leonard played in only 9 games last season.  As I recall, he signed immediately after his season concluded and was put in the lineup right away, so I think he played the maximum number of games he could have.  Didn't his team lose in the finals of the Frozen Four?  Anyway, I know his team went further than Hutson's did - Hutson's[size=78%] team this year was pretty meh.[/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]I'm not sure how I feel about the 10-game rule.  Seems to me it's a motivator for players who are slated to go from college to the NHL not to have their teams advance as far, so they can get in the required number of games to burn a year.  [/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]And no, I don't know why my font shrunk all of a sudden.[/size]


[/size]IF Ilya is really going to play on a line between his brother and Wilson, that doesn't sound like a 6-minute assignment.  Now I could see the team putting him on that line for a "ceremonial" first shift so he could debut with his brother.  But I don't think they would have had him work with those two at yesterday's practice if the intent wasn't to actually have them play together.  If that line does stay together, it is GARGANTUAN.[size=78%]

[richkrt99]

Watched Carberry interview today.  Sounds like Lil Pro will be with that line all night.  Make an easy transition for him with two smart veteran guys.
Coach Berube joked about having to come up with someone to play against our 700lb line. 

[Beaglefan2]

   




...... except that Leonard played in only 9 games last season.  As I recall, he signed immediately after his season concluded and was put in the lineup right away, so I think he played the maximum number of games he could have.  Didn't his team lose in the finals of the Frozen Four?  Anyway, I know his team went further than Hutson's did - Hutson's[size=78%] team this year was pretty meh.[/size]


That's good new BlackIce. I was thinking he got 10 games in.

[BlackIce]

Oh, but wait a minute.  The 9 games he got in were in the regular season.  He played in the playoffs as well.  If those games count, then he got in more than 10.


I don't know the rules here.

[alta]

playoffs don’t count

[BlackIce]

Watched Carberry interview today.  Sounds like Lil Pro will be with that line all night.  Make an easy transition for him with two smart veteran guys.
Coach Berube joked about having to come up with someone to play against our 700lb line. 

   




That's literally true, if you believe the press guide.  Big Pro is listed at 250, L'il Pro and Wilson 225 apiece.  It's likely that L'il Pro will gain weight when he becomes an adult.

[alta]

This argument could’ve been made before Hamlin started driving Cup..

[BlackIce]

OOPS -- I credited Mick with the prediction that L'il Pro would get 6 minutes of ice time last night.  Rich actually started it.


Sorry -- I want to give proper credit.  Thank goodness it didn't happen that way.


So DuBois is now an $8.5 million 3rd line center?

[Beaglefan2]

Remember we knew PLD was overpaid when we made the trade - that was part of the deal so we are stuck with it. I actually think the 8.5 is not too bad with the new salary caps.


Thought Lil Pro was ok last night - definitely nervous and tentative but at times he skated pretty well.

[richkrt99]

Remember we knew PLD was overpaid when we made the trade - that was part of the deal so we are stuck with it. I actually think the 8.5 is not too bad with the new salary caps.

Thought Lil Pro was ok last night - definitely nervous and tentative but at times he skated pretty well.

I agree 100%.  The salary is too high, but we did not make that contract.  True we knew what it was, but if you recall, we DESPERATELY needed another center AND we unloaded Kemper's ridiculous contract in this trade.  Like you said, today its not so bad as it was.  If we can get PLD back to where he was last year, then I am fine with it.  It really was a roll of the dice with him, but it looked promising.  I am okay with the deal that was done.  Fingers crossed it works in our favor in the long run.
I would rather pay PLD 8.5 to play 2nd line center than to pay Kemper 5.3m to be a backup for 5 years.