The ‘25-‘26 boredom thread..

[alta]

Caps are done, Columbus is done. Meaningless game tomorrow.

[richkrt99]

Oh FFS the Canes were up 2-0.  What is this BS?

Well saves me the frustration and the cost of a new flatscreen when the Caps Shit the bed vs columbus

[Mickstix]

Wondering about draft position now. How many teams did we pass during the push? 2 or 3?


Still need to get Strome his 20th.


Next year should be fun!
https://twitter.com/OVECHKlN/status/2043873344785629403

[Beaglefan2]

So I think the Ovi situation had a lot to do with who they played last night. Not playing Kampf or Liljegren made no sense except I think they wanted to reward the guys that had played with Ovi with being on the ice for possibly his last game. And they also reward Big Mac for his years of service as I have to think he may be retiring.  I can't argue with that.


Looks like the Caps should get the 16th pick plus Anaheims pick which should be in the 17 to 20 range.  It is supposed to be a really deep draft so that is good.


I'm not sure what to think about Ovi. Watching all the tributes got me pretty nostalgic and kinda hoping he comes back to get a few more goals and make the record that much harder to break. I think the best thing for the Caps though would be if he retired and we complete the transition.  With Lil Pro, Hutson, Sourdif and Leno, they have a pretty good young nucleus and they have a couple more on the way up that could be very pleasant surprises.

[richkrt99]

Big Mac has 1 more year on contract at $800k.  He will be utility/practice/fill-in again next year. I expect he won't get too many games.  I honestly have no issue with playing him. No speedster or real puck mover, but we have plenty of those, so a big hitting body moving crease clearing guy is okay with me now and then

[Mickstix]

https://twitter.com/Tarik_ElBashir/status/2044795193044390385

[BlackIce]

https://twitter.com/Tarik_ElBashir/status/2044795193044390385

   




Ovie's statement is interesting.


First, it seems like a dig against the Blue Jackets - He sort of suggested that finishing off against them is really a not very glamorous way to end a career.  But he may have meant that a meaningless game with no playoffs is the desultory end, regardless of who the final game might be against.


The bigger implication, though, is that he would like to come back -- but the organization may not see it that way, either in terms of how much money they might offer him to play another season, or whether they would offer him a suitably high spot on the forward pecking order, or even a spot on the roster at all.  You'd THINK they would, given what he has meant to the franchise and the deference they have paid to him throughout his career.  But let's face it; he is a 100 foot player now, is a huge liability if/when he is forced to play in the defensive zone,  and the staff went to extraordinary lengths to minimize his time in the defensive zone, exemplified by the fact that he never was involved in a defensive zone face-off until almost the end of the season.  Managing that had to involve juggling other players and other lines around to get Ovie on the ice in advantageous situations and keep him off the ice in disadvantageous situations.  It figures that the team would have to follow such a strategy as much or more next season as they have this past season, were he to return.  And the organization may feel that it stunts or disadvantages the team more than Ovie's presence would help.

[Mickstix]

100' player for sure! Still isn't "the" problem. Only 5 PP goals and still lead the team in scoring and points is the problem. They've ignored the huge losses of Nicky, Kuzy and Oshie. Strome and Dubois combined, don't make up for any one of those guys, imo. If it wasn't for LT, this team would be drafting top 1-5, no doubt in my mind.


Im hoping he takes the offseason/conditioning more serious than usual. That may help his mobility some.

[richkrt99]

BlackIce,


I agree with your statement.  It would take some working to make Ovi efficient to play and certainly more of the same was done last year.
Regardless, I think they do it for OVI.  Also, he was the LEADING SCORER on the team.  Yes he was put in the position to score, with much movement around him to make it happen, but he was still the leading scorer.  Any player would have a better level of scoring success if that was ALL they had to do and given the circumstances to do it, but he did in fact score more than anyone else on the team.
He certainly is a defensive liability.  He certainly won't be faster next year.  I think he will still score enough goals to make him worth while.

Let's hope its one year and he is reasonable about it and signs for 8mil leaving some room for other assets.  If he moves on, I am fine with that too.  I expect they need to figure that out pretty quickly so they know what direction to go.  Hope he doesn't drag it out.  I would miss him greatly, but I would like to see the team take a step forward toward the future.

Curious to see what they do with Lappy.  Sounds like McMike is already penciled in based on his comments "I'm sure that will get worked out very soon"...or something to that effect.

[BlackIce]

For those who say "but Ovie was still the leading goal scorer."  That is true, but his total included 7 empty net goals, of which I believe the majority were when the Caps were MORE than one goal ahead - because Carbery didn't want to risk him out there in a 6 on 5 with only a one goal lead.  In terms of consequential goals, his production is less difficult to replace than one might think.  In fact, one might argue that he was more valuable as a decoy and assist man than as a scorer in the season just past.   


And then there is the ripple effect on the rest of the forwards - Leonard specifically.  Mick especially lamented that Leonard was stuck in the bottom 6 playing with lower-skill players, and he could have scored quite a bit more if he was moved up (replacing part of Ovie's production).  I think Mick's complaint is defensible.  I also THINK the problem here was that the team didn't see Leonard as really defensively responsible yet, and with Ovie on the ice, the other wing had to be defensively responsible.  So if Ovie, AProtas, and Wilson are 3 of the top 4 wings and some defensively more responsible wing has to be with Ovie, that shoves Leonard to 3RW, which is exactly what happened this past season. 


Now, in support of Ovie returning, there COULD now be an in-house solution to this, IF we believe that the immediate elevation of IProtas to 2C when they brought him up (he played with AProtas and Wilson) is real.  That means that Strome, IProtas, and DuBois are 3 centers on the roster next season.  Ovie could be paired with DuBois and a Sourdif or Bouvier on what could in reality be a 3rd line, with declining minutes for Ovie but still with a "high-grade" center.  McMichael/Leonard/AProtas/Wilson are the wings on the top 2 lines, and away we go.  OR with all the cap space the organization has next year, they could sign a top-6 wing if a right fit exists, move McMichael to line 3 with Ovechkin, and let Sourdif be the 4C.  There are lots of options here.  And none of this assumes any role for Cristall.  HE is going to be an interesting situation in training camp this fall. 

[richkrt99]

Watching the Ottowa/canes game....what if we could snag Brady Tkcuk?  That dude plays hard

[Beaglefan2]

Regarding Ovi, I think he is coming back and the Caps will have to give him whatever money he asks for.  There is no way Ted Leonsis is going to let Ovi come back and not play for the Caps.  Let's just hope that Ovi will only want one year and be reasonable on salary.  He could take it as a pride thing and want to be paid top money as the all-time goal scorer and he could say he was underpaid for a lot of years (which is true) and want to catch up - so let's hope he decides to leave some on the table.


I still have no clue how he scored 31 this year.  There were the 7 ENGs and also I think there were 4 or 5 goals where shots just deflected off him and a few other tip-ins.  Also, his linemates went way out of there way to try and get him scoring chances. There were so many times that he had great chances and just plain whiffed - that he probably could have had well over 40 if his skills hadn't really fallen off. I still love the guy and am torn about him coming back, but it's his call and Ted will make sure his is a lifetime Cap.

[Mickstix]

23.6 x 3 = 1000    I wouldn't be (overly) shocked, if he wants to go for it..

[richkrt99]

^^ Redneck math 

[richkrt99]

Never thought I'd be rooting for Philthy, but I am.  Always have to pull for any team vs the Hens.
Can't figure out who to vote for Tampa or Montreal.  Don't really give a hoot about either.  Tampa has won so much, I'd lean towards Montreal except they ended us in the first round way back when we prolly had our best team and shot ever way back when.  But then, what team hasn't ended the Caps in the first round?
So tired of the Canes.  I don't think Ottawa has enough to beat them.
Would love to see Buffalo beat Boston.  Man what a come back from the dead they had last night.  Those fans are WAY overdue.  Place was dead silent with dread down 2-0, 12 minutes into the 3rd, then Tage scored his 1st ever playoff goal, place erupted.  Scored again and again, and the place was going absolutely bonkers.  Reminded me a little of the feeling when the Caps magically progressed to the SC.  I hope Buffalo can win the series, but Im not sure they can.
Out west I just have less interest.
I'd prefer Edmonton over Ducks, Minnesota over Dallas, Mammoth (or anyone) over Vegas, Avs and Kings are a toss up for me.  I try watching these, and just don't care enough. Edmonton is usually fun to watch.

[richkrt99]

Ole Dowder got the GWG last night for Vegas

[BlackIce]

Rich, I want to see Edmonton beat the Ducks, because I want the Ducks out of the playoffs ASAP.  Why?  Because the Conference finalists automatically get the last 4 spots in the draft, regardless of where they finished in the regular season point standings.  But if the Ducks are defeated before then, their draft position is where their regular season point standing among the playoff teams says they should be.  Which I think is pick 18.


Because we have the Ducks' first round draft pick this year, I want it to be #18 rather than #28 or 29 (or 30 or 31 if they would happen to advance to the Stanley Cup finals.)

[alta]

OV had that forever contract at $10M per, when he resigned it was at $9.5 per. Which is a comparative bargain considering how much the cap ceiling has gone up in 20 years. It is less than %10 of the team total. It seems like he’d sign for a little less for a 1 or 2 year deal. Not sure I want him here for three more unless he makes some serious changes to his training/diet regiment. Arguably, he could’ve been a much better player had done so for the past decade, or two.

[alta]

The Sandin injury was his knee. He is currently expected to miss the beginning of next season. That’s six months from now.

[BlackIce]

The Sandin injury was his knee. He is currently expected to miss the beginning of next season. That’s six months from now.

..... and after he returns, who knows how mobile he's going to be, at least short term.  This for a guy who moved to his off side after Carlson was traded, and who relies on mobility rather than strength to play defense.   


It is rapidly looking as if the Caps' focus during the summer, has to be, first and foremost, on the right side of the defense.  Probably even more than hunting around for a top 6 winger, ESPECIALLY if Ovie returns.