The ‘25-‘26 boredom thread..

[Beaglefan2]

Hey - these days I think 1st round picks are highly valuable. With the way that junior talent is being developed now, these young kids are really good at an early age. They are way better skaters than they were 10 years ago and more of them are making it to the NHL in their first or second years.  I think the Caps trade of Carlson was a great move and I just want the Ducks to lose!

[BlackIce]

Hey - these days I think 1st round picks are highly valuable. With the way that junior talent is being developed now, these young kids are really good at an early age. They are way better skaters than they were 10 years ago and more of them are making it to the NHL in their first or second years.  I think the Caps trade of Carlson was a great move and I just want the Ducks to lose!

   


Of course, Carlson has been a whipping boy for fans for years.  But coach after coach ran him out there as a 1st pair defenseman, and he was out on the PP and PK as well.  And since he's playing for Anaheim, it isn't as if they got him to fill a lesser role.  He's routinely played 20+ minutes a night, and played close to 25 in the first game against the Knights.  For whatever reason, the NHL personnel that employ him see him differently than the fans do. 


I just wonder if we saw his brain freezes and thought "we pay $8 million for that?"  And don't realize that virtually every defenseman in the NHL has the same brain freezes, so Carlson doesn't look as bad to his employers as he does to the fans.

[richkrt99]

Hey i had no issue with Carlson (well...not really), he was highly valuable to the Caps over the years.  However, he IS in decline and i expect he will be not nearly as valuable in the coming years.  True of every player, but i guy who plays his style of play needs his wheels cause he sure as shit is not gonna hit someone on a regular enough basis, so once he loses his wheels, he will be lesser and lesser of a player.  Orpik with no wheels was fine, but he was a different player.  More to the point, I did NOT want to sign JC to a new contract, and I believe he and mgmt were SO far apart on that contract they moved him.  Perfect for my wishes, got something in return for a guy who wasn't going to be here next year, AND one I did not WANT to be here next year...and the following 4-5 years of decline.
And yes, he is still an asset.  He's actually a good fit for a young Ducks team who actually made the playoffs.  He can help the younger guys and contribute to the team success at the same time.  SUcks for him I am sure to be traded, but he's in a way better spot for this playoff season anyway.  I sure as hell hope we are not entertaining thoughts of bringing him back next year as FA.

[alta]

Carlson definitely brings something to the table. Though I increasingly can’t say what that is. He doesn’t really play to his size. He is capable of being faster than he plays most nights. His poke check has seen better days. And he never was a Norris candidate. Putting up points is not the same thing. Most nights he had trouble passing the eye test. He seems to be reinvigorated after the trade.


In other news.. NHL officially informs teams of the 2026-27 Salary cap and payroll range:
Floor: $76.9M
Midpoint: $90.4M
Ceiling: $104M
Maximum individual salary: $20.8M

This is up from $95.5M of the ‘25-‘26 season.

[Mickstix]

It sucks when you have to trade guys who don't see the writing on the wall. I image if Ovi wasn't the GOAT they'd be pushing him out the door as well.. But you can't really play that game with multiple aging franchise players. I loved to criticize JC, but it was mostly due to his salary and style of play. If he was a 5m guy, he'd of been more of a hero around here, imo. He got paid too much for too long and apparently isn't/wasn't ready to slow down on that. Now that he's gone Im more fond of him. lol Hope he has a good time out west, wish him the best!

[alta]

That contract was the primary issue, too much money and too many years.

[alta]

I am diggin this Dowd vs Carlson series. I’m kinda cheering for Dowd but Vegas deserves to lose. On principle alone.

[BlackIce]

Good on you all for supporting Carlson - but it feels like a little bit of revisionist history to me.  I've seen too many posts criticizing his play, not in the context of his salary, but rather, that for the good of the team he needed to be traded because his play was holding the team back.  Now maybe some of that was merely game thread hysteria, but it's been consistent enough over the years that it certainly seems like the criticism was about his play per se. 


As for his salary - look around the league at some of the ludicrous contracts littering the landscape.  And it's going to get worse with the big jump in salary cap coming over the next few seasons.  $8 million AAV for a top pair defenseman who gives you well over 20 minutes a night, plays in all situations, and has generally not been a detriment to the team on balance is far, far, far from an example of a contract that has turned out to be a barrier  to team success and a payment-versus-performance disaster. 

[richkrt99]

I here you BlackIce.  I was a big complainer about Carlson especially early on.  At the time he signed the multiyear 8m per, it was WAY high for his level of play at the time.  I have no doubt the experts know more than we do and Carlson's play did improve and he became a very key member of the Caps over the years.  He got better and better as the years progressed.  I don't think 8m is ridiculous currently for the number of minutes and roles he played.  He was always just a bit too soft for me for a guy his size.  Okay soft is the wrong word; I doubt very much there is a pro athlete anywhere that is soft, but i wanted more physical play from him for a defenceman.  Every player is different, and skating and stick checks has become the norm rather than putting the body on someone so maybe he was just ahead of his time.  I do think however, signing him to a new multiyear contract at this point was definitely not a good thing for the Caps.  I also feel bad for his family having to move from what has been their home for sol long....but then...pay me 1/10 of his salary and i will move my family as well.
I recall we used to rag on Marcus Johansson quite a bit as well.  Basically because he was highly skilled but could never score.  Doesn't mean we didn't like the guy, sometimes it is the hysteria of the game and the chat I am sure.  Semin and Kuzy, and Vranna got some of that as well, but some of it was deserved.  Kuzy was just such a waste of talent it pisses you off.  I think McMike gets some of that now too.

If you want to go way back...Carlson reminds me of Larry Murphy.  Man that guy played a similar too marshmallow game, but in a time where it was really out of the norm.  I recall "hit him with your purse Murph" comment being used quite a bit.  He turned out to be a hall of famer and won 4 cups, so...he can say look at my purse now Im sure.
I still don't think Carlson was ever a realistic Norris candidate.  He was very good and very utilized and very important to this team, but the best D in the league? ...never. 

[Mickstix]

Yea, 8m today, for your #1 D doesn't sound nearly as bad as it did when they drew it up. He was taking heat from the day he signed it, due to term and amount..


I love Dowder, but I just can't do Vegas.. At least not yet. lol Feels like I'll be voting WEST regardless.. I'd rather watch soccer or golf than see Vegas vs Carolina.

[BlackIce]

Yea, 8m today, for your #1 D doesn't sound nearly as bad as it did when they drew it up. He was taking heat from the day he signed it, due to term and amount..


I love Dowder, but I just can't do Vegas.. At least not yet. lol Feels like I'll be voting WEST regardless.. I'd rather watch soccer or golf than see Vegas vs Carolina.

     




Well then, we may be entering the next era of controversy.  Because we now seemingly have the twin towers - AP and IP - on the roster for next season.  AP, at 6'6", 250 lbs., has established himself as a finesse player with relatively few hits and blocked shots (though he is seemingly very responsible and effective defensively), and his younger brother, in a very small sample size, looks to be cut from the same cloth.  When are we going to start harping on them, especially Alexai, for not being physical enough?

[Mickstix]

BigPro is on a less than 3.5m contract. He can play anyway he likes. They sign him to something stupid like they (whoever) did PLD and we can start planning his demise! lol When they get the big bucks, they need to deliver or have thick skin.. Them's the rules of sport!


Not sure what Tocchet told the Flyers at intermission, but realistically it should of been "you got 20 minutes to keep your season alive".. They leave Filly at anything but tied 2-2 and they're toast. They lose tonight and go down 3-0 they're burnt toast.. Down 2-1 with a period to go.

[alta]

Pilly loses game 3 4-1, Canes go up 3-0 in the series. 58 penalty minutes in the game.

[BlackIce]

BigPro is on a less than 3.5m contract. He can play anyway he likes. They sign him to something stupid like they (whoever) did PLD and we can start planning his demise! lol When they get the big bucks, they need to deliver or have thick skin.. Them's the rules of sport!


Not sure what Tocchet told the Flyers at intermission, but realistically it should of been "you got 20 minutes to keep your season alive".. They leave Filly at anything but tied 2-2 and they're toast. They lose tonight and go down 3-0 they're burnt toast.. Down 2-1 with a period to go.

So may I presume that, if AP continues to play the way he is for the next couple of years, when it comes time to negotiate his next contract - which WILL be for much bigger bucks - you would then be in favor of letting him go at age 28, because he would be a big guy not playing the type of game he should for the bigger bucks?

[richkrt99]

Big Pro is not as physical player as many his size, but he does not avoid contact either.  I would not say anyone has ever accused or indicated he was soft or anti physical in any way.  He husltes 100% of the time, is responsible 2-way player, mucks it up along the boards and is very difficult to play against.  It's really hard to fault anyone who hustles 100% of the time. No, he doesn't destroy people with hits like Wilson, but he is physical.  Not defending him, but it seems an odd comparison.  Also don't think anyone really expected Pro to be a super star, he was not touted as being such, and he is not being paid like one.  However, JC was being paid (early on in that very long contract) at a very high figure compared to the position and the league, so, much more is expected of him.  He had times where he skated or played like he just didn't care.  He looked lackadaisical and uninterested.  I don't believe that was truly the case, but that's what it looked like. He took much grief for not being physical enough, which was maybe not fair, but an honest assessment of his play.  Yes he has many skills and was a very valuable member of the caps for a long time.  He also came off as being dopey or dumb, and I am sure that is not the case either, but it lends to some of the ragging on him as well.  When you are making top dollar and it appears you play like you don't care at times, it becomes an issue.
Pro is paid a mediocre salary for a player in his position.  Its all relative.  I have no problem paying players what they are worth.  But at the time of the signing, very few believed the JC 8 year contract was warranted.  Great for us, it turned out to be a decent deal for what we got in return.  He evolved into a better player, and a stalwart of this team.

I don't believe anyone hated JC when he was on this team and loves him now.  I also don't believe he was as great as all the hype...Norris candidate and such, but part of that is my own bias regarding that trophy for a "defencemen".
However, his play has declined, and will continue to do so.  The stage the Caps are in; rebuilding with youth, etc, is NOT a time to re-sign an aged JC to a new contract.  Wishing him well now that he is gone is only natural, he was valued member of the Caps team for a very long time.  I hope he does get a team to sign him to a 3-4 year deal at 7-8m per year...as long as it is NOT the Caps.

OH, and BTW.... my son called me out a few weeks back, hating on JC (while on the ducks) when he lazily skated back, made a feeble stick check attempt, and the guy burned around him went to the net and scored.  It reminded me of why i bitched about him when he was on the Caps and reinforced my belief trading him NOW was a good thing for the Caps.

Also, FWIW, I bitch about everyone so there's that. Even Ovi.  You can certainly find fault with Ovi's style of play, but he is the GOAT, and on another level, and he made hockey in this town and made the Caps what they are.  Being a lifelong fan, its hard to fault Ovi now when he has done what he has done for this team and leauge AND has the the records he has.

[Mickstix]

So may I presume that, if AP continues to play the way he is for the next couple of years, when it comes time to negotiate his next contract - which WILL be for much bigger bucks - you would then be in favor of letting him go at age 28, because he would be a big guy not playing the type of game he should for the bigger bucks?

Your askin what I think we should do with BigPro, 3-4 years from now?    Sorry we touched a nerve, you'll be fine!   

[alta]

Buffalo lost game 3 at Montreal 6-2, 80 minutes combined penalty minutes. Montreal up 2-1 in the series.

[Mickstix]

Welp, the Wild just turned in their request to be called the Toast.  Don't think anyone is stopping the Avs this year.

[richkrt99]

Yeah i watched the game last night.  WIld had some chances and made it look interesting, but Avs finally woke up.  Should have been about 5-1 Avs in the second based on the play, but I was pulling for Minnesota anyway. 
This series is pretty fun to watch, but I just can't find that much interest in seeing anyone in the West except the Wild.
Buffalo and Montreal can be decent match up, but neither seems to be really firing on all cylinders.  One or the other alternates in having a good game while the other is mediocre.  I don't really care about either team and feels inevitable either will be stomped by the Canes.

[Mickstix]

Yea, Canes vs Avs looks like a safe bet.  I'd love to see the Canes knocked out before the finals, because mainly, Brind Amour's face offends me. 


* Buffalo just tied up the series with the Habs!