Yep no one anticipated they’d be this good because they thought they’d be picking the likes of Orpik because they protected Carlson and hoped they would ignore Schmidt.
So, he didn’t go through and just pick the “7th best” player on each team . . .
They thought competitive would be an all-star or two and a late playoff push, . , yet GMGM took every advantage and manipulated everyone to make a team of virtual unknowns and six alternate captains to make a serious cup threat. Not a contender, not a chance, but a “it’s damn near there’s to loose”.
Vegas picked the perfect GM for this, and least 28 other GMs would have been struggling to make the playoffs and/or in cap-hell next year and in the forseeable future if they where in his place.
I have to disagree a bit here also. I think GMGM did a masterful job, but he had a HUGE pool to draw from that was simply too generous. And it wasn't "cast-offs", but rather a big list of players teams simply could not protect. It was unfair to the teams who were relatively talent heavy (like the Caps). I mean if you had a team with four great forwards and 3 great defensmen and 1 good goalie, and the rest were a bunch of scrubs, then you weren't in danger of losing anything really. However, if you had lots of "good" players and TWO good goaltenders, then you knew for a fact you were giving up a quality player. I mean VGK got an all-star, seasoned and proven goaltender with playoff experience right off the bat. That alone is unfair. How many other teams would like to have picked up MAF for FREE?
Nobody wanted to see Schmidt go, but who would you have let go instead? Orlov? Niskanen? Carlson? Hah! You're lying if you tell me you think Schmidt was on par with any of those three at the end of last year. We certainly all loved him for his personality and his speed and his POTENTIAL upside, but can you honestly say
(based on where he was at the end of last year) you would rather have Nate on the Caps in THIS current series against the Hens than either Carlson or Nisky? Schmidt had a very good playoff last year, but was shakey at best throughout the season. Did he even make the lineup all year? Don't get me wrong, I liked the guy, but he was UNPROVEN and based on the Caps D situation at the end of last year KNOWING Alzner was gone, I can't argue with protecting Nisky and Carlson.
I personally would have left Carlson unprotected because I think he was going to be gone after this year. (also we didn't know he was going to have a banner year this year (well, Maako probably did
) I'm not down on Carlson, but basically figure he was to be a lost cause in a year, so why not protect Schmidt and force Vegas to take Carlson....Risky for sure, but you'd only lose a year of Carlson anyway.
[size=78%]I would also have left Orpik unprotected based on the cap hit and his age, even though I think he still has had value beyond what we see. His lack of speed is exposed in this series, but his physical play and toughness (and unseen leadership) certainly has helped get us here. At least he still frigging clobbers a guy standing in the crease. We are already short on grit on this team....imagine it without Orpik. Fucking Crybaby Hens absolutely hate being hit and it shows. Imagine this team without Wilson or Orpik. Hens would be ice dancing around without a worry in the world.[/size]Oh, and I'm not arguing all your points DC, but didn't you absolutely hate GMGM when he was here? Complained about him every year at the deadline NOT having balls to make the big trade, not taking a chance, not willing to blow it up and start over... Now he's a genius because he built a team with the most generous draft in history?
I mean all this is 20/20 hind sight so its horseshit anyway, but this draft was a joke. How about offer this draft opportunity to ANY team that didn't make the playoffs this year and tell me they would not leap at it? Why not offer them the same chance you offered Vegas - an expansion team? Why do they get an opportunity at a draft class absolutely no other team in history has had?
Rant done. Go Caps! Hit that friggin Crybaby Cindy girl every chance you get.