Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion
Offseason starts
dpf1971:
Interesting ..... DSP did NOT get a qualifying letter. Wilson, Bowey, Boyd, Barber and O'Brien (hells yeah !!) did get them. Though they are supposedly still talking to the guy. Wonder what this means ... maybe a move to rap up Vrana, Burakovsky, Stephenson and Djoos a year early?? Who knows ....
Devise:
--- Quote from: DC_1908 on Tuesday June 26, 2018, 02:59:05 PM Eastern ---I was an am a big Alzner fan. That injury last year took a toll on him, but before than he excellent against the other teams top scorers, blocks, not letting the goalie be screened, and not committing turnovers.
I will prefer quiet consistent play like that over the high risk high reward of having a Dman routinely pinching, getting caught to deep in the offensive zone, making risky passes, or the other liabilities that come with using a defenseman as a large part of your offense (patricualrly when the forwards covering for them are not great defensively
--- End quote ---
To be fair though we haven't been lacking completely in that department. Niskanen has his off days, but when he's on he does all of those things well and pitches in offensively to boot. Granted he isn't nearly as physical, but he isn't lacking in the physical department and throws some big hits when needed. He's just got the IQ and is mean enough mentally to make up for it.
While we did lose him, Orpik as well has been good and steady for us. I know you were one of his biggest detractors (hooks and all) but I can't not see a world where players like him, Oshie and Eller who you criticize didn't earn some blood sweat and tear respect from you. They played their hearts out too much for that. Nisky too.
I mean more than the last 6-7 games too. I think those names I mentioned above were some of our most consistent players this year. I don't think it means everything, but the pecking order of who gets the Cup first second etc after a win is telling to leaders and workers in the LR. Those names I mentioned got it pretty early, and before a lot of the more skill guys in our line up, notably Kuzy. Despite Kuzy's great playoffs.
alta:
--- Quote from: DC_1908 on Tuesday June 26, 2018, 07:33:00 AM Eastern ---Odd how you didnt bring up Olesniak, one of the top fighters in the league who "can skate, can't play, just fight" cracked the Hens starting line up and did a great job shutting us down. . .and for a 4th rounder too.
But back to Carlson, its because he is only a 4th forward. The simple fact the he finally played resoectable D in the last 7 games cannot logically Trump the last 7 months of the season or the whole of he is career.
This new Carlson ‘is one of if not the D best in league”, is the result of the Cup highd the off season hype, this soon to be gone trend of the offensive Dman/4th forward, and that people who watch this team 3 times a week don’t remember what a good Dman.
How people can forget the years, including this regular season of anti-Carlson statements here and even on broadcasts? Calling him out for loafing, bad passing, not blocking shots, letting the other team stand on Holtby because he won’t/can’t clear the crease? Hell Maaco was almost rum out of here just for saying he was the best D we had.
But a few games with minimal mistakes, a bunch of TV coverage about being a UFA and everyone hops on the "Carlson is one of the best bandwagon"? Like someone with all the faults above will play like he did in the last 7 games for 8 years? How does this make sense?
Come on you're comparing him with Sutter and Burns now. At the beginning of the playoffs you'd be laughing at anyone who said that. Hell he isnt even matched up against the other teams leading scorer half the time. The reason he has the points than them is that his primary role is offensive compensate for his mediocre defense, not because he is the best D man in the world.
People disagree with me now, but in 3-4yrs if not before people will hate this contract.
--- End quote ---
Personally I think the 8 for 8 contract has handcuffed this team. Again. I think his last three months are an anomaly. If the rest of his career was half as good/consistent as the past three months I might feel better about the contract, but I think it sucks.
Was it Stamkos that said long contracts make players lazy? I think that has been part of OVs problem for the past several seasons. He did step up this playoffs when it started to look like they might actually do something, but like I said before, this Cup didn't happen without the younger guys we had to bring in for 17-18. Not because they were great players, but because they didn't have that the hens are gonna beat us again mindset.
Maacoshark:
--- Quote from: DC_1908 on Tuesday June 26, 2018, 09:39:18 AM Eastern ---I validated the majority of that list (that I came up with) with the only obectional public scouting report I
know of:
Keith Scouting Report
Then here is Carlsons, which supports much if what both of us say:
Exles at shutdown, vs efficient at shutdown
Who would you rather have against the other teams top scores, particularly in tie or with a lead?
--- End quote ---
I'll be honest. I don't like Keith. I dont like his game. And I think he is the most overrated dman in the league. I would never want Keith on my team.
Maacoshark:
--- Quote from: DC_1908 on Tuesday June 26, 2018, 02:59:05 PM Eastern ---I was an am a big Alzner fan. That injury last year took a toll on him, but before than he excellent against the other teams top scorers, blocks, not letting the goalie be screened, and not committing turnovers.
I will prefer quiet consistent play like that over the high risk high reward of having a Dman routinely pinching, getting caught to deep in the offensive zone, making risky passes, or the other liabilities that come with using a defenseman as a large part of your offense (patricualrly when the forwards covering for them are not great defensively
--- End quote ---
I was a big Alzner fan myself. He was a very good shutdown dman, good shot blocker and excellent on the pk. His injury problems really hurt his game. To the point that he was becoming a liability.
You seem to have a big issue with creating offense from your back end. Pretty much every team has an offensive dman. Its been that way for a long time. At least our offensive dman can handle himself in the defensive zone. Remember guys like Leetch, Coffey and Housley? Those guys didnt play defense.
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