Talk about Capitals hockey & more! > Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion
Offseason starts
Biggest:
Djoos will never be a physical DMan, OK? But his puck moving, passing, and speed make him a lock moving forward - at least as a bottom pairing DMan. I see no scenario whatsoever where he isn't in the lineup regularly. But I would agree his size / physicality limitations will probably prevent him from becoming a Top 4 Defender. The one who disappointed me the most last season was young Madison Bowey. Clearly an athletic specimen, there just wasn't enough 'jam' in his game - in my book. Hoping he grows, matures, and manufactures a mean streak. As for young DMen in the pipeline, I love the Russian Kid (Alex Squared) we just drafted and see him making a speedy trip to the Bigs (alongside another former first round Russian, Samsonov). But the guys we took in the 2nd round (this year and a couple years back)? Just not seeing what the club / Mahoney was or is seeing with those cats. Who else do folks think will press for Orpik's spot in that 3rd D pairing (assuming Orpik gets paid somewhere else)?
Maacoshark:
--- Quote from: Biggest on Sunday July 01, 2018, 12:52:13 PM Eastern ---Djoos will never be a physical DMan, OK? But his puck moving, passing, and speed make him a lock moving forward - at least as a bottom pairing DMan. I see no scenario whatsoever where he isn't in the lineup regularly. But I would agree his size / physicality limitations will probably prevent him from becoming a Top 4 Defender. The one who disappointed me the most last season was young Madison Bowey. Clearly an athletic specimen, there just wasn't enough 'jam' in his game - in my book. Hoping he grows, matures, and manufactures a mean streak. As for young DMen in the pipeline, I love the Russian Kid (Alex Squared) we just drafted and see him making a speedy trip to the Bigs (alongside another former first round Russian, Samsonov). But the guys we took in the 2nd round (this year and a couple years back)? Just not seeing what the club / Mahoney was or is seeing with those cats. Who else do folks think will press for Orpik's spot in that 3rd D pairing (assuming Orpik gets paid somewhere else)?
--- End quote ---
I think Bowey has more long term uoside than Djoos. Sure Djoos is a better puck mover and maybe a better skater but Bowey is better at everything else. Bowey needs to make quicker decisions. That will come with experience. He does have the size and strength to be an NHL defence man. He has a good shot and is an adequate passer. He needs to work on some things.
Djoos on the other hand isnt very good defensively which is why he was he was sheltered as much as possible. His lack of strength is a big problem in the defensive zone. He loses every battle and gets knocked off the puck too easily. He is literally the weakest defence man physically that I have ever seen in the NHL. If he can't add some strength I can see some other guys in the system passing him on the depth chart. Bowey and our 2018 1st round pick Alex Alexeyev aren't our only prospects. We also have Johansen, Hobbs and Seigenthalter coming up. Some people think Lewington should even get a shot. I think that's a long shot though. Lewinton is tough and physical but he brings nothing else. He isn't even great defensively.
Biggest:
Thx Maaco for the insights about our D prospects. One of the guys at Russian Machine questioned the 2nd round DMan we picked a couple weeks ago as well as Seigenthalter. We'll see if those concerns of the Slovakian and Seigenthaler being 'over drafted' as 2nd rounders when their names were called end up being spot on or not. I share your concern about Djoos needing to get more physical or being passed over in time by Bowey or others should those challengers for that bottom pairing DMan role step up their games.
Not sure if this is fair or not, but after the Prospects 'Development' Camp, I'm seeing Johansen and Alexeyev as having the most upside - more so than Djoos or Bowey, or any of the others. If you had to rank our D prospects in the pipeline, say from 1 to 6 (including Djoos), how would you rank them?
--- Quote from: Maacoshark on Sunday July 01, 2018, 01:37:45 PM Eastern --- I think Bowey has more long term uoside than Djoos. Sure Djoos is a better puck mover and maybe a better skater but Bowey is better at everything else. Bowey needs to make quicker decisions. That will come with experience. He does have the size and strength to be an NHL defence man. He has a good shot and is an adequate passer. He needs to work on some things.
Djoos on the other hand isnt very good defensively which is why he was he was sheltered as much as possible. His lack of strength is a big problem in the defensive zone. He loses every battle and gets knocked off the puck too easily. He is literally the weakest defence man physically that I have ever seen in the NHL. If he can't add some strength I can see some other guys in the system passing him on the depth chart. Bowey and our 2018 1st round pick Alex Alexeyev aren't our only prospects. We also have Johansen, Hobbs and Seigenthalter coming up. Some people think Lewington should even get a shot. I think that's a long shot though. Lewinton is tough and physical but he brings nothing else. He isn't even great defensively.
--- End quote ---
Devise:
Still no word on Wislon, we did qualify him so it's not like he can go to another team. But curious if he ends up going to Arbitration? If so we could be looking at a big paycheck. I figure he'd be the perfect fit for a bridge deal, a few years at a little bump now for a bigger raise at the end. We'll see.
I'm kinda curious if we do anything else here. Orpik still on the market, DeHann still on the market. I'm assuming our target is D? We could probably use another fourth line forward as well. May not fit the bill completely of fourth liner, but he could be cheaper than Beagle, Patrick Maroon would be an interesting option as well. I know DC would love that what with him being 6'3 225lb. But shoring up that bottom six would be great. I absolutely would have no problem with Maroon playing wing next to Lars Eller. Hell throw DSP on the other wing and you'd have a pretty formidable third line.
I hope BMGM is still out there though. Losing Beagle matters. And while we do have some kids looking for promotions/some players to fill in some roles. The goal should be to repeat here, so adding where we can should absolutely be on the table.
BlackIce:
--- Quote from: Maacoshark on Sunday July 01, 2018, 01:37:45 PM Eastern --- I think Bowey has more long term uoside than Djoos. Sure Djoos is a better puck mover and maybe a better skater but Bowey is better at everything else. Bowey needs to make quicker decisions. That will come with experience. He does have the size and strength to be an NHL defence man. He has a good shot and is an adequate passer. He needs to work on some things.
Djoos on the other hand isnt very good defensively which is why he was he was sheltered as much as possible. His lack of strength is a big problem in the defensive zone. He loses every battle and gets knocked off the puck too easily. He is literally the weakest defence man physically that I have ever seen in the NHL. If he can't add some strength I can see some other guys in the system passing him on the depth chart. Bowey and our 2018 1st round pick Alex Alexeyev aren't our only prospects. We also have Johansen, Hobbs and Seigenthalter coming up. Some people think Lewington should even get a shot. I think that's a long shot though. Lewinton is tough and physical but he brings nothing else. He isn't even great defensively.
--- End quote ---
From watching the games last season, I'd say that Bowey right now is as good as any defenseman we have at making outlet passes. His weakness last season was along the walls. Not so much being outmuscled for the puck, but he seemed to have trouble figuring out where he should be relative to the puck to play it. He would consistently get on the wrong side of the puck and an opponent would just skate away with it. You could see the difference in opponents' strategy when the puck was in his area as opposed to when it was going to Carlson or Niskanen on the same side. Lots of times when those two had the puck at the boards opponents would lay off and lurk, hoping to pick off an ill-advised pass. Lots of people here complained about Carlson and Nisky turnovers, and opponents thought the same thing. On the other hand, when the puck was headed to Bowey, opponents would attack immediately, knowing they could carry the puck away, rather than hope that he would make an errant pass.
Too bad to lose Beagle, but $3 million AAV for 4 years was something we were never going to compete with. Can't blame him for going for that payday. What do people think about Antoine Vermette as a UFO replacement for Beagle? He should come much cheaper. I don't think he has nearly the motor that Beagle does, but throughout his career he has consistently been as good as anyone in the league in the face-off circle -- even a little bit better than Beagle.
As for the Defensemen, I am not impressed with Djoos's speed. If he has it, I rarely if ever saw him use it (like, for example, Nate Schmidt.) I think he survives on guile and smarts -- he is an EXTREMELY smart player. But size-wise, he is what he is and I don't think it will change significantly at this point. I have more faith in Bowey's potential than most, and I expect he will be on the roster full-time this season. I can see the logic in getting a more veteran, tough, stay at home defenseman to bridge the gap until the prospect pipeline sorts itself out. Whether it's Orpik or someone of a similar nature I don't know, but if it occurs it's going to have to be on the cheap.
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