Here's the problem with adding a "strong defenseman." The Caps currently have 7 defensemen on the roster on one-way contracts, and I guarantee they don't want to expose any of them to waivers. So if another serious defenseman comes into that mix, there are too many bodies to play everybody. That means one of the current defensemen probably needs to go in a trade for it to really work, which gets us into blockbuster territory. Making a big move like that with only a month and a half until the playoffs start is always a dicey proposition chemistry-wise. We've seen big moves at the deadline blow up in our faces before. It really would be a roll-the-dice move.
My only argument with this is the "dicey proposition chemistry-wise" comment.
What chemistry do you currently see on D that would be compromised? Our D is awful.
Problem is our two "premier" D; Nisky and Orlov, who play together and let's face it are our TOP shut down D men, are both have atrocious years. Nisky just looks hurt or dinged or something....or maybe age is just getting to him. Orlov looks downright lost, which he has always had small spurts where that happens, but not an entire season.
I'm not knocking Carlson, but nobody considers him a shut down D man. Orpik is a shut down guy, but everyone including him knows he is at best a third pairing. What we are sorely missing is Orlov and Nisky being at the top of their game.
I know a lot of people have always been down on Nisky, but he has been a worthy top 4 D man for the Caps (until this year). He is a -7 this year and a +94 over the past 5 seasons (+19 average). That is a dramatic change, and I know it is just a stat and there are many factors, but that is a HUGE swing.
Orlov is also a -7 this year and his previous 3 years was a cumulative +38.
I am never one to blame one or two guys for the "team" defense, for this is a TEAM problem.
However, at our current level of play, I'd take the risk of inserting a quality D from outside. I can't see it hurting our current chemistry on D.
I do NOT think that will happen. I don't see how the caps could afford a REAL decent D. Like a 5-6 or more mil/year guy. Even if you offload Burka, that only gets you half way. You unload Burka and Jaskin, and you've got 4.1 mil. Add DSP and you get another mil. But what team would want DSP, Jaskin, and Burka, that could spare losing a solid D man?
