Caps trade for Nick Jensen

[zerofox]

Zerofox, you do realize that after 61 games this season we have the identical number of points and record as we did last year.  I respectfully disagree with your assessment of Rierden, IMO he has done a good job so far this season.  That is not to say I agree with all his decisions, sometimes his line matchups have me scratching my head but I am not convinced that our record would be any better if Trotz was the coach.

I get what you're saying, but I can't help but have higher expectations for this group. We went back to back with seasons in the 120-point range, winning the Presidents Trophy both times. Yes I know I know, they amounted to nothing because last season when our record was down we ended up winning the Cup, and playoffs > season. But...


1) I felt we underperformed last year during the season. There were times I felt like Trotz had finally "lost the team." There were probably times where I felt like Trotz wasn't the right coach for us anymore, and probably other times where I gave him benefit of the doubt because of his prior successful seasons (not playoffs) with the Caps. After setting the bar so high the prior couple of seasons, it was frustrating to see the team struggle. I wouldn't consider staying at that relatively low bar to be TR "doing a good job." And TR doesn't have the benefit of a couple of good seasons for me to cut the guy some slack.


2) I still have to bring up this year's Islanders team and last year's Golden Knights team. I believe we have a better roster than both of those teams, and yet both of those teams had slightly better records than us. As such, I do believe that a good coach can get a team to perform better than advertised. Our team, I think, is doing worse than we should be doing.


Perhaps I've been too harsh on TR, probably because there's still that sting of the shitty stretch of hockey we played before the All Star break. Maybe's it is seeing players make the same mistakes over and over again and TR seeming to not address them. But then again, I'm just a stupid armchair coach. On the plus side, things seem to be turning around, and we're still in playoff position with a winning record. I personally think we should only be 2nd to Tampa Bay, but that's just me. I guess at the end of the day, I wanted a coach who could squeeze a bit more juice from this team, with a winning track record to boot. I didn't really want a newbie coach who gave off the impression that he was in over his head, whether that impression was fair or not.

[PUCKNRUSH]

I suspect that a major reason for acquiring Jensen specifically is to take some of the burden off Carlson.  It gives the Caps a third legitimate NHL RHD (which apparently they didn't feel they had with Bowey at this point), and apparently a good PK defenseman to boot, so it would seem that his minutes are specifically designed to eat into some of Carlson's minutes.


For all the talk about sitting Burakovsky out and him being in the doghouse, Bowey was given the really dismissive treatment.  I don't know why it was that he was benched never to return (yeah he made mistakes; so have a lot of guys), but he got salted away and they didn't even attempt to showcase him in recent weeks.


The thing we still haven't tried to address is the face-off situation.

I agree Black, about Jensen relieving TOI for Carly!
I’ll add that with Orpiks age, and Nisky, certainly not a spring chicken, the surprise of the longer term, “non rental”, contact for Jensen, says a lot, and makes more sense, now!


I haven’t seen much of him, only what I’ve been able to search around with, today.
However, one of the PLAGUES, this team has, is their famous inability to bring the puck up, out of our D zone.
My guess, if this guy is a puck handling, defensive type, defenseman, as his pedigree suggests, then GMBM, is possibly addressing this issue, head on!.....GREAT!!


I like it, on its surface, to be sure.
I will disagree, though, with some in this thread, about Djoos, being replaced! I really doubt it.
Djoos has been solid, since returning, bringing some BADLY needed SMARTS, and fairly reliable puck handling, that has looked even BETTER, when backdropped against the general, sub par, defensive play  prior to his return!!


I think, if Jensen pans out, AND, considering GMBM, mentioning some big TOI, for the guy, that Orpiks minutes will get reduced, and maybe Orlov and Niskys minutes as well, at least on PK, as Jensen will have to be paired with someone, in a small time window, to get ready for the playoffs!


Good post, Black!


Rush

[ArJunaZ]

It will be interesting to see how they juggle the D to fit Jensen in.

On the topic of the Caps record at this point in the season I have been following along comparing their record compared to the past two years every time I post a GDT. We have been strangely following last years record very closely.  That said, last year I was not worried and I had great confidence in the team and was strangely optimistic about our chances to go all the way. This year not so much. 

I have reservations about Hagelin fitting in well, but I do like this last deal for Jensen. 
I guess the Capitals have thrown affirmative action out the window with these two moves this week. 

[BlackIce]

It will be interesting to see how they juggle the D to fit Jensen in.

On the topic of the Caps record at this point in the season I have been following along comparing their record compared to the past two years every time I post a GDT. We have been strangely following last years record very closely.  That said, last year I was not worried and I had great confidence in the team and was strangely optimistic about our chances to go all the way. This year not so much. 

I have reservations about Hagelin fitting in well, but I do like this last deal for Jensen. 
I guess the Capitals have thrown affirmative action out the window with these two moves this week. 

I think


(1)  There will be no "juggling" to get Jensen into the lineup.  He will be in there every game as the 3rd RHD.  I think the juggling will occur on the left side to see who plays with who.  Jensen will take a few minutes from Carlson and maybe a few from Niskanen as well (remember, the right side defenseman on the 3rd pair has been getting about 12 minutes per game.  Jensen is likely to get 18-20 minutes per game.)


(2)  The acquisitions of Hagelin and Jensen are IMO for one overriding purpose (besides general defensive stability), and that is to upgrade the PK, especially for the playoffs.  If you look at NHL team stats, if the Caps finish in the top 4 in the Metro, their road to the Stanley Cup would likely have to go through either Tampa or Boston, and the top 3 teams in the West are Winnipeg, Calgary, and San Jose.  The Caps are reasonably likely to have to face one of those teams if they can make it back to the Stanley Cup finals.  ALL of these teams are in the top 8 in PP efficiency.  And as a side note, another team in the top 8 is Pittsburgh.  The Caps absolutely HAD to upgrade the PK if they are going to have any reasonable shot at a repeat.


(3)  For those who would say that this organization operates to put people in the seats and money in the till rather than to chase championship glory, these acquisitions fly in the face of that.  Hagelin and Jensen together won't put one extra fanny in the seats, but the organization sees them as absolutely critical to its Stanley Cup chances.  Watch the amount of PK time these two get once they get acclimated to the team.


(4)  The face-off issue is still a huge deal, especially during the PK, when face-off wins can translate to clears, or if not, ability to fight for possession along the boards with a decent chance of winning the battle, all the while killing off time.  There are too many times when, even if the goalie gets stops on the PK, the Caps lose face-off after face-off and never get a chance to relieve the pressure.  That won't cut it consistently against the top PP teams.

[DC_1908]

I suspect that a major reason for acquiring Jensen specifically is to take some of the burden off Carlson.  It gives the Caps a third legitimate NHL RHD (which apparently they didn't feel they had with Bowey at this point), and apparently a good PK defenseman to boot, so it would seem that his minutes are specifically designed to eat into some of Carlson's minutes.


Forget use this yuyykutttyx all the talk about sitting Burakovsky out and him being in the doghouse, Bowey was given the really dismissive treatment.  I don't know why it was that he was benched never to return (yeah he made mistakes; so have a lot of guys), but he got salted away and they didn't even attempt to showcase him in recent weeks.


The thing we still haven't tried to address is the face-off situation.

Agreed. . . almost any D we would require would have needed to contribute by reducing wear and tear to Carlson.  We’d been lucky that he hasn’t been injured yet, because if he did, we be screwed.


It’s qlso interesting as to why Bowery had been scratched, yet was part of the reason we got Jensen, as what looks to us as cheap (a bottom 16 second round and a healthy scratch).  With some of the Bad asses they’ve picked in the past two or 3 drafts, sports on D are gonna get pretty slim for the Wings, they could very well just needed a cheap place holder right handed Dmen develop.


I doing faceoffs will be addressed unfortunately, but I sure as hell the faceoffs being a main factor in us a losing a series to a team that does address them.

[ArJunaZ]

By juggling I meant the following: Who will be scratched to make room for Jensen. My guess is Djoos obviously, but with Orpik getting older and Orlov sometimes seemingly dipping into Carson's old Quaalude stash I can see some juggling in the near future.

[DC_1908]

By juggling I meant the following: Who will be scratched to make room for Jensen. My guess is Djoos obviously, but with Orpik getting older and Orlov sometimes seemingly dipping into Carson's old Quaalude stash I can see some juggling in the near future.

Agreed, Carlson has played long minutes in every game, and Nisky has played all but one. resting them in the near future wouldn’t be a bad idea.


I know Jensen bounced around the D pairings for the Wings, but I’m not sure if he both plays right and left D or not, if so he could push one of the others to keep their spot

[Surreylily]

I think


(1)  There will be no "juggling" to get Jensen into the lineup.  He will be in there every game as the 3rd RHD.  I think the juggling will occur on the left side to see who plays with who.  Jensen will take a few minutes from Carlson and maybe a few from Niskanen as well (remember, the right side defenseman on the 3rd pair has been getting about 12 minutes per game.  Jensen is likely to get 18-20 minutes per game.)



(2)  The acquisitions of Hagelin and Jensen are IMO for one overriding purpose (besides general defensive stability), and that is to upgrade the PK, especially for the playoffs.  If you look at NHL team stats, if the Caps finish in the top 4 in the Metro, their road to the Stanley Cup would likely have to go through either Tampa or Boston, and the top 3 teams in the West are Winnipeg, Calgary, and San Jose.  The Caps are reasonably likely to have to face one of those teams if they can make it back to the Stanley Cup finals.  ALL of these teams are in the top 8 in PP efficiency.  And as a side note, another team in the top 8 is Pittsburgh.  The Caps absolutely HAD to upgrade the PK if they are going to have any reasonable shot at a repeat.


(3)  For those who would say that this organization operates to put people in the seats and money in the till rather than to chase championship glory, these acquisitions fly in the face of that.  Hagelin and Jensen together won't put one extra fanny in the seats, but the organization sees them as absolutely critical to its Stanley Cup chances.  Watch the amount of PK time these two get once they get acclimated to the team.


(4)  The face-off issue is still a huge deal, especially during the PK, when face-off wins can translate to clears, or if not, ability to fight for possession along the boards with a decent chance of winning the battle, all the while killing off time.  There are too many times when, even if the goalie gets stops on the PK, the Caps lose face-off after face-off and never get a chance to relieve the pressure.  That won't cut it consistently against the top PP teams.

Good post

[richkrt99]

Jensen looks good.  Not that you can judge anything by one game, but I really had no idea about him.  Looks to be a really good fit.  If he IS a/the guy that can START a decent breakout and actually consistently move the puck up and get it out of the D zone (as is reported as his skill set), then ALL HAIL GM BM because that is one of the Caps biggest issue.  How many goals yesterday were the result of not being able to get the puck out of the D zone?  This is something the Caps desperately need to fix before the playoffs.



2.5 mill is a low budget price tag for an adequate D IMHO.  Definitely needed a guy to share some of the load.


Now....WTF are you going to do with Burka, and Orlov?  Sure as hell hope Burka is gone and Orlov wakes the F up.  I can't see any way the Caps could unload that shitty Orlov deal.  Orlov has been a real disappointment this year.  His game needed to improve to get close to earning that contract, not take a nose dive.


Hoping that Jensen turns out to be solid and it relieves some burden from Nisky, Orlov, and Carlson.  They need some help.


Also, what are we calling him?  Need something better than Jensen.  Not Jenny (unless he starts to play like Burky)


I saw somewhere someone posted Jensen and Djoos playing together would be.....Jen and Djoos  (Gin and Juice) 




Go Caps.


Let's see some more please.....Like SOMETHING for BURKA.

[alta]

When a players last name can't be hockeyfied, it's done with the first name. But the Caps already have a Nicky. Jensen is easy enough to type..

[PUCKNRUSH]

Jensen looks good.  Not that you can judge anything by one game, but I really had no idea about him.  Looks to be a really good fit.  If he IS a/the guy that can START a decent breakout and actually consistently move the puck up and get it out of the D zone (as is reported as his skill set), then ALL HAIL GM BM because that is one of the Caps biggest issue.  How many goals yesterday were the result of not being able to get the puck out of the D zone?  This is something the Caps desperately need to fix before the playoffs.



2.5 mill is a low budget price tag for an adequate D IMHO.  Definitely needed a guy to share some of the load.


Now....WTF are you going to do with Burka, and Orlov?  Sure as hell hope Burka is gone and Orlov wakes the F up.  I can't see any way the Caps could unload that shitty Orlov deal.  Orlov has been a real disappointment this year.  His game needed to improve to get close to earning that contract, not take a nose dive.


Hoping that Jensen turns out to be solid and it relieves some burden from Nisky, Orlov, and Carlson.  They need some help.


Also, what are we calling him?  Need something better than Jensen.  Not Jenny (unless he starts to play like Burky)


I saw somewhere someone posted Jensen and Djoos playing together would be.....Jen and Djoos  (Gin and Juice) 




Go Caps.


Let's see some more please.....Like SOMETHING for BURKA.

Hey Rich!
You hit the nail on the head with the bringing the puck up issue!! It is such a HUGE issue, that has so many negative tentacles attached to it!


Opponents get more O zone time, more SOG, better quality shots, because there is now more confusion and chaos for our D, trying to get back into a defensive posture, when they were expecting to turn up ice!!


On OUR side, it decreases our O zone time, less SOG, disrupts some shift changes for us, which causes the line on the ice to have to remain, losing some legs, speed, and reaction time, which then requires even MORE effort to get the puck back, before it lands in the net!!


Seems that our opponents have figured out that when they cross blue line, and enter our D zone with the puck, if we takeaway the puck, along the boards, or below the goal line, all the opponent has to do, is pressure our guys, a little a bit, and our opponent stands a damn good chance of getting possession back AGAIN, while still in our D zone!  THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW!! Yes, under Trotz also!!


The reason it was not as much of an issue, the years before, is because we were VERY EFFECTIVE at disrupting opponents in the neutral zone, or just AFTER they crossed the blue line, trying to enter our D zone!
Therefore there weren’t as many opportunities for this weakness to be as EXPOSED!  It wasn’t so much of an issue, in prior seasons, because generally, we pre-defended having to even deal with that issue, way, way, less than we have to NOW. This was our basic D strategy, and was successful!! One of the NHLs best at it, IMO!!
Teams beat us when they found a way around US, controlling neutral zone, and blue line entry!!


This year, that’s all changed, as teams enter our zone, fairly easy, compared to our previous years D. The end result of course, is a worse goals against, and bad numbers for Holtz. The goalies are assaulted with better quality shots this year!


Thanks Rich! Next rant for me will be the fact that we’re freakin’ STUCK with Bura this year!! UGGHH!!


Rush

[PUCKNRUSH]

Cont’d..... So GMBM adding Jensen is attempting to address this issue!
Also don’t think Djoos will be the main fall guy, as Rierden said he just wanted to put Jensen, by design, with Orpik, because of age and experience.
Orlov, has been playing stupidly for way too long now, all season! I believe it’s no longer a temporary lapse, on his part! He’s aggressive, but with low hockey IQ!
Hopefully, Rierden has the balls to scratch him, or even Nisky, sometimes, if Jensen pans out! Liked what I saw from him!!


Rush

[alta]

With the immediate 4 year "extension" given to Jensen, someone else has to go. I was hoping GMBM would've moved a couple more guys to bring in someone that can consistently win faceoffs. But as I think about it, I think this is Orpiks last year. I had thought that at the beginning of the year with Orpiks $1M for 1 deal, but that was also dependent on these younger Dmen stepping up more than they have. So the D corp gets juggled for maybe 3 months then someone is the odd man out, and that's the guy with no contract. Which still leaves juggling the D corp next season to get Seigs up to speed. The D is still a mess in the foreseeable future.

[Mickstix]

Hopefully, Rierden has the balls to scratch him (Orlov), or even Nisky, sometimes, if Jensen pans out!!


Rush

  Dayum Rush, I didn't know you smoked?    If any "name" gets scratched from the D core, it'll be Orpik.. Those big contracts burn a hole in their scratch pad.. 

[BlackIce]

  Dayum Rush, I didn't know you smoked?    If any "name" gets scratched from the D core, it'll be Orpik.. Those big contracts burn a hole in their scratch pad.. 

Now my take on the defensive rotation is that Orpik and Djoos will rotate as the #6 defenseman, with Orpik playing against the slower/tougher teams and Djoos against the quicker/more finesse teams, at least through the rest of the regular season.  This will have the added bonus of giving Orpik some rest going into the playoff season (assuming they make it); then they can figure out what to do if/when they get there.


My feeling is that, other than sitting Orlov for a couple of games to try to send a message, the top 4 D are going to be there, barring injury.  Sure, the contract commitment means something, but let's face it:  If those guys aren't ready to play come playoff time we ain't going much of anywhere anyway.  This is a "you committed to these guys as the core of the defense, now let them run with it or not" situation.


I'm wondering if Kuzy and Orlov aren't two sides of the same coin here.  Kuzy is a much more open personality and because of his sense of humor and willingness to say what he thinks is becoming an interview favorite.  He has said openly that for him it is harder to concentrate during the regular season, because mistakes individual games DON'T mean life or death as they do in the win-or-go-home playoff atmosphere. So he does coast some, and tries some things that he wouldn't in the playoffs for the sake of playing safer.  I wonder if Orlov, who we hear from very little, feels somewhat the same way.  This may be one downside, or at least reality, of having won the Stanley Cup -- now knowing what it takes to get though the playoff thicket (and the Caps had as difficult a road to get through last year as anyone in recent playoff history), the natural reaction for some players is to conserve ammunition for the playoff season.  Yes, then you have to find a way to "flip the switch" when the playoffs start, and maybe it doesn't happen.  But that is the way some players will approach things, like it or not.  Heck, we've seen a bit of recent commentary on this board about Ovie coasting a bit more recently, and I have seen some of it in recent games that I have attended.  He's still scoring, but the commitment on defense may not be quite the same.  As a 33-year-old, high mileage and high TOI player, this may be his way of conserving ammunition for the playoffs.


To my mind, the biggest impediment to doing well in the playoffs this year isn't players not quite giving the overall max effort needed.  I think the biggest problem is achilles heels that have made themselves known and that may not be correctable even WITH more effort and attention to detail.  The PK may still not be good enough to hold off the best PP teams, even with the Hagelin/Jensen additions.  And the Caps have NO answer for their face-off woes that I can see, which simply exacerbates the PK issue. 


All this assumes, of course, that the Caps make the playoffs, which is no sure thing, though even as tight as the standings are they still have an excellent shot, because time is starting to run short for the teams behind them.  4 or 5 standings points mean more and more as the number of games remaining dwindles.

[DC_1908]

With the immediate 4 year "extension" given to Jensen, someone else has to go. I was hoping GMBM would've moved a couple more guys to bring in someone that can consistently win faceoffs. But as I think about it, I think this is Orpiks last year. I had thought that at the beginning of the year with Orpiks $1M for 1 deal, but that was also dependent on these younger Dmen stepping up more than they have. So the D corp gets juggled for maybe 3 months then someone is the odd man out, and that's the guy with no contract. Which still leaves juggling the D corp next season to get Seigs up to speed. The D is still a mess in the foreseeable future.

Reirdom is unlikely to adjust his pairings that are giving up over 4 goals on a routine basis.  Particularly since he now has three right handed D man.


More than likely that it will be Hook and Jensen, with Jensen getting more special teams/3 on 3 time.


I’m also gonna guess they resign Hooks, if not it will be Siegs, or hopefully Lexington to take Hooks role.  But, if Jeff Shultz or Sergei Gonchar are available GMBetaMale May sign then to take that spot because of their great +/- stats . . .
🤣🤣🤣🤣

[alta]

Caps never should've gotten rid of Gonch

[DC_1908]

Caps never should've gotten rid of Gonch

Hell they should’ve never gotten of Stevens, Iafrate, or Hatcher.  If they’d of kept those three we’d of had a Cup 20some years ago

[alta]

Hell they should’ve never gotten of Stevens, Iafrate, or Hatcher.  If they’d of kept those three we’d of had a Cup 20some years ago

Kono, Bonsai, Dino

[alta]

After watching that last game against the Rags, I think Willy needs to take the team to the gym he's now a part owner of and teach them some skills.