Off Season

[Mickstix]

NYI

You think the Isles fans will embrace his excessive love of rainbows and unicorns? Eh, they prolly would.. Send him!! 

[BlackIce]

And now TB has resigned Vasilevskiy, 8 years, AAV $9.5 million.


This echoes the Bobrovsky deal, AAV $10 million, and would seem to definitively set the future market for top goaltending.  Holtby HAS to get $10M AAV from somebody, and I'm sure his agent could argue he's worth even more, because he has a better playoff pedigree than either of these two guys.  I'm sorry, but this just isn't worth it.  MAYBE the Caps could try to sign him for fewer years (say, 5 or so) to lower their downside risk at the end of the contract.  But if they do that the AAV probably has to go up, because Holtby wouldn't be maximizing his total contract value.  I just don't see a way the team could do it without eviscerating some other parts of their roster.  If they had a bunch of hot prospects coming up, maybe, but the farm just isn't there.


I really think that Holtby has to be gone after this season, unless Samsanov totally tanks at Hershey.  The problem is, if the Caps try to trade him closer to the deadline his return will plummet because his status may be rental.  Maybe the Caps should trade him now, get what they can for someone who has top value, could play for someone else this year, and that team could potentially resign him if they were willing to pony up.  Just throw this season away [or at least, make it much more of a struggle with the goaltending in the hands of guys who look like backups or a potential #1 goalie with NO NHL exposure.]


If TB is willing to pay Vasilevskiy that, how the heck are they going to get all of their young assets resigned down the line? 

[alta]

The contracts Bob and Vasiline got are a joke. I was really hoping Holts would stick around long term, but, but not at $9-10M a year, and not if he can't play well without Korns influence. Maybe the Caps should trade him now, it would fix their money issues

[Ozzies09tc]

Trade Holtby for a bunch of picks a-la Ryan Miller to St Louis a few years ago, use the picks to re-stock the cupboard, and trade for Jake Allen who is owed 4.45/yr and becomes an UFA at the end of the 20-21 season.


I will say, as a Blues fan AND a caps fan I would HATE for this to happen as I do not believe in Jake Allen after seeing him over the past 4 yrs, he is a great 30ish game starter. -HOWEVER- he truly is a great goaltender minus whats between his ears...IDK who the goalie coach is in wsh but if he is a "goalie whisperer" that could revive Jake's career to flashes he has shown (when pushed by a good backup) he could be a great stop gap until someone in the minors is ready.

[DC_1908]

If they move or let Holtby walk, we might as well go into a full rebuild.   Or at least have no delusion of being any sort of serious contender for the foreseeable future.



To think that Copley or Samsonov can just step on and take over without missing a step and well be back in the Finals because Ted and God is delusional.


The bottom line is GMBetaMale and Monumental have fucked the Cap up situation for a long time.

[Mickstix]

Caps need "all" their star players to be a "serious contender".. They all either contribute huge on the scoring side or assist side or PP side.. Can't lose any of em' and have any real expectations, imo.. They'll probably keep them together one more year then start the rebuild.

[DC_1908]

Interesting, though I think J.J. Regan works for EA Sports, article on Stevenson


This season is gonna come down to Monumentals willingness and ability  to adjust to a real system, which Stevenson excels in).  If this isn’t done, particularly with the Holtby issue coming up, it’s gonna get ugly

[DC_1908]

Caps need "all" their star players to be a "serious contender".. They all either contribute huge on the scoring side or assist side or PP side.. Can't lose any of em' and have any real expectations, imo.. They'll probably keep them together one more year then start the rebuild.

They need all their players to play smart, hard hockey in a serious system to be anything more than a circus act. 


They also need a GM that won’t over pay average players to 60+mil contracts that end up costing us elite players.

[Beaglefan2]

Caps management won't trade Holtby period.  They think they can win the Cup with this team and they will just play it out and assume Samsonov will step in next year when they can't sign Holtby.  They are going to be in a tough spot until Ovie and Backstrom are done.

[PUCKNRUSH]

Braden Holtby’s career, since the arrival, and thru the departure, of Trotz, and Korn, IMO, has been hands down, for me, the most difficult player performance assessment to have to ACCURATELY make on the entire team.
Mind you, I said accurately, because the opinions on Holtz run the entire spectrum. And with good reason!


Let’s cover the obvious first. He has shown himself, to possess STELLAR abilities, numerous game winning super saves, commanding, dominant, play, with incredible anticipation, and has often been UNSOLVABLE, by the opponent!
Add in two Vezinas, and superb play to win the Stanley Cup, and you have the recipe for him to be plausibly claimed as one of the Caps best goalies, in their history!
That’s the undeniable TOP side to Braden Holtby!


The negatives are way less obvious, depending on how you wanna look at, and judge, the quite complicated matrix of the, “good D/good goalie - bad D/bad goalie” relationships, and how each affect the other!
OR NOT!.....See what I mean…..very difficult to assess, with all the “ifs”, and especially all of the woulda-coulda-shouldas, that can be put on both Holtz’s performance, OR the rest of the entire CAPS team!!


We have a TON of solid evidence for game losses, where Holtz has been thrown under the bus! Yet a TON of evidence also exists for losses where Holtz has allowed in, some of the simplest frickin shots, or just looks clueless out there with his advance positioning being quite off the mark, upon review!
We also have Holtby, BOTH stepping it up in the playoffs, and NOT stepping up his play level in the playoffs!


We’ve also lost, many times, in spite of Holtz playing well, because we could NOT generate enough offense!
We’ve also won, in spite of a poor Holtby showing, because our sticks generated enough O to win!
Same can be said on both sides of the issue, regarding the D, and Holtz’s interrelationships!


IMO, there is no single, correct assessment of Braden Holtby. Firstly, because his career is still ongoing, and secondly, the mile-wide parameters of his career play, render it practically impossible to mention one side, without the other, if you seek accuracy!  I say, you simply mention BOTH, (while scratching your head)! LOL!


One thing that I think can be said now, however, is that he is a different Holtby, without Mitch Korn!


Personally, I continue to go through ups and downs about him.  I’m not sure that’s going to change anytime soon either!


Rush

[DC_1908]

Braden Holtby’s career, since the arrival, and thru the departure, of Trotz, and Korn, IMO, has been hands down, for me, the most difficult player performance assessment to have to ACCURATELY make on the entire team.
Mind you, I said accurately, because the opinions on Holtz run the entire spectrum. And with good reason!


Let’s cover the obvious first. He has shown himself, to possess STELLAR abilities, numerous game winning super saves, commanding, dominant, play, with incredible anticipation, and has often been UNSOLVABLE, by the opponent!
Add in two Vezinas, and superb play to win the Stanley Cup, and you have the recipe for him to be plausibly claimed as one of the Caps best goalies, in their history!
That’s the undeniable TOP side to Braden Holtby!


The negatives are way less obvious, depending on how you wanna look at, and judge, the quite complicated matrix of the, “good D/good goalie - bad D/bad goalie” relationships, and how each affect the other!
OR NOT!.....See what I mean…..very difficult to assess, with all the “ifs”, and especially all of the woulda-coulda-shouldas, that can be put on both Holtz’s performance, OR the rest of the entire CAPS team!!


We have a TON of solid evidence for game losses, where Holtz has been thrown under the bus! Yet a TON of evidence also exists for losses where Holtz has allowed in, some of the simplest frickin shots, or just looks clueless out there with his advance positioning being quite off the mark, upon review!
We also have Holtby, BOTH stepping it up in the playoffs, and NOT stepping up his play level in the playoffs!


We’ve also lost, many times, in spite of Holtz playing well, because we could NOT generate enough offense!
We’ve also won, in spite of a poor Holtby showing, because our sticks generated enough O to win!
Same can be said on both sides of the issue, regarding the D, and Holtz’s interrelationships!


IMO, there is no single, correct assessment of Braden Holtby. Firstly, because his career is still ongoing, and secondly, the mile-wide parameters of his career play, render it practically impossible to mention one side, without the other, if you seek accuracy!  I say, you simply mention BOTH, (while scratching your head)! LOL!


One thing that I think can be said now, however, is that he is a different Holtby, without Mitch Korn!


Personally, I continue to go through ups and downs about him.  I’m not sure that’s going to change anytime soon either!


Rush

I’m pretty sure that Monumental doesn’t think goalies are popular or all that important.


Which would locking two “star players”, one to dance and one to not hit anybody and pass the puck, for a ridiculous eight years while snubbing one of the best goalies in the league.


13 goal games and “a chance to win another Cup”, will keep the team popular with zealots, woman, hipsters, and the 12yo and under crowd for a few more years.

[Mickstix]

DC needs to get laid..    Relax brother, they aint even laced up the skates yet!!! 

[alta]

LoL

[justwincaps]

I’m pretty sure that Monumental doesn’t think goalies are popular or all that important.


Which would locking two “star players”, one to dance and one to not hit anybody and pass the puck, for a ridiculous eight years while snubbing one of the best goalies in the league.


13 goal games and “a chance to win another Cup”, will keep the team popular with zealots, woman, hipsters, and the 12yo and under crowd for a few more years.

I feel ya' DC but I don't see how we keep Holtby without losing Backstrom.  There's no one in the cupboard that'll come even close to replacing Backstrom.  If Samsonov is as advertised [not convinced yet], then there's a potential near replacement for Holtby on the ice.  What Holt's does off the ice won't be replaced.  I think he's a great ambassador for the Caps but doubt that factors in to whether he comes back.

We only have Gudas coming off the books after this year and the cap is projected to only go up around $2mil, so I don't know where the Caps find the money for both 19 and 70.

[richkrt99]

All these ridiculous contracts (Bobrovsky) are starting to make Ovi's $10mil look like a relative bargain.  Granted, a 35 year old Ovi, but he was making $10mil all during his premium years as well, and he really hasn't started to drop off yet, even at his age.  With all he brings, his contract aint that bad.  I realize some of it is marketing & selling tickets, but Ovi definitely brings that as part of the bargain.


I love Holtby, and the goalie is the one key position that can make or break a team, but I'm not sure he's worth $10m/year, which is what he will get...somewhere.
IF the Caps want to keep him they are going to have to part with someone in the top 8 salaries....


Ovi  (No fucking way the Caps part with him - he is a cash cow for selling tickets)
Dylan  (No way the Caps part with Dylan - he's our "Norris" candidate  [size=78%])[/size]
Kuzy  (would really take some souring between him and mgmt for that to happen - which means his contract would then be worth shit and you couldn't offload it then anyway)
Backy (i'd hate to lose Backy - but what is a 32 year old Backy worth?  Can you sign him for another 3 years at $8m per?
Holtby (pack your bags kid....I think there is a liberal city out there yearning for you)
Oshie  (Realistically - how would they unload him at his age and contract?)
Willie  (Better not, no fucking way they let him loose - I believe he is the future and heart and soul of this team and a bargain at $5.1m)
Olov  (Okay...IF he has a stellar year and you find some team desperate enough, but I don't see it)





Bobrovsky will be 37 in his final year of his contract - that's a stretch for a goaltender, aint it?  I mean the "king" is 37 I think, and his played has dropped off in recent years.

[BlackIce]

Just as a side note, the Avalanche just signed defenseman Sam Girard to a 7-year contract extension at $5 million AAV (straight $35 million over 7 years).


Girard is smaller than Djoos.  He's a top-flight skater and puck mover, and played 20 minutes a game this past season, but still, a 160 pound defenseman?

[DC_1908]

I feel ya' DC but I don't see how we keep Holtby without losing Backstrom.  There's no one in the cupboard that'll come even close to replacing Backstrom.  If Samsonov is as advertised [not convinced yet], then there's a potential near replacement for Holtby on the ice.  What Holt's does off the ice won't be replaced.  I think he's a great ambassador for the Caps but doubt that factors in to whether he comes back.

We only have Gudas coming off the books after this year and the cap is projected to only go up around $2mil, so I don't know where the Caps find the money for both 19 and 70.

There’s a way, a smart way to do it:  trade Kuzy, which they should of done long ago.

But this won’t happe.  On the Caps part, he’s popular, it would show them to be moronic, (and rightfully so), and the organizational depth at center is VERY thin, and that’s being generous.  Even if they don’t sign Backstrom, they ARE’NT gonna get anyone better for cheaper.


For the other team, who want him?  Let alone for 7yrs @ 8mil?  He’s just not worth it to anybody but Monumental.   I’m pretty damn sure most non-zealot


Paying to ok players for ridiculous contracts that will end up costing us an-elite center,, our best two-way player, and an elite goalie (both of which still have a few years left), for a one way bird dancing center, a 5th forward, and “having a chance that Copley or a guy that’s never played in the NHL will become Jesus Fucking Christ in a playoff run.

[DC_1908]

Just as a side note, the Avalanche just signed defenseman Sam Girard to a 7-year contract extension at $5 million AAV (straight $35 million over 7 years).


Girard is smaller than Djoos.  He's a top-flight skater and puck mover, and played 20 minutes a game this past season, but still, a 160 pound defenseman?

Cause he’s an excellent PP QB, rarely screws up, and a quality two-way D-Man. The rest of there D, in general, are huge, and  there very deep on D, except for ODmen.

So it makes sense in many ways. but that’s still a big contract for a 160lb player that sensible teams will have a target on. 

[RavenCp]

Goalies are always high risk, so many teams were burned with long term contracts. At the same time always pop up great young goalies.   

[zerofox]

Holtby is good, and yes he was vital to us even making the playoffs last season thanks to the abysmal coaching/play we had. But he just isn't worth the $9-10 million a year for a contract term that will likely take him to his mid-late 30s. Especially when you consider that with the loss of Mitch Korn he hasn't been the same Vezina caliber goalie he used to be. He went from averaging over .920 save percentage and a GAA in the low 2s, to averaging .910 save percentage and a GAA in the high 2s (nearly 3). And yeah not all of that is on him, because our team has played kinda crap too. But I'd rather not be paying "top 2 goalie in the league" money for someone who isn't even close at this point.

Copley is not the answer. And right now neither are Samsonov or Vanecek. But we should at least be considering a trade to get someone younger and cheaper and still solid. Because unless we plan on going balls deep on Holtby's contract next year (or unless Holtby is okay with taking a cap-friendly deal, which I doubt he would be), we're gunna get hosed when we lose him for nothing if we keep him around this season.

And listen, if there's no trade or signing available this summer, then yeah I guess we have no choice but to keep Holtby around this season. But I'd sure hate to handcuff another $9-10 million a year on another player.

The Kuznetsov, Carlson, and Oshie contracts either currently are, or will in the future, give us a headache. No need to add another contract to that list. If Holtby's fine with $6.5 million for 3-5 years then sure let's fucking do it. But fuck no to $9-10 million for 6-8 years.