Down on the farm

[BlackIce]

I don't know how many of you are aware, but


(1) The Caps website now has complete up-to-date statistics on all active prospects.  Click on "team" on the top banner, then click "on the farm" and click on the name of any player whose information you'd like to see.  This is miles above what was available in previous years, in terms of both content and user-friendliness.


(2) There are very interesting developments with two of the Caps' draft choices from this past June, #1 Connor McMichael and #3 Aliaksei Protas.  Protas is killing the WHL this year, accumulating 1.5 points per game, and McMichael is off to an almost unfathomable start in the OHL, averaging almost 2.5 points per game.  Protas is a big, 3rd line center type (6'6", 210 pounds at age 18) while McMichael is an obvious candidate as an eventual top-6 player.  The interesting thing about the two of them are that they are both still 18 AND, this is the crucial thing, have January birthdays.  Those birthdates are crucial because it means that neither of them can play in pro hockey next year other than in the NHL; otherwise, they must remain in Canadian junior hockey.  If these two keep going even remotely close to the way they have so far and continue to dominate their leagues, it would seem almost pointless for them to play junior hockey next season -- they'd have nothing left to prove at that level.  BUT, their only alternative is to make the Caps roster.  What happens to these two over the next 10 months is going to make for some interesting study.

[alta]

so next season these two must be in South Carolina or Hershey? Although, depending on how the Seattle draft goes there may be a roster spot in Washington

[BlackIce]

so next season these two must be in South Carolina or Hershey? Although, depending on how the Seattle draft goes there may be a roster spot in Washington

No, they CANNOT be in SC or Hershey.  As I understand it, the birthday cutoff is Dec. 31.  They are born after that, and so will turn 20 after the end of 2020.  That means that not only are they fully eligible to play in Juniors next season, they can play pro hockey ONLY in the NHL.


If they were born on or before Dec. 31, they would have been able to play juniors next year only as one of a team's 3 special exceptions.  Otherwise, they could be signed to a pro contract and play in the hockey minor leagues (i.e., ECHL or AHL).


As I understand it, the Seattle draft is not until after the 2020/2021 season.  Yes, a Caps forward could be taken in that draft and open a spot on the roster.  But another thing to understand is that 1st and 2nd year pros do not have to be protected from the draft.  They are automatically exempted from being drafted, so the club doesn't need to include either of them on its list of protected players.  The thing is though, there could also be many other reasons besides the expansion draft that a forward spot opens up on the Caps roster -- injury, the team choosing not to resign someone or not being able to sign someone due to salary cap considerations, etc.

[4 Caps]

It is unfortunate that neither are eligible to play in Hershey next season but I don’t see either one making the Caps roster next season.  They will really waste another year in juniors.  I wonder if they could play for a team in Europe.  I doubt whether the European teams are bound by the agreement between the NHL and the CHL.  McMichael probably would not want to play in Europe but Protas would probably jump at the opportunity. 

[alta]

that's a bad rule that needs changing, very few players can make the jump from juniors to NHL

[PUCKNRUSH]

I don't know how many of you are aware, but


(1) The Caps website now has complete up-to-date statistics on all active prospects.  Click on "team" on the top banner, then click "on the farm" and click on the name of any player whose information you'd like to see.  This is miles above what was available in previous years, in terms of both content and user-friendliness.


(2) There are very interesting developments with two of the Caps' draft choices from this past June, #1 Connor McMichael and #3 Aliaksei Protas.  Protas is killing the WHL this year, accumulating 1.5 points per game, and McMichael is off to an almost unfathomable start in the OHL, averaging almost 2.5 points per game.  Protas is a big, 3rd line center type (6'6", 210 pounds at age 18) while McMichael is an obvious candidate as an eventual top-6 player.  The interesting thing about the two of them are that they are both still 18 AND, this is the crucial thing, have January birthdays.  Those birthdates are crucial because it means that neither of them can play in pro hockey next year other than in the NHL; otherwise, they must remain in Canadian junior hockey.  If these two keep going even remotely close to the way they have so far and continue to dominate their leagues, it would seem almost pointless for them to play junior hockey next season -- they'd have nothing left to prove at that level.  BUT, their only alternative is to make the Caps roster.  What happens to these two over the next 10 months is going to make for some interesting study.

Hey Black!
 Good to hear from you, and thanks for the info! I’ll check it out


Rush

[Beaglefan2]

Good info guys.  Who knows, maybe by the end of the year, one of these guys might be able to make the jump to the NHL.  It seems that we are seeing more and more 19/20 year-olds in the league and it is exciting that the Caps might have some prospects that could make it at an early age.

[BlackIce]

I goofed in my original post.  When you click on "team" in the Caps top banner, what you will see is "in the system", not "on the farm."  Sorry about that.

[BlackIce]

I thought I'd mention another interesting farm stat, for what it's worth.


Aliaksei Protas is now playing U20 hockey in Belarus, with 7 points in 5 games -- just fine.  He also has 6 PIM in those five games.


While that doesn't seem especially notable, it is for him.  His 26 outstanding games in the WHL so far this year (40 points) is punctuated by his 0 -- that's ZERO -- PIM.  And in his amateur career he's never had a year with double-digit PIM.  For whatever reasons, the guy just doesn't take penalties.

[4 Caps]

I thought I'd mention another interesting farm stat, for what it's worth.


Aliaksei Protas is now playing U20 hockey in Belarus, with 7 points in 5 games -- just fine.  He also has 6 PIM in those five games.


While that doesn't seem especially notable, it is for him.  His 26 outstanding games in the WHL so far this year (40 points) is punctuated by his 0 -- that's ZERO -- PIM.  And in his amateur career he's never had a year with double-digit PIM.  For whatever reasons, the guy just doesn't take penalties.

The Caps could use a player who doesn’t take penalties.  Interesting stat, thanks for posting.

[canadiancapman]

How about Connor McMichael... big goal last night to start the comeback for team Canada to a win over USA.

[canadiancapman]

I didn't realize this but heard yesterday during that broadcast that McMichael is leading the OHL in points this year. That's pretty impressive. Seems like another great pick late in the first round

[canadiancapman]

McMichael moved up to Canada's top line after Lafreniere (this year's projected #1 draft pick) got injured vs the Russians.

[DC_1908]

I didn't realize this but heard yesterday during that broadcast that McMichael is leading the OHL in points this year. That's pretty impressive. Seems like another great pick late in the first round

The question is, should he be NHL level soon, where would we put him?  We’d have to move Vrana or Oshie our wait til someone’s contract expires.


The best/great move is trade him for several prospects/picks to develop while waiting for some of these idiotic contracts to expire

[4 Caps]

The question is, should he be NHL level soon, where would we put him?  We’d have to move Vrana or Oshie our wait til someone’s contract expires.


The best/great move is trade him for several prospects/picks to develop while waiting for some of these idiotic contracts to expire

Why would we have to move Vrana or Oshie. As a rookie his cap hit won’t be that much so that won’t be a problem.  As far as where he would play, my guess is that he will start on the third line.  However, I doubt whether he will make the Caps next season but I can see him making the team the following year. 

[DC_1908]

Why would we have to move Vrana or Oshie. As a rookie his cap hit won’t be that much so that won’t be a problem.  As far as where he would play, my guess is that he will start on the third line.  However, I doubt whether he will make the Caps next season but I can see him making the team the following year.

So put a one way rookie  on a line with Eller?  That’s ridiculous, that “line” would all but worthless, particularly when holding a lead. A and we all know how Toddy hates to double shift one or more players unless there’s an injury.  A kid like will Backstrom or Oshie to babysit for a couple years.


It would be better to move him to a team that will give us a couple of prospects and/or picks to build depth, and not just bet on a single player.


But that probably won’t happen as it’s en Vogue/a fad amongst Caps fans to only like high scoring games and depth is boring.  Also, the kid could sell a lot of jerseys, and we know what a priority that is.

[DC_1908]

So put a one way rookie  on a line with Eller?  That’s ridiculous, that “line” would all but worthless, particularly when holding a lead. A and we all know how Toddy hates to double shift one or more players unless there’s an injury.  A kid like will Backstrom or Oshie to babysit for a couple years.


It would be better to move him to a team that will give us a couple of prospects and/or picks to build depth, and not just bet on a single player.


But that probably won’t happen as it’s en vogue and a fad amongst Caps fans to only like high scoring games and depth is boring.  Also, the kid could sell a lot of jerseys, and we know what a priority that is.

[4 Caps]

So put a one way rookie  on a line with Eller?  That’s ridiculous, that “line” would all but worthless, particularly when holding a lead. A and we all know how Toddy hates to double shift one or more players unless there’s an injury.  A kid like will Backstrom or Oshie to babysit for a couple years.


It would be better to move him to a team that will give us a couple of prospects and/or picks to build depth, and not just bet on a single player.


But that probably won’t happen as it’s en vogue and a fad amongst Caps fans to only like high scoring games and depth is boring.  Also, the kid could sell a lot of jerseys, and we know what a priority that is.

Obviously you don’t know much about McMichael.  He is not a one way dimensional player.  Everything I have read and have observed watching him in the WJC is that he is a well rounded versatile player.  Today he has been on the PP and PK and is playing wing even though his natural position is center.  He sees the ice well and is good at distributing the puck.  To trade him would be ridiculous and after the Filip Forsberg fiasco that simply is not going to happen.  As for him playing on the third line I see no problem with that, he could play wing or even replace Eller as center. 

[DC_1908]

Obviously you don’t know much about McMichael.  He is not a one way dimensional player.  Everything I have read and have observed watching him in the WJC is that he is a well rounded versatile player.  Today he has been on the PP and PK and is playing wing even though his natural position is center.  He sees the ice well and is good at distributing the puck.  To trade him would be ridiculous and after the Filip Forsberg fiasco that simply is not going to happen.  As for him playing on the third line I see no problem with that, he could play wing or even replace Eller as center.

I’ll admit I haven’t followed him, and given the Caps history, I’m surprised they picked a player like that.
  But we’d have to bet that he’ll develop as NHL level player . But, two or three prospects or picks are better than one 85+% of the time, so that’s a bet I’ll take near everytime.

If he is really that good, then the option to ship off at leash one of the high dollar/bad contracts would be a strong one to make roster and cap space.  But yeah, either probably won’t happen.  I won’t be surprised if they keep him in Hershey for most of his rookie contact competing with Boyd etc for the 13th-14th/injury call-up for the duration of some of these bad contracts and/or extensions