Transactions/Trade Deadline/Rumors

[DC_1908]

This, could be, really damn awesome, and will be very interesting to see how the lineup cards get filled out🤣


Dillon is Orpik with more strength, backbone and mean streak.  He’s also a more all around player than Gudas.


What will be interesting is averaged near 18 min a game the past 3 years,  on a team that can arguably had one of the top DCorps in the league.  He’s gonna need that here, not left on Toddy’s “3rd Pair” and PK like the Caps normally do to any D that can hit better than turn the puck over.


Either way, we “should” expect Orlov or SeiggyChrist to be moved soon, (dear god I hope it’s Orlov), but this is the Caps and rotating all 4 LDs when you have 2-3 that be called up, wouldn’t be a surprise.

[Mickstix]

Big boy! They retained 50% of his salary, so not sure who, if anyone will be moved?

[Beaglefan2]

I hate rental deals for draft choices as it leaves the farm system thin (like right now).  However, something had to be done and I like that they got this guy.  Paid a pretty steep price, but at least not a first rounder.  My bet is they sit Jenson.

[DC_1908]

    Sorry but I've seen Jensen play with the Wings. I never saw anything more than mediocrisy from him. His poor play is more noticeable here because our defensive system sucks. Easy to blame his partner but Jensen has definitely been the weak link on that pair. It's one mistake after another. It wouldn't be so bad if he contributed in the offensive zone.
     You mentioned Lewington. I like him. I like his physical play. I don't think he has the skill and quickness to be a regular NHL defenceman. I also like Connor Hobbs as a right handed dman but I don't think he will crack the NHL. We have a couple of lefties in Fehrevary and Alexeyev that could be solid NHL dmen.

You’re not wrong about Jensen, but his mistakes are way up and his intensity down this year.  Why he is accountable for his shitty play this year, the pond hockey system, which includes his “engraved in stone” pairing need to be considered. 


I remember he was generally solid when he played with Hooks.  So it would be interesting to see if he was at least paired with Kempy or now Dillon, if the mistakes would go down, and the intensity would come back.


If he still plays this bad after that, then hell with him.

[KollieOlizig]

You’re not wrong about Jensen, but his mistakes are way up and his intensity down this year.  Why he is accountable for his shitty play this year, the pond hockey system, which includes his “engraved in stone” pairing need to be considered. 


I remember he was generally solid when he played with Hooks.  So it would be interesting to see if he was at least paired with Kempy or now Dillon, if the mistakes would go down, and the intensity would come back.


If he still plays this bad after that, then hell with him.

       I'm not sure there is a fix. Our entire d core sucks right now. Carlson and Kempny have been very bad for quite a few games now. Orlov and Jensen have been inconsistent all season. Gudas has been alright but has made some bad mistakes in recent games. Seigenthaler might be our most dependable defender. That's not good.

[alta]

Seigs is the only one I wouldn’t bench right now. I could see Jensen doing better with a different pairing, and as I noted a few games ago, I’m not sure Kempny is fully healed. I think the odd man out in my opinion is Orlov. I’d love to see Carlson get scratched, but he’s making too much money. Fereheverwhatever is pretty close to a full time job in DC too. So, maybe trade Orlov, then dump either Jensen or Kempny if their game doesn’t pick up to make a spot for the kid.

[justwincaps]

So what do we think the pairings will be?

[zerofox]

Seems like a good move. But 1 move doesn't turn a garbage defense into an elite defense overnight. I think coaching is a much bigger problem...

[waynerivers]

My post from 2/4:


If the Caps really wanted to make a run at this thing, they'd pursue Brenden Dillon from SJ.  He's only a -3 on a bottomfeeder and leads the team in hits with 161.  He sounds exactly like what the doctor ordered to shore up this defense.


Guess someone was reading our forum.

[waynerivers]

Seems like a good move. But 1 move doesn't turn a garbage defense into an elite defense overnight. I think coaching is a much bigger problem...

Agreed.  It's one step in a multi step process.

[ArJunaZ]

Great news!
Now we have Dillon and Dillan on defense.   

Putting on my Johnny Carson turban here is my guess at how the new lines finally settle.

6-Kempny --  74-Carlson
4-Dillon -- 3-Jensen
9-Orlov --  33-Gudas

34-Siegenthaler Rotating in/out as backup
           

[Mickstix]

Seems like a good move. But 1 move doesn't turn a garbage defense into an elite defense overnight. I think coaching is a much bigger problem...

Dillon will save us!!   


Yea, Reirden done instilled some pondfire hockey mentality and now he's trying to have em' play over 100'.. Gonna be like pulling teeth with this bunch of Stanley Cup Super Stars..    Be cool if they did move Orlov, but Im not $eeing it. Would definitely grab their attention though. Hopefully Dillon can spark em' a little too..

[ArJunaZ]

I don't see them moving Orlov unless they really need the cap space of his 5 mil contract.

[alta]

I don't see them moving Orlov unless they really need the cap space of his 5 mil contract.

rumors are the Caps aren’t done, if so, they need to dump salary

[PUCKNRUSH]

Best I can tell, Dillen is a stay at home, tougher, DEFENSIVE defenseman.
He’s actually pretty BIG, at least relative to our D men.
Depending on where you get your stats, He is between 6’ 3”, 215 OR 6’ 4”, 225!
 He would then be our biggest D man overall.


GMBM has been routinely looking for these stay at home D guys, ever since the Shattenkirk trade BUST!!


An article in the Caps app suggests that Kempny may be moved down to 2nd pairing, giving Dillen a serious look, paired with Carlson.
This looks to me like management prioritizing the defensive demise, especially as it pertains to the Carlson/Kempny #1 pairing!


Let’s remember that when Kempny first arrived, the big news was how he ELEVATED the defensive play  on the Carlson, #1 D line, retrieving, and handling, at least 75-80% of pucks entering our zone, to be collected, and sent back up the other way!
This was by design, from management, which took away much of the potential for a Carlson “mistake”, improving our ability to bring the puck up from our zone, AND allowing Carlson to become more involved with improving his offensive skills, which was also SANCTIONED, by management!


The Carlson/Kempny experiment, proved to be a GREAT decision, by GMBM, and he received huge accolades for making the trade, for a number of good reasons, to include winning the CUP!!


THEN....Kempny suffered a MAJOR, debilitating injury!
All the while, Carlson had been receiving “specialized”, offensive training, all through the 2018-2019 season, and we started to see Carlson’s training start to pay off, and even get better, during the 1st half of this 2019-2020 season!
Hell... Carlson led the entire league in points, for defenseman, until getting passed sometime in January 2020!


One problem though....Upon Kempnys return this season, we are seeing that he is not the same Mikal Kempny, that we had seen PRIOR to his injury!


He is noticeably slower, and different! He is surely, a worse player, than he was, and in most all the phases of his game!  I can only guess, as I have no proof in reading anything recently, about his physical condition, but it is the most logical of reasons, to assume that it is injury related.


Why the emphasis about Kempnys issues? Well, IMO, it directly relates to John Carlson’s performance on BOTH sides of the ice!


Bare with me here, in that if Kempny is LESS effective, NOW, in his defensive responsibilities, and was shouldering quite a bit more of the defensive load, then, logically, Carlson is exposed to NOW, having to shoulder MORE of the D load, which, by nature, allows Carly LESS time to affect his offensive play!


We have certainly seen Carly’s production numbers tank since early January! Additionally we see Carlson’s poor defensive skills, being highly EXPOSED again, relative to Kempnys shortcomings, and they are many from Kempny, also!!  ( just talking about our #1 D pairing, specifically.  I’m fully aware our entire D has bad issues right now,  so there’s plenty of blame to go around)!!


 THIS, I believe, may be what GMBM had in mind with obtaining Brenden Dillen!  AND why we just might see how our new recruit fits with Mr. John Carlson!


I sure hope the new guy has some speed.  He’s going to need it back there with Johnny Norris as his sidekick!😁


Rush

[DC_1908]

Agreed.  It's one step in a multi step process.

The rest of steps primarily involve changing the pond hockey system. . . But I doubt that’s gonna happen.


BTW, can you make it Saturday?

[DC_1908]

Great news!
Now we have Dillon and Dillan on defense.   

Putting on my Johnny Carson turban here is my guess at how the new lines finally settle.

6-Kempny --  74-Carlson
4-Dillon -- 3-Jensen
9-Orlov --  33-Gudas

34-Siegenthaler Rotating in/out as backup
         

I can almost bet, sans other trades, it will start as, and continue for a while as
Kempny — “Jonny Norris”
Orlov — Jensen
Dillon —  Gudas


Dillon is already our best all around D, but he fits Toddies sterotype “3rd pair D”.   There should be ample concern that with out a move, Dillon is just gonna get the same minutes Gudas does, ie not enough)

[DC_1908]

Here’s Dillons scouting report🤘🤘🤘🤘😈

Has tremendous size (6-4, 225 pounds) for a National Hockey League defenseman. Is capable of playing a physical role in the NHL. Can produce offense at lower levels. Needs to become a more consistent defender and tighten up his game in order to make a bigger impact at the highest level. Won't put up big offensive numbers in the NHL.


Long Range Potential:Solid, physical defenseman.


I found this article on the same site.  Highlights: Sharks are #1 in PK (did not know that), hes been paired with two real Norris caliber Dman: Burns and Karlsson, most of this year and last.

[DC_1908]

Oh and we also gained a littke enforcement., “As the video clearly shows”, he’s an upper tier middleweight like Hathaway:



This was a a HELLACIOUS old-school, real man scrap!!

[alta]

Dillon being paired with Carlson makes the most sense, that way the Caps have an actual defenseman on the ice during that shift.