2021 Trade Deadline and Roster Moves

[alta]

trade deadline coming up, I see absolutely no reason to change anything now....


https://novacapsfans.com/2021/03/18/capitals-trade-tiers-leading-up-to-the-nhl-trade-deadline/

[BlackIce]

FWIW, the trade deadline is April 12 at 3 pm (I presume EDT).


The Caps have no salary cap room.  Bringing in a player requires jettisoning equal salary.  Also, any moves have to be assessed in light of the effect on the upcoming expansion draft.

[richkrt99]

The expansion draft is unfair to good teams who have built their teams up over the last several seasons....especially those with young talent.  You just can't protect enough guys.
I know the NHL was trying to make the expansion teams competitive, but they went overboard.


1/2 of the current teams in the NHL could do better with a draft like that than they could with their current roster.


The fact that Vegas, as a 1st year expansion team was able to build a team strong enough to make it to the SC finals tells a lot.  I don't mind them trying to make it competitive, but they should not get THAT much of a jump on the rest of the league.  You want an expansion team....you got to suck it up a few years.

[BlackIce]

The expansion draft is unfair to good teams who have built their teams up over the last several seasons....especially those with young talent.  You just can't protect enough guys.
I know the NHL was trying to make the expansion teams competitive, but they went overboard.


1/2 of the current teams in the NHL could do better with a draft like that than they could with their current roster.


The fact that Vegas, as a 1st year expansion team was able to build a team strong enough to make it to the SC finals tells a lot.  I don't mind them trying to make it competitive, but they should not get THAT much of a jump on the rest of the league.  You want an expansion team....you got to suck it up a few years.

Of course, a large part of the reason for Vegas' early success was the absolute brilliance of the GM, George McPhee.  Why can't we get front office leadership like that?




Oh, wait .....






Of course, the problem is that, having given Vegas a chance to form a team under a given set of rules, the NHL could hardly make the rules less accommodating for the upcoming draft, especially with it occurring only a few years after the previous one.  Like it or not, these two expansions are too closely linked to try to rejigger the rules.  But even so, we'll see if Seattle is able to make as much hay from their draft as McPhee/Vegas was able to make from theirs.  It could be that the other teams will be able to learn something from the Vegas draft experience and will figure out ways to protect themselves better.


To be honest, I share your concern more about the initial strength of the expansion team than the differential harm to better-run, higher-quality teams who can't protect everyone.  Even the best-run and potentially "most harmed" franchises still lose only one player. 

[alta]

interesting move...


https://novacapsfans.com/2021/03/21/capitals-re-sign-trevor-van-riemsdyk-to-two-year-contract-extension-worth-1-9-million/

[Mickstix]

interesting move...

Wonder if they're expecting (or if he's expecting) to start get playing time? Ya think he'd be looking to move on if he was just gonna ride pine?

[alta]

Wonder if they're expecting (or if he's expecting) to start get playing time? Ya think he'd be looking to move on if he was just gonna ride pine?

yep, that’s why I find it interesting. He’s got the talent to play, but doesn’t look like he will here next season

[richkrt99]

Of course, the problem is that, having given Vegas a chance to form a team under a given set of rules, the NHL could hardly make the rules less accommodating for the upcoming draft, especially with it occurring only a few years after the previous one.  Like it or not, these two expansions are too closely linked to try to rejigger the rules.  But even so, we'll see if Seattle is able to make as much hay from their draft as McPhee/Vegas was able to make from theirs.  It could be that the other teams will be able to learn something from the Vegas draft experience and will figure out ways to protect themselves better.


To be honest, I share your concern more about the initial strength of the expansion team than the differential harm to better-run, higher-quality teams who can't protect everyone.  Even the best-run and potentially "most harmed" franchises still lose only one player.

I keep forgetting the one player per team part so that makes its more bearable.....unless you happen to lose a great goalie or key player.  ALso players with no movement clauses have to be protected so that kind of limits what decisions a team actually can make.
Still...the draft is way too generous.  You get to pick from a pretty good pool of players.  Teams can protect 7 forwards and 3 D (or 8 total) so that leaves 15+ NHL roster guys exposed from every club.  That's a pretty good talent pool.


Caps players with no movement clauses: 


Ovie
Wilson
Kuzy
Carlson
Orlov
Oshie


Ovie's contract will be up, but I would expect they will sign him before the expansion draft and he will be protected.


That's 6 of your 10 right there (unless the players WAIVE their no trade clause for the draft)


I certainly expect the Caps will protect Ovi, Willy, Kuzy and Carlson for sure anyway.  THey seem to like Orlov too, but that contract...


SO...Who would YOU protect on this squad.  You get 7 forwards and 3 D - OR 8 skaters, plus one goalie.


Which goalie are you protecting?  Time to test your GM skills and put your money where your mouth is...

[richkrt99]

So as things stand right now...I'm protecting:


Ovie - THE Franchise - enough said
Wilson - Don't even need to think about it - probably THE most dominant player in the league at his position.
Kuzy - Well SMH....SO much talent and mad skills.  Just so hard to find a real 1C in this league.  If only he would play...
Backy - Again...how would you replace this guy?
Vrana - Hmm....still can't decide - expecting more from him.
Eller - good fit for us - works hard, fills a lot of rolls
Oshie - heart and soul guy who does still have scoring punch


Carlson - for all the grief we (okay I) give him....he's a talented guy and would be missed
Orlov - Did I really put him on this list.
Dillon - well who else is left to protect?  This assumes Chara is moving on


Samsonov - either of our goalies would be a steal.  Young players with great potential and currently minimal salaries. 



I'm sure many will laugh at protecting Eller, but he is a bargain 3C and I think the center position is the hardest to fill.  Some of my thinking was which player would be hardest to replace.
I'm kind of on the fence with Vrana, but he has mad skills and potential.  Most of our current 3/4 line guys could be replaced with other comparable 3/4 line guys.
If I had my wish, and we actually did TRADE Orlov this season then I might protect Ziggy.  I'm not sure of what the rules are with protecting younger players.  Ziggy played 20+ games in 20018-19 season so I think he is considered a 3rd year player (which means he is exposed)
I hate that all my guys are big contract (well mostly) guys, but it was mostly guys that would be hard or impossible to replace.

[Mickstix]

Oh we're probably losing Vanacek to Seattle. Unless he takes a dump or something. (Shut up rich) 

[BlackIce]

Rich, there are a couple of things about the draft that are a little uncertain to me, especially given that the expansion draft is in June, when the Caps' season may still be going on (or not, who knows?)


(1)  In addition to who you can protect, there are certain players you MUST expose:  2 forwards under contract through at least 2022 who played at least 40 NHL games this season or 70 NHL games combined the last two seasons; one such defenseman; and a goalie either signed through 2022 or an RFA given a qualifying offer.  (I wonder if these game floor numbers will be reduced given the shortened seasons due to COVID?)


(2)  What happens, if the Caps' season is over, to players such as Vrana and Siegenthaler, who are likely to be unsigned RFA's at the time of the draft.  Are they exempt from selection, or must they be protected in order to assure they are not selected?  Similarly, if Ovie isn't signed as of the time of the draft, what is his status?  Does it depend on whether or not the Caps are still alive in the playoffs?  That doesn't make sense.



Let's start with the goalies.  I assume that the Caps protect Samsonov.  I THINK Vanacek is exempt from the draft, because he is as first-year NHL player (first and second-year players are exempt).  Actually, I think that Copley was given an NHL contract that runs through 2022 so that he can be brought up and be the goalie required to be exposed in the draft.


Next, defense.  Van Riemsdyk was NOT signed to be protected, so he will be a/the qualifying defenseman to be exposed.  Chara will be a UFA and not on the team's radar WRT the draft.  Kempney is off the radar because of his injury status.  That leaves Carlson/Orlov/Dillon/Schultz/Jensen/Siegenthaler.  Rick, assuming you are right about Siegenthaler's status, here is where the tough nut is.  I'd protect Carlson, Dillion, and Siegenthaler and let Orlov hanging out there, but as far as I can tell the coach isn't utterly enthralled with Sieg, and we DO have Fehevary and Alexeyev coming up the pipeline.  I suspect we are going to lose a defenseman when all is said and done.


Finally, forwards.  I don't have a quibble with your selections, except that I don't know what Vrana's status is as an unsigned RFA.  I guess he has to be protected if the Caps want to keep him.  Obviously, with Dowd, Hathaway, Haiglin, Panik, and Sprong all signed through 2022, there is no shortage of qualifying forwards we will leave exposed.  Might Seattle select one of our primo 4th line guys who have been so solid this year?  I sort of doubt it, because these are the types of guys that will be left exposed throughout the league.  Seattle will have all sorts of players like this to select from.  BUT, Dowd, as a center, decent face-off guy, PK guy, might be worth a selection -- will he be better than all the other players of his kind who will be available?  The other threat as a loss might be Sprong, given his resurgence this season, and he's only 24. 


My thoughts, FWIW.

[richkrt99]

Ice,


good points.  I admittedly don't know all the details of the rules

Yeah, I'm not sure how Ovi fits with contract, etc, but I can't imagine he isn't protected by the Caps some way some how no matter what.


I agree with you on Orlov and Ziggy.  I wonder IF Orlov can be left unprotected because he DOES have some kind of No Trade Clause?  I don't know how the rules apply.
I could leave him hanging and would be okay if he was selected or not.  I would protect Ziggy then like you said
Ziggy I really like and can't figure why he doesn't play....other than the glut of Dmen we suddenly have this year.  I could also see an argument for protecting Jensen, but I don't think he's all that.  He is having an outstanding year.  How much is growth, coaching, scheme, partner, luck, etc.?  I was lobbying for cutting him and letting Ziggy play early on...Ziggy earned a spot last year IMO.  Jensen is a puck mover though and fits the system.  He has played well, but when it comes to PLAYOFF caliber D-men....Is he what wins a cup?


I chose to protect Dillon because he has been more solid this year and he's kind of old school which I like.  SHultz has or could have injury issues so he's a little more risky to keep.


I forgot about Vitek being so young so I think you are correct and he IS protected which means Copely is signed specifically for that reason of exposing him...good call.


I agree with you that most of our 3/4 line guys -(even though most of them having very good and effective play for us) could be replaced.  Always hard to know/figure the intangibles though.


I thought about Sprong, but he is young and a bit unproven.  He is quick and man he has an Ovi-like release on his shot.  Depending on what the ultimate status ends up with Vrana, I could protect Sprong.


Honestly I think the Caps are better off this draft than the Vegas one because we have less "prime young" talent hanging out there..  We lost Schmidt who I liked, but I can't say I would have protected him over Nisky THAT year.  We needed Nisky I think more than Schmidt (calm down Lil)

[alta]

The league has said the rules for this expansion draft will be exactly the same as the Vegas draft.


I still don't think I protect Carlson, and hope Seatle takes that contract off our hands

[richkrt99]

The league has said the rules for this expansion draft will be exactly the same as the Vegas draft.


I still don't think I protect Carlson, and hope Seatle takes that contract off our hands

Shame on you.  He is the golden boy of offensive defensemen.  Our own true Norris candidate.


WTF ever his name was from Canada who used to post here and explode every time anyone would infer anything negative about Johnny Q Carlson is rolling over in his virtual message board grave about now.

[alta]

Shame on you.  He is the golden boy of offensive defensemen.  Our own true Norris candidate.


WTF ever his name was from Canada who used to post here and explode every time anyone would infer anything negative about Johnny Q Carlson is rolling over in his virtual message board grave about now.

Even if the NHL didn't freeze the salary cap for at least two years because of the wuhan, it would be a bad contract.

[Mickstix]

(2)  What happens, if the Caps' season is over, to players such as Vrana and Siegenthaler, who are likely to be unsigned RFA's at the time of the draft.  Are they exempt from selection, or must they be protected in order to assure they are not selected?

I don't know for sure, but I'd "think" if they're unsigned, they can be exposed like anyone else, but it'd be a risk for Seattle to select them cause all they'd be guaranteed to get is the 1st chance to negotiate/sign them?

[alta]

I usually don't pay attention to this because it's pure speculation, but it's a slow week for Caps fans...


https://novacapsfans.com/2021/03/23/mock-expansion-draft-3-0-who-is-seattle-kraken-bound/

[Mickstix]

That'd be a pretty bold move! Doubt they leave him unprotected though..

[alta]

The salary cap is frozen at least until the end of the 21-22 season, and since its directly linked to league revenue it may be longer. The Caps have to dump a big contract, not just a couple small ones. As such, Carlson is the odd man out, IMO.

https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/washington-capitals/cap/


Kuzy is the next big contract on the list, but at this point it's easier to replace a Dman than it is a good half decent center.

[Mickstix]

I'd be shocked if they left ANY of the big contract guys exposed. They may need to move one, but just letting them go for free to expansion probably isn't the way they'll go about it. Probably trade and try and get pics or players back.