Trade Deadline

[Mickstix]

Those mother fuckers did trade Sprong -AND- picks for fucking Mojo.. Fucking moron's run this team.. 

[alta]

YHGTBFKM


lateral move at best, 24 yo Sprong for 34 yo MoJo.. PLUS picks. I thought one of the oldest teams in the league needed to get younger/quicker


 

[Mickstix]

They're smoking crack Alta..    If the idiot coach hadn't scratched Sprong 7 games in row, someone would of been giving US picks.. Fucking stupid.

[Surreylily]

 

 

 

[richkrt99]

Must be issues with Sprong we don't know about.  (I Hope at least)


Sprong for Mojo is decent straight up, but it's definitely a rental.  We can't afford MOJO next season.  But to throw draft picks in for a rental is stupid.  I'd say MOJO is the better player for a playoff run (ahem...series), but that's definitely short term thinking.

[richkrt99]

Those mother fuckers did trade Sprong -AND- picks for fucking Mojo.. Fucking moron's run this team.. 

So this isn't quite as horrible as it sounds.  While I agree (and said earlier) I hate that we gave picks up for a rental....it was a 4th round pick (2022) and a 6th round pick (2023) so not quite AS bad.
Also, Seattle retains half of MOJO salary for this season so it's basically the same salary for salary.


AND...


Sprong is an RFA after the season and if Caps were not planning (or could not afford to) sign him next year than he was gone anyway.


So you get a "known" entity former 1st round pick with proven playoff experience for a guy who did not make the lineup most nights (for whatever reason)  As far as THIS YEAR's playoff picture, it's a better player IMO


I did like Spronger though....dude has a wicked release and serious wheels.  Not sure what the issue was with him and this team.  (Maybe it was Ovi's wife he insulted.....or was hitting on)

[BlackIce]

Well, right as I was posting about how there was no news concerning the Caps, they make news.


The question is, why do this?  What is the point?  While other teams are making higher-profile adds, the Caps make this one, dare I say, marginal move.  Does this really move the needle as far as the team's chances in the playoffs?  On the surface, one wouldn't think so.


So what does MJ give us?  (1) Good if not elite speed, and shifty; (2) During his years with the Caps he was on the PP1 unit and was their #1 option for bringing the puck into the offensive zone on the PP and getting it initially set up (something the team struggles with now, which is part of the reason for the PP deterioration).  Is there space for him on PP1?  Maybe, if Oshie isn't ready to go, but who's going to set up in front of the net?; (3) I'm wondering if his real role might be to replace Hagelin, to see if the Caps can reconstruct what was arguably the best 4th line in the NHL, with Dowd and Hathaway, and maybe make it even a little better because he is at least a marginally more dangerous scorer; or alternatively, to give Eller a winger to see if they can get Eller going; and (4) He is at least decent on defense (which was Sprong's supposed downfall), which feeds into the 4th line idea and may play into the Caps' playoff strategy - play heavy and conservatively and see if the refs let more go during the playoffs.

[alta]

looks like a depth move, which makes more sense than the other trade..


https://novacapsfans.com/2022/03/21/report-capitals-acquire-center-johan-larsson-for-third-round-pick/

[waynerivers]

The trade makes them 6 years older, much slower and for about the same production on the ice.  Makes no sense.

[waynerivers]

Those mother fuckers did trade Sprong -AND- picks for fucking Mojo.. Fucking moron's run this team.. 

Yep.  I agree.  That they were scratching Sprong for all those games made no sense either.  He was definitely poorly utilized.

[richkrt99]

I think Mojo fills some gaps (in the Caps minds) that Spronger could not.. or at least the Caps believe Mojo can.  Mojo can/has played PP & PK.  He can also fill in at center.  He could very well fill Hagelin's spot - especially on PK.  Mojo is also skilled enough to handle more places up and down the line up.  I wonder if Oshie's injury is another factor?  Mojo does give them quite a bit of flexibility with a player they believe in.
For whatever reason, Sprong wasn't in the Caps plans.  There has to be an issue with him we don't know about.  Maybe he's detrimental in the locker room - or maybe just sour grapes and ready for a move and the team has resided to that fact.


But yeah, basically you're putting a band aid on an old withering body and hoping it's enough to get you to the finish line?  I think the reality is....without dumping serious contracts, they have no real hope of making a major impact on this roster and they are just not willing to do that.
[size=78%]And maybe.....Caps just needed to burn some lower draft picks...cause they really don't know what to do with draft picks because they haven't had any in so long. [/size]

[richkrt99]

The trade makes them 6 years older, much slower and for about the same production on the ice.  Makes no sense.

I agree except....there's nobody slower than a guy in the press box.

[Beaglefan2]

You could tell Sprong was on his way out. I think I read in the past that he may have had some locker-room issues.  Could very well be that he is a "selfish" guy who looks to shoot first rather than past.  IMO we need more of those guys and our management and coaching staff has always tolerated/encouraged guys to pass first.


Maybe he was just a jerk and nobody on the team liked him and they just had to get rid of him.  If so, I guess Mojo was a decent addition, but why in the heck did we have to give up a third round pick???

[richkrt99]

Probably just wanted to add some toughness to the lineup....couple more bruising Swedes..


Added Swedish Mojo
and  Johan Larsson - another Swede.


Seriously though....both these guys are decent PK guys, so I'm figuring they are fill ins that fit our budget.
Can't buy stallions on a glue-donkey budget.


Also makes me wonder what Dowd's status is if we picked up a couple "utility" guys who can play center.  Although - I'd give MOJO more than a "utility" brand

[Surreylily]

So this isn't quite as horrible as it sounds.  While I agree (and said earlier) I hate that we gave picks up for a rental....it was a 4th round pick (2022) and a 6th round pick (2023) so not quite AS bad.
Also, Seattle retains half of MOJO salary for this season so it's basically the same salary for salary.


AND...


Sprong is an RFA after the season and if Caps were not planning (or could not afford to) sign him next year than he was gone anyway.

So you get a "known" entity former 1st round pick with proven playoff experience for a guy who did not make the lineup most nights (for whatever reason)  As far as THIS YEAR's playoff picture, it's a better player IMO


I did like Spronger though....dude has a wicked release and serious wheels.  Not sure what the issue was with him and this team.  (Maybe it was Ovi's wife he insulted.....or was hitting on)

Hmmmm

That puts a slightly less acidic slant on that trade.
We all know there was a problem with Spronger.  At least one problem, but nobody nows what.  Personally, I liked the way he played and wish hom allt he best.


Then there's Mojo........
Yeah, I get his skillset.  He can play up and down the lines.  He can play winger or center and he can play defense.  But will he?  ( There is a benefit that he is a known quantity....  )

He didn't so much when he was here before and he frequently climbed that volcano ladder.
I I R C, I think he always saw himself as a center when he was here, but BB kept putting hin on Wing because of his speed and he still kept passing intead of shooting.  Or was it the other way round?   Anyway, it was bloody annoying.
Maybe he's learned a few things over the last few years?  We shall see.
Looks like he's going to become the next "Laich"?
Personlly, again, I've never been a fan, or advocate for getting back together with an ex.   There's a reason you parted ways, right?

[Surreylily]

Uh oh!   I think I just read that Mojo is a - 22
 

[Surreylily]

looks like a depth move, which makes more sense than the other trade..


https://novacapsfans.com/2022/03/21/report-capitals-acquire-center-johan-larsson-for-third-round-pick/

So were getting another injured guy who is going to ride the pine, that needs rehabilitation.

Cos we don't have enough of our own already.
   AWESOME.   

[Surreylily]

I get that Sprong was always going, but is this really the best we could do?

[Mickstix]

I don't mind getting Mojo back. He's decent and will fill a roll. Not scoring much just is what it is. He'll score more than Haglin and if he hustles, play a similar responsible type game. And be a new wrinkle for the PP.


As for Sprong. I don't get it. Im not an aficionado or anything but I never recall saying "Dammit, Sprong just cost us a goal" So, whatever he did or didn't do those other 100', I never caught much wind of it.. He's tenacious on O and has a wicked shot. Coach scratching him 7 games in a row is what tanked his return, imo.. Play the guy yet have an active invitation to trade and I think we're the ones getting picks in the deal. Plenty of teams been making trades long before the deadline. I hope he lights it up in Seattle..


The other guy? Never heard of her.. 

[richkrt99]

Uh oh!   I think I just read that Mojo is a - 22
 

He played for Seattle.  Everybody is -22 on that team.  The team is a combined -167.  The top ten scorers on the team are combined -312.  That's a -31 average 
Mojo is a minus 49 over 11 years so...about a -4.5 annually, but realistically he was +22 over 7 years with the Caps and one of those years he was a -21.
Then he was a minus about everywhere else, but he played on mostly weak/losing teams at the time....NJD, BUF, MIN, BOS (-1), SEA.  Granted he has trended in the wrong direction for the last 5 years.


And I think mostly he was Volcano bait here because he would not shoot and score.  Like Mick said...IF he's filling Haglin's role, he can only be an upside in scoring (and doing so for $750k per year rather than 3 mil) then it's not a bad swap.  Although, I think Hagelin is a better 4th line shut down guy.


We shall see, but as a comparison directly to Sprong for the remainder of THIS season, Mojo has more upside.  (Next year is irrelevant cause very doubtful Sprong would be here - likely not MOJO either)  Unless of course Hags eye injury is career ending, then you could probably sign MOJO for 1.5 or less (which is a $ savings over Hags) but Spronger was destined to be elsewhere regardless.
For the record, MOJO is a career .545 pts/game player.  Spronger was .350 pts/game player over 7 seasons with PIT, ANA, WSH and never played more than 47 games in any year with one team. Hard to say with a younger guy and playing time, but that's three teams that he could break the lineup as a consistent starter for some reason.
Spronger's best total output year he put up 23 pts over 63 games (PIT/ANA).  Last year he scored 20 pts in 42 games with WSH which is probably his bet year stats wise.  This year he has 14 pts in 47 games.  He has played 47 games of the 64 games with WSH so its not like he didn't get a shot to play.  Three teams have sort of passed on him so...he has an issue of some kind.


Mostly I think the trade was made because they were done with Spronger and MOJO could possible fit several pending needs.  And maybe Caps think Hags is done for good so MOJO even at 1.5 next year is a possible budget solution for several needs.


Two picks though? even bottom picks.  Makes me think they want him for longer than the remainder of the season.


Look at the bright side.  We got someone to throw in the Volcano when the time comes.