Washington Capitals Fan Forum
Talk about Capitals hockey & more! => Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion => Topic started by: Beaglefan2 on Wednesday February 16, 2022, 02:25:57 PM Eastern
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So with the trade deadline coming up, I thought I would start the discussion.
I hope that the Caps do nothing! We are not a team that is one forward away from making a deep playoff run and our past habit of trading off picks has got us in the position we are in - an old, slow team with zero stud prospects.
If anything, we should be sellers, but rumors are already starting that we are after forwards from Vancouver, etc.....
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I agree, mainly because they’d don’t have anything to work with. The overpriced talent that could/should go could only go to a team that’s well under the cap. Most of those teams don’t have anything they are willing to give up. And honestly, in the foreword department I think the Caps are covered with the young guys that have needed to step up this season. Trading any of them would be trading away the team’s future.
I would like to see a new goalie coach before they dump a bunch of salary for a different goalie that would only be a rental.
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And before you even start...Forget about it Alta...they are never trading Carlson :raspberry:
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Eller's had a subpar season as well. Carlson, Oshie, Nicky.. They could really move some $ and get back some picks if they we're motivated, but we know the rule in DC, the window is apparently always open.. :-\ Still have no clue why Forsythe still has a job with the Caps. He may of had some good special teams input in the past, but that ship sailed like 2-3 years ago..
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I think I agree with Beagle: The more I look at the Caps' situation this season, with all the injuries, the goalies settling into inconsistent mediocrity, and the age/injury/contract situation preventing any significant return for any "veteran presence" players they'd like to give up (are a few 5th round draft choices going to make any difference in the team's future?), the more it looks like basically standing pat is the way to go now.
I know Leonsis made a promise to Ovie to try to get him as many chances at a Cup as he could, but anyone can see that the Caps' chances of even making any significant noise in the playoffs are slim and none, and Slim is saddling his horse to ride out of town. Any moves they'd try to make to "strengthen" the team for a run now will simply drive them further into the age/salary cap box canyon they are already in now. The only problem is, standing pat doesn't do anything for the longer term competitive chances of the franchise.
The most useful thing that could happen for the long-term health of the franchise would be for Ovie to go to management and say "Look, earlier in my career I might have hoped for more championship success. But I can read the tea leaves of what's happening here. I'm satisfied with a legacy of one ring and a run at the career goal-scoring record. As long as you give me something to work with to keep scoring, do what you have to do to the roster for the longer-term benefit of the team."
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I don't know who this pat guy is or why he is standing but...
I'd leave the team alone. Pretty much what BlackIce said. We going nowhere in the playoffs unless their is a miracle awakening by a goalie, and Mantha and Oshie come back healthy and perform better than ever before. I am not holding my breath on any of it.
Team doesn't have much to work with to trade off salary to get a guy back that would make a difference. Unless you talking Johnny Q and no way no how do they let the golden boy go.
And...
we winning ANOTHER cup with this team just as it is :raspberry:
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I don't know who this pat guy is or why he is standing but...
Funny! Management will absolutely think that Oshie and Mantha will fix everything and they will give Vancouver a first or second for some mediocre forward.
I'd like to think they could get two #1s or a 1 and a 2 for Carlson, but I think the rest of the league knows he is a defensive embarrassment and besides, management would never do it anyway.
They also would never, eve, trade Backstrom, but I would argue that getting rid of his contract at his age and his decline - which has already started - would be our best move. It wouldn't be well received by the fans (and Ovi), but it would be their best move.
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Beaglefan, it appears that the latest serious injuries to Hagelin and Snively along with uncertain health status to Samsonov (who let's face it, wasn't setting the world on fire anyway) has Caps' management doubting their playoff chances. So I don't expect any rash acquisitions. The Hagelin injury really hurts because the HDH line was the one line that could consistently be counted on to do the job they were put together for.
As people have suggested, now WOULD be a good time to get rid of some salary cap baggage and set up for a retool, but I just don't think the franchise is inclined that way.
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Beaglefan, it appears that the latest serious injuries to Hagelin and Snively along with uncertain health status to Samsonov (who let's face it, wasn't setting the world on fire anyway) has Caps' management doubting their playoff chances. So I don't expect any rash acquisitions. The Hagelin injury really hurts because the HDH line was the one line that could consistently be counted on to do the job they were put together for.
As people have suggested, now WOULD be a good time to get rid of some salary cap baggage and set up for a retool, but I just don't think the franchise is inclined that way.
Read a couple of articles that sounds like GMBM agrees with you and is not planning on being aggressive at the trade deadline.
Who do you realistically think the Caps could salary dump?
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If they were actually going to be sellers and do a salary dump, it would only make sense if they could get rid of some decent money. The obvious candidate is Carlson, but he is a core Leonsis guy. Whatever you think about Leonsis, he is loyal to the Ovi, Backstrom, Carlson core.
They could try and dump Oshie, but with his injury issues this year, there won't be any takers.
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They could find takers for Oshie and Carlson if they wanted to, imo. I don't see how they ever get better/younger/faster "standing pat" though, which is apparently what they plan to do.
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Betcha they throw Sprong in on a trade. They clearly don't like him for some reason. I have suspected that he may not be a "team guy". He actually has the nerve to be selfish and shoot the puck rather than pass it.
For years, our team has been instilled with the nice-guy, pass rather than shoot philosophy. Drives me nuts and I think we are a worse team for it. Kuzy could be a top 5 scorer in the league if he aggressively shot the puck....
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at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if Sprong asked to be traded
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For sure, if I was Sprong I'd be requesting a trade.. Like I said before, I keep reading he doesn't play defense is why he's getting scratched? But, McMichael doesn't play defense, or offense, for that matter. lol But yea, they'll lose a young, fast, goal scorer for something they could probably work out if they had any patience for young players.
Just watching Nicky skate is depressing.. Dude hit the fence hard and hopefully can get some of it back in the offseason? 9.2 million for 3 more years.. Oof. Love some of these guys, but you can't keep around 3 or 4 old, slow dudes who are killing your cap, regardless of sentiment.. Carlson literally make 7+ million a year to do a look away pass to Ovi on the PP.. That's all he does.. :-\
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Deadline getting closer and the Caps have turned it around enough that our management will probably do something stupid and throw away some more draft picks. I'm hoping that Vanacek's play will cause them to not trade for a goalie, but they will probably try and add a forward. I wish they would just play Sprong instead, but he must have insulted Lavi's wife or something.
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Still hoping they do nothing, but my prediction is they trade Sprong plus a second for some mediocre forward.
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yea, outside of a major injury I don’t think this team can improve things with one guy, especially without dumping some serious salary
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So we are bringing back Mojo - reclaiming him from the volcano. Not sure what we gave yet, but I kinda like it. I'm hoping it is cheap, like a 4th. Hope it wasn't Sprong.
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So we are bringing back Mojo - reclaiming him from the volcano. Not sure what we gave yet, but I kinda like it. I'm hoping it is cheap, like a 4th. Hope it wasn't Sprong.
Shit, they better not have traded Sprong for Mojo.. Cost 2x as much and is a UFA. Either way though, good to have Mojo back! I liked his game for the most part.
https://twitter.com/NoVa_Caps/status/1505923262785761280
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So there is a little more than 4 hours left until the trade deadline, and of the news/rumors that are still circulating, absolutely NONE of it involves the Caps that I can tell. Absolute silence.
It really would make sense to shed some salary, but it ain't gonna happen. So I guess we stand pat and just go with what we have.
One piece of good news: At this point the Caps, assuming they make the playoffs (the gap between them and any possible challenger for the last spot is going to be tough to bridge in the short remaining regular season) will not have home ice advantage in any playoff series, no matter the opponent. Which is great, because the Caps have been about the best team in the league on the road this season!!!
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Those mother fuckers did trade Sprong -AND- picks for fucking Mojo.. Fucking moron's run this team.. :clown: :poop:
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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
:huh:
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They're smoking crack Alta.. :clown: If the idiot coach hadn't scratched Sprong 7 games in row, someone would of been giving US picks.. Fucking stupid.
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8-0
:stupid:
:huh: :huh: :huh:
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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.
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Those mother fuckers did trade Sprong -AND- picks for fucking Mojo.. Fucking moron's run this team.. :clown: :poop:
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)
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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.
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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/ (https://novacapsfans.com/2022/03/21/report-capitals-acquire-center-johan-larsson-for-third-round-pick/)
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The trade makes them 6 years older, much slower and for about the same production on the ice. Makes no sense.
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Those mother fuckers did trade Sprong -AND- picks for fucking Mojo.. Fucking moron's run this team.. :clown: :poop:
Yep. I agree. That they were scratching Sprong for all those games made no sense either. He was definitely poorly utilized.
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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] :wackysmile:
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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.
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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???
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Probably just wanted to add some toughness to the lineup....couple more bruising Swedes.. :raspberry:
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
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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?
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Uh oh! I think I just read that Mojo is a - 22
8-0
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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/ (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. :-|
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I get that Sprong was always going, but is this really the best we could do?
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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.. :snicker:
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Uh oh! I think I just read that Mojo is a - 22
8-0
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 8)
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. :wackysmile:
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Rich - the more I think about it, they felt they really needed to get Sprong out of the lockerroom. I think the extra draft picks were compensation for that risk to the Kraken. Our GM probably was honest about whatever issue there was. So I guess I am ok with giving up the picks.
However we gave up a third for the other guy we got and I don't like that. We need every decent draft pick we have and a third is decent.
Our farm team has been terrible for a lot of years now. Instead of giving away picks for rentals, every single year, we should be filling our holes internally.
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However we gave up a third for the other guy we got and I don't like that. We need every decent draft pick we have and a third is decent.
Our farm team has been terrible for a lot of years now. Instead of giving away picks for rentals, every single year, we should be filling our holes internally.
Agree 100%. Throw away a 3rd round pick for a 29 YO utility player who is a UFA basically 18 games from now? That makes no sense.
(Probably the Caps management is just so wise they realize he is a playoff ringer that NOBODY knows about because he's never been in a playoff.)
The more I think about MOJO - I think he is replacement for Hags....maybe hedging their bets Hags is done for good. I assume if a player has career ending injury then he no longer counts against the Cap hit (next year)
and MOJO at $1.5 is not bad....at $750k he's a steal and below entry level contract pay
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Maybe the Caps made these trades to corner the market on "sson's".
But seriously, I'm not sure about speculation on MJ being an eventual replacement for Hagelin if his injury turns out to be a career-ender. I see MJ is apparently skating on line 1 tonight. It may be that Larsson is the replacement for Hagelin, at least for the rest of this season.
When I first heard of the Larsson acquisition I went to the player stats. wondering if he was a strong face-off man and THAT was what they were trying to address. But no, in the last few years his FO% has been in the mid-high 40's, so it isn't that. The only thing that makes any sense to me is a comment I read in one article that he is considered around the league to be a top-notch shut-down forward. I wonder if they got him to try to build a shut-down line for the playoffs to contend with some of the young superstar forwards on other teams they will see.
This strategy may be a part of a broader approach that the Caps may feel is their best chance in the playoffs. They can no longer skate with a lot of the teams they will be facing, so their best bet would seem to be playing heavy and slowing the game down. Slowing down the very best offensive players may require defensive aptitude as well as grit. I don't particularly care for it as a strategy because the Caps' goaltending is suspect, but they may think of it as their best chance. Larsson fits very well into that kind of strategy, especially if he is put on the Dowd/Hathaway line.
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Yeah, I don't really see MOJO as really shut down guy...I kind of meant replace Hagelin's body with another one, but I see Moho capable of filling more holes than Hag's.
I don't know nothing about the other guy, but the 4th line needs something with Hags out and sounds like Hags is not coming back this year anyway.