What happens now.

[BlackIce]

There is an oddity about the Caps' defense corps that I didn't realize until now.


The roster on the Caps website currently lists 8 defensemen (including Chara, who I'd be very surprised to see back.)  Chara of course is old enough to have his face carved in Mt. Rushmore.


THE OTHER 7 DEFENSEMEN LISTED ON THE ROSTER WERE ALL BORN WITHIN A SPAN OF ABOUT 18 MONTHS.  That is a formula for maturing together -- and potentially going downhill together. 


My understanding is that the organization expects Fehervary to assume a full-time role this upcoming season.  But if he takes Chara's spot on the roster, the problem of the septuplets remains.  The Caps also need to get Alexeyev up ASAP and offload a couple of the septuplets.

[alta]

the Caps website doesn't look like its been updated since the end of round 1 except for the news feed. They still haven't posted the preseason schedule on the team calendar, and apparently still have no fucking clue when camp starts. I'm not impressed.

this screams front office problems to me

[Mickstix]

They don't make it official until tonight, but reports say they're taking Vanecek ..   


https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/capitals/report-seattle-selects-capitals-goalie-vitek-vanecek-expansion-draft

[alta]

They don't make it official until tonight, but reports say they're taking Vanecek ..   


https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/capitals/report-seattle-selects-capitals-goalie-vitek-vanecek-expansion-draft

reports say Seattle picked Vanny, which means tonight's dog and pony show on live tv is pointless

[alta]

Seattles reported picks, no word yet who they took from detroit.....

• LW Brandon Tanev, Pittsburgh Penguins
• RHD Adam Larsson, Edmonton Oilers
• LHD Jamie Oleksiak, Dallas Stars
• RHD Cale Fleury, Montreal Canadiens
• RW Kole Lind, Vancouver Canucks
• LHD Vince Dunn, St. Louis Blues
• C Jarred McCann, Toronto Maple Leafs
• LHD Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
• LW Yanni Gourde, Tampa Bay Lightning
• LW Carsen Twarynski, Philadelphia Flyers
• LW Calle Jarnkrok, Nashville Predators
• RW Jordan Eberle, New York Islanders
• C Mason Appleton, Winnipeg Jets
• RW Joonas Donskoi, Colorado Avalanche
• C Morgan Geekie, Carolina Hurricanes
• LHD Jeremy Lauzon, Boston Bruins
• LHD Carson Soucy, Minnesota Wild
• LHD Kurtis MacDermid, Los Angeles Kings
• RW Nathan Bastian, New Jersey Devils
• LHD Gavin Bayreuther, Columbus Blue Jackets
• C Alexander True, San Jose Sharks
• C Tyler Pitlick, Arizona Coyotes
• RHD Will Borgen, Buffalo Sabres
• LHD Hadyn Fleury, Anaheim Ducks
• RW Colin Blackwell, New York Rangers
• RW John Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks
• G Vitek Vanecek, Washington Capitals
• G Chris Driedger, Florida Panthers
• G Joey Daccord, Ottawa Senators

not bad, but I'm not seeing the same knockout squad that Vegas picked
 

[Beaglefan2]

Well, I'm glad we didn't lose Sheary, but hate to lose Vitek.  He was solid and I am afraid he will turn into another Grubauer and be really good.  Now we need another goalie - maybe Holtby??? Ha! (just kidding).


Now that this is done, maybe we will see some trading going on.

[richkrt99]

sucks to lose Vitek....especially for nothing and at his current cost Cap wise.

Not as killer a squad as Vegas, but I think teams learned a bit after the Vegas robbery draft.

It is still too generous IMO.

Viteks loss in cap hit is gonna hurt - not going to get another G at $719k

Caps are going to have to shed some serious salary since they lost a total of $700k in the Seattle draft.

I'm assuming Kuzy is gone.

Caps have $9.735m in cap space right now.....with a roster of 17 players.

With that 9.735, they are going to have to sign:

Ovie is going to burn up $11m
and you need to find a goalie  (wonder if they are considering Lundqvist?)  figure 1.5m for somebody
Samsonov is an RFA that the Caps are going to HAVE TO sign.  (no idea what his RFA ass will cost...$2m?
Raffl is also an RFA.  Maybe 1.2-1.5 for him IF the Caps want him

That's 16 mil right there plus $750k for Fever

Looks like we are about 6 mil over the cap.  Kuzy is `8m so.....dump him and you need to find a $2m Center....unless you are planning on Raffl or Dowd or Eller being a 2C

Warning....mediocre season approaching!  Fans be prepared.

[BlackIce]

sucks to lose Vitek....especially for nothing and at his current cost Cap wise.

Not as killer a squad as Vegas, but I think teams learned a bit after the Vegas robbery draft.

It is still too generous IMO.

Viteks loss in cap hit is gonna hurt - not going to get another G at $719k

Caps are going to have to shed some serious salary since they lost a total of $700k in the Seattle draft.

I'm assuming Kuzy is gone.

Caps have $9.735m in cap space right now.....with a roster of 17 players.

With that 9.735, they are going to have to sign:

Ovie is going to burn up $11m
and you need to find a goalie  (wonder if they are considering Lundqvist?)  figure 1.5m for somebody
Samsonov is an RFA that the Caps are going to HAVE TO sign.  (no idea what his RFA ass will cost...$2m?
Raffl is also an RFA.  Maybe 1.2-1.5 for him IF the Caps want him

That's 16 mil right there plus $750k for Fever

Looks like we are about 6 mil over the cap.  Kuzy is `8m so.....dump him and you need to find a $2m Center....unless you are planning on Raffl or Dowd or Eller being a 2C

Warning....mediocre season approaching!  Fans be prepared.

Regarding the goalie situation ..... Phoenix Copley is still out there, and the Caps also signed Zach Fucale, a former #36 pick (high for a goaltender) in 2013 who never seemed to pan out.  But Fucale actually had a nice run in 11 games with Hershey.  Maybe they might keep him in their hip pocket as a potential backup?  If the Caps are ever going to find out what they have in Samsonov, it's time to do so.

[Beaglefan2]

I think you are right on Fucale.  They will just have to roll the dice on Sammy and hope he doesn't do something stupid to hurt himself.  Toward that end, they have to think Kuzy is a bad influence and have to move him.  The problem is going to be his contract. Now that Seattle hasn't provided a bunch of teams with cap relief, it will be tough to move Kuzy and we may actually have to give him away, plus a high draft pick (2nd).  Look what happened with Tarasenko.  Seattle didn't take him and flip him to pick up some high picks - because there was no market for him - nobody wants his salary.


I would hope they could get Ovi for less than $11 million, but Ted will pay whatever it takes and Ovi may look at it as a pride thing.  It would be nice if he took less to try and leave some room to improve the team for a Cup run, but he knows they aren't that close and I don't think he will take a discount.


I think we are stuck in mediocrity for the next 3 to 4 years until they have to turn over the core of the old guys.

[Mickstix]

Latest "rumor".. The Kracken wanted/want Dillon, but not at his current salary.. So, they're going to trade us back VV for Dillon and we retain 40% of the Dillon contract.. 

[Beaglefan2]

Not sure I hate that. I thought Dillon was exposed in the playoffs. I hate to lose his toughness though.

[Mickstix]

Not sure I hate that. I thought Dillon was exposed in the playoffs. I hate to lose his toughness though.

Yea, I'd be fine w/o Dillon or Schultz.. I just saw the Krak are like 29 million under the cap.. Must be nice..

[Beaglefan2]

Kraken were very smart.  They now have Cap room to pick off free agents and take a few salaries for draft picks, from teams that are growing increasingly desperate.


Not sure on the Dillon rumor as the Kraken took a lot of defensemen already and are likely to trade a couple.


Caps are screwed on the cap.

[richkrt99]

Hmmm.


If Seattle wanted Dillon - I don't see his salary as being a problem - especially if they have so much cap space.  I get it - they don't want to over pay, but Caps being in such cap trouble can't really afford to retain any salary.  Dillon is at $3.9m  That's not horrible for him.  Probably worth more like 2.9 but I don't see it helping the Caps to move him AND retain salary.  That's the opposite of what they need.  I'm definitely not in love with Dillon, but for the Caps situation...
And....with Ziggy gone (still hate that) and Charra not coming back (from what I've heard)....exactly what D men do the caps have to muscle anyone out of the crease when needed?
Dillon isn't the greatest, but he's the biggest strongest true D type guy we have.
Orlov will drop a hip bomb on a guy now and then, but the rest of them are really not gonna move anybody around.  Johnny Q Norris is 6'-4" and 215 but physical play isn't really his game.  Jenson is 200 or so, but also....not what I'd call a physical guy.  Shulz and TVR go like 185 or something so ...?


Fever is pretty good size 6'-2" 202lbs.  I really hope the Caps move him up for real playing time.  I'd rather see him play, make his mistakes and develop than watch Charra get beat by guys 1/2 his age.  Not knocking Chara - he was a steal at $1m, but not sure I want him back.


Alexeyev is 6"4, 210
Tobias Geisser is 6'-5, 214


I'd love for the Caps to actually get some of their young guys up for real playing time and hope one would turn into something.  I still hate we moved Ziggy - I thought he had real potential.
I know the NHL is moving toward offensive, puck moving d-men but it's nice to have a couple actual D men for when you need them (like to win a playoff series)


It will be interesting to see how the Caps work their way out of the cap problem.  Honestly I was surprised they kind of accomplished that once before moving Nisky and dumping salary.  Also some sort of under the table magic releasing Orpik and then getting him back for 1/5 of what his salary was.
With so much cutting needed, I don't see it NOT being Kuzy.  Trouble is who wants or can afford that salary?  Maybe if they move him, then McMichael can play 2C?  Caps are desperate salary wise so maybe it's time to sink or swim with some of our young guys.
Maybe the Kraken will trade us Vitek back straight up for Kuzy and his contract 


Realistically the Caps need to dump like $6mil in contracts.  Maybe they can move Orlov at 5.1 and work some other numbers magic.
The goalie situation is going to be a problem.


Go  CAPS

[alta]

not that it will matter for a couple years, but...

https://novacapsfans.com/2021/07/24/capitals-select-defenseman-vincent-iorio-in-the-second-round-of-the-2021-nhl-entry-draft/

[alta]

another potential D....
https://novacapsfans.com/2021/07/24/capitals-select-defenseman-brent-johnson-in-the-third-round-of-the-2021-nhl-entry-draft/

[Mickstix]

Hopefully we pick a righty Dman here soon.    Think that's 3 or 4 so far..


edit: Looks like we got 4D, 1C, 1G in the draft.. Still over bloated on the salary front. No word on that..

[alta]

usually they don't need to worry about the draft class salary for at least 3-4 years, still plenty of time for trading to happen

[alta]

This will be year two of the 3 year covid cap freeze. A couple of months ago the league said the freeze could be extended another 5 years. Other that the original statement I cant find find any other information on that.

[alta]

The rumor mill says OV is expected to sign a 4 year deal at "about" $10M per. I didn't expect him to ask for or get a big raise, especially with the salary cap being frozen. I expect a lot more contracts to be be more realistic as well.