Being the top team in the East was a surprise, so what’s next?
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38 Comments
Caps should be good next year .. a bit of youth injected should help I’m guessing Trineyev Lapierre will make it then Miro and or Cristall might but might depend on what the caps bring in … Frank might be on the team or even kept as a 13th forward as well
With next year likley being Ovi's last ride I can see the Caps going big more at the deadline than the offseason. I think offseason moves they'll look for are how to keep the team successful and sustainable long-term post Ovi.
I think the Caps were closer to contention than we looked in the playoffs. Carolina was a uniquely bad matchup for us (although Florida would have been tough too). In some ways this team was better than the 2018 team that won the Cup. The difference in 2018 was that some guys like Kuznetsov, Holtby, and DSP stepped up big time in the playoffs, while this year nobody really did that except for maybe Wilson in the Montreal series.
Easy bring up protas the younger and put him on a line with protas and Wilson
As a Capitals fan, I have a few hopes:
First, I hope that they leave the Protas-Dubois-Wilson line together. That's one of the biggest lines in the NHL, but also one of the best. Nominally, it's not the Capitals top line, but I think that it is their best line at 5 on 5.
Second, I hope that they trust McMichael as a 3C, and they don't go out and sign someone to be their 3C.
Third, I hope that they put Cristall on the third line with McMichael. And that they give Cristall time on the power play, because their power play needs to improve. I think Cristall has the skill set to do that. Even if he's a bit of a liability in 5 on 5, I think his scoring ability on the power play will make him belong in the lineup. Especially because the Capitals really need to improve their power play.
Fourth, I hope that Leonard and Miroshnichenko are the 3rd and 4th line RWs, but I don't really care which is which. I think they're both ready to be bottom six wingers in the NHL. If not, Ethen Frank can do a solid job as a bottom six RW for part of the season.
Fifth, I hope that they resign Beauvillier to be their RW on the Ovechkin-Strome line until Leonard is ready to jump up to the top line sometime next season. Beauvillier looked fantastic with Ovechkin and Strome versus Montreal, and he's the best we can find for a shorter team cheaper deal for someone to put on the Ovechkin-Strome line for a short time until Leonard is ready to be a top six winger.
Sixth, I hope that Fehervary is healthy for the start of next season (or that Alexeyev can fill in adequately until he's ready), because Carlson is so much better when he's paired with Fehervary than he is when paired with anyone else. If Fehervary isn't ready, it's so hard to sign a LD when we have Sandin for a few more years, Chychrun for another 8 years, and Hutson on the way. Especially since I don't trust Sandin or Chychrun on the penalty kill, and I don't know if we'll be able to trust Hutson on the penalty kill. Fehervary is their only LD I trust on the penalty kill and the only LD I trust to be paired with Carlson. So if he's not ready, and they don't trust Alexeyev, they're in a tough tough situation.
Seventh, I hope that they've learned to not pair Carlson and Chychrun together. Maybe this means pairing Carlson with Alexeyev and no longer playing him 24 minutes per game. Carlson is getting older and slower, and I think his minutes need to drop. But they especially need to pair him with a more defensively responsible defenseman than Chychrun.
Eighth, I hope that Ovechkin's goal record chase was messing with the Capitals' on the power play. But more realistically, I hope that they figure out why Carlson was hurting them on the power play and they fix it. I know that they weren't using Protas on the power play, so maybe using him on the power play is an answer. The top priority for Chris Patrick will be to figure out personnel (see hopes 2 through 6). But the top priority for Carbery should be to figure out the power play (hopes 1, 7, and 8 are more for Carbery).
Ninth (last, and definitely the most minor), I hope that they trade Milano and Lapierre. Those two guys need a change of scenery. I think they might keep Milano around because of the uncertainty around Leonard, Cristall, and Miroshnichenko. And because he has zero trade value. But Lapierre should be traded before his value drops even further. Lapierre still has some trade value, and he might end up really doing well on a rebuilding team that can give him a chance to play without the pressure of expecting to win.
The real question is do they aquire any of the brothers on their current roster. Ryan Strome (Trade), Ryan Lindgren (UFA), JVR (UFA)?
I think they will scale back and save money for next season's trade deadline should they feel they can be a post-season semi-finals contender.
Not sure what you are talking about about; they did do some pretty big rebuild moves in the off-season and they did do better in the playoffs; winning a round for the first time since 2018 when they won the cup
Caps have enough cash to make a run at Brock Beoser. Leave McMichael at 3C. Move Ovechkin down the lineup to manage his minutes.
Beoser-Strome-Wilson
I.Protas-PLD-A.Protas
Ovechkin-McMichael-Leonard
Cristall-Dowd-Duhaime
Consistency and depth will define their next championship push.
also have 2 RHD coming to Hershey next year and following year, Ryan Chesley and Cam Allen…. with Chychurn and Fehervary and Sandin on LHD with Hutson coming, maybe a trade (Sandin) to get another big forward piece… they were in a good place, learn from the mistakes made in playoffs, they'll be right back in the mix next year… 2nd year in system for PLD, Chychrun could bear fruit for many years to come
I forgot about Lapierre…I'm still hoping he can make that jump next year and be a contributor with the CAPS but idk anymore. I'm pretty sure Hockey Guy thought he would be a better offensive producer that McMichael a year ago, but it looks like McMichael is the better player for sure.
Either way, I think Miro could add some offense next season which would be huge. I'm not sure what they should do for free agency, but I think they need to upgrade at D. With Fehervary going down before the playoffs it showed how thin the CAPS d was. Alexeyev is the answer so they may want to focus on bringing in a D man.
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Keep it up — your content is the best hockey content out there. Cheers
The Capitals will need to have an in-between year next year and not expect to do so well. Sad but true that Backstrom and Oshie need to retire. I think John Carlson is too much of a cap hit for what he brings, though the Capitals (a very loyal organization) may keep him … that will be painful. The toughest cap hits to justify are his and Dubois. Caps can only really afford one top-D contract and Chychrun is simply way better than Carlson at this point in their careers. If they really want to give Carbery a chance to coach to a cup, they'll need to keep only Ovechkin, Wilson, Chychrun and a lot of younger guys in 2027. Or if Ovi does retire (I doubt it) really blow everything up under Wilson's captaincy and turn full grit as a team.
You didn't even mention Fehervary. I think he was a big miss in the playoffs.
I don't know if they pull of the same thing as before, I think they can make the playoffs but not as the best seed of the Metro if the Rangers get better organized, Devils are fully healed and Hurricanes finding some better talent.
I don't think anyone expected the Caps to do as well as they did. Sure, I'd have liked a longer playoff run, but at least they won ONE series.
UFAs: Backstrom and Oshie are retiring due to their injuries. (In fact, I read that Backstrom is moving back to Sweden.) Of the others, I think all should be told goodbye except for Beauvillier, who meshed well with Ovechkin. Cristall was very close to making the team last year, and I'd like to see him given a chance this year. If it doesn't work, he can be sent to Hershey.
Fehervary's injury really hurt the Caps in the playoffs. Had he been able to play, they might have done better against Carolina.
Carlson needs fewer minutes. He is slowing down and not the dynamic player he used to be.
I think they need to after Patrick Kane. They need center help. Yea he his older, but they can’t afford anyone else really
We gotta figure out the 3rd line (mcMichael probably slots in at C), need a high talent top 6 winger, and I wouldn’t mind bringing in a Dman as well
Miro plays LW…
I think the Caps should consider improving the defense. To me, the no-brainers to keep are Fehervary and Chychrun. Otherwise, we entertain moving them. Carlson can and should stay, but not get extended after this year as he is simply too slow and gets exhausted by year's end. His talent doesn't cover those weaknesses in the playoffs.
I think the Caps will still be competitive enough for years to come that they should push hard for a cup in Ovi's final year
Let me put this as truthly as I can, this was the Caps last shot for a Stanley Cup and they blew it badly. This team will only go downhill from here. As a caps fan, I didn't even watch the Carolina series after the first game. Told my wife watch 4-1 series, Caps are toast. The coach of the Caps or trying to help Ovi get the record completely ruined the chemistry of this team. Ovi last year is the next one, and his +/- is atrocious without for say for strom and Protas help. God awful play. Done with this team, what a disappointing end
In terms of older teams that may need to take a step back for a year or two, I think Washington is in much better shape than Pittsburgh. They have a good set of young players they can integrate into the system.
Carbery was a great hire. I hope he stays for years.
Ovi looked soooooo slow in the last couple playoff games. He still has a world class shot but after breaking the record and already having a Stanley Cup in his hip pocket there is little motivating him any longer. It wouldn’t bother me and nobody could criticize him if he retired right now but my guess is he’ll announce his retirement and have a swan song season. Times are a changing folks, Crosby and Ovi have been the face of the NHL for a long time. Ovi is done and mother time will catch up with Crosby soon enough.
Regardless of how us caps fans feel about this year, undoubtedly a celebration of not only Ovi but the caps franchise this whole year with the goal chase, the 50th anniversary, the black alternates, this has been the most fun season since 2018 without a doubt
Mangiapane, Eller, Raddysh – are passengers. Dubois failed in the playoffs.
Choke in the playoffs again.
It will be tough to become a contender as is, but we have to hope that Cristall and Miro play in the NHL all season and add a new element the team needs. Leonard will be a great player, but he might need to start the season in the AHL to get his confidence back if it was shaken starting so late in the season. We will need contributions across the board to give us depth to make it further in the playoffs, but it is not impossible. Let's go Caps!
I'm a Caps fan. I believe they are back to a solid playoff team with a chance to compete for the Cup. We're not favorites but, could make a run. Of course, some of this depends on the off-season.
Let eller walk, and maybe bear. Def resign on Beau and Mag
Sell Ovechkin and use the cap space to get a couple of decent team players.
Then if the Caps ever make it to the Cup final, you can resume all the ridiculous tributes to the Goal Suck as a ''key builder of the franchise'' and whatever other nonsense you want to say he did.
I think the caps just need to continue what they’re doing, let the young players develop, wait for the double Protas threat, and use this teams incredible synergy and scoring potential to make a push back to cup contention. Not many drastic changes are needed, as the future seems bright
Miss the Playoffs. 😏
If Caps let go some filler guys like Eller, Mangiapane, Raddysh, etc. they can potentially acquire a top 6 forward. If so, they’ll be super dangerous, but nonetheless they’ll be good again next season
Going to be like the Bruins this season.
Let mang, radish, eller walk. Sign ekblad and beauvillier. Trade TVR for a 3rd or 4th. Maybe send there 1st and lapierre for a 3rd line center or top 6 winger