Don't know if this has been discussed yet but what about Guillaume Latendresse? Minnesota choose not to qualify him, so he's gonna be a UFA on July 1st.
He's missed most of the last 2 seasons with injuries but he's a young player who can play in the top-6 and is a big body.
Laich - Backstrom - Ovechkin
Latendresse - Riberio - Doan
Chimera - Johansson - Brouwer
Hendricks - Beagle - Ward
I would be very happy with a line-up similar to that.
Is he healthy? He missed the last 50 games of the season with a concussion.
There are two high-caliber concussion risk players available this summer, Latendresse and Peter Mueller. I wouldn't characterize either as "healthy" but would be willing to take a cheap flier on one of the two. Pencilling either in for a consistent role isn't smart though IMO.
Does everybody think the reason McPhee isn't going after a star/top quality FA winger this year (to replace Semin) is due to the fact that he is waiting for Kuz to fill that role in two years and doesn't want to commit to term? If so, I'm disappointed in him. Ovie isn't getting any younger and Kuznetsov might not fit the NHL very well if he comes over.
McPhee should a) try to sign Parise. b) if not, make a trade for Ryan (Green, Johanson, pick), and then sign another D to replace Green and a plugger foward. We have Forsberg to replace MoJo in a couple of years.
OV - Backstrom - Brouwer
Laich - Rib - Ryan
Chim - plugger - ward
Alzner - Carlson
Vet D - Hammer
Orlov - Schultz
In two years Brower replaced by Kuznetsov (brower resigned as a third liner and Ribs resigned). Forsberg replaces Laich on 2nd line and he is moved to third line.
Also, Ward is a waste on the 4th line. Please either use him properly or trade him for nothing.
Bidding wars for top $ free agents against other teams is against everything they've built this franchise around the last 5 years+....
__________________
George McPhee....The Teflon GM. 15 years of failure and counting....
6 - Number of playoff series the Capitals have won since George McPhee took over as General Manager in 1997 (which makes him the third-longest-tenured GM in the League), three of which came in McPhee's first season on the job.
Does everybody think the reason McPhee isn't going after a star/top quality FA winger this year (to replace Semin) is due to the fact that he is waiting for Kuz to fill that role in two years and doesn't want to commit to term? If so, I'm disappointed in him. Ovie isn't getting any younger and Kuznetsov might not fit the NHL very well if he comes over.
McPhee should a) try to sign Parise. b) if not, make a trade for Ryan (Green, Johanson, pick), and then sign another D to replace Green and a plugger foward. We have Forsberg to replace MoJo in a couple of years.
I think it's obvious that the Caps have a pretty good chance of landing Parise because they just signed the coach that has done nothing but impress he and his Devils team mates for 2 years.
The caps dumping Wideman should be pretty good indication that they will get at least 1 FA stud in July
Does everybody think the reason McPhee isn't going after a star/top quality FA winger this year (to replace Semin) is due to the fact that he is waiting for Kuz to fill that role in two years and doesn't want to commit to term? If so, I'm disappointed in him. Ovie isn't getting any younger and Kuznetsov might not fit the NHL very well if he comes over.
McPhee should a) try to sign Parise. b) if not, make a trade for Ryan (Green, Johanson, pick), and then sign another D to replace Green and a plugger foward. We have Forsberg to replace MoJo in a couple of years.
OV - Backstrom - Brouwer
Laich - Rib - Ryan
Chim - plugger - ward
Alzner - Carlson
Vet D - Hammer
Orlov - Schultz
In two years Brower replaced by Kuznetsov (brower resigned as a third liner and Ribs resigned). Forsberg replaces Laich on 2nd line.
I would say the decision has very little, if anything, to do with Kuznetsov.
Bidding wars for top $ free agents against other teams is against everything they've built this franchise around the last 5 years+....
How much cap space have we had the previous 5 offseasons?
Do you really believe that we are going to start the season some $12-14 million under the cap (depending on our RFA deals)?
FORWARDS
Alex Ovechkin ($9.538m) / Nicklas Backstrom ($6.700m) / Marcus Johansson ($0.900m)
Troy Brouwer ($2.350m) / Mike Ribeiro ($5.000m) / Mathieu Perreault ($1.500m)
Brooks Laich ($4.500m) / Jay Beagle ($1.000m) / Joel Ward ($3.000m)
Jason Chimera ($1.750m) / Matt Hendricks ($0.825m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Mike Green ($5.500m) / Roman Hamrlik ($3.500m)
Karl Alzner ($1.285m) / John Carlson ($3.500m)
Jeff Schultz ($2.750m) / Dmitry Orlov ($0.900m)
John Erskine ($1.500m) /
GOALTENDERS
Michal Neuvirth ($1.150m)
Braden Holtby ($0.638m)
BUYOUTS
Tyler Sloan ($0.233m)
SALARY CAP: $70,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $58,019,572; BONUSES: $240,000
CAP SPACE (20-man roster): $12,180,428
Thats' a realistic 20 man roster. How much money do you think we're going to spend on the remaining two players?
I forgot to add in the interview this morning, GMGM did say he will be very active on Sunday, but won't force the issue (blah blah blah), but more importantly, said he expects Forsberg to be with the big boys NEXT YEAR. Comparing him to both Nicky and Marcus staying for one year and then coming over.
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
FLA puts Mike Santorelli on waivers; FLA puts Matt Bradley on unconditional ($125) waivers, presumably for buyout/termination of contract.
Don't know if this has been discussed yet but what about Guillaume Latendresse? Minnesota choose not to qualify him, so he's gonna be a UFA on July 1st.
He's missed most of the last 2 seasons with injuries but he's a young player who can play in the top-6 and is a big body.
Laich - Backstrom - Ovechkin
Latendresse - Riberio - Doan
Chimera - Johansson - Brouwer
Hendricks - Beagle - Ward
I would be very happy with a line-up similar to that.
Isn't he really slow? And supposedly lazy? I'm not as worried about the laziness, but I'd rather stay away from slow players unless they're particularly worth it. The injury stuff is also pretty worrying. I'd rather look at Mueller.
I think it's obvious that the Caps have a pretty good chance of landing Parise because they just signed the coach that has done nothing but impress he and his Devils team mates for 2 years.
The caps dumping Wideman should be pretty good indication that they will get at least 1 FA stud in July
At no point did anyone expect Wideman to be back with the team. Not sure why getting a few little nuggets for his rights should be interpreted as a sign of an approach to July 1.
Will be pretty surprised if the Caps are seriously in on Parise. The target will be Doan.
How much cap space have we had the previous 5 offseasons?
Do you really believe that we are going to start the season some $12-14 million under the cap (depending on our RFA deals)?
FORWARDS
Alex Ovechkin ($9.538m) / Nicklas Backstrom ($6.700m) / Marcus Johansson ($0.900m)
Troy Brouwer ($2.350m) / Mike Ribeiro ($5.000m) / Mathieu Perreault ($1.500m)
Brooks Laich ($4.500m) / Jay Beagle ($1.000m) / Joel Ward ($3.000m)
Jason Chimera ($1.750m) / Matt Hendricks ($0.825m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Mike Green ($5.500m) / Roman Hamrlik ($3.500m)
Karl Alzner ($1.285m) / John Carlson ($3.500m)
Jeff Schultz ($2.750m) / Dmitry Orlov ($0.900m)
John Erskine ($1.500m) /
GOALTENDERS
Michal Neuvirth ($1.150m)
Braden Holtby ($0.638m)
BUYOUTS
Tyler Sloan ($0.233m)
SALARY CAP: $70,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $58,019,572; BONUSES: $240,000
CAP SPACE (20-man roster): $12,180,428
Thats' a realistic 20 man roster. How much money do you think we're going to spend on the remaining two players?
Either a) GM thinks the young players development warrants his faith on even more progression next season or b) that spare cash will be used to get one big name player
I would say the decision has very little, if anything, to do with Kuznetsov.
I think MoJo will never be a 2C. We should trade him before its too late. We can always get a proper C as a UFA (Getzlaf) next year if we chose to let Rib walk. Remember, we would have amazing strength down the middle with Getzlaf and Backstrom.
At no point did anyone expect Wideman to be back with the team. Not sure why getting a few little nuggets for his rights should be interpreted as a sign of an approach to July 1.
Will be pretty surprised if the Caps are seriously in on Parise. The target will be Doan.
Hopefully not. Parise is much more likely to sign with them than Doan (assuming they make serious offers).
I think MoJo will never be a 2C. We should trade him before its too late. We can always get a proper C as a UFA (Getzlaf) next year if we chose to let Rib walk. Remember, we would have amazing strength down the middle with Getzlaf and Backstrom.
Yeah, it's so easy to get a proper top-6 C in the free agent market. It happens all the time.
That's why the Mikael Grabovski's of the world get $5.5M/year.
At no point did anyone expect Wideman to be back with the team. Not sure why getting a few little nuggets for his rights should be interpreted as a sign of an approach to July 1.
Will be pretty surprised if the Caps are seriously in on Parise. The target will be Doan.
I think people shouldn't be as surprised as i suspect they will be if we get strong signals regarding Parise, the fact there was that much dissapointment over an ASSISTANT leaving NJ shows he commands mad respect.
I wouldn't mind Doan one bit, good signing if it were to come to fruition.
How much cap space have we had the previous 5 offseasons?
Do you really believe that we are going to start the season some $12-14 million under the cap (depending on our RFA deals)?
FORWARDS
Alex Ovechkin ($9.538m) / Nicklas Backstrom ($6.700m) / Marcus Johansson ($0.900m)
Troy Brouwer ($2.350m) / Mike Ribeiro ($5.000m) / Mathieu Perreault ($1.500m)
Brooks Laich ($4.500m) / Jay Beagle ($1.000m) / Joel Ward ($3.000m)
Jason Chimera ($1.750m) / Matt Hendricks ($0.825m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Mike Green ($5.500m) / Roman Hamrlik ($3.500m)
Karl Alzner ($1.285m) / John Carlson ($3.500m)
Jeff Schultz ($2.750m) / Dmitry Orlov ($0.900m)
John Erskine ($1.500m) /
GOALTENDERS
Michal Neuvirth ($1.150m)
Braden Holtby ($0.638m)
BUYOUTS
Tyler Sloan ($0.233m)
SALARY CAP: $70,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $58,019,572; BONUSES: $240,000
CAP SPACE (20-man roster): $12,180,428
Thats' a realistic 20 man roster. How much money do you think we're going to spend on the remaining two players?
Wouldn't be surprised to see them have a workable amount of cap room heading into the season, hopefully for a mid-season trade. We also have guys to extend and sign to new contracts.
I expect a mid-range free agent signing or two, nothing fancy. I believe any high $$ players are going to be acquired via trade not via bidding war where overpayment comes into play.
