Capitals Free Agency

**Backstrom #19** · 07-01-2012, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmljeh19

He was confident with that team at the trade deadline last year. So why not now with a new coach that wants to push the envelope more? I agree with you but your are talking about a guy who hates free agency and even more so after being burned by Hamrlik and Ward contracts.

Burned on the Hamrlik contract? He played well last year and only has 1 year left on the deal. Wasn't a bad signing at all.

Ward's contract is awful but he did score the biggest goal of the year.

tmljeh19 · 07-01-2012, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwedishMeatballs1990

Eklund - Caps in on Bobby Ryan.

Go get em GMGM.

Where is that at? I follow him on twitter and have yet to see him say anything like that

Capitlols · 07-01-2012, 10:56 AM

Well if George wants to go the trade route and if Marleau is in play...but we probably don't have what SJ is looking for.

Edit: ...and there goes my other prediction in Ryan Smyth

tmljeh19 · 07-01-2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backstrom #19

Burned on the Hamrlik contract? He played well last year and only has 1 year left on the deal. Wasn't a bad signing at all.

Ward's contract is awful but he did score the biggest goal of the year.

With the rift about Hamrlik wanting to be traded I think GMGM views that as getting burned. I agree with you.

Carlzner · 07-01-2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycoonheart

“@SWhyno: Will #Caps be quiet in free agency? McPhee: "If we don't do anything, I wouldn't be disappointed" http://t.co/ziLwqFnY”

****s sake

dashtary* · 07-01-2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NobodyBeatsTheWiz

Hasn't GMGM said something similar every year?

Just leveraging and keeping expectations low.

True

**Backstrom #19** · 07-01-2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmljeh19

With the rift about Hamrlik wanting to be traded I think GMGM views that as getting burned. I agree with you.

Hamrlik wasn't happy because he was a healthy scratch for a number of games and Dale Hunter didn't even talk to him about it. I'm sure he's happy going into next season.

caps4cup · 07-01-2012, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmljeh19

Where is that at? I follow him on twitter and have yet to see him say anything like that

On his website on the rumor tracker.

caps4cup · 07-01-2012, 11:01 AM

I guarantee GMGM would've said the same thing about draft day. He's a sneaky ****er.

Zoidberg Jesus · 07-01-2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmljeh19

He was confident with that team at the trade deadline last year. So why not now with a new coach that wants to push the envelope more? I agree with you but your are talking about a guy who hates free agency and even more so after being burned by Hamrlik and Ward contracts.

That was a different situation. The Caps at the deadline were clearly not even close to being a contender, and the moves that would've been necessary to turn them into one would've completely undermined their future. At the same time though, McPhee couldn't just say "well, we're currently on pace to make the playoffs, but we'll probably just lose so I'll sell off our UFAs." His only real option was to stay the course and hope for the best. Right now, he can improve the team without sacrificing our future, and he's got plenty of money to do it with. Staying the course here would be pretty inexplicable and borderline delusional. There is no excuse for the Caps entering the season with over 14M in cap space.