I tend to agree with EHCler. That Vogs article about Pominville and Flash really made me think that both of these kids are bound to be failures unless we give them a fair shot.
i'm curious about the nolan people. isn't he a bit, uhm, senior for what we're trying to put together here? i know he was ovechkin's favorite player, but that was 10 years ago...
i'm curious about the nolan people. isn't he a bit, uhm, senior for what we're trying to put together here? i know he was ovechkin's favorite player, but that was 10 years ago...
Nolan is old, but he's surprisingly effective. He's still a 20 goal right winger (especially playing on one of our top two lines) and he still plays like sandpaper. He's great in his own zone and he'd fill a leadership void. Most importantly, acquiring a player like Owen Nolan is the period at the end of the sentence "We are trying to make the playoffs.".
Nolan will be 35 at the start of the next season. He's battled injuries and he can be injury prone but he has years left in him.
Gomez if we're going high end, Smolinski if we're going middle, Stumpel (ugh) if we're near training camp and need some one to throw on the first line.
I'd probably prefer a trade if we come close to considering Stumpel
I think they'll shoot for one via trade. If that falls through, maybe Lang? I don't know his feelings toward the front office, though.
I agree with you ... I think the Caps acquire their center and defensman via a trade with one of Eminger, Green, Fehr, Fleischman as part of the package.
Caps might sigh a scoring winger in the free agency period.
It will be interesting to see what RAs become UFAs because some teams are tight against the cap and others are self-imposing a lower cap figure (notably Tampa).
Well, I think the either Fehr or Flash is going to get one of the two top line spots. I think that if they sign a veteran Center to dish the puck to go along with Ovy that might be enough experience to let one of those two guys have the chance to really develop alongside with them.
Honestly I can't see putting them on a line with Backstrom and Semin given Backstrom's a rookie and Semin is a defensive liability. I think a guy like Nagy, although his is a LW, would be what they are looking for because he is a playmaker. He's a good set up guy on the PP and he can shoot the puck. He and Backstrom would be feeding Semin from all over the ice.
I also think Nolan would be a good addition. And if he played with Backstrom and Semin he might give that line an edge it would be missing. Plus the veteran leadership, yadda yadda yadda.
I also think Zubrus is a possibility to come back conditional on the fact that he totally flames out with other teams during the early part of FA. I also think he if does come back it will be as a winger rather than the no. 1 center. He is just not a deft enough passer to play that center position.
I would think all this team needs is one minute muncher (and if he can run a PP so much the better).
Well, in the short term the team really does need two veteran guys, but that not part of "the plan" so we'll be sticking with at least 4 guys under, what, 24 years of age and a #5 defenseman.
So best case scenario we're only getting 1 defenseman.
I swear it better not be Tom Preissing or as I like to call him "Potheir v.2.0."
I agree with you ... I think the Caps acquire their center and defensman via a trade with one of Eminger, Green, Fehr, Fleischman as part of the package.
Caps might sigh a scoring winger in the free agency period.
It will be interesting to see what RAs become UFAs because some teams are tight against the cap and others are self-imposing a lower cap figure (notably Tampa).
Well, I think Eminger is a goner. And I think Flash and Klepis will be the next two shipped out.
Green despite his setback in the second half of the season is not enough to warrant getting the door. If Eminger has had this long, why wouldn't they give Green the same opportunity.
Fehr will stick around. He has had nowhere near the number of chances at the top level as Flash and Klepis have had this season. I find it hard to beleive he will be jettisioned.
I also think there are enough FA centers out there that if a trade is going to be made it will likely be for a Defenseman. Eminger, Klepis, Flash, Buff.'s #1 and those two 2nd Rounders are nice but I don't think its enough to pull off 2 deals.
Ovechkin is in dire need of a dman that can move the puck to the forwards and work the PP.
Grab a Dman like that and hope that Backstrom comes over and then GMGM will only need to add minor pieces. Making a ridiculous splash like signing Chara for 7mm and Savard for 5mm, always spells disaster.
Nagy's an LW, no? Can he play RW too? I would cream myself if we signed Ryan Smyth.
He is. I mentioned that above. I have no idea if he can play the other side. I thought that Semin looked comfortable flipping side so that was part of my suggestion for this player.
However, I thought his passing ability and less than top-end contract would make him an attractive target.
I think they'll shoot for one via trade. If that falls through, maybe Lang? I don't know his feelings toward the front office, though.
I know this might not be a popular opinion to have, but I think that if Washington is interested, Alexei Yashin could be had for a second round draft pick. His contract is 6.6 this coming year and decreases every year thereafter.
Think of it this way, Yash had a great first half before the injury and has never really played with legitimate wingers on the Island. Ovechkin and Semin would be great wingers for him.
Also, If your looking for a top line center, your going to pay at least 6.6 for one or more years of the deal. Plus no one on that list that can produce more thanYashins worst numbers falls under the veteran help players have called for in the media.
Not saying it will happen just think I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen in late June.
