Who Do You Want Back?

by J.P. on Nov 28, 2008 11:33 AM EST

Since it's the least productive work day of the year, I figured I'd throw out to the group the kind of question you argue over at a bar after a few beers: If you could have any active former Cap back at his current ability and cap number, who would it be?

For the sake of this argument, figure out who you'd cut from the current roster (keeping in mind salary) to make room, and don't worry about any years on your choice's contract beyond the current season.

So, who've you got? Vote and explain yourself in the comments.

Poll

Which former Cap would you most want on the current roster?

Steve Eminger ($1.2M)

22 votes

Sergei Gonchar ($6M)

35 votes

Mike Grier ($1.775M)

37 votes

Jeff Halpern ($2M)

30 votes

Cristobal Huet ($5.625M)

24 votes

Olie Kolzig ($1.5M)

8 votes

Robert Lang ($4M)

5 votes

Brian Sutherby ($.7M)

3 votes

Brendan Witt ($3M)

90 votes

Dainius Zubrus ($3.4M)

15 votes

Other

1 votes

None of these guys would make the current Caps better at their price

79 votes

349 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Witt

i think, would be the most logical candidate. tough, stay at home defensive defensemen are where this team is lacking, especially with the injuries. but i almost voted “none of the above”. for the large part, the players the team has allowed to walk in recent history were the right decisions.

by CAPS NEWS NETWORK on Nov 28, 2008 12:10 PM EST reply actions

I picked Witt too. I think Witt, Grier, Gonchar, and Halpern are the only guys who would play much with the current roster, the team needs defensemen and Gonchar’s not worth $6 million.

What surprises me is how many people voted for Huet. He’s starting to play better in Chicago but there’s no way he’s worth 5.6 million.

by David Getz on Nov 28, 2008 12:20 PM EST reply actions

Witt was the only one given the price. He would help the team tremendously, but what combination of salaries have to go?

by Old Bob on Nov 28, 2008 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

All about the D

I’m stunned by the Huet love. He’s a $5.6M backup in CHI.

When JP originally asked me this question, I took Mike Grier. But influenced, perhaps, by the latest D carnage, now I’d go with Steve Eminger in the Erskine salary slot. (Same place I"d have put Emmy last year, too.) That leaves me about $600K off on salary… so I’ll cheat and say 26 shouldn’t have ‘won’ his arb case.

by TylerG on Nov 28, 2008 12:24 PM EST reply actions

I wasn’t even factoring in the salary cap, but even with that I’d go with Witt. Hypothetically the team could move Morrisonn and Jurcina and save ~$2.8M which would be enough to get Witt under the Cap because, with all due respect to master blogger J.P., I think Witt’s cap hit is ~$2.75M this year and $3M starting next year when his extension kicks in.

by David Getz on Nov 28, 2008 12:29 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I think I went current salary rather than cap hit on everyone, since I threw in the caveat that it’s for this year only.

And I too took Witt.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Nov 28, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

I'd vote for

Rod Langway and no salary cap. That’s me in the “other” box.

jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog

"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)

by jrwendelman on Nov 28, 2008 12:39 PM EST reply actions

Grier

I vote Grier if only for the fact that he would really help the PK, and I think this team REALLY REALLY misses Matt Cooke for what he did forechecking wise

by YvonLabresMoustache on Nov 28, 2008 1:19 PM EST reply actions

Grier

I voted for Grier, mostly for the same reasons stated above by Yvon – PK and forechecking ability. On the other hand, at this point in his career, he’s not that much better than Gordon/Steckel/Laich. He would essentially replace Clark in the lineup as an experienced veteran grinder.

Looking at it again, with as many young players as the Caps have waiting down at Hershey, I think the better answer would be nobody. Witt could help right now, but the instant that Poti, Green and Erskine get healthy, we’d want to be rid of his ridiculous $3m cap hit. The only player that might realistically be worth the investment would be Eminger, but he needs more ice time to be effective (which he’s getting in TB). If he couldn’t crack the D lineup last year, he probably wouldn’t be too much help this year, either.

by D'ohboy on Nov 28, 2008 1:51 PM EST reply actions

Grier

Grier is my vote, but only because Gonchar makes 6 million, and only if we took Kozlov away.

by Whiter Mage on Nov 28, 2008 3:01 PM EST reply actions

Gonchar

He’s become one of the premier defencemen in the league. A Norris Trophy candidate last season, and that’s worth the dough.

by James Mirtle on Nov 28, 2008 5:59 PM EST reply actions

I’m not sure about that, those 6 million would be an awful lot to fit under the cap, although if the team could move Nylander and one of their depth defensemen, maybe I’d get on board with it.

by David Getz on Nov 28, 2008 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

Superfluous

I wouldn’t trade Green for Gonchar straight up, regardless of the cap hit. Gonchar’s a bit better at even strength right now, but Green’s speed is truly game changing – witness the ineptitude of our transition game in San Jose and Minnesota. Given that the Caps typically play a forward on the PP point (Ovechkin and occasionally Fedorov when he’s healthy), where would you fit Gonchar in? I guess it would be a nice problem to have, but in terms of marginal addition to the team, I’m not sure that improving an area of strength is worth that big of an outlay.

by D'ohboy on Nov 28, 2008 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

Who says you need to lose Green?

by James Mirtle on Nov 29, 2008 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

Good to see Sutherby’s mom and dad finally stopped by to vote.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Nov 28, 2008 10:44 PM EST reply actions

No love for Greg Jolie?

by Donny Rivette on Nov 28, 2008 11:26 PM EST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Southeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Florida Litter Box Cats	53	25	17	11	61
Washington Japers' Rink	54	28	21	5	61
Winnipeg Arctic Ice Hockey	56	26	24	6	58
Tampa Bay Raw Charge	53	23	24	6	52
Carolina Canes Country	55	20	25	10	50