Spend Ted Leonsis's Money!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 14, 2009 4:01 PM EST
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PrintAnd just like that, the team's salary cap troubles have been alleviated. In fact, there's suddenly plenty of room to take someone else on.
So let's go shopping. First step is to find out which stores are open. Looking at the standings, Carolina's the only team that's completely out of it (and I doubt they'd deal with the Caps), but Anaheim, St. Louis, Minnesota, Columbus and Edmonton all have to understand that the odds aren't good for them, especially given the identities of the teams ahead of them.
So who out there might be available and might help the Caps? Let me start by throwing out a few names...
The Legend: Scott Niedermayer
($6,750,000 cap hit, UFA after this year)
He's got Stanly Cup Rings. He's got a Norris. What more could the Caps possibly want? I don't know if he's actually available, and I don't know if he's be willing to move east, but he could be just what the doctor ordered. Can you imagine the Niedermayer-Alzner pairing?
The Dale Hunter: Owen Nolan
($2,750,000 cap hit, UFA after this year)
Nolan strikes me as the perfect match for this team. With Brendan Shanahan's retirement, there aren't many sure HOF greybeard forwards still out there and playing well. Nolan may or may not be a HOFer, but he may be the next best thing. He was one of Ovechkin's heroes, and a man Ovi modeled his game after. Who else in the league has the stature to tell Ovechkin to shorten his damned shifts? Who else has played longer and more effectively without winning a Cup?
Heart and Guts: Saku Koivu
($3,250,000 cap hit, UFA after this year)
If you thought Ray Bourque finally getting to lift the Cup with Colorado was memorable, imagine Saku finally getting his name on the Cup after all he's been through?
The Enforcer: Derek Boogaard
($875,000 cap hit, UFA after this season)
Simply put, one of the most feared punchers in hockey.
The Defensive Stalwarts:
Barret Jackman
($3,625,000 cap hit through '11/'12)
A better physical defensemen than Brendan Witt ever was.
Kim Johnsson
($4,850,000 cap hit, UFA after this year)
Smooth and skillful. Underrated around the league
Jan Hejda
($2,000,000 cap hit through '10/'11)
If you believe Alan Ryder's numbers, he's one of the most underpaid players in hockey.
So who would you most like to see in a Caps uniform?
If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's editors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.
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i have a feeling Ted is wondering how much Caps merchandise will pick up from sales and how far we go into the playoffs to offset the loss of $4.875M he is graciously providing us with :)
Promote the game, it's the NHL, not SCHL
Well, imagine if the Caps win a championship. Not only does he collect that extra playoff ticket sales money, but suddenly the Caps ARE the way to go.
by red army line on Dec 15, 2009 8:04 AM EST up reply actions
Nieds is my first choice then Hedja. Nolan would be an interesting choice as would Koivu, but I think we need more help on the blueline than at forward.
No way the Caps would get Jackman, especially for what the Blues would ask. I like Barret but not enough to part with lots of picks or young talent. I have zero desire for Johnnson or Boogard to wear a Caps sweater.
A man gotta have a code
I voted Hejda just because of the term, but I don’t think he’s available. You have to imagine CBJ knows what they have with him. Second is Nieds, third is Nolan.
A guy you left off the list is Jason Arnott. He’s got another year @ 4.5 and pairing him with AO would be one of the most physically imposing lines in hockey. He’s got some durability issues but he’s seen it all, won a Cup, and is still a damn good player. Let’s face it, NSH isn’t good now, and they aren’t going to be that much better next year. They have Weber and Suter so they’ll have the D taken care of for years to come, but they need to retool up front and trading either a high pick or a couple of our offensive prospects (please take Bouchard) could be a win-win.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
Season ended today, Nashville would be in the playoffs. I don’t think they’re selling — leastwise not yet.
Any team with Pekka Rinne could steal a round, maybe two in the playoffs.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 14, 2009 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
If NSH couldn’t steal a round with a hot Vokoun and more offense than they have now, they won’t with Pecker Ring. They ain’t making the playoffs. You think DET and VAN really end up on the outside looking in? No chance. PHX and NSH will come back to earth and miss the playoffs. But this does highlight an important point, too many teams are still potentially playoff teams for the sales to start. GMs like to wait until the last minute to see whether they are going to make it before they start selling off pieces. And the Arnott deal is more likely an off-season deal as well, just putting the name out there.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
Hope you are wrong about the Yotes, but given how they have won so far this season your prediction is certainly not off. One of two of the right guys gets hurt or Bryz goes through a slump and they would be sunk.
A man gotta have a code
I’d like to see them do well also, and I definitely want to see them stay in PHX. But if they don’t have some guys really step up their game (cough Mueller cough) then I don’t think they can keep it up down the stretch.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
Tippet is trying everything with Mueller. Sat him and then put him with high energy guys like Upshall/Lombardi hoping that would spark him. I’m sick of him after the last couple of years. I’d rather have MacLean up playing. At least I know what I’m getting.
Big road trip starting this evening in Detroit.
A man gotta have a code
Yeah, I could see Nashville making it in at #8. More to the point, I could see them hanging around that vicinity all season and never selling players.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 14, 2009 6:53 PM EST up reply actions
I voted Hejda for the same reason — I really like someone we can keep beyond this season for that salary.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 14, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions
I like Hejda b/c I can call him “Playa Hejda.”
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by J.P. on Dec 15, 2009 7:46 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Any comment I actually laugh out loud at (not just a chuckle) gets a rec from me.
by red army line on Dec 15, 2009 8:05 AM EST up reply actions
I would love Nieds but I can’t see George shooting the wad needed to get him, in either gold or picks/prospects, so I went with Owen Nolan on this list: affordable and still leaves room for a defensive minded defenseman and maybe something else.
If VAN were to offer Rick Rypien in any package I would fairly jump at him over Boogs.
Support your local bakery!
Niedermayer, Jackman and Nolan are my top three. Jackman has a good deal, but he may be had from the Blues since they already have a pretty deep D-corps. With guys like Tkachuk and Kariya at the end of their careers and becoming UFAs (along with Chris Mason, who is likely earning himself a nice raise) they may be willing to part with a good piece on their blueline for offensive help and/or cap space to sign offensive help and a goalie.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
They have a ton of young offensive talent though. Not sure that they are crapping their pants at the impending loss of Tkachuk and Kariya. Plus, you know Tkachuk will keep signing one year deals there and being deadline-bate if they aren’t in playoff position.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
(notice Tkachuk’s and Kariya’s absences from this list…)
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 14, 2009 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
I certainly didn’t mean to suggest that either of those two would be good pickups for the Caps. What I meant is that they are losing their veteran forwards and they may want to get some other veteran talent to help their young offensive talent coming along (they were depending on those kids to help them contend this year, and it hasn’t worked out well). The Caps may not have something they are willing to give them in that regards, but they may want to shed some cap room to go after some other veteran scoring help.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 14, 2009 7:35 PM EST up reply actions
Langway mentored a generation of Caps D-men. The team hasn’t had a strong mentor/role model anything like him on D in a long time. Like others I worry with all the D talent we’ve got that they won’t reach their full potential without a strong mentor.
DC s a long way to travel for a guy who was contemplating retirement, but I’d really like to have Niedermayer.
Green really respects him too.
What’s not to respect?
I am sure he will get that knowledge from him in the Olympics but unless the deal is reasonable i can’t see Niedermayer Rocking the RED.
by CAPFan4Life on Dec 14, 2009 11:51 PM EST up reply actions
No question in my mind
Scott Niedermayer. Just imagining him in red, white, and blue sends chills down my spine, in a “oh **** we have one of the greatest players ever right in front of us” way (similar to Sergei Fedorov). Plus, who better to mentor young Niedermayer than Special Nieds himself?
Koivu would be a nice 3rd line center. Right now since Steckel isn’t finding the net I can’t see a 3rd line center fit aside from MP on a healthy forward corps (if it’s not healthy, MP doesn’t have skilled linemates).
Hmm. I guess I’d go by position depth (primary call-ups in parentheses):
Centers: Backstrom, Morrison, Steckel, Gordon (Perreault)
LWings: Ovechkin, Laich, Fleischmann (Bourque)
RWings: Semin, Knuble, Fehr, Bradley, Clark ( " )
Other Forwards: Laing
(Additional call-ups include Wilson, Giroux, Aucoin, and Beagle)
Puck-moving D: Green, Poti, Pothier
Physical D: Jurcina, Erskine
Anchor D: Alzner, Schultz, Morrisonn
Other Defensemen: Sloan
(Additional call-ups include Carlson, Collins, Helmer)
It seems like the team is safe moving one D guy now with Alzner’s liberation (ShaMo comes to mind), maybe two if they think they can get something for Jurcina (though I’d rather have Juice than Erskine as my 6th starting D any day of the week). If they can move two of those guys, Niedermayer makes sense to me, because ShaMo alone commands nearly 2 million, taking your freedom number closer to 7 and change, which makes his contract plus breathing room more reasonable. If they can only move one, Nolan looks better, and creates an interesting problem when everyone’s healthy:
AO – Backs – Semin
Flash – Mo – Knuble
Laich – Steckel – Nolan
Bradley – Gordon – Fehr
Would the acquisition of Nolan, a native right winger, be the death knell for Clark’s starting gig?
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by winterion on Dec 15, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
when i look at that breakdown, the position that scares me is still scoring-line center. due respect to MP, but the caps are one brendan morrison injury away from perreault or laich as the second-line center during the playoffs. uggh.
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 15, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
obviously there are defensive specialties, but i wouldn’t be too concerned if an injury cost us any of our 3-8 defensemen. the argument to add a vet D isn’t to secure depth, it’s to secure a differencemaker. depth is the one thing to really boast about for the caps blueline.
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 16, 2009 6:40 AM EST up reply actions
Given Varly’s injury history, I’d actually like to see us get a veteran backup goaltender who has shown an ability to step up and take on the starter’s role when called upon. If St. Louis is selling, getting Ty Conklin might not be a bad buy – he’s locked up until 2010-11, has a cap hit of 1.3 million, and has really stepped up his game in St. Louis this year. (5-8, 2.32 GAA, 0.930 SV%). But that doesn’t really require spending a lot of money, though it does eat up some cap hit for next year.
likelihood he gets moved = not great, but there are a few outlets reporting on the possibility of the thrashers shopping ilya. and a few more outlets reporting the kings are willing to pay the piper. semin for kovalchuk, midseason? i know, i know…just throwing it out there.
btw, i wouldn’t be psyched to see the caps lose control of varly/neuvirth/alzner/carlson for niedermayer (and after the pronger talks last year you know the ducks will be asking for them), but i’d give two of the four plus semin if the caps could lock up kovalchuk long-term before completing the deal.
it’s early in the AM and i’m dreamin’. the post-nylander world is full of possibilities, even next-to-impossible possibilities.
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 16, 2009 6:50 AM EST up reply actions
I can’t disagree more strongly. That is giving up way too much for an older D-man with declining skills. As for Kovy trade, trading away Varly and/or young D-man for scoring when we already have plenty makes no sense to me.
A man gotta have a code
i think you misread my comment. i would NOT be psyched to see the caps let go of ANY of their blue chippers for niedermayer. do you disagree that at least one of the blue chippers will be the ducks’ asking price?
re: kovy, i think you do what you can to acquire real game-changing talent. particularly if the caps know semin wants more than they’re willing to pay, kovalchuk would be a better use of big-time money.
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 16, 2009 8:13 AM EST up reply actions
I did misread your comment. My apologies.
As for Kovy, I don’t see how the Caps could get him under the cap without leaving themselves severely hamstrung. If there was no cap issue and the asking price was reasonable I’d love to make such a move. I consider him to be the best sniper in the league.
A man gotta have a code
Caps have some space to play with. If Semin goes away as part of the deal, it’d be conceivable. But yeah, they couldn’t add Kovalchuk without moving another big salary.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 16, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
I should have clarified my statements a bit more. I meant hamstrung short term and long term, but more so long term. Assuming they resign Baks, they’d have a ton of cap space taken up by just 3 players if they added Kovy. He’s going to command at least 3 mil more a year than Sasha. All 3 guys would be on long term deals I’d assume. Not sure I like that. Especially, when they all are offensive guys.
A man gotta have a code
by Carl Putnam on Dec 16, 2009 10:00 AM EST up reply actions
it would certainly be nicer to have more than one C (two-way player) in the group. but as for me, i’d still be okay with the likely ramifications…maybe not being able to re-sign the young D or the young goalie down the line, but finding cheaper replacements. i just can’t imagine a team with AO, kovalchuk, backstrom, green and a bunch of stop-gap milan jurcina types not being able to win a championship. the pens basically won the thing with short-term rentals at all the W positions.
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 16, 2009 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
Scoring a lot is great, but at some point you gotta be able to shut down the other team when needed.
A man gotta have a code
by Carl Putnam on Dec 16, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
i think you do what you can to acquire real game-changing talent
I would probably agree with that if the Caps didn’t already have 3 game changing offensive talents. In their situation it is more important to focus on developing good depth on the back end and in goal.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 16, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions
The Flyers have the perfect model if you’re looking for a date, not so much for a hockey team. Great talent in front and in back, no 5 hole protection.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Rob Parker on Dec 17, 2009 12:02 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
but in this (highly hypothetical) case, the choice is between paying semin his ~$6M and paying kovalchuk his ~$7.5M. as it stands, we’re already investing our 3rd-highest salary in another offensive wing. what the caps would lose is $1.5-2M in wiggle room, likely over a few more years. i get how important $1.5-2M can be when the team is destined to live right up against the salary ceiling—maybe the inability to sign both alzner and carlson? but the current team is built with $4.875M in dead weight. move one of the two young studs for picks or prospects and re-start the cycle. it’s definitely manageable.
i guess in this fantasy land i’d rather have kovalchuk-EQUIVALENTofJURCINA-carlson than semin-alzner-carlson, and i think the first option would end up costing slightly less. i don’t think the team is creating a huge hole in the back end by investing that extra few mil. it’s the semin contract that scares me. only a few guys can get superstar money and i’d prefer those guys be actual superstars (not chris drurys, scott gomezes, daniel brieres). when you give kovalchuk the pay day, it’s a safe investment.
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 17, 2009 6:52 AM EST up reply actions
mistake above, should be:
maybe the inability to sign either alzner or carlson?
must. sleep.
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 17, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
I think you underestimate what Kovalchuk is going to make. He’s 8-9 at least.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
For sure. He’s at or near the head of the class of not-Ovechkin goal scorers. I’m pretty sure last year was an anomaly and that he’s more likely good for ~50 in a given year, especially now that the team around him is getting better.
That said, he’s potted 52 twice on some truly atrocious Trashers teams on which he was largely the only offensive threat worth thinking about. Truly spectacular 1-on-1 player.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 17, 2009 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
Also, this team was built with $4.875 in dead weight, but Backstrom’s upcoming raise is going to be more than that amount. Theo coming off the books will help, but if they re-up Backstrom and Semin that’s going to eat up most (if not all) of the combined Nyls/Theo savings.
I’d love to have Kovy but I don’t think his contract price (remember, he’s earned the UFA rights and dollars that go with it) is worth the bump between him and Semin + role player.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
53 | 28 | 21 | 4 | 60 |
|
Florida
|
52 | 24 | 17 | 11 | 59 |
|
Winnipeg
|
55 | 25 | 24 | 6 | 56 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
52 | 23 | 24 | 5 | 51 |
|
Carolina
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.9.2012 at 9:25 AM EST)
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