Ranking the Capitals: #28

by J.P. on Aug 30, 2009 8:56 PM EDT

In an effort to beat the summer doldrums, we're undertaking to rank - with your help - the Washington Capitals, from Ovechkin to, well, we'll see (only players under contract will be considered). The criteria is simple: who at this moment is the most valuable player in the organization who hasn't already been ranked? Put another way, if you could only keep one of the remaining players - because of what he brings on the ice or off it, his upside, what he could fetch in trade, and so on - who would it be? Consider age, potential, contract status, organizational depth, etc. - it's your call. And after you vote and defend your selection in the comments, help us out and suggest a name to add to the next poll. [Note: previous "Ranking the Capitals" posts can be found here."]

Welcome Chris Clark to the list, and Quintin Laing to the poll...

Poll

Who's the next most valuable Cap?

Keith Aucoin

17 votes

Jay Beagle

6 votes

Francois Bouchard

8 votes

Stefan Della Rovere

25 votes

Alexandre Giroux

12 votes

Braden Holtby

21 votes

Quintin Laing

10 votes

Michael Nylander

14 votes

Mathieu Perreault

26 votes

Tyler Sloan

24 votes

163 votes | Poll has closed

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.

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Proven #2 talent right there.

http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.

by Bald Pollack on Aug 30, 2009 9:31 PM EDT reply actions

I’d like to see someone, anyone, make the argument that Nyls isn’t the Least Valuable Cap, much less that he deserves being voted on in this spot. Does anyone think that if GMGM could get rid of any one contract on the team it wouldn’t be Nyls?

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Aug 30, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

I assume people are confusing “current ability to be a productive NHL player” with “value” here.

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

by J.P. on Aug 31, 2009 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Is my humor drier than even I presume?

http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.

by Bald Pollack on Aug 31, 2009 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions

No, I was responding to the actual vote totals.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Aug 31, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, me too – we know you well enough.

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

by J.P. on Aug 31, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I didn’t even get a chance to vote for #27 before it closed! Oh well.
I’m going with

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 30, 2009 11:51 PM EDT reply actions

Good to see the big Q on there. I get the feeling I’ll be voting for him before too long. But for now, it’s Holtby for me.

Atta dinnin stick a who!

by Gould Old Days on Aug 31, 2009 12:28 AM EDT reply actions

by Natty Bumppo on Aug 31, 2009 2:17 AM EDT reply actions

Went with SDR. Agitator/pest/fighter(?) of the future, and the type of player that does not exist in our system (at any level).

Nominate Andrew Gordon for the list.

by GusDaMan on Aug 31, 2009 9:15 AM EDT reply actions

SDR seems to be a youtube legend. Went with Aucoin though. There was a little too much inspiration from this little guy to just pass him up. Every time he’s on the ice, I think of this.

by bigmac1124 on Aug 31, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

I sat next to Aucoin on the metro a few months ago!

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 31, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Is the plan to take us through all 50 that are under contract?

by Moonage Daydream on Aug 31, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

Not much love for Giroux here? He’s coming off a record-breaking MVP season in Hershey. In terms of upside, perhaps he’s a perennial AHL’er and will have trouble cracking the talent-laden Caps lineup, but he could still be valuable to other organizations with less depth at forward. In terms of trade value, I feel like he could be part of a nice package deal.

by Laich It Or Lump It on Aug 31, 2009 12:21 PM EDT reply actions

I’d be surprised – any team that thought he had NHL value for them probably would have made their move when was a free agent.

by David Getz on Aug 31, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess so, but I’m surprised a 60 goal regular season and a 22 goal playoff campaign doesn’t garner more attention from NHL scouts. Maybe they just see something I don’t? We’ll see if his number hold up.

by Laich It Or Lump It on Aug 31, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s already in the prime of his career and he’s had looks at the NHL. He can’t finish in the NHL like he can in the AHL and he doesn’t really bring anything to the table outside his scoring.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Aug 31, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Well he has only played 21 games for the Caps (22 total), so I’m not convinced he has enough playing time in the NHL to be thoroughly evaluated. He has posted a solid +/- throughout his minor league career and his scoring has been trending upward. I honestly cannot say what else he brings to the table having not seen that many Hershey games. I guess his age is a big obstacle. I’m just saying his numbers may be enticing to another org, which could up his value.

by Laich It Or Lump It on Aug 31, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Like the name.

Giroux is a poor skater, not good speed, isn’t a great passer, doesn’t have a great shot or great skill with the puck, nor is a defensive demon. What he does have is a scorer’s hockey sense—being in the right place to score. He, however, can’t seem to beat NHL goalies consistently. His AHL moves don’t work on breakaways, and his shot is far from lethal. Small sample size, but he’s what, 30? Not much room to improve IMO. He can make another team, just not the Caps

by red army line on Aug 31, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Like the name.

Thanks

He can make another team, just not the Caps

That’s what I’m saying. His scoring ability might make him valuable to another team with less depth, which raises his value for the Caps. Namely, trade value.

Anyway, good points all. I’m not trying to spearhead the Giroux Fan Club movement or anything. I just thought it was odd that he was getting less votes than say, Michael Nylander.

by Laich It Or Lump It on Aug 31, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s odd anyone’s getting fewer votes than Nylander. His lack of useful play, salary, and no movement clause make him the only guy on the team who has negative value, imo.

by David Getz on Aug 31, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah. Also because, like Nylander, he doesn’t fit in, that lowers his value. A lot.

by red army line on Aug 31, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

The other day I made the argument that Giroux’s greatest value to the Caps was on the Bears. He’s going to take pressure of the young kids and make sure they are scoring consistently enough to contend for their division again. That’s more valuable than anything he’ll do at the NHL level, IMO.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Aug 31, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I can buy that.

I feel like he should be in the same boat as Keith Aucoin and
Quintin Laing who are both two years older and less productive. However, they seem to be getting more votes than Giroux. Odd.

by Laich It Or Lump It on Aug 31, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that makes sense – Aucoin has shown that he at least can do something in the NHL (how much and for how long is still a matter of debate, but….) and Laing’s skill set is such that it translates fairly well to a fourth-line NHL role.

by David Getz on Aug 31, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions