Ranking the Capitals: #44

by J.P. on Sep 15, 2009 9:15 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 Steven Pinizzotto to the list...

Poll

Who's the next most valuable Cap?

Viktor Dovgan

7 votes

Jake Hauswirth

37 votes

Boyd Kane

5 votes

Patrick McNeill

5 votes

Zach Miskovic

8 votes

Michael Nylander

36 votes

98 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.

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Comments

I do not expect any of those guys except Nylander to play in the NHL at all. Nylander’s a long shot, but he’s closer than the others, so I’m going to vote him.

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Sep 15, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

Put another way, if you could only ~~keep~~ purge 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?

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 15, 2009 11:29 PM EDT reply actions

Well, are any other guys going to play in the NHL? I still think Nylander should be last, but it should be somewhat close, as right now the values are close to zero for the non-Nylanders.

by red army line on Sep 16, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

So are you telling me that if Gary Bettman went to GMGM today, and said “Hey GMGM, one time offer here, you can take any single contract off your books instantly with no repercussions other than the loss of the rights to that player” it would take you more than a second of thought which guy you’d select?

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 16, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Keep fighting the good fight, F&B.

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

by J.P. on Sep 16, 2009 6:46 AM EDT up reply actions

’rec.

Can’t believe after what feels like 6 month of doing this we’re still describing what the voting means.

Comment first, think second, read third.

by zephyr on Sep 16, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Obligatory hanging chad reference.

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by winterion on Sep 16, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Alternatively, different people vote different ways because of how we feel. You can’t use an argument for how to vote to tell people who to vote for.

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Sep 16, 2009 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking “Hey GMGM, which guy would you keep?” he might consider that Nylander could get it done. It puzzles me that he was good early in BB’s tenure, but doesn’t mesh anymore. I just don’t think it’s as big a difference as you make it out to be.

by red army line on Sep 16, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Nylander’s presence hurts the Capitals. The other guys might not help much, but they don’t hurt.

by David Getz on Sep 16, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

secret code word: jake hauswirth.

by Natty Bumppo on Sep 16, 2009 2:31 AM EDT reply actions

I’ve been voting for Nylander since about 30. I intend to laugh hysterically when he finishes with a 50-60 point season.

I will also cry, because that means he’s probably playing the second and perhaps even top line.

by Laich on Sep 16, 2009 7:49 AM EDT reply actions

I think he totally could get 50-60 points this season…for Avangard Omsk.

by Carl Putnam on Sep 16, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

No love for Dovgan. I think he has more upside than the other prospects left.

by LSF76 on Sep 16, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

it’s the draft class, obviously…

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Sep 16, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

If we could not get a reasonably potential Capitals caliber player in return (“Rating the Capitals”) for any of these guys then I’d probably have to vote for the one on the list most likely to get minutes playing for the Caps.

If we could manage trade one of these players for an NHL-caliber player(s), who would likely fetch the highest quality return player?

(I must admit I haven’t voted in a while, I just was curious who was still on the list).

by Icebat on Sep 16, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

(grammar errors indicate my great thought in this matter)
:)

by Icebat on Sep 16, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

This has really just become a silly vote against Nylander exercise for slightly more than 1/2 of the group.

by Moonage Daydream on Sep 16, 2009 4:00 PM EDT reply actions

…then why doesn’t Hauswirth have more than 50% of the vote?

by David Getz on Sep 16, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

He will when JP places his vote just before the polls close

by Moonage Daydream on Sep 16, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

One vote isn’t going to make up 15%.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 16, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m perfectly comfortable admitting that I am an “anyone but Nylander” vote at this point, in that there’s not much difference amongst the other guys and none of them has as much negative value as #92. There’s nothing “silly” about it.

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

by J.P. on Sep 16, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, perhaps there’s nothing silly about the philosophy, but the votes themselves have become a bit less “pure”. I think that’s to be expected, though. I don’t know how much you guys know about these remaining people, but as soon as we got past Hershey mainstays, we got past my hockey knowledge threshold. I’ve been honestly trying to Google some of these people and get information and vote round by round on that, but to no avail often. =)

Does my list mirror the above one? In places, yes – in others, not even. Then again, that’s all relative per person. I’ve probably got Bourque higher than anyone else would, for example. I might also have Fehr a bit lower, due to injury concerns. Everyone’s going to rate them differently.

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by winterion on Sep 16, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

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

by J.P. on Sep 16, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, perhaps there’s nothing silly about the philosophy, but the votes themselves have become a bit less "pure".

And that is what makes this a silly exercise. But hey, I am ok with that. We are all just trying to pass time until the season starts.

by Moonage Daydream on Sep 16, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

The “Silliness” is the collusion. “Who should we vote for today in the We Hate Nylander Club?”

I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.

by Whiter Mage on Sep 17, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Everyone has their definition of silliness. I think Myopia is silly. I think Laich at 6 and Steckel at 10 is silly. But I don’t get to tell anyone else how to vote. I get to try to persuade you. Obviously I haven’t been all that successful. Other people used a ridiculous metric to determine the value of some guys that I disagree with. Now those of us that were smited in the earlier rounds are using our “inverse definition of value” to make sure that we at least taste one victory.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 17, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

The cellar is never a kind place. Dark, but never kind.

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Sep 16, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

I disagree – with the proper lighting, watering and care, the cellar can be a very kind place.

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

by J.P. on Sep 16, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Not even wine cellars?
(No fair bringing up The Cask of Amontillado.)

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Visit us online at : http://winterion.com

by winterion on Sep 16, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I read that in 8th grade! Yay education!

"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
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by crabchowdah on Sep 16, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the cellar can be nice if you go into it in the best shape of your career with a positive attitude, your house up for sale and have lots of cash coming in to spruce things up down there.

by Icebat on Sep 16, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions