Ranking the Capitals: #15
by J.P. on Aug 24, 2010 12:47 PM EDT
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PrintIn an effort to beat the summer doldrums, we're undertaking to rank - with your help - the Washington Capitals (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: here's a recap of last year's rankings; previous "Ranking the Capitals 2010" posts can be found here.]
Welcome Tomas Fleischmann to the list and Andrew Gordon to the poll...
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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Mackan or Chimera for me now. Gotta think about it for a bit.
And waving “hi” to the Andrew Gordon voter.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Great to see Andrew added to the voting list.
For now, went with the sandwich, as a potential 2C in the org. strikes me as slightly more valuable than the others on the list, insofar as ease of replacement and the particulars of the era’s salary constraints (ELC’s are so critical a component of having a quality team right now, I feel.)
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I don’t see my name on there.
"I think he is just a joy to watch, he plays every game like there's not going to be one next week for him, like someone's going to take it away from him next game."
by Bald Pollack on Aug 24, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Neither had John Carlson a year ago, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t one of the Capitals most valuable assets.
by David Getz on Aug 24, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
DMG brings the wisdom. Now, Mackan just signed his ELC.. does that mean the clock’s ticking on it, or does it remain a 3 year deal if he spends next year in the SEL again?
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The clock wouldn’t start if he didn’t come to North America, but all signs point to him heading to Hershey if not Washington, so the clock is going to start
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 24, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
but all signs point to him heading to Hershey if not Washington
What about Marcus statement that he will go back home if he doesn’t make the team out of training camp? I know we all want him to play in Hershey if he doesn’t make the team but just because we want something doesn’t make it true.
Pft why play a small French guy when you have a Svensk viking.
just because we want something doesn’t make it true.
Aww. There goes my dream of owning an airship hotel.
I feel a little conflicted on the HER/SEL thing.. I thought I’d heard evidence that he’d do both. Do we have any real sense of what his decision will be if he doesn’t make the Capitals preseason roster?
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Well, Farjestad is assuming he won’t be around and have made other arrangements, correct? I also think he can only go back before he plays 11 NHL games.
by red army line on Aug 24, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I know Anton Gustafsson’s team moved on – don’t recall seeing the same for Marcus.
"HISTORY DOESN’T MATTER!!! .... Who cares if it’s never been done? We aren’t those teams who failed before. We are in control of our own destiny, and we will make it happen our own way.." - A Gordon, June 2010
Farjestads have certainly rebuilt with the expectation that Marcus won’t be there. But I’ll need to check to see if he’s on their roster. I think he was not the last time I looked. Does that mean they can’t re-roster him? Most likely they can.
But the question would then be – would he get the kind of ice time and playing situations the he’ll need to develop fully? It’s hard to say from behind my keyboard, but my guess is no.
We’ll have to leave it up to the folks who get paid to make these decisions.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I feel totally comfortable to sit behind my keyboard and say that’s no way he will play meaningful minutes in FBK next year. And I seriously doubt that the Swedish clubs have a clue about how they are going to handle the European-out players. I don’t even think they know how the rules work.
Pft why play a small French guy when you have a Svensk viking.
This is what I was basing my statement on. So it may very well be wrong.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 24, 2010 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah they moved on.
I also think he can only go back before he plays 11 NHL gamesThat’s the going back to juniors rule? I don’t know if the same rule applies in this situation. Even if it does I don’t think it would work for him to come back and play in the SEL. Färjestad first game is on September 16 so the season will be well on his way by the time he gets back.
Pft why play a small French guy when you have a Svensk viking.
Hmm, I thought I read on this site that his opt-out only applies before he plays 11 games.
by red army line on Aug 24, 2010 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
It make sense that the cut off is the same eleven games as it is for going back to juniors. But I think the rule can be that he can’t play any NHL games if he wants to go back to Europe but again I’m not sure.
Pft why play a small French guy when you have a Svensk viking.
A junior player can be sent back down to juniors after 11 games. The 10 game threshold is for whether or not a year will tick off of their contract.
The guy is Peter Schumpmaker. Lord knows what a schump is, but you can bet your bippy his ancestors made them. What he's doing is far worse than crafting fine schumps.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Aug 24, 2010 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I figure it’s the least I could do, considering all your updates from across the pond.
The 10 game rule serves as a de facto prevention form sending down juniors players, since most GMs would rather not have a year of the contract wasted while a player is in juniors.
The guy is Peter Schumpmaker. Lord knows what a schump is, but you can bet your bippy his ancestors made them. What he's doing is far worse than crafting fine schumps.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Aug 24, 2010 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Mackan then Chimera for me, its hard for me to see why Bradley would be considered more valuable then the same guy as him playing on one higher line.
Next…Sloan?
I'd probably invite Super King to the list before T-Slo.
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I might put in a vote for Aucoin to be added before too terribly long. The AHL MVP plays the position of least depth for the Caps. And he’s not as bad as Giroux when he hits the NHL. That’s some useful depth. I’m not saying I’d add him before Sloan or DJ King or Kugryshev, but I think he’s on the radar now.
Contract holders here, 3rd post down.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 24, 2010 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
If you’re talking contracts, I’ll bring up Jay Beagle again. Both deals run two years, but Beagle’s is a one-way for 2011-2012 (which I think shows more value by the Caps), plus when his expires he’ll still be an RFA (vs UFA for Aucoin).
"HISTORY DOESN’T MATTER!!! .... Who cares if it’s never been done? We aren’t those teams who failed before. We are in control of our own destiny, and we will make it happen our own way.." - A Gordon, June 2010
considered more valuable then the same guy as him playing on one higher line.
Well you’re making a judgement call on anything you want, not just skill. I think Chimera’s got more skill (barely), but you could argue that if you bumped brad up to a higher line, he’d rack up more points. Plus Brads just always seems to come up big at big moments; more of a moralle choice for me
moralle
Epikke speling fayle.
Brads has played up a line or two in his career (think back to when he first arrived and the Caps’ cupboard was a little more bare). It didn’t make any difference.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Eh.
At this point, so low in the list, I think we’re all going to just be arguing tiny differences at this point between the players. I can’t argue with Chimera or Johansson picks. I just personally voted for
SLAYER OF LUNDQVIST!!!
by Brainumbc on Aug 24, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Mackan
I love Chimera and Brads, but I’d be more upset if the team traded Mackan. I don’t think he’ll contribute much this year, but in a year or so, I think his cost/contribution ratio will allow the team to keep its core together. Of the three, he’s the only one who’s not easily replaceable.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I went for Mackan for much the same reason though Chimmer came very close. Not an easy choice, weighing future potential of a more talented guy in an important position versus chippy, gritty, speedy guy who will definitely be on the team this fall.
As much as I am a fan of Brads, I put Chimmer before him. He’s faster, has a harder shot, and shoots more often. I love the positive, team-oriented attitude of both players though.
As for Mackan’s attitude, so far what I get is hardworking and serious—good work ethic. It will be interesting to see if he has a sense of humor—Nicky will have to bring it out in him.
"I’m very happy to hear the news," Ovechkin said when he heard about Backstrom's longterm contract--"because he’s one of the top centers in the world, one of my best friends and we want to play together for a long time. He’s a guy who wants to stay in one place and be comfortable and win, just like me. We talk all the time about playing together, and we talked after the playoffs about how we can win in Washington."
by capsyoungguns on Aug 24, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
A laconic Swede? I’ve never heard of such a thing…
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
by D'ohboy on Aug 24, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Must be something in the water!
"I’m very happy to hear the news," Ovechkin said when he heard about Backstrom's longterm contract--"because he’s one of the top centers in the world, one of my best friends and we want to play together for a long time. He’s a guy who wants to stay in one place and be comfortable and win, just like me. We talk all the time about playing together, and we talked after the playoffs about how we can win in Washington."
by capsyoungguns on Aug 24, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I couldn’t have said it better. I love the way Chimera plays, and I’d be sad to see him go, but if I had to let one of them go, its Chimera.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Aug 24, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Holtby, who will get a significant look in the NHL this year due to Varly and Neuvy being injury-prone.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Holtby for me too, because he’s the guy in the poll whose loss would have the biggest impact on the organization this year.
Sometimes, you really just want to hit a b**ch.
You think losing Holtby would have a bigger impact than losing Chimera?
If Varly or Neuvy gets hurt, I imagine that Sabourin will be the call-up, and not Holtby. He’s getting the majority of starts down in Hershey.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Yes, it would have a bigger impact.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
This year? Holtby is, at best, third in line for starts in DC. Chimera will be in the lineup every night. I’m not seeing how, this year, they’re even in the same conversation.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Given he’s great and everyone likes him, I still think Chimera is pretty replaceable.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Mackan.
Next on the list I’d like to see DJ King. Then maybe Kurgeshev (or however your spell it) and maybe Orlov.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
orlov isn’t under contract yet, and therefore isn’t eligible for the polls. (several of us have made that mistake, no worries.)
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 24, 2010 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve read numerous stories and posts from a number of individuals observing that the organization is going to try MP at 2C and arguing his merit for this. At the very least he’s in the discussion for this position, and has proven he has the ability to score and be effective at the NHL level.
"Tikkanen's miss was not as dramatic as the penalty shot Joe Juneau missed in Washington's quadruple-overtime playoff loss to Pittsburgh two years [previous]." - Washington Post game recap 6/12/98
d’oh, I wasn’t going to get involved in this particular endeavor
Every time I try to get out, they pull me back in
"Tikkanen's miss was not as dramatic as the penalty shot Joe Juneau missed in Washington's quadruple-overtime playoff loss to Pittsburgh two years [previous]." - Washington Post game recap 6/12/98
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