Saturday Caps Clips: The Kids Are Alright

Really surprising (to me) deal. Neither team is going anywhere this year, so a trade involving a fairly recent #1 pick seems to be a pretty odd deal. I think I like it for STL, but it all depends on just how good Erik Johnson becomes, obviously. Really hard to judge this deal in the short-term, I think.

Holy shit. Wow. Quite the trade.

I did not see either team trading Johnson/Stewart/Shattenkirk.

Thoughts, everyone?

I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. What would be the Washington equivalent? If I was a Avs fan I would feel a bit queasy this morning. That’s a lot of change in one day.

Shattenkirk’s looked good offensively, and Stewart gives them another gritty winger that can score. Plus, the consensus is that this year’s draft class is weaker than years before, so 1st round picks are off the shelves more than Rogaine is for Shattenkirk’s growing bald spot.

Still think that Johnson will help the Avs out, and I guess it never hurts to have another 1st rounder, but the upside is greater for St. Louis.

I awake to a blockbuster, seems like first real one of the season. At first glance, seems like St. Louis makes out very well. Chris Stewart was one of the top scorers in the league before his injury this season and Shattenkirk was a having a Calder caliber year, albeit with an amazing start and sharp drop-off since, but still. Plus a 1st round pick? Johnson’s developing but he’s not as good as expected and I realistically don’t see him reaching his ceiling. St Louis with the win for me on this one.

I may be wrong on this, but all of the sources I’ve read in the 10 minutes I’ve been up have the 1st rounder going to Colorado and the 2nd to St. Louis.

St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Saturday the club has acquired former first round draft choices Chris Stewart(notes) and Kevin Shattenkirk(notes) along with a conditional 2011 or 2012 second round draft choice from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Erik Johnson, Jay McClement(notes) and a conditional 2011 or 2012 first round draft choice.

Also, I find it most informative to look at each fan bases’ blog to gauge their reactions to the trade, so if anyone’s interested.

Colorado: http://www.milehighhockey.com/

St. Louis: http://www.stlouisgametime.com/

Quick and dirty: Colorado poll on the trade indicates 33% like the trade, 31% don’t, and 35% are undecided. Certainly massively mixed reactions on both sides, some think it’s the greatest trade ever for their team while others can’t believe what they just read (although I gathered many of these people were speaking out of context probably rarely if ever having seen them play).
It looks like Colorado and St. Louis are playing on Tuesday as well.

Undecided. In terms of upside, Johnson’s clearly the best of the three. It’s not coincidental that his comparable was Scott Stevens on draft day. Big, fast, cannon shot (except righty instead of lefty). On the other hand, he’s had a mediocre season. Seems like the Blues were selling a bit low on a 22-year old kid who missed an entire year of development when he had the freak knee injury.

Stewart is a talented power forward and it seems like the Avs are likewise selling low on him. He’s had a down year after injury and he’s played really poorly of late. On the other hand, when healthy he’s a legitimate 35/40/75 100PIM power forward who shoots for a high percentage. On yet another hand, he’s never played a full season of professional hockey and his style of play will often lead to him being out of the lineup. Furthermore, players like Stewart tend to age fast and drop off hard in their late 20s and he’s already 23.

Shattenkirk came out like gangbusters and, while nobody expected him to keep scoring at that rate, he’s still a damn good defenseman. I think this is where the Avs sold high. Shatty’s good, but his production is going to be tied to PP time and he might not get as much in StL.

Moving Shattenkirk is confusing, however, in light of the Colby Cohen for Matt Hunwick trade earlier this season. If Colorado wanted to get bigger on defense, then why trade Cohen for Hunwick? I guess I thought that the Avs traded Cohen in part because Shattenkirk was so good, so quickly. And now they’re both gone. The Avs have lots of D prospects, but most of them are a few years away.

From StL’s perspective, they had better hope and pray that Johnson doesn’t reach his potential. The kid has hall of fame upside and being a big-bodied defenseman who can skate and shoot the puck, he’ll likely be very good for a very long time (since defensemen tend to age well).

For Colorado – I’m not sure why they didn’t try to get something better back than McClement. He’s older (27) and slow and kind of a “meh” grinder.

As for the picks – Colorado clearly got the better end of the deal, but if the pick is delayed until 2012, that pick probably won’t bear NHL fruit until 2015, at which point Colorado ought to be well into their Cup window with guys like Stastny and Duchene.

I guess this is a head-scratcher from both sides. In the short term, I think StL “wins,” but if Johnson reaches his upside, then Colorado wins this one long-term.

I’m having a terrible time making sense of it, too. I think the puck must be from the game where he became the highest scoring Russian in NHL history?

Don’t remember reading it, but might have. I know it’s high school, but wow:

In helping lead the Bengals to the 2000 state hockey title, Hendricks collected 110 points in 43 games

2 years? I sure do hope so.

Hendricks extension? Yes please. ASAP.

Scored a nice OT winner for Sioux City.

Starts at 1:20

I think this time next year if his team doesn’t make the playoffs and he doesn’t (or hasn’t already) signed an extension.

Here’s some talk about Chesnokov’s tweet awhile ago (just cause i don’t feel like going through and finding it on twitter, its pretty old)

Not sure if this is the latest news or not, but sounds like he’s signing with the K for another year. Really doesn’t want to see the AHL or lower lines time.

And this is the first I’ve seen anyone suggest Brooks Laich as a deadline rental.

Washington’s Brooks Laich (doubt they’re trading him)

Doing his due diligence. I’d be surprised if he’s traded.

Do you have the link? I just went to Spectors’ Hockey myself but couldn’t find anything on Semin. Maybe I just don’t know where to look.

Given the fact that Richards is currently out with “head injury”, I’m now a little iffy at acquiring him for the long term.

Granted, his contract is expiring and we could probably afford him as a rental now. But dumping Semin to clear the space for him now seems like an iffy strategy. It seems like a more appropriate time for that would be the off season where the management could decide which guy is better for our long term plans.

So true—definitely good stuff. I’ve been so gloomy about the Caps’ playoff prospects that I was shocked listening to both of them suggesting, even expecting, a splashy or big move and that this was a good year for this team to go for it. I don’t know what to think. But they certainly got me thinking. I do enjoy listening to May—he’s not shy with his opinions.

I’ve expected deadline day to be exciting as a Caps fan every year. And it never has. So this year I’m expecting nothing and hopefully I’ll be pleasently suprised!

I like Vermette, but don’t love what’s left on his contract – four more years at $3.75m.

Oh, another thing I know about him is that he looks good with his shirt off:

The Washington Capitals team my “BeAPro” played for in NHL09 traded for Knuble, Burns, and Vermette. . .Once GMGM got Knuble i just assumed Burns and Vermette were on their way eventually

He’s a good two-way forward, but has probably been disappointing in terms of offensive production versus what was expected of him. Basically, a well-rounded guy, but not exceptional anywhere.

He’s exceptionally fast. Greasy speed, up there with Chimera and Johansson. He’s a smart player and generally very responsible on the defensive side. His issue is that offensively, he never really panned out like he should, because he’s a good passer and has a fine shot. He’s inconsistent offensively and can be streaky.

Is he a good player? Sure. I don’t know if he’s the best option at 2C, but I think he’s a realistic option personally.

Very happy to hear he could recover from his personal issues. I think it’s really positive that he had the courage to take himself out of the regular season. That’s not easy.

thought of him the other day when the Miguel Cabrera news broke. Good to see him returning to the line-up.

This is awesome. Regardless of what you think of Tootoo, he’s a huge inspiration to other Inuit/First Nations people in Canada, along with guys like Juneau and Chris Simon. Demonstrating that it’s possible to overcome these issues has to give a lot of young men in those communities hope.

Not going to happen if they’re set on Carlson and Alzner.

Ya hell no if Carlson or Alzner is the price, wouldn’t be even close to worth it for the caps.

What does Edmonton have at goalie in their system? It seems like they’ve got a glut of young forwards, so I understand they would want Alzner or Carlson, but that makes zero sense for the Caps.

Hmmm…replace Hemsky with Semin, then? I’m not sure I hate that, though Carlzner are off the table.

That was my own opinion on the quality of teammates, exactly. Laich and Semin are a relatively good set of wingers for a second line. Semin is essentially a first line talent who plays on the second line for strategic reasons of wanting to build two scoring lines.

I do think Neil does great analysis, even if he sold Weiss short due to the “quality of teammates” thing.

Got to it before I did. Spot on.

When you said my post was “a great example of so many stat fails in one place” I was looking forward to seeing why. I am never above learning something new or having a healthy discussion.

I must admit tho when you had nothing more than “One of Weiss’ huge assets is his defensive play” or “I think Weiss is a steal on that contract” with zilch to support the statement I was left feeling jilted at the altar.

When in doubt, go with “the rumors are totally off base.”

I’m with you. I am used to the fact that we hear about a Caps trade either when it happens or within minutes. That’s why the talk yesterday of Eakin, 85, a 1 and a 3 for Richards was a non-story.

EDM has to bring Souray up through re-entry before they can trade him so it’s a non-starter. Anyone that would trade for him would take him for 50% off and no assets. He’ll finish the year in HER and then EDM will try to move him over the summer.

you know, last time a guy with Stamkos talent wasn’t signed after Jan. 1 on the last year of his ELC, I seem to recall a whole bunch of media outlets screaming about how it was because that player wanted to play in a “real” hockey city, and his team didn’t respect him, and a whole bunch of other nonsense. Wonder why we’re not hearing that BS again?

Absolutely. But can you fit him within your cap?

I’d dance naked in VC for a 91-19-8 line.

Depends on where those firsts are.

Meant to comment on that earlier…any other buzz on him? We could really use him back and healthy.

Did you see game is cancelled due to the fires?

I see the Preds signing him and have Souray and Weber as their entire PP unit just shooting cannons from the point.

(Seriously I don’t think anyone will. the Rangers had a smidgen of interest at one point, saw him play and said “no thanks”.)

Likely colder than the frozen tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin which NFL announcers love to talk about.

That’s a bit of phallic gesture there, is it not?

Just noticed. Whopping 26.5 points for my fantasy team. Loves me those hat tricks.

I know that I won’t get the Caps here in St. Louis.

Oops, wrong thread. XD

Makes sense to me. He has one of the dirtiest players in the NHL on his payroll, and he complains (and says he would have to consider quitting) because of plays of the same type Cooke does. He had every right to be upset, but he needs to look at his own organization first.