Pick 'Em: NHL Trade Deadline "Do Not Want"
by J.P. on Feb 25, 2011 2:00 PM EST
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PrintCapitals General Manager George McPhee is sure to be a busy man between now and Monday, as he seeks to better his team ahead of the NHL's looming trade deadline. Online, on the air and in print, there's no shortage of media outlets predicting what will happen and at least as many offering up their thoughts as to what should happen.
That's all well and good, of course, but perhaps as interesting as asking Caps fans who they'd like to see in red come Tuesday is finding out who of the rumored-to-be-moved players they'd be most disappointed to find out their favorite team has acquired - who is their NHL Trade Deadline "Do Not Want."
Had you asked me that question a year ago, I might well have said Joe Corvo (and the 25 games he played for the team provided plenty of evidence as to why). This time around I've got another player topping the list: Chris Neil.
It's been said that the Caps are too easy to play against, that they need an infusion of grit, etc. And while I don't necessarily agree with the sentiment, no team has ever been "too tough" for the Stanley Cup playoffs, so adding a 31-year-old right-wing who has averaged 9.6 goals and 210 penalty minutes per 82 games over his career and has 74 career playoff games under his belt would seem to make some sense... but not if that player is Chris Neil.
To begin with, Neil has two seasons (at $2 million per) remaining on his current contract after this one concludes, so he's no "rental" - he's a commitment. More importantly, he's a guy who "delivered a two-hander to the back of [a star center's] legs," had "run-ins with Magnus Arvedson and Martin Havlat" (who have combined for two fights in well over 1,000 NHL games), and scrapped with Chris Campoli (whose NHL fight card has just two names on it, one of which is Sergei Brylin). That Neil picks on some featherweights every once in a while wouldn't be too much to look past... if all of those guys weren't his teammates at the time of the incidents. And when he's not actively bullying guys wearing the same sweater he is, he's often causing trouble for them.
I could go on, but won't. I'll just ask a simple question: is this the kind of guy you want around the Caps' locker room? I know my answer.
So who's your NHL Trade Deadline "Do Not Want"?
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Stastny.
I know everyone got all excited about him possibly being available, and so did I… Until I checked his contract. $6.6MM? That’s Backstrom level money, and we really cannot have Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, Green, plus another huge money guy. Especially not with Green and Carlson due for new contracts.
You had me at no problem.
I think you could work that under the cap for this year; the Caps would probably have to trade Semin at the draft, however, and bring in a winger who could pot 25 or so a year. That manages your cap for next year. Making room for the Green and Carlson extensions will be a bit tougher, but manageable – particularly if the Cap continues to increase.
Stastny is that level of player. Basically a point-per-game C on a bad western conference team with little help, taking the top lines and beating them. He’s 25 and there’s a real chance he’s the smartest player in the NHL when Lidstrom retires.
Even if a guy like that costs you Alexander Semin, you do it.
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by Knee high to a duck on Feb 25, 2011 2:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
It would also finally allow the Caps to match up a little better against teams with two or three strong centers which, it just so happens, tend to be the best teams in the league.
I blame Schultz
It would also allow the Caps to be rock solid down the middle for years to come which makes Kuznetsov a hugely valuable trade asset.
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Even with the recent success and media attention, do you believe he is a valuable trade asset at this time? I don’t for the same reasons he dropped on draft day, especially with his contract with his KHL team covering next season, too, and his comments to date.
At this moment? Probably not. But I’m talking down the road a little bit during this period of glorious Backstrom-Statstny-Johansson pivotry.
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Really? If the team added Statsny and lost Semin I would think Kuznetsov would be a great guy to have to replace Semin’s production on the wing, for quite a bit less money in theory.
Fair point, and I’ll amend to say that it would give them options that they don’t necessarily have right now (because at the moment, the team is hoping and praying that Kuznetsov will be the 2C they’ve needed).
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Gotcha. I’d expand that to say that the if the Caps get Statsny in the fold, they would be able to stop praying for any of the inhouse guys (MP85, MJ90, Eakin, Kuzy) to become a 2C, at least for the next few seasons.
Of course. It would have a fantastic ripple effect.
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I won’t lie, my first thought on this Stasny side thread was, “really? are you guys high?”
But now that I’ve thought about it for a few hours, it just might make sense, given the assets available. Trading Semin on draft day doesn’t quite get a Kovalchuk package, but he’s certainly worth a first rounder plus a prospect or two of notable worth.
No to Tim Connolly: durability concerns
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Reluctantly, I must agree. Like the player and the personality, but the medical record is too long.
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i say Yes to Tim Connolly….it’s a risk worth taking. the acquisition cost could make it a bad risk, but he’s not someone that I want nowhere near my team (like Neil, Zherdev, or Corso).
___
Agreed. I don’t want this guy near my team:
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Has Shawn Horcoff’s name come up in trade rumors? Because he’s a do-not-want. Four more years at 5+ million, a NMC through 2013, and declining production. He’d be a second line center, but he’d also be an incredibly expensive one.
I don't think the Oilers would trade him anyway
His contract is abysmal but he’s apparently been a good mentor for Hall and Eberle ever since he was named captain. Oilers are stuck with him.
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by MyFriendCorey on Feb 25, 2011 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
Do not want a goaltender. No Vokoun, nobody.
I’m confident that one of our young goaltenders will catch fire and I don’t want to give up assets and cap space for something that isn’t much of an upgrade.
I could be OK with GMGM acquiring goaltending depth, so long as it was inexpensive depth. Picking up a guy like McElhinney or Conklin could be wise for the stretch run, particularly with Holtby’s injury.
Unfortunately, Conklin’s not going anywhere with Halak on IR.
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yeah, but he has that basass Johnny Cash mask, so it’s almost ok.
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Agree
I’ve always thought that Vokoun was a great goaltender stuck on bad teams. But now, we need scoring depth and a veteran locker room asskicker more than a goalie.
Every time Matt Bradley scores a goal, everyone inside the Beltway should get the next day off from work. It's only fair.
Do not want Milan Jurcina. I’ve seen enough, there’s got to be a better depth defenseman out here.
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Do not want Brad Richards w/ current health concerns
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
Agreed
Brad Richards is a no go. Not concussed. Not for how much he costs. Not for nothing.
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by nogoodtrying on Feb 25, 2011 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t know about that. A healthy Richards for a decent price I say yes. But given his concussion and his extremely high price, no way jose.
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by Chaz-Capapalooza on Feb 25, 2011 2:25 PM EST up reply actions
I totally agree here as I stated above. The risks far outweigh the potential gain. If you thought Tomas Fleishmann was a ticking time bomb…let’s not go there and tempt fate with Richards.
How are you equating Richards with Flash? Flash sucked balls in the playoffs even when healthy. Richards doesn’t. I get that he’s injured, but he’s nothing like Flash.
by Rob Parker on Feb 25, 2011 3:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think Ovietracker meant health-wise.
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OT: The best part of that post was being reminded of Sergei Brylin; one of my favorite players and part of the answer to a trivia question, name the 5 Devils players who won all 3 Stanley Cups
(Stevens, Brodeur, Daneyko, Niedermayer and Brylin)
End OT
Nice trivia, and he’s definitely the one of the five that would leave the most people scratching their head (I might’ve guessed Madden).
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I debated leaving it as a question and not giving the answer, probably should have; most people guess Elias.
There’s a reason Brylin stuck around that long – solid role player, solid teammate from reports, etc.
Memorable moment of Devils first Cup win other than the goal was Brylin falling backwards on the bench when they were rushing off to celebrate winning; in today’s world definitely would be a gif.
As to Madden, I recall Raflaski, Madden, and Gomez waiting for their turn when they won in 2000, all were rookies and they looked like little kids, especially Madden waiting for someone to let them hold/raise the Cup.
Ok, enough Devils trivia. I hope some day to be able to be chatting about the order the Capitals passed around the Stanley Cup during a celebration!
Elias… that’s another one I’d have guessed before Brylin.
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I know this won’t be popular…but I don’t want Jason Arnott. He is a #3 Center for NJ, and frankly I don’t see him as an upgrade over MJ.
Fair enough. But when you rule out Arnott, suddenly, you’re left with almost nobody. I think it’s between Andy McDonald, Tim Connolly, and Jason Arnott. Quite frankly I’d be shocked if we don’t land one of these three.
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by Chaz-Capapalooza on Feb 25, 2011 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
I think Arnott is the best available option, who could be had with little given up if NJ decides they’re out of playoff contention. His biggest assets are size and playoff experience with the added bonus of being a Stanley Cup winner, knowing what it takes to pay the price to win the ultimate prize.
I think Arnott is but a shadow of his former self, but the same could be said about Guerin two years ago, and we all know the ending to that story.
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by Alz Well That Ends Well on Feb 25, 2011 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
Guerin wasn’t any more productive in the ’Burgh than he was on the Island, iirc.
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I don’t have his stats at hand so I can’t argue either way, but my point was that he was a veteran leader who I think helped them win the cup. The results weren’t because of the numbers, but the presence, in my opinion.
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by Alz Well That Ends Well on Feb 25, 2011 3:27 PM EST up reply actions
Disagree
I think Arnott would be great. he’s a tad bit washed up at this point, yes, but he is still a major threat and more consistent/reliable that Mojo, as much as Iove the guy.
Every time Matt Bradley scores a goal, everyone inside the Beltway should get the next day off from work. It's only fair.
Johansson (over his last 25 games): 6 g, 5 a, 11 points.
Arnott (over his last 25 games): 5 g, 5 a, 10 points.
Six of Arnott’s ten points have come in multi-point games.
“A consistent threat” is not what I’d call him.
I think you try and add Arnott anyways because the Caps need more depth at center, plus even if he isn’t an ideal 2C, he’s better than the rest of the in house options the Caps have. I wouldn’t feel too good about having Matty P as one of my centers in the playoffs.
I just don’t see him as the gamebreaker that this team needs. Now, I understand that most of those “gamebreakers” are unatainable or unavailable. I just have a weird feeling about Arnott. Actually, he may choose to waive his NTC if they keep winning anyways.
He was captain from 2007-2009 in Nashville, and he brought “cup experience” in the years before that. They never made it beyond the first round, and in some of those cases, it wasn’t for lack of talent.
I’m not sure that “cup experience” is all it’s cracked up to be.
The Caps don’t need a “game-breaker” as a primary consideration. They’ve got Semin, Ovi, Green… and we’d probably like to think Carlson and Backstrom can make game-changing plays when most needed.
They need a keel, someone who’s going to contribute on the scoresheet on a regular basis and can be leaned on to execute in pressure situations. Someone who can take care of themselves versus having to watch out for/stand up for.
That said, Arnott has been to the playoffs 11 times and he hasn’t scored more than 3 points in the playoffs since ‘02-’03.
"Instead of watching me all the time for what is wrong with me, maybe you need to watch yourself." Alex Ovechkin
With all due respect….those guys have hardly been gamebreakers this year…..except Semin against the Lightning.
I don’t particularly disagree when discussing the ‘10-’11 season so far. But the Organization has made it pretty clear since the end of last season that they plan on greatly counting on this roster/talent coming through in the playoffs this year for better or worse and then judge things in the aftermath.
Now, our individual confidence level on this occurring, or whether the average fan finds this frustrating, wise, etc is certainly open to debate – as you are indicating.
"Instead of watching me all the time for what is wrong with me, maybe you need to watch yourself." Alex Ovechkin
Yeah, I saw that memo. If that is the plan, then that is the plan…..I would rather GMGM just play the hand that was dealt (he drafted) then see him trade away much for rentals. I believe in this team, and I think they have the ability to win it all. <—— That was the fan in me.
Now having watched 61 games this season, I wouldn’t bet on the roster as it is now to go that far. <—- that is the realist in me.
Sergei Gonchar
Yeah. I’d be the craziest of crazy moves (especially given his decline and his contract), but no reaches back in the past…at all….
Everything sounds smarter in Tikkanesse....
And his +/-. He blows this season.
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He’s had a lot of help with that bad plus minus. Playing for Ottawa isn’t really conducive to ringing up a big plus. Still he’s just about ready for retirement, and he still has years on his current deal. No thanks.
A great career, a possible hall of famer, but not on the Caps right now.
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by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 25, 2011 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
That’s the worst contract signed this past offseason.
You had me at no problem.
by Ninjak on Feb 25, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Tomas Vokoun
I know, I lobbied heavily for him a couple of months ago. Given he has an expectingly high price and he’s aging, I do not want Vokoun. Consequentially, I don’t want any goalie over Neuvy and Varly.
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by Chaz-Capapalooza on Feb 25, 2011 2:29 PM EST reply actions
How about Lundqvist or Rinne or Hiller?
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Henrik…yes Sedin would fix a lot of our issues.
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by Cap-O-Vens on Feb 25, 2011 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Trivia: Henrik and Daniel Sedin both get 70% zone starts.
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by red army line on Feb 26, 2011 1:43 AM EST up reply actions
imagine Lundqvist if he played ona team with a capable backup.
and if we’re ranking Henriks, I’m going Lundy, Zetters…..and then very far down the list is creppy Sedin.
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Tim Connolly
We don’t need another inconsistent second line center, and certainly not for whatever McPhee would end up trading to get for him.
If he could be had for cheap then I’d look at Connolly as well. I’m starting to think that the best option may be to get two potential 2C’s with question marks, like Arnott and Connolly, and hope one works out. If both work out then you can move Marjo to the wing and send MP85 down.
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Not having a 2nd round pick makes this really difficult unless the Caps are willing to move high end prospects.
Yeah, glad we got a great return on that 2nd round pick, prospect, and D-man. Oh wait…. McPhail move right there. If he wasn’t such a beast at drafting players, I would call for his head.
Where to begin…
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by J.P. on Feb 25, 2011 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 10 recs
I’m hoping one or both could be had for some low-end draft picks and B prospects, but unless McPhee makes a deal out of left field there’s nobody available who I’d want to give up an A-list prospect, 1-2 round pick or current contributor for.
If not Connolly/Arnott then maybe the Caps can target Reasoner/Belanger-type or some other combination there of.
I just think that based on what’s out there, throwing mediocrity against the wall and seeing what sticks is becoming the most attractive option.
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Come Monday, the questions that need to be asked are “Is [Player X] an upgrade over what the team currently has?” and “Is [Player X] worth what it costs to get him here?” The question that shouldn’t be asked is “Why didn’t GMGM get an elite 2C?”
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by J.P. on Feb 25, 2011 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Excellent point. The Caps, like every team out there, could use an upgrade at pretty much any position, if the price is right. I think our prospect pool is pretty deep right now and that our picks should be free to grab. I’m still in awe of the 7th round for Kovalev trade… why aren’t we doing more of those?
I cant agree on our prospect pool. Without Kuz, Orlov, Holtby, we dont have anybody who could play on a 1-2 line or D pairing. We have 3rd, 4th line guys playing in AHL right now at best. And we are really thin on D prospects.
Trading away picks for rentals isnt a way to go if we want to have someone to come up in couple years down the road. Not higher than a 5th rounder at least.
It is only worth to trade for a player who could stick for a longer period and we could build around.
From what we saw out of BMo last year he was no better than what we have. This year, year 2 after an ACL, he is much better tho.
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I don’t think so at all. Maybe you ask that question if they try and fail to get someone of at least Morrison’s level by the deadline. The strategy of seeing what they had in MP85 and MJ90 was a fairly sound one, IMO. Put another way, they did essentially the same thing on the blueline with 27 and 74 – some would have argued that the Caps needed to pick up a couple of veteran D’s last summer and bury those kids, but they didn’t and it’s worked out. It just hasn’t worked out quite as smashingly at 2C.
The one point I’d argue is that we knew everything we had to know about the 2C position a little while ago, and the wait has just driven up cost (via competitors) and driven down supply (as guys have gone elsewhere).
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by J.P. on Feb 25, 2011 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hindsight is a B-I…At the start of the year most of us wanted MattyP to get a legit shot, and BMo or Belanger werent all that impressive in the previous season.
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I think you’re agreeing with me, in which case… agreed.
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Yes I agree…I was pointing out the insanity that would have been spewed here if we signed Belanger and MattyP spent the season in Hershey…….all while our PP and Offense in general was anemic.
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I don’t know why they have to “try and fail to get someone” before we doubt the success of dealing Morrison. In BMo we had an aging center who could play 2C minutes for maybe 2/3s of the season then tail of towards the end.
Just because GMGM wanted to see what MP85 and Mackan could do in the NHL doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have kept on someone who has played 2C before.
Dropping BMo shows some pretty horrible forsight by GMGM towards the organization and the landscape of the NHL. I’ll give him quite a bit of sympathy because you never really know who’s going to be available over the course of a year or two years. . .but i don’t know why he thought we could roll into the play-offs with Mackan, MP, or even Flash (ew)
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Disagree. The team’s relatively fine, has given MP85 and MJ90 a chance to develop, and can go out and get a BMo at the deadline. At no point did anyone think this team would have MP85 or MJ90 as the 2C.
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If they didnt see MP85 or MJ90 as potential 2Cs for this team, then what was GMGM thinking? They are vital to the play-off success of an NHL team and at this point there is a good chance we go into the play-offs without one.
I will admit, for all I know, GMGM could’ve gone or will continue to go after Fisher, Weiss, Arnott, or any other 2C and it just didnt work.
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
BMo was terrible from early December onward. Why would you pay that guy to stay? It would have made no sense and we would have said “WTF GMGM, that guy blows, why do you want him to prove it again?”
I just feel like he would’ve been a good bridge between the offseason and the trade deadline. Not so much keeping him because he’s gonna produce great numbers; but, because he’d produce better numbers than the other options
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
But if you don’t see him producing after the deadline (more specifically, in the playoffs) then why burn a contract and cap space on him. Theoretically, one or both of our rookie Cs could have actually been legit but we wouldn’t have learned that if BMo were here. Turns out they aren’t ready for it, but BMo wouldn’t have been the solution in any event.
His contract hit is somewhere around 1 mil right now. He’s very, very cheap.
Im glad Mackan and MP have been able to play for the big club this year; but, i am bothered by the seemingly large lack of forsight on the part of GMGM. It seems as though he willingly left this big hole in our line-up without having any solution for it
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
4-19-23 in 47 games from December 1 on. If you leave out the first two games in December, though, he dips to 3-16-19 in 45 games. Eight of those 19 points were put up in the 12 games after the Olympic Break. But for the month of December alone, he was
He had an awful December/January, but followed that up with 1-7-8 points in 12 games in March/April, which (incidentally) would have put him on pace for a 55 point season. He’s on pace for 52 right now. Mathieu Perreault and Marcus Johansson are maybe going to put up 52 points between the two of them.
The guy is streaky, but the Caps easily could have brought him back on a one-way deal to provide some additional center depth. The fact that they didn’t, and that they then failed to get a center in the offseason, is pretty damning.
Precisely…and the thing I fear (more than I anticipate with an acquisition) is the price the Caps pay to get a player. This is not a good year to be filling the needs the Caps have via the trade market (particularly for second line centers). I’d hate to see the Caps send out a prospect who might be contributing in 2-3 years for a player that probably isn’t going to have the impact the position he is obtained to fill should have.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Luckily GMGM is excruciatingly conservative when dealing prospects and seems relatively immune from public opinion. If the right deal’s not there, he’s not going to spend much making the wrong one.
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If there was a way to move Chimera and a pick for Arnott, I think that would be our best move, unless we can convince Weiss to waive his NTC, in which case I’d feel a little better giving up more. But I heard a rumor that Edmonton was trying to talk McPhee into a deal involving Carlson and Hemsky… these are the things that keep me up at night.
Arnott shouldn’t cost more then a 3rd round pick total. No need to move someone from the active roster to get him.
Edmonton was trying to talk McPhee into a deal involving Carlson and Hemsky
I just threw up in my mouth a little
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The Globe & Mail was looking for Varlyvirth.
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by Alz Well That Ends Well on Feb 25, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
I wouldn’t give up an in-contract player and pick for a 36 year old rental, regardless of GMGM’s draft history.
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 25, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
Brett Lebda
…unless we can get him in a package deal with Phill Kessel and a conditional fourth.
Seriously guys who have been linked to us who I do not want: Tim Connolly or Jason Arnott.
Or Lee Stempniak…oh wait he hasn’t been linked to us. But no thanks.
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by Rather Bengt on Feb 25, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions
Also for obvious reasons: Sean Avery
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by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 25, 2011 4:31 PM EST up reply actions
Weiss
At this point Weiss is the only 2C I want. I dont really feel anyone else being dangled AND affordable is an upgrade. Stastny would be my only other pick but I think he will cost a ton.
The big question is will a legit 2C fix our Power Play…because honestly thats our problem, Thats why we lost to Montreal last year. I think the PP needs to be fixed internally and if it is we are Cup contenders with our current roster when healthy.
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No one with a last name with Morris in it. As in, no thanks on Derek Morris, who is exactly what we don’t need—slow and pugnacious. Nor do I want to see either of these retreads, Shaone Morrisonn or Brendan Morrison, for old time’s sake. Don’t get all gimlet-eyed on us, now George!
"We know the answers have to come from this room," Hendricks said. "They're in here."
So Zack Morris shouldn’t be standing by with his awesome mobile phone?
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He’d test positive for caffeine pills and then the world would go nuts over the Caps’ drug problems.
/I know it was Jessie.
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by Alz Well That Ends Well on Feb 25, 2011 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
DNW - An extention for Poti
Ok, that’s totally off-topic, but I had to get a dig in there..
Choking since 1985.
OH Where To Start...
I do NOT want Ales Hemsky. This team needs its top 6 to be tougher, not softer. Hemsky is too injury prone, too slight, and i don;t think he’s going to be able to take the grind that Philly, Boston, and Pittsburgh would bring.
I do NOT want Ribero either.
I do NOT want Weiss. He’s just not that good. The only guy i would have taken off of Florida is Horton, and the B’s got him.
I wouldn’t take Horcoff at all. Even if his contract wasn’t insane.
I don’t want anyone that hasn’t made their own teams better.
If you traded Semin for Stastny, lets say, who exactly is he going to be setting up on the wings? Laich? Fehr? Laich is 3rd line guy at best (last year was an anomaly) and Fehr might as well be written off at this point, IMHO. You need wingers to set up. Getting rid of Semin brings on another problem. Its intriguing to think Stastny is available, but I don’t see it happening. Who would Colorado have left on their team? Flash? Good luck.
What we need is a 2c that can play physically and put up points. I think that’s important at this stage, heading into the playoffs, and for next year. Caps are too slight down the middle past Backstrom, even in the farm system.
On that note, I’d bring in Umberger. He’s got the set up skills a 2C needs, has a physical edge, and would mesh well. It turned out his comments about how the Caps don’t play the right way for the post season were correct, so he’s forgiven.
The rest of the bottom teams have next to nothing that could help us.
The Way is riddled with deep, dark holes.
by The Jade Donkey on Feb 25, 2011 3:22 PM EST reply actions
If you traded Semin for Stastny, lets say, who exactly is he going to be setting up on the wings?
I’ll take my chances with a very good center and mediocre wings over a very good wing with a mediocre center and opposite wing any day.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 25, 2011 3:25 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
I won’t take that chance. Not when it comes to Semin. You can trade Fehr and Laich, and put Beagle with him then, but I wouldn’t rely on Fehr and Laich at all.
Not poopooing Stastny, by any stretch of the noggin, but not for Semin with what we’ve got left to work with. Umberger suits me fine.
The Way is riddled with deep, dark holes.
by The Jade Donkey on Feb 25, 2011 3:27 PM EST up reply actions
Probably not. But I can’t imagine that COL would move Stastny either. There really aren’t many guys out there that are worth dealing for, certainly not worth giving up Semin for.
The Way is riddled with deep, dark holes.
by The Jade Donkey on Feb 25, 2011 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
The issue with Colorado is that they don’t want to be locked into Stastny’s 6.6 million-for-three-more-years contract. They’re looking to dump salary and thus get younger and cheaper in the process.
So grab Stastny for a pick and a prospect? Worry about Semin over the summer?
Like.
Choking since 1985.
So, what would it cost us to get Stastny?
We’ve got to many heroes. We need some monsters.
- The Jade Donkey
Semin
Kuv Holtby 1st
Orlov Varly 1st
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Just Semin? I doubt it. Why would the Avs want a guy who makes more money and has a shorter contract?
The other deal, maybe, since the Capitals can offer a young goalie.
The money is essentially a wash, so I don’t buy that as a consideration.
They need a scoring winger, desperately. Semin is that. So from a point of need it makes sense. They’d have him for this stretch run and all of next year, not an insignificant amount of time.
If they are afraid of having Statsny tied up at 6.6, then maybe having Semin for shorter term would be more attractive because it gives them more flexibility when they need to re-sign a lot of their kids. If they want to keep Semin, they have the choice, but they won’t be tying up lots of money by trading for him.
I was assuming (hoping?) it would be somewhat of a buyers market based on that the remaining term of that contract. Teams that want to dump salary don’t always get huge value.
Choking since 1985.
I think this is right – I’m not sure many (any?) NHL teams see Stastny as a $6.6m player right now. He certainly might get back there, but my guess is that most teams would view him as overpaid, which is almost certainly how the Avs see him if they’re even thinking of moving him.
All that said, I’d still take him at that price on my team. He’d be an over-priced – and over-skilled – 2C. I could live with that.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I’d doubt Umberger would be coming for any less than Semin, either, and they don’t need superstar-potential wings.
by DrinkingPartner on Feb 25, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions
AND no to Neil
Neil is a tool and there is no way i would want him. I’d take Jarkko Rutuu first.
The Way is riddled with deep, dark holes.
by The Jade Donkey on Feb 25, 2011 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
21-PS-85
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Are most people in agreement that the Caps need to do at least do something? Even if it means just picking up Milan Jurcina and Eric Belanger again?
I’m not advocating mortgaging the future for a rental who’s going to be worse than the current options, but I think standing pat would be tantamount to raising the white flag.
The Kolzilla PR department has advised me to post a link to my work at Inside Hockey, so here it is.
www.Insidehockey.com
I think that yes, they need to do something to at the very least send a message to the room that management is trying just as hard as the team is/should be.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think it needs to be the right something, though, and in order to send that message they also need to avoid shipping out roster players and disrupting an already fragile room.
disagree about not disrupting the room….this team has been fairly dysfunctional all season and i think disrupting the room might be exactly what they need.
Perhaps coincidence, but the two most memorable slides from this year and last were preceded by disrupting the room. I see this team as being more fragile than dysfunctional, and disrupting the room for the sake of sending a message seems foolhardy at best.
Last year maybe, but I seriously doubt taking Flash out and bringing in Hannan is the reason this team fell apart in December. As pointed to by Hannan leading the players-only meeting just a month later.
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Feb 25, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
I would agree that it seems more coincidence regarding the Flash move. That said, I still think this team is more fragile than dysfunctional. I find it hard to fathom that a move in the locker room will somehow provide more offense from this team, or make the power play better.
That’s not to say that bringing in the right player might make both of those things happen. But at this point, shaking up the room in hopes that alone is going to fix what’s ailing the Caps seems baseless.
I think we should agree to a deal for Belanger and then forget to fax in the paperwork.
Choking since 1985.
by macvechkin on Feb 25, 2011 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs
I’m not so sure. In previous years — even last year — the Caps were a young enough team that a signal had to be sent that “you can win, and making this deal shows that we’re serious about doing just that.” But these guys have been around the barn a few times now in the playoffs. Perhaps not doing something will be a jolt…it’s on us now.
Not sure if this is true, either, just a thought
If you've read this far...seek help.
I’ll be willing to bet this is the narrative if nothing happens. “The GM sent the message that this team can win as is and he expects them to do it on their own. They aren’t looking for outside help.”
If GMGM makes a move: “The GM sent the message that despite the inconsistent season, this team is still a contender and they are adding ammo to the team so that they’ll be better equipped to compete for the Cup.”
Either way, the message is GMGM believes they can win.
by Rob Parker on Feb 25, 2011 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
White flag? No, I don’t think so, but I could certainly see it as a “we’re not ready to give up Mackan/Kuznutz to anyone else, yet” statement.
I do think they need a legit 2C, and if Weiss or Stastny or Vermette or someone can be had without giving up one of those two or Holtby (and preferably not Semin, either), I’d do it.
by DrinkingPartner on Feb 25, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
A couple of years ago – when they did nothing – I wrote that, essentially, it was ok:
And yet I keep coming back to the same thought on what didn’t happen yesterday. Whether by design, logistical impossibilities or fate, management sent a message to the players: it’s up to you. There’s not going to be any graybeard who’s going to come in and challenge everyone in the room to be the best they can be. There’s not going to be any battling blueliner who’s going to lessen the load on the rest of the D-corps. There’s not going to be any new goaltender who’s going to stand on his head for a month-plus. Not this year.
This year, it’s up to the guys in the room, the ones who have been there for the past year or two or more. It’s up to the coach who took this team on a damn-near miraculous run last season and has them dreaming big this year. It’s up to the most valuable player to show why he won the award last season and to recognize that there’s also an award for playoff MVP. It’s up to the free agent goalie, the re-born Russian veteran, the future captain, the enigmatic sniper, the Norris hopeful and everyone else on that team, in D.C. and in Hershey, because there’s no help coming. Not this year. This year, they’re on their own.
Let’s see what they can do.
I wouldn’t buy that this time around.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Leroy Jenkins
I do NOT want Leroy Jenkins. He always rushes the attack and throws everyone else offsides. Besides, he lacks the finesse and subtle skill that really seems to gel with our Team style, always trying to go it alone and never stopping to make 17 passes on the forecheck. No thank you, sir!
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
by Scoops on Feb 25, 2011 3:36 PM EST reply actions 7 recs
Consider This
I know I am late to the dance and I agree with those who say the Caps 2C shouldn’t come from the UFA pool. There is just not a good match. How about looking to St. Louis and Brad Boyes. I have seen rumors that he could be expendable. He is 28, (12G, 28A, 40P and a +10) He is listed as a right wing, but he has played the center spot. Actually he has better stats as a center than as a winger. He is gritty and a pretty good playmaker. He will carry a 4 mil. paycheck through the 2012-13 season. Is he worth it? Who would we give up to get him?
The difference between ORDINARY and extraORDINARY is that little "extra"
Losing my Illusion?
Consider this
Consider this
A hint on the 2C
Consider this
The slip could bring these
Caps to their knees failed
What if all these 2C opportunities
Come flailing around?
Now I’ve said too much
I thought that I heard George trading
I thought that I saw George wink
I think I thought I saw George sign
But that was just a dream
There won’t be 2C
"Instead of watching me all the time for what is wrong with me, maybe you need to watch yourself." Alex Ovechkin
by Icebat on Feb 25, 2011 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Well
Do you believe that we should go into the playoffs with Mojo and MP85? I think we need a bit more than what they can offer right now.
The difference between ORDINARY and extraORDINARY is that little "extra"
Sure we’d all love to plug in a world-class 2C versus likely future solid 2C options already on the roster.
I am just thinking and reading about the reality of the 2C market/situation/factors/considerations.
But who knows, maybe we get one. Then I’ll be singing a different tune I guess…
"Instead of watching me all the time for what is wrong with me, maybe you need to watch yourself." Alex Ovechkin
Brilliant
I suspect if they do this it would be the end of the world as we know it?
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 25, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions
Mike Modano
has two goals in 20 games played for the Wings this season and a 4.9 shooting percentage.
Man, we sure missed out didn’t we?
(I didn’t want him last year either).
"Instead of watching me all the time for what is wrong with me, maybe you need to watch yourself." Alex Ovechkin
eh. complete freak injury severed tendons in his arm. it’s not like his body broke down.
He’ll be back on the ice for tomorrow’s game vs. Buffalo.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
He’s had a great career, he’s 40 and was still a 20+ goal scorer thru the 07-08 season.
I just don’t think he’s got it anymore, and the Stars didn’t think so either.
But he could still have some juice. The injury doesn’t allow us to see just how good (or bad) he is now…
"Instead of watching me all the time for what is wrong with me, maybe you need to watch yourself." Alex Ovechkin
FWIW, he was finally clicking on a line and contributing with the wings when the injury happened; too bad, looked like he was having fun playing again. Glad that injury didn’t end his career.
People speak of McPhee’s conservatism with respect to trades, but it seems more a case of covering his bets than going all in on the shiny toy. That’s whiy I can’t imagine any scenario in which a Brad Richards comes here, even if healthy.
But consider…
— Last season McPhee pulled the trigger on four separate deals on deadline day, obtaining Scott Walker, Eric Belanger, Milan Jurcina, and Joe Corvo. The only roster player he surrendered was Brian Pothier.
— Three years ago (when the Caps were making that great playoff run) he made four trades, three involving the parent roster, obtaining Sergei Fedorov, Cristobal Huet, and Matt Cooke. Again, one roster player was moved (Matt Pettinger).
I’d be surprised if he made no deals (although I don’t think it would be the worst thing in the world), and it would not shock me if he made several for what folks might think second or third tier players to fill specific roles, not just the 2C position. I would be surprised if any semi-important cog among the roster players (like an Alexander Semin) was moved in a “blockbuster”….shocked, even.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Feb 25, 2011 3:54 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
The conservatism isn’t so much w/r/t trades but w/r/t moving bodies, as you allude to. Of all the ones you listed, in addition to the two roster players you mention, the only “bodies” he moved were Theo Ruth and Oskar Osala, no?
But also, he did move Flash, he did move Clark, he did move Jurcina, so he’s not totally averse to it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
he’s only adverse to moving roster players in February.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Not willing to pay the higher price when it’s a seller’s market?
He really hasn’t made any blockbuster deals at or around the deadline in recent years. Lots of nibbling on the edges w/ limited downside risk given he never takes on any salary. Hopefully he’s more inclined to make such moves (if they make sense) now than he has in the past.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Feb 25, 2011 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
He does seem more inclined to tweaking the roster early than late. By late February, maybe he sees that version of the team as being what it is, that a big shakeup won’t have the desired effect. Maybe he was burned by the infamous Zednik trade back in March 2001.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Along these lines, GMGM is more apt to make a move that we may sum up as, “Whoa, I didn’t see that coming. At ALL.”
This. Like i’ve said before, who would’ve called the Erik Johnson, Chris Stewart, and CO. trade?
For all we know, GMGM could be sending a draft pick, Schultz, and Semin for Burns and Miettinen or Brunette.
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Schultz and Semin for Burns and Miettinen then?
I’d throttle a mountain goat to have Burns on this team. . .
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Hobos and mountain goats get a bad rap ’round these parts.
Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 25, 2011 7:00 PM EST up reply actions
The problem with last year was that the moves really didn’t make the team that much better. Corvo, Jurcina (who never played), Belanger, and Walker were all spare parts, plugged into the team. They were depth.
Three years ago, however, the moves made the team noticeably better. Fedorov was an upgrade. Huet, too. And Cooke filled a role that the Caps really didn’t have at the time.
I feel dirty diverting from the thread of DNW. . .but. .
How would you guys feel about picking up Leighton as a depth goalie?
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
if Gordon’s recurrent back injuries make you wary, Leighton’s should send you screaming for the hills.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
I think he makes 800k in the AHL and would be good for hershey and potential emergency call ups maybe?
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
He’s on a one-way contract, so he makes 1.5 million this year (and 1.6 million next year) regardless of where he plays.
1.5 mil is an awful lot to pay a third-string goalie. Ted would (hopefully) balk.
I'll just ask a simple question: is this the kind of guy you want around the Caps' locker room?
I think that’s an important question. It seems like a lot of time and effort has gone into putting the right people on this roster. There’s really no need to muck it up!
Carolyn
"..don't be too hard on people. Just be patient, give them time to work things out and they will.." GMGM from HBO 24/7
And then ask yourself what you really know about the prospective player to be added and the locker room. We have no clue who might or might not be a good fit in the room since we have no clue what any of the locker rooms (or player personalities within the room) are really like.
I’m pretty comfortable saying I wouldn’t want Chris Neil anywhere near the Caps’ room.
But the point is well-taken – by all accounts, Matt Cooke was a popular guy when he was here.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I don’t want Chris Neil anywhere near the Caps, but that position is supported as much by what he does on the ice as what he does in the room. Very few guys have as many documented fights with their own teammates, so I think in that sense he may be an anomaly.
First Round Exit! (Clap Clap ClapClapClap) First Round Exit!
GMGM is cautious, but not averse to movign bodies at the deadline. Perhaps his biggest trade was the Zednik and Bulis for Linden and Zubrus trade. It didn’t work out, but it was quite bold by GMGM standards.
Didn’t work out? I dunno, the best years Zubie had were here in DC, admittedly playing with Ovechkin, but Zednik was as streaky as Semin (if not more so) and as injury prone as Semin (again, if not more so). Bulis never really became the player he could have been,
Linden was here for a year and while he was here, he was a pretty good player. It would have been nice to keep him, but he was going to leave as a UFA at the end of the season he was traded anyway, so George got something for him.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 25, 2011 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
I like looking at what I call the “velocity” of trades — how one trade begets other moves downstream. In exchange for Linden (and the Islanders’ 2nd round draft pick in 2002), the Caps received Vancouver’s 1st round pick in 2002 and the Canucks’ third rounder in 2003.
That third rounder in 2003 ended up in Edmonton, but I can’t find out who or what was obtained for it. As far as that 2002 first rounder is concerned, the Caps used tit to pick Boyd Gordon. Gordon isn’t the player Linden was, but he stayed for more than a cup o’ coffee, too.
If you've read this far...seek help.
So in summary:
No to Neil
No, yes, maybe to Stastny. But if it involves Carlson? Fuggadaboutit.
No to Connolly, but then again..
Big no to Horcoff
No to Voukon. We don’t need no stinkin’ goalies
No, no, no to Richards
Same for Spezza
No, well maybe, then otoh possibly yes to Arnott
Steven Weiss, some do not like
Ribero. Ugh.
Eric Belanger, really? Really?
Sergie Gonchar. God no.
Leighton. Are you kidding me?
What’s the consensus on B-Mo?
Ah, beer. The cause of and the solution to all of life’s problems. - Homer Simpson
I have no desire to give it another go with that former relationship.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Haayded it.
His effectiveness arrow over the season went like a Greg Louganis dive after nailing his head on a diving board doing a reverse 2 1/2 pike
"Instead of watching me all the time for what is wrong with me, maybe you need to watch yourself." Alex Ovechkin
by Icebat on Feb 25, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Way off the map here. Kyle Turris for 2C. Finally fulfill that potential of his.
Ah, beer. The cause of and the solution to all of life’s problems. - Homer Simpson
Tonight may be the last night we see some of our boys fightin’ the good fight on home ice. Take a good look at them tonight.
I'm glad Chris Neil is the picture for this...
Others:
Goalies…
Hemsky
Conolly
"If I was being paid thirty-thousand dollars a year, the very least I could do was hit .400." - Ted Williams
Barring a 2C
Hemsky is exactly the guy I want. He can drive a line by himself – the limiting factor is what Tambo wants back. If it’s one of Karlzner, he can go piss into a ceiling fan. Otherwise, I’m thinking hard about it.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 25, 2011 6:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Per Twitter
ajcthrashers Chris Vivlamore
Scouts at #Thrashers-Panthers game from WAS, PITT, DAL.
"If I was being paid thirty-thousand dollars a year, the very least I could do was hit .400." - Ted Williams
Dream big: Bogosian
"We know the answers have to come from this room," Hendricks said. "They're in here."
Pitt looking for a depth defensemen or winger
WAS looking for winger, depth defensemen, or center
DAL looking for ?
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
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