Ok, Washington. Now it's your turn.

[DChero]

After the craziness yesterday one thing really stood out to me - the Flyers front office is trying for that Cup. The moves may or may not pay off in the immediate future, but they're trying new combinations.

Then it occurred to me that there was another team that seems to reinvent themselves every so often to make a run at the Cup, the Washington Capitals.

They obviously aren't going to ship out Ovechkin and Backstrom to clear the way for Thomas Vokoun, but there has been talk of Green and Semin playing elsewhere. Does anyone expect any overhauls there?

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

I would not be surprised to see either of them moved as early as tonight. Semin more likely than Green, but it would not shock me.

 

[DChero]

The Semin trade has been projected what seems like every trade deadline/offseason. I'm not sure the demand is that high. I mean, where would he go?

 

[puckhead]

The Semin trade has been projected what seems like every trade deadline/offseason. I'm not sure the demand is that high. I mean, where would he go?

there are a couple of teams that need to take on high value contracts to reach the cap floor.
panthers, coyotes, etc

those teams can also get there by having a bunch of rookie deals with bonuses that are unlikely to be met.

 

[devs30rko]

The khl :P

 

[ritari330]

Caps need to make 1 move like the flyers made yesterday. I'd be shocked if anything actually happens though.

 

[pixburgher66]

This is a big offseason test for McPhee. If he doesn't see that SOMETHING needs to be done than he's just not a good GM in this league. I give the Flyers credit...they saw there were issues (though it seems like it was internal character issues), and made bold steps to improve their situation. They put their credibility on the line. Does GMGM have the cajones to do the same?

 

[DChero]

This is a big offseason test for McPhee. If he doesn't see that SOMETHING needs to be done than he's just not a good GM in this league. I give the Flyers credit...they saw there were issues (though it seems like it was internal character issues), and made bold steps to improve their situation. They put their credibility on the line. Does GMGM have the cajones to do the same?

Ah, the challenge!

 

[ritari330]

This is a big offseason test for McPhee. If he doesn't see that SOMETHING needs to be done than he's just not a good GM in this league. I give the Flyers credit...they saw there were issues (though it seems like it was internal character issues), and made bold steps to improve their situation. They put their credibility on the line. Does GMGM have the cajones to do the same?

This. All of it. If something isn't done this offseason, then to me GMGM's plan is to keep the core of this group together for a long time and hope that one season the stars align and the caps win a cup. And that's a horrible plan if you ask me

 

[pixburgher66]

This. All of it. If something isn't done this offseason, then to me GMGM's plan is to keep the core of this group together for a long time and hope that one season the stars align and the caps win a cup. And that's a horrible plan if you ask me

I mean, if we look through the, well, basically HISTORY of the NHL, has there ever been a team that struggled year after year in the postseason (would you say a 4 year drought now? I guess more like 3, since the first year was 'expected' to be quick?) with the same core that just magically clicked and won a Cup? Yeah, that never happens. There's something to be said of patience, but when it draws on for this long, it seems more like apathy. Heck, even dynasties made changes year by year. Minor in comparison, but staying the same for this long just doesn't work. Not in the NHL.

 

[pixburgher66]

BUT, how much of this do you think is Ted meddling? I'm intrigued as to how involved he is with the internal workings over there. And it's fine when a good hockey owner gets involved...but Ted's a fan, and that can really get in the way of running a team. (This is NOT to say he's a bad owner, but merely he'd be better off not involved in making emotional team decisions).

 

[elocomotive]

This is a big offseason test for McPhee. If he doesn't see that SOMETHING needs to be done than he's just not a good GM in this league. I give the Flyers credit...they saw there were issues (though it seems like it was internal character issues), and made bold steps to improve their situation. They put their credibility on the line. Does GMGM have the cajones to do the same?

I can't agree completely. I think the Flyers made drastic moves that took them away from being as strong a contender next year and MAY pay off down the road. They could also make them worse. That's just my opinion. Their offense was scary deep this year, and it now looks middle of the road in the East.

If you ask me, GMGM has done a great job. We're a perennial contender and they are showing patience and believing in what they have. Plenty of teams have won making big changes in recent times. But plenty of teams have won by exhibiting patience as well. I'd like to see Semin gone and someone with a better attitude (even if less skilled) brought in. That's my big thing. But this team is still young - Mojo, Carlson, Alzner, and Neuvy all rookies this past season. And it's not like any of their big stars are real old either.

I'd personally get rid of Boudreau now, but the sports world is filled with guys that won multiple championships who wouldn't have lasted without a GM that believed in them. So he's giving him one more year. If that's truly the problem, the core of this team will still be here next year. If he doesn't succeed, he'll be gone without a doubt.

I'd love to see Semin out and Brad Richards in. That's the move I'd make if I were McPhee. I'd spend the money that needed to be spent to bring in Richards and I'd trade Semin for picks or whatever to get him off the sheet. Because if our middle was Backstrom - Richards - MoJo, that's REAL strong with the wingers we have.

 

[elocomotive]

I mean, if we look through the, well, basically HISTORY of the NHL, has there ever been a team that struggled year after year in the postseason (would you say a 4 year drought now? I guess more like 3, since the first year was 'expected' to be quick?) with the same core that just magically clicked and won a Cup? Yeah, that never happens.

Yes, check your history books.

 

[elocomotive]

BUT, how much of this do you think is Ted meddling? I'm intrigued as to how involved he is with the internal workings over there. And it's fine when a good hockey owner gets involved...but Ted's a fan, and that can really get in the way of running a team. (This is NOT to say he's a bad owner, but merely he'd be better off not involved in making emotional team decisions).

Ted doesn't get in the way of decisions. He's a hands off guy. He said right after the playoffs Boudreu's job was totally up to McPhee, who he was sticking with.

 

[ritari330]

Ted knows he's a fan and I think(not 100% sure, but I think) he has taken himself off of most dicission making that involves the players and the team except for the financial parts. And I think if he was making the decissoins, then the Caps would be more like the Redskins with Dan Snyder making the decisions and drastic moves every offseason.

 

[pixburgher66]

Ted knows he's a fan and I think(not 100% sure, but I think) he has taken himself off of most dicission making that involves the players and the team except for the financial parts. And I think if he was making the decissoins, then the Caps would be more like the Redskins with Dan Snyder making the decisions and drastic moves every offseason.

I mean, I'm really outside of that whole scene, just making an assumption based on what I know about Ted's personality.

 

[ritari330]

I can't agree completely. I think the Flyers made drastic moves that took them away from being as strong a contender next year and MAY pay off down the road. They could also make them worse. That's just my opinion. Their offense was scary deep this year, and it now looks middle of the road in the East.

If you ask me, GMGM has done a great job. We're a perennial contender and they are showing patience and believing in what they have. Plenty of teams have won making big changes in recent times. But plenty of teams have won by exhibiting patience as well. I'd like to see Semin gone and someone with a better attitude (even if less skilled) brought in. That's my big thing. But this team is still young - Mojo, Carlson, Alzner, and Neuvy all rookies this past season. And it's not like any of their big stars are real old either.

I'd personally get rid of Boudreau now, but the sports world is filled with guys that won multiple championships who wouldn't have lasted without a GM that believed in them. So he's giving him one more year. If that's truly the problem, the core of this team will still be here next year. If he doesn't succeed, he'll be gone without a doubt.

I'd love to see Semin out and Brad Richards in. That's the move I'd make if I were McPhee. I'd spend the money that needed to be spent to bring in Richards and I'd trade Semin for picks or whatever to get him off the sheet. Because if our middle was Backstrom - Richards - MoJo, that's REAL strong with the wingers we have.

And that's VERY doable if we do trade Semin.

 

[elocomotive]

I mean, I'm really outside of that whole scene, just making an assumption based on what I know about Ted's personality.

You know what they say about assumptions...

 

[DChero]

The Bruins kind of did the grind, but it took the extra effort (from the best goalie in the game right now) to take that established core to the promised land. The closest comparison that I can draw from for the Caps is the '08 Penguins (based on team makeup). They made noise at the trade deadline to push that core over the top, granted the next year is when they actually pulled it off. Having a strong core puts them in contention, having big performers is what puts names on the Cup. The Flyers did the same thing last year when they made it to the Finals.

 

[elocomotive]

And that's VERY doable if we do trade Semin.

I know, right? Plus it might mean Matty would be on the team next year.