Ok, Washington. Now it's your turn.

[pixburgher66]

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.

The Bruins made some fairly big moves get get the Cup. Going back to the Kessel trade. Kessel WAS a big part of the Bruins team, that brought them Seguin who performed well in the postseason. Also, the deadline was huge for the B's this year. BIG moves with Kaberle, Kelly, Peverley. I guess my point is, the Caps seem to stay put a LOT, and that can hurt you in the long run. It's not fun to trade a big name player, or move fan favorites, but sometimes it's gotta happen.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

The one name that I hear consistently mentioned withhe Caps as a free agent is Michael Handzus, for what it's worth. Every source I have mentions his name. The last name I heard this strongly was Mike Knuble

 

[ritari330]

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.

I'd say its more like a 2 year drought. Our first year we were lucky to make it to the playoffs. The 2nd year, we were good, but we still had alot of players who hadn't came into their own. Fact is we made progress from the year before and we took the eventual Cup Champions 7 games. These past 2 season we have regressed..big time

 

[DChero]

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.

Don't know how I missed this, but that's a scary lineup for anyone who isn't a Caps fan.

 

[ritari330]

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

I'm not sure about that...Don't really see where he'd fit in with that lineup

 

[ritari330]

The one name that I hear consistently mentioned withhe Caps as a free agent is Michael Handzus, for what it's worth. Every source I have mentions his name. The last name I heard this strongly was Mike Knuble

Someone I'd like the Caps to go after would be Joel Ward, but for some reason I don't think the Caps are that interested in him

 

[elocomotive]

The Bruins made some fairly big moves get get the Cup. Going back to the Kessel trade. Kessel WAS a big part of the Bruins team, that brought them Seguin who performed well in the postseason. Also, the deadline was huge for the B's this year. BIG moves with Kaberle, Kelly, Peverley. I guess my point is, the Caps seem to stay put a LOT, and that can hurt you in the long run. It's not fun to trade a big name player, or move fan favorites, but sometimes it's gotta happen.

I completely disagree. It hurts you more in the short run than the long run. We are loaded with young talent.

You've made your point, but people seem to act like there is only one way to win a Cup. There is NOT.

 

[ritari330]

Also the Caps do make moves at the deadline, just not in the offseason

 

[elocomotive]

I'm not sure about that...Don't really see where he'd fit in with that lineup

Laich goes up to 1st line wing, Fehr to 2nd line wing, Matty on the 3rd with MoJo and Chimera (fastest line in the league).

 

[ritari330]

Laich goes up to 1st line wing, Fehr to 2nd line wing, Matty on the 3rd with MoJo and Chimera (fastest line in the league).

But that's where Joel Ward goes

 

[DChero]

What's the main thing they lacked when getting knocked out of the second round? I'd start there.

 

[ritari330]

Well, it was.....Everything really

 

[DChero]

Well, it was.....Everything really

To be honest, I thought they looked better than the year before. It's a rough way to go out, but the system worked in the first round very well.

 

[ritari330]

A major problem I believe was heart. Some players had a real lack of it, adn by that I mean Alex Semin.

 

[DChero]

From what I'm gathering, the general consensus wants to keep Green and offload Semin?

 

[ritari330]

I'd be okay letting Green go, but Its Semin before Green

 

[puckhead]

I'd be okay letting Green go, but Its Semin before Green

that's not the way the business works.
I think you usually have to get rid of a bit of Green before you can unload any Semin


/hot chocolate!!

 

[elocomotive]

that's not the way the business works.
I think you usually have to get rid of a bit of Green before you can unload any Semin

/hot chocolate!!

I was eating an ice cream cone and spit part of it out of mouth. Thanks a lot, Puckhead!

Nice earlier in the day reference too!

Also, ice cream cones are delicious.

 

[ritari330]

haha!

That would be the one thing I'd miss if Semin got traded, the jokes

 

[johnnytata]

not sure why bold offseason moves are the go-to move when a team underachieves. yes, sometimes it's appropriate, but how many bold offseason or even in-season moves actually lead to championships. i know i'm a homer in this discussion when i bring up the wings, but if they had made an overhaul and traded big time players between 91-95 (as they were trying to do with yzerman), where would they be now.

no one wants to be patient anymore and let teams develop. getting your ass handed to you can be a much bigger motivator than any offseason move. players can turn from great one-way offensive players to great two-way players. players who are chokers can turn into players with heart, players who are "lazy" and don't care can turn into hard workers. we see it happen every year.

i'm not saying that changes shouldn't be made in this scenario, and maybe they should, but sometimes people want to make huge changes just to say they did something when really the best thing to do is to let things develop naturally.