(2020-) 2021 Washington Capitals

[varoadking]

Hindsight, of course, but gotta wonder what the team may have been like if we'd found a way to keep Grubi...

[UMDNats]

We have a 2-3 year window win and the 1st rounder is a late first in a draft where no one knows how good anyone is due to COVID

Mantha is legit a good player. Vrana was going to get more expensive with less production. Expensive but good move.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Now Uncle Ted just needs to give Ovie a deferred trillion in bitcoin

[Slateman]

I think they wanted his size for a matchup against the Islanders. 

No, I dont think so. The knock against Mantha is that he really doesnt bang much. He may be 6'4" but he hasnt played like it in the past. That could also be because he was playing for a rebuilding team so why risk a serious injury.

Mantha makes them better now, helps keep them cap friendly in the next few years, and opens up the option of unloading Oshie  if we need to

[Natsinpwc]

No, I dont think so. The knock against Mantha is that he really doesnt bang much. He may be 6'4" but he hasnt played like it in the past. That could also be because he was playing for a rebuilding team so why risk a serious injury.

Mantha makes them better now, helps keep them cap friendly in the next few years, and opens up the option of unloading Oshie  if we need to

No one will want Oshie’s contract. 

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

4 years left?  Ptchaw. 

No one will want Oshie’s contract. 

[varoadking]

No one will want Oshie’s contract.

If he's left unprotected, the Kraken will take him with their first pick...

[Slateman]

If he's left unprotected, the Kraken will take him with their first pick...

Probably. But even if no one takes him, it'll be easier to move him to a second or third line with Mantra

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Looks like an awful trade.  Mantha hasn't done jackcrap for a while.  Vrana might have been underperforming, but I don't get why he alone wasn't enough to fetch someone who's been even more underwhelming.  Giving up all that extra crap (really the draft picks, I guess - Panik has been as useful as a bull in a rose garden) was a crackhead move by MacLellan.

[Natsinpwc]

If he's left unprotected, the Kraken will take him with their first pick...

They should have their heads examined.  34 years old at 6 million per year with another three years on the contract. 

[varoadking]

They should have their heads examined.  34 years old at 6 million per year with another three years on the contract.

It's how you build a franchise...the VGK did it with Fleury, only OshBabe is a hometown boy and they will make him their Captain.  They have nothing but money.  It's a no brainer.

[Natsinpwc]

It's how you build a franchise...the VGK did it with Fleury, only OshBabe is a hometown boy and they will make him their Captain.  They have nothing but money.  It's a no brainer.

I dunno. They will draw the first few years anyway.  Maybe they can take Voracek off the Flyers hands. Czech Republic is almost hometown.

[varoadking]

I dunno. They will draw the first few years anyway.  Maybe they can take Voracek off the Flyers hands. Czech Republic is almost hometown.

I would hate to lose OshBabe, but lookin' at it objectively, it would be great way for him to ride into the sunset now that his name is on the Cup...I certainly can't see him being opposed to it...

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

eh - the part of his contract that mattered is in the rearview; the rest is a stud fee

[varoadking]

eh - the part of his contract that mattered is in the rearview; the rest is a stud fee

 

[Natsinpwc]

I would hate to lose OshBabe, but lookin' at it objectively, it would be great way for him to ride into the sunset now that his name is on the Cup...I certainly can't see him being opposed to it...

Wife doesn’t want to be near the in laws?

[varoadking]

Wife doesn’t want to be near the in laws?

I think they are in Minnesota...

[UMDNats]

Looks like an awful trade.  Mantha hasn't done jackcrap for a while.  Vrana might have been underperforming, but I don't get why he alone wasn't enough to fetch someone who's been even more underwhelming.  Giving up all that extra crap (really the draft picks, I guess - Panik has been as useful as a bull in a rose garden) was a crackhead move by MacLellan.

Dumbing Paniks contract is important and Vrana was about to get $4 million a year + to underperform. It's a high cost but the first round pick doesn't both me in a draft where no amateurs are playing full seasons anyways.

[varoadking]

Caps are stompin' Philly 5-1 midway in the second, and Mantha get's his first as a Cap...

[Natsinpwc]

Caps are stompin' Philly 5-1 midway in the second, and Mantha get's his first as a Cap...

Is Raffle playing? 

Flyers have already scheduled their tee times.

[varoadking]

Is Raffle playing? 

Flyers have already scheduled their tee times.

No...GMBM said this morning that Raffl would not be in the lineup tonight...

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

The Caps are suddenly en fuego...that April funk appears to have been cured. 

[HondoKillebrew]

Good to see Mothra contribute significantly in his first game. 

[welch]

Seems like a good trade. Vrana would not or just could not play Laviolette's system, does not dig for the puck, does not play defense. As someone said, when Vrana is on the ice, it's like the Caps are playing a man down.

Red Wing fans and Detroit writers say that Mantha sometimes loses interest, probably because he was playing for a lousy losing team, and because he was on a line with Larkin. They say that Larkin is fast and all, but does not pass. Larkin skates around looking for his chance to shoot; passes only if he's got no chance. That doesn't sound good for Vrana, but at least Jake will have a chance to be a main guy.

Maybe Mantha cannot carry an offense all on his own, but he won't have to do that with the Caps. He just has to fit in. Against the Flyers, he looked fast enough and skillful with the puck. Good trade.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Caps now have more tonnage than the Merchant Marine