Caps Offseason (FA/Draft)

[tywright]

Well the Caps offseason kicks into full swing this weekend with the draft on Friday. The Caps picks 24th and more than likely will take the BPA, which has been GM George McPhee's (GMGM) MO. So look to either Jacob Josefson, Landon Ferraro, Carter Ashton, Ryan O'Reilly, et al.

Today, Fedorov announced he will be leaving the NHL and has signed with a Russian KHL team. GMGM now has to find a 2nd line center for next season and might swing a deal this weekend.

Other UFA's Brashear and Kozlov are also rumored to go to the KHL. IMO, they are expendable. FYI, free agency begins July 1st.

The only only UFA we need to worry about are Brent Johnson and Alex Giroux. Johnson will probably be brought back to the back up to Varly, unless we can't get rid of Theodore's contract. Giroux, who is coming off a record setting goal scoring season in the AHL, needs to be resigned by July 1st or I fully expect some team to swipe him up quickly.

We also need to worry about signing some restricted free agents (remember we had to lock up Green or we could have lost him last year). These players include Shane Morrisonn, Milan Jurcina, Eric Fehr, Chris Bourque, Boyd Gordon, jeff Schultz, and Sami Lepisto. We may let Shane Mo, Schultz, or Jurcina sign with another team.

Also Semin may have to be locked up long term because he will be a RFA next year. He potentially could be dangled in a trade for a center.

The only other question marks are Theodore and Michael Nylander. They are killing our cap situation. Nylander may retire and then sign with a European team. Theo still thinks he can start for us, which he may, but not for what he is getting paid for ($4.5MM). We could easily send him to the minors and not have the $4.5MM affect the cap.

As for signing FA's, we need a 2nd line center, another winger, and stay at home DMan. Jay Bouwmeester is the top FA, but he will be too expensive. Hossa will probably resign with the Wings. Gaborik is an injury risk. I like Mike Cammalleri, but we probably won't be able to fit him under the cap. Someone like Nik Antropov is intriguing to replace Kozlov. Also Shane Montador, Johnny Oduya or Francois Beauchemin could be a good Dman to sign.

Dany Heatley is available in a trade, but it probably won't be worth acquiring him. I'd rather acquire a RW like Ryan Clowe in SJ.

And next year we may see the likes of Karl Alzner and John Carlson starting in our top 6 D. Plus Bourque, Oskar Osala, and a few other Hershey prospects could be making a nice impact. Next year should be very interesting considering how young and dynamic the roster could look like.

[allstar1579]

You pretty much said everything, but I'll chime in with some minor league guys of note:

Giroux, C: needs to be resigned
Borque, LW: small but fiesty
Mink, RW: 32 goals, 101 PIM
Aucoin, C: can play physical and can pass well
Perreault, C: good playmaker, like Backstrom-lite
Lepisto, D: 38 Asst., 80 PIM
Osala, LW: big, physical winger
Bouchard, RW: could be what we are missing on the right side
Alzner, D: rugged stay at home guy, little offense there though
Carlson, D: another stud offensive D-man
Finley, D: another big stay at home guy
Dovgan, D: looked great in camp last year
Neuvirth, G: see 2009 AHL playoffs
Varlamov, G: see 2009 NHL playoffs

[WietersOvechkin]

I agree with a lot of the things your saying. I think we are going to sign Derrik Morris. We went at him hard last year and if it weren't for Nylander nixing the trade last year we would have traded for him (or at least thats what I hear).

As for Nylander I came across an interesting article that might be the path the we choose to go in terms of getting rid of him.

http://www.japersrink.com/2009/6/15/906639/a-potential-nylander-move-to-the

I think if we could somehow add both Antropov and Morris to our young core we could make a serious run at the cup from a long time.

I am not sure what they are thinking in terms of who is going to play along side Backstrom and Ovechkin on the first line but the second line potentially of Semin Antropov and Flieshmann would be scary along with the 3rd line of Bradley Steckle and Laich, which proved to be a very important line in the playoffs. As for the 4th line I think it would be kinda of neat to bring up the first line from Hersey and play them together as a fourth line. They clearly know how each other play and they could provide a lot of extra scoring that normal teams do not get from their fourth line.

That leaves Chris Clark, Erik Fehr and Boyd Gordon without a line. I think Gordon would be a good guy the healthy scratch every night and give guys a breather on random lines. I like the idea of having Fehr or Clark on the first line and maybe that would help them get back to form.

For our defense I think Green, Poti, Alzner, Pothier and Erskin will definitely be starting and if we bring in Morris that would be a really solid group. That would mean we could bring up Carlson mid year for an injury and get him acclimated to the NHL.

Finally, I think GM main goal this offseason is to lock up Backstrom and Semin to long term deals and only add talent via free agency if the deals are 1 or 2 year deals considering hes gotten burned on the long term guys hes signed (see Nylander, Clark and Pothier). Hopefully we can rid ourselves of both Theo and Nylander and put our team in a great position to compete year in and year out.

Sorry for the long post but one of my friends is good friends with GM and he gives me a lot of inside info (I am not sure how much info GM would give out but I am pretty sure he wouldn't lie either) on what the caps are looking to do.

[allstar1579]

I agree with a lot of the things your saying. I think we are going to sign Derrik Morris. We went at him hard last year and if it weren't for Nylander nixing the trade last year we would have traded for him (or at least thats what I hear).

As for Nylander I came across an interesting article that might be the path the we choose to go in terms of getting rid of him.

http://www.japersrink.com/2009/6/15/906639/a-potential-nylander-move-to-the

I think if we could somehow add both Antropov and Morris to our young core we could make a serious run at the cup from a long time.

I am not sure what they are thinking in terms of who is going to play along side Backstrom and Ovechkin on the first line but the second line potentially of Semin Antropov and Flieshmann would be scary along with the 3rd line of Bradley Steckle and Laich, which proved to be a very important line in the playoffs. As for the 4th line I think it would be kinda of neat to bring up the first line from Hersey and play them together as a fourth line. They clearly know how each other play and they could provide a lot of extra scoring that normal teams do not get from their fourth line.

That leaves Chris Clark, Erik Fehr and Boyd Gordon without a line. I think Gordon would be a good guy the healthy scratch every night and give guys a breather on random lines. I like the idea of having Fehr or Clark on the first line and maybe that would help them get back to form.

For our defense I think Green, Poti, Alzner, Pothier and Erskin will definitely be starting and if we bring in Morris that would be a really solid group. That would mean we could bring up Carlson mid year for an injury and get him acclimated to the NHL.

Finally, I think GM main goal this offseason is to lock up Backstrom and Semin to long term deals and only add talent via free agency if the deals are 1 or 2 year deals considering hes gotten burned on the long term guys hes signed (see Nylander, Clark and Pothier). Hopefully we can rid ourselves of both Theo and Nylander and put our team in a great position to compete year in and year out.

Sorry for the long post but one of my friends is good friends with GM and he gives me a lot of inside info (I am not sure how much info GM would give out but I am pretty sure he wouldn't lie either) on what the caps are looking to do.

I would have agreed with you before Morris got completely humiliated in the first round this year. He looked pathetic, and we could bring up a guy from the minors to do better. I think defensively we just need to develop the talent we have. We don't need to add some big splashy signing. Alzner is the stay at home guy we need, Carlson is crazy offensive, and Dovgan looks like he can be a bruising stay at home guy too.

I think priority one should be trying to shed some of those bad contracts, if they can pick up something in a deal cool, but if not free up the money to sign the young guys long term.

[WietersOvechkin]

I would have agreed with you before Morris got completely humiliated in the first round this year. He looked pathetic, and we could bring up a guy from the minors to do better. I think defensively we just need to develop the talent we have. We don't need to add some big splashy signing. Alzner is the stay at home guy we need, Carlson is crazy offensive, and Dovgan looks like he can be a bruising stay at home guy too.

I think priority one should be trying to shed some of those bad contracts, if they can pick up something in a deal cool, but if not free up the money to sign the young guys long term.

As the cap stands right now I believe that we have roughly 8.3M in cap room. Now if we can get rid of both Nylander and Theo that would bring that number to roughly 17.5M. Now if we brought back guys like Fehr, Gordon, Johnson and one of Schultz, Jurchina or Morrisonn that would be roughly a M per player which bring that number down to 16M. Now GM knows he needs to lock up Backstom and Semin long term.

So lets take Backstrom's contract; he has a 2.4M cap hit next year and that is his final year of his rookie contract, so assume he makes something in the 5.5-6M range which is roughly a 3M increase. And for Semin he makes 4.6M so I would assume something similar to Backstrom would be fair which brings that number up 1M. Now I have heard that the cap will likely drop again next year and that GM wants to make sure he has room for signing his younger players like Flash and Steckle but by my calculation we should have plenty of money to sign free agents this year and next. Not to mention Pothier's contract is up after this year.

As for Morris I think that we cant base an opinion on one 7 game series while you may be correct, Morris seems to be the guy we are targeting.

What are you thoughts on Scaderi. I think he would be a great player to pair with Green as our top line D. Then you put Poti and Alzner and Carlson and Erskin.

All my numbers can from this website:
http://nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=WAS&season=0910

[tywright]

Cap looks like it will be increased to $57.1MM, which is great news for GMGM since it was believed that the cap would remain the same or be decreased from $56.7MM.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=282925

[tywright]

What are you thoughts on Scaderi. I think he would be a great player to pair with Green as our top line D. Then you put Poti and Alzner and Carlson and Erskin.

All my numbers can from this website:
http://nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=WAS&season=0910

Scuderi is intriguing, but he really has been an avg Dman prior to this season. And he really made a name for himself in the playoffs. Montador might be another good, cheap option.

Derek Morris is overpaid and overrated. No thanks.

[allstar1579]

I think Backstrom might take a chunk, but I'm holding out hope he'd sign for $4m per.

Dumping Theo and Nyl should be a priority if at all possible, not to mention they have to figure out what to do about Neuvirth and Varly. You gotta pick one to go with and they should trade the other since they could get a small ransom for them.

I dunno about Scuderi though, I don't think he's an upgrade over Lepisto, Dovgan, or even Sloan right now. I think we are better off staying cheap and young there. I think we need a scoring threat from the RW, and a 2nd line center while managing to dump Nylander, Theo and maybe Pothier and Clark.

[tywright]

I think Backstrom might take a chunk, but I'm holding out hope he'd sign for $4m per.

Dumping Theo and Nyl should be a priority if at all possible, not to mention they have to figure out what to do about Neuvirth and Varly. You gotta pick one to go with and they should trade the other since they could get a small ransom for them.

I dunno about Scuderi though, I don't think he's an upgrade over Lepisto, Dovgan, or even Sloan right now. I think we are better off staying cheap and young there. I think we need a scoring threat from the RW, and a 2nd line center while managing to dump Nylander, Theo and maybe Pothier and Clark.

I wouldn't trade Varly or Neuvirth for at least another year until it's clear who we should keep. There's nothing wrong with keeping Neuvirth in the AHL and having Johnson backup Varly for a year. Remember last year we needed all 4 goalies to get through the year. The depth is very important especially since it seems that Varly is not as durable as one would hope.

Scuderi is definitely an upgrade over those 3. Scuderi was very instrumental in shutting the Caps down.

[allstar1579]

I wouldn't trade Varly or Neuvirth for at least another year until it's clear who we should keep. There's nothing wrong with keeping Neuvirth in the AHL and having Johnson backup Varly for a year. Remember last year we needed all 4 goalies to get through the year. The depth is very important especially since it seems that Varly is not as durable as one would hope.

Scuderi is definitely an upgrade over those 3. Scuderi was very instrumental in shutting the Caps down.

I wouldn't say do it now, but Neuvirth is a RFA after this season, clock is ticking.

He had a good series, and he's going to use that to cash in, but at what expense? Add another $2-3 mil dollar salary instead of locking up one of our younger kids? I mean he's going on 31, and is one dimensional. Id rather see what Dovgan can do and go with Green-Alzner, Poti-Dovgan, and Carlson-Erskine spending that Scuderi money on Backstrom instead.

[WietersOvechkin]

I wouldn't say do it now, but Neuvirth is a RFA after this season, clock is ticking.

He had a good series, and he's going to use that to cash in, but at what expense? Add another $2-3 mil dollar salary instead of locking up one of our younger kids? I mean he's going on 31, and is one dimensional. Id rather see what Dovgan can do and go with Green-Alzner, Poti-Dovgan, and Carlson-Erskine spending that Scuderi money on Backstrom instead.

I do not think those two things are mutually exclusive we can sign a guy or two to 2 year deals and still be able lock up our young talent. Id be willing to give Scuderi a 2 year 6.5M contract something in the neighborhood sounds palatable to me.

[tywright]

I do not think those two things are mutually exclusive we can sign a guy or two to 2 year deals and still be able lock up our young talent. Id be willing to give Scuderi a 2 year 6.5M contract something in the neighborhood sounds palatable to me.

I read he wanted $3MM a year so I definitely wouldn't offer him more than that.

And Scuderi probably deserves it considering he is a very good defensive dman, which will really need even if we have Alzner full time. His playoff performance highlighted how good Scuderi can be.

[allstar1579]

I read he wanted $3MM a year so I definitely wouldn't offer him more than that.

And Scuderi probably deserves it considering he is a very good defensive dman, which will really need even if we have Alzner full time. His playoff performance highlighted how good Scuderi can be.

Yeah but you go locking $3 mil a year into a guy like that and you can kiss keeping Semin and Backstrom both good bye. They are handcuffed with some contracts, unless they move some, all 3 of them would be impossible, even with moving them, you are going to look at Scuderi the same way you look at Pothier or Poti right now. If Green is worth $5 mil a year, Scuderi should be making $2 tops. You can really only budget so much for your D, which is why not many teams have a stacked 6, with a $5 mil guy, a 3.5 and a 2.5 already you are asking for trouble trying to add that.

[WietersOvechkin]

Yeah but you go locking $3 mil a year into a guy like that and you can kiss keeping Semin and Backstrom both good bye. They are handcuffed with some contracts, unless they move some, all 3 of them would be impossible, even with moving them, you are going to look at Scuderi the same way you look at Pothier or Poti right now. If Green is worth $5 mil a year, Scuderi should be making $2 tops. You can really only budget so much for your D, which is why not many teams have a stacked 6, with a $5 mil guy, a 3.5 and a 2.5 already you are asking for trouble trying to add that.

I have to disagree. I think we have the money to keep both Semin and Backstrom and still be able to afford Scuderi. However, I do think it would have to be a 2 year deal considering where this team is headed with all the young talent we have. GM doesn't like signing free agents to long term contracts but a 2 year deal is something he would look at, considering he was burned by Poti, Pothier and Nylander.

On that note I think GM might look at Kovalev to play RW with Ovechkin and Backstrom if he would sign a 1 year deal. It would be a nice replacement for Federov.

[tywright]

I dunno about Scuderi though, I don't think he's an upgrade over Lepisto, Dovgan, or even Sloan right now. I think we are better off staying cheap and young there. I think we need a scoring threat from the RW, and a 2nd line center while managing to dump Nylander, Theo and maybe Pothier and Clark.

Did you see Lepisto was traded to PHX for a 5th rd pick in 2010? Boudreau's comments about Lepisto indicated that Lepisto just wasn't going to make the team based on how he played.

Also the Caps drafted the Russian dman, Orlov in the 2nd, which was a steal. Their 1st rd pick was Marcus Johannson, who has some concussion issues, but has very good upside as a 2-way center. We could possibly have 3 Swedish centers in the next few years.

[DuffMan]

The Flyers traded for Pronger over the weekend. I read that the Caps explored this option again over the weekend, but the Ducks were still asking for Varlamov or Nevurith. I'm glad they didn't make that deal. Wait until at least one of them is the proven #1 before dealing the other.

[tywright]

The Flyers traded for Pronger over the weekend. I read that the Caps explored this option again over the weekend, but the Ducks were still asking for Varlamov or Nevurith. I'm glad they didn't make that deal. Wait until at least one of them is the proven #1 before dealing the other.

Yeah I can't believe he Flyers paid that much especially with Pronger being a UFA after next season.

The Ducks wanted Carlson, another roster player and "something else" as well. Insane price.

[allstar1579]

Did you see Lepisto was traded to PHX for a 5th rd pick in 2010? Boudreau's comments about Lepisto indicated that Lepisto just wasn't going to make the team based on how he played.

Also the Caps drafted the Russian dman, Orlov in the 2nd, which was a steal. Their 1st rd pick was Marcus Johannson, who has some concussion issues, but has very good upside as a 2-way center. We could possibly have 3 Swedish centers in the next few years.

Yeah I heard that, kinda helps out in a way because it makes the picture of who gets a shot next year a little bit clearer. I like the Johannson pick, but man 3 sweedish centers in 4 years, time to spread out the scouting a bit.

Re: Pronger, it wasn't even that they wanted one of the phenoms, but they wanted like Carlson, another 1st rounder and another player. So glad they didn't entertain that idea. Build the depth and use it. When teams think they have enough players to start dealing them away, they find themselves out of the playoffs before they know it. I'd like to keep developing and retaining talent and see how that works.

[WietersOvechkin]

Caps sign Mike Knuble... 2 years 2.8M per year. No link when I find one ill put it up sorry.

[tywright]

Caps sign Mike Knuble... 2 years 2.8M per year. No link when I find one ill put it up sorry.

Beat me to it...very good signing

Rags just signed Brash :(

[WietersOvechkin]

Beat me to it...very good signing

Rags just signed Brash :(

Thoughts? I like the fact that its short and we aren't tied down. You can probably slot him on the 1st line next to backstrom and ovechkin.

[tywright]

Thoughts? I like the fact that its short and we aren't tied down. You can probably slot him on the 1st line next to backstrom and ovechkin.

Here's the link
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283432

Knuble will be an upgrade over Kozlov. He's a sniper, but age may be a factor.

[allstar1579]

One of three goals checked off. Now to find a 2nd line center and to dump some contracts.

Happy birthday by the way Ty.

[tywright]

One of three goals checked off. Now to find a 2nd line center and to dump some contracts.

Happy birthday by the way Ty.

Hey thanks man.

I think we're done with free agents. But GMGM has a ton of work to do to make sure this team can compete at the level we did the past 2 seasons.

[allstar1579]

Hey thanks man.

I think we're done with free agents. But GMGM has a ton of work to do to make sure this team can compete at the level we did the past 2 seasons.

Yeah if he can find a taker for Nylander or Theodore it will go leaps and bounds towards where we need to be.

I mean worst case, if we don't get to upgrade we have Laich as the 2nd line center, which could be much worse, and we have tons of young talent, someone will step up. I think Osala makes the team, he's got nothing left to prove, so that'd give us a physical LW to replace Laich, with him moving to Center.

Ovie-Backstrom-Knuble
Flash-Laich-Semin
Osala-Steckel-Clark
Bradley-Gordon-Fehr

Is one possibility. I just really hope we end up with a Varly-Johnson combo at goal to start the season, I don't want to see this Theodore thing hurt us like it did at times last year.

[WietersOvechkin]

Yeah if he can find a taker for Nylander or Theodore it will go leaps and bounds towards where we need to be.

I mean worst case, if we don't get to upgrade we have Laich as the 2nd line center, which could be much worse, and we have tons of young talent, someone will step up. I think Osala makes the team, he's got nothing left to prove, so that'd give us a physical LW to replace Laich, with him moving to Center.

Ovie-Backstrom-Knuble
Flash-Laich-Semin
Osala-Steckel-Clark
Bradley-Gordon-Fehr

Is one possibility. I just really hope we end up with a Varly-Johnson combo at goal to start the season, I don't want to see this Theodore thing hurt us like it did at times last year.

Something that I thought would be interesting is if they brought up the first line from Hershey and put them together on the fourth line. They clearly have chemistry together and would maybe be able to give us some more secondary scoring. Obviously no one thinks Nylander is going to be playing on this team much(if at all) next year whether it be a release, a trade :2yay-thumb: or maybe some sort of loan to a team over sea's. I would like the lineup to look something like this:

Ovie-Backstrom-Knuble
Flash-Laich-Semin
Bradley-Steckel-Clark/Fehr
Aucoin-Giroux-Bourque

I don't think we bring back Gordan and Fehr and I think Fehr has a lot more potential to be a top 6 forward.

I agree on your last post about Theo as I would assume GM will start pushing him a little more now that most of the free agent galies have signed. I could see potentially the loser in "The Monster" (Jonas Gustavsson) sweepstakes might look to add Theo. Just a thought.

[allstar1579]

Something that I thought would be interesting is if they brought up the first line from Hershey and put them together on the fourth line. They clearly have chemistry together and would maybe be able to give us some more secondary scoring. Obviously no one thinks Nylander is going to be playing on this team much(if at all) next year whether it be a release, a trade :2yay-thumb: or maybe some sort of loan to a team over sea's. I would like the lineup to look something like this:

Ovie-Backstrom-Knuble
Flash-Laich-Semin
Bradley-Steckel-Clark/Fehr
Aucoin-Giroux-Bourque

I don't think we bring back Gordan and Fehr and I think Fehr has a lot more potential to be a top 6 forward.

I agree on your last post about Theo as I would assume GM will start pushing him a little more now that most of the free agent galies have signed. I could see potentially the loser in "The Monster" (Jonas Gustavsson) sweepstakes might look to add Theo. Just a thought.

The only problem I have with that is that BB uses his 4th line as a grinding, sparsely used line. Sticking guys with scoring touch down there would be a waste. He'd like to have defensive stoppers on that line and a physical almost-enforcer type (Bradley). I could see Bourque fitting in as a replacement for Clark if someone would take him, and he could do well on that 3rd line as it is good defensively and has a little scoring touch.

Still the possibility is there, but most importantly should be getting rid of some of these bad contracts. Nylander and Theo are the worst, but Clark and Pothier are eating up money and I don't think Poti is really earning how much he's making. Hence why I don't like FA in hockey.

[tywright]

Yeah if he can find a taker for Nylander or Theodore it will go leaps and bounds towards where we need to be.

I mean worst case, if we don't get to upgrade we have Laich as the 2nd line center, which could be much worse, and we have tons of young talent, someone will step up. I think Osala makes the team, he's got nothing left to prove, so that'd give us a physical LW to replace Laich, with him moving to Center.

Ovie-Backstrom-Knuble
Flash-Laich-Semin
Osala-Steckel-Clark
Bradley-Gordon-Fehr

Is one possibility. I just really hope we end up with a Varly-Johnson combo at goal to start the season, I don't want to see this Theodore thing hurt us like it did at times last year.

I think we see more of Bourque and Giroux then Osala this year. Osala still was pretty inconsistent this past season in the AHL.

What would you guys think of signing Kovalev?

[tywright]

I agree on your last post about Theo as I would assume GM will start pushing him a little more now that most of the free agent galies have signed. I could see potentially the loser in "The Monster" (Jonas Gustavsson) sweepstakes might look to add Theo. Just a thought.

Marty Biron is still available. He probably is more attractive to other teams than Theo and his inflated contract.

[allstar1579]

So what do we think about signing Morrison? I've never been THAT impressed by him, but I guess that is because for the money I thought he should be putting up no. 1 center numbers. As a #2 that's signed for short term and not too much money I think I like it. Time will tell.

[tywright]

So what do we think about signing Morrison? I've never been THAT impressed by him, but I guess that is because for the money I thought he should be putting up no. 1 center numbers. As a #2 that's signed for short term and not too much money I think I like it. Time will tell.

I'm lukewarm on the Morrison signing. He was hurt most of last year and really sucked in Anaheim. After being traded to Dallas he showed some signs of life. However, the question remains on whether he can return to the form of his days with the Canucks.

Still, when healthy he can be a very good 2-way center that can generate chances for Semin, which is what we were missing last year. Also he has very good chemistry with Knuble, who he played with at Michigan and in the Swedish SEL during the 2005 lockout. I wouldn't be surprised to see Knuble playing on the 2nd line.

This is also an indication that Nylander is pretty much not a factor on this roster. And Laich won't be playing center. Maybe Laich plays on the 1st line instead of Knuble? I don't want Flash getting top 6 minutes unless he's going to be more consistent.

[WietersOvechkin]

I'm lukewarm on the Morrison signing. He was hurt most of last year and really sucked in Anaheim. After being traded to Dallas he showed some signs of life. However, the question remains on whether he can return to the form of his days with the Canucks.

Still, when healthy he can be a very good 2-way center that can generate chances for Semin, which is what we were missing last year. Also he has very good chemistry with Knuble, who he played with at Michigan and in the Swedish SEL during the 2005 lockout. I wouldn't be surprised to see Knuble playing on the 2nd line.

This is also an indication that Nylander is pretty much not a factor on this roster. And Laich won't be playing center. Maybe Laich plays on the 1st line instead of Knuble? I don't want Flash getting top 6 minutes unless he's going to be more consistent.

I agree with almost everything you are saying. However, I think initially Laich will be playing on the 3rd line with Bradley and Steckle. That line played a huge roll in getting out of the first round of the playoffs last year. I remember Bedreau being quoted in saying something on the lines of him being "giddy" about the line combination of Laich Bradely and Steckle. That line would be a great line to go up against the high powered lines in the east. I think playing together more will help them be able to stop Crosby's line too.

Now if we could only stop committing so many penalties...

[tywright]

From what I've read regarding the development camp going on currently, John Carlson is the real deal. It sounds like he will be getting a good shot at making the opening night roster.

Also making some good impressions were Joe Finley (big hulking Dman), Anton Gustafsson (last year's #1), Dmitri Orlov (Dman, 2nd rd 09), and Braden Holtby (the next big goalie prospect).

So based on those reports, we have plenty of Dman depth coming up, which is nice :clap3::2yay-thumb:

[WietersOvechkin]

From what I've read regarding the development camp going on currently, John Carlson is the real deal. It sounds like he will be getting a good shot at making the opening night roster.

Also making some good impressions were Joe Finley (big hulking Dman), Anton Gustafsson (last year's #1), Dmitri Orlov (Dman, 2nd rd 09), and Braden Holtby (the next big goalie prospect).

So based on those reports, we have plenty of Dman depth coming up, which is nice :clap3::2yay-thumb:

These are the type of things the really make my day!!! To think we have solid young defensemen to replace Pothier at the end of the year when his contract is up, Poti at the end of next year or if we are able to trade him sooner and getting more overall talent on the blueline instead of guys like Sloan, Collins, Ersken or Jurchina.

This just shows how GM has a plan and that he clearly know how to make a team function, not going after free agents that he would have to give a long term deal to and just bringing in guys for 1 or 2 years to help bridge to the younger guys. For example, bad contracts Poti, Pothier, Clark, Nylander and Theo. 4 of those contract were over a 2 year deal. I do not see him making that mistake again.

Im excited to see Carlson, Green and Alzner as 3 of the top defensemen in the league for years to come.:pray::pray::pray::beerchug1::2yay-thumb:

[WietersOvechkin]

We re-signed 5 guys. Shaone Morrisonn, Eric Fehr, Chris Bourque, Kyle Wilson and Steve Pinizzotto.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=284778

I do not understand why we would give almost 2M to Morrisonn but it is only a 1 year deal. I assume that this means we wont bring back Jurcina considering we re-signed Schultz too.