Washington Capitals Round Table: Opinion on free agency moves
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Time to turn to a few of our friends in the Caps blogospehere to get their input on the moves made by GM George McPhee and the Washington Capitals to transform the Capitals roster. We wholeheartedly thank our Caps friends for their participation.
Here are the responses
Peter Hassett, Russian Machine Never Breaks
DCPSR: Were you overall surprised at how active George McPhee was in reshaping the Capitals roster? Hassett: Goodness, yes! I guess we had a feeling that management was unhappy with the status quo, but we haven't seen this level of activity since the great fire sale.DCPSR: What move did you like the best? Which player did the Caps lose that you most wanted to return? Hassett: The Vokoun signing narrowly edges out the Varlamov trade, but both found the Caps getting the most by giving up the least. Vokoun's eagerness to join a team like Washington and being willing to take a meager wage to perform-- well, George McPhee is a shrewd man to make that deal. Losing Matt Bradley may not be reflected in scoresheets, but I'd argue he was an integral piece of the team's personality. He is hardworking and egalitarian, and those traits build winning teams. I'll miss him.
DCPSR: How does you see the signing of Tomas Vokoun effecting Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby? What kind of game split do you foresee? Hassett: Winners all around. Neuvirth has a vet to learn from, and Holtby will get the starts he needs-- albeit in Hershey-- to continue to mature. Both players have bright futures, and there's no reason to rush them. I'd expect Vokoun to get 40-50 starts, and Michal to get almost all of the remainder. Then again, if #brittlegroin strikes all bets are off.
DCPSR: Given the fact the Caps may need to make a trade to get cap space to sign Karl Alzner and Troy Bouwer, who is most likely to be dealt? Hassett: Brouwer. Alzner is bonded to his D-brother John Carlson, and that's incentive to sign. A 2 or 3 year deal for a shutdown expert like Karl will give him time to develop into a player worthy of a big money longterm contract, whereas Brouwer has "journeyman" written all over him.
DCPSR: What's your thoughts on the Varlamov trade? Hassett: Great for Varly, who will have a bright spotlight to prove himself in and ample chances to do so. Great for the Caps, who got maximum value for a player we knew did not want to remain here and could have walked for nothing. Not so great for Colorado, who overspent somewhat and received a player whose nether regions may collapse into dust at any moment.
DCPSR: Give an overall grade for the moves made thus far. Hassett: Sadly, there is still no grade higher than A. So A it is.
Ben, Capitals Outsider, our FanSided Network Partner
DCPSR: Were you overall surprised at how active George McPhee was in reshaping the Capitals roster? Ben: Not surprised at all. Considering all the free agents on the team, this was the right time to shake things up a bit and try something different next season.DCPSR: What move did you like the best? Which player did the Caps lose that you most wanted to return? Ben: Matt Bradley was a fan favorite and you never like losing a guy like that. It made sense not to resign him but there is some sentimental value there. There is also sentimental value in having Jeff Halpern return at fourth line center, but these are relatively minor moves. The players to watch are Joel Ward and Roman Hamrlik.
DCPSR: How does you see the signing of Tomas Vokoun effecting Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby? What kind of game split do you foresee? Ben: After Semyon Varlamov was traded, The Washington Post asked McPhee if he was going to add a veteran goaltender, and he said no. Then he picked up Vokoun a day later, which makes me think he's more worried about who will back up Braden Holtby when Michal Neuvirth suddenly doesn't feel well, which has happened. Remember that despite having three solid netminders last season, the Caps still brought in two backups for short periods, including Todd Ford, who has one of the coolest masks in hockey.
DCPSR: Given the fact the Caps may need to make a trade to get cap space to sign Karl Alzner and Troy Bouwer, who is most likely to be dealt?
Ben: Alex Semin seems to make the most sense, but I refuse to believe that anyone wants him for the same reasons that everyone has already noted: Inconsistent play, high cap hit, offensive-zone penalties, frequent injuries, and Russian military obligations.
DCPSR: What's your thoughts on the Varlamov trade? Ben: This had to happen, and the Caps were lucky to get a first round pick for him. Losing him to the KHL would have been utterly ridiculous.
DCPSR: Give an overall grade for the moves made thus far.
Ben: I'd give them a certificate of participation. I'm not clear how the team will be any better with this lineup because the overall success still depends on the core of the team.
David Getz, Japers Rink
DCPSR: Were you overall surprised at how active George McPhee was in reshaping the Capitals roster? Getz: I was very surprised. I figured they'd be out there looking primarily for depth so the signing of a third/fourth line player didn't surprise, although I was not expecting Halpern. Ward surprised me because of the commitment in years and dollars, Hamrlik surprised me because I didn't think the team was in the market for a top-four defenseman, and Vokoun surprised me, even after Varlamov was traded, because I didn't think there was any way they'd be able to fit him under the cap.DCPSR: What move did you like the best? Which player did the Caps lose that you most wanted to return? Getz: Best move has to be Vokoun. They signed a guy who has been one of the NHL's best goalies for years, removed a lot of the questions about their youth in net, and did it for the price of a solid backup. It could very well end up being the best move made by any team this offseason. I think the Hamrlik move is one that will be underrated until a good portion of next season is behind us. Not many players offer that much versatility on the blue line, and to get it with some solid experience and in a guy who could be a mentor is great, and his impact is going to take a little while to sink in. The player who it disappoints me most to see go is Boyd Gordon. Don't get me wrong, I think the Caps made the right decision to take Halpern over Gordon given their respective contracts, but depth forwards who can win faceoffs and kill penalties are always useful.
DCPSR: How does you see the signing of Tomas Vokoun effecting Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby? What kind of game split do you foresee? Getz: For Neuvirth, it's one more year to play in the NHL on a regular basis without having the be The Guy, and especially without having to be The Guy with questionable options behind him. For Holtby it actually is a chance to be The Guy, just at the AHL level. I imagine both will benefit because of it. In terms of playing time, if everyone stays healthy, I think Vokoun would start 50-55 games, and Neuvirth 30-35. That way Vokoun gets plenty of rest and Neuvirth gets plenty of minutes.
DCPSR: Given the fact the Caps may need to make a trade to get cap space to sign Karl Alzner and Troy Bouwer, who is most likely to be dealt? Getz: I think they'd most like to deal Jason Chimera or Eric Fehr. Neither performed to their cap hit last year, Chimera's looking more and more redundant with the guys they've brought in, and Bruce Boudreau doesn't seem to trust Fehr all that much. The problem is, Chimera was bad last year and Fehr is, yet again, injured, so they might not be able to get much for either. Another guy who could be moved is Jeff Schultz. His cap hit ($2.75 million) isn't insignificant, and right now he's the team's sixth defenseman. However, like Fehr and Chimera, Schultz has questions after a poor showing in 2010-11 and the team could be selling low on him, plus it'd likely mean the team needed to bring in another defenseman to replace him. I also wouldn't rule out Alexander Semin as a trade candidate given his salary and what he might be able to fetch in return.
DCPSR: What's your thoughts on the Varlamov trade? Getz: Varlamov wanted to be promised the number one role, and he wasn't, which made sense for the team given their situation and the way they do business. It meant he had to be traded, so he was. The return was more than anyone could have asked for. All things considered, a huge win for the team.
DCPSR: Give an overall grade for the moves made thus far. Getz: A-minus, only because Ward's contract looks a little expensive to me. Realistically, it's hard to imagine McPhee doing any better than he has so far.
David Nichols, Caps News Network
DCPSR: Were you overall surprised at how active George McPhee was in reshaping the Capitals roster? Nichols: A little. I expected after the Brouwer trade we might see a defenseman picked up, but the move for Ward makes the Caps thrid line very tough to play against now. The Vokoun deal was gravy.
DCPSR: What move did you like the best? Which player did the Caps lose that you most wanted to return? Nichols: Vokoun. A quality starting goalie for backup money? What's not to like. The one-year deal -- and shot at a deep playoff run -- keeps him motivated. Frankly, I know Bradley was a huge fan favorite, but the Caps have younger and cheaper legs to fil that spot. Gordon was replaced by the same type of player in Halpern with better offense, and Sturm was a spare part. Now, if Alzner gets messed up...
DCPSR: How does you see the signing of Tomas Vokoun effecting Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby? What kind of game split do you foresee?Nichols: I think Vokoun is the "starter", but the Caps needed three (and sometimes four) goalies last season, so all three will play. Wild guess: TK-40, MN-30, BH-12
DCPSR: Given the fact the Caps may need to make a trade to get cap space to sign Karl Alzner and Troy Bouwer, who is most likely to be dealt? Nichols: Eric Fehr is likely to be dealt, and he may not be the only one. Imagine that Poti will go LTIR to free up his money too, unless he retires.
DCPSR: What's your thoughts on the Varlamov trade? Nichols: A shock and a steal. McPhee got a king's ransom for a player that wasn't going to come back to DC regardless of the situation. Colorado made a very heavy investment in a player that's never been healthy for a full season.
DCPSR: Give an overall grade for the moves made thus far. Nichols: Solid A. If McPhee can figure out how to pay Alzner and Brouwer, AND keep Semin on the roster with all the salary he picked up, it will be an A++.
Ed Frankovic, WNST Baltimore Sports
DCPSR: Were you overall surprised at how active George McPhee was in reshaping the Capitals roster? Frankovic: You never know with George, but given that this organization basically stood pat the last 2 off-seasons and things didn't pan out in the playoffs, I felt that big changes needed to be made. So overall, I am not surprised at all of the moves and I don't think GMGM is done yet.
DCPSR: What move did you like the best? Which player did the Caps lose that you most wanted to return? Frankovic: Tough call. Vokoun for $1.5M is great but so was the Varlamov trade. I'll go with the Varly trade since I expected to lose him for minimal return and GMGM received two super draft picks. I didn't want to lose Varly but the trade return was outstanding.
DCPSR: How does you see the signing of Tomas Vokoun effecting Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby? What kind of game split do you foresee? Frankovic: I think it keeps Holtby in Hershey for another year and he likely needs it. He did not have a strong AHL playoff showing this spring from what I've heard. Having Olie Kolzig as associate Goalie coach will help Braden, who can be temperamental, much like #37 was back in his day. As for Neuvirth, I think it will make him better as he gets to play with a fellow country mate and likely someone he looks up to. I am thinking that the split will be close to 40/40 unless one gets really hot or injuries occur.
DCPSR: Given the fact the Caps may need to make a trade to get cap space to sign Karl Alzner and Troy Bouwer, who is most likely to be dealt? Frankovic: I think it has to be Alexander Semin. He hasn't produced in the post season and can be wildly inconsisent. His $6.7M contract is money that could be better used elsewhere on 27 and Brouwer, and perhaps on another center, if available?
DCPSR: What's your thoughts on the Varlamov trade? Frankovic: The trade was great given that Varlamov's agent basically left the Capitals with no choice but to move his rights. If Varly had a better agent he likely would still be a Washington Capital. But a 1st and 2nd round pick from Colorado, a potential lottery team in 2011-12, was highway robbery by GMGM.
DCPSR: Give an overall grade for the moves made thus far. Frankovic: A-. The moves have really improved the team from a leadership, work ethic, and grit standpoint. They have more guys who will go to the net and score the post season type goals now. But a lot of money has been shelled out and there are still guys to sign (Alzner, Brouwer). When it is all said and done, this could easily be an A grade once we see what trades are made to complete the squad.
