Caps pick might be pretty low. Is it possible that Vegas preferred Schmidt over the late first round pick. With just a little imagination you can see that being the case.
- MJL

They take the first and draft Grubauer, who they can then trade for another high pick or two.

Expose Niskanen? (frank) off with that.

Methot is garbage.
- Blackstrom2

if you guys don't want him..I'm sure Sweeney is already over a barrel with his pants down. He pretty much lives there

Most GMs make a horrible deal at some point. Look at Chairelli. He has many terrible trades and signings in his history. Now he was considered as a GM of year candidate. Oilers got as far as the Caps this year.
- glove_was_stuck

Uh yeah, about that........

Alright, I tried to be reasonable with you, but you seem to be about five. Have fun.
- james_tanner1

I just reasonably pointed out how I feel the points you made were off base.

Tanner is undeserving and over rated. Please fire him until I can find some stupid fake stats to prove it. Thank you in advance.

Even when I am I wrong I will blindly hold tight to my fake stats, just like tanner know nothing.

Cheers

Look, the Caps went all in the last couple of years and things have not worked out. They currently do not have a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round pick for this years draft. They have also given up their 2nd and 5th pick for the 2018 draft.

They are in a mini rebuild mode at a minimum and they cannot afford to keep trading picks. Let's assume GMGM wanted a 1st or 2nd round pick in order to not select Schmidt. I can understand GMBM balking at that. Schmidt is decent but a stud he is not.

The Caps are hurting on defense without a question. Add in a couple of injuries in next year, plus no Williams and perhaps no Oshie ,and an unproven crop in Hershey, and it's conceivable they miss the playoffs all together.

Is what it is. Maybe it's best if they take their lumps next season, see which kids can contribute and go from there.

The 2 year window to win it all that GMBM spoke about is over.

What makes you so confident that the Capitals could have offloaded Orpik? There isn't a team in the league who wants that contract.

Uh yeah, about that........
- james_tanner1

That team is not even sniffing the playoffs if hadn't been able to draft McJesus. Even Trump couldn't have (frank)ed up drafting him. Candidate for (frank)ing GM of the year...

They take the first and draft Grubauer, who they can then trade for another high pick or two.
- djamon

I was wondering in this thread when he was going to get mentioned. I would have thought he'd have been the clear-cut choice from WSH. As one of the most promising backups in the league and several years younger than others in that conversation, you'd think they'd want him for their team or to flip.

I was surprised more goalies were not taken in general.

How come you aren't all over the fake Hossa retirement where his contract manages to circumvent the cap twice?

I am not so sure the Knights made all terrible selections. You argued they should try to be bad and try and draft so as to turn their draft into prospects. They kind of did that while grabbing some good players and trying to create a culture.
- BluemanGuruu

Twice? First time, orig contract was legal. 2009 had no restrictions. Second time? Take it up with the NHL and the NHLPA. Lotsa folks envious of what the 'Hawks did. What's next? The Kane 2015 LTIR? Ssshhhhhh......

As for LV, he is confusing them with the 'yotes. You're onto something, they did some good things. Lets see how those trades shake out now. Like Perron.....he gonna stay?

Ha, that Hossa thing is hilarious and so, so sketchy. But then again, it's so crazy it might actually be true - and probably is, I mean, the Hawks have to know how it looks, so if it wasn't true it'd be so ballsy I'd have to respect it.

But if I blog about it, it's just five hundred people telling me I hate the Hawks and am so dumb and stupid and etc. I might do it anyways actually hahaha


As to Vegas, yeah, they should be bad, but if they made less old-school picks I think they could have built a team that would be better and thus give them more leverage later to trade guys for value.

Also, the Ducks exposed Vatanen and Manson and all that Vegas got was Theodore? I think they'd have been better off just taking Manson and flipping him.
- james_tanner1

The thing that seems lost on many so called experts regarding the expansion draft is that George has to have a working relationship with all 30 other gms after this. It is one thing to fleece Garth Snow because no one respects him. But if you attempt to fleece everyone and screw them all as much as you can, you risk losing relationships that you need down the line to help you succeed. There were tons of little mini deals and backroom handshakes that will pay off one day. Furthermore George want to build his team from the draft, incidently this is the best way to win nowadays. So fleecing all the best players from each team and trying to be 28th instead of 31st makes zero sense.

Then don't.
- james_tanner1