Try to sign Carlson.

Can't hope for either Nurse, Klef nor Bear to be that 50+ point producer from the back end. Take pressure off McDavid and Drai having to run the offense entirely from the rush by themselves. Try to find a sucker for Sekera (Dallas? NYI?).

Try to sign Carlson.

Can't hope for either Nurse, Klef nor Bear to be that 50+ point producer from the back end. Take pressure off McDavid and Drai having to run the offense entirely from the rush by themselves. Try to find a sucker for Sekera (Dallas? NYI?).
- AdamFrench

I said the other day I’m sure Chia will make a huge offer to Carlson. Don’t think he will be worth what he gets. I think offloading Russell would be easier than Sek.

I said the other day I’m sure Chia will make a huge offer to Carlson. Don’t think he will be worth what he gets. I think offloading Russell would be easier than Sek.
- Iggysbff

Sekera was good though. So you can try marketing that. Russell sucks...though I have to agree that the love of "shot blockers" would probably find a buyer. The Caps employ Orpik to be a cardboard cut out these days and media jagoffs jerk off to him.

Sekera was good though. So you can try marketing that. Russell sucks...though I have to agree that the love of "shot blockers" would probably find a buyer. The Caps employ Orpik to be a cardboard cut out these days and media jagoffs jerk off to him.
- AdamFrench

This is my thought as well. I think there could be a market for both players for very different reasons. If teams believe that Sekera's falloff this season was from coming back late due to injury there could be some teams interested. Dallas for sure comes to mind as does the Devils. We all know how Chiarelli loves to deal with the Devils.

Carlson is certainly the big free agent name but you have to wonder if you are getting the 55+ point Carlson or the injured 30 point Carlson.

Nuge Connor rattie
? Leon khaira
Lucic strome pujujarvi
Aberg ? Kassian
- HB77

Nuge-Connor-Rattie
Lucic-Draisaitl-Aberg
Caggiula-Strome-Puljujarvi
?-Khaira-Kassian

Not what I want to see mind you, but I could see the Oil doing it.

Nuge-Connor-Rattie
Lucic-Draisaitl-Aberg
Caggiula-Strome-Puljujarvi
?-Khaira-Kassian

Not what I want to see mind you, but I could see the Oil doing it.
- Wildschwein

Why does everyone want Draisaitl at center? if your keeping Nuge why not keep him at center. Hes better at the position as it currently stands. And if Draisaitl stays at center why not have Nuge at 3c for that depth? Why not just keep Leon with McDavid? I one thing is for sure. Your going to see alot of RW rotations with the group you have. All of them have the potential.

Why does everyone want Draisaitl at center? if your keeping Nuge why not keep him at center. Hes better at the position as it currently stands. And if Draisaitl stays at center why not have Nuge at 3c for that depth? Why not just keep Leon with McDavid? I one thing is for sure. Your going to see alot of RW rotations with the group you have. All of them have the potential.
- poisondhearts37

Can’t really go wrong either way, but I’d argue Leon is capable of producing more as 2C than Nuge. So in the interest of maximizing production, the argument could be made that having Nuge at wing would result in more scoring.

Can’t really go wrong either way, but I’d argue Leon is capable of producing more as 2C than Nuge. So in the interest of maximizing production, the argument could be made that having Nuge at wing would result in more scoring.
- Wildschwein

Both are going to struggle anchoring there own line with no quality winger. However if one of those kids steps up it would be kind of scary.

This is my thought as well. I think there could be a market for both players for very different reasons. If teams believe that Sekera's falloff this season was from coming back late due to injury there could be some teams interested. Dallas for sure comes to mind as does the Devils. We all know how Chiarelli loves to deal with the Devils.

Carlson is certainly the big free agent name but you have to wonder if you are getting the 55+ point Carlson or the injured 30 point Carlson.
- freelancer

Hard to go wrong with a RHD who has never had a full season under 30 points.

Why does everyone want Draisaitl at center? if your keeping Nuge why not keep him at center. Hes better at the position as it currently stands. And if Draisaitl stays at center why not have Nuge at 3c for that depth? Why not just keep Leon with McDavid? I one thing is for sure. Your going to see alot of RW rotations with the group you have. All of them have the potential.
- poisondhearts37

One reason only. Drai is being paid 8.5 mill. And that is not to ride McDavids coat tails. Nuge proved late last year he can produce with MacD as well.

Hard to go wrong with a RHD who has never had a full season under 30 points.
- AdamFrench

It would be insane for the Capitals to not resign Carlson. One has to wonder if the player doesn't want to be there. Why else would they have waited this long?

It would be insane for the Capitals to not resign Carlson. One has to wonder if the player doesn't want to be there. Why else would they have waited this long?
- poisondhearts37

I'd imagine the plan is to sign him to a 7.5-8mil deal and murder Orpik. Still can't believe Orpik's deal, holy (frank).

I'd imagine the plan is to sign him to a 7.5-8mil deal and murder Orpik. Still can't believe Orpik's deal, holy (frank).
- AdamFrench

Could we crowdfund these same individuals to visit Lucic as well?

Hard to go wrong with a RHD who has never had a full season under 30 points.
- AdamFrench

True. And yet the idea of Chiarelli negotiating such a deal scares me enough to hope that it never happens.

Could we crowdfund these same individuals to visit Lucic as well?
- Wildschwein

Ever see the Fargo TV show? Highly recommend it.

Could we crowdfund these same individuals to visit Lucic as well?
- Wildschwein

Mcdavids salary that's 90% of teams cap wont help the depth factor either.

I feel like there's a noteworthy misunderstanding in here: when I suggest a lineup, the point is that those players are PENCILED in those spots. That's merely an initial draft of how I'd start training camp and the team would adapt as time went by.

The aim for next year should be at least two outscoring lines (McDavid and Draisaitl lines), one pull even line (Strome line) and a "try not to get caved" line (4th line).

McDavid is a safe bet at over-55% GF so no adjustments needed. Draisaitl likely needs some help to pull well ahead of his likely competition and aim as high above 50% GF- hence why this needs to be prioritized. Strome and Khaira showed the ability to pull even and even pull ahead against the competition (~52% GF together iirc) they faced so hopefully they can do that again with a more developed Puljujarvi. Constructing a 4th line that doesn't get caved (caved being sub-45% GF by my definition) really shouldn't be too tough. For reference, Letestu was something like 38% this past year and around mid 40s the year before.

I feel like there's a noteworthy misunderstanding in here: when I suggest a lineup, the point is that those players are PENCILED in those spots. That's merely an initial draft of how I'd start training camp and the team would adapt as time went by.

The aim for next year should be at least two outscoring lines (McDavid and Draisaitl lines), one pull even line (Strome line) and a "try not to get caved" line (4th line).

McDavid is a safe bet at over-55% GF so no adjustments needed. Draisaitl likely needs some help to pull well ahead of his likely competition and aim as high above 50% GF- hence why this needs to be prioritized. Strome and Khaira showed the ability to pull even and even pull ahead against the competition (~52% GF together iirc) they faced so hopefully they can do that again with a more developed Puljujarvi. Constructing a 4th line that doesn't get caved (caved being sub-45% GF by my definition) really shouldn't be too tough. For reference, Letestu was something like 38% this past year and around mid 40s the year before.
- MaximumBone

I feel like there's a noteworthy misunderstanding in here: when I suggest a lineup, the point is that those players are PENCILED in those spots. That's merely an initial draft of how I'd start training camp and the team would adapt as time went by.

The aim for next year should be at least two outscoring lines (McDavid and Draisaitl lines), one pull even line (Strome line) and a "try not to get caved" line (4th line).

McDavid is a safe bet at over-55% GF so no adjustments needed. Draisaitl likely needs some help to pull well ahead of his likely competition and aim as high above 50% GF- hence why this needs to be prioritized. Strome and Khaira showed the ability to pull even and even pull ahead against the competition (~52% GF together iirc) they faced so hopefully they can do that again with a more developed Puljujarvi. Constructing a 4th line that doesn't get caved (caved being sub-45% GF by my definition) really shouldn't be too tough. For reference, Letestu was something like 38% this past year and around mid 40s the year before.
- MaximumBone

I just always have this thought with keeping Nuge. He must be at center. Hes just better at center than Drai. But with improvements to Drai's center game the 1 2 punch of him and McDavid is a nasty for sure. Is it out of the realm of things to have McDavid, Drai and Nuge as a 1 2 3 much like Pitss did with Cros, Geno and Staal? I very much see the Oilers in the same path of trying to find the hard working filler wingers like Pitts does over and over.

Ever see the Fargo TV show? Highly recommend it.


- AdamFrench

Best show ever

Hard to go wrong with a RHD who has never had a full season under 30 points.
- AdamFrench

Certainly nothing wrong with that... except the Oilers have a GM with a history of signing players to contracts that are drastically above what the player produces.

I just always have this thought with keeping Nuge. He must be at center. Hes just better at center than Drai. But with improvements to Drai's center game the 1 2 punch of him and McDavid is a nasty for sure. Is it out of the realm of things to have McDavid, Drai and Nuge as a 1 2 3 much like Pitss did with Cros, Geno and Staal? I very much see the Oilers in the same path of trying to find the hard working filler wingers like Pitts does over and over.
- poisondhearts37

It's certainly possible that they might shuffle the lines once in a while and run 3Cs to spark offense from more lines, but for now, the priority needs to be making sure we have 2 scoring lines running before we try for 3.

Best show ever
- HB77

My dear friend.


How (frank)ing DARE you?


The best show ever is....

Ever see the Fargo TV show? Highly recommend it.


- AdamFrench

I haven’t but I’ve heard great things.