James Tanner: Lack of Good Prospects Hurts Capitals Ability to Overcome Bad Summer

James Tanner: Lack of Good Prospects Hurts Capitals Ability to Overcome Bad Summer
- james_tanner1

since when do you blog for the Habs?

When's the last time Tanner wrote anything positive? Seems the world is always ending around him. Mr. Negative Nancy lol.

What trade would you make to help the caps win non, are there Any specific players you'd target?

When's the last time Tanner wrote anything positive? Seems the world is always ending around him. Mr. Negative Nancy lol.
- Brzlnut

The nature of analyzing anything is that it's going to usually be negative.

Great team makes great move and is awesome is something you can only go so far with.

The nature of analyzing anything is that it's going to usually be negative.

Great team makes great move and is awesome is something you can only go so far with.
- james_tanner1

That's false. Interesting that you can only go so far with positive analysis on who you label the best team in the NHL last year. They weren't the best team in the league, Pittsburgh was last year. They beat the Caps in a 7 game series and won the Stanley Cup.

The Caps needed to make some changes. I don't like a lot of what they did and the Johansson deal was bad but we'll see what happens.

That's false. Interesting that you can only go so far with positive analysis on who you label the best team in the NHL last year. They weren't the best team in the league, Pittsburgh was last year. They beat the Caps in a 7 game series and won the Stanley Cup.

The Caps needed to make some changes. I don't like a lot of what they did and the Johansson deal was bad but we'll see what happens.
- MJL

The best team is not decided by the number of wins, championships, or goals scored. It's the number of shots and shot attempts.

What trade would you make to help the caps win non, are there Any specific players you'd target?
- david22

That is for my next blog!

The first step is getting some damn cap space.

That's false. Interesting that you can only go so far with positive analysis on who you label the best team in the NHL last year. They weren't the best team in the league, Pittsburgh was last year. They beat the Caps in a 7 game series and won the Stanley Cup.

The Caps needed to make some changes. I don't like a lot of what they did and the Johansson deal was bad but we'll see what happens.
- MJL

This is the worst kind of trolling - its obviously not even worth my time to argue with you. I'm just going to go ahead and assume most people understand that the Capitals embarrassed the Penguins in that series, and that the team who wins the Cup is almost never the best team in the NHL.

Teams use the regular season to get ready for the playoffs

Best team = cup winner regardless if they got lucky or not - my 2 cents

This is the worst kind of trolling - its obviously not even worth my time to argue with you. I'm just going to go ahead and assume most people understand that the Capitals embarrassed the Penguins in that series, and that the team who wins the Cup is almost never the best team in the NHL.
- james_tanner1

You're absolutely right. The Pens were embarrassed, especially when they advanced to the next round, and beat Ottawa. The Pens embarrassment continued in the Stanley Cup Finals. The ultimate embarrassment for the Pens was skating the Stanley Cup around the ice. The Pens players could barely show their faces. Most of the players didn't want to go to the parade because they were so embarrassed.

Do you have any data or charts that show that most people understand that the team who wins the Cup is almost never the best team in the NHL?

How come no one seems to have any sympathy for the Senators or Preds? Talk about embarrassment, instead of going on summer break, they must have been humiliated to have to play extra, meaningless series that meant nothing, since I keep reading the Stanley Cup final was round 2 this year.

Imagine what would have happened if Washington beat Pittsburgh in round 2, but then lost to Ottawa in round 3? That would have caused some kind of implosion in the space time continuum. I better call Doc Brown and ask about that

I hear you James but I have to disagree. Shattenkirk is severely over rated and the cost would not be worth it. Williams is getting up in age and not worth the overpayment. Losing Johansen was a joke I agree, that was real dumb. However Vrana needs this opportunity and Burakovsky is ready for prime time. There is still enough good things happening with this team and they will be in the top three still. Vrana will likely be like Burakovsky the last couple years and Burakovsky will fit nicely with Kuznetsov and maybe even Vrana. Still looking good imo and the two young dmen have a shot at replacing Schmidt. Orlov will have to evolve as well.

There were a total of 23 players over a PPG in the AHL last year. If you take all the players who played less than 10 games, that number drops to 15. Now, guess how many are bonafide prospects? A lot of the "blue chip" prospects in the A last year weren't a PPG, Vrana aside.

Vrana is about as good as a prospect as they come. I just hope he pans out.

There were a total of 23 players over a PPG in the AHL last year. If you take all the players who played less than 10 games, that number drops to 15. Now, guess how many are bonafide prospects? A lot of the "blue chip" prospects in the A last year weren't a PPG, Vrana aside.

Vrana is about as good as a prospect as they come. I just hope he pans out.
- Blackstrom2

Vrana will be just fine, still a puppy with tons of potential.

ALL CAPS fans knew the (salary) CAP crunch was coming… and it arrived. The only thing that happened wrong was not getting out of the 2nd round again. Even the Marcus Johansson trade can be understood. The George McPhee grab of Nate Schmidt – can’t. CAPS take back to back President Trophies and that feat shouldn’t be played down as easy as some do it. The Johansson trade had to be made because of the salary cap and while it did seem a bit knee jerk they did get back decent picks. To complain about the lack of prospects and complain about them getting picks for him at the same time appears more like searching for something to complain about. To complain, you either think they could/should keep him or find a better deal or by keeping him the sacrifice would be better one if it was either Kutnetsov, Oshie or Orlov instead.

Williams and Johansson represent 24 goals each from the offense but it isn’t all that bad… somebody will step up… the CAPS will be back in the playoffs again because they still have Ovechkin, Backstrom, Oshie, Kuznetsov, Niskanen, Carlson, Orlov… and while Orpik’s contract is an anchor (no one is shocked about it, are they)… he’s not a waste as a teammate and not as bad a player as some like to present. Add to that possibly the very best goalie tandem of Holtby and Grubauer and I think they take they Metropolitan Division again.

The only dim lights I see is (1) I have never had the faith in Barry Trotz as a coach and while some write about the assistants being the best in the league… maybe management is questioning them too -- that lame duck contract may make it worse. And, (2) I don’t like the comments by the captain about the Olympics. Claiming he is going to go whatever the decision just isn’t in the spirit of someone who should be wearing the “C” and having the other Russian players lining up behind him doesn’t bode well with me either. Then again, maybe neither of those things are important.

As for filling the spots from within… the cupboard is bare… they’ll get something (maybe) from Vrana or Barber and possibly Wilson and/or Burakovsky steps up and justifies being picked in the 1st round.

As much as I don’t like Trotz I also am also not a fan of MacLellan (mostly because of being an understudy of McPhee)… however, in fairness, MacLellan went for all the marbles and when you do that and miss and take a tumble it is easy to hammer away at him – that’s an action which is akin to those during war who come in after the battle has been fought just to stab any bodies that appear to be squirming.

This is the worst kind of trolling - its obviously not even worth my time to argue with you. I'm just going to go ahead and assume most people understand that the Capitals embarrassed the Penguins in that series, and that the team who wins the Cup is almost never the best team in the NHL.
- james_tanner1

I cant imagine any Caps player or fan has been has been reminiscing all summer about how they embarrassed the Pens. In fact its probably the other way around. You should be embarrassed for continuing to beat this dead horse.

No, what was embarrassing was that the Craps couldn't bear the Penguins despite the fact that the Pens played the entire series and playoffs without their most important player. And that Sid frustrated them so much they tried to injure him.

I hear you James but I have to disagree. Shattenkirk is severely over rated and the cost would not be worth it. Williams is getting up in age and not worth the overpayment. Losing Johansen was a joke I agree, that was real dumb. However Vrana needs this opportunity and Burakovsky is ready for prime time. There is still enough good things happening with this team and they will be in the top three still. Vrana will likely be like Burakovsky the last couple years and Burakovsky will fit nicely with Kuznetsov and maybe even Vrana. Still looking good imo and the two young dmen have a shot at replacing Schmidt. Orlov will have to evolve as well.
- joegreif17

All due respect, Shattenkirk is underrated, if anything. The guy is awesome.

1) Tanner still doesn't understand the simple definition of the word "luck." This is particularly bad if you're someone who tries to write for a living.

2) It was WIDELY reported that Shattenkirk wanted go to the Rangers and nowhere else, so the Caps were fighting an uphill battle in trying to get him.

3) I agree, the Caps have not made wise decisions. Everyone else in the Metro thanks them.

4) My bet is the Jackets finish 1st in the Metro this year, so there's a pretty good chance it will be Pens vs. Caps in the 1st round. Luck be a lady tonight!

I'll add one thing:

Anyone who thinks the Caps are a lock for the playoffs this year is buying fools gold. The Metro is going to be more competitive than last year. The Islanders should have a better year, Rangers should be about the same and look out for Carolina.

You don't lose half your defense, two top forwards and still be as competitive. You just don't. Well... maybe if Holtby wins many games for them, but then that would just be considered luck.

Let me also be clear, if the Caps miss the playoffs it will be by the slimmest margin ever, not because I think they're going to be bad.

I'll add one thing:

Anyone who thinks the Caps are a lock for the playoffs this year is buying fools gold. The Metro is going to be more competitive than last year. The Islanders should have a better year, Rangers should be about the same and look out for Carolina.

You don't lose half your defense, two top forwards and still be as competitive. You just don't. Well... maybe if Holtby wins many games for them, but then that would just be considered luck.

Let me also be clear, if the Caps miss the playoffs it will be by the slimmest margin ever, not because I think they're going to be bad.
- Rinosaur

I'd look out for philly as well.

I'd look out for philly as well.
- jmdodgeser4

To select 1st overall next year?

Ohhh snap!

I'll add one thing:

Anyone who thinks the Caps are a lock for the playoffs this year is buying fools gold. The Metro is going to be more competitive than last year. The Islanders should have a better year, Rangers should be about the same and look out for Carolina.

You don't lose half your defense, two top forwards and still be as competitive. You just don't. Well... maybe if Holtby wins many games for them, but then that would just be considered luck.

Let me also be clear, if the Caps miss the playoffs it will be by the slimmest margin ever, not because I think they're going to be bad.
- Rinosaur

Of course you are going to get worse if you lose all those players, however they're not going to drop by 8 spots.

The Capitals were lapping the other teams last year - they had the best roster by such a wide margin. Now they're still going to have a great roster.

There's a better chance they'll win the President's Trophy again than they miss the Playoffs.

1) Tanner still doesn't understand the simple definition of the word "luck." This is particularly bad if you're someone who tries to write for a living.

2) It was WIDELY reported that Shattenkirk wanted go to the Rangers and nowhere else, so the Caps were fighting an uphill battle in trying to get him.

3) I agree, the Caps have not made wise decisions. Everyone else in the Metro thanks them.

4) My bet is the Jackets finish 1st in the Metro this year, so there's a pretty good chance it will be Pens vs. Caps in the 1st round. Luck be a lady tonight!
- Rinosaur

Ha! I remember you from the playoff series. The guy who tried to say I didn't know what luck was in perhaps the all-time "best" post in hockeybuzz history.

Thanks for bringing it back up, I appreciate the laugh.