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Here is the 2nd half of a lengthy email chain's discussion about the state of the Caps that I decided to turn into a blog post (2 actually).
Red Rover: I'm calling it right now (I actually was convinced of this in December): Jason Arnott will be a Cap by March.
Future Capital? Picture this but with a Caps Jersey
Bushwood Bushwacker: Yeah, you made that point before and I meant to agree. We are definitely playing a strategically different and more conservative game, even if Ovie and Semin still float and we are slanted towards offense, and of course the PK has been (magically? luckily? BB influenced?) tight. These are clearly changes for the team, and you could say they are playoff-y team skills. It's hard to disagree. At the very least it's trading some offense potency for defense... might as well change it up since the old style couldn't get it done.
RR: Green and Ovie need to be benched on the PP. Put in Carlson instead. The power play has gone from once-in-a-generation to absolutely unwatchable in 8 months. I don't understand.
BB: The pp is mystery/shit show. Ovie on half wall with Semin on the point? Who knows maybe BB just sucks and can't fix them.
Polish Sausage: I definitely concur with the idea that our overall more defensive game makes us better built for the playoffs, but star output is worrisome. Aside from pp, which needs Ovie on the short boards, I think we are coming into our own and set to peak at playoff time. Mojo has been very good I think, better than meh. Hannan has been meh, Carlzner is awesome. That said, how do we acquire Arnott?
RR: Since he's a UFA end of season he can probably be had relatively cheap, but a bidding war could drive up his price. Worst case scenario: we lose Perrault, but ideally 2nd rounder would do it.
PS: Sounds like a perfect move, I like Perrault and his scrappiness but his contributions are limited in the long term. It would be great to pull a Flash type trade and grab up a solid dude like Arnott.
(Image courtesy of devils.nhl.com)
Goddamnit, this team is frustrating to watch. Even if we were getting lucky with our shooting last year, this is just the opposite. Combine the bad luck on shooting, more defensive strategy, and Knuble's kidnapping and replacement with Bizarro Knuble...hard to believe we have such an impotent offense.
ReplyDeleteAlso strange, it's looked to me all season like Backstrom has forgotten how to play hockey and his traditional stats seem to bear that out with him on pace to post his worst season since his rookie outing. Yet Corsi and other advanced stats such as On-Ice Team Goals For/Against differential have him tops on the team. Advanced stats failure or insight?