It's not a bad looking roster, although you might wish to substitute here and there (especially you Daren Machesney fans)...feel free to add your two cents.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Sneaking a Peek
With the Caps off today, we were wondering ahead at what a roster might look like a couple or so years down the road, populating it with youngsters on the roster and prospects in the system with their stats so far this year (in case of some callups, their combined Washington and Hershey numbers)...
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14 comments:
Not bad at all, though I don't see anyone really that's going to maintain order (even if my boy Delly somehow makes this list).
At this point I object to any NHL roster that features Sami Lepisto. (And FWIW, I'm not a Johnny-come-lately to Lepisto-dislike. I wasn't a fan last year either.)
It's also a sandpaper-lacking roster. Funny, considering all those WHL boys that GMGM was/is famous for drafting.
I agree with the lack of "sandpaper" (although Della Rovere would be a fit for the Sean Avery role, without the putzy character issues). That, however, is something one can acquire. If there is a theme in the Caps' drafting, it's "draft for skill." The current players filling the role of agitator/keep the peacenik (Matt Bradley, Donald Brashear) came from outside the organization...I expect that will be the way the club goes for the next generation in those roles.
The bigger issue, at some point, is going to be...how do they pay all these guys?
Well, the goalies will be cheap at the outset (though you've got to assume a veteran backup until Varlamov (presumably) establishes himself.
The D's have already secured one big-ticket guy for a while, and Alzner's the only other potentially expensive guy on that list.
Up front may be another story, but it'll be something of a good problem to have - everyone developing and playing so well that we can't afford 'em all. Beats the alternative, no?
I'd sooner have that one than Garret Stroshein or Matt Yeats in my speed dial.
Yahtzee!
I would be really surprised to see Sami Lepisto in the organization next season. After the recent events I expect he will be with another organization next season looking towards the NHL or back in Finland.
Not to jump on you too much Peerless (ok, I will!), but why is Finley automatically pencilled into your (and everyone's it seems) future list of Caps D? I don't get it. While the guy is huge and would offer something to the organization that it currently lacks (that snarly crease clearing beast), he has never played a minute of pro hockey and has played this year for UND due to a concussion. Mind you, I like the guy as a prospect, but I wouldn't put him on a short list of Cap's NHL defenders until he has at least proven something outside of college hockey.
wilbur
For the sandpaper aspect, at least Finely can take care of the opposing mascots.
Slight edit to the post above: Finley has played two games for UND this year, but is currently sidelined with post-concussive symptoms.
wilbur
Hey, someone had to fill the slot...could be Keith Seabrook or Eric Mestery, for all I know, or one of any number of current Hershey players...like we said, you might wish to substitute. The point is that perhaps more than at any time in the history of the franchise, this team is deep at a lot of positions.
And I know it's not the point of the post, but it's nice to know there are injury call-ups available, and, for a change, the team has some chips if trades are required.
@ Tyler and Lepisto skeptics
I, too, have slandered this kid recently but I lost perspective I think. The guy's still pretty young and may be experiencing the normal growing pains of being called up to The Show (to borrow from Bull Durham). Should we cut him some slack for his blunders in the last couple of weeks? Should we lok past his "fall down go boom, other team scores a tap-in" hi-jinks or is this really who he is as a player? How many more games can he affect before someone else in Hershey gets a chance instead.
In the words of the Coffee Talk lady... "Discuss!" I'd be curious to hear what greater hockey minds than mine have to say on this guy...
Lee
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