James Tanner: Capitals and Daniel Winnik

Fist!

The Caps are tapped out salary wise. Just over 4 million in available cap space based on 17 players. At this point this appears to be the team (with rookies and those they just signed on the cheap) they will go with as the season begins.

Winnik is valuable. He gives a team everything they need defensively with the ability to chip in once in a while. I have to assume he will get signed by some team but at this point it will be on the cheap. I think guys like him pay the price with the cap structure. Teams can sign him to a one way deal or opt for younger players on a two way deal. This is where someone like him loses out.

Penguins fan albeit, but I know first hand that Winnik sucks...

James Tanner: Capitals and Daniel Winnik
- james_tanner1

would you take winnik over those 3 you mentioned?

It's all luck anyway.. Doesn't matter

Can't believe you wasted a blog on Winnik

Ovi. Burakowsky. Vrana. Are in the top 3 lw. I can see a scenario where Winnik could be brought back. Likely to form a like with Smith-pelky and Beagle. Wilson is not a 4th lime winger anymore.
I'd be offering him less then his 1.5. He was a great pk guy. I'd have him back for a few yrs.

Great blog.

You spelt nickels wrong.

GLG

Ovi. Burakowsky. Vrana. Are in the top 3 lw. I can see a scenario where Winnik could be brought back. Likely to form a like with Smith-pelky and Beagle. Wilson is not a 4th lime winger anymore.
I'd be offering him less then his 1.5. He was a great pk guy. I'd have him back for a few yrs.
- shuperman24

If you move Wilson off the fourth line, I doubt he's very good. Maybe he would be I think he's got his niche. Smith-Pelly shouldn't really be in the NHL, not on a contending team that is for sure.

Winnik deserves to get paid more than 1.5 though, he's pretty good.

Can't believe you wasted a blog on Winnik
- rangerdanger94

Really? You can't?

Dude, why didn't you post the epic anime video version of Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend"? Come on.

Really? You can't?
- Rinosaur

Touche.

This is likely going to be a 3rd place metro team... facing the Pens in the first round hahahaha

Touche.
- tomburton99

Dude, why didn't you post the epic anime video version of Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend"? Come on.
- mjones242

Because AMVs have sucked since they first began.

If you move Wilson off the fourth line, I doubt he's very good. Maybe he would be I think he's got his niche. Smith-Pelly shouldn't really be in the NHL, not on a contending team that is for sure.

Winnik deserves to get paid more than 1.5 though, he's pretty good.
- James_Tanner[/quote

1.5 mil for Winnik is more than enough. He is still out there and he may have to settle on less than that in order to get a new contract.

This is likely going to be a 3rd place metro team... facing the Pens in the first round hahahaha
- Rinosaur

Yeah the Caps lost some players, but lets keep a couple things in mind 1) Washington was already significantly better than the Penguins, and still has a better roster 2) Penguins defense is still terrible 3) Top 3 Penguins are probably the three most injury prone players in the NHL and 4) Holtby is massively superior to Matt Murray.

Yeah the Caps lost some players, but lets keep a couple things in mind 1) Washington was already significantly better than the Penguins, and still has a better roster 2) Penguins defense is still terrible 3) Top 3 Penguins are probably the three most injury prone players in the NHL and 4) Holtby is massively superior to Matt Murray.
- James_Tanner

Let's keep some things in mind:

1) The caps had no where near the Pens injury problems last year. The Pens dressed 15 different defenseman yet only finished 7 points behind the Caps for 1st in the league... And this was after a very long cup winning season the season before.

2) This year's Pens defence with a healthy Letang and the Caps losing Schmidt and Shattenkirk is arguably better than the Caps.

3) Yeah theyre injury prone but they've still played alot the past two seasons and with the exception of Letang have played almost all the games that really matter....the playoffs.

4) Holtby is massively superior to Murray?....... Massively superior.... Right. These are the comments that make you look like someone who doesn't actually watch the sport you write blogs about. This is by no means a knock on Holtby, I think he's amazing, but Murray already has an all time record Holtby will never be able to touch...and he's only 23...who do I think is currently better? Holtby but not by much if at all. Massively superior?

Yeah the Caps lost some players, but lets keep a couple things in mind 1) Washington was already significantly better than the Penguins, and still has a better roster 2) Penguins defense is still terrible 3) Top 3 Penguins are probably the three most injury prone players in the NHL and 4) Holtby is massively superior to Matt Murray.
- James_Tanner

Let's keep some things in mind:

1) The caps had no where near the Pens injury problems last year. The Pens dressed 15 different defenseman yet only finished 7 points behind the Caps for 1st in the league... And this was after a very long cup winning season the season before.

2) This year's Pens defence with a healthy Letang and the Caps losing Schmidt and Shattenkirk is arguably better than the Caps.

3) Yeah theyre injury prone but they've still played alot the past two seasons and with the exception of Letang have played almost all the games that really matter....the playoffs.

4) Holtby is massively superior to Murray?....... Massively superior.... Right. These are the comments that make you look like someone who doesn't actually watch the sport you write blogs about. This is by no means a knock on Holtby, I think he's amazing, but Murray already has an all time record Holtby will never be able to touch...and he's only 23...who do I think is currently better? Holtby but not by much if at all. Massively superior?
- MattStrat

Let's not forget they've lost Williams, Alzner and Johansson on top of the other players you mentioned. You don't lose that much depth and quality players, and NOT see a dip in success.

Now, I'm not counting them out as a playoff team, nor am I counting them out to make a run. Any team that makes the playoffs has a shot, but they lost a significant chunk of quality. They are just not near the level of contender they were before.

All things being equal as far as injuries, TOR, TAM, CBJ and PIT will certainly finish higher than Washington.

Tanner also likes to make dramatic statements.

Yeah the Caps lost some players, but lets keep a couple things in mind 1) Washington was already significantly better than the Penguins, and still has a better roster 2) Penguins defense is still terrible 3) Top 3 Penguins are probably the three most injury prone players in the NHL and 4) Holtby is massively superior to Matt Murray.
- James_Tanner

Ok I will buy 1,2, and 3 for arguments sake.

Yet Holtby cant carry his team when it is needed. If Murray is worse, playing on a worse team, yet has 2 cups, how is holtby massively superior?

I get the sense this blogger is a die hard Caps fan and will attempt to spin whatever, however needed to make the Capitals look, seem better than they really are. Whatever term one uses, "Homer, Obsessed Fan" whatever words apply.

It makes sense to me a die hard fan, wanting "the" team to win and it does not, yet not throwing in the towel for (pick a reason). Hope springs eternal against all odds. He speaks as a "Die Hard" Capitals fan, regardless of reality he has to be die hard optimistic, and no other team is as good as the Capitals. That seems to me to be what a "Die Hard fan" is.

Ok I will buy 1,2, and 3 for arguments sake.

Yet Holtby cant carry his team when it is needed. If Murray is worse, playing on a worse team, yet has 2 cups, how is holtby massively superior?
- rinaldo

cuz advanced stats and presidents trophy

I get the sense this blogger is a die hard Caps fan and will attempt to spin whatever, however needed to make the Capitals look, seem better than they really are. Whatever term one uses, "Homer, Obsessed Fan" whatever words apply.

It makes sense to me a die hard fan, wanting "the" team to win and it does not, yet not throwing in the towel for (pick a reason). Hope springs eternal against all odds. He speaks as a "Die Hard" Capitals fan, regardless of reality he has to be die hard optimistic, and no other team is as good as the Capitals. That seems to me to be what a "Die Hard fan" is.
- AlphaCharlie7

He's not even a die hard fan. He was/is the Yotes blogger and got appointed to take this one over the other guy left.

The only thing he's a die hard anything of is that the NHL is all advanced stats and if a team with better stats loses, it's luck.