I'm not sure if LTIR cap space can still be banked for later. I think teams were saving up too much and the cap became meaningless, so they stopped that. But having so much cap space is calming. Leason is waiver exempt. The rest will work itself out.

Eli, Thanks for response. I was thinking it would still be bankable I still think GMBM was aware of this situation and made moves accordingly.

They have enough depth on the wings that their centers will be enough, yeah. Eller at 1C could still turn into Sean Couturier. If not, Boyd has good puck movement, or Stephenson has good speed, faceoffs, and defensive positioning, and a left shot like Ovechkin's used to playing with. It'll be tough to get Stephenson to clear waivers, though, if he's got a point streak going when Kuznetsov comes back.


Edit: Oh, and I feel like there's someone we're forgetting, who can play with Ovechkin pretty well. Can't think of his name, though. Swedish guy? Hmmm.

You do realize that losing Kuzy makes us terrible right? He’s a top 15 center in the nhl. So ltir him instead of dumping a terrible player seems dumb imo

If he's self-medicating for depression, there are better medications for that, with fewer side effects. Dumping him in some faith-based asylum where high school graduates spend a month telling him drugs are bad would be dumb. Helping him stay healthy and keep control of his life, while fully supporting him and letting him know he'll be welcome back as soon as he's ready? That might be something other than dumb. That might be smart.

Eller is not going to magically become Couturier at his age. He doesn't have the offense. He's a very good 3C, but that's about his ceiling. And Stephenson and Boyd are not going to be centers in the NHL. I like Boyd's skill and their speed, but they're 4th line wingers.

For the Caps' sake, I hope the Sharks agree with you on Stephenson and Boyd.

As for Couturier's massive natural talent, over the last three years he's hardly played a shift without Giroux. Over the last three years, Giroux has 54 more points than Couturier. He was drafted high, and may have more skill to keep developing, but so far I see a terrific checking center being carried/mentored offensively by a franchise wing, and fans gushing like crazy about it, like, boy, how did Couturier get SIXTY points again?!? Gee, I don't know. By playing next to someone who got eighty, and only messing up half the time?

Or, Couturier is just entering his prime. Back to back 76 point seasons when you're 24-26 years old is not someone who is being "carried" by a teammate. Eller is going to be 30 when the season starts. He is not going to magically put up Couturier numbers at his age. Eller will get a solid 30+ points and play good defense, and that's fine. But He is not going to put up 70+ even if you put him with Ovechkin.

Melania Trump wears jackets that cost $5,000, so she must work harder than you. Make sense?

What the **** are you talking about?