You're about to have every MIN fan in here losing their minds thinking MIN doesn't want Kuz, but I think they will circle back if they lose out on Eichel like you said. They desperately need a top 6 C.

But I don't think the Caps do it if the answer is moving Eller to 2C. He's a great 3C and can be a 2C in a pinch but shouldn't be a long term solution. Maybe if they think McMichael is ready.

For Kutzy??
No thx.
Sorry, have a hard time seeing any contender wanting to take on the risk.
Try a bottom feeder with lots of cap room.

I don't want to speak for wild fans but I don't think Kuzy to Minnesota is a bad idea honestly, what that trade looks like I have no idea.

Assume Kaprizov resigns, Itll be nice for the kid to have a solid top 6 center to play with who is also Russian and can speak the language, that doesn't seem like much but it does matter somewhat.

Just pray Kuzy doesn't teach him anything off the ice 0.0

I share your concerns about Eller, and I considered making a move for a 2C, but I'll give Eller the benefit of the doubt and let him be 2C. I would think the Caps try to ease McMichael into a 2C role and hopefully have him as a full time 2C by the end of the year or start of next year. In a pinch Oshie can also play 2C

While it has been reported that Guerin does not have any interest in Kuzy whatsoever, I wouldn't really mind acquiring him if the price is right. I just would like it to be for someone other than Fiala.

Lol solid take. “Have a hard time seeing a contender waiting to take on the risk”

Carolina OS KK
Habs pay 1st and 2nd for Dvorak who is a great 3c but a poor 2c. Basically an Eller type.
Teams still bidding on Eichel who needs surgery and has had a poor attitude.

Kuzy is a “risk” bc sheep on this site spew nonsense and other people believe it. Guy is a 1c and would easily be the best center on the Wild by a lot

I think Guerin also is trying to keep his plans secret, as outside of Eichel they seem to have been pretty good at keeping their plans out of the public (Parise and Suter buyouts as an example). I think it is also quite possible the the Capitals instead trade for picks and prospects, but Fiala was the easier one to value (and the one I see more often here) so I chose to do a trade with him.

“Reported he has no interest in Kuzy” my buddy who works in the DC sports media already said BG had poked around Kuzy and inquired about him. He wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t. That isn’t 0 interest… maybe the asking price was too high but to flat out say you wouldnt want a player like him is silly. Guy basically won the capitals the cup

I have a very hard time believing the Caps move Kuznetsov without some sort of external replacement. I honestly believe the Caps will go as far as Kuznetsov will take us this year. He's going to be the X factor every year in the playoffs. When he's on, we win series. When he isn't, we don't. That simple

i think you quoted the wrong guy, but nonetheless I'm not surprised he poked around for him.

I can see it, but I think they have to move on before the start of the year. The start of the year portion is because they will obviously need cap space for Sammy, Vitek, and other FAs, and I think the Caps would need to adjust without him in the lineup. He can be amazing, but could also fetch a great return that could either bolster the current team or make a good upgrade to the prospect pipeline. Not having a bonafide 2C would be more difficult, but I have faith in Eller, McMichael, and maybe Oshie to get it done.

Also speaking of upcoming FAs, I fully expect the Caps to lose another center with Dowd, and 3-4 years in the future I predict we will look at him as the next beagle contract. Mostly unrelated but I thought I'd throw it in there

You are talking about a Washington fan who always thinks everyone is wrong. He has never brought up facts. Minnesota beat writer explicitly stated Minnesota has zero interest in Kuznetsov

He doesn't want troubled players in will lockerroom. He came here stating he's setting new culture and getting rid of bad luck players. He hated , disliked Ryan suter that much. He also wanted to rid of Parise.

The start of the year this year or next year? If you mean next year, that's entirely dependent on how he performs this year. I'd like to think he'll be motivated this year and produce around a 65 point pace, but who knows with him. I think if there was a return to bolster the current team, it would've happened by now. The only way I see us upgrading on him mid season is if we do some sort of three team maneuver for Hertl. There's always the Eichel piece to the puzzle, but that's obviously not happening with the asking price what it is now.

Years 3 and 4 of Kuzy's deal just really make MN's cap really hard to work with. I'm okay with the trade from player/value perspective. Playing next to Kaprizov, Kuzy should be a 20g/50a player on a yearly basis.

I'm also one of the Wild fans that think Fiala is out the door by the draft next season. I'd really need to see Kaprizov's deal before I'd commit to any trade like this though.

The narrative that Kuzy is "Troubled" is such bull. Outside of the coke video, which was 3 years ago and hasn't been a problem since, there hasn't been anything to show he's "troubled". The only thing you could say is that he got COVID twice, which is quite rare. Comparing him to Suter and Parise isn't a fair comparison to either side, as they really don't have very much in common. Minnesota really needs a top 6 center, and if Eichel is not available to them, Kuzy is a pretty good fallback plan.

Which beat writer was it? Because I know that Tarik El Bashir (Capitals writer for The Athletic and NBC Sports Washington if I remember correctly), has mentioned the Wild in relation to the Capitals and a possible Kuznetsov trade. I would also again point to the fact that Minnesota has been quite secretive with what they planned to get done this offseason (ex. Parise and Suter buyouts), and most likely Minnesota would be more interested if Eichel was off the table.

Russo

Umn, no because they haven't been interested in Sean Monahan for two years. Washington fans being so blind to Kuznetsov idioticy, and cancer acts is just very funny

You do realize Kuznetsov is worse right? How isn't it fair to compare him to them? How is it fair to say suter and Parise are worse?

If you think Kuznetsov is worse than both of them you are sorely mistaken. Kuznetsov did have a down year last year, however part of it is due to being out with Covid. People also have forgotten that he was the main contributor to the Caps 2018 playoff run, and in my opinion deserved the Conn Smythe trophy instead of Ovechkin. It seems you were confused on what I meant. I said its wasn't fair to compare them because we can't measure locker room impact and while kuznetsov is entering most likely the best years of his career who still could live up to his contract, Suter and Parise were aging players on huge contracts.



Please explain to me how he's a "cancer" . This isn't even a gotcha, I genuinely want to know what you think is a "cancer act". I will reiterate, outside of an incredibly rare second bout with Covid, there hasn't been any instances of "cancer acts". I don't understand how this rumor started, but the guy isn't even the most volatile russian on the Capitals, as that would go to Samsonov. Unlike Kuzy, Samsonov actually has had off ice problems such as getting injured before the 2020 playoffs.

Kuzy needs to be a 20g/50a player for the next 4 years to be worth it for MN from a contract perspective. I think he's a lock to do that for 2 seasons. It just depends on when his drop off begins, and how fast it happens. For some players it's a slow gradual decline, for others it's like falling off a cliff.

He's had some off ice issues over his career. The 2019 coke suspension, the COVID stuff from last year, and MN's cap issues might be enough for MN's GM to not even bother trying to make a trade work.