Definitely not trading Sammy and definitely not for that crap return. They'll keep Sammy and bring in a vet to play with him, hopefully Husso.

Sammy is unreliable and not the answer. Sorry but I think you honestly need to hear that. If a team gives us a 2nd for him all the better but that’s the high end of his value. Husso is unproven and has lost his net to JB already

The Caps suck. They're too old, too slow, and too inconsistent. They don't have the endurance and legs to hang with fast run and gun teams in today's NHL. We've seen it for four straight seasons now. It's time to make MASSIVE changes when they lose Friday. Trade everyone, except Ovi, Backy and Kuzy.

They won’t. They don’t care about winning. They’ll be average/good enough for Ovechkin to get the goal record

I agree with signing Holtby but I would keep Sammy and do a tandem of Sammy and Holtby because that worked well last time and Sammy has finally showed his potential and has played really well

You are right, I have thought this the past 4 years. It’s not that they aren’t good enough, they just don’t care enough, you can see it when they play they just stop trying sometimes. They should have won and they could have last night, they have more than 1 terrible defensive plays that lead to goals. Those were things they weren’t doing in Game 1-4. They stopped playing good smart defensive after Florida scored 1 goal. It is so frustrating as a caps fan to know that your team will never make it past the first round with the current group.

He definitely is the answer. Look what he's doing this series. He's killing it. If they didn't have **** luck his stats would be even better.

Husso stats are great and he's young still. But if you don't want him go get Holtby or something. But Caps are not trading Sammy.

They don't need to go that hard. Just move out Eller and Hags to bring in some youth then sign a young speedy guy like Nichushkin.

Caps are still really good. If they didn't have **** luck the series would be over already.

Wow. This goalie tandem is worse than the one we have now...

Sometimes you create your own luck, gotta say they earned the bad luck with their long lapses of effort.

They should sign Nichushkin but need to keep Eller (he's very good still) because Backy is done.

But that's the thing, you can't create your own luck. Caps have had a history of dominating teams in the playoffs and lose to a bunch of bad luck goals.

Backy isn't done. Just tough to come in halfway through a season after hip surgey. A full off season to heal up will do him wonders. And I like Eller but time McMichael needs a top 9 center position.

I still would keep Eller for when the inevitable injures occur.

I’ve always been one of Eller’s biggest fans, and I’m not nearly as optimistic about Backstrom, but I agree with this. Eller’s a fantastic 3C, but that’s the only place he works. He doesn’t have the offense to play in the top 6, he’s too expensive for the 4th line, and he sucks as a winger. If you’ve got two elite centers in front of him, he’s great. If you’ve got a 2C dealing with injuries and looking highly limited when he plays, you’re just gonna have two 3rd lines. They need a 3C who can play at a top 6 level in case this is just who Backstrom is going forward, and McMichael at least has a chance of being that guy.

I’d like to see them trade Eller and sign Trocheck. Start off with McMichael at 3C and Trocheck at RW, and if McMichael doesn’t cut it you can send him down, slide Trocheck to 3C, and either bring up Protas to play RW or trade for one.

I'm hopeful McMichael can be a 2/3 center type and he should play more next year but I don't think he's ready. Remember, next year is essentially in 4 or 5 months. Is he going to grow in experience and grow physically in 4 months? No. But we are limited in our options and I just think it's smart to have Eller in case the plan for McMichael doesn't work right away. Believe me, I really hope it does work though.

I just don't see how you give McMichael a real trial run at center while Eller's on the roster. Would you move Eller to wing where he's historically struggled, or put him at 4C and bump Dowd out of the lineup? I agree about having a backup plan in case McMichael isn't ready (which I acknowledge is likely), but I'd rather it be a guy like Trocheck who's better offensively, faster, and can play wing as well as he plays center.

That's why you have McMichael. Then Protas can step in as well.

My whole thing with Eller is not about keeping McM out of the lineup actually. It is to make sure you have coverage for Backstrom. If the org can be pretty sure that Backstrom can rest and recover much better and is able to play a lot next year, then your plan is good. Again, I want Eller because of Backstrom health, not to keep McM out.

Maybe because they stop skating and stop putting the foot down on the gas pedal that these bad luck goals hurt them? There's no universe where they should be losing a game 5 up 3-0 in the second.

They find ways to lose, and bad teams do that. Regular season be damned. Playoffs is what matters, and they've been downright trash for 4 straight playoff seasons now.

First 2 were Reirden system that didn't work. Last season was all our best players limping into the playoffs. This playoffs they have been great considering they are playing the best offensive team in the last 30 years. If they had Wilson or an ounce of luck they'd be up 3-2 in the series or even win the whole thing by now.

Tired of the what ifs and excuses. You either win or lose.

I get that, I’m just asking what your plan is? Do you want McMichael playing wing while Eller stays at 3C? Do you want McMichael at 3C while Eller moves to 4C or W? To me, none of those options are appealing cause I want to see McMichael getting an extended chance at center and I don’t like the idea of Eller on a wing or the 4th line.

And you need luck to win.

So it's just luck the penguins won back to back? Lol please.