I think the Caps are going to regret that Kuemper contract sooner than later.

I mean they'll probably regret it for years 3-5 but I think the team will be bad by then no matter what so it's not that big of a deal. Because of a mediocre playoffs where he was playing with one eye I think people are forgetting how good he has been the last three years (even when accounting for Colorado's team defense, which was slightly worse than the Caps' last year). Given that Campbell got 5x5 and Murray was acquired to be a starter at 4.6m, the contract is a massive win IMO.

He definitely had a couple extra tricks up his sleeve I didn't expect. I think we're definitely a playoff team with Brown and Strome in the lineup. That third pair is a little shaky though, so makes sense to upgrade over Gustaffson by the deadline.

The Kuemper contract I think will definitely suck after a couple of years, but he was basically the only option (chance) the Caps had to get a legitimate goalie without giving up assets. Rather overpay with money a bit than give up picks and prospects.

My issue with GBMC has always been the same thing, he makes medium to small around the edges trades without going for any big swings. And these around the edges dudes are often old slow grizzled vets instead of giving our young guys a chance to play. Making modest moves isn't a terrible thing in and of itself if your team is solid, but the Caps haven't won a playoff round in over four years.

I am glad to see much more of a shakeup though this off season, he ended up really shaking the tree pretty hard after the dust had settled from free agency madness. I'm back on board and ready to rock and roll with my Caps into the playoffs. Let's go!

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Yea I get being frustrated by not making a big swing or change but I just don't see what one he could have taken. Even though they are eating into the Backstrom LTIR its with multiple smaller deals making it easier to clear space if he returns, which makes a Gaudreau or Kadri not feasible. Of the big money guys Ovi is untouchable, Kuzy and Carlson both make very fair money as 1c and 1d, Orlov is fairly paid as a 2d, and Mantha is fairly paid as a 2w. Oshie is really the only "bad" contract, and even that isn't horrible and I don't think they want to move him anyways. I can still definitely see someone like Chychrun or Miller coming in later either still in the offseason or closer to the deadline.

At a deeper level, every truly elite team -- from the Caps, Pens, Blackhawks, and Kings of the 2010s to Tampa and Colorado today -- are initially built with a core of multiple generational talents from high lottery picks like Ovi, Crosby, Makar, Kane. After that, savvy FA signings and trades for the second tier of guys is necessary, a la Oshie, Kessel, Kadri, McDonaugh. Finally, good drafting in the late first and in middle rounds like Kuzy, Holtby, Guentzel, Kucherov extends windows. To truly compete, the Caps would have to go back to that first step of getting era defining superstars in the lottery, as Ovi and Backstrom just are not that anymore. However, that requires high lottery picks (and luck) which requires the team to be terrible. They obviously will not and should not be terrible as long as Ovi is still around, so the best MacLellan can do is continue with those medium sized moves in trades and FA, and hope that the McMichaels and Fehervarys of the world turn out to actually be top of the lineup players.

It's the price of doing business. All acquisitions are essentially a gamble, be it through the draft, free agency, trades, however it happens. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, just how it is. Goalies are especially difficult to judge. Some are ageless like MAF who can still be a competent (except when this happens https://youtu.be/8G9EYz6QFHg) goalie, some hit a wall when they age like Holtby (although he was rebounding nicely with Dallas before getting hurt).

The wrong decision, given proper time to look at all options, would have been to run back mostly the same squad with minor changes. I wasn't happy with the decisions with Samsonov and Vaneck at first, but now looking at it rationally they had both been given more than enough chances to establish themselves, and it just didn't work. These moves give you a new look at least, some out of necessity, some out a desire to switch it up. We'll see how it goes, but I do see them as a playoff team. All you can hope for.