In this edition of Locked on Capitals Dan talks about Nick Backstrom and how he’s making his way back from his hip resurfacing procedure. Which Backstrom will show up at camp and will the Caps be willing to cut ties with him if he’s not at least 90%? Later Dan talks about Connor McMichael and how he believes that this is the season to give Connor a long look. In the last segment dan talks about Anthony Mantha and how he’s been putting in the work this summer. He’s lost 10lbs and is poised to prove to the Capitals he’s changed and ready to help the Caps win.
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4 Comments
Not expecting big things from Backstrom after his injury and at this point in his career. I'd LOVE to see him back 100%, because he was a VERY effective player!! If we get 80% or 90%, that will be very good.
As to a mental coach that Mantha hired, hey, a person's got to do what they got to do to be ready. There is a very good book I read a number of years ago called Hockey Tough by Saul Miller. There are a lot of pressures for any professional athlete and a player needs every edge they can get. I hope Mantha has a big year and silences all the nay sayers!! It's entirely possible.
He’ll in all likelihood never be ready. This looks like a case of the star pro who won’t accept that it is over. Painful cause he knows he is just a healthy hip away from being able to play at the highest level another half decade. I see him as a distraction AGAIN. I wish he would walk away.
McM is not playing center for the Caps this season, unless there are injuries. He is probably at best a 3rd line NHL center. Lapierre isnt ready. He needs more time in Hershey. Caps do not have NHL difference makers in Hershey . Hopefully Miro will be a difference maker for the Caps one day soon.
I think all of this is a tough situation. I feel like the caps and the pens are two teams that stick out that hold onto players a little too long and aren’t willing to move older fan favorites. I think it’s tough, I’d love to see Backstrom go out on a good year. But I’m not sure what to expect. He will enter this year as the 31st highest paid player in the league which I’m sure we can all agree he probably won’t live up to that expectation. At this point in the off-season I’m not sure something can happen unless it’s a sell at the deadline. Which at that point if the caps are really just flirting with the playoffs I’d rather keep Backstrom and let him only play for the caps. But the key is next year he is still under contract and if his season is lack luster maybe it’s time the caps force his hand into retirement. Looking ahead to the free agents in 2024 they are ten fold better than the class that was this year. Some could be real difference makers. They have $15.6mil in cap space in 2024. Add Backstroms $9.2mil gives you $24.8mil and some hungry youth waiting for their chance. I think that’s the perfect time to make one last great push for a true difference maker and sign a big name under Ovechkin before a complete rebuild.