Caps trade Fleischmann for Hannah

[n3ss 0]

Wow, glad this finally happened. I like flash but they're pretty deep with forwards... It'll be nice to have a "real" defensive d-man; i'd guess tyler sloan will probably be the 8th man again this year.

any thoughts? i haven't watched the avs much so i don't know a whole lot about him. I know he's got a good amount of playoff experience but thats about it (although, a lot of it is with the sharks...)

[_HSB_b345t 0]

My knee jerk to this was "WHY!?", but after giving it some thought, this will help bolster the front with losing our leading goalscorer for up to 2 months and free up $2M in cap room. I'm not so much convinced the latter was a real motivating factor having the third (now second) lowest payroll in the league, but Hannan's paycheck was hefty and his contract was set to expire after next year. With as well as the younger D have been developing, it was time for him to move on and try to get something in trade. Hannan seemed the heir apparent to Footer's legacy of a stay-at-home D, but it looks as though the league is heading in a different direction and needing smaller faster puck-moving D rather than big lumbering bone-crushers. I don't know.

Fleischmann has done pretty well despite playing with a puck hog (or 3) and can really add to this already young and potent offense. Hopefully, this will be a sufficient stopgap that will explode when everyone is back and healthy. Sherman, despite the criticisms, has done well with his acquisitions producing (if they can stay healthy *cough*Meuller*cough*) so I've learned to trust him. I cringe and take a deep breath after every move, but, ultimately trust him.

[ponty 0]

Daryl Hannah plays hockey? Wow, I did not realize she was that talented.

"HannaN"

[Chadd 916]

My knee jerk to this was "WHY!?"

They get something in exchange for a guy that was going to be unrestricted at the end of the season. They are taking the long term view.

I like this move for the Caps, they have a lot of guys that can fill the second and third line roles and not enough guys that are capable in their own zone. They still need a legit #2 center, hopefully they can move more of their spare parts for another upcoming UFA.

[n3ss 0]

Hopefully that next guy is Eric fehr. How he got taken in the first round before getzlaf is a mystery to me... Although Marcus johannson I think will take that 2nd line role in a few years. Has to work on face-offs, though.

[gxc999 7]

Maybe this means the Caps will give Matthieu Perreault a chance. Probably not...

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Maybe this means the Caps will give Matthieu Perreault a chance. Probably not...

Not at centre. The 2C belongs to MOJO, although that could change at the deadline (richards?).

[n3ss 0]

What's Richards cap hit? Afaik they've got around 3 million available.

That would be freaking sweet though.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

My knee jerk to this was "WHY!?", but after giving it some thought, this will help bolster the front with losing our leading goalscorer for up to 2 months and free up $2M in cap room. I'm not so much convinced the latter was a real motivating factor having the third (now second) lowest payroll in the league, but Hannan's paycheck was hefty and his contract was set to expire after next year. With as well as the younger D have been developing, it was time for him to move on and try to get something in trade. Hannan seemed the heir apparent to Footer's legacy of a stay-at-home D, but it looks as though the league is heading in a different direction and needing smaller faster puck-moving D rather than big lumbering bone-crushers. I don't know.

Fleischmann has done pretty well despite playing with a puck hog (or 3) and can really add to this already young and potent offense. Hopefully, this will be a sufficient stopgap that will explode when everyone is back and healthy. Sherman, despite the criticisms, has done well with his acquisitions producing (if they can stay healthy *cough*Meuller*cough*) so I've learned to trust him. I cringe and take a deep breath after every move, but, ultimately trust him.

Caps have been looking for a solid defense first minded D man for a while now. I think at his price tag, the Avs expected more offense out of him as well, but that's not needed from the caps end of things.

Flash was a bargain last year, 25 goals, 51 points $700k, but he is overpaid at $2.6 mil. He is a very streaky player, and can't survive unless he is on a top 6 unit. He hasn't really played with puck hogs, last season he was mostly paired with Brendan Morrison/Brooks Laich and Fehr or Semin.

This season he has completely wilted. Maybe the change of scenery will do him good. But Avs fans should expect periods of really good play with almost equal amount of times checking if you have enough booze to make it to the end of his next shift. He'll be a 20ish goal scorer, but has been a bust when it matters, playoffs and late in games, one or two instances excepted.

The caps traded someone who has been a healthy scratch in a couple of recent games for a #3/4 defenseman, something they have needed for the past few seasons now. Colorado needed some offense, so it may be a win win for both. Once the Avs are healthy again, if Flash drops to the third line, it could be terrible as his production will drop and highlight his lack of defensive skills.

But for now, both teams addressed a need.

The reason I like it for the caps is it balances the D more. Carlson and Alzner are both essentially (while Alzner is not technically) rookies. They have shown good chemistry in Hershey and again up here. If they can have their minutes pulled in a little and not face opponents top players, I think it will help them in the long run. And thats possible now with Hannan

Green - Hannan/Schultz

Poti - Schultz/Hannan

Carlson - Alzner

Erskine as the spare, Sloan hopefully on a bus far far far away from Washington

It also helps them steady the forward corps by removing the "who is the 2nd line center" element and Boudreau having to juggle lines to accomodate Flash. Johannson has been playing very well of late, and has seen time on the top line too, so I see the lines now shaking out like this

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble/Semin

Laich-MarJo-Semin/Knuble

Chimera-Gordon-Fehr

Bradley-Steckel-Hendricks/King

2 decent scoring lines

Good third line who have potential to add 2ndry scoring

Good 4th line for grinding it out late, Steckel good on faceoffs, good in his own end and that line cycles well.

All in all, any caps fan has to be happy with the trade, Avs fans, if Flash gets back to form of last season, it won't be a bad deal your end either. Time will tell

[n3ss 0]

Sloan hopefully on a bus far far far away from Washington

Please god yes. And Fahey too.

[lassek20 1]

as a caps fan i was sad to hear that "Flash" is leaving, but on the other hand am excited that they are making room in the salary cap for what i am hoping is a new Semin contract!

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

What's Richards cap hit? Afaik they've got around 3 million available.

That would be freaking sweet though.

McPhee said they still have the cap room to pick up at the deadline someone with an $8 mil contract (pro-rated from trade deadline) Richards has a $7.8 mil hit

as a caps fan i was sad to hear that "Flash" is leaving, but on the other hand am excited that they are making room in the salary cap for what i am hoping is a new Semin contract!

Can't talk contract with him until after Jan 1

[_HSB_b345t 0]

as a caps fan i was sad to hear that "Flash" is leaving, but on the other hand am excited that they are making room in the salary cap for what i am hoping is a new Semin contract!

The Caps payroll went up $2M.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

The Caps payroll went up $2M.

Erskine, knuble, gordon, Bradley, hendricks and Laich all UFA at the end of this season

I think Erskine, Knuble and hendricks will be gone, which is about $4.5 mil in cap space, Bradley may be gone too (but I hope not) which is another million. I fully expect Laich to be resigned

[lassek20 1]

The Caps payroll went up $2M.

yes it did for now. hannan's contract will be over at the end of the season and his new contract will be much less than his current. as far as the salary cap is concerned they should have approx. 8 million in cap space by the trade deadline

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

yes it did for now. hannan's contract will be over at the end of the season and his new contract will be much less than his current. as far as the salary cap is concerned they should have approx. 8 million in cap space by the trade deadline

Small point of correction. They will have the cap space to take on a pro-rated $8 million contract at the deadline, they will not have $8 million in cap space

[MLSman 22]

Hate to see Fleischmann go...but an excellent move in prep for what we all hope will be DC hockey in June. Would love to see one more responsible defensive D man with a big shot.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Hate to see Fleischmann go...but an excellent move in prep for what we all hope will be DC hockey in June. Would love to see one more responsible defensive D man with a big shot.

I'm with you, I didn't hate flash, but D help was more important, particularly if playoffs are where they focus needs to be.

[_HSB_b345t 0]

I'm with you, I didn't hate flash, but D help was more important, particularly if playoffs are where they focus needs to be.

Having endured 3 playoff series with Hannan, I can tell you that his a habit of disappearing in the post-season. But, as is the mantra after any trade, maybe the move will do him good.