Will Ryan Leonard be joining the Caps in the fall? The Caps move to get younger.

Will Ryan Leonard be joining the Caps in the fall? The Caps move to get younger.

on today’s show hockey troll of the Caps chir podcast joins me as we talk about Ryan Leonard free agency and what to expect from the capitals in the fall we’ll discuss next on this edition of lock on capitals your locked on capitals your daily podcast on the Washington Capitals part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day well hello and welcome into this edition of lock on capitals I’m so glad you decided to join me today as always this podcast is free and available on all the major platforms including the Sirius XM app and on YouTube and I want to thank you for making this your first listen each and every day my name is Dan Hol me I’ve covered the capitals for the last three seasons for lock on and various other outlets before that I’m also the host of the capitals minute cast available wherever you find your podcasts you can find me on Twitter it’s Dan caps 28 you can find the show on Twitter it’s lockon caps and the best way that you can help grow the show is to subscribe to lockon capitals on YouTube and comment anything down below today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time download the game time app create an account and use code locked on NHL for for $20 off your first purchase terms apply so in this edition of lockdown capital’s hockey troll of the Caps chirp podcast joins me as we talk about Ryan Leonard is there a possibility he could join the capitals in the fall we’ll talk about that a little bit later we will talk about the youth movement on the capitals and is that the right direction for the capitals to go in a little bit later we will talk about questions during free agen and the future in net for the capital on this edition of locked on capitals we have hockey troll from the Caps CH podcast hockey troll welcome to the show hey Dan thanks for having me on I hope that uh I can be as knowledgeable as maybe you think I am you’re very knowledgeable a good podcast check it out the Caps podcast on the hockey podcast Network so many great uh capitals podcasts there’s at least a handful of good ones out there that I know of off the top of my head but uh the news that was breaking somewhat recently here was the possibility that Will Smith will join the Sharks and what that would mean for the capitals Ryan Leonard the first round pick of last season do you think that’s going to put the pressure on Ryan Leonard to sign with the capitals even though he said he wants to play for Boston College in the fall I know it’s Will Smith Ryan Leonard and Gabe Pearl playing on a line together or do you think he’s just going to say I hear all that but I’m still going to play for Boston College in the fall you know what um so he’s come out and said you know if funnily enough he was like the NHL will always be there and first I’m thinking like man what kind of talent do you have to possess to just be like the NHL will always be there which is awesome um but uh W with with Ryan Leonard’s come out and said he wants to run it back I get that maybe he’s being stripped of a couple guys because I isn’t wasn’t cutter gotier gotier on on that team as well and he’s he will be returning as a junior so he’s gonna go and make the step to Anaheim after the whole Philly uh drama played out um and yeah I mean so you’re seeing two guys that are really big pieces on BC move on but if you kind of just think if from his statement and you think man what would it be like to be 19 20 year old guy really just Big Man on Campus BC you know while they do have a football team does does not get as much play as the hockey team right I mean hockey team there is number one he’s probably having the ultimate time of his life if I’m you know just gonna be honest I’m sure you know he’s probably thinking like I gotta go adult once I go to the NHL so I would say chances are him coming from just like a kid standpoint if I was him I think I kind of agree with his logic stay be king uh for like you know of of Boston College for another year have a have a great time you know uh maybe do some studying but play a lot of hockey for sure try to get some records uh more records broken which he’s already you know holding some of them uh and and run it back you know yeah and you got to think about it you know uh the San Jose Sharks this last season weren’t that great actually quite horrible how much better will they be next season ostensibly you know you take a look at the additions that are going to be made there uh that team could be really great but talking about Ryan Leonard here and his many accomplishments he lives like you said a bit of a Charmed Life everything that he’s touched has turned to Gold uh you saw what he did for Boston College you saw what he did at for juniors you saw what he did at the world championship it was kind of a one-off for him that he had a bit of a dip in production in the world championships I know that he was one of the college players but all things considered it seems like he uh lives a Charmed Life and I’m happy for the guy at the end of the day he is kind of a Tom Wilson 2.0 I think I think he has a lot of the same uh attributes as far as the physicality um as far as the goal score that kind of thing so taking a look at him how much better do you think the capitals would be once he joins the team let’s say was in the fall if it’s in the fall I think it’s marginal man I mean so I didn’t I’m not surprised by the dip in in World competition he’s playing against grown men and decade long Pros David Pasto is the Cy video that’s going around him with his wife and his kid on stage and and he’s getting highlighted for for that CIA team um rad kudas was also on that team I mean they’re playing he’s playing against season NHL Talent the jump from the NCAA to the NHL is massive um you know I think Ryan Leonard will will do a stint and Hershey I I think that he should uh so honestly if and and but here’s the thing with mlen saying hey you’re ready for the big Club he may go straight to the big Club but do I see him I don’t know I mean I hope I’m wrong but trying to be realistic here do I see him being like a Conor mcdavis or or anybody who’s going to make a crazy immediate impact marginally so noticeably barely yeah in this first year but I’m not trying to put too much pressure on this kid I mean we want to take time to develop him he looks like uh the type of player you invest a decade into on a team like you said like a Tom Wilson right he looks like that guy we’re getting him cheap we’re we drafted him uh you know it’s it’s really a low risk so for for the Washington Capitals as far as picking him up though I’m sure there’s a lot of hopes and dreams built on his career so ultimately I’d hate to see him come up get injured or something wild you know I mean not that players haven’t especially when they’re young bounce back from that but you know let’s get him up here let’s get him the conditioning stint just like everybody else into the AHL maybe half a season quarter season there and he starts becoming um a regular piece in the big Club hey and maybe he makes it out of camp but uh as far as him coming in the fall I don’t have super high hopes I think that he will eventually adapt but you can’t put so much pressure on a rookie so if you take a look at it though why Will Smith why do you think he’s going to Jet Set to the sharks or you take a look at Connor Bard I know Connor Bard is like a unicorn of fourleaf clover but um do you think that uh that’s the the best approach to take like you’re saying the slow approach or why do you think that San Jose is trying to Fast Track Will Smith and why do you think the Blackhawks were so wanted to FASTT track Connor Bard or do those teams ultimately have nothing to lose that’s a really good question I think the later you answered it there yeah I think that really they don’t have a lot to lose and if so coming on to the Washington Capitals in the OV era in the Twilight of the OV era if you will there’s lots of big things lots of big things that the Washington Capitals still want to achieve right obviously getting over those 40 odd low 40 odd something goals 42 I think it is um is huge and then also the promise that Leona said like Hey oie we’re gonna be competitive and we’ll get you the goals you know um so when it comes down to that I think that the Washington Capitals and the San Jose Sharks are in two completely different uh areas of development um with the San Jose Club if Will Smith needs like a week off to figure it out they will happily Grant him that if he needs a month off if he needs a conditioning stint down in the minors like whatever this guy needs I’m sure San Jose is willing to accommodate he is the Golden Boy right coming in um so and and you know man San Jose was just astronomically terrible this this season right so they’re almost like not even in the NHL I mean I hate to say it but come on they you’re just getting beat on night in and night out um for that team Will Smith will probably be one of the best players immediately stepping on uh to their top six forward core with the Washington Capitals Ryan Leonard would have to muck and grind third line at best maybe a couple looks on the power play maybe some top six time one or two shifts every couple games uh yeah he’s not gonna get force-fed minutes he’s gonna be put through the grinder just like everybody else so you know and and like it or lump it that’s just just how it’s going to go now he would have to play astronomically well for him to crack the top six Ryan lard in the Washington Capitals where as Will Smith he’s probably number one I don’t right who cares he will be number one probably he’ll get whatever ice time he wants out there yeah and it’s it’s a hard thing to be patient uh you know I I’m a Nationals fan at the end of the day as well and you know it’s James Wood when is he going to join the team and then you take a look at the Pirates they already have skes but the pirates look at the Pirates are another team that have nothing less to left to lose but all right so coming up here after the break we will talk about the youth movement for the capitals listen a lot changed this last summer this went from one of the oldest teams to now trending in the younger direction is that the right idea I’ll discuss Straight Ahead game time makes getting NBA Finals tickets even faster and easier prices on the game time app actually go down closer to tip off with killer last minute deals all in prices and views from your seat and their lowest price guarantee game time takes the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets and it’s not just NBA tickets it’s MLB tickets say you were wanting to get tickets to the Nationals game but you forgot about it fear not as tickets are actually cheaper closer to first pitch as well so take the guest work out of buying NBA Finals tickets with Game Time download the game time app create an account and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase terms apply again create an account and redeem code l o c k d o n NHL for $20 off your first purchase download game time today last minute tickets lowest prices guaranteed are you watching Fox Sports or ESPN on your TV all day have to turn on the volume with all the shouting make the switch to lockon sports today a free 247 sports streaming Channel program for you every day to bring you the biggest stories without all the screaming lock on sports today brings you the can’t miss analysis opinions and news streaming 247 on YouTube or the free Amazon Fire TV channels app part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day but in this Edition we are talking with hockey troll of the capsure podcast let’s talk about that the young Talent on the team I know I’ve I’ve spoke to you quite a few times and you definitely weren’t drinking the Kool-Aid for a lot of the young players I think there’s got to be a little bit of C this is exactly what I was talking about um that you take a look at Conor McMichael you take a look at Hendrick Lop here Beck ma manstein even Mir schenko that uh Brian mclen seems to be kind of pushing his chips all in on the youth movement and it wasn’t necessarily something by design it was BAS based on the fact that Backstrom stepped away Koozie got dealt out of town if we take a look at this team in the fall and I’ve had quite a people say Well they’re not going to go out and get these big names they’re just going to stick with the young players what can we expect from the capitals in the fall with Hendrick Lop here Conor McMichael even Mir schenko are they going to be any better next season uh and the reason that that has me worried is we saw what happened with them and they got fanned out in four games in the playoffs what are your thoughts about the youth movement for the capitals and is this the right direction to go in oh yeah I mean it’s this is a natural cycle um for every NHL team you got to get younger eventually right um trust me I wish we could still be watching oetkin at age 60 tearing it up like he was 25 years old again but that’s not the case and you know you mentioned Beck marenstein Beck malin’s gez what’s he’s on the wrong side of 25 I know that um so you know they’re going to yeah I you know it’s funny that you say like this wasn’t by Design and and really it was a force of necessity right I mean uh the Washington Capitals have been cap strapped for the entire OV era they’ve been spending to the cap for the entire OV era it’s it’s really not been a you know $10 million of free cap space I mean come on think about it cap fans when was the last time you saw $10 million free without being like you know okay we’re going to have to resign like a bunch of dudes right now right I mean expert gming I think I think uh Brian McCullen and honestly I thought I think George MC is his predecessor they’re both really solid GMS and then poil even before that right I mean the camps are well managed let’s be real uh we’re H I’m happy that’s a it’s a rarity in the in the NHL clearly but uh I would say that look there was this when lavy was here he’s I think he was the vi of of the most hanging for these young players to to crack the lineup you know lavette’s team is night and day different from the team that Spencer carbury had right um carbs he knew he was gonna have to play these young guys and as far as L the guys that you mentioned mea laier uh Mick Michael Beck Malin even they need to be better I mean let’s face it if they’re going to be the new core of this team you’re looking at a core that used to score you know between two players 200 points so you know they’re gonna have to at least make up two 300 points I would say as as just as those guys in general uh to come in and really hit hard and be a force to be reckoned with in the NHL if we’re going to stick with them and I think that the signs are clear I you know look hey we could have bombs right we could have busts on our hands and I don’t think that’s the case but you look at how long it took McMichael to develop and you know we say how long it’s been a few years it’s really not that long he’s still relatively young La Pierre he seems like he’s kind of catching stride with mck Michael the guy who I think is probably going to be the standout of all of them is is marish nenko I think that guy had an incredible season he just looks like a pro out there I and you know so that’s totally sniff test but he doesn’t look lost he’s willing to skate hard I love that he plays the body I love that I mean on the four check coming back for a puck whatever it is especially coming back for a puck laying a big hit in our own Zone as a forward flying through that’s that’s huge I love to see that um and he does it and he’s he’s always been touted as a pretty high hockey IQ guy I think that showed I think that he felt much more comfortable as a pro in North America than the other two did at this stage considering the amount of NHL games we’ve seen him in um you know everybody’s upbringing is a little bit different especially when you’re talking about a Russian player and you know obviously miro’s story is is absolutely insane beating cancer you know coming back and and becoming who you know being an NHL right now and and looking at a very bright future um but you know I see you know miro’s Peak you know he could be like a jake gensel type player but not a not a not a soft player I don’t know how much I can cuss on this show so I’m trying to tone it down you know you listen appreciate it yeah I’m sure that that helps you in the editing sorry um but but yeah I I so I I think the future is bright and it’s less of a this is going to be a concentrated effort rather than we’re forced to now bring these guys up and hey look at us possible 15 plus million in cap space to to play with I would be upset if the Washington Capitals don’t bring in a marquee player like you know a top six forward maybe even like a a name brand defenseman you know as well I think that they can afford both yeah and I think that um as I take a look at the team as is that is kind of the way my mind is wired we saw that it didn’t work this last year that they had to back into victory that it took until the last game of the season for them to qualify for the playoffs why do we want to run it back with this team again and this could be a capitals team minus TJ oosi all right so coming up here after the break we will talk about potential players that the capitals could acquire on July 1st and the questions in net I’ll discuss Straight Ahead uh with the back issues that he’s had but let’s take a look at some of the numbers and my cause of concern throughout this season DC only averaged 2.53 goals per game placing them fifth from the top from the bottom in the NHL um max saying that he needs a top six forward I’ve heard about it you know maybe you could print it on a T-shirt and we’ll all buy it but seeing is believing and I want to to hear it I want to come to you guys on the show and say hey look at this big player that they signed um and I know I’ve kind of thr thrown around some ostentatious names in the last EP episode but let’s take a look at some of the player that are available or will be on July 1st Sam Reinhardt Jake gensel Steven Stam Co Patrick Kane Jonathan marcheso Brandon Montour how much better would the capitals be with a guy like Sam Reinhard and you know what 56 goals he scored this last season and there’s this feeling amongst capitals fans that we can’t have nice things um I put that that podcast out yesterday and everyone’s like there’s no way you know they’re going to come to the capitals Hey listen Darcy keer was a hail Mar pass he was coming off a Stanley Cup win with the Avalanche it could be possible and I understand that it would be difficult uh for that to happen but I’m having a hard time as a capitals fan uh with this thought process that we’re going to kind of wander out into the Wilderness until Obie decides to hang up the Skates um of the big name the Intriguing names out there some of the names I rattled off what a big player on July 1st should ma go after oh man that’s there’s so many and honestly I don’t even feel comfortable putting names out there because there’s going to be a handful that I think and so let’s talk about background as to why we’re in this situation for the past two years teams several teams and I’d say about 10 going into trade deadline have been selling the farm they know everybody else is selling it’s been an arms race in the NHL if you will for the past uh two years right and a lot of these have been rentals then resigned for short term or whatever or have just gone on right so last season you saw a lot of rental movement this season you’re going to see a rental movement combined with guys on expiring contracts or guys who have attractive contracts with one or two years honestly if I’m looking at a deal I want to sign a guy who uh maybe it’s not working out on his on his team he’s shown flashes of Brilliance and he still has turn a little bit one or two years left on his contract you know I was really high on a Jordan Greenway and Anthony declair I thought those were two players that shortterm could help the Washington Capitals and hell they might find a a long-term home here but it’s a show me contract right they’re they’re finishing out the years that they have they may be getting a short-term wi they can walk if they want or they can stay in DC um it’s interesting that you and well and then another player that I thought it was interesting was cev out of La now La seems to be back on the let’s go get it uh bust to try to get another cup uh and I’m sure that CV is is a guy who will play a part in that if it happens but uh you know he may be pried away for some something good you know so the landscape I think with the NHL in general as far as just how players are being signed is so volatile right now because so many our people have have just gone and leveraged so many assets to move guys right there’s been a lot of hockey trades in the past two trade deadlines uh who knows what’s going to shake loose there’s probably a guy on an expiring deal that I don’t even know about who’s like a 40 goal scorer right I say no to Jake gensel because of his you know his Heritage if you will his penguins penguins uh past I think the Washington Capitals should go after two forwards one a playmaker won a goal score um and kind of get the Lion Share you know 10 million between them and of course you’re going to get a young low value guy right now who has a high upside and I think the Washington Capitals have to at least invest in one guy um for a Reclamation project or at least like reaching a think that they they can reach a new level with this forward um and then a defenseman you know it’s it’s interesting that you say like the some of your listeners think that you know the Caps just can’t have nice things I think the Washington Capitals and from what I’ve heard from people who’ve come to the organization and pass through or whatever uh that DC hockey does it right I mean they’re treated well here they have a really great loyal fan base uh you know and it’s DC the city’s not bad you know um a lot of things happening I so interesting and now I get it’s not a Toronto it’s maybe not a Pittsburgh where you get to play with Sydney Crosby which I don’t know why why anybody would want to do that but yeah and you know Mack has had luck in the past with kind of these Reclamation projects I think of Brett Conley I think of uh like Devonte Smith p uh you know those kind of guys from the past Milano Sunny Milano is another good one for sure Nicholas Abbe cubel to an extent um so sometimes these no uh you know low risk moves pan out but you know as I take a look at last offseason I had a lot of hope I have a lot of Hope every year and oftentimes it’s dashed I’m going to be honest with you here that uh last summer it was Joel Edmonson and it was Max pater ready and wow that didn’t move the needle for me at all you saw Max Patch ready who I think at the end of the day was more of a mentor um I think that you know a guy that scored 30 goals six different times in his career I like Joel edmonson’s game you know he was that rugged defenseman he was as advertised um and then you take a look at Anthony mantha for example who let’s be honest everyone said before last season get this guy out of here we’ll pay for Freight just get him out of here and he was one of the key contributors to this team so the question is now where are they going to get these goals from we don’t know and I’ll talk a little bit later about Alex ofkin we don’t know what to expect from oie uh we saw Dylan stro step up and play a bigger role where are the goals going to come from and and that’s something that has me concerned you know people will argue back and forth on socials about if they need more goal scoring if they need more blue liners to your point I think we need both but I think we need more goal scorers because you saw how the capitals struggled with Alex oetkin slow start um and thank God for someone like Dylan Strom on this team to kind of you know save the team in a lot of ways all right I want to thank hockey troll of the Caps CH podcast for joining me check out his podcast available wherever you get your podcasts and I want to thank you for joining me also on this edition of locked on capitals your only daily yearround podcast covering the Washington Capitals and I want to thank all of you that listen on the audio side and watch this on YouTube you are ultimately what makes this show successful when you’re done here head on over to lock On’s 247 streaming channel available on the free Amazon Fire TV channels app and on YouTube all right once again I want to thank you for joining me on this edition of lockon capitals part of to the locked on podcast Network your team every day my name is Dan Hol and I’ll talk to you again next time

With: Hockey Troll of the Caps Chirp Podcast

Reports suggest that Will Smith is close to finalizing a deal with the Sharks, a move that may prompt Ryan Leonard to reconsider his plans and turn professional sooner rather than later. D.C. struggled this season, only managing an average of 2.53 goals per game, ranking them near the bottom of the NHL. Mac believes that the team is in need of a top-six forward to improve their performance. The team’s roster includes unrestricted free agents Max Pacioretty and Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, as well as restricted free agents Connor McMichael, Beck Malenstyn, and Mitchell Gibson. The defense is missing Joel Edmundson, with Kuemper, Lindgren, Shepard, and Stevenson in the mix.

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