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Game Day Open Thread - Canadiens @ Caps
by J.P. on Nov 20, 2009 5:00 PM EST
in Game Day Open Threads
2 comments
Tonight's probable netminders:
Have at it, people.
2 comments | 0 recs
Finding That Dahlen In the Rough: The Busts and the Best of McPhee's Reclamation Projects
by Stephen Pepper on Nov 20, 2009 11:00 AM EST
93 comments
Early success earned Capitals GM George McPhee a reputation for discovering and fulfilling "reclamation projects." There's no fixed definition for the scope of that category of player, but my working definition would be: acquisitions of established NHLers once known or projected as being at least modestly gifted and who, following either significant injury or prolonged struggles, or both, are given another chance to demonstrate that they've got something left in the tank.
More so than ever in the salary cap era, when nearly every contending franchise must push its payroll near the cap ceiling to accommodate the varied needs of a would-be champion, a successful reclamation project, ideally one that entails limited financial risk, is a key component of a winning team. It's almost as important as astute drafting and trade deadline swaps.
So, we've compiled a list of McPhee's top five best reclamation projects, and top five busts. First, the busts.
"The Busts"
5. Sergei Berezin - Left Wing
Berezin's arrival in Washington, at the 2002-03 trading deadline, and subsequent performance encapsulates all of the ways in which the "Jagr plan" went horribly wrong in D.C. He fit squarely into the same category as the offensive corps of skilled but one-dimensional forwards seemingly just past their prime, adding to the developing "country club" atmosphere in Washington.
Dealt by Chicago for the Caps' 4th round selection in the 2004 draft (defenseman R.J. Anderson, who never played in an NHL game), Berezin's acquisition otherwise cost the remainder of his season's salary. And, with the Blackhawks, he began to regain the scoring touch for which he was known in Toronto, when he potted 37 goals in the 1998-99 season. He scored a goal in each of his first three games as a Capital and looked like he could be a real playoff force. But a mysterious arm ailment dogged him in April, and he was invisible in the post-season, tallying only a single assist in the disastrous first round playoff exit versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. He never played in another NHL contest after that, instead signing with CSKA Moscow the following December.
4. Joe Murphy - Right Wing
Murphy can lay claim to two of the most prized accomplishments of a hockey player's career: (i) being selected 1st overall in an NHL draft (Detroit, 1986) and (ii) winning a Stanley Cup (Edmonton, 1990). And he didn't get his name engraved on the chalice by accident: he scored six goals and 14 points in 22 playoff games that championship spring, on the "kid line" with Adam Graves and Martin Gelinas. In this respect, he was quite a successful reclamation project for then-Oilers GM Glen Sather, who rescued the "talented misfit" from an impatient Red Wings fan base. After reaching an offensive peak two seasons later, his career began to unravel. He played for four different teams and, in November of 1999, was suspended by Boston for insubordination.
McPhee took a chance and signed him in February of 2000, but he proved uncoachable. And uncontrollable.
93 comments | 11 recs |
Friday Caps Clips: Canadiens @ Caps Game Day
by J.P. on Nov 20, 2009 6:46 AM EST
in Caps Clips
374 comments
Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight's Caps/Habs tilt from NHL.com and Peerless, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Habs Eyes On The Prize for coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
- The Caps will be without Alexander Semin, Mike Knuble, Boyd Gordon and Quintin Laing tonight, and will likely also not have Jose Theodore, Shaone Morrisonn and Milan Jurcina available.
- Prized blueline prospect John Carlson is set to make his NHL debut tonight after being recalled yesterday. [Dump and Chase, CSN Washington, Washington Post, Washington Times]
- More on Theodore. [Washington Times]
- A couple of Verizon Center thrillers and a Jose Theodore picture that never gets old are among the highlights of the decade's ten best games. [Puck Daddy]
- Matt Bradley Week continues #needsmorebradley. [D.C. Sports Bog, Peerless]
- Some (more) well-deserved praise for Brendan Morrison. [CBC]
- From the "If you say so, Larry" file: Brian Pothier is one of at least four mean Capitals defensemen. [NY Post]
- You had me at "Washington Capitals Sparklines." [Missing Monkey Head]
- Wondering where the Caps stack up in terms of man-games lost to injury so far? [From the Rink]
- A tender moment, captured and uploaded. [Flickr]
- Speaking of candids, the three most outgoing Young Guns attended Wednesday night's Wiz game. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- A look at the Caps at the quarter pole. [Puck Prospectus]
- Arturs Irbe was back in his native Latvia to take part in the NHLPA's Goals & Dreams "10 countries in 10 days" tour. Wait, there's still an NHLPA? [NHLPA Goals & Dreams]
- The words say "Malkin is FAR more important than Ovechkin," but what I read is "Crosby stinks." [Rock The Red.net]
- Braden Holtby is back in Hershey and has a new mask. Spoiler alert: no more chocolate bars. [John Walton Hockey]
- The Bears' special teams are the opposite of the Caps': awesome PK, lousy PP. [LDN]
- Eric Mestery is back in Tri-City. Sweet? [Tri-City Herald]
- Kids, Navy, Sylvain Cote and, of course, hockey. [The Capital]
- Russia: gold medal favorites. Canada: wanting so badly to be able to play the underdog card. [The Hockey News]
- Finally, per the HHoF, on this date ten years ago, the Caps "set an NHL record by going 12 consecutive games without allowing a power-play goal, in a 3-0 win at Boston. Craig Billington recorded his 100th career victory (and 8th career shutout)."
374 comments | 0 recs |
More Matt Bradley
by Becca H on Nov 19, 2009 1:30 PM EST
68 comments
At the first ever Caps Convention earlier this fall, one of the highlights was watching as distinguished panelists Brooks Laich, David Steckel and Matt Bradley fielded rapid fire questions from some of the toughest interviewers around – kids.
After hard-hitting queries into their favorite breakfast cereal and how long they’d been playing hockey, one small participant stood up and asked them how many goals they wanted to score in the upcoming season.
"One more than Ovie," Laich joked.
Added Steckel, "probably at least 50 with this line."
And then all eyes were on Bradley. "I'm going to aim high," he said. "I'm going for ten."
It was a classic Matt Bradley joke, told with that modest, self-deprecating style that has endeared him to Capitals' fans since his arrival in DC right after the lockout. And yet with every game it seems more and more likely that his tongue-in-cheek prediction could come true – or even prove to be a vast understatement.
In his five seasons with the Caps, Bradley has performed his duties as one would expect. A good, steady, consistent fourth-liner, he's always been able to add a lot of grit and energy to the lineup while chipping in with the occasional goal or fight (or both).
But this year he seems to have a little more jump, a little more finish - and it shows in almost every area of his stats so far:
After a strong postseason performance that saw him pick up his first two career playoff goals, Bradley has taken the momentum and translated it into a great start to the year. In just a quarter of the games played he's already within one goal and one assist of his entire total for last season; he's also only five goals away from his career best, coming back in 2002-03 when he was a second-year pro with the Sharks.
Bradley's also picked up his game in other areas, becoming a jack of all trades on a team that can use a few. He's shooting more and with better accuracy. He's increased his average ice time - a sure sign of trust from the coaching staff - by almost two minutes over last year. And he's become one of the team's best penalty-killers, and has more points per 60 minutes than either Alexander Semin or Brooks Laich - with considerably less skilled linemates.
But numbers don't always tell the whole tale, and they certainly don't with Bradley. What he brings to the team, on and off the ice, is exactly what you want from your role-players - grit, hockey smarts and the ability to lead by example. It's not hard to see why he's beloved by both teammates and fans alike.
Matt Bradley is never going to challenge Ovechkin for the scoring title or become a heavyweight fighter like Donald Brashear was. Yet none of us will soon forget Bradley's performance against the Rangers the other night. It was Bradley that people were talking about afterward. It was his momentum-changing, face-bloodying scrap against the Rangers' Aaron Voros, followed by his game-winning goal against one of the league's best netminders, that carried the discussion.
It takes a lot to overshadow Alex Ovechkin. In one game, with just two shifts, Matt Bradley did exactly that.
68 comments | 4 recs |
Caps recall Carlson
"The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman John Carlson from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today."
1 day ago
J.P.
214 comments
1 recs
Thursday Caps Clips: Neuvirth To Get a Start?
by J.P. on Nov 19, 2009 6:42 AM EST
in Caps Clips
217 comments
Your savory breakfast links:
- In case you missed it in the overnight, Tuvan published a translation of interviews with Alex Ovechkin and Semyon Varlamov following the Rangers game.
- On the injury/other front, Jose Theodore might not be available this weekend (which would likely get Michal Neuvirth a start), Alexander Semin is also questionable for the two games and Quintin Laing is out up to six weeks with a broken jaw. Milan Jurcina is getting better, Boyd Gordon is not, and Shaone Morrisonn is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. I think that's everyone. [Washington Post, others]
- The Bears have recalled Michael Dubuc from South Carolina and another forward from Kalamazoo of the ECHL. A sign of a recall (or two) from Hershey to D.C. for the weekend? [Patriot-News, @timleone)]
- As mentioned above, Laing will be out up to six weeks with a broken jaw (but at least he got Fark'd for his efforts). Here's a look at part of what the next few weeks will look like for Q. [Peerless]
- AO misses two weeks, still has nearly the most clutch goals in hockey this season. [The Hockey News]
- As far as undersized pivots who have been pleasant surprises for the Caps this fall, Brendan Morrison has to be in the top two. [Washington Times]
- Matt Bradley is probably the toughest environmentalist around... [National Geographic]
- ... and his legend grows. [Washington Times]
- Is Brooks Laich the most underrated player in the League? [Bangin Panger]
- Pierre LeBrun offers some (solicited) praise for Nicklas Backstrom. [ESPN]
- Celebrating Bruce Boudreau's 100th win. [Rock The Red.net]
- Speaking of Gabby, how do you name the League's top-nine coaches on the season so far and not have him on that list? [ESPN]
- Apropos of nothing, Varly's win on Tuesday night pushed him into sole possession of 22nd in franchise history in wins, breaking a tie with Cristobal Huet and Craig Billington. He could be in the top-14 by New Year's and would need 22 more to be in the top-10 by season's end.
- Since you've no doubt been wondering, Sergei Fedorov is currently fourth on his KHL team in scoring with four goals and nine assists in 23 games (and a team-best plus-ten rating) and Viktor Kozlov is tied for fifth on his team with five goals and ten assists in 25 games. And I hear it's really, really great over there and everyone's nice and it rains gumdrops (just in case Michael Nylander's reading).
- There have gotta be scores of Canadian kids growing up and patterning their game after Alex Ovechkin (recall that kids like to rebel against their parents), but probably not as many Russian kids emulating Mike Green. Here's one. [NHL.com]
- The Sabres have named former Cap Grant Ledyard Director of Youth Hockey Development. [Sabres]
- Not directly Caps-related (though we all know the link), a nice story about a kid and one of his hockey coaches. [Autism Speaks via @CapsInPictures]
- Finally, happy birthday to a couple of former Caps and Sabres - Ledyard turns 48 and Dean Melanson turns 36.
217 comments | 0 recs |
Alex Ovechkin: 'Those Two Weeks Lasted an Eternity'
by tuvanhillbilly on Nov 19, 2009 12:27 AM EST
in Translations
12 comments
Following the extremely satisfying win by the Capitals in MSG, Sport-Express correspondent Vasilij Osipov caught up with Alex Ovechkin and Semyon Varlamov and got their impressions on the game.
****
The main game-day event in the NHL was, without a doubt, the return to the ice of the best player in the league for the past two years, Alex Ovechkin. Or, more precisely, the meticulous conspiracy which accompanied this return. During the morning practice skate Alexander the Great estimated his chances at returning as "fifty-fifty". And with his acting abilities, the head coach of the Capitals could play a spy in a television series. Bruce Boudreau declared, with a tragic sigh, that Ovi probably wouldn't be able to play...
Things only started coming in focus during the pre-game warm-ups. Guest number 8 spent a lot of time warming up on the ice, doing a lot of stretches. After that, Ovi started taking shots at the net with defenseman Green passing him the puck. Just watching him, it didn't seem like the Russian had been sidelined for two weeks, so powerful were his trademark shots.
However, the Russian National Team leader did start out playing fairly cautiously. This continued until the midpoint of the first period, when Alexander laid out the powerful New York defender Marc Staal. The famous Madison Square Garden had built a massive wall against the trespasser, but Ovechkin wasn't going to be stopped now. He had undoubtedly gotten dialed into the game. And soon the Muscovite showed that it wasn't for naught that he had worked so hard on his shot during the warm-ups. After a bump pass from Mike Green during a power play, he shot the puck past Henrik Lundqvist's right hand corner with an almost imperceptible blast
12 comments | 3 recs |
Red Is Blooming At the Garden
by Stephen Pepper on Nov 18, 2009 1:30 PM EST
117 comments
When anyone asks me what I miss most about my hometown having moved north to Gotham over nine years ago, three things immediately come to mind: the Black Cat; the C&O Canal; and the potential to attend every home Capitals game. It is, however, a small consolation that living here affords me the opportunity (sadly now just twice in a regular season) to hop on a subway and, in mere minutes, arrive at the entrance to the Garden and watch Les Capitals.
Yesterday, pulling over a home red Boyd Gordon gamer, I bounded out into the early evening darkness, consumed with thoughts of Alex Ovechkin's continued dominance at the "World's Most Famous Arena." While gentlemen and ladies in business suits dashed in every direction, obsessed with something else far less compelling, I strode through to the E train platform, just as the magic train to hockey paradise arrived.
Expecting to see a handful of Blueshirted straphangers, perhaps muttering something about Henrik Lundqvist deserving no special reverence unless he, as Mike Richter well before him, delivers another championship to Gotham, I spent my underground ride wholly unmolested. In fact, not a single passenger on the train was wearing Rangers accoutrement. Now, I understand that this is a big town, and that there are a myriad of transportation options to get a hockey fan to the arena. But it was not until I was nearly at the enemy gates that I observed event goers defiling themselves with Rangers jerseys.
As I stood before the gaping maw of the Garden swallowing the hordes of blue-clad patrons climbing the staircase beside the great marquee, waiting for my arena companion (himself a suburban Rangers fan), I made every effort to greet every red rocker in sight. This goodwill led to some mockery by Rangers fans, some of which clearly could not comprehend the genuine brother- and sisterhood that we have as citizens of Caps Nation. 'Tis a pity, that their game experience is so lacking.
117 comments | 16 recs |
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
19 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 18 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.20.2009 at 9:16 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
