Thursday Roundup: Nash Sprains An Ankle

From Caps camp, the WaPo has an article euphemistically referring to the team's defense as being in "flux." We can think of a word that rhymes with "flux" that more accurately describes the Caps' D.

The WTimes profiles Andrew Cassels and notes that the Caps two problem children - Alex Semin and Petr Sykora - are still "stranded in Europe." Regarding Cassels, he actually broke his cheek last week in a pre-camp skate courtesy of a Sergei Gonchar slapper "during a rest period when ... Gonchar decided to see if he could hit an empty net 100 feet away." How is it that the Caps trade this guy away and yet his stupidity is still hurting them?

Finally, in what should score high on the unintentional comedy scale, the WaPo will be hosting a chat with Alex Ovechkin this afternoon at 2:30.

Other news and notes from around the League:

• Columbus phenom Rick Nash apparently smashed up his ankle pretty good in a scrimmage after hitting the boards feet first. Caps fans will remember Pat Peake suffering a similar injury that more or less ended his career. Nash luckily didn't break any bones, but the team awaits word on how long he'll be out.
• The Bruins signed goaltender Tim Thomas, sending a clear signal to the Andrew Raycroft camp that they're fine moving forward without him. It's over, Andy. They called your bluff. You lost. Time to sign and get on with your career.

Updates:

• We've been referred! But I'd think a blog "long on depth and sass" deserves a permanent link off Off Wing Opinion's main page, don't you?
• And though we may be "short on design," here's a link to one of the great hockey pictures I'd never seen before today, featuring recent retiree Mark Messier.
• Nash's ankle sprain will keep him out 2-3 weeks. Let's see, three weeks from last night, Columbus opens the season at the MCI Center. It would be a real pity if Nash couldn't be in the lineup on opening night.
• Ovechkin will not travel with the Caps for exhibition games at Carolina and Buffalo this weekend, instead making his NHL debut at home next Wednesday against the Sabres. The Caps also returned defenseman Clayton Barthel and goaltender Daren Machesney to their junior teams.
• The Flyers have signed winger Brian Savage. Sidenote: Savage, in an example of shrewd GM'ing, was claimed off waivers by the Coyotes in June of 2004 and bought out by the 'Yotes for just under $2m back in July of this year without having played a game for Phoenix. Brilliant!
• More news from Flyers camp as Sami Kapanen needs surgery on his shoulder and will be out for 10 weeks. Expect Savage to take his place and it should work out well for the Flyers, as Savage will either be ice cold or injured by the time Kapanen is ready to return.