Caps to go all Carey Price and lean on Varlamov in the playoffs?

"YOUTH MOVEMENT
Staying on the goaltending theme, the most intriguing rumor around Montreal last weekend involved the Capitals and what their plan may be come playoff time. Various sources close to the team suggested Simeon Varlamov (16-5-0 with Hershey) will be recalled and assume the No. 1 role heading into the post-season."

over 3 years ago Sombrero Guy 29 comments 0 recs |

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Doubtful

Unless we move Johnson at the deadline, in which case I see Varly as a backup, but not the starter in the playoffs unless JT60 totally implodes.

by Scott in Shaw on Jan 30, 2009 2:41 PM EST reply actions

I doubt it as well, but stranger things have happened. Figured it was worth sharing anyway

by Sombrero Guy on Jan 30, 2009 2:42 PM EST reply actions

Definitely worth sharing. I wonder who these mystical “sources” are, though.

by Scott in Shaw on Jan 30, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, “sources” are never right when they concern this team.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 30, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

the "source"

was a crack pipe

by nuftjedi on Jan 30, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

If that was to happen, I’d prefer the Caps to go all Ken Dryden.

"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."

by Bald Pollack on Jan 30, 2009 2:44 PM EST reply actions

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 30, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

I’d rather not lose Varlamov in the prime of his career so he can become a lawyer.

Football's boring. Get over it.

by Whiter Mage on Jan 30, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

ba da bing.

I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.

by marky narc on Jan 31, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

I think there’s crack, and I think they’re smoking it.

by marks4java on Jan 30, 2009 2:59 PM EST reply actions

w.t.f.

by ns on Jan 30, 2009 3:01 PM EST reply actions

Sure this isn’t from USA Today? Wrong, wrong, wrong…..

by Pi on Jan 30, 2009 3:02 PM EST reply actions

Attribution

There were multiple contributers to this report: Kornheiser and Feinstein.

by Sct112 on Jan 30, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

This one is worth 2 comments…

Answer: Start Simeon Varlamov for the Capitals Stanley Cup run in 2009.
Question: What’s the quickest way to ensure Simeon Varlamov follows Jim Carey’s career path?

by marks4java on Jan 30, 2009 3:02 PM EST reply actions

Frankly, I’d be surprised if Varlamov is up here next year on a consistent basis. He’s had health issues at Hershey. It’d be nice to get him to a point where he could stand the rigors of a long season (or games every other night for two months, like the playoffs) before tossing him out there on a nightly basis

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Jan 30, 2009 3:05 PM EST reply actions

No doubt his conditioning is his main issue right now, which isn’t a good issue to have in the NHL’s second season.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 30, 2009 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

The only way you see Simeon Varlamov on the Caps come mid April is if JT60 or Johnny are injured. Even then, doubt he’d be the starter.

by Fauxrumors on Jan 30, 2009 3:40 PM EST reply actions

Yeah. Because if JT60 or Johnny go down after the trade deadline, the Caps are turning to Brett Leonhardt.

Modern Art Notes

by TylerG on Jan 30, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

I could see this happening, but not with how Theodore is playing right now. If over the next few months Theodore is inconsistent or consistently bad then I would not be surprised with Varlamov in there at all. The bottom line is they have no cap room, have no way to acquire another goalie and if the consistency is not there then rolling the dice is possible. Montreal has done this many times with (I believe) Steve Penny, Patrick Roy and Carey Price being three examples.

As for next year…I would be really surprised if Varlamov and Theodore are sharing time next year. Johnson’s contract is up (he will not be back) and the Caps will save the cap space for one year players and giving money to other guys (like Alzner on the roster all year). Machesney and Neuvirth will be in Hershey.

by CapsFanSince1979 on Jan 30, 2009 3:42 PM EST reply actions

Theo's High

Theo’s ceiling is still the highest of our three netminders. You only have to be hot for six weeks, and Theo could pull it off. If he gets set at the right time, the only thing we’ll have to worry about is our porous defense.

Cam Ward agrees.

tictactoehockey.blogspot.com

by turnituptoeleven on Jan 30, 2009 3:52 PM EST reply actions

Well, that’s tough to say for sure. Johnny’s probably had the best single playoff experience out of them all, and Varlamov’s the one who carried his team to a finals appearance (although, obviously, the RSL is a different animal). How do you really know which of them has the best “high” at this point?

Obviously Theo’s high is a Hart/Vezina, although his likelihood of returning to that form is shaky at best. As you said yourself, though, look at Cam Ward. Do you think Varlamov has that in him? IMO that’s more likely than it being Johnny or Theo, at least at that level of coming out of nowhere and carrying the team.

It wouldn’t surprise me too much to see Johnny moved at the deadline (Dallas comes to mind immediately) if the team has absolutely no future plans for him AND Theo is playing well enough to be trusted with the starting job (and, of course, everyone’s healthy enough). Not that I think it’s likely, as Johnny-for-Varlamov hurts us capwise if only a bit, but if the deal is right I could see it happening I guess. But Varlamov taking the reins and carrying us to the cup seems pretty far out. Still, just being on the team for a good playoff run would have its merits.

The question is, is it better for him to chase Stanley up here, even if he doesn’t get to start all the time? Or is it better for him to try and carry the Bears to the Calder Cup?

by brs03 on Jan 30, 2009 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

Go Bears!

I agree with brs — I’d rather see Varlamov help Hershey win a Calder this year. I think that’s the right thing for his development. Not a good idea to rush him, no matter how good he looked in his two starts wearing red instead of brown.

by Gould Old Days on Jan 30, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

I can see both sides of that coin. Johnson might be part of the package to get a top-flight D-man in here, but I’d be edgy about taking Varlamov into the playoff picture too, if only because let’s face it, he was living on a wing and a prayer in Montreal. His second game was better, but….

The thing is that Johnson given his cap hit and stats could get a pretty good return, and if he goes UFA, we won’t get anything for him. I’d thought he might go at the deadline for that reason alone, but you bring up a good point about Varlamov’s health issues.

All in all, I think where we go (if anywhere) at the deadline entirely depends on how fast and how thoroughly we fix the PK. If we can fix the PK and keep it fixed, then maybe we stand pat and wait for the offseason to dump some of the larger UFA contracts and unclog Hershey. If not, we probably move for a good D-man/PKer at or close to the deadline.

by gotsparkly on Jan 31, 2009 12:21 AM EST up reply actions

We should be clear about something, though: goalies don’t bring anything in return. Someone like Johnson would be a throw in at best if he’s a part of a bigger deal. This isn’t right for a Smith-for-Richards type deal (if that’s what you might have in mind).

That’s not to say he couldn’t fetch an ok return for a goalie. I have little doubt GMGM could get a 2nd rounder for him in the right circumstances. But don’t look at him as some key piece of value for bringing in a top-flight Dman unless you have a very specific situation in mind.

by brs03 on Jan 31, 2009 1:02 AM EST up reply actions

Carey Price pooped during the Philadelphia series last year, and pretty much cost the Canadiens the series (although I completely blame Carbonneau for not going to Halak two games earlier than he did). Why on earth would you want to repeat that?

Ultimately, its not Theodore that’s going to cost this team…he’s been playing PHENOMENAL. I see a terrible PK and overall lack of toughness that are more important to fix at this point. I HATE rooting for a soft hockey team.

I did it all for love my friends, for love I did it all

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jan 30, 2009 5:23 PM EST reply actions

Netminders

Unless Johnny is traded by the deadline, I don’t envision Varlamov up here this year. If Johnny is traded, then we could see Varlamov here as the #2 this year. What is worrisome about Varlamov is his durability. He hasn’t played in a few weeks; Neuvirth was in the net for Hershey tonight. Look for Varlamov up here as the #2 next season, you can bank on that.

by Dougeb on Jan 30, 2009 10:11 PM EST reply actions

I have a slightly different take, in fact I’ve wondered aloud (to deafening silence) if that might not be in the cards? With virtually the same salary I don’t think the cap is an issue. My gut says it probably won’t happen, but if Theodore is running well and Johnson is average as a backup, there is something intriguing to it. I don’t fear ‘ruining’ him, look at the poise he displayed in Montreal.

I don’t view him being called up and just given the keys in March or April as a realistic scenario though.

Russian Machine Never Breaks

by macvechkin on Jan 31, 2009 2:29 AM EST reply actions