Lie to me McPhee
by chockster on Feb 28, 2009 12:23 AM EST
7 comments
Based on last year and his overall track record, General Manager George McPhee has his coyness down. But it's pretty evident that if McPhee says he's not interested in trading, he has something up his sleeves.
Let's take a look at what he told Mike Vogel last year:
“We really like the team we have,” he says. “We’re really happy with how this team has come along. We have some terrific young players and some good vets and we’re going to continue to play [with them].
“If there is something that would help and isn’t too expensive, then we would certainly talk about it. But we like what we have. We like the players we have and the people they are. And we have people in Hershey that can come up and help.
Yep, sure liked them. Four days later on the trade deadline, the Caps said wassup and bievenue to Cristobal Huet, Matt Cooke and Sergei Fedorov. And so long Matt Pettinger and prospect Teddy Ruth. We'll find out who we'll get to track for that second-rounder we gave away for stealing Huet in this year's draft.
He also told Homer McFaboy something similar this year.
“We could add six players if it made us better,” McPhee said. “But we like what we have and we like the way this team is playing. The one area that we’re not happy with is the penalty kill and selfish penalties, and that’s a mental thing. If we don’t make any changes, I’m content that this team can do real well.”
But as we witnessed, McPhee was very good at getting good players that helped the team without feeling our hearts sink, and thankfully found a useful way to banish Pettinger. In fact, he made some Canadiens' faithful wondering what the hell Bob Gainey was thinking. How'd that turn out, Montreal?
Whipping boy ESPN.com contributer Scott Burnside also pointed out last year in a trade deadline chat that McPhee knows how to hold his cards.
Burnside (noon ET): As for the Caps, funny how Washington GM George McPhee insisted during a recent visit that he wasn't interested in upgrading his goaltending. Guess he changed his mind. Wonder if he can push the Caps into the playoffs.
Essentially, it's not if the Caps will make a trade. It's when and with whom.
All I got to say is lie to me McPhee.
He doesn't ever give a unqualified yes or no, but his stealth style plays well so that folks like ESPN or TSN don't devote NHL front pages to what he's going to do.
The impression he gave to reporters this year is that he might see if a depth player is available for cheap. While that doesn't necessarily mean he'll actually make a mega-blockbuster trade, I have a feeling it'll be bigger than picking up a Gary Roberts or some seldom-used defenseman looking for his last playoff shot.
Keep up the secret agent mentality Geogie, and throw in a few lies, too because the less desperate we seem in public as other GMs plead their needs (or advertise their yard sale), the better the deals on March 4.
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The Caps will definitely trade, the question is how much and for what. I’m sensing a typical deadline pickup of a grit, vet forward and d man (don’t ask me who, though). Not sure if he’ll trade Mo, he may be better than anything the team can get from trading him.
by grapejoos on Feb 28, 2009 1:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn’t necessarily say he was bluffing last year. They picked up three guys who were pending UFA and gave away very little. That being said, I do like his poker face.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Feb 28, 2009 1:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I know this sounds crazy, but I wonder if the correlation between who participated in the Hockey ’N Heels event that year and then gets traded continues. Jame Heward participated in the first one and got traded. Pettinger participated in the second one and then got traded. This year, Gordon, Schultz, Fleischmann, and Neuvirth participated. We will have to wait and see.
by NovaCath on Feb 28, 2009 7:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I doubt they will make a move. Just no cap room to make it work without giving up what they have. Last year’s trades were possible due to cap room so you saw players acquired for draft picks, prospects or a struggling swap. That luxory is not there this year because other teams will not take the Nylander’s and Clark’s of the world. I could see a Morrisonn move, but I doubt it very much.
by CapsFanSince1979 on Feb 28, 2009 8:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
If the team puts Johnson on LTIR they have about three million (annualized) available, which is more than enough to make a significant move.
by David M. Getz on Mar 1, 2009 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t realize he wasn’t on LTIR already. That’s an interesting development.
by grapejoos on Mar 2, 2009 10:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Let's hear it for being wrong!
Ahh … yep. McPhee knows how to make a fool. Thanks, GM.
Wow, what a total 180 from McPhee’s track record. Vogel laid out how McPhee has only had one trade deadline in his Caps tenure that didn’t involve a deal, and well, this would be the second.
I hope no-deal deadline invigorates some players by having management showing faith and confidence that these players can get the job done this year. That Pothier has another chance. That Nylander can turn it around and Theodore can shake off his reputation.
by chockster on Mar 4, 2009 11:27 PM EST reply actions 0 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)
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