What To Make Of A Dead Deadline
by J.P. on Mar 5, 2009 7:00 AM EST
107 comments
There are any number of ways to look at the Caps' inaction leading up to yesterday's trade deadline.
As fans, we can lament the fact that the team didn't acquire a top-defenseman, a gritty veteran leader, a back-up (or starting) goalie, a new usher for Section 428, etc. While the teams around them got better (if only marginally) yesterday and in the days prior, the Caps did not. Simple as that.
As rationale observers of a team with salary cap issues and uncertainties, we can look at the players who did move on Wednesday and ask ourselves which of them the Caps a) would have wanted; b) could have afforded under the cap; and c) could have out-bid the winning trade partner for. Sure you wanted Derek Morris (even though for all his supposed toughness, he has one fight in the past two years and registers as many hits per game as Mike Green; for all his supposed offense, his points-per-game this year is the worst of his career, the last three years have been his least productive as an NHLer, and his five goals and seven assists in 57 games looks a lot like Shaone Morrisonn’s three goals and eight assists in 55; and for all of his supposed experience he has played as many playoff games in his career - seven - as most of these Caps played last year). But were you willing to watch the Caps give up more than a 26-year-old who scored 52 goals in his first two seasons, a 28-year-old defenseman with 500 NHL games under his belt and a winger who finished 12th in Calder voting last season?
As pessimists, we can look at the past couple of games (or more) and be glad that the team didn't mortgage even a bit of the future on a season that will inevitably end in a first round loss anyway; as optimists, we can be glad that the team didn't tinker with a roster that has gone 6-0-3 against Boston, New Jersey and Detroit and is 40-20-5 overall, and not by accident.
And yet I keep coming back to the same thought on what didn't happen yesterday. Whether by design, logistical impossibilities or fate, management sent a message to the players: it's up to you. There's not going to be any graybeard who's going to come in and challenge everyone in the room to be the best they can be. There's not going to be any battling blueliner who's going to lessen the load on the rest of the D-corps. There's not going to be any new goaltender who's going to stand on his head for a month-plus. Not this year.
This year, it's up to the guys in the room, the ones who have been there for the past year or two or more. It's up to the coach who took this team on a damn-near miraculous run last season and has them dreaming big this year. It's up to the most valuable player to show why he won the award last season and to recognize that there's also an award for playoff MVP. It's up to the free agent goalie, the re-born Russian veteran, the future captain, the enigmatic sniper, the Norris hopeful and everyone else on that team, in D.C. and in Hershey, because there's no help coming. Not this year. This year, they're on their own.
Let's see what they can do.
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Its always better to do nothing than do something completely stupid (like the deal Anaheim wanted for Pronger). On that front, I’ll tip my hat to GMGM.
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 5, 2009 7:17 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Completely agree.
These guys have gotten this far. Lets see what they can do when they really need to play. Granted, it shouldnt take pressure for us to play well, but I think our best is yet to come.
by Bonzai on Mar 5, 2009 7:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
by David M. Getz on Mar 5, 2009 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wait, the Caps are in the league? All I heard TSN talk about yesterday were Canadian teams. The Canadian Media was especially obsessed with Dominic Moore.
Next time defensive, hyper-sensitive .ca types claim that there is no Canadian Media effect on NHL coverage and that anyone who claims such should be shouted down, I’ll point them to TSN’s nine hours of coverage. Geez.
by TylerG on Mar 5, 2009 8:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well, in fairness, you were watching a Canadian network. Why would/should they cater to us and not the targets of their advertisers’ dollars?
To that end, however, if I was a non-Leafs lovin’ Canadian, I might be a little upset at how little coverage my team got, but then again, I’d probably be pretty used to feeling inferior to TO.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 5, 2009 8:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, to be fair,
1/3 of the Canadian teams did nothing. Another 1/3 of them did nothing for most of the coverage time (Ottawa made one early move, Edmonton made two late ones). When it comes down to it, all they could cover was the impending moves they knew Toronto was going to make and the big moves Calgary made. They did devote basically an hour to nothing but Olli Jokinen and then went back to the ever-suspenseful “what’s Burke going to do” game. Frankly I think they were dying for something more substantial no matter where it came from.
by brs03 on Mar 5, 2009 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The other teams are stocked with Canadians. And I buy that a higher percentage of Flames fans are NHL fans than, say, Thrashers fans.
The Toronto stuff on TSN — whose coverage was outstanding overall — was obscene. By 1pm I expected regular updates on how much of his lunch Dominic Moore had finished.
by TylerG on Mar 5, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, they made Dominic Moore out to be a better player than Olli Jokinen. The Leafs can’t get a first for Moore?! What has the world come to?
But you saw it coming a mile away when they first referred to the Moore “situation” at around 9:00.
Whatever. They still had good coverage and I’m sure the TML-focus was in part due to the fact that jack squat happened all day.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 5, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t forget, everything Brian Burke does is awesome, because Pierre McGuire said so.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 5, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And everything anyone does is awesome b/c Darren Pang has never said anything negative about anyone (other than Jose Theodore, I think).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 5, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And....
Because there is one way to get the most viewers possible: Feature the Leafs.
Whether it’s Leafs fans trying to find out how the team screwed up this time or anti-Leafs fans trying to find out how the team screwed up this time there are guaranteed eyeballs on screen when the topic is the Leafs.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Mar 5, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Man...
“This year, they’re on their own. ..Let’s see what they can do.”
I’m jacked up now!
If only Coach would read that to the players before tonight’s game.
I’m not being facetious either, good stuff JP.
-shwedy
by shwedy on Mar 5, 2009 8:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. That last paragraph is perfection.
by Scott in Shaw on Mar 5, 2009 11:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LeBrun
LeBrun had a nice tidbit on the Caps inaction. The best part?
Caps fans won’t be happy McPhee didn’t pull a deal, but in a few years, when Alzner is an All-Star and goalie Simeon Varlamov is winning 40 games for Washington, those same fans will be happy they weren’t dealt.
-shwedy
by shwedy on Mar 5, 2009 8:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Amen to that. I’m disappointed for the lack of a tinkering move, but when even guys like Recchi are fetching top prospects, it’s time to put down the phone. I think we still might see a graybeard show up yet through waivers or something.
by grapejoos on Mar 5, 2009 10:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gandalf? :)
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
by Violetta on Mar 5, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Whether by design, logistical impossibilities or fate, management sent a message to the players: it's up to you.
Precisely. I am thinking this is shrewdness of a very deliberate sort on the part of GMGM. It’s like he’s sculpting something here and this is The Next Step: hang them out to dry all alone and see what they are collectively (NOT individually – - that we know) made of. It is now a single fighting unit. To paraphrase Wyshynski, now we go to war with what we have.
Let’s see what they can do.
Good post, JP. You read my mind.
by Uncle C on Mar 5, 2009 8:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Semin, in the study, with the candlestick
He we will be our MVP in the playoffs (again).
Psyched to see how the team reacts to the “its up to you bitches” message.
by ns on Mar 5, 2009 8:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Semin will decide more than one game on his own, no doubt. The only question is whether that’s good or bad for the Caps…
by Gould Old Days on Mar 5, 2009 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, JP, very lofty work today.
I hear they’re hiring over at OFB.
:-)
by marks4java on Mar 5, 2009 8:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ouch.
What are they hiring? A clue? Can you hire “a clue?”
I know, I know, I saw the ad: “Wanted: One homer to mindlessly shill for the greatness of the Capitals. Prior experience in jock-sniffing a plus.”
by TylerG on Mar 5, 2009 9:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Even though GMGM didn’t make a deal yesterday, he sure got more than I did done.
Can't we get Chris Bourque a red jersey now? Thanks.
by Whiter Mage on Mar 5, 2009 8:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think that GMGM did well to stand pat. The stuff on the market was overpriced for what it was. That said, how are the Caps going to fill the holes that we have been talking about?
1) Is Pothier/Alzner going to be a solution to our defensive woes?
2) GMGM said he expects BJ back for the playoffs, is everyone comfortable with that? He won’t have played in months.
3) Should Bruce go back on his word and slap the C on someone’s chest? Someone that will take it and run with it.
Sorry if this is a thread jack
by Sct112 on Mar 5, 2009 8:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
1) Is a waiting game. Both at this stage are 3-6 guys. Alzner likely could step in 3-4, Pothier would have to be 5-6. Pothier right now is like having announced someone is pregnant. In the first few weeks, anything can happen, and in about a year, we’ll still be worried, and in two, still worried, assuming all goes well. But 3-4 years from now, if everything goes well, we’ll have us a fine defenseman and likely will stop worrying.
2) I am. BJ’s a former starter, and better than a lot of the waiver trash available, and not a downgrade from anyone we’d have traded for. No matter how “rusty” he might be, rehabbing, look at the team he practices against. With our defense against our offense, he likely takes a shitton of tough shots in practice.
3) I wouldn’t, at least without going into the locker room and talking. I think Clark is still captain of this team, enough so that Laich is trying to pull this leadership by committee bullshit rather than stepping up. Laich respects Clark as a leader too much (and maybe wrongfully so) to step in and get all “THIS IS MY TEAM NOW, YOU WILL DO THIS!” If you’re going to slap it on someone, you have to be involved in the room, not arbitrarily assign it.
Can't we get Chris Bourque a red jersey now? Thanks.
by Whiter Mage on Mar 5, 2009 9:02 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Good points,
Let me clarify my third question. I wasn’t suggesting that Bruce pick his favorite player of the day and assign the C to him. The team appears to be lacking leadership. I would argue because their leader is in the press box. As you said, they are trying to do the leadership by committee rather than stepping up.
Does giving someone else the C, by election, by mandate, by lottery (doesn’t matter) help to fill that gap?
by Sct112 on Mar 5, 2009 9:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think it would hurt the team, but I’m not in a position to make that call. Is Clarkie still showing up to practice? If Clark is still doing captain things, then he needs to keep the C. If not, it’s hard to lead by example from the press box. Maybe put him in a suit and have him stand on the bench, if there’s not rules against that. At least then he could stand tall.
Off topic, sorry.
It might. I don’t think leadership is as big of an issue as focus, though focus comes from leadership. The mindset of “Leadership by committee” tends to tell someone that they can take a night off, so by that very nature, we need someone to be the guy. I don’t necessarily think it should be Ovechkin, and Fedorov is falling a little out of favor with me. I’d lean more on a Poti or a Bradley, guys who are quiet(er), and just work their asses off shift in and out.
Another idea I’d toy with is (if it’s allowed) just dressing one assistant captain. Rather than having 3, it lends to the idea that the role is for leadership, and is more than a damn letter.
Can't we get Chris Bourque a red jersey now? Thanks.
by Whiter Mage on Mar 5, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Also, Clark could come back if the team goes deep into the playoffs. Giving someone else the C would make that very awkward.
by Gould Old Days on Mar 5, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No doubt, but is that a risk worth taking?
by Sct112 on Mar 5, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Clark is captain?
How many games has he played in the past 17 months? How how many times was he scratched? This guy needs to MAN the F up and be a leader by voluntarily giving up the ‘C’. This guy has had nothing to do with the great turnaround under BB. Him walking into the locker room in May and assuming a leadership role is ludicrous.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Mar 5, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
No one can take the C away from Clark, but he can always give it up on his own.
by Scott in Shaw on Mar 5, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I see your point but the team doesn’t feel that way and says he does a lot of stuff off of the ice that really speaks to his leadership abilities.
I wonder who JP was referring to in the post those as the “future captain” though? Brooks?
by zephyr on Mar 5, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yep. Brooks.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 5, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m on board with that. I think the C may also encourage him to bring a little more consistency, though I’m very pleased with his play. I just wish we could clone him – the team could use another Brooks.
by grapejoos on Mar 5, 2009 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: #2, having a healthy BJ back will be great. But I suspect Varlamov is going to be the backup in the playoffs if there are any hiccups with BJ. I think he’s the emergency solution to a Theo playoff meltdown right now.
by grapejoos on Mar 5, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I continue to be impressed with GMGM
Remembering a punch thrown in the Chicago locker room a few years ago, it is clear he is capable of acting on impulse. I suspect he was tempted many times yesterday, but kept his head. In the end, I am pleased that the team I have been all year is going into the post season as a unit assembled for that purpose.
Now, if only they can play that way….
by Boodgiesdad on Mar 5, 2009 8:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Guess we’ll all find out, won’t we?
by gotsparkly on Mar 5, 2009 8:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well said.
Puck Daddy had it right too – we go to war with what we’ve got. Let’s hope it’s enough.
Somehow I think that we’ve yet to see the best of this team. When they get jazzed up, look out (just ask Boston or Detroit). It’s just a matter of getting jazzed up.
The Donald Brashear Q&A last night was fun and interesting. Good questions asked and got interesting answers. It sounds as if the instigator rule is actually his biggest problem and a lot of the reason why he doesn’t enforce as he has in the past. How to get around that is up for debate; unfortunately, I didn’t get to ask him whether there’s a situation in which he’d say “instigator be damned, this has to stop”.
by gotsparkly on Mar 5, 2009 8:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
nice. i was there too. couldn’t get my question in about the absence of Chris Clark and its affect on the team.
i liked what he said during the instigator questions. something along the lines of “a lot of people thought the Florida game was boring…but i could have made it interesting, heh heh heh”. that little evil giggle at the end really happened.
by ns on Mar 5, 2009 9:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yup.
The instigator question was actually mine, and the evil giggle was awesome. :)
by gotsparkly on Mar 5, 2009 9:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
nice! did you stick around for an autograph? would’ve liked to stick around and chat him up, but wasn’t sure he would hang out….and i didn’t have the patience.
by ns on Mar 5, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I did. Got pictures as well.
Here’s hoping that today’s Maple Leafs game is better than the last two, and the guys can get all on the same page.
by gotsparkly on Mar 5, 2009 9:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Rec’d. The Panthers sound happy about not making the move everyone thought they’d make too, and they’ll bounce from it, much as I’d expect this team will/should.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 5, 2009 9:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think not moving Jay was the right move for the Panthers, personally. While I understand that you don’t want to get nothing for him, you don’t want to let him go for a song and give up your playoff aspirations, either.
by gotsparkly on Mar 5, 2009 9:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It was a smart move for the Panthers because they get JayBo for the playoffs and if he doesn’t wan tto stay, they can trade him at the draft.
by CapitalsKremlin on Mar 5, 2009 9:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m still not all that high on J-Bo. I see the guy as a lesser version of Green. I sure as hell hope he doesn’t get higher than 5 million, much less the 7.5 he supposedly rejected.
Can't we get Chris Bourque a red jersey now? Thanks.
by Whiter Mage on Mar 5, 2009 9:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He’s not going to be a Cap anytime soon so if the Panthers or any other Eastern team wants to dump salary on him, then have at it. If JayBo really wants out of FLA, then the playoffs are his ticket to a bigger contract. It’s also the Panthers ticket to acquiring an abundance of draft picks or players through a trade, depending on how they preform in the post-season of course.
by CapitalsKremlin on Mar 5, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but if he gets 8 mil, Green’s going to want 8 mill in 5 years (Long way away, I know) and then Alzner’s going to want a good chunk of change. The guy affects the market.
If we waive Morrisonn and give him a soapbox, a pack of Krispie Kremes, and a microphone, do you think Brian Burke will claim him?
by Whiter Mage on Mar 5, 2009 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You’re right that JayBo could effect future defensemen signings, but we have four more years of Green and god knows what the cap will be like, what the team will be like and what the economy will be like. I think more than just JayBo will go into setting the “price” for a defender of that caliber, but for this season, yeah, JayBo is going to set a high standard.
by CapitalsKremlin on Mar 5, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree, What is the incentive to trade for him at the draft? You only do that if you can get a deal inked (or agreed on) with him before hand right? If that is the case, what is the incentive to trade, you have a deal agreed on.
JayBos price was never going to be higher than it was yesterday. I don’t think that the Panthers miss the playoffs this year, and even with JayBo they don’t make it out of the first round. I understand the logic, but I don’t think that it was a good move.
by Sct112 on Mar 5, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Last year, I think the majority of teams that traded for impending UFA’s at the draft signed them. I would NEVER give up a player for a UFA upcoming, but a draft pick? Say, 4th-5th round range? Yeah. Easily. That extra week shows the player EXACTLY how interested I am, allows for a week of one on one negotiations, and takes the risk of a player signing with Edmonton only to have a midnight change of heart.
If we waive Morrisonn and give him a soapbox, a pack of Krispie Kremes, and a microphone, do you think Brian Burke will claim him?
by Whiter Mage on Mar 5, 2009 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It takes the risk away. Nur.
If we waive Morrisonn and give him a soapbox, a pack of Krispie Kremes, and a microphone, do you think Brian Burke will claim him?
by Whiter Mage on Mar 5, 2009 9:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not sure about if you have to or don’t have to ink a deal with a player in order to trade at the draft (it does occur before Free Agency) but I would imagine that if you don’t, then the Panthers’ logic was smart.
If you have to ink him to a deal in order to trade, then you’re right, it would be a dumb move.
by CapitalsKremlin on Mar 5, 2009 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe I’ve misunderstood how this works, but regardless, JayBo is a UFA come July whether he gets traded at the draft or not. As a GM, I would need to know that he was going to sign with me before I traded even a 5th rounder for him, otherwise its just tossing the pick away.
by Sct112 on Mar 5, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not every GM shares your mindset. See – Tampa Bay (Recchi, Roberts). Wrong mindset? Maybe. Who knows.
If we waive Morrisonn and give him a soapbox, a pack of Krispie Kremes, and a microphone, do you think Brian Burke will claim him?
by Whiter Mage on Mar 5, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Philly traded for Timonen a couple of years ago as a pending UFA and signed him. I would be nervous to do that but you do get exclusive negotiating rights
by Sombrero Guy on Mar 5, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Right, but what’d Nashville get for those rights? I think they got a pick they had traded to Philly for Forsberg a couple of months earlier. Whatever it was, it was a hell of a lot less than Florida could’ve gotten for JayBo yesterday.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 5, 2009 10:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no doubt they’d be better off trading him at the deadline when teams would overpay for his use down the stretch and the playoffs, I was just offering another example that came to mind of pending UFA’s being traded at the draft.
by Sombrero Guy on Mar 5, 2009 10:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Aye. That whole “trade for his rights” stuff doesn’t sit all that well with me. Why give up an asset to talk to a guy when you can do so for free a couple of days later? If it’s so you can get a deal in place before anyone else can talk to him, why would the player want to negotiate with just one team and not more?
It also seems that sometimes the deals are already in place, which is inappropriate as well.
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by J.P. on Mar 5, 2009 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It also seems that sometimes the deals are already in place, which is inappropriate as well.
You mean teams talk to free agents before the time they’re supposed to? Shocked, shocked I say!
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 5, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Truly.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 5, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not surprised or mad about the deadline, I think McPhee was smart enough to be patient and if Ted and GMGM have this much faith in the guys we have now, then let’s see what they can do.
Sometimes the best deal is no deal, and after seeing what Anaheim wanted for Pronger, I’m happier we stayed quiet than accepting that.
by CapitalsKremlin on Mar 5, 2009 9:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
+1
Let’s see what the guys have in the tank. Anyone who doesn’t realize that this team can surprise us hasn’t been paying attention lately :) Guess we’ll just wait and see what happens.
And I for one am okay with that. Having no idea what’s going to happen is kind of fun.
by gotsparkly on Mar 5, 2009 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+2
What out there really improved this team? Other than two or three defensemen with insane price tags, was there anyone who was going to make this team better and that fit under the cap? Forget backup goalies, it’s JT or bust. Guerin/Recchi? Seriously?
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Mar 5, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
JP – Fantastic post. That’s the exact message my brother and I were saying last night (but delivered much more eloquently).
BELIEVE!
by vt caps fan on Mar 5, 2009 9:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Just do a little thought experiment here. Imagine that the Caps had Chris Pronger at the deadline, he was signed for next year, and they were leading their division with big playoff dreams. Imagine that Anaheim had a left wing with amazing scoring talent, but a tendency to take bad penalties and shy away from contact, and imagine that that player was signed for next year and the year after. If you were GM of the Caps, would you trade Pronger for that player? I certainly wouldn’t. But if McPhee could have traded Semin for Pronger and didn’t, that means logically he would trade Pronger for that player in my imaginary situation.
I don’t know whether we could have traded Semin for Pronger, but I heard that mentioned. We probably would have had to throw in someone else to make the contracts work, but would Shaone Morrisonn have been enough? He would have been expendable anyway with Pronger on the blueline.
I agree with GMGM—I wouldn’t have given up Alzner, Varly, and Carlson for Pronger. But if I could have done a deal around Semin, I would have.
by Kirg on Mar 5, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ages and contract status alone make me higher on Semin than Pronger.
If we waive Morrisonn and give him a soapbox, a pack of Krispie Kremes, and a microphone, do you think Brian Burke will claim him?
by Whiter Mage on Mar 5, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But Semin’s age doesn’t matter if you aren’t going to be able to keep him for more than two years, and JP’s analysis from last week suggests we won’t be able to. Would you rather have Pronger for this year and next, or Semin for this year, next, and one more year?
by Kirg on Mar 5, 2009 9:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
RFA vs. UFA
Semin’s RFA when his contract is up, that’s why his contract status and age matter. Pronger is UFA and can walk for nothing – if Semin walks, we get a pretty healthy selection of draft picks.
by gotsparkly on Mar 5, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Extremely important point. The draft pick bounty for a guy like Semin getting poached on an offer sheet will be very significant. Probably more than he could be traded for, in terms of picks.
by grapejoos on Mar 5, 2009 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And who’s to say he doesn’t take a discount to play here?
by zephyr on Mar 5, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If you’re talking about DMG’s post, I would say that was mostly a hypothetical refuting of Edward Fraser’s (and possibly others) idea that the “window is closing” on the Caps chances at winning a Cup.
The idea there of trading Semin would be to pick up young prospects and draft picks in order to free up cap space. Trading for Semin for Pronger would not only make our cap situation worse but would give us nothing in compensation if/when Pronger decided not to resign. At least if we kept Semin through the end of his contract we would get something in return if he didn’t resign.
by superjuan on Mar 5, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yep. I wouldn’t say there’s no way the team has to move Semin, just that the team will be able to field a competitive lineup in coming years and shouldn’t go for broke this year.
by David M. Getz on Mar 5, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
GMGM seems pretty adamant in thinking we’ll have the space to keep Semin. It’s obviously in his plans.
That, and Semin’s value should be higher than Pronger’s. Pronger has taken a step down from where he used to be, he’s not a top-5 Dman in the league anymore. Semin’s on a much better contract, Pronger is healthier, they’re probably a wash elsewhere (both take too many penalties, Pronger’s are the “suspension” variety though so that hurts a bit. Both are very good at one end and not bad at the other, Semin great offensively and ok defensively, Pronger the other way around for the most part).
I wouldn’t complain about a Semin-for-Pronger swap if it ended up being done. It doesn’t make sense to do one this season though, there’s no reason to move Semin before we absolutely have to.
by brs03 on Mar 5, 2009 10:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The other important thing is that Semin is still getting better. Pronger is in decline (possibly steep decline). I tend to agree that keeping Semin is in the long-term plans, but even if it isn’t, he can be traded for a healthy bounty of picks and prospects/up-and-comers at pretty much any time.
by grapejoos on Mar 5, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree with your conclusion that “logically he would trade Pronger for [Semin].” If both players are a good fit for their current team, then the rational decision for both GMs may be to stand pat.
I believe Semin is more valuable to Washington than Anaheim. Several things make me say that including his proven track record with Boudreau; the presence of Ovechkin, Fedorov and Kozlov; and generally the systems the two teams play. So I don’t see a natural trade there.
by Gould Old Days on Mar 5, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow JP...
That was inspirational. Do you think you could give that speech for the Caps before tonight’s game?
This quote somehow cheered me up a lot. : “‘Last season between February 7th and February 29th, the Detroit Red Wings were 1-8-2. The season before, Anaheim went 3-7-1 in late January and early February. In 05-06, Carolina went 1-3-3 in mid April.’ I don’t have to tell you what those three teams have in common.”
Sometimes as fans and people, that travel longer than a commute to work to see them play, get worked up in the whole, “you’re only as good as your last game” mentality.
This team has shown they are more than that — their record speaks for itself as you said — so maybe we should be hoping the Caps face a 6th seed instead of a 7th or 8th with how much better they’ve played against the “good” teams.
by zephyr on Mar 5, 2009 9:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
"It’s up to the free agent goalie, the re-born Russian veteran, the future captain, the enigmatic sniper, the Norris hopeful and everyone else on that team, in D.C. and in Hershey, because there’s no help coming. Not this year. This year, they’re on their own.
Let’s see what they can do."
Best thing I read about yesterday! Thank you
by jenf1 on Mar 5, 2009 10:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gotta Disagree
In reality, the Caps did make a move yesterday. They added a potential 3-4 defenseman to their active roster in Pothier. Now, I know a lot around these parts poo-poo this idea and believe he’s just one hit away from retirement. To an extent, I can’t disagree but if Brian does come out of his rehab stint in good shape, he could give the team the kind of veteran defensive help they so sorely lack outside of Poti. I get the feeling from McPhee’s comments that between Pothier and Alzner, who I’m sure will be back up for the playoffs, George is believing that he’s got the equivalent of what he could have got in a trade without having to give up any prospects. At some point, you’ve got to believe in your decisions. This team has been top five all season and have shown they can compete with the very best in the league. They deserve the chance to show what they can do from here on out and McPhee is obviously willing ot give them that opportunity.
by b.orr4 on Mar 5, 2009 10:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
He’s been apart of the team before, and is still a part of the team as he has been attending practices, etc. That isn’t a move.
He looks about 20lbs lighter than he used to be AT LEAST. There is no way a 7 game stint in Hershey makes him any better than Alzner, Kronwall, other call-ups have been.
by zephyr on Mar 5, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Although I have been one of the “poo-pooers” of Pothier coming back. If he does come back and solidifies up the back line and helps the Caps go deep in the playoffs….that’s the f’n story of the year!
by wittcap79 on Mar 5, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, practices are a little different from games. Pothier hasn’t been on the active roster for over a year. If he takes a spot in a real game, that’s a move in every sense of the word. And if you don’t think a guy who’s played 292 NHL games is an upgrade over a guy who’s played 55 then I can’t help you. I don’t have a crystal ball, so I can’t make blanket statements as if they’re fact. All I know is the doctors have put this guy through a series of rigorous tests and cleared him to play in one of the toughest sports in the world. Maybe he’s knocked out in the first minute, maybe he comes through with flying colors. In any case, McPhee has said that if comes out of his rehab OK then he’s getting brought up to play for the Caps. I doubt he’s doing out of some feel-good sentiment. He’s doing it because he believes if it works out , Pothier can help on the blue line. If he thought that about Kronwall, he’d still be here.
by b.orr4 on Mar 5, 2009 11:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed....
….although tell me we will not see a long, loud standing ovation should he appear in a Caps game this season.
by gotsparkly on Mar 5, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You said you disagreed with what JP said and I was just informing you you’re wrong. It’s not a move. He’s been a Capital the entire time. He knows the guys, he practices with them, he talks to them, has dinner with them.
He’s cleared for contact, big deal. I’m cleared for contact too but I can’t just suit up for the Capitals.
And you’re right – practices are different from games. So there is just no way after taking as much time off as he has he’ll be ready to play on an NHL level again after a 7 game stint in Hershey.
If you don’t understand that I’m sorry but I just can’t help you.
by zephyr on Mar 5, 2009 11:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So I guess what you’re saying is that if Pothier makes it through his rehab and the Caps recall him both McPhee and Boudreau are going to deliberately put a guy into a game that they know isn’t “ready to play on an NHL level again”? That would be one hell of a management team that would do that.
by b.orr4 on Mar 5, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What I’m saying is I believe he’s only allowed 7 games in Hershey and then must come right back to the NHL. Whether or not he plays I dunno.
I hope he’s ready to play. Bruce also seems very confident in his ability to return right away.
I’m more just playing a bit of Devils Advocate about his abilities and stating that I doubt they will be any better than Alzner or Kronwall initially.
by zephyr on Mar 5, 2009 12:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
On the point of whether he can actually make it back, we both agree. No one knows. And I’m sure he’s going to be very rusty if he plays at all. My point is they would never put a guy into a game, especially given his medical histroy, if they didn’t think he could handle himself on the ice. All I know is that when he played his last game in Boston, he was a heck of a lot better defenseman than Kronwall is and if he comes back at 80% at first, he can be an asset to the team. I think everyone here wants him to succeed and, like gotsparky said, give him a standing O when he steps on the ice.
by b.orr4 on Mar 5, 2009 12:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bruce's Take on Pothier
Per Tarik’s blog:
While no one really knows if Brian Pothier is going to make it back to the NHL this season, Coach Bruce Boudreau made it sound like he’s counting on the veteran defenseman to do just that. And then make an impact.
“He’s been out an awful long time, but he’s been practicing for two months,” Boudreau said. “He’s in a good a shape as he’s been ever. He just needs game preparation. If he can come in and be what he was, he’s going to be a valuable addition. That’s as good a trade deadline move as we could have made.”
by b.orr4 on Mar 5, 2009 12:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m optimistic. And assuming he’s ok off the ice, I think he will be ok on the ice. I am not going to worry about him being ‘one hit away’ or any of that business. Everyone, including Pothier, needs to find out if he can play.
If this does work out, I’d like to see him get big minutes on the NHL level in the last week or two of the season (assuming we have little to play for).
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Mar 5, 2009 12:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey – this is a blog. get that optimism out of here.
I’d love to have him back, but this says it all “Everyone, including Pothier, needs to find out if he can play.”. I’m not counting on him until I see him in action
by sincitycapsfan on Mar 5, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We’ve got a lot of question marks going into the final stretch, and I think that’s why people are so upset. Several teams around us have upgraded, and it’s hard to say where we stand now. About the only sure thing is that it’s hard to say anything for sure without sounding like a pompous moron. (Lord knows there are enough of those in the hockey blogosphere.)
I think it’s good for the team, to be honest. They seem to play better when they have something to prove and something to strive for, and this certainly gives them that. They can’t coast anymore – they’re going to have to get off their duffs and work.
Plus, what would CapsNation be without surprises?
by gotsparkly on Mar 5, 2009 2:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Let’s not be so sure that teams around us have upgraded. Bringing a new player into the mix at this point in the season is not always succesful, no matter how talented the player. If I have been playing my @#$ off for the B’s all season, and now some “veteran” comes in to upgrade us, I might not see it the same way. The Rags have three new players to mix in where three are gone. Those changes don’t happen seamlessly, and I frankly see the Avery return as a crazy move.
I’d be really happy if my team was playing like a team, and was on top of their game. Nothing that happened yesterday changes my optimism that they can beat anybody in the league. Of course they are starting to prove they can lose to anybody in the league as well. I think tonight will prove whether JP’s last paragraph is predictive.
If we see some fire tonight, and they come out and soundly beat an oponent they should soundly beat, I will feel much better. I do not want to wait for a “good” oponent for them to play as they should be playing.
by Boodgiesdad on Mar 5, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
We do have some interesting options. If Pothier is not ready or just not effective, we still can have Nyls play up front and Feds on the blueline. Not ideal, but having Green, Alzner and 91 back there would probably give us the most mobile group in the playoffs.
Now, if Pothier CAN play are we looking at this -
Schultz/Morrisonn-Green
Alzner-Poti
Erskine/Jurcina-Pothier
Kronwall
by Cap74 on Mar 5, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Kronwall has to clear waivers upon re-entry, fyi.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 5, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
does a team picking him up then get him at half the salary we are paying him, which is half his original salary?
could this be the nylander solution? having him waived and claimed enough that his salary ends up being like 750k for someone? :-)
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Mar 5, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
his salary was only 487K to begin with, of which the Caps were responsible for half or 244 or something.
by Sombrero Guy on Mar 5, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
wait, sorry I thought the 750K you were using was for Kronwall not Nyls.
by Sombrero Guy on Mar 5, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
His NMC prevents him from being waived I believe. Though I have to say I thought the same thing. I imagine that there would be a team that would pick him up for half price (Chicago?)
Could we get him to waive his NMC and work a deal similar to the one that Dallas worked with the Rags?
by Sct112 on Mar 5, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well, assuming he was persuaded to drop his NMC (doable) and we could persuade three other teams to get in on this.
but i was joking, actually….
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Mar 5, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Figured, so was I… guess my raised eyebrows and smirk didn’t come across on my post.
by Sct112 on Mar 5, 2009 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I would say that our collective love affair with Alzner is a bit early. He’s going to be awesome but I think he is a big question mark come April.
by Sct112 on Mar 5, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Standing Pat...Sitting Pat
The only complaint I really have is that they didn’t throw a bone (meaning a mid-low level draft pick) to someone like Atlanta for Johan Hedberg, or to Ottawa for Alex Auld. A veteran back up goalie would have been nice for the short term here since Johnny doesn’t look like he’ll be ready until the postseason (if then). Neuvirth is going to be a good goalie one day, but he needs to play. His game doesn’t get any better if he’s sitting on the bench here in DC. Better he play in Hershey…
by MikeL-Caps on Mar 5, 2009 2:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
They couldn’t. They would have had to trade someone under contract to get under the limit.
by wittcap79 on Mar 5, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
68 | 45 | 14 | 9 | 99 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
67 | 28 | 27 | 12 | 68 |
|
Atlanta
|
67 | 28 | 29 | 10 | 66 |
|
Florida
|
66 | 27 | 29 | 10 | 64 |
|
Carolina
|
67 | 28 | 31 | 8 | 64 |
(updated 3.13.2010 at 8:06 AM EST)
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