Who could be this year's John Druce?

by Carl Putnam on Apr 8, 2009 9:44 AM EDT

I'm assuming there are some folks who are newer or younger Caps fans who may need an explanation of who John Druce is. He is a former NHL winger who played for the Caps in the late 80's/early 90's. During the 89-90 playoffs he scored 14 goals in 15 playoff games for the Caps. He had scored 8 goals during the 45 games he had played for the Caps in regular season and 8 the season before that in 48 games. To say he overachieved during the playoffs is a massive understatement.

Poll

Who could be this year's John Druce?

Keith Aucoin

48 votes

Dave Steckel

32 votes

Boyd Gordon

5 votes

Matt Bradley

4 votes

89 votes | Poll has closed

If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's editors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.

Tweet Comment 39 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I’m not fond of picking cinderellas and quite frankly if the top6 guys play up to their skill level, there will be no need for a cinderella.

by Yoshietree on Apr 8, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

Agree that if Caps top 2 lines play up to potential than there will be little need for a shocking performance from anyone else.

by Carl Putnam on Apr 8, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I vote Aucoin. He’s got the skill and the motivation. I’d particularly like to see what Aucoin can do against the Rangers d-corps.

by Gould Old Days on Apr 8, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

I voted for Stex, but come playoff time: less John Druces and more Joe Juneaus.

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

by marky narc on Apr 8, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

More guys who have the puck hop on them in Game 7 double OT penalty shots? No thanks.

;)

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m with J.P. on this one. I remember Joe for all the wide open shots he missed in regular and post seasons than the one he actually put in to get us to the Finals.

by Carl Putnam on Apr 8, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

That was game 5 or 6, no? I was there. I try to forget it. But it wasn’t a game 7.

by grapejoos on Apr 8, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually Game 4. Don’t know why I typed 7 – I knew it wasn’t the clincher.

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Sadly, it might as well have been. I hate Nedved to this day.

by grapejoos on Apr 8, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

As in ‘more goals that get us into the finals’!

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

by marky narc on Apr 8, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Aucoin is sure playing like Druce did in the last part of 1989-1990… it wouldn’t surprise me to see him light the lamp regularly in the playoffs if he’s in the line-up.

It’s still hard to believe that for the month of April 1990, John Druce was the best hockey player in the world….

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 8, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

Koz?

kidding

/wishes he wasn’t

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Apr 8, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

My guess is Eric Fehr. But of the guys on the list, I’d say Steckel.

by David Getz on Apr 8, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I was going to say, Druce had 8 goals in 45 regular season games for those Caps, a pace pretty similar to Fehr’s this year. He’d have my vote.

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I didn’t include Fehr on purpose. I considered him, but felt there are higher expectations of him than there were for Druce. I’d love to see the Fehr we saw against the Flyers in the playoffs last year. I think this year some of those pucks find the back of the net.

My vote was for Steckel. It was between Aucoin and him and he’s got more size than Aucoin to use around the net for ugly playoff goals.

by Carl Putnam on Apr 8, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Druce was a 2nd round pick who hadn’t reached his potential. I think that’s pretty comparable with Fehr.

by katzistan on Apr 8, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I think Fehr and Flash are decent comparables here, Fehr more so b/c he’s not generally a Top Six guy on this team.

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Fehr is also more likely to fit the Druce mold. He could decide to crash the net for a playoff series and get all the bounces and end up with a bunch of goals. Although Flash has spent more time around the crease the last few games I just don’t see him making it a habit of cashing in garbage goals.

by Rob Parker on Apr 8, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, I agree. I meant comparable in the “how many,” not so much in the “how.”

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Right, I wasn’t suggesting otherwise. I’m just emphasizing that the “how” is especially important in playoff hockey. There will be more garbage goals scored by role players in the playoffs than there will be pretty goals scored by fringe top-6 guys.

by Rob Parker on Apr 8, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

All valid and fair points. I don’t disagree that Fehr and Druce have style similarities and because neither is/was top 6 guy. However, the expectations from around the league have always been that Fehr should be a goal scorer. Whether these are realistic and/or based on his sick WHL numbers is certainly up for debate. I don’t ever remember similar expectations for Druce even with him being a second rounder.

I just went with guys who would, in my own mind, surprise me if those scored a bunch of goals come playoff time. Well at least 3 of the 4 anyway.

by Carl Putnam on Apr 8, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

And this is an absolute must-read from the middle of Druce’s streak. Brings back memories in a big way. Money quote:

’’It’s amazing what’s been happening here,‘’ Druce said moments after he emerged from his shower and was mobbed by people with microphones and notebooks in the Capitals’ dressing room. ’’I’m trying to keep things on even keel, but my confidence level is pretty amazing. I keep going to the net and things are happening.’’

Druce and his teammates, especially his linemates, Dale Hunter and Geoff Courtnall, have been crushing the Rangers’ net with regularity and have reaped benefits.

…

Druce in particular has capitalized on perhaps the biggest Ranger weakness, an inability to prevent the opposing forwards from going to the net. Druce went to the net with determination and authority tonight to get two goals.

‘’Ninety percent of the goals are garbage goals, so you go to the net,’’ said Druce, who scored the Capitals’ first and third goals tonight and assisted on Courtnall’s two.

I think I just shed a tear.

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

Nice find in the archives. The fond memories came cascading back.

That quote should be pinned up in Caps dressing room.

by Carl Putnam on Apr 8, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Also, your succinct recap of his exploits were similarly captured and immortalized here:

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

This makes me miss Cap of the Day

by Sombrero Guy on Apr 8, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

It makes me miss five minutes of free time.

Something tells me CoD will return in the offseason.

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

by J.P. on Apr 9, 2009 6:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m pulling for stecks. He’s a work horse that I feel like has good things coming his way

by snowburnt on Apr 8, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

I’ve got to go with “not Matt Bradley” – he’s 8th among all active players in games played without a playoff goal (which isn’t even really worth mentioning, considering who’s #5 on the list).

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

Not a lot of top 6 forwards on that list. That right there is why GMGM is going to think hard about letting Kozlov walk. We can make the playoffs without him but it’s tough to win in the playoffs with dead weight on your top 2 lines.

by Rob Parker on Apr 8, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed. These playoffs make-or-break Kozlov’s future with the team (especially since they’ve got a $725k 15-to-20-goal guy who may or may not show up in the post-season already signed for next year).

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting find, JP. I think Kozlov’s -11 is just as troubling. But I’m sure he’ll have a bunch of prime chances to get off this dubious list soon.

Funny to me that Tyler Kennedy has one long playoff run on he 3rd/4th line in a rookie season where he had mono and ran out of gas puts him off the list. I bet he gets off of it this season.

by Hooks Orpik on Apr 8, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Sadly, Kozlov’s playoff ineptitude is no new find in these parts (and he had plenty of checnes to get off the list last spring).

As F&B noted, most of the guys on the list (Kennedy included) don’t have much to be ashamed of, given the roles they’ve played on those teams. Kozlov, though, should be fully embarrassed.

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

by J.P. on Apr 8, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

No love for Kozzie doubling his playoff output in 1/3 of his total playoff games last year, I see. All 3 of his assists came in elimination games last year, all after Bruce moved Nicky-B down a line to increase the top line’s production.

If he continues to be strong on the puck and create space for the other forwards on whatever line he finds himself on, I think he’ll wind up with a decent playoff output and maybe score a goal for you haters. ;-)

Just remember to keep your expectations in line with the team’s performance, and whatever bajillion line combinations BB comes up with for these playoffs.

Last bit. Flash’s play these last few games has been stellar. More than once has he found himself infront of the net scoring, creating space or drawing penalties. The guy’s on fire. Just give it to 14.

by FFSEnough on Apr 8, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I guess you’re right. This is the year when Kozlov puts it all together and doesn’t wilt under pressure. The guy had 3 assists last year, not exactly a huge performance. The fact that 3 assists in one series is 50% of his career playoff output is not exactly a stat in his favor. Ultimately the biggest sign of how useless he was last year is this: the most memorable thing he did last playoffs was a ridiculous goalie interference penalty.

by Rob Parker on Apr 8, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Career Stats

Dude’s @0.6 point per game guy. I would say in a series where the team struggled mightily for 2 of the 7 games, his 0.4ish points per game is right in line with what we should expect.

I would actually expect less from him this year, as he’s not going to be getting 2min of PP time per game in the playoffs. From the look of things, he might find himself on the 2nd or 3rd line, which would put my expectations of his performance lower than they would have been last year.

As for his “most memorable” moment last year. His action was no worse than the constant runs PHI took at Huet in the series that were not called. I also seem to remember he was pushed into Biron, but I’m a bit foggy on that part.

by FFSEnough on Apr 9, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

He was definitely pushed. I wasn’t saying he did anything on purpose, I’m saying he had essentially zero impact on the series (so the only memory I have his him getting pushed into the goalie). How can you expect less from him in the playoffs than he’s already shown? Do you think he is going to put (more) pucks into our own net? If When he doesn’t do anything again this year I’ll be more than happy to watch him walk and put his 2.5 mill toward someone that is going to help us win a Cup.

by Rob Parker on Apr 10, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Anytime you’re worse than Trent “Keith Aucoin-lite” Whitfield in any offensive category, you’re in trouble.

by thehoagster07 on Apr 8, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions

None of the above. If you’re looking for someone who has the potential to break out in the playoffs but hasn’t been stellar in the regular season, I’d say Flash, Fehr or Nyles.

by katzistan on Apr 8, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t think Flash or Nyles fits the Druce comparison at all given what their expected to do offensively. As for Fehr I’ll let my comments above speak.

by Carl Putnam on Apr 8, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Southeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Florida Litter Box Cats	50	24	15	11	59
Washington Japers' Rink	50	26	20	4	56
Winnipeg Arctic Ice Hockey	53	24	23	6	54
Tampa Bay Raw Charge	50	22	23	5	49
Carolina Canes Country	53	19	25	9	47