"I cannot imagine myself retired, I don't know why. I still have got some legs left and I'm still enjoying the game and I'm certainly enjoying this group of young and very talented players. I didn't think about retiring. By saying that, I would like to continue to play. With the young legs around me, it's really helpful.... I haven't met with the coaches or GM yet, but I hope the feeling is mutual because I really enjoy this organization and it's an awesome city to play in, too."
about 3 years ago
J.P.
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Now here’s a perfect candidate to pull a Niedermayer/Clemens.
The keyboard is mightier.
by breed16 on May 15, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Frankly, I wouldn’t mind seeing Feds as an assistant coach next year. Everyone in the organization was bought on his vision and understanding of the game, so why not?
Because they have two assistant coaches and Fedorov still wants to play.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It sure sounds like they do.
And maybe SJ has too many cooks in the kitchen. :)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I hope he has a leather suit to go with that title.
by DrinkingPartner on May 15, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, at least the Caps have the upper hand this time.
One year ago GMGM was more than willing to drop a ton to reel Fedorov in, and obviously (at least from our standpoint as fans) he’s not quite worth $4M anymore.
Here’s hoping he takes $2M “for the love of the game.”
I was going to say, my knee-jerk ceiling here would be ~$2.5m, and only because the Caps are somewhat over the barrel at 2nd-line center.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think you need to stand firm somewhere in that range. If Fedorov loves the team and the city so much, he’d be willing to put money second.
Fedorov brings the ‘Russian’ connection, stellar faceoffs, and tons of experience, but for more cash than that money, you can entice a youthful and (physically) better player, which I’d be fine with.
This assumes however that there’s one available the fits the system.. I haven’t looked in depth at all.
I’d be willing to make it a $2.0-2.25M with some incentive bonuses based on games available to be played (meaning healthy scratches count) as well as some team goals (a bonus for winning the Cup, the conference, etc.) that brings it up to $2.75M if he gets all of them
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on May 15, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
But what are the cap ramifications of throwing in incentive bonuses? Does the entire “possible” contract value count against the cap? I get what you’re saying, and if it helps the cap situation he may be up for it, but it seems like a bit of an insult to ask Feds to meet performance incentive bonuses based on what he brings in terms of intangibles.
I believe incentives do count, as Alzner’s cap hit essentially double his entry level salary.
by Bald Pollack on May 15, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s different for entry-level contracts and old fart veteran bonuses – if I’m not mistaken, veteran bonuses can be spaced out for cap purposes over the current and following years, whereas entry level bonuses count fully in the year to which it applies. I think that answers b’s question below, too, in that those veteran bonuses aren’t allowed to be spread over the following year when there isn’t an a ratified CBA for that following year.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
they do count, but you’re allowed to exceed the cap to pay bonuses if necessary, but then have to deduct anything you exceed from your cap limit for the following season. For example, if you exceed the cap to pay bonuses worth 1 million dollars, the following season you have 1 million less to work with.
This season the “bonus cushion” did not exist because the CBA was not ratified/extended until after the season began
by Sombrero Guy on May 15, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes. Well explained. I was not right on the veteran bonus part (brain cramp) but the stuff on entry level contracts (i.e. Alzner’s) is right.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Okay - I'm Still In Love With The Guy
I want Feds back, still don’t see how we dump Nyls but we need too. I figure we could go to $3M… the $2M he’s worth on the ice + $1M for his leadership and his goal against the rangers in the playoffs. Right now from my perspective the Caps have 2 definate HOF guys: Ovie & Feds, though obviously Ovie is on speculation vice lifelong accomplishment and a probable – Green and a couple of possibles: Backstrom and Semin depending on how their careers go…
Anyway I thing we want Feds back – he was a solid second line center during the playoffs and worth his salary this season IMHO.
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 17, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I think I’d be okay with $2 mil.
by DrinkingPartner on May 15, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s all about the $$$. I’d love to have him back because the guy is such a class act and in the right circumstances he can definitely contribute. I know certain people cough**jp**cough may disagree, but the guy still has more to give. And on a team as young as the Caps, his veteran presence to the young guns, particularly the other Russians, could be invaluable. Let’s not forget, the two biggest goals of the last two years have been scored by Feds. One more thing, unless I’m mistaken, next season incentive bonuses can be factored into his contract because the CBA was extended. All that aside, how great is it that a sure first round ballot Hall of Famer loves this team and wants to be here?
by b.orr4 on May 15, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Really great. Let’s hope his kind words lure more “D” talent.
by DrinkingPartner on May 15, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he showed that he still has some left when he’s rested and when his minutes are well-managed. Going into this year, I felt that $4m for a 3rd-line center was a bit much (little did I realize that it was actually $4.875m for a 5th-line center), and I think he was pressed into a role that was more in tune with his salary than his ability. At the right price and in the right role, I’d love to have him back. He is, after all, Sergei friggin’ Fedorov.
And a hearty amen on that last line.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
He is, after all, Sergei friggin’ Fedorov.
Totally agree. I’m sure everyone on this site does, but I hope Washington fans realize what a privilege it is to happen someone of his legendary stature play here. I still get chills everytime Wes Johnson says his name when introducing the starting lineup or after he scores.
Faceoffs and leadership seem like Feds’ only real value. Is that worth $2 mil? Maybe, but I’m no capologist. As breed16 pointed out, maybe he could pull a Niedermayer/Clemens/Sundin and sit out the first half of the year?
I don’t know, I think it’s possible for him to put up 45-50 points if he plays the full season.
by David Getz on May 15, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Possible, but unlikely. Further, keeping him around allows BB to make more "D"ecisions than we want him to make. Hopefully, we pull in a big D to make sure Feds doesn’t have to take shifts on the blue line.
by DrinkingPartner on May 15, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Fedorov on the blue line should be saved for emergency situations only. He doesn’t have the speed to keep up and takes an awful lot of penalties back there.
But he had 33 points in 52 games this year, a 52 point pace, despite playing some on defense at the beginning of the year, so I don’t think 45-50 would be unrealistic. But even if he only hits 40 or so and plays good defense and wins draws, he’s valuable to this team.
I’ll take the under, and, frankly wouldn’t want him to play the whole season. Take a couple of months off (like this year) so there’s gas in the tank in April and May.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Perhaps. But Feds’ effectiveness seems to decrease when he plays more games/minutes, so I wouldn’t necessarily want him to be playing the full season – especially if we are geared for a long playoff run.
More of a heart reaction than a head reaction, but as a big fan of his for a long time, I’d love to see him back. I was in disbelief when the Caps traded for him last year.
The head reaction, however, is that it has to come at a pretty big reduced price. The flashes of vintage Fedorov were few and far between this year, but some of them sure did come at opportune times.
Not for nothing, but coming from a future HOF’er, its always nice to hear how he talks about the organization and playing in Washington.
Think with yer dipstick, Georgie!
If GMGM keeps Sergei he’d better be leave emotion out of the process.
uhh...uhh...uhh...
No Worries, GMGM does it all as business. Having Fedorov in the room and on the ice helps this team… and in 18 months with the Caps, he’s already scored what may be 2 of the top 20 goals in Caps history (the Game winner vs. Fla. in the clincher last year, and the Game winner against the Rangers in Game 7 this year.)
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on May 15, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
He could always put in a game for the Detroit Vipers.
by :hsughrofl: on May 15, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Or the Kastles. Him and Serena would make a mean mixed doubles pair, and I would pay good money to watch Kournikova smash some overheads at him.
I suspect the last thing Feds wants to do is get involved with another tennis player…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on May 15, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah once you’ve had the best why fool with the rest?
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 17, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Salary Cap and CBA
IIRC, the cap was tight this year because there was no guarantee of a CBA next year. Therefore, potential bonus money counted towards each players’ cap hit. Does next year work the same? Or does GMGM have some space to work with for incentives that are not likely to be reached?
My line of thought is a moderate valued (~2M) contract to Fedorov plus incentives might work fine.
I might be in the minority, but I’m not sure his coming back makes the team a lot better.
Obviously, you would have to sign another #2, but I think 2.5-4 million could be spent on a better option.
If he wants to take 2 million + 1 or 2 in incentives, then I’m fine. But I still think he is pretty close to being on his last legs. He has a bit left in the tank, but not much.
and note, I say that as the guy whose favorite hockey player growing up and all time is Fedorov. I love the guy. I just don’t think he makes the team that much better right now.
I think the jury is still out on Clark. I’m holding my judgement until after he’s made a full recovery and gotten back to game-shape. Zubrification or not, when healthy, Clark has brought positive attributes to this team both on and off the ice.
Ugh. I’ve felt that way for what is closing on 3 years now, and at some point, he just won’t make it there. He’s getting older, he hasn’t been good since the Zubrus days, and I wonder if he will ever return.
The truth is that Clark will never have a 30 goal season when he’s not playing with Ovechkin. He needs to be in the primarily offensive mindset when he plays. It also makes it so that the team gears on Ovie, and Clark gets basically a free pass to the net.
There are pros and cons to moving Clark up to #1, but I doubt it happens again, except in dire straits. But lines like these would be interesting:
8-19-17
28-91-25
21-39-10
43-15-16/92
Poor 4th line will never see the ice…
by DrinkingPartner on May 15, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
You know, 8-19-17 kinda has a Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Hossa look about it, doesn’t it?
by DrinkingPartner on May 15, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah. Wow. * shakes the jumbles out *
by DrinkingPartner on May 15, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
You are completely correct on Clark not having another 30 goal season. But on this team we don’t need him to.
We already get 30, or double that, from #8. Same from #28 and #52. What we really need is another guy to get in front of the crease screen the goalie so that the other guys can have those numbers. Laich can’t be the in front of net presence on all 4 lines and both power plays.
If Clark can get back healthy and be a 2nd line screener (and getting Flash off that line) I would be more than happy with a 15-20 goal season with him just getting garbage goals out front. If that happens, I guarantee that #52 hits similar offensive numbers as this year, and #28 will exceed his numbers this year.
by HateOffSeason on May 15, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
A healthy #52 can pot us more than that. A healthy #28, on the other hand, can pot similar numbers to a certain #8. Wouldn’t that be something?
by DrinkingPartner on May 15, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on partner, I’m trying to be realistic here. 100 points for #8, #19, and #28? 80 points for #52? (73 this year) We would be a force of nature out there. Would love it, just don’t think it’s reasonable to predict it.
by HateOffSeason on May 15, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
That sounded pretty Wild-West, there.
And, to be quite honest, why not? At the beginning of the season, I predicted that Ovie would hit 70 goals, and he almost did (3 off, playoffs incl. obviously). If Semin can have a break-out year in regard to health and consistency, he could easily out-pace all three of them. We had a 60-game Green hit 31 and 42. Backs will be a better player next year.
I know anything can happen, but why shouldn’t we expect/predict it?
by DrinkingPartner on May 15, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions
i’m also in this camp. didn’t he have plenty of time off (granted, due to injury) this season? was he really that good in the playoffs? was the leadership really there? i didn’t see it all that much but i did see a good share of PIMs and turnovers. he came up with the goal in game 7, but sadly that’s history now. i’m uncertain about this until alternatives are weighed. we know backstrom is on line 1, steckel is on line 3 and gordon or similar is on line 4. fedorov/nylander platoon on line 2? what if keith aucoin can make this team? burying aucoin on 4th line is kind of pointless. $2M doesn’t sound like much but could that be the difference between getting a guy at the deadline and not?
Russian Machine Never Breaks
I remember when players, especially those of Feds stature, thought DC was anything but an awesome city to play in. How times have changed!
Time to move on Sergei
1) Sorry, but GMGM needs/should take a pass on another season with #91. Nothing against him at all. He seemed like a decent fit late last season, and at times was helpful this year, but he has lost quite a lot.
2) Its unrealistic to expect him to score 40-50 points regardless of what his pts/game ratio says. Hell be 3 years removed from the last time he scored that much and if the last 2 seasons are any indicator his older body can’t stay healthy for more than 50 or so games.
3) More over when he did play his legs just couldn’t do what they used to. Its clear that he is one smart hockey player, but the inordinate number of stick fouls he took were a symptom of his loss of a step or two. That’s not going to improve, only worsen with time.
4) Therefore GMGM should shake Sergei’s hand, and thank him for 1 1/4 good solid seasons and move on, even at 2-3 mil, its too much and that roster spot should be used on someone who can contribute for a full season. Thanks #91, The Hall awaits in 3 years!
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
Depends what is out there to replace him. We all agree Nylander isn’t the answer. None of us are sold on anyone in Hershey right now being able to play 2nd line center. If we can’t bring in an UFA to replace him, why not bring him back at the right price. If we sit him every couple of games to keep him healthy and rested, it also gives us the ability to bring up some centers every now and again from Hershey to get them some experience.
I know people have talked before about moving Laich to the 2nd line center, and that the idea has met criticism becuase he isn’t a play maker. However, if we put him at 2nd line center, and don’t ask him to change his game, to continue to be a screener out in front, and leave Flash and Semin as the playmakers, does that line look better? Maybe bring up Osala to play with Stecks and Brads on the 3rd line?
by HateOffSeason on May 15, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
On a defensive-minded or good two-way line Fedorov can be backed up that extra 2 steps. So 28-91-21 maybe?
by red army line on May 16, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Fauxrumors:
I don’t agree but if I did my question would still be then who is that second line center, given where the Capitals are re: the Cap and the fact Nyls is clearly NOT it? I guess maybe they could pick someone up at 2-3M/ year or maybe give Laich or Steckel a go at the spot but I think Feds, even for 50 games and the playoffs is a better option.
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 17, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
The Capitals spent $8,875,000 for 124 games of 20-46-66, +4 worth of production in the regular season from two “top six” centers. That’s pretty much Jason Pominville. A really, really pricey Jason Pominville (exactly Pominville’s point production over 82 games, and yes, I realize he’s a winger).
I don’t see how the Caps keep both Nylander and Fedorov unless Fedorov signs for the league minimum.
Nylander for a 7th in 2019?
If you've read this far...seek help.
That’s kind of an unrealistic way to look at it. If the cap stays the same we can afford him at $2.5 million easily, even with Nylander.
The keyboard is mightier.
Yeah, but that’s without figuring in RFA contracts (some of which will be sure to increase), or the importation of ANY new talent.
Even if Feds DOES come back, we still need a decent #2 center, because he can’t be relied upon for those kind of minutes anymore.
Who will be getting substantial raises? I see pretty modest raises, if any, across the board for our RFAs, and we’ll save about half a million by jettisoning Mo and bringing up Alzner.
The keyboard is mightier.
We are looking at only having about 8+ million to spend and needing at least 2 wingers, plus dealing with RFA’s we might want to resign. Nothing going to be easy about fitting anyone under the cap.
Can you be more specific with your number play here?
No one on the current roster is getting a hefty raise. We are saving half a million by replacing Mo with Alzner. If Fedorov wants back, and is realistic with salary demands (up to $3 million), we can afford him.
The keyboard is mightier.
Fehr, Gordon, Mo, Juice and Schultz are all RFAs, with Mo and Juice having arbitration rights.
Losing Brash, Kozlov, Fedorov and Johnson would save us $8.575m. But we’ll lose about $600k of that because Erskine’s new contract kicks in next year. So that really ends up being a little less than $8m.
Now let’s say we trade Mo. Great, we just saved a little under $2m, putting us at about $9.5m. But it’s a good bet that Schultz and Juice get at least $250k raises, and maybe more. Pretty soon, you’re back down to around 8-8.5m again.
Now factor in the fact that the cap will likely decrease. To make it simple, let’s say it goes down $2m. Now, we’re left with 6-6.5m to pick up some second-line help and a defenseman. And you’d probably like to keep some kind of salary cushion to make mid-season pickups. About $2m should suffice, so cut that number down to $4-4.5m.
Subtract $2.5m for Sergei and you’re left with $2-2.5m to sign any free agents. Our new RW would be Jason Ward and our “crease-clearing” defenseman would be . . . Ossi Vaananen???
Nice work. Two things:
1.) Getting rid of Mo and replacing him with Alzner saves us another $500k, so that covers one of the hypothetical raises for Schultz and Juice, if not both. So we’re back up to $8-8.5m in room again.
2.) I dispute the salary cap cushion idea. Leonsis and McPhee are willing to fill the roster up to the cap if they feel they have the right mix. Fedorov could very well be a key part of that, unless there is an equally capable 2nd line center out there for around the $2.5 million we’d expect to bring Feds back at.
3.) We won’t be signing an FA defenseman any time soon because a.) we have a full slate of defensemen on the NHL roster already (Green, Poti, Pothier, Erskine, Schultz, Juice, Alzner), and b.) McPhee stated yesterday that he does not want to go free agent hunting unless it’s for a bargain – which is consistent with the Caps’ post-lockout strategy – due to our c.) defensive roster depth through the AHL.
So in my mind, even assuming the cap goes down $2m, after losing Brash, Kozlov (not a given), Fedorov and Johnson; and after replacing Mo with Alzner; and after factoring the raises for Erskine and Juice and Schultz and maybe Fehr; that leaves us with $6-6.5 million to re-sign
1 second line center
1 top 6 RW
If we want to keep Fedorov and Kozlov there’s plenty of room.
The keyboard is mightier.
by breed16 on May 16, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
1) If you replace Mo with Alzner, you lose the savings from Mo’s salary, putting you back down to somewhere between $7.5 and 8m. So even if the combined raises of Juice and Schultz exactly equal the salary disparity between Mo and Alzner, we’re still somewhere around $7.5-8m.
2) Man, wouldn’t Guerin or Recchi have looked nice in a Caps jersey this playoffs? What about Ian Laperriere, or a big-bodied defenseman? Wouldn’t it have been nice to be able to call up players all season long as needed, rather than doing the ridiculous musical chairs routine necessary to stay under the cap? Signing Fedorov for $4m, combined with our inability to peddle Nylander prevented us from re-tooling at the deadline and affected personnel decisions all year long.
Put simply, if McPhee doesn’t leave some wiggle room under the cap for next season after the experience this year, he’s an idiot who cannot learn from his mistakes.
3) He said we’ll probably avoid signing an FA, but likely bring someone in through trade. That’s fine, but if you bring in someone better than we have on the current roster, chances are their salary will be higher, too. If you think we’re not going to bring in anyone and we’re going to go into next year with the same D-corps minus Mo and plus Alzner, I’d say this team will exit the playoffs early yet again. If you plan on upgrading the D mid-season via trade, see my point #2.
So, to recap, given the Mo-Alzner shuffle, the team would actually have (if the salary cap declines by $2m, which may be a conservative estimate) between $5.5 and 6m. Yes, there’s enough room to keep Fedorov and Kozlov, but only if the team wants to ice essentially the same roster as this year (minus Mo, plus Alzner), and they’re willing to (again) go into the season with no cap cushion. If this team keeps both Fedorov and Kozlov, we deserve to lose. It would be a monumentally poor decision, both from an on-ice talent perspective, and with regard to the salary cap. Fedorov is a has-been, and Kozlov is a never-was. The Game 7 GWG was nice, but it’s not worth $2.5m.
Also two years from now Backstrom will be getting a huge raise, and Semin probably a small one.
by red army line on May 16, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know why you keep asserting that 2 Mill. is a conservative estimate for the cap to decrease. Everything I’ve seen suggests it will be about the same next year and then go down the following year. I agree that we should have wiggle room at the deadline to make an addition, and I agree that it would be dumb to go into the next season with basically the same roster, but I don’t see why we are precluded from picking up any impact players. I think we have the cap space to pick up one important piece (either a top Dman or a 2C) as our situation stands. I also implicitly assume that the right addition could make Semin expendable (meaning I would sign a top pair D even if it means we can’t resign Semin, or I’d trade Semin for a top pair D).
My understanding of the cap is the same. I think it will be in the 57-58 million range next year and 54-56 the year after.
Regardless of what you think the cap will be (and I’m loath to trust any numbers put forth by the NHL until they’re official), $2.5m for a 40-year-old #2 C who will be lucky to play in 60 games and put up 10-30-40; +10 and will likely be worn down by the time the playoffs come around and will get skated around by anyone faster than a 3 toed sloth is WAAAAAAY too much money.
Yes, Feds was a great player.
The operative term in that sentence is WAS. WAS. Past tense. No longer.
This team’s time is in the present and future, not in 1998. Re-signing Feds and Kozlov would be a poor decision.
But he’s valuable to have with the team, and right now it seems like the only way he’s going to be with the team is on it…Nylander fit pretty well early on in BB’s system, right? So maybe Fedorov could be our Chelios, a guy more on the team for positive influence on others and doesn’t play every night?
by red army line on May 18, 2009 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
breed:
I want Sergei back and like a lot of what you are saying but I don’t see either Mo OR Schultz back next season.
I see our 6 top D men being: Green, Poti, Pothier, Erskine, Jurcina, and Alzner. I see Juice getting MAYBE a 500K raise but probably more like 250K. The others we know the price.
Even with the $2.5M or so folks are talking about that Feds frees up I don’t see us being able to pick up a true “puck clearing D-Man” without trading Poti or Pothier to make more Cap room as that will cost at least $5.5M of cap space. If that were to happen I’d be fine with it. I have nothing against either Poti or Pothier though and I just don’t see it happening. Also we’d still need a second line center and until we get someone who want’s Nyls, I see Feds as a good option, even for 50 regular season well managed TOI games and the playoffs.
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 17, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Unless someone makes a bad trade (from their end) with the Capitals, there’s no way Schultz isn’t back. He’s young, he’s cheap, and he’s good, and he’s ahead of Jurcina, Alzner, Erskine, and Pothier on the depth chart at the moment.
Sadly I’m in complete agreement with DMG here.
Also lets say we’ve got 6 mil to play with, Breeds idea position wise might work. I’d go over Reinprecht at center. he’s an east-west guy who puts up nice numbers when surrounded by scoring talent. He’s probably 2-2.5 mil a year guy. That leaves 4 mil for a RW. Problem is guys may want multiple years. If nothing is good looking in July I’d save the cash and wait til deadline. I don’t want anymore overpaid guys on the roster because GMGM reached when he couldn’t get first choice.
Sadly still sticks Caps without a good stay at home guy in the blueline. But hey what else is new. Same story for the last decade.
Sadly I’m in complete agreement with DMG here.
This truly is sad ;-)
I’d love a legit stay at home guy (Komisarek), not just for what he’d bring but for the reshuffling on the depth chart. Assuming Morrisonn’s gone it would put the team in a position where either Schultz or Poti could play with Green and the other could play Komisarek on a true shutdown pair. That would leave Jurcina, Pothier, Erskine, and Alzner for the 5-6 pairing, a role any of those guys could handle. But, with Alzner and Carlson on the way and Schultz and Jurcina still developing, I think it makes sense to hold off on a defenseman and see how the team looks in January-February.
Center, though, is a position where the team pretty clearly needs someone now, so I think that ought to be their priority (and I believe it will be).
wow folks — lots of debate here about the D-men. nice problem to have, I think. so much talent there.
perhaps we should invest in a trainer to make sure they all stay healthy !?!?
by RedskinFan4Life on May 18, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Here is what I think is the only important question when we talk about signing Komisarek or a comparable top Dman: Does signing this player now give us a better (longer) window to win the Cup than waiting for Alzner and Carlson to be ready to really contribute on a contender? I want as long a window as possible. I think if we sign Komisarek now we immediately become Cup contenders, then Poti’s contract expires before we have to extend Alzner and Carlson, so it doesn’t jeopardize keeping either of them. If you (anyone) thinks that signing Komisarek (or comparable) hurts our window in some manner, then they should conclude that we shouldn’t make that signing. I think that we could possibly become better as a team in the next few years without any FA additions because AO, Baxter, and Green will continue to get better, but I also think it’s very possible that we are watching AO’s best years right now and every year we wait to be a legit contender is a waste of the best player on the planet.
Nylander for a 7th in 2019?
Peerless I’d take nothing for him, but if CBA says something about a trade having to involve a pick or another player then I’d take somebody’s nephew or a 7th in 2109.
It’s not my money, it’s Teds and his partners but I agree – right now I think we’d just all love to see GMGM to have the $4.875M of cap space to work with.
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 17, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Here’s my problem with all this, and why I’m not optimistic:
Every older player in every single sport still thinks he’s got something left in the tank. The reality is that they almost never do, or they just have fumes left. I’m sure he can’t imagine himself retired, and that’s why he’s going to hang on too long.
This year, Feds was occasionally brilliant, occasionally awful, often injured and always looked tired. And that’s after taking significant time off for injury. I don’t see matters improving next year. If McPhee plans on re-signing him, I hope that he’s got a damn good plan B. Personally, I think this ends badly.
FPS is a dangerous disease.
I was with you for the most part until the end. Not sure how Feds = FPS. Not like he went crazy scoring in the playoffs like Pisiani. Conversely not like the guys a one year wonder. He’s Sergei Freakin Federov.
I think (some) people are still all dizzy over the Game 7 GWG from round one.
Yes, he’s Sergei friggin Fedorov. He’s also 39, he has cleary lost a step, and he was outplayed by his opponents.
At this point, the cap space is more valuable than Sergei.
That GWG was vintage, though. I still shout when I see it. I wish I could see the ice through his eyes sometimes.
Right before he scored, I said out loud to no-one in particular, “Be a hero, Sergei, be a hero.” I guess he listened.
I watch Feds highlight reels for inspiration. He truly had some moves back in the day. Still has enough to be worth it.
D’ohboy:
I think you’ve stated and explained your point at least several times so far. You’ve done it reasonably well too.
That said I and clearly others don’t agree. First from my watch of the rangers and Penguins’ series he’s lost a 1/2 step not a full one when he wants it badly. Second, his experience and puck sense are as good or better than the best in the game today – Ovie, Malkin, and Crosby – he showed that in the Pittsburgh series. Third, while you’ve explained ad infinitum why you don’t think we should bring him back at ~2.5M of Cap space you haven’t said who you’d try and go get or what you’d do with the space. We need a second line center, preferably one who can go down low, maybe that’s Brook Laich but if it is he needs a winger. Here’s the guys I see available as UFA’s this off season for 3M or so:
Anaheim: Todd Marchant or Rob Niedermyer. Atlanta has Marty Reasoner but I think we’d both agree he’s not worth anywhere near $2M. Boston has Axelsson and Recchi who become UFAs in July. Buffalo has Afinogenov, and they’d probably be willing to trade Pomminville with a $.5M salary and 5M cap hit if we really wanted him. Carolina has Chad LaRose going UFA this offseason and my be a poor man’s option in some sort of more creative mix – I always love his energy level but think he’s more a solid 3rd/4th liner. Calgary has Cammalleri, and Bertuzzi. Cammarlleri could be a good pick up but will likely be looking for 4-5M or more vice the 3-4M we have available and Calgary has the room to resign him if they want to. Chicago has Martin Havlat but he made $6M this year and with the playoffs he’s having is likely to be looking to keep that number or get a raise. Columbus has 3 possibles who go UFA: Peca, Malhotra, and Jason Williams. Jason Williams is probably an option he was picked up at the trade deadline from Atlanta and his price vs. value numbers probably fit well with what we’re looking for though I don’t think he is an upgrade for Federov, he would likely free up at least $1.5M of Cap space from Fed’s current $4M. Dallas has Left Wing Jere Lehtinen who is UFA now and made $4.1M last year – not a good fit IMO; Mike Modano will be in the last year of his contract next season but I don’t think anybody can imagine him not finishing his career next season in Dallas. Detroit has the following guys going UFA after this season: Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, and Tomas Kopecky – I don’t see any of those guys being an option we can afford or want, though Samuelsson is debatable. Edmonton has 40 year old Ales Kotelik who made 2.5M last season, not my pick but maybe that works for you? Now we turn to Florida – we could try to get Richard Zednik or go after Radek Dvorak or Ville Peltonen. I don’t see any of the three except Zednik fitting the Caps style of play and if we’re looking to free up Cap space he’d probably take numbers around what he made this past season – 1.75M, though I think Federov at $2.5M is a better buy. Let’s look out west again – the LA Kings have the following forwards going UFA this season: 29 year old Kyle Calder (last year 2.7M), and 35 year old Derek Armstrong (last year $1.6M). Minnesota you say? Could/would the Caps want to enter the Marian Gaborik sweepstakes? I can’t see that we already have our franchise left winger and I think he’s better. The other Minnesota UFAs this summer are Veilleux and Kolanos, I don’t think they’re any better than what the Caps already have in the pipeline. Montreal has a lot of UFAs this season and they are worht a look but there are rumors of lots of locker room problems that I’m sure the Caps don’t want in their clubhouse so that will no doubt factor in any consideration of: Tangauy, Koivu, Kovalev and Robert Lang all of whom made $4M or more last season. Steve Sullivan and Radek Bonk of Nashville become UFA this summer and could be worth a look but are they really an upgrade? New Jersey might be the place for GMGM to look but LL isn’t any easy foe to get players from. The Devils UFAs this offseason are, IMO, pretty attractive though: Brian Gionta, John Madden and Bobby Holik – any of which would be a great add from my perspective since they all bring what we have been talking about. Gionta is probably too expensive but Holik and/or Madden might be a guy worth considering and there’s alway the possibility of another season on the Brendan Shanahan sweepstakes but I’d expect the 39 year old to return to the Devils or retire (again).The Islanders have Mike Sillinger going UFA and Doug Weight going int the final year of his current contract, both are 37 though and not better investments than a 39 YO Federov for 2-3M IMO. The Rangers have two pickups from Toronto going UFA: Nik Antropov and Mark Bell. For my money Atropov, the 28 year old Kazahk Center is an interesting thought, there is no doubt he has the size and strength to camp out down low in tight games when needed… Ottawa has Mike Comrie who earned $4M and Chris Niel who earned $1.2M last season going UFA; both of those guys are worth consideration and a look. Philadelphia’s Mike Knuble who earned $2.8M last season and like the Capitals is also pretty tight against the salary cap going UFA, he may be a possibility. There’s also Steve Reinprecht of Phoenix going UFA and he may be looking for a stable location to play a few more years and also get into the post season but I don’t see him as an upgrade over Federov currently. that said he’s probably affordable, seven years younger and an interesting option to consider. Pittsburgh has four good guys going UFA but they are all also 30+: Satan, Sykora, Fedotenko, and Guerin. None of them except maybe Fedotenko will be any cheaper than Federov. San Jose has Mike Grier and Jeremy Roenick becoming UFAs this summer. Saint Louis has Kieth Tkachuk and Dan Hinote as forwards going UFA this summer. I don’t even think any of the Tampa Bay UFAs are worth mentioning you might but I don’t see it, likewise Toronto now that Brian Burke moved Antropov and Bell at the deadline to the Rangers. That leaves Vancouver where we have the Sundin saga “part deux”, the Sedin twins, and Talor Pyatt for the potential 1st/2nd tier UFAs this summer.
Bottom line when you look over this list and compare it to the option of signing Federov to another year at a fair price ($2-3M) I think the options get a lot fewer and you may think differntly about it. i sure do.
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 17, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions
To repeat my reply below: 40 year old Sergei Fedorov should not be playing #2 center on a team that hopes to win the Stanley Cup. He cannot keep up with the centers that he will be forced to defend. Staal, Crosby, Malkin, Savard, Callahan, Dubinsky, Connolly, Richards, Spezza, Carter, et. al., have all skated by him with ease and will continue to do so.
Really don’t agree – I don’t think he looked that tired. There were also lots of times when he was the only one who could anticipate Crosby’s moves on the ice and even have a chance of getting there during the Pittsburgh series. I don’t think another year for a first ballot hall of famer ends badly by a long stretch, especially when I don’t see any clear cut better options right now.
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 17, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
If you don’t think he looked tired, we watched different playoffs. Perhaps you were watching Caps-Red Wings 1998?
For all his “anticipation” of Crosby’s moves, Crosby still owned us, and Feds. You don’t think another year for a first ballot hall of famer ends badly? Did you see Stevie Y’s last year? Or maybe you missed Joe Sakic, just this year, spending almost the entire year on injured reserve? Do you somehow think that Sergei’s got some magic elixir that allows him to hold back time and play what is the most physically demanding position in hockey?
Look, I know that some players have played center past the age of 39 (Ron Francis being one recent example), but even those players spent time at wing because they couldn’t keep up as centers. We’ve already seen the deterioration of his skating first hand. How many HHT penalties did he take this year because he couldn’t keep up with an on-rushing forward? Or did you miss Game 5’s OT?
Sergei was a brilliant player, and a fantastic skater, and he still shows brief flashes of his brilliance, but those flashes are far too intermittent and far too brief to be playing second-line center for a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations.
As for the clear-cut better options, I think you’re correct. There aren’t any obvious better options out there, but I think that a creative trade or two might be in order. If we look outside of the UFA pool, there are plenty of players who fit our needs, and there are a ton of teams out there who would be interested in assets that we hold.
If we look outside of the UFA pool, there are plenty of players who fit our needs, and there are a ton of teams out there who would be interested in assets that we hold.
maybe we could sign someone off the streets?!?
by RedskinFan4Life on May 18, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I hope he’s ready for a pay cut, cuz that’s probably the only way he’ll stay on the team.
by RedskinFan4Life on May 15, 2009 5:52 PM EDT reply actions
Repost from the Koxy thread
Among the many things Kozy and Feds bring to the Caps is the ability to speak hockey to Varly and Semin, in ways that a Russian translator might not be able. I think this is an under appreciated part of what both Kozy and Feds bring- not the just the “experience, big brother part” but the “make sense of what BB et al are talking about” part.
IMO, the Caps need to keep one or the other for one more season if only for this reason.
You can't reason someone out of something they weren't reasoned into.
I also like how with 91 in the lineup we can go to 19-28 on line 2 and spread out the offense even more.
by red army line on May 16, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I think both Kozy and Feds are good guys but if I’m picking for $2-$3M I’m taking Feds, every time.
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 17, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
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