"Can we address what we might need to address through a trade? Maybe. Ideally, you want to avoid free agents because they're always more expensive and longer-term than you want. You're better off looking for the bargains. I would prefer making a trade or something like that rather than signing a free agent."
- George McPhee, blowing smoke on his acquistion philosophy
5 months ago
J.P.
86 comments
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Comments
I thought it was funny that Tarik classified Bouwmeester as a shutdown D.
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So does SBN (or at leas the service SBN gets it’s scouting reports from).
by David M. Getz on May 20, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Would you, though? I certainly wouldn’t, compared to the Prongers, Stevens, Langways, etcs that cross my mind when it comes to shutdown. He doesn’t play that way, really.
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let me clarify by saying I think he’s too overtly offensive (ha) to be shutdown. He’s a very good defenseman, but he just doesn’t strike me that way.
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s way shutdownier than anything we’ve got…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 20, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That I’ll agree with. I just think the pure classification is a little of a stretch.
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like to think of myself as shutdowny in my day job.
by Stephen Pepper on May 20, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Killer new word. McPhee and most of this thread makes me think of Stephen Colbert and “truthiness”. A little levity to break up a monotonous afternoon.
by Lisita on May 20, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would classify him as a shutdown guy. He’s not in the same league as the guys you named in that regard, but those guys are Hall of Famers and Norris trophy winners. J-Bo isn’t at the level but I think he’s got to be at least one of the top, say, 15 shutdown type guys in the NHL today.
by David M. Getz on May 20, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Behind Schultz and a handful of others?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 20, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t even really think it’s fair to bring Schultz into this discussion because he’s obviously head and shoulder above the rest of the league that he’s in a class of his own.
by David M. Getz on May 20, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who today is worth being in a conversation with Langway and Stevens? I’m not asking who out there is that good — I’m asking who plays that way? Pronger and Chara?
by Gould Old Days on May 20, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess you could rate every D in the league based on their shutdown capability but last time I went through the NHL rosters I really only came up with a list of about 15 guys I would consider shutdown Dmen. Maybe I have a high standard to qualify but I don’t think there are all that many guys that qualify.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am convinced, per recent discussion re: Alzner, the shutdown defenseman concept has different meanings for different people. What are your criteria?
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on May 20, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Someone who can keep Crosby out of the crease and Malkin from getting around the corner?
by Icebat on May 20, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that’s not too inaccurate, really. But I also don’t see J-Bo as being one of those guys, personally. But he is a smooth skating, hard shooting, usually smart pass making D.
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My criteria for a shutdown D is a guy that is going to play basically every ES shift against the biggest threat on the other team, and be a key PKer. You have to be able to trust that the guy will be able to keep the top offensive threats under relative control.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Kimmo Timmonen did a pretty good job of this last year on Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on May 20, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s on my list. He is probably the second best shutdown D in the Eastern Conference.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Most definitely. Chara is hands down the best in the east.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
in no particular order
Weber, Lidstrom, Pronger out west, I think.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on May 20, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The west is much deeper but those three are right at the top.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 21, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duncan Keith is no slouch either
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on May 21, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s a stud but hasn’t impressed me too much this playoffs.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 21, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, shit, everyone, we know exactly what this means:
WE ARE SIGNING JAY BOUWMEESTER ON JULY 1.
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Can he sign for the Leafs and Capitals?
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 20, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I dunno, but I’m sure Burke will throw money and draft picks until it happens.
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Next time someone agrees in principle with a Canadian team and then decides to break that deal to sign with the Caps, the Caps should let the Canadian team keep him.
by Gould Old Days on May 20, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
No way is he up for the media crush of Toronto.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 20, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
But he sure would love the early vacations.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s good to be on a solid, yearly routine, right?
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I assume you’re too young for Alzheimer’s but surely you remember what your team did in four of the last seven years.
Hint: It involved greens and carts.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 20, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No kidding
There is no way that shrinking violet is signing in Toronto.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 20, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And here I was thinking with Viktor Kozlov going to Russia, that old “25” jersey would be put in mothballs. Guess we’ll still need a “25” jersey for that guy from Anaheim we’re going to get in trade.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on May 20, 2009 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As a Caps and Redskins fan, i’ve suffered too much heartbreak and disappointment caused by underperforming stars brought in to lock up championships.
That said, I can’t help but genuinely believe that Pronger = Stanley Cup.
The keyboard is mightier.
by breed16 on May 20, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He old and he’s a jerk, not exactly selling points. The only player worth anything from the Ducks is Getzlaf.
by zambonirider on May 20, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bobby Ryan is worth a pretty penny right about now, i’d say.
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s not that old (34), he hasn’t taken much of a beating in his career, he conserves energy like no other, and on this team being a jerk would be a huge plus. If we could extend him 2 years I would trade a lot for him. That gives us 3 legit shots at the Cup before Alzner/Green/Carlson even sniff their primes. Then we let Pronger go and rely on our homegrown D.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We’d have to give up Alzner/Carlson/Varlamov to get him. No ’effin way.
by DrinkingPartner on May 20, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we had to give that up, I’d agree. They have Hiller so I don’t know why they’d demand Varlamov. Alzner and Carlson would be tough but I would waive Semin at them until they relent.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d take that dude in MON for half the price as a UFA and call it a day.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on May 20, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Pronger is $6 mil and change for the year he has left, don’t you think Komisarek will get close to that as a UFA? Certainly much closer to 6 than half.
by Cluster on May 20, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Komisarek will get 4.5-5. I’d take him in a heart beat but he isn’t Chris Pronger. Komisarek has never put a team on his back and carried them, he can’t run the PP from the point, he doesn’t have one of the best breakout passes in the game. In short, Pronger is a game changer in all situations, Komisarek is only a game changer in his own end (if at all).
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Komisarek is horribly overrated.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 20, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree but I don’t read the Toronto media so I dunno.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s not just some of it that’s crap…
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 21, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The one above is mostly a joke about some of the crap you are exposed to. I don’t know what you mean by him being “overrated.” If you mean he shouldn’t be an All Star then I agree but I don’t blame him for that. If you think that he’s not a very solid player in his own end that can play physical against skill players then I disagree. If you don’t think he’s top 4 on USA 2010, I disagree. He’s never going to do much on offense, but his game in his own end would be a huge benefit to the Caps.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I appreciate Komisarek’s skillset and am looking forward to Burke bringing in more big defencemen that hit. I dislike his penchant for not fighting when challenged, his dirty plays, but mostly I think he’s overrated because of the price tag that is being thrown around. $5M+ is ridiculous.
As for the rest, it’s funny to think that MTL got swept when they had so many all-stars and he’s top 4 on the US team because (sorry) it’s the US team. He wouldn’t get a sniff on the Canadian team.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 21, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anything above 5 mill. is definitely ridiculous. But Don Waddell still has a job, so who knows. Yeah, Team USA is not team Canada but nobody is. Komisarek would be top 4 on any country’s team except Canada, the only other possible exception being Sweden.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 21, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Completely agree. He’s good, but not 5 mil/year good.
by DrinkingPartner on May 21, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rumors are Price and rights to Komisarek to Philly for Briere/Lupul and Sbisa
by gnuf on May 21, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Montreal would have to be insane to do that.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 21, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please let it happen.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 21, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
gotta be e(5)
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on May 21, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I bet the asking price will be lower now than at the deadline. But yeah, we’d probably have to give up at least one of those three.
The keyboard is mightier.
by breed16 on May 20, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Flash + recent picks not including Alzner/Carlson/Varlamov + draft picks?
by red army line on May 20, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think Anaheim would have much interest in Flesichmann, he’s not really their style of player. I also think they need more help on defense than up front, so they may have interest in Morrisonn or Jurcina. But realistically I think you’re talking one or two roster players, one or two prospects, and a first round pick for Pronger.
by David M. Getz on May 20, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s not a Burke style of player… but Burke’s gone.
Flash + Lepisto = Pronger or fire GMGM!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 20, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well Flash + Lepisto is over stating it but I do think it’s important to remember that Burke is gone. I don’t think Flash would fetch much from ANA, but I don’t think he’d fetch much from anyone. Same with Lepisto.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 20, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. I was making a funny that wasn’t.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 20, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t be so hard on yourself. I gave a single half-hearted chuckle.
by Gould Old Days on May 20, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just hoping. Dumber trades have happened. The only reason to keep/trade for Flash would be his cap hit, really, in the short term.
by red army line on May 21, 2009 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
IMO, Flash might interest Minnesota or Columbus, one of the teams with all the D in the world and very little O.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on May 21, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except both those teams don’t like guys who won’t/can’t play D.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 21, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly. We need an elbow – throwing, crease intimidating jerk BADLY. Who can also move the puck and pot a few.
The keyboard is mightier.
by breed16 on May 20, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
30 teams need that. That’s not saying much.
by TylerG on May 20, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pardon me, but I think breed’s point is rock solid: we currently do not have that guy on our roster.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on May 20, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and for the record, I am not advocating a trade for Chris Pronger at all. I don’t necessarily think we need CP himself, but we absolutely need a real defensive stalwart who is going to get there, and get there in a bad mood.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on May 20, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I consider shots optional for a guy like that. The thing we need the most is, like folks have said, a hard-charging SOB D whose job, put plainly, is to run out of bubblegum before every game. Level the crease-campers, break a few panes of glass, leave imprints of the other teams’ forwards in the boards, and drop ‘em to protect the goalie if that’s what it takes.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on May 21, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m really, really excited that you just described John Carlson. Granted, it’ll be a little while. But last year’s trade is looking better all the time.
by Gould Old Days on May 20, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and Ems is on his third team since that trade. curious.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on May 20, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve been saying we need a bastard D-man to rub out anything that hangs out in the crease (i.e. Sid). I’m all for it, even though he’s looks like a goon.
by killianskid34 on May 21, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This. Like I said elsewhere, I don’t care if the guy is a bastard off the ice so long as he’s a bastard on the ice.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on May 21, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
GMGM is simply the best.
uhh...uhh...uhh...
by hotdog88gt on May 20, 2009 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Reading this ....
…I look at this statement and I see “we’re going to trade”. Am I the only one who does?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on May 21, 2009 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Uh, ya think?
I’ve seen hungover sorority girls prepping for the walk of shame deliver a less desperate “call me.” :)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 21, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
I’m usually just snoring.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on May 21, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let the wild BS rumors begin!
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on May 21, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So you’d equate that with writing your telephone number on the bathroom stall? :-)
by gfcaps fan on May 22, 2009 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that’s a little harsh, JP.
We’ll see what happens. If McPhee finds something that makes sense for the club, he’ll find a way. We already know he’s not going to flail blindly in the dark a la Tampa Bay.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on May 22, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs




























