2008-09 Rink Wrap: Tomas Fleischmann
by Stephen Pepper on May 28, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
in Rink Wraps
121 comments
From Alzner to Varlamov, we're taking a look at and grading the 2008-09 season for every player who laced 'em up for the Caps for a significant number of games during the campaign, with an eye towards 2009-10. Next up, Tomas Fleischmann.
Tomas Fleischmann
#14 / Right Wing / Washington Capitals
6-1
190
May 16, 1984
4
$725,000 cap hit in 2009-10; RFA after 2009-10 season
4.14 rating
Key Stat: Fleischmann finished the regular season with the fourth best goals per sixty minutes of even-strength ice time (0.9), behind the two Alexes and the aforementioned (surprisingly so), Eric Fehr. That quite cogently exemplifies secondary scoring.
Interesting Stat: Flash committed nine minor penalties in 2008-09. The same number as during the 2007-08 season, and in just about the same number of GP (75 in 2007-08). That total was good for fourth-fewest on the Caps last season (minimum 13 games).
The Good: Obviously, Fleischmann took the significant leap from a 10-goal scorer in 2007-08 to the cusp of a 20-goal campaign last season. The quickness of his release improved this season, as did his abiity to corral the puck in tight spaces and heavy traffic in and around the crease this season. At times.
Flash showed an increased willingness to go into those high traffic areas, an element largely absent from his game in 2007-08. Perhaps nowhere was the improvement more dramatically displayed than in that game on January 14th at the Igloo, where #14 lunged at a loose puck at the top of the Penguin crease midway through the third period of a tie game, and scored the GWG. His playoff game-winner in Game 1 of the playoff series against those same Penguins exhibited a similar effort.
During the regular season, Fleischmann performed capably as part of a PP unit, finishing fourth in goals per sixty minutes of PP time (2.45), significantly ahead of Alex Semin (1.81). That trend continued during his modest PP ice time in the post-season.
It might astonish you to read that Flash also finished tied for fourth-best on the Caps during the regular season in takeaways (with 53) and, more importantly, had the third-best regular season takeaway-to-giveaway ratio on the club, of 1.56. (But keep in mind here our previous note on the overzealous tally of both of these two stats, to different degrees, by the official Verizon Center scorers.)
The Bad: Flash is somewhat a victim of high expectations. Acquired as an important component of the deal which sent Robert Lang to Detroit in February of 2004, Flash was considered by many to be a top prospect who would evolve into a significant secondary scorer (how's that for alliteration?), a vital cog of the youth-oriented rebuilt Caps machine, plucked straight out of the scouting behemoth that is the Red Wings organization.
Scoring 10 goals in the first 25 games of this past season, he was well on his way to silencing vocal detractors that said that his development had reached its modest plateau, after 118 NHL GP over three seasons. That he would never amount to a consistent scoring threat. That he was AHL-quick with the stick, and not quite sturdy enough to park himself in a position to score on a regular basis.
But while he's shown, pardon the pun, flashes of brilliance like his hot start to 2008-09, he's also struggled mightily with extended droughts, once scoring only two goals in a span of 29 games and being held pointless in 11 straight. Some of those struggles could be attributed to his two-week bout with mono this season, which obviously sapped his strength and impaired his in-season conditioning. But that acute ailment doesn't tell the whole story. For the positives on the stat sheet inherent in that T/G ratio we mentioned above, Flash still gets knocked off of the puck far too often for any player on a successful NHL team, let alone for a second line forward who plays at least 15 minutes a night. And rarely was that more apparent than during the Penguins series.
Better yet, a picture tells a thousand words.
On that note, Fleischmann could stand to throw his weight around a little more, having been credited with a paltry 22 hits in the regular season. Even Nicklas Backstrom, who is listed as (slightly) lighter than Flash, tallied 52 hits.
Perhaps Flash still has some evolving to do. And a contract year, after which he's arbitration eligible, would be a fine time to do it.
The Vote: Rate Fleischmann below on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best) based on his performance relative to his potential and your expectations for the season - if he had the best year you could have imagined him having, give him a 10; if he more or less played as you expected he would, give him a 5 or a 6; if he had the worst year you could have imagined him having, give him a 1..
The Discussion: Will Fleischmann take that proverbial next step and play a little tougher in the corners and in front of the net, with a little more snarl? Or is this past season's production about as much as we, and the organization, should reasonably expect from him in the future?
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Fleischmann is 25 years old. At this point, he is what he is. He might get better at those things he’s good at, but it doesn’t seem likely he’s going to spring a new skill set that would make him more formidable in the corners or more willing to pay a price in front of the net. He’s a skill winger on a team than already has two world-class talents at the position. He gave some early indications that he might be sprouting into a 25-30 goal, 55-65 point player, but he faded badly late. In his last 37 games, he was 4-10-14 (although he was a +8), and he was 3-1-4 in the palyoffs.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Agree with this completely. He got a 6 because I thought he was a little better than I expected him to be. Of course, I didn’t expect much. It’s not that he is a bad hockey player, he just isn’t what we want for the right winger opposite a highly talented left winger. On numbers alone, he is exactly what you want on your team for a very cheap price, but he just doesn’t fit in right now in what we want our team to be.
Can he turn into the player that we want? A physical, strong on his skates, RW who digs pucks out of the corners and is a presence in front of the net. Probably not. On the other hand, after reading comments below, I actually had to look back to the top and see how big he is. 6’1" 190 isn’t that bad. Another 10 pounds of muscle and this guy looks like a real hockey player. The only problem is that after watching him for a full year, I really thought from the way he played that he was about 5’10 160.
I would love to see him develop into the player we need, just don’t think it will happen. He should get traded to a team that needs a skilled 2nd line winger. If that happens, he will probably excel for another team, if he is the scoring focus on the line he plays on. And that is ok. It’s not a failure on the Caps part, they already have better at what Flash provides. Even though hsi contract is small, I hope we can get a significant addition for whatever we trade him for.
by HateOffSeason on May 28, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Keep in mind that Fleischmann is listed at 6’1’’, 190 and that last year he was listed at 6’1’’, 193 and Boudreau referred to him as being 180 talking to reporters. To the best of my knowledge, Flash bumped up to about 185 in the offseason and was back in the 175-180 range after his illness.
by David M. Getz on May 28, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
conquering mono
Interestingly enough, and awkwardly mentioned considering the recent news flurry coming outta Florida, one remedy for recovering quickly from mononucleosis is a 5-day treatment of a steroids-based drug.
The duration of mono can be as short as 2 weeks with about 4 weeks rest afterward, or as long as 6 or 8 months with CFS for the rest of your life (chronic fatigue syndrome). Basically, it’s a virus that forces your body to release white blood cells into the bloodstream before they’re fully mature and able to do their job of fighting off germs properly. At least that’s what I remember from having mono myself in high school (two weeks with the 5-day treatment, and an enforced 4 weeks break from sports afterward).
I think Peerless is hitting on something really important here (and my main gripe with Fleischmann): he doesn’t give you all that much in the way of anything other than offense. He’s an okay defensive player but he shouldn’t be killing penalties, he’s not at all physical, he isn’t a net presence, etc. That kind of skill set is okay if you’re a dominant offensive player – after all if Fleischmann had been as productive as Ovechkin or Semin this year, no one would care that he doesn’t hit – but if you’re not, it doesn’t bring enough to the table because there are guys like Brooks Laich, R.J. Umberger, Trent Hunter, and Dustin Byfuglien who are just as productive (or nearly as productive) and help their team win even when they’re not putting points on the board. A guy who produces at the level Fleischmann has (~17-20 goals and ~35-45 points) has to do more besides put up points to be a valuable asset.
by David M. Getz on May 28, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree with both of you. When I look at the roster and ask myself where the realistic areas for improvement are, Fleishman is at the top of my list. If he is a speedy winger, he needs to show some offensive skill other than skating fast, if he is a defensive forward, he needs to get more strength and connect on some hits. He is one of those guys who doesn’t appear to be particularly good at any one thing. At his spot in the lineup he needs to bring some kind of niche skill to the table.
Felt like a 6, though I guess we’ll see if he has split seasons again next year.
If memory serves, didn’t he bulk up last offseason, albeit slightly?
Did he bulk up over the summer, only to shrink down during the season?
Flash has redeeming qualities – 20 goals for $725,000 during the regular season will come in handy – but I just don’t believe in his game come playoff time (to the limited extent that I do during the regular season).
He gets a 5 – the lower end of what I expected. He is who I thought he was.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
If Fleischmann is a bargain — and you could make the argument that he is at that price — then the winger the Caps get to replace Kozlov (be it Fehr or someone from outside) had better have some edge to his game. Have four wingers on the top two lines who either: a) aren’t very adept/interested in their own end, b) incapable/unwilling to pay a price in high traffic areas (Ovechkin being an exception), or c) both is a recipe for an early exit once more.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Agreed.
In my dream world, Flash scores 20+ by the deadline and is shipped away to someone fooled into thinking he’s a legitimate Top-6 skill winger.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Hmmm. I wouldn’t be surprised to see McPhee dangle him at the draft, honestly, if he sees something he wants, and with McPhee, you never know. He’s got eight new contracts that kick in this year, and he’s probably only losing one so far. If he’s looking to add edge and physicality (and he’d be a fool not to be), he’ll probably be looking to move some contracts before July 1.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I’d be fine with that, too.
And he’s the Caps are obviously going to be shedding a heckuva lot more than one contract – they have 23 or 24 free agents, many of whom will be histoire.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Most likely. There seems to be a lot of deadwood-clearing coming up. I think Flash is the type of player we’ve got a glut of, and that glut is something McPhee can and likely will make use of.
Which begs the question of "who gets resigned and who doesn’t?, but that could be a thread all its own.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I actually don’t think Flash is the type of player the Caps have a lot of in the org. Who else fits his mold – not skilled enough to be a skill guy, not gritty enough to grind, etc.? I haven’t seen Bouchard enough, but can’t think of too many others that might fit.
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Sure, kick a guy while he’s down with a torn spleen…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Q would take that kick, get back up and block a shot.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 28, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
B/c Q is Canadian and Lepisto is a Finn. /Cherry’d
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by J.P. on May 28, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Quintin Laing kicks more ass than Fatboy Slim! Too bad his entire salary probably gets forwarded to his dentist…
by war_capitals on May 28, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Bouchard and Perreault could potentially both fill that role. As Tyler said Lepisto is the equivalent on D.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 28, 2009 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions
As perennial skilled disappointments? Geez, I hope not.
by DrinkingPartner on May 28, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions
If Flash is considered a bargain, I’d love to see him packaged with one of our overpayed contracts to clear salary cap space.
Its probably too late to get another team to bite on Flash+ Nylander, but could Flash and Morrison be traded for a upgrade on defenseman? Or perhaps w/Theodore?
In hindsight, what if that rumored trade w/chicago (nylander for Bufyglin+modry) had gone through – that could have changed everything for the caps season – A big body in front of the next and salary cap flexibility at the deadline.
Flash and Mo was a combo I hadn’t previously conceived, but that could possibly work.
I seriously doubt Theo’s going anywhere. Honestly, striking October and the 1st playoff game from the record, he was great for us. He’s expensive, but he’s only here one more year.
by DrinkingPartner on May 28, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Its probably too late to get another team to bite on Flash+ Nylander, but could Flash and Morrison be traded for a upgrade on defenseman?
I think the biggest issue with looking to trade for a defenseman is that the Capitals already have eight they expect to NHL caliber next season (including Morrisonn), and Carlson appears to be close. It’s only going to make sense for them to make a deal for one who’s a top-flight guy. At the same time, it also only makes sense to take on one year of salary with projections saying the cap could go down to as low as 50 million in 2010-11 and Backstrom and Semin up for new contracts. That combination of a legit top pairing defenseman, a one year contract, and a team that’s interested in Morrisonn and Fleischmann might be awfully hard to find.
by David M. Getz on May 28, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Is there anywhere a really bad team with a really great defenseman? A team that would take a 3-for-1? How about a team in serious cap trouble?
Morrisonn, Jurcina and Fleischmann for one stud? That would leave the Caps with Green, STUD, Poti, Schultz, Pothier, Alzner, Erskine and Carlson.
Would you throw either Alzner or Carlson in to get Kimmo Timmonen?
by Gould Old Days on May 28, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
The problem is that there aren’t very many truly terrible teams anymore because of the cap. I’d say Atlanta, Tampa, NYI, Toronto, and Colorado are the only ones I can think of. On those teams, the only guy worth looking at (given the Capitals situation and contracts of the players) would be Kaberle, but if Burke decides to move Kaberle, he’ll get a very high offer for him.
In terms of teams in cap trouble, the one that comes to mind immediately is Anaheim (and Pronger). The Ducks have (more or less) a dozen NHL players under contract and $20 million in cap space. Tough, but not dire. Given his age and all, they might want to move Pronger and a couple of roster players could be appealing – the only thing is that they’re going to want a blue chip prospect too, and I’d be willing to bet someone gives it to them.
The Flyers cap situation is bad – they have no goalies and 53M committed. But I wouldn’t touch Kimmo Timmonen for anything. He’s 34 and has four years left on a contract with a 6.33 million dollar cap hit.
by David M. Getz on May 28, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I feel almost the same way about Pronger. I just don’t think that guy has much left. But I’ve been very wrong before.
How about Minnesota or Columbus? They have some pretty good defensemen. But my impression is that they also have a lot of D-depth, so Mo & Juice wouldn’t be very attractive.
by Gould Old Days on May 28, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Dunno about Minnesota, but Columbus is pretty well set for next year, but if they want a slightly cheaper replacement for Backman..
That team should be fun to watch next year with a full year of Brassard and Filatov to go with watching them decide what to do with Nash.
by Bald Pollack on May 28, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I would take Timmonen way before I touch Kaberle. We already have Green and Kaberle isn’t much more than a PP specialist. He didn’t lead his team in 5 on 5 ice for D, and he wasn’t even close in PK ice (last I looked he was last on the team for D TOI on the PK). I don’t think he fills much of a need for us and I question his competitive desire.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 28, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Flash is not a playoff-hockey player. He excels at losing battles. He has all the grit of chrome. An inability to win puck battles almost cost the Caps vs. NYR and it was a factor against PIT.
That said, he’s cheap. And cheap is a plus. Likeliest scenario: Deadline dangle.
by TylerG on May 28, 2009 8:16 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
He excels at losing battles
See? You can say something positive about Flash!
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I’m curious if (and what) you rated him. I agree that his game is not playoff-hockeyish, and I’d venture that he’s about the seventh or eighth Cap forward I want on the ice for the PK, but fourth on this team in G/60 is nothing to sneeze at.
In a lot of ways, his trajectory is like Fehr’s (with twice the minutes): he’s this close.
from the house that Red Jesus built
But, if he's here...
He’s GOTS to be off the PK. Among PK regulars, Flash was easily the worst Cap forward. And he did it against teams’ second PP units. The stinko.
by TylerG on May 28, 2009 8:18 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
So how many people are voting Flash low because of BB’s apparent expectations of him instead of voting on what they personally expected of him?
by Fehr and Balanced on May 28, 2009 8:19 AM EDT reply actions
The latter. I gave him a five. I thought he was a soft, weak, empty-net-missing roster-filler. And that’s how he played.
by TylerG on May 28, 2009 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yeah, I voted based on my expectations, not Gabby’s. Had I voted based on his, Flash would’ve been in the negative numbers.
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by J.P. on May 28, 2009 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It’s tough, because voting on him based on my expectation doesn’t come close to reflecting how pissed I am about the way he was used this year. If I vote a “5” then it signals I thought he had a respectable season. If I vote a “1” it signals that I actually thought he was pretty damn good. Neither of those really captures my feelings on his season.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 28, 2009 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Admittedly, this voting system is imperfect – the same guy does worse if you had the preconceived notion that he was actually an able hockey player than if you thought he was a complete turd – but I think it beats rating them solely on contributions, because then you get AO at 10, Backstrom at 9 and so on, which doesn’t really tell you the story of the role players who are doing exactly that – playing their roles.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Well any voting system is imperfect, but I agree that you have to base it on your expectations. My point was more that it is particularly difficult in Flash’s case because I think a lot of people didn’t expect much from him at the start of the season, but then look at how many opportunities he got all year and his inability to consistently do anything with those opportunities. Based on expectations he probably didn’t come in much lower than anyone expected, but based on capitalizing on his opportunities he comes in much lower, IMO.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 28, 2009 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup. I found Fehr to be similarly difficult – I had expectations that he didn’t meet, but was that based on the role he was given or his inability to grab a larger role when the chance was presented? etc.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah, inverse problems. Naturally, I voted the Canadian boy higher.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 28, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I gave him a 3. And I know why. To me, he’s become the latest Zubrus, or Zednik, or Bulis, or whoever. Someone that everyone keeps saying is a top talent, will have a breakout year, etc. And it. Just. Never. Happens.
If I reset my standards for him to 20-goal, 20-assist levels, my frustrations would decrease tremendously. But if that’s what he really is, then he needs to play better defense and the Caps’ brain trust needs to stop touting him as a future great player.
It seems like he is at least somewhat responsible with D, as his take away/give aways indicate.
I think the issue for me, and why I don’t think he fits on the team, is that he is really soft on the puck, like Pep said. That alone isn’t a killer, but the fact that his role as a second line winger with Semin is. There is less toughness between the two of them than there is in Backstorm’s water bottle. Where else does his fit? He’ll be too pricey after this year as a 3rd liner and he doesn’t have the production to fit the top line.
Trade ’im!
by Love and Osechkin on May 28, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Flash = main trade bait on the Caps' NHL roster?
the mono bout really screwed everything up for me, or at least gave enough doubt as to WHY Fleischmann went from praiseworthy to usual frustration. Not sure the Caps would get much as far as NHL ready talent for him, but could probably swing some picks.
Gave him a 4.
Flash is the type of guy other GMs always seem to covet. Low cap figure, under contract with RFA years to come, smooth skater, a near 20-goal scorer with plenty of excuses as to why he didn’t score 30. In other words, the type of player opposing coaches and GMs believe they could turn into, say, another Jiri Hudler? By himself, he may not get you that much, but he could be the final piece in a trade that could bring that shut down defenseman we’ve all coveted. Bruce may hate to see him go, but that’s not his decision. Plus moving Flash out would open up a space for someone like Bourque who will bring the grit Flash has lacked. Not to mention Chris is probably a better penalty killer.
funny, Hudler is exactly who comes to mind when i think of Flash.
by ns on May 28, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
<img src=“”http://www.flickr.com/photos/38848254@N07/3572595613/" title=“sbs by jswat20, on Flickr”>
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Flash and the ladies?
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by J.P. on May 28, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
When I think of Fleischmann (after several adult beverages and soothing music, while lying in my recliner), I think of Ales Hemsky — about the same size, same temperament, same style.
Only Hemsky’s better….
…and a lot more expensive.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on May 28, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
One thing I find interesting...
about Flash is that if he was still in the Red Wings’ system, he’d probably be a rookie next year, as opposed to a 3rd year borderline-NHLer.
That is, if he was still in their system at this point. He’s so frustrating because he is a destroyer of worlds only a level below, and he shows that he can be, sometimes, at this level. In this system, even.
I think Flash, at 25, can still improve in the ways in which he needs to: getting his ass kicked in front of the net. BB may be the wrong coach to do it, but if someone can convince him that his job is on the line if he doesn’t make sacrifices in front of the net, I think he’d turn into what we’d want him to. I think he does what he needs to do to keep his job, BB’s just setting the ‘satisfaction bar’ way too low.
by DrinkingPartner on May 28, 2009 10:07 AM EDT reply actions
Well, in Flash’s defense, he probably thinks he’s doing the right thing since Bruce is always telling anyone who will listen that Tomas is going to be a star in the league. If you keep hearing how great you’re going to be, subconsciously you’ve got to believe it’s just a matter of time. Conversely, if he had a different coach who said Flash needs to get his act together or he’s going back to the AHL, we might see a more motivated player. One other thing, the “Flash” nickname has got to go. It sends entirely the wrong message.
by b.orr4 on May 28, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Flesh? … nope, sounds too much like adult entertainment.
Flush?… nope, probably goes too far the other way.
Flosh?… practicing dental hygiene while inebriated?
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on May 28, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
What about: Gnash
For what he makes me do almost every time he’s out there, gliding around.
by Uncle C on May 28, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think so. He is fast, after all.
by DrinkingPartner on May 28, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it’s a decent nickname, considering he shows flashes of being a decent player, but they certainly are fleeting.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Glimmer.
http://dclandingstrip.blogspot.com/
by ninefttall on May 28, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i could get on board with glimmer! not sure if that would take in the locker room, though..
by Natty Bumppo on May 28, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I like the nicknames that are a play on words off of the last name, like Flash and “Sarge” Schultz.
Cluster was my callsign in the Air Force, and when said in conjunction with my last name “Foulk”, becomes quite clever, don’t ya see!. And it certainly wasn’t an indication of my flying skills (at least I hope not).
It is certainly better than the other options they were floating around for me, like “Fist” and “Finger”. Hey-oh!
What’d you fly? Did you drop clusters?
by Gould Old Days on May 28, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
The mighty F-15E Strike Eagle, same one as in my avatar.
Yes, I did drop some CBU-87. Very cool weapon.
My pops worked on planes for a long time out at Nellis, back in the late seventies/early eighties. He always had me interested in planes. I still remember most of them, and I had toy C-130, F-15, B-2, F-122, and A-10 toys.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
My last assignment was at Nellis in ‘04-’05. Great base, lots of history, “Home of the Fighter Pilot”.
This is a re-tread, but I got a kick out of seeing Chris Clark fly with the Blue Angels last year.
or perhaps?
you could say that the wings have their act together and the fact that they shipped him speaks volumes about where his ceiling is.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
We still got the better of that trade easily. I’d take Green and Flash for Lang any day.
by red army line on May 28, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Fleischmann was able to string together a good number of solid games in a row during the first half. I wonder if his problem (like for many of the young players) is as simple as conditioning. Just aging helps a lot of players (there’s a reason they call 27-32 the “prime”) and perhaps he has an even better sense of what he needs to do to make it though a whole NHL season now. Alzner certainly does.
by Gould Old Days on May 28, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions
A 4...
It’d be an 8 for the first half and a 0 for the second half… Admittedly the Mono did some damage, but not that much.
When he started out with 12 goals in 25 games, it looked like he was on his way to a 30 goal campaign, if not 40… but now, going into 2009-10, he’s, at best, a borderline 2nd-liner, and perhaps even a 3rd.
Why he’s out there killing penalties is beyond me, esp. when the Caps have Laich, Bradley, Gordon and Steckel to do that…
How does he get to a 10: Do what he did for the first 25 games this year over the course of a season and the playoffs…
Let's go Caps!
same reasons I gave him a 6. hot start, but cooled off after mono and was so-so in the playoffs. If he stays next year, I expect 25+ goals and more hitting.
by RedskinFan4Life on May 28, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Have you ever had mono? Honestly? It can wipe you out for MONTHS.
Actually, I think Flash got a bum rap this season. Pneumonia will do that to you.
2008-2009: 73 GP, 19 G, 18 A, 20 PIM
2007-2008: 75 GP, 10 G, 20 A, 18 PIM
2006-2007: 29 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 8 PIM
2005-2006: 14 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PIM
He’s improved over the 2007-2008 season, even playing fewer games and dropping 30 pounds to pneumonia. I’m not worried about Flash as a player. I think he’ll kick butt next year!
I gave him a 4…and felt I was being generous. Good thread, good discussion but way too much thought on a guy who has to either make something of his chance next season or be trampled over by a procession of youger, hungrier “Baby-Caps”.
He needs to bulk up and man up if he wants to even think about getting the kind of quality ice time and linemates he got this past season too.
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 28, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions
It might astonish you to read that Flash also finished tied for fourth-best on the Caps during the regular season in takeaways (with 53) and, more importantly, had the third-best regular season takeaway-to-giveaway ratio on the club, of 1.56. (But keep in mind here our previous note on the overzealous tally of both of these two stats, to different degrees, by the official Verizon Center scorers.)
I also thing Fleischmann was much improved on defense. While Flash on the penalty kill is definitely still a stretch on a team that has Gordon, Steckel, Backstrom, Laich, Semin, etc., he was pretty responsible at his own end. Definitely much better than last year. I think that’s what pushed me to give him a 6 instead of a 5.
by Gould Old Days on May 28, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions
Someone mentioned Flash being the next Zubrus, Zednik, Bulis. I concur. Thats exactly what I see. Its de ja vu all over again. Years of wasting time, only to trade him for a 3rd round pick or some other cast off that wont make the lineup and wont get brought back to Hershey the next year. I would have liked to have been wrong about Flash, but no such luck. I could deal with the 19 goals if there was another aspect to his game, but he gets shoved around, isnt strong enough to hit, doesn’t drive the net… in short, he does exactly what Zednik, Zubrus and Bulis did: He wastes our time.
Someone mentioned Flash being the next Zubrus, Zednik, Bulis. I concur. Thats exactly what I see. Its de ja vu all over again. Years of wasting time, only to trade him for a 3rd round pick or some other cast off that wont make the lineup and wont get brought back to Hershey the next year.
Bulis and Zednik were traded (with a first round pick) for Linden, Zubrus, and a second round pick. Zubrus was later traded for Jiřà Novotný (the “some other cast off that wont make the lineup and wont get brought back to Hershey the next year”) but also for a first round draft pick. The Caps got pretty good returns on those guys.
by David M. Getz on May 28, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
The picks they got (I believe) eventually turned into Mestery and Kugryshev in last year’s ’08 draft.
by Bald Pollack on May 28, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
J.P.,
I’m not sure if you’re planning to do this, but if it’s possible, could you compare the scores from this year’s polls to those of last season’s? I seem to recall everyone being very high on the majority of the team and this year it looks like we’re in the middle. Funny how the way a season ends creates a bias for our thoughts. :)
It’s the last stat in the stat section at the top.
‘07-’08 Rink Wrap:4.14 rating
by HateOffSeason on May 28, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
The middle of the road should be expected on this though, based on the decision process for the ratings. Last year, the team overacheived, and the ratings probably reflected that. This year, we all expected the team to be good, win the division, and get out of the first round. That is what happened, so the the ratings should probably hover around 5, exactly what we expected.
by HateOffSeason on May 28, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I think this might be what you’re looking for, Bugula.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Looking at those scores, I can’t imagine there will be anyone moving “up the charts,” so to speak. There could be a lot of “fall through the floor” scores, though.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on May 28, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
my guess for 2008-2009 is something like this..
pretty much what we expected out of most players, with a few variants on either side.
by Natty Bumppo on May 28, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
this i should’ve realized.
still, not as phallic as..
[water tower, Ypsilanti, Michigan]
my google image searches alone could get me reprimanded at work, nevermind all the time i spend on this site.
by Natty Bumppo on May 28, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Huet
Totally off-topic, but did anyone happen to notice the end of last night’s Hawks-Wings game? Huet’s looking to one side for the puck while a Red Wing is knocking it into the open net on the other side. Some guys just don’t learn.
Huet played extremely well last night. I don’t fault him for the loss. Indeed, it never would have made it to OT but for him.
by Scott in Shaw on May 28, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, between last night and the game before it, he was mediocre!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
This is the rating I will struggle the most with.
I gave him a 6. If I could have given him a 5.5 I would have.
My dog house last year consisted of:
Schultz
Flash
I think the most frustrating thing to me about Flash this year was not so much his fault, but the way BB was using him. Laich on the top PP unit down the stretch was a vital key to scoring PP goals for us. The guy was knocking them in left and right. In playoff series where our PP was inconsistent, BB seemed to keep going back to Flash instead of brooks and it bothered me a ton.
That’s not Flash’s fault. Infact, I wonder sometimes how much that pnumonia really hurt him in the long run. “Wow, things are finally going well for me……… BAM, sick.” That can really eat someone’s emotions. Clark could be the same way. Groin → Healthy —> Groin… —Healthy for like a week→ Forearm/Wrist…
I think that’s why I gave him a little pass on his end of the year production. He also didn’t have very consistent linemates so given some of those next year, he could improve to 25-30 goals.
Flash’s development is key to the ability to trade Semin. If flash can develop, semin can go. But until we get someone to replace Semin’s production and game changing ability, we’ve got to keep him.
As for my dog-house this year…
Fehr
Nyls early in the year, Flash late in the year.
So wait...
Flash is not in the doghouse because you feel Bruce put him in situations where he couldn’t succeed (by giving him 16min/g when he wasn’t scoring…at.all.) and his sickness ruined his “vibe/momentum” whatever you want to call it. Yet Fehr, who spends about as much time on the ice as a 16 year-old does during his first time, and still scores at a rate greater than everyone (haha, just realized that pun) “not named Alex” is in the doghouse!?
It.Doesn’t.Make.Sense.
right, this was the crux of why i gave flash a 3. i understand that expectations were low coming into the season, but the amount of PT given to flash—both on PP and in critical situations late in the season—offered plenty of chances for #14 to “break through” and earn a future pay rise. personally, i’ve seen enough of him, whereas going into the season i was still hopeful that he might become something more. (i.e., i was willing to give him another year or two to figure it out, but now i’d just assume we move him.)
by Natty Bumppo on May 28, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
1) It would be difficult to give him less than a 5 being that expectations weren’t that high. His flashes of offense were a teaser for sure. Leaving fans(and probably the coaching staff) asking why isn’t this evident all the time?
2) It has to be viewed as a step forward though. If he can put on a few pounds. He has shown that he has the skills to be a decent 2nd line forward. If not this upcoming season though, then the ‘experiment is over. At his cap friendly price you can be sure he’ll be back next fall.
3) For Flash to get a 10 next season he’d have to score more reliably through out the season. 30 goals, 60-70 points
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
He needs 30/35/65 and to not get knocked off the puck every damn time to get a 10 next year. And get off the damn PK.
5 next year is somewhere in the neighborhood of 17/20/37, playing a bit more consistently over the course of the season.
I gave him a 7 because I didn’t think he could be a 20G guy going into the season. I’m not a fan – mostly because he tries to be Semin with the puck in open ice, but doesn’t have the hands.
-d
I watched flash in Hershey for his duration up here. He was an excellent player and I was really excited to see his growth in the NHL. However, now that I’ve been watching him on TV there are only “flashes” of what used to be his entire gameplay up in Hershey. I can’t say that he hasn’t progressed because he did score 20 goals, but I’m not sure if he can be much more than that. Watching Chris Bourque for that past couple years makes me wonder what he can do with the Caps. He always tries hard and is skating hard, something that flash seems to lack. I think Bourque would be a good replacement, plus he can play the PK really well (minus his size) and that seems to be what BB keeps doing with Flash for some reason…
I would say that Flash definitely improved over last year. At one point, his stats were looking like the Semin of 07-08 for goals, with more assists. But the pneumonia definitely set him back. That’s a serious disease. A healthy Flash would be useful.
When Fehr was on his goal scoring streak, guess who was his playmaker? Flash.
With being primarily an offensive player, I don’t really understand him on PK duty when he doesn’t have a good Plus/Minus. But maybe it will help him become better at D.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 121 |
|
Atlanta
|
82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 |
|
Carolina
|
82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 80 |
|
Florida
|
82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
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