George McPhee and Free Agency
by J.P. on Jul 1, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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"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." - Capitals GM George McPhee
Since George McPhee took over as general manager of the Caps back in June of 1997, he's dipped his toe into the free agent pool a few times and even made a splash or two. But he has tended to be rather cautious, a conservatism likely borne of equal parts personal philosophy, ownership (current and previous) influence, and simple supply and demand.
Of course, there's another factor that makes anyone other than Glen Sather most sane general managers hesitate before pulling the trigger on a headline-grabbing, merchandise-selling deal: fear.
Like any GM with a decade-plus under his belt, GMGM has been burned before in free agency. For example, with just over a year on the job, McPhee opened up the team's check book and signed Dmitri Mironov. Coming off 52- and 43-point seasons, the big Russian blueliner put up 46 points for Washington... over the course of his four-year/$11.5-million deal (injuries sidelined Mironov for the last year-and-a-half of the contract, but even before the back injury, Dmitri was on the express train to Bustville). For a team of whom much is expected, the next big free agent McPhee signs may be the last... or the one who wins him a Cup. National Hockey League General Manager - not for the faint of heart.
To see why he may be a bit gun shy, here's a look at the ten times GMGM has spent more than $1 million (annually) to sign a UFA with previous NHL experience and how those deals turned out (I believe this is a complete list of such signings, but some historical data is tough to find and/or trust):
| Deal | Date | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | W | L | GAA | SV% | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Lang |
5-yr./$25m | 7/1/02 | 145 | 51 | 92 | 143 | 14 | - | - | - |
- |
Traded |
| Michael Nylander | 4-yr./$19.5m | 7/2/07 | 112 | 20 | 50 | 70 | -19 | - |
- | - |
- |
Current |
| Tom Poti |
4-yr./$14m | 7/1/07 | 123 | 5 | 37 | 42 | 12 | - | - | - | - | Current |
| Dmitri Mironov |
4-yr./$11.5m | 7/14/98 | 155 | 8 | 38 | 46 | -6 | - | - | - | - | Retired |
| Brian Pothier |
4-yr./$10m | 7/1/06 | 119 | 9 | 36 | 45 | -6 | - | - | - | - | Current |
| Jose Theodore |
2-yr./$9m | 7/1/08 | 57 | - | - | - | - | 32 | 17 | 2.87 | .900 | Current |
| Viktor Kozlov |
2-yr./$5m | 7/1/07 | 148 | 29 | 66 | 95 | 19 | - | - | - | - | Not re-signed |
| Ulf Dahlen |
2-yr./$1.85m | 7/21/99 | 148 | 30 | 56 | 86 | 22 | - | - | - | - | Re-signed |
| Andrew Cassels |
1-yr./$1.5m | 8/9/05 | 31 | 4 | 8 | 12 | -3 | - | - | - | - | Waived |
| Donald Brashear |
1-yr./$1m | 7/14/06 | 77 | 4 | 9 | 13 | -1 | - | - | - | - | Re-signed |
See any "game changers" there? Me neither. Lang was very good, but became more valuable in trade as the team around him tanked, Dahlen was outstanding in his role, and the rest of the results are either still pending, unimpressive, or flat-out awful. McPhee, then, is speaking from experience when he says:
"[Big money deals or long-term deals] just haven't worked around the league. For the last several years, there have been lots of players that have signed big money deals and you'd be hard pressed to find a handful that were any good. It seems that six months after those deals are signed, GMs are trying to move that same guy."
And by "that same guy" he means Michael Nylander.
On the other hand, McPhee (who, incidentally, signed his first NHL contract 27 years ago today... as a free agent) has found some relative gems - guys who could play the role for which they were acquired, at least - in much smaller summertime deals. Granted, these are low-risk/medium-reward deals, unlike some of the more high-risk/high-reward contracts above, but any time you can sign a Matt Bradley or a David Steckel for pennies over the League minimum and, four years later, they're integral parts of your team, it's worth noting. Sometimes these "smaller free agent signings" turn out to be a bit more than that.
In the current salary-capped NHL, of course, it's all the more important to limit the number of bad contracts on the books (just look at the perennial contenders - not much dead weight there), and the worst contracts tend to be those that have been inflated (in dollars and/or years) by market pressures. And yet despite the relatively long odds on landing a big fish who is actually worth his contract, fans clamor for these deals, whether their teams were one win from the Cup or the draft lottery, because they represent instant hope. Closer to home, even when we read "We have enough [forwards] internally, we believe, to be a good team, a playoff team," and know it to be true, it feels strangely familiar to the Abe Pollin era Caps - cautious so as to stay competitive year-in and year-out, but always that proverbial "one player away."
But the temptation is there. Every summer. And every summer, someone gives in. A lot of someones, in fact. And not many of them win Cups. So you can believe it when McPhee says, "Don't be surprised if we sit this one out," and even agree with it when they do, but that doesn't mean that, in the arms race that the Eastern Conference has become, you can't be disappointed when everyone else gets better and the Caps get a winger for Hershey. At some point, it's going to be time to get that "one player." With all the chips this team has, at some point - be it this summer, at the trade deadline or some other time in the not-too-distant future - it's going to be time to take the risk and go all-in. And if nothing happens today, that's all the more flexibility the team has to make the right deal - a better deal - in the future.
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That next to last paragraph should be required reading.
by Bald Pollack on Jul 1, 2009 7:32 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I will be happy if the Caps acquire one gritty forward (read, Knuble) in the $2 million range. That is all I want out of free agency. Center may be a greater need, but I am not sure there is a good center out there that will not cause cap problems.
In other news, Heatley demands a trade and then nixes the trade when it is made.
by Moonage Daydream on Jul 1, 2009 7:44 AM EDT reply actions
That’s about right. Knuble is the only guy I see out there in my spreadsheet who fills a real need and isn’t out of our price range. I absolutely do not want GMGM to break the bank on this one – if you’re going to do it, do it at the deadline.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
And if nothing happens today, that’s all the more flexibility the team has to make the right deal – a better deal – in the future.
Rec’d because at the trade deadline there are better deals to be had, and you truly will know your needs to make a SC run.
by Moonage Daydream on Jul 1, 2009 7:54 AM EDT reply actions
some teams are interested in Micheal Nylander. Caps could dip in a bit more to get those needs if this comes reality. maybe that gritty winger or physical dman? or if we could get those in a trade for nyls. wow
While I agree in principle with what GMGM is saying, this only works if you are or have been really good at player development and drafting, which the organization has been recently. A couple bad drafts and then you are trying to grasp for players to keep the fan base together.
I’m ok with not getting into the FA market, but if there is a trading partner to where you can get value, trade dollar for dollar to fill a void or get that “one player away” guy, GMGM needs to pull the trigger.
1) Don’t these guy(GM’s) learn? Every year we see a big name signed for mega bucks and within a season there is major buyer’s remorse!
2) Glen Sather found an even bigger sucker than himself in Bob Gainey for taking that bloated contract of Scott Gomez(>7 mil for another 5 years!) Bowmeester for almost 7 million? Is Sutter kidding? Flame fans are gonna feel like Ranger fans do with Redden!
3) So if GMGM intends to sit out the first day of free agency while his counter parts spend like drunken sailors, good for him!
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
I’ll have mixed feelings after we sit out the free-for-all. Sure, I’ll be as disappointed as the next person that we didn’t sign anyone, but I also agree that the team is pretty well stocked. They’ve got another year and another playoff disappointment under their belts, too. Managing health may turn out to be the most important asset they can have this year.
Knuble would be an effective addition. And not too expensive either. But GMGMs bread & butter is trades so I think you’re more likely to see a Kessel, Savard, or Marleau or some RFA than any UFAs coming to the Caps. Of course any of those is going to require some talent going the other way, which I’m not too sure we are willing to give up.
And of course THIS is still a damn solid line of thinking.
And if nothing happens today, that’s all the more flexibility the team has to make the right deal – a better deal – in the future.
I think GMGM being handcuffed this past trade deadline really bothered him and the organization and they probably vowed not to let that happen again.
by JSchon on Jul 1, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Depends on what it is. You know that Boston would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get their paws on Chris Bourque.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
This is not to say that the Caps would or should give him up, just that Boston wouldn’t mind getting their paws on him.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
i think its fair to speculate they would like to have C-Bo because it would be a nice story, but I don’t think they would press to make it happen (unless you’ve read something that I haven’t)
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
No, but I would be VERY unsurprised to see him as part of a trade for Kessel or Savard.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Dunno about that. They’ve said they’re willing to trade in the Eastern Conference.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Savard has a NTC. The Boston Globe has reported that he’d only consider waiving it for Ontario teams.
And there is a BIG difference between trading Kessel to TBL or FLA and WSH.
Savard has a NTC. The Boston Globe has reported that he’d only consider waiving it for Ontario teams.
I take it the fruit basket from yesterday didn’t change his mind.
Now you’ve got me thinking happy thoughts about throwing steak on a grill. Hmmm … that has possibilities for Saturday.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I was thinking about asking if they could throw in a couple racks of those great ribs they have, and maybe a nice brisket, too. Yum, ribs!
Ahhh, but would you have thought that MTL would have traded Higgins AND their “Karl Alzner” for the wonderful performance-to-contract $ ratio of one Scott Gomez?
So wait...
you’re saying that YOU, Tyler, are basically one of the only hockey fans alive who could see how this fits/makes sense? Shit man, the Sedin’s could be had, BOTH OF THEM, for about $2.5-$3M more than what Gomez is making BY HIMSELF. I’m sorry…I’m with you most of the time…but this move doesn’t make sense, even in a “win-NOW” philosophy.
I didn’t say it made sense, did I? Find me where I said that. K thx bai.
I can understand why MTL would feel like it was the kind of deal they had to make, especially given that Gainey bombed spectacularly in the fifth year of his much-touted five-year plan, that he was about to have Glen Metropolit battling Tomas Plekanec to be his No. 1 C (ha ha), and that he has to produce for a new ownership group. Sometimes the best way to ‘produce’ is to be busy. That’s all a perfect storm for dunderheaded dealing.
I’d also submit that MTL knows more about how Higgins’ multiple injuries will affect him going forward than NYR does.
Except the Rags can get rid of Higgins…finding another idiot to take on Gomez’ contract would border on the miraculous.
Anyway, back to the original ?; when I asked of anyone would have thought that the Gomez-to-MTL deal could happen, your response was “yes”. It’s then safe to assume, at least in a common sense way, that you’re either 1) psychic – which I figure your not, but who knows; so that leaves 2) it is a plausible outcome to you – a) that ANY deal involving Gomez would be done or b) someone would acquire him while giving up their best prospect.
If you can understand why MTL would do that, then it does, in fact, “make sense” to you…right?
Gomez to Montreal made a bit of sense. They had cap space to burn and needed a #1 C, and Gomez was obviously going to come cheaper than Lecavalier. If they didn’t want the Sedins (didn’t want to get into a bidding war with Toronto or didn’t want both of them or whatever) Gomez made sense.
Gomez to Monreal in a deal that sent out their best D prospect is what made no sense. Gainey should have had all the leverage and instead ends up taking the worst contract AND giving up the best secondary pieces.
If you can understand why MTL would do that, then it does, in fact, "make sense" to you…right?
At the risk of stealing Tyler’s thunder…
Understanding why someone else would do something and it making sense to you personally don’t have to be one and the same. For example, I understand why Montreal made the move for Gomez – they’re under constant immense pressure by virtue of their market, including pressure to make big moves. Plus it’s unlikely the organization would stand by Gainey through a rebuild (in large part because of that pressure).
All that said, it doesn’t make sense to me to make that move right now.
But if it doesn’t make sense to me, then I (by virtue of it not making any sense) DON’T understand why they would do it.
Actions made out of desperation more often than not don’t make sense. And that is exactly what this was.
Well I think the most fundamental reason in this situation (and oftentimes in sports) is that the incentives of the organization and the incentives of the general manager aren’t in sync: the GM wants to keep his job and what gives him the best chance to keep his job isn’t always what’s best for the organization.
IMO aligning the incentives of McPhee and the Capitals so that McPhee could feel secure that his job was safe as long as he was making real progress is the smartest decision Ted ever made when it came to this team.
by David Getz on Jul 1, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I think many of us are rationalizing why Montreal is in desperation mode. And then the desperation move is rational. Still stupid, but rational. But managers make bad decisions based on their incentives all the time.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
And yes, I did just accuse Gainey of putting his job ahead of the organization.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
kinda like how the redskins keep making the same mistake over and over and over again each offseason
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by Sombrero Guy on Jul 1, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
The one that killed me was the guy on CI who actually suggested that the Caps should take lessons from Dan Snyder.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
One thing I will give GMGM (and Ted) is that they do seem to learn from their mistakes. The most notable being Jagr, for which learning meant a firesale and then a few awful years.
The Nylander deal is all over these statements and shows once again, GMGM learning from mistakes. Hell, Jose Theodore at 2 years over Huet at 4 years showed that last year. Jose could be trade bait, and maybe in hindsight he wasn’t worth $4.5 (or maybe he was) but at least we’re only talking about 1 year of having to deal with that salaray.
And finally, I think you are right – the team was hamstrung at the deadline last year – by the cap and by the contract limit. I don’t see them putting themselves in that position again, and that’s a good thing.
Dead on about the Theodore deal. Imagine having Huet for another 3 years at 5.6 mil for another 3 seasons?!
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
And once he got paid, what did he do in Chicago aside from modeling some nice Blackhawks ball caps? That’s a shame, too, cuz he looked pretty damned good for us going down the stretch. It burns me up to see athletes get away with that “I got paid” attitude, we should be thankful that we have management in place that at least TRIES to avoid that sort of train wreck (present Circlers excluded).
by war_capitals on Jul 1, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
But GMGMs bread & butter is trades so I think you’re more likely to see a Kessel, Savard, or Marleau or some RFA than any UFAs coming to the Caps.
But the biggest reason McPhee avoids free agency is because of the salaries and those guys are make/will command significant bucks.
Yes but Marleau’s 6.3 million dollar cap hit would be very hard for the Capitals to take on, as would Savard’s 5 million dollar one
Chris Drury?
Is not a #1 center on a Cup-contending team. A #2…maybe, but he isn’t really the sort of playmaker you’d like filling those roles. He hasn’t had as many as 40 assists since he was in Colorado in 2001.
If you've read this far...seek help.
To me, that list represents the glass half-empty/half-full approach. Yeah, there were no home runs, but out of that list of ten there are only three that I consider failures; Nyls, Cassels and Mironov. The others you’re getting value commensurate with the amount of the contract and their past performance. Sure, you expected more from Poti offensively, but you got a lot more defensively than most anticipated. Pothier’s injury set him back, but he performed admirably in the playoffs and should be a solid contributor this season. The others gave the Caps pretty much what their stats said they would. There are no Wade Redden-type failures under George’s watch. I’d be curious to see the overall success/failure rate of other GMs when it comes to free agent signings. I’m guessing it’s probably not much better (or worse) than McPhee’s. In the Holy Trinity of drafting, trading and signing free agents, the UFA route should always be the last resort. McPhee’s right to approach it that way. That said, free agency has it kerits and I still expect him to dip into the market for someone like a Knuble.
Wasn’t Jagr a trade not a UFA signing?
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
Yes, it was a trade, but didnt we extend his contract?
We sent Kris Beech and 2 other donkeys and some sex wax for him.
I’d forgotten it was a trade… And no matter what, he still is the albatross that all albatrosses are judged against.
Yeah, Jagr was a trade, then signed to a long term deal. I think the Caps got him just before the final year of his contract began, and extended it in the offseason before he ever played a game for the team.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Jags was acquired in a trade, amigo
For the 3 Horsemen of the Apocalypse: from CBC -
“Washington made the biggest capital gain possible on Wednesday, acquiring perennial NHL scoring champion Jaromir Jagr from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The trade sends Jagr and Frantisek Kucera to the Capitals for a package of top-flight prospects — Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk, Michal Sivek and future considerations.”
……all crashed and burned!
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
I think that says less about the players than about Pittsburgh’s drafting and development.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Three flops and a success isn’t a shining track record.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Fair enough, but that just means that it’s imprived since Jagr’s time. Hell, ours has too. :)
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
That remains to be seen, though I’d suggest they’ve hit more than missed in later rounds than we have, by a long shot.
by Bald Pollack on Jul 1, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
a package of top-flight prospects — Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk, Michal Sivek
249 games, 28-45-73, -45 combined.
Top flight, eh? What airline? Pan Am? Eastern? Allegheny?
If you've read this far...seek help.
they didnt do anything to anyone
which, methinks, is the point
by twistedlogic on Jul 1, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Jackass might be a little much. No worries, I still step on toes a lot here too. There’s lots of toes to step on.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
It’s fun to watch several of you question the Rink dogma though. Even if I don’t always agree with your perspective, I’m supportive of that. Keeps things interesting.
Why are we being so testy today? First, Tyler defending GMGM’s honor, now DMG?
by DrinkingPartner on Jul 1, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
that’s what emoticons are for :-)
You can be the biggest smartass in the world, but add a goofy face and all will be forgiven…..
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jul 1, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly, you goddamn, motherf*#(# )#(#($$ piece of *&#^, carrying a #&$^& and *#&$^& with your $&^( and *#&$^# and *&$^) while lying on your #&#^ #&$^@ *#^&#^ grave!
;-)
by DrinkingPartner on Jul 1, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
WOW, LOOK AT THAT FORMATTING CLUSTERFUCK RIGHT THERE!
lol.
by DrinkingPartner on Jul 1, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not defending GMGM’s honor, at least not exactly. I just want someone to support what they’re saying. It’s one of the basic tenets of commenting on this site: If you’re going to bring it, support it. It’s what keeps this from being CI.
by TylerG on Jul 1, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I still step on toes a lot here too. There’s lots of toes to step on.
For example, this is what my feet look like:
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
hahah what the hell…..
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jul 1, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Remember that 2010/11 we have to resign Semin, Backstrom, Flash and Steckel.
What if Flash pulls out a 45-50 point season next year? I’d love it but he’ll be in-line for a substantial raise.
Steckel should get a modest raise if his play continues.
“What if Flash pulls out a 45-50 point season next year?”
Trade bait!
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
Goalies don’t usually get huge paydays on their 2nd contracts though. Unless he leads us to a Cup and/or has a Vezina-worthy season (in which case who cares how much we have to pay him).
As for Flash, he’s probably our insurance against Semin. I doubt we keep both of them for their next contracts, because both will be getting raises and there will be pressure from the prospects for those spots as well (cheap replacements).
The point is that you still have to factor him in. And actually I think it’s Neuvirth, not Varly, so that makes things easier. Varly’s the year after.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Goalies don’t usually get huge paydays on their 2nd contracts though. Unless he leads us to a Cup and/or has a Vezina-worthy season (in which case who cares how much we have to pay him).
Well, Fleury got a big 2nd contract (6 or 7 years @$5 million per year) and that was before he won the Cup. So there is a precedent. And I could easily see Varlamov duplicating Fleury’s early career.
true but Fleury also had a lot more NHL experience at that point.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jul 1, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
He had three years experience when he signed which is what Varlamov will have when he has to negotiate a new deal.
I guess I was thinking that Fleury had more NHL games and time as a full time starter under his belt by the time his first contract was up. I could be mistaken.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jul 1, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I think a little more highly of the modest Pothier signing than JP does, I think. Pothier was/is affordable, has played well when he’s been in the lineup, and even provided much-needed LTIR cap relief when necessary last year, ha ha. At a time when the Caps desperately needed an affordable veteran D, GMGM found one and locked him into a reasonable number.
Problem with Pothier was how McPhee sold him to the fans/press. The team desperately needed a top 2 veteran defenseman. (I love Jamie Heward, but he just wasn’t getting it done on the top pairing) Pothier wasn’t signed to top 2 money, but McPhee suggested that Pothier could be that top 2 player. And then Pothier played top 2 minutes. It was a bad fit.
Pothier’s now in a far more reasonable situation, and his salary has never been out of whack for his role. It was a fair acquisition for the long term plan. That’s just not what McPhee said at the time. But then again, you can’t trust anything McPhee says.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t remember GMGM presenting the 2 signing quite that way.
And that last sentence is quite a shot, one that kind of begs to be supported in some way, no?
What, you’re looking for support that McPhee is a poker player? How about the 2008 trade deadline, when he said they probably wouldn’t do much. Huet, Fedorov, Cooke, just a regular ho-hum day, eh?
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You didn’t say he was a poker player. You said “you can’t trust anything McPhee says,” directly suggesting that GMGM is a fibber.
GMGM is a fibber. All good GMs are fibbers. It is high praise for me to say he’s a good liar.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Decaf, Tyler. Decaf. This is all random speculation meant to keep us entertained until noon.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I think that if someone is going to say something that bombastic that they should back it up with some data. This isn’t CI/TEB.
I’m confused: why does it even matter?
by DrinkingPartner on Jul 1, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Hmmm. Did he? Maybe. I remember that fabulous CSN show in which he told BOS’ then-GM that he was going to take “the Swede” and then took him…
He’s obfuscated/smokescreened on BabyGus, but lied?
And that last sentence is quite a shot, one that kind of begs to be supported in some way, no
Really Tyler? Should we do proper bluebook citations for you as well? I think it’s pretty well accepted that GMGM plays it tight to his vest and often makes misleading statements to the press regarding impending personnel decisions. I think the context was pretty clear, he wasn’t making some grand statement about GMGM’s personal character.
apparently a single word followed by a period will get expunged by the SB nation programming. i led that comment off with a simple “truth.” i agree with you F&B. we can self-police to a certain degree without attacking each other, and we can make assumptions about a baseline level of caps knowledge without fearing an attack.
The kozlov signing worked out ok. At only 2.5 million, I think the Caps got decent value for their money there.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
haha I guess we’ll find out this season.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jul 1, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
With all the chips this team has, at some point – be it this summer, at the trade deadline or some other time in the not-too-distant future – it’s going to be time to take the risk and go all-in.
Great post, but I disagree wholeheartedly with this one sentence. Going all in isn’t something you do when you hold a lot of chips, it’s a desperation move. Going all in is what Philly just did. The idea is to amass enough chips that you don’t ever have to go all in. That you’ve got a pretty good shot of winning it all just by playing it straight. That’s what Detroit has done, and it’s a much better plan than blowing all your assets on one season. After all, if two teams do that in the same year, they can’t both drink from the Cup (and usually, neither one does).
I understand that the risk is to become, well, the 1980s Caps. At some point some risks must be taken. But going “all in” — not a good strategy unless the foundation of your team is aging and you realistically have only one shot left before you have to blow up the team anyway.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 9:37 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Well put. There’s a big difference between a risk and a gamble. Smart guys risk while not-so-smart guys gamble; i.e. Hossa signing for one year was a risk while Pronger was clearly a gamble.
But it can be a fine line, which segues to another question about GMGM’s approach. He is on record all over the place saying that he wants to contend for the next 10 years or so and is managing the team that way. I’m pretty sure that I would trade 1 cup for several years of mediocrity and rebuilding (if that were the trade). There is no time like the present and the Caps are an Ovi knee injury away from . . well, I can’t actually finish that sentence. It’s a very hard line to walk but that is where GMGM will earn his stripes.
You can't reason someone out of something they weren't reasoned into.
HIGH NOON
how long is it after the 12:00 that we’’ll start to see signings, deals, etc.
is the NHL like the NFL where deals are secretly done and then announced minutes after the deadline???
its amazng the number of deals that manage to get sorted out and negotiated within 10 minutes…..
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
I see “high noon” and I envision a Wild West duel where all the GM’s and players pull out their six shooters in the middle of Main Street and step back twenty paces.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Tarik’s headline:
McPhee: ’Don’t Be Surprised if We Sit This One Out’
Gee guys, thanks for putting the entirety of Thick As A Brick in my head.
Forget Tarik. Follow @cmasisak22 on Twitter. He’s been much more on top of the last week in CapsLand than TEB.
What is Twitter? And it looks like you only gave me the back half of an email address (and without the .com or .net). How will Corey know to email me personally? I don’t want to bother him. Maybe I’ll stick to the blogues.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
See http://www.twitter.com It’s just public posting of short messages. The term “follow” refers to choosing to view a particular user’s status messages. Some useful users of Twitter to follow for information:
JapersRink
cmasisak22
washcaps
capsmedia
nhlstat
I have cmasisak22 and washcaps sent to my Blackberry, so I’ll see any Caps trades as soon as they’re official. It’s useful that way. (By the way, my userid on Twitter is the same as it is here.)
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I have cmasisak22 and washcaps sent to my Blackberry, so I’ll see any Caps trades as soon as they’re official. It’s useful that way. (By the way, my userid on Twitter is the same as it is here.)
Me too! ;b
I envy you both. I need to get JP to give me twenty bucks or something for a post so I can buy a blackberry and write it off as a business expense.
Blogues are Irish blogs? :-P
Yes: @DarrenDreger, @reporterchris, @japersrink, @kausatoday, @friedmanHNIC, @mirtle.
by TylerG on Jul 1, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
thanks for this, tyler. i just joined twitter was fortunate to remember your comment. now i’m locked in and ready to go.
by Natty Bumppo on Jul 16, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Really don’t mind if you sit this one out
Bobby Clark is an idiot, Bob Gainey’s a lout
Glen Sather’s bad signings are still on the rink
You might bail him out, but you can’t make him think
These wise men know well how it feels
To be thick as a puck
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 6 recs
The price, of course, is that all damned 40-some minutes of that song will be in my head all day.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 1, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Glen Sather = Rain Man
The Idiot Savant manages to extricate himself from one mess after the other.
If he trades Wade Redden, I will nominate him for a Nobel Prize for Economics.
by S h a g g y on Jul 1, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Awright, it's 11:00am already!
I’ll take one Knuble with sour cream and an order of Cammalleri on the side.
i can’t find a source for sedins back to vancouver.
by Natty Bumppo on Jul 1, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
PIT going for Knuble would not surprise me. Geno needs to be cuddled, too.
from the house that Red Jesus built
how does PIT think they’re going to be able to afford Knuble? Aren’t they quickly approaching Cap Hell?
some of that 5.5 and 6 spots is going to be used on Scuderi, right? (Sorry, too lazy to look it up. I’m trying to explain to some Portuguese soccer fans why they should be interested in hockey)
The impression I’ve gotten is that Pittsburgh’s ready to let Scuderi go out to the market and get overpaid by someone else.
sign me up. Would doubling or tripling his salary and putting him with MG look so terrible? Not to me.
from the house that Red Jesus built
He’s going to get more than double or triple what he was making – far too much for the Capitals, especially considering where they’re at with defensemen right now.
Scuderi is not a top pair D. Don’t get sucked in by his “phenomenal” playoff run. Jeff Carter: Bum shoulder. AO: 2 points a game. E. Staal: Sucks and is notoriously inconsistent. Hank: Spent all his time chasing Crosby around. Scuderi is getting tons of credit for “shutting down” all these guys, but really he was at best the 4th D man on his team and the stars aligned for him. Not a top pair D by any means.
the problem as i see it: knuble has universally been touted as the best deal in the marketplace. still expecting a one- or two-year deal, but the number of bidders might drive up the price.
by Natty Bumppo on Jul 1, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Check out Puck Daddy live "Chatter Box"
One giant live twitter feed following the tweeting insiders noted below…kind of cool.
“The insiders we’re following: Kevin Allen of USA Today; Craig Custance of The Sporting News; Chris Johnston of the Canadian Press; Dan Tencer of CHED Radio; Elliotte Friedman of CBC Sports; David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period; Paul Kukla of Kukla’s Korner; Darren Dreger of TSN; Michael Russo of the Star Tribune; Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.”
Wow, with Roloson going UFA, could Edmonton be interested in Theo?
from the house that Red Jesus built
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
53 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 61 |
|
Washington
|
54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
53 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 52 |
|
Carolina
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.10.2012 at 9:27 AM EST)
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