2. Washington Capitals The somewhat under-the-radar and late signing of Brendan Morrison adds a...

2. Washington Capitals

The somewhat under-the-radar and late signing of Brendan Morrison adds a steady and calming veteran voice up front, not to mention a reliable two-way center. The league would greatly benefit if it gets another Alex Ovechkin versus Malkin/Crosby matchup in the conference finals, and if this rivalry stays heated in the regular season. And, oh, yes, it wouldn't be an insult to the game's traditions and cultures to play up the young stars, and the fact that they're not going to be meeting for sandwiches and beers at Primanti Brothers the night before the games in Pittsburgh. Regardless, though, we know that Ovechkin, going for the Hart Trophy hat trick, will do his part, and that the signing of Mike Knuble to play right wing on his line could make him even more dangerous. The Caps' unsettled goaltending situation -- if they could only hypnotize Jose Theodore into thinking he's in a contract year -- is the major question mark.

ESPN's Terry Frei's East projections.

What a surprise, ESPN gets basic facts wrong yet again-because last time I checked, Theo is in, are you ready for this, a contract year! But, hey, don't let little things like facts stand in your way!

over 2 years ago RedBirdie 32 comments 0 recs |

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Yeah, I was just reading this as well, and the same issue jumped out at me re: his statement about Theo.

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Jul 13, 2009 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

1) Theo is in a contract year.. the WWL is turning into the WWE

2) The chances of the Caps resigning Theo are the same as Ovie bagging 100 goals this upcoming season…not impossible, but really, really unlikely….

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jul 13, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

for all the (deserved) bashing of ESPN, lebrun and hradek do a good job on ESPN.com. and i’ll always be partial to melrose. the rest: eh.

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 13, 2009 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

I’m inclined to agree with you on all counts. Noting, of course, that none of them is the author of the article in question.

by gfcaps fan on Jul 13, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

burnside can suck it though

www.wiseadvertising.com

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 13, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

ESPN is Eh when it comes to hockey, but I find it hard to disagree with the 8 teams that Frei is predicting to make the playoffs in the east. That being said, it is still mid July so any predictions are a bit premature at this point.

www.wiseadvertising.com

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 13, 2009 2:22 PM EDT reply actions

Eh, it’s summer. They’re as bored as we are.

by gfcaps fan on Jul 13, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

What a surprise, ESPN gets basic facts wrong yet again-because last time I checked, Theo is in, are you ready for this, a contract year! But, hey, don’t let little things like facts stand in your way!

I think that’s a little harsh. It was a stupid mistake, an embarrassing mistake, and a mistake that never should have made it to publication but I don’t see the “don’t let little things like facts stand in your way” angle given that they made a factual error rather than tried to prove a point with a willful disregard for the truth.

by David Getz on Jul 13, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

it just seems like its become more and more frequent at ESPN. They are the leading sports information 800 pound gorilla in the world. All it is is simple fact-checking (which is what interns are for, right?)

by RedBirdie on Jul 13, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

They are the leading sports information 800 pound gorilla in the world.

Not when it comes to hockey they’re not. No TV contract = not newsworthy according to the worldwide leader.

/hates ESPN and what they stand for

by Yoshietree on Jul 13, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I know, I know, but they still have a hockey page and I expect them to cover it with the same level of professionalism and attention to detail that they give other sports that are listed on the front page (I’m willing to give a bit more of a pass on things like steeplechase and curling).

by RedBirdie on Jul 13, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Like for a while they were still using the Caps’ old logo in their online highlights

by red army line on Jul 14, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

for a while? It was more like 18 months!

by RedBirdie on Jul 15, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

to be fair, even the estimable hockey authority “the sports report girl” has made this mistake.

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 15, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

it’s not just a factual error, it’s introducing the premise that JT would play well if only it was his contract year. i’d say amateurish mistake but i don’t want to offend any amateurs.

Russian Machine Never Breaks

by macvechkin on Jul 13, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

it’s not just a factual error, it’s introducing the premise that JT would play well if only it was his contract year.

That’s definitely not something that Frei came up with, it’s a common criticism of Theodore’s based on his past contract year performances.

by David Getz on Jul 13, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

and I have no problem with that, because its true (I fully expect Theo to lead the Caps to the Cup! contract year performance and all….). I’ve got a problem with Frei saying the Caps need to hypnotize Theo into thinking its a contract year, when nothing of the sort needs to happen. Theo’s in a contract year, and implying that the Caps signed him for any more than a 2 year deal makes the entire Organization look just plain dumb.

by RedBirdie on Jul 13, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

i follow – and the argument would have been completely valid had he not been in a contract year.

Russian Machine Never Breaks

by macvechkin on Jul 13, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely an embarrassing error, but at least someone was embarrassed. It now reads:

The Caps’ unsettled goaltending situation — at least Jose Theodore again has the incentive of being in a contract year — is the major question mark.

by grapejoos on Jul 13, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe someone at ESPN reads the Rink? :-)

by gfcaps fan on Jul 13, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Clearly, the fear the wrath of the RedBirdie!

by RedBirdie on Jul 13, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks like someone clued Frei in. It now reads:

The Caps’ unsettled goaltending situation — at least Jose Theodore again has the incentive of being in a contract year — is the major question mark.

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

by J.P. on Jul 13, 2009 6:12 PM EDT reply actions

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 13, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Jesus it’s been a long day. My bad, grape.

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

by J.P. on Jul 13, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you kidding? Scooping you made my day! Well not really, but it didn’t hurt. Nice pic Natty.

by grapejoos on Jul 13, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

The Pens and Hurricanes played in the conference finals.

by DebCapsFan on Jul 14, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

Ha – great point that we all missed.

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

by J.P. on Jul 14, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I think people just read it as if there were a comma (or whatever appropriate punctuation) there, as if to say “but this time in the conference finals.”

That’s probably giving them too much credit though.

by brs03 on Jul 14, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

This is how I read it…

And considering the sweep it felt more like a conf. final to some…

Strange as it sounds, we do own TVs in Russia - Simeon Varlamov

by JustJeff on Jul 16, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Knuble actually makes the same mistake in his video interview in the other FanPost. Probably b/c that series felt more like a Conference Final than the actual one did.

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Jul 14, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Pens only loss is Scuderi?? What about Hal Gill?

by Gus16 on Jul 15, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

Addition by subtraction?

I kid, I kid.

by brs03 on Jul 15, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

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