Friday Caps Clips: The Tall and the Short of it
by J.P. on Jul 17, 2009 6:45 AM EDT
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Your savory breakfast links:
- Today at Development Camp: 10 a.m.: Group A on ice; 11:45 a.m.: Group B on ice.
- Saturday at Development Camp:
10:3010:00 a.m.: Intrasquad scrimmage - Day four of Development Camp in the books...
- Mathieu Perreault and Michal Dubuc (pictured) each scored twice in Team White's 8-3 route of Team Blue. Of note, Anton Gustafsson was taken from the ice with a cut to the head, after a collison in front of the net.
- Corey profiles the 5-foot-9 Perreault, while Tarik takes a look at 6-foot-7 Joe Finley. Paging Dr. Freud.
- Coverage of the day from Vogs, Peerless and Puckhead's Thoughts. Simply Sensational also has a quick video clip of Dubuc clowning around with Perreault.
- Josh Godfrey wants to be a Cap, which is nice of course, but from most accounts he's failing to impress this week.
- More great camp photos from Caps In Pictures (here as well... and here) and TTT Hockey.
- New Caps assistant coach Bob Woods is adjusting to life in D.C., as evidenced by the fact that he thinks a 30-minute commute to and from work is bad. [Washington Post]
- The Caps end the season with a tougher schedule than the cupcakes they closed with this past March and April, which should better prepare them for the playoffs. Should. [Peerless]
- The universal language of "mom," as spoken by Alex Ovechkin's. [Alex Ovetjkin]
- More on Capitals Convention. [Washington Times]
- Lastly, we'll be out at Kettler on Saturday, which hopefully will give us a chance to say hey to some of you, and to talk to some of the players, so if there's anything in particular you'd like asked and answered, let us know in the comments.
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Quick thanks to all those doing Dev Camp coverage this week. It is superb and much appreciated.
Rockin' the Red in Section 412
by boutros23 on Jul 17, 2009 7:24 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
On a related note, I saw this on Puckhead:
Japers Rink figure a way to see everyone tweets from development camp. It was very sweet of him to include mine, as choppy and mis-spelled as it was.
Thanks JP for putting that widget together. But more importantly, thanks Puckhead and all the contributors for sharing your thoughts. Y’all have really made the most out of this hockey oasis in the middle of the long, dry summer. Your insight has been invaluable.
by Gould Old Days on Jul 17, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Hmm, if it’s just the scrimmage, I might have to go before the DCU game. But my liver will hate me Sunday.
"Yes, It is a 'Beautiful Game.' It's because we see something meaningful that we hope to someday, somehow, see in ourselves."
If yours is anything like mine, it’s already filed the divorce paperwork and checked the Irreconcilable Differences box. : ]
Call me crazy, but there’s a Roller Derby match nearby this weekend. Has anyone ever caught one of these things?? Sounds like a “hoot”?
by war_capitals on Jul 17, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Michael Dubuc is looking like a guy WSH has to sign.
I agree with those who have previously pointed out that Orlov played well again yesterday, though I noticed that after the first Orlov hip-check of the day forwards stopped challenging him as much. Carlson was a stud. And Joel Broda made sweet pass after sweet pass. He seems to have that instinctive knack for finding space down low. Cody Eakin has speed and skill but needs some seasoning.
Unimpressive: Josh Godfrey, BabyGus. Brett Flemming’s conditioning level.
Random note: Trever Bruess hit everything that moved on Wednesday. Guys avoided him on Thursday. Still, he played well. (And should: He’s 23.)
I haven’t heard much about Bouchard, either, which probably speaks volumes.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
In his interview Dubuc said he had to work on his skating and his defensive play. I figured if a guy has scored that much in the Q, ECHL, and now two straight D Camps he’d get more attention. Combined with his admission that he needed to work on his skating I thought his skating was probably below par.
A guy sitting next to me at camp yesterday said that Dubuc was Hershey’s last cut last year. And sure ’nuff, Dubuc lit up the ECHL.
He’s 21, he should be scoring goals at a camp with a bunch of teenagers, but still…
That was my thinking. He scored in the Q and ECHL, I expected him to score here. Not playing defense is usually not enough to keep a high scoring player from garnering interest from NHL clubs, that’s why the skating comment registered so strongly with me. I’ve never seen him play so I really have no idea what his game is like.
Word on the BabyGus opinion. He’s either cruising or in for a rude awakening when he goes to the A.
"Yes, It is a 'Beautiful Game.' It's because we see something meaningful that we hope to someday, somehow, see in ourselves."
by Bald Pollack on Jul 17, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Take these comments and add “Baby Gus’” own about the SEL team being “too deep” and maybe he just lacks confidence right now. Add his injuries, reading he was a “bubble” or “risky” 1st rounder, is playing with guys trying out for a contract or already established in the farm system, not to mention a familiar association with the organization…I would say cut “Baby Gus” some slack and once he settles into the team, say come November or December, then lets talk about where his game is.
by ThreePingPost on Jul 17, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with both of you. Watching the scrimmage, I wasn’t all that impressed with Baby Gus. However, there was a noticable difference in the blue squad’s play/results after Baby Gus got hurt.
I’m not a professional hockey scout so have no idea what league Baby Gus is ready for, but I can say this: I’ve watched him every day at camp and he has improved every day. He went to the net hard twice yesterday and paid the price both times…also made so deft passes. He was much better in the second scrimmage than in the first. Not dominant by any stretch, but for his first full week in America and on a smaller sheet of ice, I think he’s been ok and we should cut him some slack.
by Direction 87 on Jul 17, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agree for the most part. Flemming needs some work but I thought his conditioning was excellent. This morning he killed everyone in his group on the suicides and was the only to finish in the allotted time.
I think they moved Breuss to the other group this mornning to try and even things up a little.
You can't reason someone out of something they weren't reasoned into.
by ChrisAm on Jul 17, 2009 12:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If Bob thinks his commute is bad now...
…wait until school is back in session. And just wait until he sees the first snow day commute!
Let's go Caps!
I’ve never understood that. Why does school being out make the commute easier? When I commuted from outside of Baltimore to Greenbelt, the commute always got easier after school was out and I was on the highway the whole time. No school buses or anything. Never made any sense to me.
… which stop every few hundred yards on main artery roads. And really, in this area, 60% of the high schoolers are driving to school in their new cars as well. Teachers have to drive to work as well. I treat that first Monday after classes are done for the year as a local Holiday.
by war_capitals on Jul 17, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I missed that comment about snow days the first time I read this. These Canadians must laugh their heads off the first time they hear the snow day closings. Until they try getting to work, that is.
I think places where it snows regularly handle snow better than they do here.
Here when we have first reports of snow the plows are out…waiting under overpasses for some reason. They really don’t do anything until there’s at least 4 inches, that includes not salting the roads.
the second time it looks like it’s going to snow they put out 4 inches of salt and then it doesn’t snow.
It’s really mismanaged.
"You will remember the night you were struck by the sight of [18] thousand fists in the air" -Disturbed
its not the snow, its the ice. Even world class snow drivers in Minnesota and Wisconsin couldn’t handle the ice storms like we get in DC. (And Duluth is built on a hill, like San Fran. Forget going anywhere in that city if there’s an ice storm! You’ll slide right down the hill into the very frozen lake)
You should see what they get in Atlanta. It’s five times as bad as DC.
Fortunately it only happens once every three or four years.
I can imagine! My sister in law lives in Charlotte (she’s from the Detroit area, so she knows snow), and called me this past winter laughing hysterically about how the city and her co-workers were dealing with the snow.
I meant the ice storms. When I was living in Atlanta there were a couple of times where the ice was a half inch thick and you couldn’t even walk outside, let alone drive.
I think that’s part of the reason people in the South get so worried about winter weather – they think of it as those kinds of storms, not a few inches of powder.
And boy, is the local news footage hilarious when it does. People in Atlanta have no idea how to drive in icy weather.
That’s partially because a lot of time where there’s icy weather down there it’s such that you really can’t drive on it.
Of course, the fact that the street doesn’t get salted doesn’t help.
Oh, agreed. When I was in college there was a storm right around the super bowl. It was a dusting and not really all that icy, but I still saw clips on TV of garbage trucks slamming into parked cars when trying to take turns at full speed, etc. Not so funny if you’re on the road, though.
Before my time in the city, I’m afraid.
Now what are really funny are the reactions of people from Alabama, Florida, etc. If snow sticks to the ground, even a dusting where you can still see the grass and nothing on pavement, they run outside to take pictures and attempt to sled.
Diner-tray sledding might be my favorite thing about college so far.
by Murshawursha on Jul 17, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
My favorite thing about college was that it was acceptable to drink at noon on a Wednesday. And I don’t even drink that much.
by David Getz on Jul 17, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sledding on a diner tray while drinking at noon on a Wednesday?
Would be fun for the spectators, if nothing else :)
by Murshawursha on Jul 17, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Part of my youth was spent living in Spokane, WA. Schools there had closed only 3 times EVER in the city’s history, and one of those closures was when it was blanketed with Mt. St. Helens ash back in ’80 (another was a week-long cold snap of highs in the -10s; closed schools to give homeless people a chance). Slap on the chains and haul off…
by war_capitals on Jul 17, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice article on Perrault. I’m pulling for this kid to make it because he works so hard and obviously has skill. If ever there was a time for 5’9" player to make it to the NHL, it’s now. The obvious question is where is he going to play? At center, I have a hard time seeing him stand up to the big guys like Jordan Staal. I’m wondering if his best chances isn’t on the wing. I’m sure he goes back to Hershey, but he should get a call up or two this season along with his linemate Osala. Bouchard, I’m afraid, is turning into a disappointment.
That may happen sooner rather than later, given the glut of centers that will all by trying to get a spot in Hershey this year.
Glut of centers? Maybe if Angus was showing anything at all I’d agree with that but who else is really going to be a scoring C in Hershey?
Not exactly a glut. I’d say Wilson is better suited to play 3C, even in the AHL. I’d like to see Perreault/Osala/Bouchard be relied upon for offense and given a real opportunity to do that. I’m not sure there is a better 2C option in Hershey than Perreault.
Agreed, just noting who his competition might be.
I think there’s a good chance that line gets broken up though, with at least one of the guys going to play with Aucoin and perhaps to move Perreault to the wing.
I’m not sure how much a guy who led the WHL in goalscoring last year has left to prove at that level.
I agree, I’m just stating his options. If he’s there it will only be because they can’t find ice for him in Hershey. He had a good year in the W last year (obviously) but I think it’s unlikely that he could jump Perreault on the Hershey depth chart. He’ll probably play 4th line and be brought along slowly like the rookies were last season.
The 50 contracts will be an issue for sure. I don’t know what the Caps are at right now, but there is still work to do. At the very least I don’t think all 8 of our NHL-ready D (not counting Carlson) are going to be on the opening night roster. There will probably be a few moves in the works over the next few months and if GMGM really thinks Broda should be in the AHL I think he can make it work. The contract limit and blue line logjam are going to continue to keep Seabrook unsigned, I imagine.
I think they’re at 47 (see immediately below) including Delly who, you’re right, will come right off once he’s sent back to the OHL.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Check our page – 47 without Jurcina, if we’re correct.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
By my count, yes, they are at 47 contracts without Jurcina but counting Della Rovere and Gustafsson.
The recent news makes it unclear whether Gustafsson returns to Sweden or plays in NA, but if he does return to Sweden, it is my understanding that his contract won’t count either once the assignment is actually made due to his age (similar to the SDR situation.)
Aucoin, Wilson, Beagle, Bruess, Perreault, AnGus, Hauswirth. That’s 7 guys that could make the Bears.
Wilson for sure is a scorer at the AHL level, Hauswirth might be as well.
No matter whether they need to, the flexibility is already there to move Perreault to wing if they want to.
definitely makes sense to me. Would he likely be a RW or a LW. You gotta think RW would be his better chance to make the Caps.
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 17, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Aggred, probably RW. I know he’s a skill guy, but I could see him starting out as a high energy/low minutes type of guy on the fourth line. He’s got the speed to create havoc on the forecheck and, from what I’ve seen, he’s not afraid to go into the corners. Putting him on a skill line is probably asking too much right now, but a fourth line assignment would allow him to get his feet wet in the NHL without the risk of too much damage.
I doubt he gets a 4th line call up. If checkers go down checkers get called up. He’ll get called up when Flash gets pneumonia. I don’t think they keep him permanently on the big club to play 4th line either.
Osala played on the fourth line when he came up and so did Bourque IIRC. Caps management isn’t really looking for these guys to make a big contribution their first time to the Bigs. More than anything, they just want to see how they respond to the speed of the game and whether they look lost against better competition.
Someone was asking about a waiting list and partial plans the other day
I just got off the phone with a ticket rep – they basically said they’re going to have an official waiting list for season tickets around August. Put money down now and it’ll come off the price of your season tickets in the future.
As for partials, he said about 2100 seats will be available, but they’re offering them to previous holders first (3000) so availability may be lower than expected, if any at all. I missed every detail but he mentioned there would be four different 10 game plans and a few different 5 game plans.
Awesome… Still some love for the partial plans.
by Murshawursha on Jul 17, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Am I the only one who thinks Garret Zemlak is an incredibly hockey-player sounding name? Based just on that, I think the guy plays in the NHL.
Sure beats Ron Tuggnut.
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 17, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Related only to the comment, but I was given some Aykroyd-endorsed vodka for my birthday, and it’s not bad, smoother than I would have thought.
"Yes, It is a 'Beautiful Game.' It's because we see something meaningful that we hope to someday, somehow, see in ourselves."
by Bald Pollack on Jul 17, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Twice in two days… Either I’m stepping up my game, or the best Caps blog out there is going down the crapper. Sweetness.
TTT Hockey: tictactoehockey.blogspot.com
TTT Photo: myunjustifiedego.blogspot.com
by turnituptoeleven on Jul 17, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions
Scrimmage tomorrow
@capsmedia – Sat. Development Camp scrimmage is 10 am (not 10:30 as reported in some locations).
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Bah. They want to make me get up even earlier on a Saturday morning?
Side note: Anyone ever Metro’ed to Ballston from New Carrolton or Greenbelt? I’m curious how long it’ll take me.
by Murshawursha on Jul 17, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks… I hate driving through DC, I don’t trust my navigational abilities quite that much.
by Murshawursha on Jul 17, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
If you’re in Greenbelt you can just take Route 1 to the Beltway, get on going towards Silver Spring/Bethesda, exit onto 66 west, take that that Fairfax Drive, take Fairfax Drive about 1/4 mile (if that), turn right on to Glebe Rd and roll up to the mall. It takes me ~35 minutes.
*66 east, right?
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 17, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m also worried about parking, I could see that being a problem tomorrow.
Guess I’ll just see how I feel in the morning and make the call from there.
by Murshawursha on Jul 17, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions
“as reported in some locations”
Such as Caps Today yesterday…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
gotta wonder if that change was just made today
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 17, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
From Tarik's twitter feed
@TarikElBashir – Gustafsson has 10 stitches and a concussion. Likely out for the remainder for development camp.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Yikes. It’s all fun and games ’til someone gets ten stitches and a hella headache. Get well soon, Baby Gus!
poor kid can’t catch a break
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 17, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
well, back to Europe methinks. For his sake he better come ready to play with his head up next year, or this legacy will end with a resounding thud.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jul 17, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Why do you think he’d go back to Europe automatically? If the concussion really is only mild he’d probably be ready for training camp, and the team may prefer to keep him over and keep a closer eye on him.
His head was up. He was driving to the net with the puck and got pushed from behind into the goal. Ugly and unlucky.
by Direction 87 on Jul 17, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
And then Joe Finley unleashed a primal roar and drank his blood from the ice.
Or so I would be led to believe based on some of what I’ve read about Finley.
This is all true- but before he drank the blood, he gave the trainer a death look because he didn’t hop onto the ice immediately to take care of ’gus, but once the trainer saw the death look he sprinted on the ice to attend to ’gus.
The sneer is gone from Finley’s lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
He raises his stick and tightens his grip, directing all his weight.
And now Baby Gus holds the puck, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Finley’s blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, with “tingling giddiness” they kibitz,
But there is no joy in Capsville – poor AnGus is on the fritz.
p.s. i don’t think finley was actually the guilty party here…“mighty finley” just seemed apt.
by Natty Bumppo on Jul 17, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was talking figuratively. Angus is not ready for playing the North American style right now. The question in my mind is where is he going to get the best competition…as I stated a couple days ago, I think SC would be a waste.
from the house that Red Jesus built
It’s way too early. Waaaaay too early. And disrespectful (given his dad). But I’m going to go ahead and coin the nickname: Anton Bustafsson.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jul 17, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Just needed to get it out there so I can collect future royalties should he flop.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
should stopped while you were on top with Bustafsson. I am disappointed. ;)
Capitals Kremlin the second line center of the Caps blogosphere.
by CapitalsKremlin on Jul 17, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
If only he was Gus’-tuff-son.
get it?… Gus’ tuff…
..ah, the hell with it.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jul 17, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Orlov- FWIW
I ran into him in street clothes- no way he’s 5-10, 185. Not a chance in the world. My bet- 5-7, 175.
You can't reason someone out of something they weren't reasoned into.
Positive. I just watched the video of the guided tour and he was wearing the same thing in that video that he was wearing when I saw him- green shirt and some semi-silly jean short coulott sort of things. I was in the elevator at Kettler going down to the food court and he was there as well. He was speaking Russian but I thought he was there to watch and it never even occurred to me that he was a player.
And I’ve seen that listing but I went with a more conservative estimate. The closest to reality is hockey’s future listing- http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/dmitri_orlov
I’m not sure it matters; it was more an FYI
You can't reason someone out of something they weren't reasoned into.
Reply fail
meant for F and B above
You can't reason someone out of something they weren't reasoned into.
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