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Around SBN: Jerry Sandusky's Wife Tries To Run A Reporter Over

Wednesday Caps Clips: Joe Finley Gets Arrested

via the shoebox next to my desk

Your savory breakfast links:

  • "A former UND hockey player and a current one were arrested about 3 a.m. Tuesday after a campus officer saw the men throwing cups, plates, a kitchen table and a lawnmower onto a Grand Forks street." I'll give you three guesses as to who that "former UND hockey player" is (and be sure to read on for more stupidity). [Grand Forks Herald and In the Room]
  • Mike Knuble arrived at Kettler Iceplex yesterday and chatted with Vogs (video) and the WTimes.
  • The bigger buzz around CapsNation Tuesday was that the Pittsburgh Penguins signed a backup goalie who should make starter Marc-Andre Fleury seem durable by comparison when they inked former Caps netminder Brent Johnson to a one-year deal. In all seriousness, we wish Johnny the best health, goals against average and save percentage... and worst record imaginable (reaction to the deal from Johnson himself, and Chris NeedhamCapitals Kremlin (twice), PensBurgh and Empty Netters).
  • George McPhee and Bruce Boudreau held a conference call for season ticket holders, much of which is paraphrased here and the audio of which is here. The good stuff (read: the vigorous defense of Jeff Schultz) is at about the midway point.
  • Do the Caps have the skill and experience in goal to go all the way? [Peerless]
  • Sometimes you let events write the story. Other times, you make events fit the story. In unrelated news, here's a video spot about Francois Bouchard's strong camp. [NBC4]
  • Alfalfa Ovechkin? [Alex Ovetjkin]
  • A quick look at couple of Massachusetts-born prospects - John Carlson and Andrew Glass. [New England Hockey Journal]
  • The Phoenix Coyotes are looking for a new rival, and "The Goal" is enough to land the Caps on the list of the hated. [Five for Howling]
  • On this date back in 1988, the Caps traded Greg Adams to Edmonton for Geoff Courtnall. Courtnall would score 77 goals and 154 points in 159 games for D.C. before being shipped off to St. Louis for Peter Zezel and Mike Lalor two years later.
  • On this date in 2005, the NHL held it's special little draft lottery, and a team with a 93.75% chance of not getting the first pick went ahead and got that first pick. Meanwhile, the Caps - who had the third-worst record in hockey the previous season - got the 14th pick. Sasha Pokulok, baby!
  • Finally, Happy 41st Birthday to "Calder Candidate" Brad Schlegel, who, in 1992-93, registered an assist in seven games for the Caps and was edged out for the Rookie of the Year trophy by Teemu Selanne, who finished a mere 131 points ahead of Schegel in the rookie scoring race.

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<img src=“”http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">Photobucket"/>

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by turnituptoeleven on Jul 22, 2009 6:53 AM EDT reply actions  

That was going to be the pic for this post until I realized we had a very special birthday boy. Hell of a shot.

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by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 7:01 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

Looks very dark side-ish.

by thehoagster07 on Jul 22, 2009 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

Fabulous photograhy.

by gfcaps fan on Jul 22, 2009 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Our #1 draft choice and interior/exterior decorator wannabe…

"They said they just kind of routinely destroy each other’s stuff."

Well, Finley appears to have the “destroy” thing down.

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Jul 22, 2009 7:12 AM EDT reply actions  

The thing is, when I was reading the article…I was laughing out loud here in my cubicle at work. Oh to be a recent college graduate with far too much money…

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jul 22, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions  

Johnny always made that bokeh too easy. The guy never moved his head during warmups. I think I have that card, btw.

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myunjustifiedego.blogspot.com

by turnituptoeleven on Jul 22, 2009 7:13 AM EDT reply actions  

That 2005 lottery STILL makes me surly. People just can’t understand why I hate Pittsburgh, and its because I can’t wrap around my head how fortunate they’ve been to be able to watch Lemieux and Jagr, and then turn around and get Crosby and Malkin. It drives me crazy, because they’ve stumbled into 4 all time great players, and we just haven’t been able to buy a break here until recently.

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 7:28 AM EDT reply actions  

It drives me crazy, because they’ve stumbled into 4 all time great players, and we just haven’t been able to buy a break here until recently.

The Caps won the Ovechkin lottery and had the good fortune of drafting behind three teams who didn’t realize how good Backstrom was. Then there’s the luck that goes in to drafting a guy like Green…

by David Getz on Jul 22, 2009 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

had the good fortune of drafting behind three teams who didn’t realize how good Backstrom was.

I’m not sure that’s a fair statement. I think the teams probably knew he was a real good player but there were 5 blue chip prospects going in and teams just had Backstrom a little lower on the list. Johnson was the consensus 1 going in so you can’t blame STL. Toews has been very good as well, and I don’t know that you can really say he should have been picked after Backstrom. If he had fallen to us I would have still been pretty happy. The only pick I question is Staal (at least GMGM isn’t the only one that loves bloodlines) but he was still ranked high on the prospect charts and fits a better need for PIT than Backstrom does. I think no matter what the Caps were going to get a pretty good player in that draft, even if Backstrom was the best fit.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

You’re probably right – okay they had the good fortune to have a high pick in a draft deep in high-end talent and where the team drafting ahead of them was in a situation to let Backstrom fall to them.

by David Getz on Jul 22, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions  

That’s much less luck. That happens all the time. Lemieux/Jagr and Crosby/Malkin happens much less often. How many teams end up with two of the games’ top 5 players at the same time?

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

and they also had the pick that landed them The Flower….seriously, how lucky can one team be?

by RedBirdie on Jul 22, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions  

They were just flat bad for a long time. They deserved those lotto picks. There is only of their lotto picks that I think was “luck” and pisses me off.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions  

They traded up for that pick, which is why all of the sudden it didn’t count in the Crosby lottery (load of crap).

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

this hadn’t occurred to me. i guess from a “value” standpoint, the panthers received what they considered to be correct value for their #1 overall pick (3rd overall pick plus samuelsson plus second round pick) and the pens did pay for the number one pick (using their terrible record plus assets), but at the time i’m sure neither team realized it would affect lottery chances down the road. i’m inclined to think it was fair for the pens not to have that #1 count in the formula.

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 22, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

The problem is that, in this scenario, the lottery is weighing your luck rather than your outcomes. It’s valuing the way the previous lotteries turned out rather than the actual effect they had on the teams. It doesn’t really matter how they got the #1 since they were still a lottery team (it’s not as if they traded a franchise player for him I mean, so you can’t really argue there’s a huge negative impact to the team), they got the #1.

Not to mention it seemed to be written specifically to keep the Pens’ chances higher.

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

so i agree that counting previous #1’s in the formula and not counting previous #2’s, #3’s, etc., into the formula is a terrible use of the data at hand (and you’re right, penalizes for luck). but with the formula as a given, it seems fair that florida not pittsburgh should have suffered the consequences.

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 22, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

My point, though, is that it’s not exactly a logical way of doing it. Since they wrote the system and all, it’s as if they were designing it to favor whatever they wanted it to (in which case the Panthers got totally screwed on purpose, not just by bad luck).

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

Brad Schlegel...

I guess you could say he put up a bagel in 92-93?

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 7:29 AM EDT reply actions  

From the Chespeake Bagel Bakery?

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jul 22, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

Is that place still even around?? The only one I knew of was in Greenbelt

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

Five of them are left....

According to their website, in the DC area, they are in Arlington, McLean and National Airport. There are also two locations in DeKalb, Illinois…

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jul 22, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

Starving for an Eggwich

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

What I miss is the “fragel.” A specialty at a place called “Bagel-Fragel” in East Lansing, MI. Cinnamon/raisin bagel, deep-fried, and rolled in sugar. Fantastic when they were fresh. It they sat around a while, you could hurl one at a puma and kill it.

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Jul 22, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Rec’d because I can’t f*cking stand pumas!

by Scott in Shaw on Jul 22, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

An Adidas man, are you?

by David Getz on Jul 22, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

aah brad schlegel! haha, one of my teachers in high school was named mrs. schlegel, and she was so happy when brad played for the caps so she could get an authentic jersey with her name on it. she also wore a huge stanley cup hat on the first day of hockey season every year. i think my students would destroy it if i did that… but still, one of my favorite teachers ever!

by kellobellow on Jul 22, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

SovSport: Caps’ prospect Dmitry Orlov came back to Russia. It looks like he will continue playing in the KHL for now.

From Dimitry Chesnakov’s twitter feed. I guess there go hopes of seeing Orlov and Carlson in Hershey together.

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by Sombrero Guy on Jul 22, 2009 7:32 AM EDT reply actions  

@Punch_InTheFace Re: Orlov — this is what his Russian team said: Orlov is back with the team.

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by Sombrero Guy on Jul 22, 2009 7:32 AM EDT up reply actions  

Which KHL team is Orlov with?

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Jul 22, 2009 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

Metallurg Novokuznetsk

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

Which, by the way is a different team from Metallurg Magnitogorsk where the Fedorovs will be playing

by Gould Old Days on Jul 22, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

Indeed – Novo. and Mag. are the cities, “Metallurg” the nickname.

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions  

Another reason the KHL is lame. Two teams with the same nickname? C’mon.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

If I’m not mistaken, the CFL was (maybe is) even lamer in that it had two teams with similar but not identical nicknames – the Roughriders and the Rough Riders.

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

Hey, it works for the AHL.

(Norfolk and Milwaulkee for those of you who need a hint).

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions  

Whoa, that’s me. Anyway…for what it’s worth, when I asked Dmitry about the possiblity of Orlov being at rookie camp he said:

It is possible that he won’t be here for the rookie camp. It depends on his KHL team whether to let him go.

by letsgocaps on Jul 23, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

Missed that – thanks.

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 7:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

Eh….I think we have enough depth that he can sit back there and develop and play for a couple more years, no?

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

yeah, plus that’s one less contract the Caps have to worry about for the time being.

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by Sombrero Guy on Jul 22, 2009 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

And one more year before his potentially ELC ends, UFA comes, etc.

There are definitely drawbacks to him being over there (I’m sure the Cherepanov tragedy is at least in the back of people’s minds, etc.), but this is a fine scenario for him and the team.

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by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that the blame for that was placed squarely on Cherepanov – he was taking meds to hide his condition and never disclosed it to team doctors.

by Murshawursha on Jul 22, 2009 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

The Russian league blames the player and we’re ready to accept that? Hmm…

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by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

IIRC the league initially fined the crap out of the team and barred the team doctors from the league for life. The Russian government did a follow-up investigation and absolved the team/doctors/league of responsibility. Granted, taking it with a grain of salt might not be a bad thing. But I think you made a gross generalization based on one freak accident, and that isn’t fair.

Lemmie see if I can dig up the PD article.

by Murshawursha on Jul 22, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions  

So you think if you asked 30 NHL GMs if they have any concern over the quality of medical attention and emergency services provided by the KHL, you’d get “Not at alls”?

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by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

30 GMs or the NHLPA or its members. I’m pretty sure watching a guy carried off like a sack of potatoes because they didn’t even have a stretcher there opened some eyes. Regardless of the outcome (which was as bad as it could be) NHL players are used to the highest quality of medical care and clearly the KHL is still catching up in that regard. I wouldn’t underestimate that.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

Maybe not “Not at alls”, but I seriously doubt any of them are substantially worried about it.

by Murshawursha on Jul 22, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

That depends on how you define “substantially.” There are too many problems/concerns with the KHL to know exactly what GMs are thinking but I think you underestimate the concern.

The number of Russians being drafted has been dropping for a few years now. Undoubtedly part of that is the lack of transfer agreement, but part of that is also the inability of the Russian leagues to develop their young talent well, and you can’t say for sure that health care concerns do or do not play a role in that.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’ll give you the second part, but aside from the Cherepanov tragedy, have there been any other reports of gross medical misconduct coming out of Russia?

And it does make me wonder: Would Richard Zednik have survived had he been playing in the KHL?

But at the same time, there have been constructive changes since Cherepanov, and I still maintain it’s not fair to assume the entire league is unsafe because of one incident on one team in which the player was found to be at fault.

by Murshawursha on Jul 22, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions  

Damn… I’m sure that Zed would’ve been in serious trouble had that incident happened over there. Again, that’s a freak accident but that’s why the NHL and other North American sporting events have the medical coverage that they do. If the Cheraponov tragedy hasn’t triggered sweeping changes in the KHL’s medical staffing profile, nothing will. And if that’s the case, I would be hard-pressed to allow any key assets to play in that environment if I were GMGM. And Orlov looked pretty awesome at DevCamp from the accounts I’ve read here…

Any volunteers to get us the inside scoop on what exactly has changed since this accident? Yahoo posted a story a few days ago about Cheraponov but I don’t remember seeing a laundry list of medical staffing changes that have been made in the KHL since? If it did, I’ll re-post the link here in a few…

by war_capitals on Jul 22, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions  

Link to the puck daddy article is above, link to the changes implemented by the KHL here.

And on the same token, would Cherepanov have survived if it had happened in the NHL? I’m not sure he would have, given what I’ve heard about his condition.

by Murshawursha on Jul 22, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

And more related to the issue at hand, even if he had been able to recover, would he have ever played again?

If it gets to the point where you’re worried about a player dieing while playing in the KHL, I think you’re likely past the point where you can consider them to have an NHL career, because the health issues that would cause such a situation are largely ones that prevent careers from ever starting. Unless you’re worried about basic safety standards, which don’t seem to be in question over there any more than they are here.

Not that I mean to discount the players lives as if they’re unimportant. But I don’t think you can look at the KHL medical issues as things that GM’s are going to see as big concerns from a prospect development standpoint.

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

From the sounds of it, had he been totally honest about his health he wouldn’t have been drafted in the first place so I agree there. This quote is what startled me most…

The ambulance that was supposed to be stationed at the game had already departed and responded slowly to a call for it to return, and the rink’s defibrillator was nonfunctional.

We checked our defibs monthly when i was an Air Force medic, shows some of the little things that are done here to prevent just this sort of tragedy. It won’t keep me up at night, but I feel a smidge better knowing that the worst-case scenario has already happened and the apprpriate changes seem to have been made to prevent similar events from happening in the future. A game should never claim anyone’s life if it’s at all preventable.

by war_capitals on Jul 22, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

It seems to me that even in the US we have two or three stories a year of gifted high school and/or college athletes who die in or just after practice.

Usually they are found to have had some funky heart condition, and very possibly they have known that something felt “wrong” but are too conditioned to play through the pain.

Here’s a story about NFL player Korey Stringer’s family who are suing Riddell for failing to inform that its helmets and shoulder pads could contribute to heat stroke when used in hot conditions.

by EmilyB on Jul 22, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

I think he had the same thing as Jiri Fischer, who lived because of the quality medical care he received when he collapsed.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

According to Wikipedia, Cherepanov had myocarditis, which can apparently result in sudden death.

Jiri Fischer simply went into cardiac arrest, which is fairly common. Though it may have been cause by ventricular fibrillation or something like that.

by Murshawursha on Jul 22, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions  

So you think if you asked 30 NHL GMs if they have any concern over the quality of medical attention and emergency services provided by the KHL, you’d get "Not at alls"?

I was touring in Russia last summer and the one thing the guide stressed was that if you ever became ill or injured yourself, unless it was life-threatening, you should never go to a Russian hospital. His exact words were “Fly back to America no matter how sick you are.”

by b.orr4 on Jul 22, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions  

one death out of all the people that have played in the league isn’t cause for concern about the entire league I think.

"You will remember the night you were struck by the sight of [18] thousand fists in the air" -Disturbed

by snowburnt on Jul 22, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

Moreover, if there’s any way that type of thing would be an issue for Orlov, his career is over before it even gets started anyways.

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions  

My bigger concern is that the KHL isn’t exactly known for developing their young kids. They try to sign them and keep them locked up so they don’t lose them to America but a lot of times they just sit on the bench there. I don’t think that will happen with Orlov based on the reviews of his game, but it’s a concern.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

And let’s keep in mind that Orlov doesn’t even turn 18 until tomorrow. Combine that with the fact that he apparently speaks very little English and it could just be that he and his family felt he wasn’t ready to go live by himself in rural Pennsylvania. I know I wouldn’t send my 17-year old to go play hockey in Siberia.

by b.orr4 on Jul 22, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed, but would have been finer if he’d entered May’s OHL draft.

by TylerG on Jul 22, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

How old are you, Joe?

I know it sounds like a harmless prank, but shouldn’t a guy who’s graduated college and about to make a lot of money not be doing the stuff Finley was doing the other night? The report didn’t say it, but I’m sure there was a little alcohol involved. And lying to cops? That doesn’t sound like the kind of maturity you want from a first-rounder. This sort of behavior makes me wonder if the real reason Finley didn’t leave school had less to do with wanting to win a Final Four and more with not wanting to grow up. I can pretty much guarantee that big Joe is going to get a call from McPhee explaining the Capital way of conducting your personal life.

by b.orr4 on Jul 22, 2009 8:59 AM EDT reply actions  

Boys will be boys….The bigger worry should be that he cuts out this behavior going forward….That other minor league team in eastern PA has run into trouble with the law and some with the team with some rookie pranks and general drunken shenanigans gone wrong.

I mean that stuff just happens when you get guys in their early – mid 20s and group them altogether and give them a lot of free time, a little bit of money and some booze. But you gotta act professional and get your act together at some point.

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by Hooks Orpik on Jul 22, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

But you gotta act professional and get your act together at some point.

He did stop running when the Cops told him to.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

If guys with guns told me to stop running, I would too.

by b.orr4 on Jul 22, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yea, because they would totally shoot him for breaking some plates in the street and running off, right…

"And next year it will be ours."

by Ovechwin on Jul 22, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah… They can draw if they want, but cops aren’t allowed to shoot unless they believe there is imminent and life-threatening danger to themselves or another in the area. Which was most definitely not the case here, unless Big Joe is really that scary looking :-p

by Murshawursha on Jul 22, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

Your right. There’s no problem running away from a cop because nothing bad ever happens when you do that. I mean, cops never assume your guilty if you turn and take off when they arrive.

by b.orr4 on Jul 22, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m not saying you should run, I’m just saying all the stuff you just mentioned is more of a deterrent then the gun :-p

by Murshawursha on Jul 22, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions  

But guilty of what? This clearly wasn’t a violent crime, just regular old drunken debauchery. It’s not like they were running away from a dead body.

It’s not an ideal situation, but you’re making it much more than it is.

"And next year it will be ours."

by Ovechwin on Jul 22, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

Come now, Mr Orr4...

I hear what you’re saying but the kid is 22. He lives in North Dakota. He was a little drunk, I would say, since one doesnt usually use the china for bowling at least until high tea ;).

This sounds pretty harmless compared to the Staals bachelor party shenanigans, Ben Roehlisberger’s casino tryst, or Pacman Jones last 5 years.

Of course the credit card snafu is troubling…especially if it was stolen.

by S h a g g y on Jul 22, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m not trying to be an old man on this, but at 22 he’s not a kid anymore. If he were just some redneck working at a gas station, I’d probably agree. However, Finley is a #1 draft choice for an NHL team. Like it or not, that carries a lot of responsibility for yourself, your school, your new pro team and the league. Pro athletes are under a microscope and Finley has to realize that. Playing in the NHL is a privilege, it’s not a right and Joe needs to figure that out real quick. As we’ve seen with other pro athletes, hanging around with the old crew doesn’t always work.

by b.orr4 on Jul 22, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

Joe Finley’s upside is Riley Cote. Who cares what he does on a Monday night? Except Tarik, who Tweeted this: "Joe Finley busted for “throwing cups, plates, a kitchen table and a lawnmower onto a Grand Forks street.” Proof he’s got a mean streak."

For reals? Proof that he’s got a mean streak when plates and cups are concerned?

by TylerG on Jul 22, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions  

His upside is considerably higher than Cote, not that anyone’s counting.

Agreed that that’s a pretty stupid comment though.

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

How is his upside higher than a five-minute-a-game forward? He’s never going to play D in the NHL for WSH. I mean, best-case scenario, what do you think he’s going to become?

by TylerG on Jul 22, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

There’s no reason he couldn’t become a Hal Gill type.

There’s a difference between saying he’s likely to become someone like that and saying that’s his upside.

That, and Cote’s a bad comparison any way you slice it, since he’s so small. I’d say MacGrattan is better if you’re determined to put him in the worst light, but Finley should have better hockey skills even if he does end up in that type of role.

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions  

There’s no reason he couldn’t become a Hal Gill type.

If he was on track to become a Hal Gill type, he’d be playing Hal Gill’s position.

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Oh dear God let’s all calm down about this two day position switch. Backstrom played W for over a month. Where does he play now? Let’s see how it shakes out before we write him off as a D prospect.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions  

Why ya gotta go and drag God into this?

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

Brooks Laich is angered by your worship of false Brooks Laichs.

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

And he still could be. It was one game in a summer development camp. If he can outplay Hershey’s bottom pairing D he’ll probably still play D, because why waste a guy that bring what he brings?

by brs03 on Jul 22, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

He may not play for us, but he could certainly see time on D SOMEWHERE in the NHL.

by Murshawursha on Jul 22, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

You’ve got one sharp scout’s eye if you can draw that conclusion after one D camp. Have you sent your resume in to GMGM yet?

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions  

From the Washington Times today on Mike Knuble:

“Mike Knuble joined the Boston Bruins’ season-opening trip through the Western Conference in 2002 not anticipating a career-changing year.

“More of the same,” he said.
Not a lot of ice time.
No power-play role.
Maybe one goal a month.
But then Sergei Samsonov underwent wrist surgery, and Knuble joined the Joe Thornton-Glen Murray line and scored 30 goals. And he hasn’t looked back since, posting six straight 20-goal seasons for Boston and Philadelphia, a streak the Washington Capitals hope continues this upcoming season. "

This is not to say that Finley will Mike Knuble or Hall Gill or Riley Cote, but to declare his upside as a 5 minute per game below average “enforcer” before he’s ever played a season of profesional hockey seems way premature, especially when we just signed a guy at 37 who didn’t come into his own until he was 30.

by Direction 87 on Jul 22, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

sorry for the goofy formatting

by Direction 87 on Jul 22, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

Tarik, who Tweeted this: “Joe Finley busted for "throwing cups, plates, a kitchen table and a lawnmower onto a Grand Forks street." Proof he’s got a mean streak.

I took that last part as a joke. Didn’t everybody?

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 22, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

Some people think silly is funny. Even if you don’t think it’s funny you can still recognize it as a joke.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

Some people here tend to look down on silly.

"And next year it will be ours."

by Ovechwin on Jul 22, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

I look down on condescension and ignorance, other than that I’m pretty hard to upset.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

I don’t look down on ignorance per se – everybody’s got topics they don’t know a thing about. No shame in that. Willful ignorance – now that’s different. That I think you’re a dumb [expletive] for.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jul 22, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah it depends on definitions. When I think “ignorance” I implicitly think of people that spout of as though they know what they are talking about. Being uninformed is fine; I don’t know anything about cricket but you won’t find me acting like I do.

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

Or it could be that raging hard-on you have for TEB.

by Yoshietree on Jul 22, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

i’ve got to assume TEB was joking…basically the same joke peerless made above. true twitter humor is difficult to pull off.

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 22, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

If by “mean” you mean “dumb as a ball of dryer lint.”

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Jul 22, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

When first approached by police, Lund said, Finley ran around a house but stopped when officers told him to. Frattin ran into a home, not stopping when instructed to, and was consequently charged with fleeing, Lund said.

Police said Finley showed them a credit card with someone else’s name on it. When asked if his name was the one on the card, Finley said it was, Lund said. At the jail Finley gave his real name.

Police said Finley told them somebody else gave him the credit card. Lund said police think the credit card belongs to a friend of Finley, but the matter is still under investigation.

Oooh boy…

by David Getz on Jul 22, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions  

The name “Louise” on the credit card probably giving it away.

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Jul 22, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Isn’t taking a poll to find a new rival sort of missing the point of rivalries in the first place?

by Jake Shapiro on Jul 22, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions  

Where was their other roommate in all this?

"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 22, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions  

At UND there are two answers to that:

The one word answer is “No”

The two word answer is “(Gretzky) No!”

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jul 22, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

22 goes well with 8

I see Knuble was able to keep the same number from Philly…

by EmilyB on Jul 22, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions  

And that’s not all! The best NHL player and Hart Trophy winner will perform an exclusive dj-set and for the first time will present to a public his own track.

Man I wish I could hear that live….

by amkcaps on Jul 22, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions  

Hopefully the Chemical Brothers will show up and help him “work it out”… : ]

I’m intrigued!

by war_capitals on Jul 22, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

Totally off-topic (if there was a topic), but here’s my nominee for lame blog post of the day (complete with a poll!)

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions  

And they immediately spammed me to give them my email address…

by EmilyB on Jul 22, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

For those who don’t want to read the post, it’s basically.

“hurr hurr SB Nation moderated me, so they suck now! hurr hurr”

Capitals Kremlin the second line center of the Caps blogosphere.

by CapitalsKremlin on Jul 22, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

and the “i’ve had a positive experience with SBNation” answer is dominating the poll.

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 22, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

PPP is going yeoman’s work in the comments defending SBN. Also noted: the poll is overwhelmingly pro-SBN right now.

by Scott in Shaw on Jul 22, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

Figured a little Rink juice would help.

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

Is Rink Juice a bio hazard?

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

And will it cause shrinkage?

by Rob Parker on Jul 22, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

I was in the pool!!! I was in the pool!!!!!!!!!

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions  

Depends whether you use the cream or the clear.

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions  

I like moderators. If you take them away, this place becomes Puck Daddy in terms of comments/commentors, which would be awful.

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions   1 recs

rec’d. there’s something of an uproar over at the minnesota vikings SBnation blog right now because of the recent lack of moderation.

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 22, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

Pension Plan Puppets had a great post on commenting/commentors recently, which evolved into a huge thread of people posting random non-sequitors followed by “Go Flyers!”. Absolutely hysterical.

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

What about the moderation level here? Too much? Too little?

And I immediately regret asking those questions…

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

by J.P. on Jul 22, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

rec’d, NB. Just right.

JP, ask us again mid-season. When the long knives come out.

by EmilyB on Jul 22, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

Japers' Rink Moderator Pre-flight Checklist

Articulate comments preferred: CHECK
Off-color humor allowed: CHECK
Little tolerance for topic straying: CHECK
Salty language allowed: CHECK
Make all visitors feel welcome (until they prove that their idiots): CHECK

Result: EFFECTIVE

by Cluster on Jul 22, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

Use of “their” instead of “they’re” proves my idiocy. Warn me!

by Cluster on Jul 22, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

the grammar gestapo will get you soon enough

Capitals Kremlin the second line center of the Caps blogosphere.

by CapitalsKremlin on Jul 22, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

Cluster just made a clusterfuck of the English language. 40 lashings!

by RedBirdie on Jul 22, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

Moderation here is great…you can be funny/edgy, and there’s relatively little trolling/stupidity.

What more could you ask for in a site?

Ron and Fez Noon to Three

by YvonLabresMoustache on Jul 22, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

I really wish the site would cut my lawn, personally.

by David Getz on Jul 22, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

right. if you’re looking for something more substantive than a bowl of porridge, i’ll add that it really helps to have the blog writers actively participating in the discussion below each post (a major issue with a few SBNation sites, IMO). it also helps to have such an intelligent and established community already in place. inane commenters aren’t shouted down, they are engaged with facts or thoughtful opinion…and from all directions. people here are protective of the community and with good reason.

at a distance, i’ve perceived that the rare belligerent commenter who gets banned from japers’ rink had by that time already turned down plenty of chances to be considerate/civil. the overall quality of the product can be easily derailed by a few loud people, and we’re all more enlightened for not having to sift through the muck. i imagine there was much fear and trepidation re: this topic when yahoo! and SBN joined forces? i do think it would be a good idea to build and prominently feature the community guidelines doc you alluded to, though. and somehow prevent members from deleting their own fanposts? (zing.)

you guys do a great job walking the line and keeping the site educational/entertaining. like always, GOD says it better than i can with a comment many might have missed (he chimed in a few days after that post went up).

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 22, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

And if I had read the comment below that before yesterday, I wouldn’t have sent an email to “Jacob” yesterday. Nothing like making the same mistake twice. (I have no idea where I got the “Jacob” from).

Anyway, Jon you have the best moderator’s “voice” I’ve ever seen on the internet. Firm but fair, and when people apologize after a “correction” (as most well-intentioned folks do) you always acknowledge the apology in a really gracious way.

I feel like people around here realize that everyone else around here is a real person. Heck, we realize that all the players, management, other bloggers, etc. are real people too. Sounds stupidly obvious, but it’s actually pretty rare out there. It’s about respect, I guess.

by Gould Old Days on Jul 22, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

For the most part. I can think of a couple of exceptions. :)

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jul 23, 2009 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

The fact that a) I barely ever notice any moderating happening, b) I barely ever notice trolls, c) I’ve never seen spam, and d) I can use expletives mean to me that it’s perfect!

by grapejoos on Jul 22, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

and that’s the bottom line.

moderators are like referees. best when you don’t notice them.

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 22, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

I always feel vaguely guilty when I use expletives because it’s fairly rare around here.

It doesn’t stop me.

by Gould Old Days on Jul 22, 2009 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions  

It’s rare except for the game open threads, and that’s about right IMO.

I used to post a lot on another SB nation blog that had a no cussing policy, and while I think outright prohibition is better than rampant use, sometimes you just gotta swear when it comes to sports.

by grapejoos on Jul 22, 2009 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, swearing every other word has no effect on emphasis, but a well-placed one can do what several dozen doesn’t.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jul 23, 2009 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

from PPP’s guidelines and rules:

Swear if you must but picking your spots will make the swearing much more effective.

sounds about right.

by Natty Bumppo on Jul 23, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

Nah, you’re fine. A place with lots of smart folks doesn’t take a lot of moderating, because generally speaking they’ll police themselves.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jul 22, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

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