Friday Caps Clips: Hockey's Larry Doby

by J.P. on Jul 24, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in Caps Clips

Your savory breakfast links:

The most underrated signing of the offseason is none other than Mike Knuble. I'd have had Brendan Morrison in the Top 10 too, but that's just me. [NHL.com]
Speaking of Knuble, Puck Daddy asked him whether he thought Flyer fans would boo him upon his return to Philly. He was unsure in his answer, but The700Level wasn't. [The700Level]
Back to NHL.com (where top ten lists rule the day), their list of the top ten Russians NHLers has a couple of familiar names on it, including one at the very top. [NHL.com]
If you thought any less of Sergei Fedorov for taking the money and running back to Russia, get ready to feel guilty - he claims he's ~~been screwed out of~~ owed $43 million, which is about three-quarters of what he earned in salary during his NHL career. [Puck Daddy, From the Rink]
Minor damage requires minor damage control. In unrelated news, here's a nice video spot the Caps just put out on Joe Finley. [Capitals.com]
As for Big Joe's legal woes, the Caps "haven't announced any sort of punishment..., but the inevitable assignment to the ECHL later this season seems like punishment enough." Well struck. [WCHB]
The University of New Hampshire has been put on probation for two years for "major recruiting violations." Caps prospect Phil DeSimone has played at UNH for the past two seasons, and is to be joined there this fall by 2008 Caps draftee Greg Burke. [USCHO]
CapsChick takes a look at who's spending what where and notes that "if every team [spent to the cap and] meted out the cash at each position based on the percentage of the roster, the forwards would make up 59% of the payroll, or about $33.5 million. The defense, at about 32%, would be at $18.2 million, leaving $5.1 million, or 9% for the goalies." By my math, the Caps fit this hypothetical structure almost exactly. How 'bout that? [VFtCS]
Here's some help on a stalkerrific new feature. [Simply Sensational]
If you happen to be in Moscow tonight, here's where Alex Ovechkin will be partying. Actually, he'll be partying there whether you're in Moscow or not. [Alex Ovetjkin]
Expect the Avalanche to be one of the hardest working teams in hockey. What, you thought that with Joe Sacco and Steve Konowalchuk behind the bench, they'd be runnin' and gunnin'? [New England Hockey Journal]
Another former Cap is getting a new gig as well, as Dave Poulin has joined the Maple Leafs front office. [NHL.com]
If you're new to this site or never bothered to try to figure out what SB Nation is all about, here's your must-read for today. [PensBurgh]
Finally, Happy 54th Birthday to one of the original Caps, Mike Marson, who finished third on the 1974-75 team in scoring with 28 points and had the third-worst plus-minus on the team at minus-65 (um, ouch). Marson (whom the Caps selected ahead of Bryan Trottier, among others, in the 1974 Amateur Draft) is best known as the NHL's second African-Canadian player, breaking into the League nearly two decades after Willie O'Ree became hockey's Jackie Robinson. Do yourself a favor and read up on Marson over at Joe Pelletier's Greatest Hockey Legends and Capitals.com.

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Did you notice that the NHL.com’s homepage has the headline “Russian Dolls” with a picture of Ovechkin? I just thought that was stupid.

by letsgocaps on Jul 24, 2009 7:30 AM EDT reply actions

I’m hoping it means you can open Ovie up and find a smaller Ovie inside. And a smaller Ovie inside that Ovie, and a smaller Ovie inside that Ovie…

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Jul 24, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

That’s pretty funny, because I just happened to (finally) bring in my “Russian Doll” to work today:

by Laich on Jul 24, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Did you notice that the Capitals.com article on Mike Marson introduces him as “the second African-American to ever play in the NHL”? I love how we assume all black people are American…
Joe Pelletier’s article on him is great though.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Jul 24, 2009 7:57 AM EDT reply actions

The most underrated signing of the offseason is none other than Mike Knuble. I’d have had Brendan Morrison in the Top 10 too, but that’s just me.

B-Mo’s so underrated, he doesn’t even make the underrated list!

by Gould Old Days on Jul 24, 2009 8:43 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Well-played.

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

by J.P. on Jul 24, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I linked through to that artcile on UNH recruiting violations. Somehow, I get the feeling that if the sport was football or basketball, and the school was from, say, the ACC, the penalties assessed would have been less. Not that these were huge, although I think the likely price then would have been the loss of a scholarship or two and that’s it. Not the likely loss of actually getting any of those 30 players to attend.

by gfcaps fan on Jul 24, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

The decision to not continue to recruit these players was self-imposed by UNH, though.

by David Getz on Jul 24, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I know, but I guess the way it works is you propose the penalty and hope you don’t get more. Maybe they figured it would be no big deal because those kids are a bit away from actually committing somewhere, so by that time the team may no longer be interested anyway. Just seems like the “rules” are different for “lesser” sports. And, no, I have no vested interest in the outcome of this, so that’s not my point.

by gfcaps fan on Jul 24, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

The third-worst +/- on the 74-75 team was -65… yikes. I knew they were bad, but that bad???

And I still can’t believe that Knuble listens to Lady Gaga….

Really, you figure him more as someone who would listen to Prog-Rock from the 1970s and 1980s (Pink Floyd, ELP, Yes, Jethro Tull, etc.)

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jul 24, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

He’s got kids. If they rule the car radio, then he’s listening to Lady Gaga.

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Jul 24, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

If I had kids at that age...

…Lady Gaga would be banned music… ditto for anyone with a last name of Jonas or Cyrus.

Knuble can cure his kids from that if he takes them to the McCartney show over at FedEx on the 1st. I can’t wait for that….should be great.

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jul 24, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

My wife and I are going to that also. She’s the Beatles fanatic.

by Cluster on Jul 24, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Based on these comments, I’m glad my kids are grown. I have very little idea what they listen to, and it’s probably better that way.

by gfcaps fan on Jul 24, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

My kid is 21...

…and she has great taste in music. Her favorites are The Doors, Bowie, Ramones, The Clash, AFI, System of a Down, Radiohead, RATM, the Cure, Depche Mode (I’m not a fan, but they are very talented…)

She doesn’t like Metallica though.. .gotta work on that.

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Jul 24, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

My kids were raised on the golden oldies (she who drives the car controls the radio), and actually did like the stuff. Amazingly, I like a some of what they listen to now, but I have no idea who’s performing it, just that sometimes I hear it and like it. Then again, a lot of what my son listens to is totally unlistenable to me. (Again, he/she who drives controls the ipod/radio.)

by gfcaps fan on Jul 24, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Knuble may be a billboard guy, but you know the prog rock lives on in Tony White’s van.

by grapejoos on Jul 24, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

or the jonas brothers :-) ha!

by Scofield on Jul 24, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Yay!

My Fanpost got moved into the Caps Clips. (That’s good, right?)

ZING! ZANG! ZUNG!

by crabchowdah on Jul 24, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

Also, Finley’s shenanigans finally made it to Deadspin.

ZING! ZANG! ZUNG!

by crabchowdah on Jul 24, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

I kinda like this comment over at Deadspin…

You spend 4 years in North Dakota and see how sane you come out of it…

by war_capitals on Jul 24, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

How about this one?

Is it really necessary to distinguish between North and South Dakota?

ZING! ZANG! ZUNG!

by crabchowdah on Jul 24, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

A bit more on Marson here.

by Stephen Pepper on Jul 24, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

Great stuff. You don’t expect to hear of that kind of treatment from his own teammates. Absolutely shameful.

Maybe Brads can sign up for one of his classes.

by Cluster on Jul 24, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m ready to go watch DJ Ambassador OV drop some def beats on Club Paradise tonite.

Drop it like’s hot, Alex!

by EmilyB on Jul 24, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions

Canadians are Americans

As in North Americans. They don’t believe US citizens have the rights to the term ‘American,’ and often and proudly refer to themselves as Americans. This is a fact. Living in the U.S., we naturally consider the universe revolves around us, but it isn’t so. American means anyone in the North/South American continents. Welcome to the Global Village.

by FlyingCloud on Jul 24, 2009 6:51 PM EDT reply actions

Some thoughts on poor old Fedorov

Back from the stalag that is “Family Vacation,” the first news I read today was of Fedorov’s sad state of affairs. How tragic, the private life of this great Legend, betrayed and defrauded first by the tennis chick, then by the “investment” swindler. And even now, his new team is hinting that his younger brother might not get to play — when that was his reason for double-defecting in the first place! Oh dear! A two year sentence in Siberia, in an ugly, depressed steel town, playing to half-empty arenas for heartless-bastard managers in a country dominated by “former” KGB and organized crime of the worst kind — I hope they don’t get their hands on his passport. I hope he comes home soon. I’d take him barefoot in his shift.

by FlyingCloud on Jul 24, 2009 6:58 PM EDT reply actions