Thursday Caps Clips: Gameday in Just Five Weeks
by J.P. on Aug 13, 2009 6:42 AM EDT
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Your savory breakfast links:
- Yahoo! Sports takes a hack - emphasis on "hack" - at updated power rankings. [Yahoo! Sports]
- Make that two writers in a row who think the Caps will miss Donald Brashear's presence. We'll have to agree
that these people haven't a clue about what they're writingto disagree. [New England Hockey Journal] - Via @capsmedia, "Caps @ Buffalo preseason game, previously TBA, is Sept. 17 at 7 p.m." which is barely a month away.
- Alex Ovechkin was the correct answer on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," which is apparently still on television. Interestingly, AO was actually asked about appearing on the show just last week. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Dmitri Orlov is one of the most wanted KHLers. [The Hockey News via FanShot]
- Ooohhh... nice plates. [Simply Sensational]
- The Caps have confirmed Kelly Miller, Rod Langway and Dennis Maruk for CapsCon. [Capitals.com]
- Joe Finley has entered a plea of... not guilty. [StarTribune]
- The Bears have signed tough guy Brandon Sugden, who has an interesting story and is already lining up heavyweight fights. As you might have guessed, he's a bit of a YouTube star (and he's actually fought John Erskine twice).
- Hershey also signed a former ECHL All-Star defenseman (who is a former teammate of both Jeff Schultz's and Karl Alzner's with Calgary of the WHL). [John Walton Hockey]
- Braden Holtby could (but isn't expected to) return to Saskatoon as an overager. [Blades.com]
- Jeff Halpern: "Seeing the Caps as good as they are now, it's disappointing not to be a part of that." No snark - he's a good dude. [Capitals Insider]
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So are these cards sorted alphabetically, chronologically, or the dreaded autobiographically?
http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.
by Bald Pollack on Aug 13, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Rec’d for the High Fidelity reference.
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As I said in my Tweet about the Yahoo! link, Ross McKeon is (still) a twit.
Less than a month away – I’m vaguely amused by the idea of a “Thank God It’s Hockey Season Again” party.
As for Brash – as I’ve said before, I’d rather have half the roster sticking up for the goalie than one tough guy – seems to me to be more effective that way.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I love pre-season rankings, particularly when I look back at them a year later. Having the Caps at #7 is probably about right since they fell in the second round but saying they lost “grizzled” vets Feds and Koslov and not mentioning they added Knuble and Morrison is a little strange. The real unhappiness should come from Sharks fans who had their team dropped to tenth. I will go on the record right now and say not only will the Penguins not repeat, they’re not even making it to the Conference Finals. They climbed the mountain last season and after two straight years of battling, I’m betting the hunger won’t be there this season. And really, wanting it more is what won them the Cup against Detroit (and the series against the Caps).
We lost Kozlov and Feds but replaced them. BOS doesn’t have Kessel under contract but they don’t get knocked for that? Who else are they going to have to give up to get Kessel under the cap? PHI and CHI still have pretty significant question marks in net, but he ignores that. DET is DET and they aren’t going anywhere; SJS won the Presidents trophy and haven’t lost a single important player, yet VAN hopped them both after their pathetic performance in the playoffs? Hack is right.
Ross McKeon is the guy who got into that little tiff with Ted over the “contract the whole SE, they’re worthless” comment a couple summers back, right?
Yup. He also douched it up here and had this to say after Game 2 against the Rangers:
Bruce Boudreau made a mistake by starting 20-year-old goalie Simeon Varlamov in Game 2, not because the rookie goalie surrendered the only goal of a pivotal game for the Capitals but because it leaves Jose Theodore knowing his coach doesn’t have confidence in him. What does Boudreau do now? He has to go to Theodore in Game 3 because you don’t put Varlamov into hostile Madison Square Garden for a must-win Game 3. Talk about setting someone up for failure. Boudreau has to go with Theodore, but good luck when that first one goes in. Where’s Brett Leonhardt when you need him?
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by J.P. on Aug 13, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He has to go to Theodore in Game 3 because you don’t put Varlamov into hostile Madison Square Garden for a must-win Game 3. Talk about setting someone up for failure.
Classic. As the once great Brian Billick said, "That’s why players play, coaches coach, writers write … and you people do whatever it is you people do."
the ross mckeon “5 things i’d change about hockey” fiasco reminded me of bradley’s list. so that’s a good thing.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 13, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Really, no snark on Halpern. Maybe I’m off-base here, but I think his leaving town was a matter of being up for a contract at the wrong time. He was coming off a good year and was thirty. You can’t blame him for wanting to get paid in a booming marketplace. He would have had to take a lot less to stay, if I’m remembering right. Had it been a year later, maybe he’d still be here, maybe not.
I dunno. He left before the ‘06-’07 season, and they were still epically bad that year. I doubt the simple change in uniforms and the promise of Nick Backstrom displacing him would have kept him here.
by DrinkingPartner on Aug 13, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t blame him for going, and I don’t blame Dallas for making him a good offer, but he’s still one of my favorite players and I’m still sorry he left Washington.
by CapitalCentre on Aug 13, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t blame him at all for leaving. The team was awful and was still trying to keep costs low. Halpern could have stayed and spent the rest of his prime toiling on a bad Caps team, but he had an opportunity to go somewhere he could win and get paid fairly. Circumstances just didn’t work out.
The first year I lived in NYC I went to a Caps/Rags game at MSG. Halpern was the Caps’ best player. Both teams were horrible, and Rangers fans just walked around with “Fire Sather” signs all game. It was one of the worst displays of NHL hockey I’ve ever seen.
I have a feeling some news is going to break soon…
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Tease. Is it about Mike Vick? Did the Caps sign Mike Vick? I heard GMGM hasn’t ruled him out yet…
by Rob Parker on Aug 13, 2009 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’d rather have Brian Urlacher instead anyway
by renstar on Aug 13, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’m pretty sure Pat Kane’s case in front of a jury is today, but the Rink does have a strict no-official-posts-on-Patrick-Kane policy.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Aug 13, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions
never mind, posted before your post appeared.
also, fyi, there was a Patrick Wey article the other day as he headed off to the USA WJEC dev camp that some might find interesting, includes his Pittsburgh youth hockey coach’s opinion of the Caps blueline, lol
(the USHL site had a link to the article) link
Hints?…I’m going to be stuck in a meeting all morning. Plus I need something to help forget about the US game yesterday
The Brashear comment in that article is comical at best.
the Caps could regret not replacing Brashear’s muscle when they send Ovechkin up against Toronto or Philly with no protection.
I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but miss Brashear? Give me a break.
Here’s a list of what I won’t miss:
1. His team leading 121 PIM (63 games, 66 PIM w/o fights), easily the highest TOI:PIM ratio on team.
2. His stellar shooting percentage: 2.3%, lowest on team (except for good ‘ol Erskine and his 0 goals, but still lowest among forwards).
3. His +/-, -6, second lowest on team.
4. His staged fights, and his unwillingness to fight when it’s actually needed.
5. His blazing speed.
6. His suspensions.
7. His position: left wing, because we’re on low supply of those.
8. And lastly, his point total: 4. 1-3-4.
Okay, yes, I know Brashear was not brought to this team to score game winning goals, but he wasn’t even doing his job. 11 fights, most immediately after the face off and not in defense of any player. Brashear played for Brashear, not for the Caps. One may claim his ‘presence’ was what mattered most, but something tells me more people were interested in avoiding an Ovechkin check for 23 minutes per game than a Brashear check for 8.
Ovechkin can defend himself. The TEAM can defend the TEAM, because everyone else on the ice was doing it just as much as Brashear was.
Shoot, I almost forgot one last thing I won’t miss: Faceoff, Brashear fight (win), faceoff, Bradley fight (lose), wind in sails: gone.
His staged fights, and his unwillingness to fight when it’s actually needed.
Whoooooo boy. I don’t think Brash is unwilling to fight anyone. The nature of heavyweight fights in the NHL is that they are staged. The tough guys have to be put on the ice together and when that happens they know what’s up. I don’t think he backed down from anyone. I agree with most of the rest except that I don’t think there is any reason to suspect Brash was a selfish player. He was popular in the locker room and wore an A.
There was one game I attended last season which was completely out of hand, and the referees were unwilling to make any calls. Interference hits left and right (mostly coming from the other team). The crowd was on the edge of their seats waiting for Brashear to fight.
Boudreau put him on the ice.
Brashear did more circles than Circles. He did not fight, but it seemed like more than a few of the opponents (I’m not even sure who it was) were willing to stand up to him. The hits continued. Brashear went to the bench.
It was at that point that I was done watching Brashear.
I guess you can argue a staged fight can be good for momentum, but as far as protection and intimidation go, Brash was worthless last year. Not one time did he go after someone for taking a shot at one of our guys. To me, that’s his job, and if he’s not going to do it, well, good luck in New York.
by Murshawursha on Aug 13, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
My stance, which I’ve laid out a few times, is that fighting in hockey serves an emotional purpose, not a deterrent purpose. Players get jazzed up watching their teammates fight, but nobody in the NHL is afraid of doing anything because of what a guy like Brash might do.
I think $1.2 million a year is a little pricey for occasional emotional support. I’m pretty sure we could count Brash’s fights last season on two hands anyway.
by Murshawursha on Aug 13, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe they’ll sign Patrick Kane’s cousin.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Aug 13, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That’s the only justification I can agree with. But I think it also argues against having a dedicated enforcer on a team as tight-knit as this one seems to be — when the top scorer is also a top hitter, and when the emotional impetus is more likely to come from playing hockey well rather than from fighting opponents in the corners, then any player can offer that extra push.
by CapitalCentre on Aug 13, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t disagree. Team toughness > One BAMF
by Rob Parker on Aug 13, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
The Caps won’t miss Brashear. He was a one-trick pony whose trick was legislated to the extreme margins of utility. And as noted regularly here, his “presence” did not prevent the goalies from being run, and the stars from getting cheap shotted.
Don’t think they’ll miss Feds, either. What he might have supplied in leadership, he took away in bad stick fouls.
As for Kozlov, I won’t miss him. For all the great puck-possession highlights, there was precious little production to go with it.
Ross McKeon has a problem...
with a lot of things, but why did he slam the Carolina uniforms? He writes for a major news source, and that’s all he has to say about a very consistent and talented team? What a frickin’ moron.
Also, he implied that Fedorov and Kozlov leaving will create a huge leadership vacuum. Did he totally miss the fact that they signed Morrow and Knuble?
Did he totally miss the fact that they signed Morrow and Knuble?
God why would you tease us with that.
@Mobsky and Getz
Man, that was simply a mental error. Insert “Morrison” and I think the statement carries similar weight
by The Admiral on Aug 13, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I guess you could say I “got my Stars-crossed” ZIIIIIING!
by The Admiral on Aug 13, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Oh, haha, sorry! No hard feelings. The -1 is directed at the awful pun, not your Morrow/Morrison goof. That said, man, would I love seeing Brendan Morrow on our second line!
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McKeon does have a problem because for some reason you can’t even comment on any of his blogs. You can only send “e-mails” and “comments” which probably get disposed and aren’t even read by the guy. Also, my personal opinion is that he just doesn’t like the Caps, not sure why though.
Fedorov, yes, certainly with Semin, and by all accounts Fedorov is Washington served as the elder statesman of the locker room and didn’t slip back into the prima donna moments that marred his time in Detroit. Lazy stick penalties and all, he’s a hockey god and was leader-by-example in how he conducted himself and took the time to share what he’s learned with the kiddos.
Kozlov, though, I got the impression that he does his job (sometimes….) and isn’t the leader type.
I’ll be surprised if a single one of his predictions is accurate. Except that there will be 30 teams in the NHL this year – I think he nailed that one.
I’m sure he’ll luck out on a few, but I can’t grasp the logic behind most of his ordering. The Sharks at 10, with their success in previous (regular) seasons combined with the frustration of last year’s playoffs (or the last several years, for that matter)? Vancouver at 4 with their record of inconsistency? Edmonton above an ever-improving St. Louis?
They aren’t predictions for who’s going to have the best record in the league, they’re power rankings – i.e. who looks the best in a very short window.
That continues to assume you count the Coyotes and Islanders, which I’m loathe to do.
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The Coyotes are only two games under .500 for the last two seasons and five team finished with the same number of points or fewer than they did last year.
I can’t believe so many people are still frustrated and angry at Brashear. Out of all the teams he’s played for, from what I can tell, he’s been beloved by his teammates, coaches, fans, and the communities. Hell, even the new team that gave him a questionable contract has publicly welcomed him after he injured one of their key players in the playoffs.
For those of us that, like F&B said above, still get an emotional charge out of seeing a good heavyweight fight, consider us fortunate to have had one of the legendary NHL enforcers on our team for a few years. That’s all it was, nothing more, nothing less. Sort of a sideshow, but he never cost this team anything (maybe one game in BOS two seasons ago).
And a little piece of ALL of us is lying if we don’t honestly feel a little less tough going into those games against the Phillys, Anaheims, and now, Torontos of the league.
I’ll admit it, I feel a little nervous about playing Toronto and Philly now. Toronto toughened up to a ridiculous degree and you know Burke will want them to hit and fight, penalties be damned. Philly’s Philly. I don’t think you need a Brash-type guy, but the Caps are going to need Erskine and Bradley, etc. to be ready to stick up for guys in those games.
I don’t believe Brash served any real deterrent effect, but I still worry about protection for Ovie the way he runs people, Semin given his injury history, Green the way he seems to shrink in overly physical games, etc. Of course, replacing a guy like Kozlov with a guy like Knuble will help on the team toughness front.
Green the way he seems to shrink in overly physical games
Disagree with this. He doesn’t shy away from the body and I thought he was the Young Gun with the quickest (shortest?) learning curve in the 08 playoffs. He didn’t seem intimidated by PHI and was the first guy to drop ’em for the Caps in that series, IIRC.
Greenie hits plenty. And he throws one hell of a hipcheck.
by Murshawursha on Aug 13, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Gotcha. He did seem to do quite a bit of hit avoidance in this year’s playoffs, but I’m putting that down to the shoulder injury.
by Murshawursha on Aug 13, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Holy crap. On the simply sensational link I read down and saw that MLRH is having a tournament broadcasted on Versus.
I am one of the goaltenders for the Washington Power and had no idea about this…it looks like they are only doing two games though. Hopefully they’ll do another big tournament like the Euro Cup they did last year and I’ll get to be on Versus.
If you’re going to be on Versus, please let us all know.
by CapitalCentre on Aug 13, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I won’t be on this tournament that they are airing at the end of this month but there is a possibility I’ll be in a game in the future. I would definitely make a fan shot\post about it!
Slick. I’m about eight degrees of skill short of MLRH, at my best, so good luck, and when the cameras finally start rolling, make the most of it! =)
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MLRH has had a lot of ups and downs. There were house league teams better than a few of the teams they had traveling around a few years ago. It’ll be interesting if it returns to the glory days of old with all this promotion.
So none of you (w)eagle-eyed readers cared to comment on the “C” on Kelly Miller’s chest? Or do you all mostly gloss over my self-indulgent hockey card pics?
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I like them for the nostalgia kick, those early Upper Decks remind me of the holograms on back.
http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.
by Bald Pollack on Aug 13, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
So I’ll bite. I had no idea he ever wore a “C” – what’s the story behind that? Langway was C when Miller joined the Caps and then Hatcher then Hunter.
Well, it’s a 1991-92 card, which means the pic is from the previous season, one in which Langway only played 56 games. I don’t recall the exact situation, but Miller must’ve gotten the C during Rod’s prolonged (if I recall correctly) absence.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Haha, J.P., you’ve clearly been waiting all day for someone to ask you about that card.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Aug 13, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions
ha, didn’t even look, but I assume he was the interim captain at some point either due to an injury or suspension; it’s just strange when the card companies use pics like this, as someone else noted with your Juneau card selection the other day
OT: but looks like another member of the Miller family might have been traded to TB…Anaheim TB trade in the works…and one of the rumors is that Drew Miller is headed to TB
yup, Damian Cristodero’s blog update:
Evgeny Artyukhin sent to Ducks; Tampa Bay Lightning get Drew Miller and a third-round draft pick
Quick knee-jerk top-five ranking of the Miller clan:
1. Kelly
2. Ryan
3. Kevin
4. Kip
5. Drew
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From an NHL perspective, I’ll agree but say Ryan could easily end up on top of the list above Kelly.
From a Michigan State perspective, the ranking might be different :) More to choose from, too, …always confusing sorting out the generations with the Miller family…
IIRC,
Butch – Uncle of Kelly, Kevin and Kip; Grandpa to Ryan and Drew
Lyle – father of Kelly, Kevin and Kip, Butch’s younger brother
Dean – father of Ryan and Drew, Butch’s son
There were also some cousins that played at MSU.
quite the legacy
No doubt on Ryan having the potential to pass Kelly. But he’s not there yet.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Interesting trade. I have always been kind of intrigued by Artyukhin. He’s the only other Russian I’ve seen that plays a power game like Ovie. I’ve hoped before that the Caps could somehow snag him.
I agree his potential is tantalizing, but the fact that he can’t do anything with it turns me off. He’s like Viktor Kozlov. But dumb as rocks. And mean. A big, dumb, mean Viktor Kozlov.
7 fights last year, a lot for a guy who wears a visor. a legitimate complaint i think. also spoiled his throw down with chara.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 13, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
in the NHL, he’s trended more towards fighter/tough guy than offensive talent (16 pts in 73 GP last season). if he’s going to be a fighter his whole career, i’d like to see him lose the visor.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 13, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s got a long way to go if he wants to be the next Ulf Samuelsson.
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most famous rec specs ever? i vote kareem. also in the running: horace grant, chris sabo, eric dickerson.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 13, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
On Green — if he was shying away from hits in the playoffs, it was probably because he was physically subpar. Both sick and having an injured shoulder. Green was actually our littlest D-man last year (until Pothier came back).
According to the Alex Ovetjkin blog spot, Semin admits to being 185 pounds. (Okay, there was the conversion to pounds from the number to kilos he admitted to be.) Most people on the Caps blogs seemed to think that Semin’s listed weight of 204 pounds sounded high.
(Now we just need to keep Semin and Green both healthy.) It just seems to me that a 4th line enforcer is not the way to protect out skilled players. Better protection would be a skilled tough guy who can play as a Top 6 forward or top 2 defense pairing. Someone who can strike back at the Kunitzes, Orpiks, Prongers, and David Backeses of the world.
I’d rather have several guys like that, any of whom will stand up for the stars and the goalies whenever they’re on the ice.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
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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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