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Ranking the Capitals: #9

In an effort to beat the summer doldrums, we're undertaking to rank - with your help - the Washington Capitals, from Ovechkin to, well, we'll see. The criteria is simple: who at this moment is the most valuable player in the organization who hasn't already been ranked? Put another way, if you could only keep one of the remaining players - because of what he brings on the ice or off it, his upside, what he could fetch in trade, and so on - who would it be? Consider age, potential, contract status, organizational depth, etc. - it's your call. And after you vote and defend your selection in the comments, help us out and suggest a name to add to the next poll. [Note: previous "Ranking the Capitals" posts can be found here."]

Welcome Mike Knuble to the list, and Brendan Morrison to the poll...

  1. Alex Ovechkin
  2. Nicklas Backstrom
  3. Mike Green
  4. Alexander Semin
  5. Semyon Varlamov
  6. Brooks Laich
  7. Karl Alzner
  8. Mike Knuble
Poll
Who's the next most valuable Cap?
John Carlson
56 votes
Eric Fehr
1 votes
Tomas Fleischmann
3 votes
Brendan Morrison
7 votes
Shaone Morrisonn
1 votes
Michal Neuvirth
4 votes
Tom Poti
86 votes
Jeff Schultz
27 votes
David Steckel
54 votes
Jose Theodore
5 votes

244 votes | Poll has closed

If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's editors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.

Comment 161 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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I voted Tom Poti, Carlson is the future but the defense would be in bad shape without Poti this year.

by i12swim on Aug 6, 2009 8:41 PM EDT reply actions  

DMG’s gonna get Poti elected one of these days!

by RedBirdie on Aug 6, 2009 8:47 PM EDT reply actions  

I voted for Carlson, actually. I’ve changed my criteria from ’who’s going to be the most valuable next year’ to ‘if another team’s GM called up McPhee and offered all his draft picks for the next ten years for one player, who’d be the last player on the list you’d offer him’?

by David Getz on Aug 7, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

Welcome to the dark side.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

It feels strangely good…

by David Getz on Aug 7, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions  

That’s the nature of the dark side. Nurture that feeling. (Not that I believe for one second that it’s a new feeling for you.)

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

interesting how Theodores votes are going down

by ovechkinmvp on Aug 6, 2009 9:04 PM EDT reply actions  

He’s coming soon for me….both for trade value (this year) and because I don’t think Varly is ready to be a full time #1

by Yoshietree on Aug 6, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

This is why I voted for him this time around…mainly that handing Varly the reigns is still a risk.

by BackiBacker on Aug 7, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’m back to Poti, for the same reasons again.

by Gould Old Days on Aug 6, 2009 9:21 PM EDT reply actions  

Ditto.

Add Bradley to the poll for his shoot-out prowess and overall awesomeness.

by Scott in Shaw on Aug 7, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions  

Meh, Poti I guess. Now all that’s left is the inevitable F&B/Dohboy rematch. This time, it’s personal.

"The passion of our supporters cannot be contained by clothing."

by Bald Pollack on Aug 6, 2009 9:35 PM EDT reply actions  

I vote for whoever D’ohboy thinks is the worst on the list!

by Rob Parker on Aug 6, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

After we’re done with this, we’re going to rank you Rink Rats – “Who is the next most valuable commentor?”

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

by J.P. on Aug 6, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Theo60, hands down #1.

by Rob Parker on Aug 6, 2009 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

*needs to remove post.

"The passion of our supporters cannot be contained by clothing."

by Bald Pollack on Aug 7, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions   2 recs

All I’m trying to say is Theo60 has a community rule in his honor. Can anyone else say the same?

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions  

Exactly – that’s some serious value there.

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

by J.P. on Aug 7, 2009 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

A little Theo60 background for us noobs? Is this something I could still find on my own (i.e. the account name is still searchable?)

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

- Ferris Bueller

by war_capitals on Aug 7, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions  

Theo60 put up a fanshot in defense of Theodore after the NYR benching. Many people commented on it and explained to him why they thought he was wrong (including people that run other SBN blogs, at least PPP and Mile High IIRC). The fanshot generated over 100 comments including many well-thought out arguments as to why Theodore could not be trusted to lead the Caps in the playoffs. When Theo60 was unable to get people to agree with his conclusion he deleted the post, along with all the effort many people put into developing a good discussion.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions  

Thanks F&B, although I was around for that and should’ve remembered that happening. A perfect example of why everyone should read the Rules of the Rink that you guys have posted?

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

- Ferris Bueller

by war_capitals on Aug 7, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, although the rules weren’t up when Theo60 pulled his stunt.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

A rec to both of you.

by Scott in Shaw on Aug 7, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

Stecks FTW, faceoff king.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 6, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions  

I think nobody likes it but i went for gut this time, and went for Poti.

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Aug 6, 2009 10:11 PM EDT reply actions  

retract the nobody goes for Poti

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Aug 6, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

ok that went horribly, i’ll stick with poti

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Aug 6, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

Went with Schultz again, same reason as before (and again tough call between him and Poti but I can’t back down now).

Besides, with any luck he’s going to be the guy that puts Morrisonn out of a job, and that’s good enough for me.

by brs03 on Aug 6, 2009 10:11 PM EDT reply actions  

Theodore

Following the criteria (or trying to at least) I went with Theodore. I figure with the size of his salary, that he might still be our starting goalie, and the fact that another team would probably pick him up as their starting goalie that that makes him the most valuable member. Its tough though, as a fan I have a hard time voting for him.

If I was voting only for what that specific player’s skills meant to the team I definitely would’ve gone Poti.

by DarkHorseCards on Aug 6, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions  

I think a lot of us could make a case for all of these guys. I mean, we love them all. I don’t write off Theo.

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Aug 6, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

God that sounded stupid,

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Aug 6, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

But I support both of your sentiments. Theo is pretty valuable for a team with otherwise entirely unproven goalies. We’ve seen a lot from Semyon and Neuvy (and Holtby) to give us a lot of optimism, but they are all still very, very young.

by Gould Old Days on Aug 6, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

okay…but are there rules to this game or aren’t there? because i thought JP had established we need to consider age, salary, length of contract, etc. in which case, how does anyone value theodore (who the caps will almost certainly let walk after this season) over carlson or schultz? wouldn’t any one here trade theo right now for another carlson-type prospect or 23-year-old, top-4 defenseman? theo’s 2009-2010 season is going to be worth that much to the caps? not to mention the ways GMGM could use theo’s recouped salary.

by Natty Bumppo on Aug 6, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

“[G.O.D.], this is not ’Nam. This is [Ranking the Capitals]. There are rules.”

by Rob Parker on Aug 6, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

So is that a vote for Viktor Kozlov?

by Gould Old Days on Aug 6, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, I guess it is. This time I don’t think we should go through the trouble of getting the rug back though.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

That [comment] really tied the [message board] together.

by grapejoos on Aug 7, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions  

mark it schultz or you’re entering a world of pain. a world of pain.

by Natty Bumppo on Aug 7, 2009 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions  

IMO Theo brings a lot to the table per JP’s rules…

1) He’s proven – He led the team to one of the best regular seasons in the history of the franchise. Could he have played better…no question…But the fact remains that he did enough to win, especially after the beginning of the New Year.

2) Trade value – He’s in a contract year and if he plays well during the regular season he could fetch something somewhat substantial in return at the deadline.

3) There are no other proven keepers in the system – Yes…Varly had a great playoff run, but let’s be real, his game against the NYR and his game against the Guins were two entirely different games. Was he tired, or was his magic against the Rags simply him showing what he can do against a bottom tier offense?

4) Durability – Can Varly make it through the vigors of the regular season? He definitely suffered from injury and fatigue last year. Both during the regular season and the playoffs.

I haven’t voted for a keeper yet…I probably would have if it was a keeper tandem of Varly and Theo. Most of us weren’t happy with Varly’s play last year…especially after game 1. But the fact remains he played well enough for the team to have the second best record in the Eastern Conference. Who knows how Varly will hold up in this system for an entire season. Let’s be realistic, BB’s system is not the NJ Trap. Whoever the keeper is on the Caps is going to have to put up with a lot of shots and a lot of odd man breaks. None of us know how Varly is going to hold up over the long term in this system…

That’s why Theo was, and continues to be, important. Along those same lines…looking down the road past next season…I’m not opposed to seeing some sort of Varly/Neurvith tandem.

/flame on

by Yoshietree on Aug 7, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions  

Most of us weren’t happy with Varly’s Theo’s play last year…especially after game 1.

/can’t proof read.

by Yoshietree on Aug 7, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

Theo is important player, but if contract is a factor, he’s overpaid. That makes a bargain like Schultz more appealing to me (though voting for him over Poti, Steckel, and Carlson was mighty hard).

by grapejoos on Aug 7, 2009 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions  

Proven isn’t good when the only thing you’ve proven lately (4 years) is that you can’t be trusted. He won behind an extremely talented team with the Hart winner and Norris runner up. He posted average numbers. The Caps would have been fine with any goalie that could give them average NHL goaltending.

His trade value isn’t going to be that high. The only team that is going to trade for him is a rebuilding team that just needs an average NHL goalie so they don’t get embarrassed or a team that wants him to be backup. Neither type of team will give up much for him. The best thing the Caps are going to get for him is his cap room. Until they have a purpose for that cap room (i.e. they have a player in mind), there is no reason to move him; on that I agree. He can play backup for our rookies all year and make sure we know we are going to get average goaltending in the regular season. That’s worth something. But not as much as other guys on the list.

No, the rookies aren’t proven. But it’s pretty hard to be young and proven. You need a chance. What both have proven is that they have a lot of talent. Varly tired out, but Neuvirth flat out locked it down. Easier competition, yes, but the AHL is still the second best league in the world and it was his first year out of juniors. The guy has handled a ton of mental stuff in the last 2 yrs (trades, injuries, nowhere to play, Europe, ECHL, AHL, NHL, AHL) and at the end of the day he played well everywhere he got a chance and he walked away with the MVP of the Calder Cup playoffs. I’m impressed. I want to see more.

If we lose Theo, I’m not afraid to play the rookies until they both force us not to. If GMGM needs a back up because one can’t hack it, then he can get one. Otherwise let them both get NHL experience and then pick up a backup for the playoffs at the trade deadline. Let them decide which one gets to go into the playoffs with the Caps and send the other back to Hershey. I’m OK with that scenario.

As you note, the Caps give up some tough chances for a goalie. When I was discussing Nabokov with J.P. I said that the most important things in a goalie were: not letting in soft goals, and making the save when the team needs it. I don’t trust Theo to make the save when the team needs it. Being an awesome goalie is mental. There are countless examples of ridiculously talented head cases. I think both rookies have shown a better head than Theo has since the lockout.

Varlamov went into a ridiculously stressful situation and played great (several times). No doubt his game dropped off, but I don’t hold it against him too much considering the rest of the team around him. Neuvirth went through all the distractions and dominated when it mattered. Maybe he just got hot at the right time, but he also got white hot when he took Plymouth to the Memorial Cup. His playoff numbers at every level are very impressive. He may not have the sheer athleticism of Varlamov, but I’m sold on his dome.

If you don’t trust Theo (which I don’t), then you have to be resigned to playing one of the rookies in the playoffs again (which I am). If you don’t trust either rookie then you can convince yourself that Theo’s experience is gonna bring back 2002 this year, but I don’t think that’s likely; or you want GMGM out looking for a different No. 1, which isn’t happening. You gotta play the kids eventually and they haven’t failed yet. How long you gonna sit on those eggs? That makes Theo not the most valuable guy on that list.

/D’ohboy’d

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

Manny Fernandez is floating out there, without a job. Other quality goalies as well. Which makes Theo less valuable, because he could be easily replaced.

by Gould Old Days on Aug 7, 2009 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m tired, buzzed and not looking forward to work in 6.5 hours. What does that mean? Well this is going to be short, sweet and probably incoherent.

He won behind an extremely talented team with the Hart winner and Norris runner up. He posted average numbers.

No doubt he posted average numbers, but that’s all it will take to win the majority of the games with this team. If you’re expecting Varly or Neurvith to put up huge numbers in this system I think you’re going to end up being disappointed.

Don’t get me wrong, I was incredibly impressed with Varly’s performance in the playoffs…but he also benefited from some extremely lucky bounces. Truth be told, I have taken a ton of heat from friends because I honestly believe that Neurvith is the franchise goalie of the future for the Caps not Varly.

The Caps would have been fine with any goalie that could give them average NHL goaltending.

Exactly my point. None of us really know what the team has in either Varly or Neurvith. Do they have what it takes to be an average NHL goaltender? We’ve seen what both of them can do…albeit in extremely small sample sizes. Remember Jim Carrey? Theo’s importance isn’t in the fact that he’s going to win the Vezina next year…it’s that we know what we’re getting…someone that will do just enough to win the gross majority of the games.

His trade value isn’t going to be that high. The only team that is going to trade for him is a rebuilding team that just needs an average NHL goalie

What do you define as not that high? If he comes out of camp looking strong and gets into a good number of games between now and the deadline, he’ll bring back something significant. He’s in a contract year, and there will be some teams fighting for the playoffs that are looking to give their starter a kick in the shorts. Will he bring back an elite talent? Nope. But, assuming Varly plays at the same level that he showed in the playoffs, Theo will bring back a gritty player with a low draft pick.

He can play backup for our rookies all year and make sure we know we are going to get average goaltending in the regular season.

I’ll say it again. All this team needs is average goal tending. This team isn’t built behind the the NJ trap. I’m all for him playing back up next year…but he is an insurance policy. Varly didn’t make it through a full year of the AHL last year, and there is absolutely no debating the point that he was fatigued during the Pittsburgh series. Or, atleast I hope, there is no debate..because if there is reason for debate we’re in worse shape than I thought. Neurvith, while he had an amazing run in Chocolatetown has proven nothing in the Show as of yet (I stand by my comment that he is the goalie of the future). His numbers, in an admitted small sample size, were mediocre at best. Theo’s worth is that we know the Caps can win with him in the net.

The reason I noted that I would have voted earlier for a tandem of Varly/Theo is because I don’t see Varly getting more than 47-50 starts this year…that leaves 32-35 starts for Theo. Granted, I hope I’m wrong, but with the way he got hurt last year, I just don’t see it happening anyother way as the team (BB/GMGM) will already be looking ahead to the playoffs.

I don’t trust Theo to make the save when the team needs it.

I don’t trust Theo to make the save either, but I’ll say it again, Theo won the majority of the games he played in. This team does not need an awesome goalie to be successful in the regular season. I’ll grant the point that Varly proved they need one in the post season, but how much is his play going to drop off playing 60-70 games this year? He only played 33 games in North America last year (27 in Hershey and 6 in DC)…and the year before that he only played….you guessed it…33 games in Russia. Personally I am worried about his stamina due to his performance last year in Hershey and during the playoffs in DC.

I think both rookies have shown a better head than Theo has since the lockout.

No argument here. But I stand by all of the comments above.

No doubt his game dropped off, but I don’t hold it against him too much considering the rest of the team around him.

I agree with you in principal but you and I both know that’s a bit of a cop out. Varly was fatigued and playing against a mucn much much more talented offensive team in the Penguins. Yes, the teams defensive play dipped also…for whatever reason (fatigue, injury, illness, incompetence), but as you stated above one of the keeper’s most important job’s is <blockquote>making the save when the team needs it.

If you don’t trust Theo (which I don’t), then you have to be resigned to playing one of the rookies in the playoffs again (which I am).

I agree here in principal. But I’m also comfortable with Theo sharing the load (read ~half of the games) in getting the Caps into the playoffs….atleast until the deadline. Why? If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times. The team wins with him in net. Let him start 35-50% of the games…and see what’s out there at the deadline. At that point there are options.

You gotta play the kids eventually and they haven’t failed yet. How long you gonna sit on those eggs? That makes Theo not the most valuable guy on that list.

Again, I agree 100% that you have to play the kids…not eventually but now. I know I sound/have sounded negative on Varly in this post and that’s not the point. The point is that Theo’s value to this team is not that of an every day starter…but is that of someone who gracefully took the back seat during the playoffs and of someone that has proven he can win the majority of the games in net for this team. Say what you will about his stats…and I’ll grant you they are bottom of the league…but a keeper on this team is never…never…going to have great stats as long as BB is here. His winning percentage was comparable to BJ’s (almost to the tenth of a point)…and while Varly’s and Neurvith’s sample size are too small., if you combine their games with BJ’s it’s almost identical to Theo’s.

In closing to what was supposed to be a short, drunken response, I don’t think Theo should be the Caps starter next year. But I do think that his value to the team is almost equal to that of Varly’s as Varly has never played more than 33 games in a season. Again, that’s why I haven’t voted for a keeper yet because I truly believe that their value to this team is almost equal right now. Yes, Varly has more potential, has a cheaper contract and would bring more in return for a trade….but he’s also, IMO, not ready to assume the duties as a full time starter. Theo’s value is it allows the team to truly see what they have in Varly and Neurvith while knowing they have someone on the pine that they know can play well enough to win.

/flame on.

by Yoshietree on Aug 7, 2009 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

this is going to be short

Whoa…

by Gould Old Days on Aug 7, 2009 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Whoa…

Alcohol is a powerful drug. Not so hung over today, but my face sure is red now that I’ve finished that ummmm..novel.

by Yoshietree on Aug 7, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

Hey, that was a far, far better decision than driving anywhere…

by Gould Old Days on Aug 7, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

Touche….touche. The sad thing is that one would think that in a post that long I would have atleast managed to get my point across…but that didn’t happen.

On that note, I’m ready to move on to #10…start fresh or something.

by Yoshietree on Aug 7, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

It’s Ok Yosh. You threw out the original bait, and it being Shark Week and all, I took it. I can’t fault you for swimming in circles on one leg. [Cue Nyls joke]

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions  

an exercise in “yoshietree taken unfairly out of context” (apologies in advance):

No doubt he posted average numbers, but that’s all it will take to win the majority of the games with this team.
Will he bring back an elite talent? Nope.
Theo will bring back a gritty player with a low draft pick.
I’m also comfortable with Theo sharing the load (read ~half of the games) in getting the Caps into the playoffs….at least until the deadline.
This team does not need an awesome goalie to be successful in the regular season.
The point is that Theo’s value to this team is not that of an every day starter…but is that of someone who gracefully took the back seat during the playoffs.
I don’t think Theo should be the Caps starter next year.
Yes, Varly has more potential, has a cheaper contract and would bring more in return for a trade….

i know you’re angling at a completely different point, but if theo is average and it takes nothing more than an average goalie to win games for the caps (your premise as i understand it), then i don’t see how theo is more valuable than any of the regulars in our poll. if he won’t return an elite prospect, why would the caps choose him over an elite prospect like varlamov, an elite prospect like neuvirth, an elite prospect like carlson, or proven commodities like poti, steckel, schultz? if a thoroughly average theo is capable of winning games, then the caps should be the team sending a part-time, mid-to-low-range prospect at the deadline for goalie help (if it’s needed), since there will be plenty of thoroughly average goalies available. there’s no reason to give up a key cog for an insurance policy, especially when it will take much less than a key cog to replace the insurance policy on the open market….which you admit, only in reverse. likewise, only 8 players in, i’m not of the mind to shortchange the foundation—giving up on young and established players—in order to secure a goalie that might play half of one season before being sent packing.

by Natty Bumppo on Aug 7, 2009 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions  

This. I’ll add that Varlamov played 44 games in his last RSL season, and 16 in the playoffs that year (including, IIRC, at least one stretch of 4 games in 5 nights and several back to backs).

Yoshie, you just keep going back to the “they aren’t proven” argument, in one iteration or another. Well, they can’t have been proven because they’ve seen limited NHL action. Are you the guy that sees a 4.0 from George Washington University and says “well it isn’t Harvard?” There’s something to be said for doing the best you can with the opportunities you are presented. I actually don’t disagree with you at all that Neuvirth could be the goalie of the future. I just disagree that we need to wait another year before we start trying to determine the Varlamov/Neuvirth question. That rookie tandem can keep us in the playoffs/contention through the trade deadline, at which point we can pick up an average NHL backup for much less than Theo makes.

Bottom line: the backup goalie cannot possibly be more important than Poti or Schultz (top 4 D) or Carlson or Neuvirth (highly promising prospects that give us great depth at key positions).

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

Easy on the GW degrees there, buddy :)

by Scott in Shaw on Aug 7, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

F’real.

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

by J.P. on Aug 7, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hey, it wasn’t a knock on GW. GW is obviously a great school. There are far more great schools than there are Ivy league schools. The shot was at the snobs that think it doesn’t mean something if you went to an Ivy. The example was based on an actual conversation relayed to me by my father who is on the admissions board of one of the better Med. Schools in the country. One of the other Docs on the board questioned whether a 4.0 was good enough because it wasn’t from an “elite” school.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

The shot was at the snobs that think a 4.0 doesn’t mean something if you didn’t go to an Ivy.

That’s how it should read. I apologize if I offended any GW grads, that wasn’t the point.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

We’re just joking. Scott, Pepper and I are all GW law alums.

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

by J.P. on Aug 7, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well I figured Scott was. I randomly picked GW because I figured everyone knew it was a good school. I didn’t think I offended anyone but just wanted to clear up any interweb confusion.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

I knew what you meant, but couldn’t let it pass without comment, hence the little smiley thing at the end that the kids today use.

by Scott in Shaw on Aug 9, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yes, Varly has more potential, has a cheaper contract and would bring more in return for a trade….but he’s also, IMO, not ready to assume the duties as a full time starter. Theo’s value is it allows the team to truly see what they have in Varly and Neurvith while knowing they have someone on the pine that they know can play well enough to win.

This, particularly when it comes to viewing goaltending out of this exercise.

"The passion of our supporters cannot be contained by clothing."

by Bald Pollack on Aug 7, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

I think the Caps could pretty easily find another goalie that can give them a .900 – .910 sv% and let in goals at awful times. There is no reason we have to rely on Theo to be the mediocre goalie to give us stability all season.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

And adding another contract (Johnson) was? Not saying that you led that charge, I don’t know if you were, but an “awful” Theo won 30+ games en route to a decent regular season for the club. Postseason aside, any apprehension toward Varlamov immediately taking over this year and starting 50 games is the exact reason why Theo only has a 2 year deal.

"The passion of our supporters cannot be contained by clothing."

by Bald Pollack on Aug 7, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

I didn’t say Theo was awful, I said he let in goals at awful times. I don’t think that’s an unfair statement. He gave us average goaltending which was enough to let the skaters dominate the SE. I think the 2 year deal was because GMGM wasn’t sure the rookies would be ready in 1 year and wanted to make sure we had an NHL goalie until they were ready. He took the cautious approach, which was warranted. I’m not saying we need to get rid of Theo, just that we don’t need to keep him. The apprehension regarding Varlamov taking over as a starter was apprehension in the 2008 off-season. I don’t think GMGM has that same apprehension now. I’m not sure what you meant by the BJ comment to start your post.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

Sorry, I was agreeing to Yosh’s position as it translated to non-rankings discussion. Sounds like we’re closer in opinion than we think.

"The passion of our supporters cannot be contained by clothing."

by Bald Pollack on Aug 7, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

I want a season of not cringing on each opponent’s first shot. Is that so much to ask?

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Aug 7, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

No, you just won’t consistently get that for another year, that’s all.

"The passion of our supporters cannot be contained by clothing."

by Bald Pollack on Aug 7, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

Good Lord

 You’re giving me flashbacks to those first 10 games or so of last season. I remember watching the opener in Atlanta and thinking, “Oh shit.”

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

Be honest, after the first goals against ATL and CHI did you ever really think you were going to trust Theo all year?

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Theo's real value

Comes from:

A) The fact that having him means we can keep Varly/Neuvy fresh for the playoffs
B) We can put one of Varly/Neuvy down in Hershey where they can get the starting experience they need
C) He’ll be in a contract year, so he might actually play pretty well

I don’t buy the whole, “the Caps don’t need great goaltending” argument. Sure, we can win without great goaltending, but we WON’T win a cup without great goaltending. And that’s all I really care about. Screw the SE division banners, I want sterling silver paraded down Pennsylvania Ave in a big-ass ’63 Lincoln Continental convertible.

Let’s not forget that, before he got injured, Johnson significantly outplayed Theo to the point where he was our de-facto #1. If given the option right now, I’d trade Theo straight up for Johnny in a heartbeat. Sigh.

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed on the goaltending. Also although BJ was better early in the year JT60 was pretty darn good after x-mas though March with a couple notable exceptions. I would think it’s a wash. Both of them are 1B’s at best.

by d_fens_65 on Aug 7, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

I agree with most of that. I’d just ask you what you think Neuvirth has left to prove in the AHL? Obviously I’d rather have him playing but I think as far as their game both rookies can handle the NHL right now.

As far as great goaltending, it would be nice but it’s not necessary. Many teams have won the Cup without great goaltending, the last two champs included. Maybe your definition of great is different than mine, but I’d put Osgood and MAF’s performances above good but below great.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’d just ask you what you think Neuvirth has left to prove in the AHL?

He was born on March 23, 1988, and he still looks like this:

I don’t think a year in the A is going to do him any harm…

by Gould Old Days on Aug 7, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

Looks like it’s around the time in his life someone needs to sit down and give him the Talk.
“Michal, a man reaches a time in his life where he notices hair growing in places it did not grow before…”

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Aug 7, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

If he’s got the goods and we need him I say plug him in.

In unrelated news, playing Neuvirth anagram games for a couple of minutes I got:
HIVE RUNT

we won’t talk about
URINE…

by Icebat on Aug 7, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nothing left to prove

But if the choice is down between him only getting 20-25 games in the NHL and getting 55-60 in the AHL, I’d prefer the latter to the former. It’s about experience for him, rather than skills development.

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed. I wouldn’t mind a 30/30 with him and Varlamov up to the trade deadline then send one guy back to Hershey and pick up a veteran back up for the playoffs though.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, that’s the “perfect world” scenario, but I think that scenario will require us off-loading either Nyls’ or Theo’s (or both’s) contract, because I think we’ll likely want to make a couple of moves at the deadline: 1) experience backup goalie, 2) gritty veteran with cup experience who can keep the young ’uns calm.

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

First, I think having both rookies in DC presupposes Theo is moved or stashed in Hershey, in which case his cap hit isn’t hurting us. Second, after 3 game 7’s in two years (two of which they even showed up for!) how much do you think the “young ’uns” need keeping calm? They’ve all been through some serious tests, and the North American boys have gone on at least one, most of them two, long playoff runs in Hershey. They’ve played big games. I’m not sure I’m scared of their nerves anymore.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions  

IMO they only showed up for the PHI one. NYR was horrible and Varly saved them. PIT was the same, except Varly couldn’t do it all again

by red army line on Aug 8, 2009 7:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed 100%. I also thought Varly’s interview had an interesting tidbit about the AHL, something about how it was great experience because the players are very good and you still see the same number of shots that you would in the NHL.

by grapejoos on Aug 7, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

Apparently I’m a verb now. :)

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

A bisexual socialist verb.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

I can see a lot of people taking that comment out of context and getting the wrong idea. Not that I particularly care which idea people have of me. . .

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’d actually like to see someone take that the wrong way. If the combinations of the words “bisexual” “socialist” “verb” (with “verb” used as a noun) don’t tip people off to the fact that it’s an inside joke then their opinion is probably not responding to. I think most of the people around here will pick up the reference (though I am legitimately shocked that we weren’t the only two people to follow that battle royale the other day).

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

Totally

When I saw people chiming in the next day I couldn’t believe it. It was a pleasant surprise, but a surprise nevertheless. I guess it’s another example in my ongoing education about the power of the intertubes.

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah. I kinda chuckled to myself thinking about people getting up in the morning and getting excited because there were 25 new comments on that poll… then checking and being like “WTF, it’s all these two clowns? On the same topic?? Talking past each other????” Never say the Rink Rats aren’t resilient.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, to be honest, I read the first two-thirds or so of the exchange, but then I started hoping that each response would start getting shorter and shorter which they didn’t :)

Also, the energy required to read vertically since everything pegged to the right was more than I could take, so I skipped to the end and threw out the Keynes/Friedman comment.

Epic late night battle though.

by Cluster on Aug 7, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah pinning it on the right side is obnoxious. I think some of the responses would have at least looked shorter if they hadn’t been restricted to 3 words a line.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

wouldn’t any one here trade theo right now for another carlson-type prospect or 23-year-old, top-4 defenseman?

I think you said it right there… or at least why I voted for Theodore. I feel like at this point we could get a carlson-type prospect or a more veteran D for theodore. And going by the criteria that means to me that Theodore is as valuable as either of those. Add in the amount of his contract and the fact that he’s a goalie and he got my vote this round.

by DarkHorseCards on Aug 7, 2009 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

There is no team in the league that would give us a John Carlson-type prospect for Theo straight up. There are probably no teams that would give us a veteran D that would actually be an upgrade on the D we already have. If you want to trade a G for some help, you’re looking at one of the rookies.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

I agree.

Carlson’s a mid-late first round draft pick who’s exceeding expectations – that’s a very valuable asset. Every team in the NHL either has a goalie who is either (1) better than Theodore or (2) about the same as Theodore, but cheaper. There’s not a lot of demand or value there.

Honestly at this point I don’t know if Theodore gets claimed if he’s put on waivers.

by David Getz on Aug 7, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

Probably not. He’s slightly better then Legacy and Fernandez (only because of Manny’s knees), but presuably no one is looking at goaltenders right now.

BUT if someone goes down to injury before the season starts, we might have a suitor. I don’t know who else Chicago has in thier system besides Alec Ricahrds GO MUSTANGS, but if Huet went down they might over pay for a vet.

by d_fens_65 on Aug 7, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

I could easily see Chicago getting in a situation where they need a goalie, but with their cap problems, I don’t see how they add a guy with Theo’s salary.

by grapejoos on Aug 7, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

He’d get claimed on re-entry.

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

by J.P. on Aug 7, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed – but if someone was looking at a 4.5 million cap hit & salary for him I don’t know who picks that up.

by David Getz on Aug 7, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, no one.

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

by J.P. on Aug 7, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

You’re right I can’t think of anyone who might need him and have the room. Even St. Louis signed the best outdoor goalie in the world, to back up the other Mason.

by d_fens_65 on Aug 7, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

I feel like at this point we could get a carlson-type prospect or a more veteran D for theodore.

no chance.

by Natty Bumppo on Aug 7, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

I am pretty sure the Caps wouldn’t be able to trade Theodore for a bag of pucks right now. He has a big salary and nobody needs a goalie – that’s why all of the remaining FAs are signing in the KHL. If the Caps could have gotten any significant value for Theo, they would have and signed Johnson.

by grapejoos on Aug 7, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

…and, you know, completely choked in the playoffs. Didn’t exactly enhance his trade value there.

by grapejoos on Aug 7, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

How about phrasing it this way:

If the Caps had BJ under contract for this year, and Theo was the UFA, would anyone here say we need to move BJ in order to make room for Theo? Would anyone be significantly more uncomfortable with BJ as the backup than Theo?

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’d be a little more uncomfortable just because Theo is historically more durable, but not significantly.

And just to be clear, Theo can still play a useful role for the Caps – he’ll probably get 40+ starts and put up a good number of wins. I’m happy with him as the veteran workhorse to keep Varly from burning out, but his salary hurts real bad when the Caps could likely have gotten equivalent value from BJ, a guy who wanted to stay and was a good guy in the room and with fans, for over $3m less.

by grapejoos on Aug 7, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

Exactly. I specifically used the word “significantly” because I can understand a little bit more confidence in Theo, but not much. I don’t consider 40-50 starts a “workhorse” and I don’t think that’s what we need from him anyway. I’d like to see over half our starts go to a one of the rookies. Ideally Theo would get 30-35 starts, IMO.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

I concur, I’d like to see Varly given the opportunity to win 30-35 (not just start) so he has a shot at the Calder trophy…

by JustJeff on Aug 7, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions  

See above…as soon as Schultz is voted in (if ever), Theo is next.

by Yoshietree on Aug 6, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Schultz for Schultz!

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Aug 6, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions  

Haven’t read anything yet, but I voted for Schultz. See the last thread if you want an explanation.

by Yoshietree on Aug 6, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions  

im going Schultz. He provides good D at a cheap price, neither of which Poti always brings. Poti is somewhat expensive and def. has his bad times.

by hockeyman33 on Aug 6, 2009 11:40 PM EDT reply actions  

Sticking with Schultz for now for the same reasons mentioned repeatedly here and yesterday. 23 yo top 4 defenseman trumps the rest of the list for me.

by mechanicsville on Aug 7, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions  

I was thinking Poti, Carlson, or Schultz.

Carlson got my vote.

by zephyr on Aug 7, 2009 12:31 AM EDT reply actions  

I always thought a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush. But around these parts, one bird in the AHL is apparently worth more than Big Bird who’s played on our blueline for 150 games and still has lots of room to get better.

Wake me up when we’ve finished voting Della Rovere and Orlov ahead of Schultz.

by Tromni on Aug 7, 2009 9:37 AM EDT reply actions   1 recs

I hear your frustration but the guys that have been voted on from the AHL aren’t just any AHL players, they are the stud prospects in our organization. SDR and Orlov aren’t in the AHL yet so they still don’t fit your criteria, though I know it was tongue in cheek.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions  

I completely understand why folks are so excited by the potential of guys like Carlson and Alzner. I’m excited about them too, believe me.

And I don’t feel like i’m being curmudgeonly and insisting that “veterans” like ShaMo and Erskine should be blocking them because of some kind of “get off my lawn you darn kids” mentality.

But if we got Carlson or Alzner up here for 150 games, we might start to doubt our projections about them too, because we’d be able to see every bad outlet pass, passive shift, and giveaway they make. When they make those mistakes in Hershey or London instead of on our TV set, we can ignore them and focus on all the good things we hear about their future.

by Tromni on Aug 7, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions  

Carlson and Alzner make mistakes, I don’t think anyone doubts that. They are young D and that is to be expected. But both of them are seriously ahead of the curve for young D, in a way that no other Caps D prospect was at 19-21 years old. I’m not discounting the veterans you named, but those guys are just not in the same skill class as Alzner/Carlson. I’m not pushing veterans down the pecking order for guys that won’t contribute for 4-5 years. I’m pushing them down for guys that will be contributors within the next 2 seasons.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

It's the criteria

As long as the criteria for this is based on “trade value,” potential franchise d-men (which at this point Karlznerson is) will be more valuable to a steady #2/#3 defenseman who has long since maxed out his potential.

The hypothetical question we’re trying to answer is: a GM calls you tomorrow and offers you Poti for Karlznerson, do you take that deal? I think most of us would answer: “Hell no.”

However, if I were a coach and someone asked me this year which player is more difficult to replace in the lineup, I’d take Poti.

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

But hypotheticall, if you were GMGM, and you had a lot of young talent, and you really, really needed a veteran D…

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

I see where this is headed...

Ok, so what if, God Forbid, Green goes down late in the season and we can snag . . . Sergei Zubov? Or Anaheim makes Niedermayer available as a rental?

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

Nah, it just doesn’t feel right with so much room on the left side of the page. (But I’d totally take Special Nieds if it wouldn’t cost the farm, which it would).

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Plus, Special Nieds > Poti … by like miles. No matter what Scotty Hockey says about his favorite player ever, Tom Poti.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Poti is more valuable to the teams success this seasonb, Carlson is more valuable in the long term. Hard to pick one or the other but I went with Poti just because I think the Caps have a legit shot at the cup, and those chances would be greatly hindered if we lost Poti

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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 Aug 7, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions  

That’s my line of thinking as well. Carlson and Schultz are more valuable long term, but sometimes you have to turn you focus to the present and do what it takes to win THIS YEAR, even if it means giving up an asset that may help you in the long term. it’s the very nature of deadline deals, really. I’m just applying that philosophy to this ranking of caps players…hate to value Poti above those other defensemen, but he’s a vital part of a 2010 cup run and they are not IMO.

by GusDaMan on Aug 7, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’d like to see Boyd Gordon hit the list next.

by Gould Old Days on Aug 7, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions  

Lets get Bradley in that list, since he’s the closest thing to a fighter that we have.

by GusDaMan on Aug 7, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions  

Erskine would kick Bradley’s ass 10 out of 10 times. He’s just less willing due to concussion history.

by Cluster on Aug 7, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions  

I love me some Brads, but Boyd > Bradley in my opinion…

by Gould Old Days on Aug 7, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

yeah, but as we waste away these boring summer days, we all fondly remember Game 5 against eh Rangers going “Bradley?! Brads has the puck…..oh my god, he scores!!!!” Repeat. It was teh awesome. (almost as awesome, same game: “Brads is out on the PP? Really? BRADLEY????”)

Besides, Brads will beat you up if you don’t recycle.

by RedBirdie on Aug 7, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Just don’t let Jordin Tootoo near him.

"The passion of our supporters cannot be contained by clothing."

by Bald Pollack on Aug 7, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

Goosebumps

Seriously. No-shit goosebumps from thinking about that game and those goals.

Thanks. :)

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

Mayhaps, but erskine doesn’t drop em…bradley does. I know bradley always loses when he fights, but he’s at least willing.

by GusDaMan on Aug 7, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

does this deter someone from taking off AO’s head?

by Natty Bumppo on Aug 7, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

Does winning fights deter someone from taking off AO’s head? There is one thing, and one thing only, that deters people from taking off AO’s head (not counting the actual difficulty of catching, and lining up AO): AO is a freaking bull. Hitter beware, he’s coming back with plenty of his own force. The last game v. PHI last season convinced me that Brash had no deterrent effect. I had suspected as much but you can’t prove a negative, once he was out of the lineup against the dirtiest team in the division and nothing went down I was convinced.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

so alex semin is just shit out of luck? i can see the argument that enforcers are dying off (and i’m all for going enforcer-less during the playoffs), but brash wasn’t a deterrent because brash wasn’t doing his job, not because he wasn’t winning fights.

by Natty Bumppo on Aug 7, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’m definitely one of those guys that thinks fighting has absolutely no impact on stuff like this, because a fight is really not a threat. If you choose to fight, you’re not hurting the other team. Best-case scenario, you have offsetting majors there, between guys who fight routinely and are probably looking to fight to justify their paychecks. The kind of player that might run Ovie and try to hurt him probably isn’t going to be an enforcer, who’s unlikely to be on the ice at the same time.

To the extent enforcers have a deterrent effect, I think it’s for the reminder that they can hurt your guys too. But that’s true of pretty much any player willing to get his hands dirty, and since enforcers tend to be slow footed with limited ice time they have fewer opportunities to hurt guys than more skilled players. If someone ran a Cap in a game tomorrow, other guys would jump to his defense. Guys will have Semin’s back, but he has to keep his head up whether the Caps employ an enforcer or not.

by grapejoos on Aug 7, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

If our PP is at 25% again this year

That’s our deterrent right there. Not a lot of people take stupid runs at players like Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Why? Because if you’re some marginal goon and you get called for your cheap shot, there’s a better than 1/4 chance that the Wings will put the puck in the net and you’ll find yourself riding the pine or on a bus back to Johnstown faster than you can blink. Moreover, with two refs, it’s much less easy to get away with stuff than it used to be.

If the Caps can maintain our PP excellence (and we should with the additions of Knuble and BMo), there’s no reason to worry excessively about cheap shots.

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

that’s a good deterrent, too. I wondered on a couple of occasions if the opposing team ever went “oh damn” when they saw Ovie, Green, Feds, Nicky, and Semin lined up against them.

by RedBirdie on Aug 7, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

seriously. AO will eff you up if you try and take his head off. He’ll also score 3 goals just to embarrass the goalie for making such a poor life choice in playing for the team that employs the idiot who decided going after AO sounded like a good idea. You couldn’t pay me enough to try and rough him up on the ice (even if he didn’t have quite a bit of height and weight on me, and I haven’t been on skates since I had my knee reconstructed)

by RedBirdie on Aug 7, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions   2 recs

word. that Montreal game, where he got his nose busted and popped in 4 goals—including the game winner in OT, I still think was his finest performance as a Cap.

Maybe even the finest performance ever by any Cap in the regular season.

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Aug 7, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Maybe even the finest performance ever by any Cap in the regular season.

I’m just glad we have something to compete with Jagr’s seven point game….

by David Getz on Aug 7, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

I smell a fanpost!

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Aug 7, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

I am catagorically opposed to recognizing Jagr as owning the record for best anything on the Caps ever. The only possibly exception is “Best lack of professionalism and commitment to quitting.” He probably wins that, though he may have withdrawn because too many defensemen were involved and he heard the podium was in his own zone.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

All I’m saying is, based on the past 2 years, the only guy still on our team who fights is Bradley. So it would be interesting to see him in the list. I think he’ll be just as effective as brash was at protecting AO…which is to say, not at all.

by GusDaMan on Aug 7, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

My curiosity is finally getting the best of me

But first, my thanks for an absolutely riveting conversation, starting with “Ranking the Caps #2”. I am still a hockey neophyte but feel at least slightly more educated about the game and might even know what to start looking for when the days start getting shorter and it becomes time to actually strap on some skates.

My question is this…what’s with Chris Clark? He wears the captain’s “C” but he is never discussed here at the Rink. Every other player is hotly debated, torn apart, stitched back together, mocked, defended, and now ranked. Chris’ name is hardly even mentioned. And he’s not even been mentioned in these Ranking posts. Does he even have a role on the team?

Please educate me further…

PS Maybe this should be a FanPost? I don’t want to derail the Ranking

IS PAЯTY NOW

by EmilyB on Aug 7, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions  

it's a damn shame about Clark

CC, if he ever gets his groin back to 100%, will be a very valuable contributor. Until then, he’s 3rd line, max. I saw some promise from him in the playoffs, just missing on two or three efforts.

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Aug 7, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions  

Clark’s game, when he is healthy enough to be on the ice, has not been very good the last two years. Nobody knows how much the injuries have affected him and lots of people still feel affection for him for captaining the team through the rebuild, giving the upper plate of his mouth, his ear, many stitches and teeth for the team. I think people don’t really want to rip him because we don’t know how much of his decline is related to injuries incurred for the team, but his play has clearly not been up to snuff so nobody is too excited about his return to the lineup.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions  

giving the upper plate of his mouth, his ear, many stitches and teeth for the team

Yikes. Salute.

his play has clearly not been up to snuff so nobody is too excited about his return to the lineup

Yah, I could tell. He’s never even mentioned.

IS PAЯTY NOW

by EmilyB on Aug 7, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions  

It’s as if there’s an understood “Incomplete” grade to his last two years with the Capitals due to the abundance of injuries.

Give ‘em hell in ’09-’10, Cap’n!!!

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

- Ferris Bueller

by war_capitals on Aug 7, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

When healthy, Clark is like the player in my avatar. He scores goals that need to be scored and fights fights that need to be fought. He’s the kind of guy who really helps you win a cup because he does the dirty work. If he ever returns to that form, he’d be one hell of an asset.

He’s not getting any mentions here because we’ve all moved on. After two years of ineffective play, nobody really expects him to come back and be that same player again. Kind of like why Brian Pothier is going to come in fairly low on this list. But both of them have the potential to be seriously great contributors. And they’re both such great guys, we all would love to see it.

by Gould Old Days on Aug 7, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

Can you imagine?

Just how good this team could be if Clark came back and was even 75-85% of his 2005-2007 capacity? Heck, if we got Calgary Flames-era Clarkie I’d be stoked: 10 goals, 15 assists with gritty play, forechecking and leadership? On the 4th line? Sign me up.

by D'ohboy on Aug 7, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed. I thought he was real good when CGY got to the SCF. Under the radar but solid the whole playoffs.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oddly, I think signing Knuble makes this more likely. Last year, I think Clark was pressing to come back and the team was pressing to have him back in part because the need was so obvious. Hopefully he can take his time and pick his spots this year.

by Gould Old Days on Aug 7, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

I think Clark is pressing no matter what because he hates sitting on the bench, he’s the Captain, and he needs to be out there (needs for himself not the team).

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

pressing no matter what because he hates sitting on the bench

I wish this applied to Nyls.

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Aug 7, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

I wouldn’t be surprised if it actually does.

by brs03 on Aug 7, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’m going to go record as a little disturbed Jose Theodore has as many votes as Eric Fehr, Michal Neuvirth, and Shaone Morrisonn combined (five) at this point.

by David Getz on Aug 7, 2009 5:07 PM EDT reply actions  

Agreed. My passionate pleas have not been well received so far. I’ll never make it as a campaign manager.

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

Let it be known that I was not one of those votes….despite any alleged drunken stupors that may have occurred.

by Yoshietree on Aug 7, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

So who did you actually vote for?

by Rob Parker on Aug 7, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

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Why the Caps Should Trade for Jeff Carter
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Defending the Blue Line Needs Your Vote
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The NHL violated the CBA with the Ovechkin suspension
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On the positives of a suspension
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If we win the SE, who do you hope finishes at 6?
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Why I am against automatically "standing up for teammates" no matter what the circumstance
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East-West Tracker
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Is the 4-game win streak a sham?

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FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

OT Hockey 2/12
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One hard-working assist, one breathtaking goal, one hundred per cent awesomesauce. Ladies and...
OT Hockey 2/8
Evgeny Kuznetsov hams it up as he joins the Russia men's national team for the "Sweden Games" leg of the Euro Hockey Tour in Helsinki, Finland.

There's a bit of controversy as their game against the Finns is scheduled to be played in Helsinki's outdoor Olympic Stadium.   Where the daytime temps are currently approximately minus-15 degrees Celsius, with periodic heavy snow.

This interview with head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov is fascinating, as he frets about the weather and especially when the reporters press him on the leaked reports that Kuznetsov will be centering the top line for Team Russia, just weeks after his 20th birthday. 

(Photo courtesy Russian Ice Hockey Federation)
From Wawota.com
From our good friends at CSN Washington
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Southeast Standings

GP W L OTL PT
Florida 54 26 17 11 63
Washington 54 28 21 5 61
Winnipeg 57 26 25 6 58
Tampa Bay 54 24 24 6 54
Carolina 56 20 25 11 51

(updated 2.12.2012 at 8:46 AM EST)

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