Opening Night Roster: Who's In and Who's Out?
by David M. Getz on Sep 15, 2009 3:05 PM EDT
54 comments
When the Capitals opened training camp earlier this week they knew they'd likely be without the services of right wing Eric Fehr, a 2008-09 regular who's recovering from surgery on each of his shoulders. The team got further bad news when it learned this week that Tomas Fleischmann, suffering from deep vein thrombosis, would also have to be left off the opening night roster.
The injuries to Fleischmann and Fehr have raised some roster uncertainty, along with the chances for a number of players who spent most of last season in Hershey to make the big club and show what they can do at the NHL level. With that in mind, this afternoon we're taking a look at who the top contenders for that last spot or two will. See the list after the jump.
Working for him: The biggest thing working in Bourque's favor might be his versatility. He can play either wing (or even center in a pinch), he has the attitude to play an energy line role, the offensive skill to play on a scoring line, and even spent some time killing penalties in Hershey. Given how much Bruce Boudreau's played with lines in the past and the fact that things are unsettled right now Bourque's ability to wear different hats might earn him a sweater.
Cons: Although Bourque does well is most aspects of the game, there may not be any one aspect where he outperforms the others vying for a spot. As a result no one's quite sure where he fits at the NHL level.
Odds to make the team: 70%
Working for him: Laing's a quintessential fourth line grinder: he works, he hits, he blocks shots, he crashes the net, and he does it all without complaining. To boot, Laing's not a bad penalty killing option, and the Capitals will certainly be looking to improve in that area.
Working against him: The scope of Laing's game is extremely limited, especially at the NHL level; he does what he does well, but just doesn't do all that much. It'd be hard to fault the coaching staff if they decided they needed a more dynamic and versatile presence up front.
Odds to make the team: 53%
Working for him: Aucoin's time in Washington last season left Caps fans wanting more and wondering what the career AHL'er could do with regular playing time at the NHL level. Of all the guys on the bubble the case can be made that Aucoin has more effectively demonstrated he can be an NHL forward than anyone else.
Working against him: Aucoin played center for Hershey last year, something that's simply not going to happen with the Capitals garunteed to have four NHL caliber centers in the lineup on opening night, along with Brooks Laich and Michael Nylander as reserves. Like Giroux, Aucoin's value is tied to his production and like Giroux it's questionable whether Aucoin can produce enough at the NHL level to justify giving him a roster spot.
Odds to make the team: 25%
Working for him: You don't score 74 goals in the AHL (regular season and playoffs combined) by accident -- Giroux's got some measure of offensive talent. In addition he can play on either the right or the left side.
Working against him: Giroux doesn't bring much to the table outside of his offensive ability. He's not great in his own end, he's not particularly physical, and he doesn't have the talent to kill penalties in the NHL. To put it bluntly, Giroux's a point-producing forward who hasn't demonstrated he can produce at the NHL level and would have a very hard time cracking either of the Capitals' powerplay units. Plus he takes way too many penalties.
Odds to make the team: 20%
Working for him: Beagle can play either center or wing. His big body and willingness to go into the corners make him an ideal grinder, especially given that he'd likely come to the team with zero pretense.
Working against him: Although he saw playoff time with the Caps last season, Beagle only looked like a marginal NHL player. The Capitals could do worse, but they could also do better and that's the biggest issue for Beagle: proving he's a better option than guys like Laing and Bourque.
Odds to make the team: 10%
Working for him: Osala brings a raw combination of size and skill and has the potential to become a top six net-crashing power forward in the mold of Mike Knuble.
Working against him: In his stint in D.C. during the 2008-09 season Osala looked overmatched by the speed of the NHL game. That, and the fact that he slowed down drastically during Hershey's campaign, suggest he's not ready for regular NHL action just yet. Long term it might be better for Osala to get big minutes in Hershey than play on the fourth line in Washington.
Odds to make the team: 8% to make the roster, 5% to be dressed opening night.
Working for him: Gordon's has shown he can produce in the AHL and has decent size up front.
Working against him: Like Beagle, Gordon might be a solid option as an NHL fourth liner, but he's going to have a hard time beating out the competition.
Odds to make the team: 8% to make the roster, 5% to be dressed opening night.
Anyone we're missing? Anyone we've sold short? Anyone we're too high on? Just let us know in the comments section.
0 recs |
54 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
I, uh, don’t know what you’re talking about…
:nervous laugh:
by David M. Getz on Sep 15, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
And shouldn’t Laing’s line for Washington have a minus-one (spleen) rather than a plus-one?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 15, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Also, Andrew Gordon’s stat line is actually Osala’s stats cut and pasted.
Gordon’s acutal numbers: 80GP 21G 24A 45P +16 47PIM 4PPG
Fine, whatever, I’ll just go focus my efforts on www.SchultzForNorris.com!
by David M. Getz on Sep 15, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
You’ll just need a new gig next summer.
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 15, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
nice read.
This decision might also depend on if Boudreau keeps Bradley on the third line. Also, waiver issues might play a factor?
I might put Giroux higher than Aucoin just beacuse he is a more natural substitute for Flash.
I might put Giroux higher than Aucoin just beacuse he is a more natural substitute for Flash.
While true, I’m not sure that necessarily is a deal-breaker here in that the replacement for Flash won’t necessarily be a Hershey guy – I think it’s more likely that you’d see Aucoin on the 3rd line and Laich on the 2nd than Giroux on the 2nd and Laich on the 3rd, for example. But I could be wrong.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I would agree. There is no guarantee for anyones’ eventual replacement, as you never when they need be replaced. And as Bruce has said many times before, he rewards guys who put in the time and show a natural ability to blend in with the other players in a manner that is beneficial to the team winning. Laich, more than any other player, I believe has proven that. But, more importantly Aucoin has shown he can help out instantly at the NHL level, where as Giroux has yet to do so. Aucoin and Laich are more rounded players as well, and I think that is what Bruce and George are waiting to happen to the third Alex, before fully installing him at the top level.
Great stuff...
Deciding on the last two forwards and last defenesman is enough to drive a coach to pull his hair out (yes, I can make bald jokes, as I’m about as bald as Gabby…)
Anyway, there’s a lot of “it depends” that has to go on here, mostly because of how long Flash and Fehr will be out. If they’re out only for a week or two, then it might make sense to bring up a younger player to give him some NHL experience (Chris Bourque, Oskar Osala), but if either of them is going to be out for a significant time (measured in months), the bringing up a veteran like Keith Aucoin makes more sense. Two years ago, when Rod Brind’Amour went down, Aucoin played over 50 games in that role and did it well. He’s naturally a center but he can play wing, and with his speed, he can certainly help out on special teams.
Let's go Caps!
Does “how the prospective players match up against Boston on opening night specifically” factor in here? Or is this more of a “looking at the big picture” type of decision?
/still a hockey neophyte, pls educate me…
IS PAЯTY NOW
Big picture, since Flash and Fehr are both likely to be out for a little while.
by David M. Getz on Sep 15, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I want Bourque to step up and take Flash’s place, because I think that’s the only place he’ll truly have a chance to shine. But I don’t think it’ll happen.
As it currently stands, with both Flash and Fehr out opening night, I do think Bourque will be on the opening night roster, simply because I think he’s got a better shot (long term) at being an NHLer than Aucoin does, just not at 2R. I think Clark steps up to be Semin’s wing, and I think Bourque takes 4th line duties.
by DrinkingPartner on Sep 15, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions
I also think BB keeps Osala until the very end to get him as much experience playing with/like Knuble as possible before sending him down to Chocolateville.
by DrinkingPartner on Sep 15, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m going with Bourque, as well, although I highly doubt it’s on one of the frst two lines. Like jp, I see Laich moving up to the wing on the second and Bourque filling in on an energy line. One other factor to consider. Opening night is in Boston. If anyone is going to be extra motivated to perform in Boston, I would think Ray Bourque’s son would fit that bill.
The hardest part of having anything intelligent to say here is the sheer number of players called up from Hershey last year. We love them all (or at least most of them), but they can’t all be here opening night.
From what I’ve read, you’re odds make sense.
Analysis (and sense) aside if we were taking votes, I vote for Bourque. From the games last year, he’s the only one that played I can remember and recall purely do to his energy. (okay, outside of beagle at the end of year/playoffs). I felt he was all over the place, eager to go into the corners, and showed me he could be a poor-mans St. Louis. If I recall correctly too, the goal he scored was generated from an end-to-end clear, which he was in, and finished by a put-back/rebound – i.e. his positioning and speed was there. I also like his position and line flexibility.
Other than him, I vote for Laing. Maybe its because I have an affinity for him after the shot-block beating he took a few years ago and/or maybe it’s because he fills a weakness on the caps.
The Bourque lobby officially approves of this thread. I’ll add some more thoughts later, I have an inline game for GMU to get to!
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
by winterion on Sep 15, 2009 6:01 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Agree with most of what DMG wrote. Bourque should be first off that list, but I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for Q.L. That guys played like a monster and I’d love to see him in red white and blue again.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
I’m in the bag for Aucoin and I think he has to be at the top: he has played 50+ games at the NHL level, scored when he was called up last year and is a great energy guy. I seem to remember him playing on the wing last year. Also, I’ve watched both scrimmages and Aucoin has scored in both of them: a breakaway on Varly and wonderful toe-drag top shelf wrister that beat Theo. There was a fairly vocal group that wanted him rather than Beagle when Fehr went down in the playoffs, IIRC. He didn’t disappoint last year and he gets my vote this year.
Will Nyls be a constant scratch?
He played 72 games last year. 72!!!! Will Gabby play him or give his time to Bourque?
As of now, I don’t get the feeling that Gabby intends to use Nylander.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Nyls has played well so far during camp and unless BB and GMGM have already decided that he will not be played (regardless of his performance) in attempt to make him miserable enough to leave, I won’t be surprised if he gets a shot at the 3C.
With his face off skill and defensive play I’d be shocked to see him supplant Steckel at 3C.
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 15, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions
AO/Backstrom/Knuble
Laich/BMo/AS
Borque/Steckel/Clark
Q/Gordon/Bradley
Really I’d like Bradley on the 3L until Borque proves he can stick but if he’s not versatile enough to move to the left side I think Borque can survive with Steckel and Clark because both of those guys are experienced and reliable defensively.
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 15, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
From what I’ve seen, I’m not sold on either Bourque or Laing as NHLers- particularly Laing, much as I love the guy. These lineups could work:
8-19-22
28-9-17
21-92-39
20/56-15-10
or
8-19-22
21-9-28
39-92-17
20/56-15-10
I just can’t see BB and GMGM sitting 92 forever, especially with the injuries. The KHL, NHL or whomever has got to see him play if there is any hope of moving him. And he has looked good so far in camp. Just saying.
There is zero chance Nyls pushes Steckel to wing. Steckel is better in face offs and defensively. BB likes Steckel’s game way more than Nyls’. Sticking Nyls on a line with no real scorers is a waste. I’d rather Borque play on the 4th line until he proves himself, but if Bradley can’t go to the 3R then there isn’t much other choice. Q has proven he can handle 8 minutes a night and not be a liability, with occasional spot duty on the PK; that’s all you need from a 4th line wing. Aucoin doesn’t make sense on the 4th line because he doesn’t play much D and he’s not going to have anyone around that can cash in on his playmaking. He’s a top 6 or bust player, IMO, and I don’t think he can crack the top 6 I posted.
If you really want to shoehorn Nyls into the lineup it probably looks something like:
AO/Baxter/Knuble
AS/BMo/Nyls
Laich/Steckel/Clark
Borque or Q/Gordon/Bradley
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 15, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions
If we’re throwing out percentages, I think there is at least a 25% chance Nyls plays. If the object were to freeze him out to make him miserable, why not just tell him to stay home and collect his check? If he will go straight from training camp to the press box, why play him and take ice time from someone who might play? If the goal is to move him, he’s got to be playing at least somewhat if only as an advertisement. That said there is almost no chance he’s on the wing again. That was an unmitigated disaster. Nyls can only play center and isn’t going to be on the 1st, 2nd or 4th lines. Stecks can take the draws in either scenario and both Laich and Clark are/have been 20 goal guys. I don’t think he would be wasted with those guys and I am not trying to shoehorn him in. If nothing else, I think the injuries alone will force BB to play him.
As for 20, my impression of him from the games I saw at the end of the year was that he was a tenacious forechecker and contributed on the 4th line. My sense is that he can contribute as much if not more than 56 and that they are similar players. If you prefer Q to 20 I think you have to prefer Q to 56 as well.
That said there is almost no chance he’s on the wing again. That was an unmitigated disaster.
He wasn’t good as a C either. Nyls and BB have pretty much been an unmitigated disaster. Last we saw our heroes BB was saying “you can win with guys like Steckel” and benching Nyls. That should tell you a lot. I don’t know what the plan is, but I think GMGM may be at the point where he’ll wait out this year and then find a way to get Nyls off the books next season.
Stecks can take the draws in either scenario and both Laich and Clark are/have been 20 goal guys. I don’t think he would be wasted with those guys
Generally it’s not a good idea to have someone other than you C taking the faceoffs because of the defensive responsibilities that flow after the face off; if Steckel is taking the draw, he is the C and Nyls is a W. Laich and Clark scored 20 goals as garbagemen with a legit scorer on their line. No NHL team has ever said “we need to shut down Laich/Clark.” Without the legit scorer there is no garbage for them to clean up. Nyls between those two is really not threatening.
and I am not trying to shoehorn him in. If nothing else, I think the injuries alone will force BB to play him.
Injuries may force BB to use Nyls, but you asked what I think the opening night line up is going to be. If the health status of the players we are discussing stays the same, then that’s my projected line up. I don’t think BB really wants Nyls and I don’t think he’s going to try to hard to hide it this year.
I don’t like Q as a player better than Aucoin, I just like Q as a 4th line grinder better than Aucoin. I think Aucoin could give us the minutes but it’s definitely not an optimal fit. Borque is different than both because he’s already played 4 years in Hershey; he needs a chance to get a look at the next level. His upside is higher than Aucoin or Q but he’s not fully developed yet and we don’t really know how he’d survive in the NHL. I want him to get that look, preferably on the 4th line, but like I’ve said, 3rd line could work as well.
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 16, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions
There is truth in everything you wrote but I think the injuries and his trade/loan value maintenance mean that he plays to start the season. Given that and how imperfectly he fits into the team, I think my lineup suggestions make the best of an otherwise awkward/bad situation.
by ChrisAm on Sep 16, 2009 9:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The reason why injuries force BB to play Nyls is because of his massive contract.
by red army line on Sep 16, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d like to see the Laich/Steckel/Bradley third line again, with a healthy Clark as the 2RW. Borque would then make it as a fourth-liner with Gordon and ???
by Scott in Shaw on Sep 16, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Not that I think he has a chance of cracking the opening night roster any more than does, say, Jay Beagle. But one prospect seems to have dropped of the radar a bit — Mathieu Perreault. He was arguable the best forward in development camp, and he looked pretty good in the limited action I saw him in this week. If anything, he seems more determined than he has in previous engagements in Arlington (maybe he hears the clock ticking).
He’d be a very long shot for purposes of this discussion, but it wouldn’t necessarily surprise me if he got a cup o’ coffee some time down the road this year.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Sep 16, 2009 7:23 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Agreed that he has tremendous skill but he seemed to get pushed around a lot. I’m not sure he has the physical strength to have an impact.
by ChrisAm on Sep 16, 2009 9:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I agree but I think GMGM wants to take a look at him playing a more significant roll in Hershey. He’ll play top 6 and PP this year, as well as playing against better opposition, so I think that will tell us a lot about where he stands and his potential future fit.
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 16, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
One thing I’m surprised no one’s mentioned on Bourque – for the Caps to send him to Hershey, he’d have to clear waivers. Sure, Aucoin, Giroux and Laing would as well, but there’s a much greater chance that Bourque would not clear, and for that reason, he’s probably as close to a lock to break camp with the team as there can be.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Very good point. I think that was a big reason Fehr stayed on the big club last year, even when he wasn’t playing.
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 16, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
If he goes to waivers, kiss Chris goodbye. There’s no way he gets sent back to Hershey this year. The only question at this point, really, is if he’s a healthy scratch most games, or if he’s cracking the lineup frequently. If he works out well for Washington, he’s got a bright future here. Otherwise, he might be part of a trade package down the road to fill a gap that might emerge over the course of the regular campaign.
But yeah, for his price and upside, it’s foolish to let Bourque go for nothing.
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
Related FanPosts on Japers' Rink
Related FanShots on Japers' Rink
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 121 |
|
Atlanta
|
82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 |
|
Carolina
|
82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 80 |
|
Florida
|
82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
The Vault
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- In which former NHL coach Ken Hitchcock foils a shoplifter
- Montreal's Price talks new 2-year contract, expectations post-Halak
- Donald Fehr aware of Kovalchuk drama, mum on everything else
- Puck Headlines: Savard's agent rants on Bettman; Halak in Montreal
- Boudreau, Crawford placed on the coaching hot seat
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
