Pick 'Em: Who Rides the Pine?

by Stephen Pepper on Sep 30, 2009 2:30 PM EDT in Pick 'Ems

As you know by now, GM George McPhee and Coach Bruce Boudreau, in their infinite wisdom and grace, have chosen to retain eight NHL-caliber defensemen on the active, 23-man roster, going into tomorrow evening's season opener in Boston: Mike Green, Tom Poti, Shaone Morrisonn, Milan Jurcina, Brian Pothier, Jeff Schultz, John Erskine, and Tyler Sloan. We don't mean to be flippant -- it's been a difficult decision for sure, with important, and unfortunate, salary cap and waiver wire implications.

That leaves, even with the possible game-to-game decision to dress seven blue liners, at least one healthy D-man in the press box per game. Remember the logjam that existed when Steve Eminger was here? It was nearly a nightly drama during the regular season as to which rear guards received a sweater, where Emmy was often a healthy scratch, and those lineup headaches continued into the post-season. Not an ideal situation in which the coaching staff finds itself, again, but, for now, a necessary one.

Losing a quality defenseman to waivers (to which all of the above would be subject) at this stage of the campaign would be considerably more damaging to a Stanley Cup hopeful than losing someone like Chris Bourque (painful though it may be, but we expect one of Tomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr to return before too long). Both the Penguins and Red Wings utilized eight defensemen throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring.

And we know that injuries happen: Just take a look at the Caps' nightly D corps throughout December of 2008; or revisit the historic injury woes of this season.

But who should sit most often during this embarrassment of healthy riches on defense? (Erskine-Pothier and Sloan-Schultz were your third and fourth pairings at practice this morning.) One would surmise dressing Erskine against "bruisier" teams like Boston and Toronto upcoming, and favoring Schultz, for example, against a squad with a dangerous power play. Overall, looking at performances on defense from this concluded pre-season and team needs, who should be the most frequent scratch this month?

Poll

Which D should most often be a healthy scratch in October?

Erskine

104 votes

Jurcina

98 votes

Morrisonn

84 votes

Pothier

10 votes

Schultz

226 votes

Sloan

246 votes

768 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 66 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I would like the names and addresses of the 6 people who voted for #55, please!!

by mechanicsville on Sep 30, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

Erskine sits

1) Ice time/play should be merit based, but probably Erskine will play more against opponents like the Flyers/Bruins, and sit against most other teams?

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on Sep 30, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

I think the real question is

who gets hurt first?

by TFG on Sep 30, 2009 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t see how any of this has to do with Chris Bourque.

"Hey friend, an avatar makes you more personable, friendly. Have I mentioned we serve cigars and flavored vodka?"

by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2009 2:38 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs

Hmm. Is that snark or an off-topic comment, there, BP? :-)

by DrinkingPartner on Sep 30, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m nothing if not repetitive. Or a whore for recs.

"Hey friend, an avatar makes you more personable, friendly. Have I mentioned we serve cigars and flavored vodka?"

by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Then I guess that makes me a john on this one. :-)

by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Whore! (Also, rec’d)

IS PAЯTY NOW

by EmilyB on Sep 30, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Because WSH effectively waived Bourque instead of Sloan.

Modern Art Notes

by TylerG on Sep 30, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Phew. He was dangerously close to a threadjack. Way to bring back to topic.

If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.

by Rob Parker on Sep 30, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Too many question marks to get a read on how it all plays out. Partly why we’ve got 8 dmen to start the campaign. I think TFG may be asking the question that answers the question posed by the post.

My guesstimates – Sloan sits more at first. I highly doubt Pothier is sitting out any game unless he’s nicked up.

by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2009 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

I’ll posit that Sloan, Erskine, and Juice all sit more than anyone else, with Sloan sitting the most.

by DrinkingPartner on Sep 30, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

The answer to this question has nothing to do with playing the six-best D on a given night and everything to do with who you need to spotlight for possible trade. And that may vary/depend on who GMGM is talking to about whom. There is no way all eight of these guys — or even six of these guys — are Caps in the spring.

Modern Art Notes

by TylerG on Sep 30, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions

No way they will be or no way that they should be? The D-corps was intact all the way through last season.

No indication that those salary-for-salary deals are going to be made. McPhee hasn’t demonstrated an ability to pull off the type of deal required. Yet.

by Stephen Pepper on Sep 30, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with Tyler on this one. I think there are two factors per who plays 1) who’s being showcased? (maybe thats just my hope). 2) What is the lineup we’re going against (Juice and Erskine in against bruiser teams; Schultz and Sloan or Morrison in against softer teams).

by bigity b on Sep 30, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but

There are only two/three guys worth trading: ShaMo, Juice, and Pothier. We just wouldn’t get enough cap space back by trading Schultz, Erskine or Sloan, and I don’t think Poti or Green is going anywhere.

I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe

by D'ohboy on Sep 30, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

4skine’s cap number is .125 less than Juice’s, but for a year longer, so he is possibly more worth trading, to create precious cap space for this coming summer.

Sloan preformed about as well as one could hope early in his call up last season, and during his call up in the playoffs. But the fact remains that if you are a team that is hoping to challenge for The Cup, career AHLers can’t be rounding out any part of your roster.

by Steckel Me Elmo on Sep 30, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Regarding Erskine

You are correct sir. I think many around here would much rather keep Erskine. I’m ambivalent.

I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe

by D'ohboy on Sep 30, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted for/against Juice. Doesn’t play special teams, makes a ton of mistakes, brings no offense, takes penalties….in short he doesn’t bring anything someone else doesn’t.

by David Getz on Sep 30, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

Ditto. And now he’s got to earn his keep. Save for the Schultz-Erskine disparity (WTF?), I can get behind the results thus far.

"Hey friend, an avatar makes you more personable, friendly. Have I mentioned we serve cigars and flavored vodka?"

by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted Sloan. I’d like to see Mo and/or Juice turn into trade bait, and that ain’t happening from the press box. I don’t see much trade value in Sloan, hence play the guys who might bring a return.

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

by J.P. on Sep 30, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted Sloan also. In addition to what you mentioned he has less upside to his game than Juice so sitting him isn’t really stunting his growth. Juice also seems to struggle even more when he isn’t getting regular playing time.

If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.

by Rob Parker on Sep 30, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess playoff improvement means nothing. …. then again, it is a proverbial “new season”

by bigity b on Sep 30, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Always amazes the disconnect with Schultz. The coaches look at him like a top 4 defensemen and fans(from this poll, and previous comments) see him as a scrub/7th-AHL quality defensemen.

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on Sep 30, 2009 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

What’s it they say, ‘listen to the fans and you’ll soon be among them?’

by David Getz on Sep 30, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

We seem to be pretty positive, those of us who read the comments frequently.

by red army line on Sep 30, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Lotta love for Potsy round here.

by Stephen Pepper on Sep 30, 2009 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

I think it’s because (semi-seriously) it’s a relief to see someone other than 52 shooting from the point all the time.

"Hey friend, an avatar makes you more personable, friendly. Have I mentioned we serve cigars and flavored vodka?"

by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

(Now fully seriously) He’s a right shot and a puck-mover who posted comparable stats to Derek Morris before his concussion, and impressed in the playoffs.

The playoff argument seems to really affect Jurcina, Erskine, and especially Schultz in this poll. Throw Green in there for general discussions.

by red army line on Sep 30, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Shows how little everyone thinks of the ability the rest of ’em have to make a breakout pass.

Btw, I’d sit Pothier tomorrow night. In Boston vs. Lucic? Bad memories…

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

by J.P. on Sep 30, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Or a chance for revenge?

by Laich It Or Lump It on Sep 30, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

You don’t think he’d want to face his aggressor? It’d be a big confidence boost to take and give a hit to Lucic.

by DrinkingPartner on Sep 30, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m sure he would. I’ll just be cringing…

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

by J.P. on Sep 30, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup, get back on the horse.

by Stephen Pepper on Sep 30, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

If I ruled the world...

I’d play 6 D per night.

I’d sit PAIRS of D’men to help keep them fresh/chase matchups.

Tricky part is we only have to Right-y D’men. Green and Juice. Everyone else is a Left-handed shot.

If Erskine is expected to drop gloves, we might dress 7 every night.

I still think, though, it’s important for your D pairs to have familiarity with their partner throughout the season. Sitting pairs at a time will allow the same two guys to line up with the same 2 guys. My pairs would look like:

26/52
3/23
2/55
4/89

Of course, none of that matters past the 1st week when we get injuries creeping in.

by FFSEnough on Sep 30, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

Pothier’s right handed.

by David Getz on Sep 30, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I seemed to remember him being “R” but NHL, Caps site all have him listed as L.

Either way, doesn’t change my pairings.

I don’t know, however, if I would rather keep pairs together OR keep L/R for each D line. Two L’s or two R’s on one d line just looks GOOFY as hell, and makes passing on the back end tenuous.

by FFSEnough on Sep 30, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

and, holy crap, I actually wrote “…we only have to Right-y…” I stop posting now.

by FFSEnough on Sep 30, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

No way Green, Poti, or Schultz is going to be healthy scratched. Probably not Shamo either. You could set two bottom pairs and rotate, though, but I don’t think that’s what BB is going to do.

If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.

by Rob Parker on Sep 30, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

A coda in TEB's Bourque update

Neuvy officially reassigned to Hershey.

IS PAЯTY NOW

by EmilyB on Sep 30, 2009 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

I love his Terminator-style, "I'll be back."

I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe

by D'ohboy on Sep 30, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

so intimidating coming from BabyCheeks

by RedBirdie on Sep 30, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Erskine will play on nights when we need to test out the penalty kill. Those delay of game penalties drive me bonkers.

Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.

by jordanDC on Sep 30, 2009 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting idea—

I’ve seen Anaheim put Pronger in front of the net on the PP, and Boston with Chara. Caps with Schultz? (Maybe this’ll teach him to play his size too)
And that way he can pull a Finley of sorts.

by red army line on Sep 30, 2009 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

I hate this idea.

Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.

by jordanDC on Sep 30, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Even I hate this idea.

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

by J.P. on Sep 30, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

“It is terrible, this idea.”

Points if you get the reference.

Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.

by jordanDC on Sep 30, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

by David Getz on Sep 30, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Points awarded.

Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.

by jordanDC on Sep 30, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I could maybe be on board with it if the Capitals had no front of the net options, but I think with Knuble and Laich they’re set.

by David Getz on Sep 30, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

And Clark even.

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

by J.P. on Sep 30, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

And Fehr if they get really desperate.

by David Getz on Sep 30, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Anybody with a stick that’s less than 20 feet long, really.

Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.

by jordanDC on Sep 30, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Aw man, I guess that takes Willie Mitchell out of the running, huh?

by David Getz on Sep 30, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I laughed so hard at that. Mainly because WILLIE MITCHELL USES BLADE TAPE

Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.

by jordanDC on Sep 30, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Pronger and Chara rarely ever play that spot on the PP, and both have better hands and offensive skills/instincts than Schultz.

If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.

by Rob Parker on Sep 30, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

That was a poor joke. My mistake, sorry.

by red army line on Oct 1, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh ok. Sometimes those big D do set up shop in front, I just don’t think Schultz is that kind of guy.

If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.

by Rob Parker on Oct 1, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Posting before reading the comments to avoid being swayed…so forgive if this is redundant:

1. Slam Dunks to Dress if Healthy
Green
Poti
Schultz
We all know why.

2. The rest
Pothier – the only other “puck mover” on the squad, his presence means that you always ice a pairing that has someone who can move the puck out of the zone.
Sloan – until he proves otherwise with his play, I’d give him a sweater, as a reward for his work in camp.
Erskine – Slow, but hits and keeps a pair of fists in the lineup.

Looks like Juice and ShaMo are the odd ones out here, I guess.

huh??

by fat_daddyo on Sep 30, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

P.S. – I voted for Juice as the most frequent scratch, btw.

huh??

by fat_daddyo on Sep 30, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I think they’d like to play ShaMo and Juice for the trade bait factor…

by vt caps fan on Sep 30, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not getting the Sloan-love

Seriously, the guy was like the 5th best defensemen in HERSHEY last year. So he had a good camp. Whoopiteedoo!

For all that I can get frustrated by Jurcina, ShaMo and occasionally Erskine and Schultz, if they’re sitting so that Sloan can play, something has gone horribly wrong in my view.

I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe

by D'ohboy on Sep 30, 2009 6:14 PM EDT reply actions

Regarding Schultz

I think the high number of people voting for Schultz here is indicative of the ratio of lurkers to contributers here. I have a hard time imagining that large a percentage of the regulars on here tabbing Sarge as the scratch.

I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe

by D'ohboy on Sep 30, 2009 6:16 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Welcome to Japers’ Rink polls. Maybe you missed the entire MVC series?

If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.

by Rob Parker on Sep 30, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

on that note, would anyone like to trade for brooks laich in the japers’ rink fantasy league?

by Natty Bumppo on Sep 30, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

yeah, it sort of defies all logic to see one of our top 4 d-men being gathering so many votes as the guy to sit in the press box . not to sound like a snob, but i’m surprised that folks with so little knowledge of the team’s personnel and their value would either visit the site or vote in the poll. people like polls, though, don’t they?

by mechanicsville on Sep 30, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions