Friday Caps Clips: Jackets @ Caps Game Day
by J.P. on Oct 1, 2010 6:52 AM EDT
in Caps Clips
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PrintYour savory breakfast links:
- Looks ahead to tonight's game against the Blue Jackets (coming soon), and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner The Cannon for coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
- Be sure to catch Corey Masisak tomorrow morning on Japers' Rink Radio...
- ... and if you're headed to Caps Convention and sticking around 'til the end, stop by our panel... [Off Wing Opinion]
- ... on your way to our After Party.
- Speaking of the Convention, it looks like CSN Washington plans to cover it pretty extensively. [CSN Washington]
- On cutting Cody Eakin. [DCEx, Caps365 (Boudreau video), CI]
- Cuts like that (and those that lie ahead) are tough, but a good problem to have. [Dump 'n Chase, DCEx, CI, WaPo]
- Puck Daddy previews the Caps. [Puck Daddy]
- Mike Green chats with Scott Burnside. [KK (video)]
- A couple of Caps merit mention among those AHLers who are NHL-ready. [Friedman]
- Eric Fehr is fit and focused. [CSN Washington]
- Madison Avenue takes over The Bog as new ads featuring Bruce Boudreau and Alex Ovechkin hit the Intertubes. [D.C. Sports Bog, D.C. Sports Bog, Globe and Mail, Globe and Mail]
- Around whom would you build your team if you could pick anyone? [Versus, Versus]
- 30 in 30: Semyon Varlamov. [RLS (kudos on wrapping a great series)]
- A look ahead to Brooks Laich's 2010-11. [Peerless]
- Colder building... better ice? A fan can dream. [Ted's Take]
- On the young centers and a return of regulatin'. [OFB]
- A few words from the authors of The Ovechkin Project (with bonus thoughts from them in the comments). [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Speaking of regulators, could Dwayne be the Caps' Dustin? [JtG]
- Moving on from Michael Nylander. [CI]
- Kerry Fraser thinks AO got the star treatment last season. [CKAC via Google Translate]
- It wouldn't be an edition of Jersey Fouls without a visit to our nation's capital. [Puck Daddy]
- Keith Aucoin will have to wait on that next NHL chance... [homer mcfanboy]
- ... as Kyle Greentree looks to be his Alexandre Giroux v.2010-11. [Leone]
- Donald Brashear has found work. [@QMJHL_News]
- Finally, happy 34th birthday to Yogi Svejkovsky.
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My hope is that Eric Fehr will as good this season as he was last season. Sadly, I suspect a lot of the reason for his playoff success this year is that he kills the Habs in general.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
My hope is that Eric Fehr will as good this season as he was last season. Sadly, I suspect a lot of the reason for his playoff success this year is that he kills the Habs in general.
So to what do you ascribe his regular season success? He didn’t play the Habs 69 times in 2009-10 and managed to score goals at 5-on-5 at the seventh-best rate in hockey.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That he was able to reac h the 20-goal plateau with virtually no ability to train over the summer was remarkable. Per Corey’s article, it sounds like he’s come into this camp bigger and stronger than ever before. I’m really expecting a 30+ goal season from Fehr this season.
I’d be surprised simply due to lack of playing time, unless he pushes Laich off the 2nd line.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
or gets a bump in PP time.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
I think he’ll stay on 2PP – but hopefully with more minutes. It would be better if he replaced Laich on 1PP as well though.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
It would be better if he replaced Laich on 1PP as well though.
Disagree. Fehr is not as much of a net presence as Laich (or Knuble) right now. While I’ll take Fehr over Laich at 5-on-5, if we’re in a set 5-on-4 offense, give me Laich.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Or convince Fehr to get his now enlarged hiney in there.
Hey, a guy can dream…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Are you writing Eric Fehr a Rx for Krispy Kremes?
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 1, 2010 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Must I dream of Eric Fehr’s enlarged hiney?
by mechanicsville on Oct 1, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
From what I’ve seen, I think he’s a better net presence than Laich – although Knuble is much better than either. The main difference with Fehr and Laich is that Fehr is much more consistent about getting to the front of the net. If he had been on the 1PP unit in the playoffs, I think the PP would have been much better. Laich did a horrible job of getting to the front of the net against Montreal.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
Fehr is much more consistent about getting to the front of the net
Totally, 100% disagree.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 1, 2010 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I would disagree with that, and point to the playoffs. Laich spent nearly all his time at the side of the net rather than in front, while Fehr was in front getting goals. It does depend on if Laich gets into the mindset of getting in front of the net instead of trying to be a skill player though.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
.
I think you’re selectively remembering the series. Here’s a look at each player’s shots on goal over the seven games:
Looks to me like Laich spent plenty of time where he needed to be.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 1, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’d also argue that’s a little generous on shot distance for Fehr. Take a look at this video and tell me where the puck was shot from: a) halfway between the hash-marks and the goal crease or b) right at the hash-marks?
Yeah, the mapping is notoriously inaccurate.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I remember what I saw. Constantly on the PP, Laich was at the side, not in front. According to those charts, he had 2 PP shots the entire series. If he had been at the front of the net on the PP, he would have had much more. And if you look at the distances, it has shots for Laich from 15 and 22 feet as right at the edge of the crease.
Here’s his shots distances (with the exception of Game 1, because for some reason the chart I’m seeing doesn’t list the distances for that game):
Game 2: 14 feet (yet shown on the edge of the crease), 26 feet
Game 3: 38 feet, 26 feet
Game 4: 7 feet, 54 feet, 67 feet
Game 5: 35 feet
Game 6: 8 feet, 10 feet, 19 feet, 20 feet, 23 feet, 25 feet
Game 7: 6 feet, 15 feet (edge of the crease on the chart), 22 feet (also edge of the crease on the chart), 34 feet, 47 feet
Those aren’t the numbers of a guy playing at the front of the net. Only 5 shots from within 15 feet for the entire series.
Here’s the numbers for Fehr.
Game 2: 3 feet, 11 feet, 11 feet
Game 3: 9 feet, 13 feet
Game 4: 18 feet, 30 feet, 41 feet
Game 5: 28 feet
Game 6: 8 feet, 47 feet
Game 7: 6 feet
Fehr had 7 shots from with 15 feet – with much less time on ice.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
According to those charts, he had 2 PP shots the entire series. If he had been at the front of the net on the PP, he would have had much more.
It also would’ve been much more if the guys at the points could get pucks to the net. Further to the point, Laich’s job in terms of going to the front of the net is as much to screen the goalie as it is to redirect a puck or bang at a rebound (things that show up as SOGs).
I’m not going to sit here and argue that Laich had a good series. He didn’t , and he often gets a free pass for it while easier targets (like Semin and Flash) get called out. But I am still very comfortable saying that Laich is a much better and consistent net presence than Eric Fehr right now.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Shots weren’t lacking on the PP. The Caps had 60 PP shots. A fair amount were 2PP (Fehr, Knuble, and Flash are all showing up) but most were Ovie, Backs, Semin, and Green – the guys Laich was playing with. I don’t know if there’s much video that can be easily found, but I just remember him rarely being in front of the net. It could just be that he was getting pushed off due to his smaller size (6’2", 200 as opposed to Fehr’s 6’4", 212 or Knuble’s 6’3", 223) but he had very little net presence against Montreal.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
I do want to make a point clear that I didn’t earlier. I recognize Laich’s ability in front of the net, as his PP performance in the regular season clearly demonstrated. I think Fehr can be better at it due to his size and due to Laich’s occasional tendency to try to play a skill game instead of being in front of the net, like he did in the playoffs. The fact that we have 3 guys who can play that way (Laich, Fehr, Knuble) does help a lot – as long as all 3 consistently play that way.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
I agree, for the most part, but when you refer to “Laich’s occasional tendency to try to play a skill game instead of being in front of the net” without noting Fehr’s propensity to go long stretches of hockey floating 40-foot wristers at the net, it doesn’t paint a full picture.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 1, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This is spot-the-fuck-on.
Laich sometimes goes for a skill game, but Fehr definitely has his stretches of perimeter play.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
True – but Fehr also has a better shot from further out, and doesn’t have linemates who are as dependable for producing offense. Both are developing a good net game, and just need to stick with it.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
When Fehr plays a perimeter game, he turns himself into a slower, less-skilled version of Flash.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Or he drives the net hard and scores a goal against PIT that turns the entire game around.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
by Rob Parker on Oct 2, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Fehr also gets stuck with linemates that can’t carry the puck up ice while Laich has Semin. I think it’s more justifiable for Fehr to think he has to get cute than for Laich. I’d obviously rather have Fehr just crash the net but the 40 foot wrister stuff doesn’t rile me up as much as others. I also think Fehr has more skill than Laich, and is definitely a better finisher. If he got regular PP1 time I think he could adjust rather quickly and be the net presence we need.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
by Rob Parker on Oct 2, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
he had very little net presence against Montreal
Again, I’ll refer to the much greater sample size of the regular season (and the two that preceded it) in arguing that Brooks Laich has been a more significant net presence on the power play than Eric Fehr. I’m not sure how I’ll convince you of that or how you’ll convince me of the opposite, so I suggest we just drop it here.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Shots weren’t lacking on the PP. The Caps had 60 PP shots.
How many were from the point, and how many we good shots from the point with a chance of Laich doing something on a rebound?
And yet Fehr has 3 goals down low between the circles, and Laich only has one. Maybe there’s something to be said for effectiveness, too…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Laich is much of a net presence on the PP. He loves to slide to the side of the net and try to orchestrate the cutesy back door plays or try to fool the goalie and jam it himself. I rarely see him just set up shop and plant himself on the crease.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
The prescription for more ice time for Fehr is simple:
1. Dye hair red
2. Change name to Fehrschmann
3. Score!
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
by bigeugene on Oct 1, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
What was it in previous years? I guess what I’m getting at is this – yes, he had a great year last year, both in the regular season and the playoffs, but did that breakout appear in both the regular season and the playoffs or just the playoffs? If it appeared in the regular season as well, then maybe not.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
did that breakout appear in both the regular season and the playoffs or just the playoffs?
He didn’t play the Habs 69 times [during the regular season] in 2009-10 and managed to score goals at 5-on-5 at the seventh-best rate in hockey.
Looks to me like the breakout was during the regular season (where the sample size was enough to mean something, btw).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
But what was his scoring rate in 2008? Did it improve at the same rate or better in the regular season?
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Huh?
In 2008-09 he had the team’s third-best G/60 at 5-on-5 behind only Alex and Alex.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Let me try one more time.
Fehr had a much better playoffs this year than last year, yes? Did he have a much better regular season this year than last year as well, or could that successful playoffs be attributed possibly to him just being a Canadien-killer? Can we expect the same in 2010-2011 or is that just a flash in the pan?
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Fehr improved as a player in 2009-10 over what he was in 2008-09, and that improvement was on display in the regular season and in the playoffs.
“Canadien-killer” is coincidence, just like Steckel being a “proven playoff performer” before this season.
The large sample that was the 2009-10 season indicates, to me, that he is a good hockey player, and, frankly, I didn’t see any “flash,” but rather consistency.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Fehr came to camp with the two surgically repaired shoulders, and then had a something something rib cartilage something injury early. After he came back from that, coach kept him on the bench a lot, but as the season went on he just got stronger and stronger.
And so many of his goals were momentum-shifting, game-changing goals that kept the team in it or kicked them in the butts to get them moving.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I’d argue regular season, and the playoffs. Fehr was really, really good during the regular season, and he was a lot more consistent than in the past. The playoff were seven games, and you really can’t break out in seven games.
I’d argue that Halak broke out in his seven games against the Caps…
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(Which were really just six games)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
not even that. Price got to have a couple of meltdowns in Montreal.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
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Halak started six of the seven games (but Price did relieve him in one of those six and obviously started the other).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yogi’s only 34? Damn.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
I know… astonishing isn’t it. What promise he had as a player. The last game of the 1996-97 season showed it. The Caps are up in Buffalo playing a meaningless game (both teams had been eliminated from the playoffs), and so the Caps and Sabres each dress a bunch of kids. Yogi decided to make the game his personal audition tape for 1997-98 and he scores 4 goals leading the Caps to a victory, and making those of us hope for a great future for him.
He was one of several players who seemed to be destined to be great in the late 90s, early 2000s with the Caps, along with Richard Zednik, Jan Bulis, Jan Benda, Stefan Ustorf, Pat Peake… but all of them had injury and other issues that kept them down. The Caps muddled through, and did play well from 1997-2001, but when all of these guys didn’t live up to their potential it took the wind out of the organization, leading to the 2003 Fire Sale and the beginning of the team we see now at the VC.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 1, 2010 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup. Never fun when a guy has to retire so young, but better than the alternative when the reason is concussions.
Nice to know, at least based on the updates I have read over the years, that he’s still involved in hockey and has made a career for himself coaching youth hockey and working with the Vancouver Giants in BC.
Fahey & McNeill
Just throwing a question out for those that have seen Fahey and McNeill play. Are either of them an upgrade over Erskine or Sloan. They’re both still here, even though all of the focus has been on MP and MaJo. Anyone see one of them making the team as a 6D or 7D and bumping out Erskine or Sloan (provided we don’t make a trade, that is).
McNeill is hurt, currently, so he’s out of the picture.
As to Fahey, he might be on par with Sloan and worse than Erskine, but he’s not bumping either.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
(And McNeill is not still here – he’s in Hershey.)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Thanks JP. I was a bit confused by McNeill. I had heard he had been sent down, but he is still listed on the Caps roster, so I thought maybe they had brought him back. As for Fahey, he’s already 29 (not exactly a young prospect they want to get a better look at), so I was just wondering why they are keeping him around this long.
by cbl on Oct 1, 2010 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I think until he’s cleared medically, McNeill can’t (or won’t?) be added to the Hershey training camp roster…not 100% sure about that, though.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
You’re probably thinking of Grant, not Patrick. Grant was sent down. Patrick hasn’t been placed on waivers yet (can’t be until he’s medically cleared, IINM).
No, I was thinking of Patrick but obviously not thinking of that technicality. What I meant was, for all intents and purposes, Patrick McNeill is not still “here” – he’s injured, and as soon as he’s cleared, he’ll be in Hershey.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
sorry about the confusion. I was thinking of Patrick, but had forgotten he was now injured but still technically on the roster. Still wondering what Fahey is still doing in camp at this point unless it’s just to let some of the top 5 rest during the preseason, like scratching Carlson tonight because of a minor bruise. I am generally ok with our top 5 on D, but am nervous with Erskine and Sloan filling the bottom every night. Sloan skates above average but seems to have hands of stone and slow reaction times, and Erskine reminds me of a very nice concrete pylon.
Kerry Fraser needs to stop sniffing his own hair spray.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
That is an odd piece. He talking about hits to the head and preferential star treatment, lumping Ovi in. Last season is a bit hazy to me now but I seem to remember a couple of suspensions but no hits to the head. And if he’s going farther back in time, there are so many other star players he could have named.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I find it concerning, too, that referees – even former ones – voice comments like “Ovi gets preferential treatment,” because you know they’re probably thinking that while they’re on the ice too, and that really doesn’t bode well for referee impartiality. They can say they’re professionals all they want, but once they express a personal opinion, objectivity goes out the window.
Just my .02… YMMV.
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Agreed. It’s a very disconcerting comment. But do most people really think that hockey referees actually have the ability to turn off personal bias just because it’s a job requirement? I think people are people and I KNOW it’s impossible not to use emotions to make even the simplest decisions. Saying referees are impartial just because they’ve got the job, is like saying all journalists have integrity because they write for a living. It just isn’t so. And the same goes for fans of course.
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Dunny-on-the-World
That’s my point exactly.
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I’m glad we agree. It’s the curse of language that two people can completely agree and take 6,000 words to figure it out.
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
Yes, yes it is, and English is worse than most in that regard… :-)
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
I find it interesting that he doesn’t even mention a specific incident where Ovi got preferential treatment. As if he thinks his audience knows exactly what he is talking about and won’t question that statement at all.
by Gin and Tonic on Oct 1, 2010 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Fanbases of the 29 other teams know exactly what he’s talking about and don’t need him to list any specifics.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 1, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I think that proves the point of an anti-Ovi bias if they all accepts as fact that he gets preferential treatment with any evidence of such being provided.
I think his team-high penalty minutes and suspensions say otherwise.
by Gin and Tonic on Oct 1, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Heh, at first glance I was wondering what I had written to make the clips.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Oct 1, 2010 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
If you read all the way down to the end of the article, you’ll note monsieur le Retired Referee has a book coming out.
So he’s hopping a ride on the Ovi gravy train, just like all the others.
Thanks, Ovi!
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I couldn’t be bothered to read to the end; thanks for doing it for me.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I will also add that his points about head shots are well-taken, and running with a little Ovi googlejuice is a good way to up your click-throughs.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Sad but true. Mentioning Ovi is enough to catch the reader’s attention. It seems more and more than writers are making a point—and I mostly concur with this writer about the need to get rid of hits to the head—and then they just throw Ovi’s name in the pot of examples without thinking it through.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Hinky contracts? Ovechkin. Routine threat to end your career? Ovechkin. Fan-unfriendly off the ice? Spoiled by refs on the ice? Mean to his manager? Ovechkin, Ovechkin aaaand…
There's no 'i' in "team". But there's a 'nap' in "champion".
I thought it was brave of him to retire before criticizing the league’s policies and deciding to team up with the Mayo Clinic to demand changes. Seems like he’ll have much more influence now that he’s not actually, you know, working in the NHL.
If Lurking equaled Learning, I'd be a force to be reckoned with.
Actually, it would have been more brave of him to criticize the League’s policies while still an employee. They can’t fine him or discipline him if he doesn’t work for them. He’s safe now, and can say whatever he wants. But like a coach not being allowed to complain about the referees, the referees can’t complain either.
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Yeah, I was totally snarking, sorry. It reminded me of Mommy Dearest. I want to expose these horrible truths, but, um, I’ll wait until there’s really no negative consequence for me.
If Lurking equaled Learning, I'd be a force to be reckoned with.
Yeah, seriously.
No offense to his Hairspray, but I never did like Kerry Fraser much…
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E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
Puck Daddy now has a post on it.
I get the frustration with the supplemental discipline policy (or lack thereof), but at the same time, Kerry Fraser was an on-ice official and I don’t see a whole lot of inconsistency with how penalties (lie boardings and game misconducts) are assessed by the guys in stripes, either.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
You mean a lot of consistency?
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
yes, sorry!
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
So may I suggest that you consider bringing a sweater just in case you find the environs at the hockey game too cold? I want everyone to feel comfortable. I want the ice quality to be great as well. I hope you understand.
Ted is being a little coy. Has he really done something to improve the ice as he seems to suggest in his blog. Perhaps just turning up the air conditioning. If so that would be fantastic.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
There were several times during Tuesday’s preseason game where we felt sudden blasts of cold air every so often (about 18 rows from the ice). Could be improvements? It will cause me to bag shorts for long pants tonight!
He's a better skater than Nick, but he's big in the back[side]...BB
by Backeez Got Back on Oct 1, 2010 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions
You should never wear shorts to a hockey game anyway.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
You should never be able to wear shorts to a hockey game, anyway.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 1, 2010 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
You should never wear pants while watching hockey anyway.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 11 recs
So may I suggest that you considerbringingbuying a sweater or a new Capitals Winter Classic jersey now on sale at the team store…
FTFTed.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
Are they really for sale? I thought they were being unveiled at CapsCon?
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
the Kettler shop is full of very prominently displayed “old school” Caps jerseys. They don’t have the WC patch on them (that I could see), but that’s the only reason I can imagine having so many of them.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
I want a Calle jersey pretty bad.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I saw that sweater in the shop last week and beelined right to it. Couldn’t convince myself to buy it then, but I did pick up a bright red baseball cap that makes me happy: old logo on the front, WC patch on the back.
Six Beers Too Many fantasy team: It's Neu-virth Than Usual
"I wake up in the middle night frustrated because we lost out in the first round and I want to see our players hoist the Stanley Cup." -Brooks Laich
by CapitalCentre on Oct 1, 2010 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I really hope that isn’t the case- those replicas they sell look so cheap. They need to go with the authentic style where each letter is stitched on, instead of shrunk down and stuck on a patch across the chest.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Oct 1, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
I literally cannot buy a decent looking Bob Gould jersey. They don’t exist on the internet, and I can’t get anyone to make one. I called jersey makers six months ago — nobody makes vintage Caps jerseys. I sure hope that changes tomorrow.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I went through the same ordeal. Your only option is to hope a blank one comes up on eBay. Cutting Edge Sports can do the authentic lettering/numbering, but you’re on your own as far as the jersey.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Oct 1, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions
There have been several references here to the fact that last year you could attend a VC game in shorts and a T-shirt and be comfortable. I’m no expert on ice quality, but there seemed to be a consensus here that the ice would be better with the A/C blowing a bit colder. So I’m hopeful that it would help.
The other factor, of course, was the frequency with which the VC hosted another event (Hoya hoops, Wiz game, circus, or whatever) in the afternoon of a Caps game night. I note that Ted does not address this factor.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
There are also things that need to be done to adjust the humidity – as I understand it (from people smarter than I am) it’s not JUST about the building being colder, although it certainly helps. I’m guessing that’s what some of the new equipment jordan alluded to above was for.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
An air conditioner also removes humidity – that is part of its job and part of the reason it has to work harder in a humid clime than a dry one. If you set it colder, you’ll also find that more humidity is removed simply due to the laws of physics.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Sorel-Tracy GCI? Surely that’s not in the Q, right? He’s got to be too old for major junior.
Guess he either really loves the game or is desperate to hang on, or both. Poor guy.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
He got a gig in the LNAH, which Wiki describes as “a low-level professional league.” More from Wiki:
Unlike higher-level professional leagues, such as the American Hockey League or the ECHL, the LNAH is not known for its skill level. Its teams employ many enforcers and has a rather infamous reputation for on-ice antics that mostly include fisticuffs. The LNAH has the unofficial reputation as the world’s roughest hockey league.
It’s where Brash played during the lockout. Again, back to Wiki:
Due to the cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL season by the NHL lockout Brashear signed with the Quebec Radio X of the semi-pro Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey league (LNAH). The deal was reportedly worth $300,000. He registered 18 goals and 50 points in 47 games, but was reluctant to fight and felt the league did little to protect him from players wanting to make a name for themselves against an established NHL enforcer. Brashear was suspended from the league following an incident where he continued punching a player in the face while he was lying on the ice.
Sounds lovely.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Sounds like the old Iron League. Could this be said brawl?
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
The puck daddy piece has a youtube video on Ovechkin – it’s a bit over the top, but they focus a lot on his first year, which brought back so many good memories. I remember watching that first game against CBJ and thinking, “holy shit”.
A couple of impressions. Man, he looked young back in ’05.
That team stunk. Just the names on the ice are brutal.
But mainly what a joy it was that first year as it gradually sunk in more and more that this kid was an extremely special hockey player.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Personally, I’m not sure if this team is as good as last seasons, but my excitement level for this team is significantly higher.
These are our players for the most part. Looking forward to see our guys all develop.
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
by JSchon on Oct 1, 2010 8:42 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
What is the basis for your reluctance? There is an unknown with the two goaltenders, but such little turnover elsewhere.
From the start of last year, we’ve lost Clark, Laing, Morrison, Morrisonn, Jurcina, Pothier, and Theodore.
From the start of last year, we’ve added Chimera, King, Carlson, Alzner, Neuvirth, and a forward TBD (90, 85, 63 or 23).
I’m discounting anyone, such as Corvo, who arrived after the start and is since gone.
I have no doubt we’re as good or better. I put a lot of weight on the roster consistency and the development from within. I don’t think the value to keeping the team together can be underestimated.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Depth at D is worse. To hte extent that BMo was a regular NHL player (and he certainly came out of the gate strong last year), depth at C is worse.
Also, pucks flew in the net at a bit of a magical rate last year.
I’m expecting a step backward in terms of team points, but this team ought to have plenty ’nuff firepower to win the SE.
After that…we’ll see.
Anyway, after a long, hot summer, I’m very much looking forward to some hockey.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I think they’ll be better for three less tangible reasons.
First, they’ve now played together longer. Remember that 74, 27, 85, 63 and 30 all played together at Hershey. In fact, the only truly new bodies are 17, 23, and 90 right?
Second, I believe the players and coaches know they have support of management. They don’t fear panic if, say, they are 8-7 after 15 games.
Third, there is a tangible anger and frustration with this core group from last year. This extends not just from the MTL series, but includes some Olympic and WC disappointments.
Time and time gain, we have seen how a “team” outperforms “individuals that play together.” I’m banking a lot on the Caps continuing this year to become a “team.”
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
by STLSpidey on Oct 1, 2010 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I agree—despite the center experiment and lack of defense depth. For me this is the year of consistency and discipline and learning how to be a better team as a whole.
What I hope for this season (and I love going through the season just for the anticipation of the playoffs if nothing else) is that the team works together on their weakness, such as the PK (I’m cautiously hopeful so far) and GA and better on ice adaptation to opposing teams, especially the more defensively oriented ones.
I don’t need for them to steamroll offensively over other teams. Just play consistently and with greater discipline and with a greater cutthroat mentality to close out games. Get rid of their slow starts and not playing a full 60 minutes and lack of intensity when playing against weaker teams.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
After reading that, I immediately thought of the October 2008-2009 Pittsburgh Penguins.
by red army line on Oct 3, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
To the extent that BMo was a regular NHL 2nd or 3rd line center, he was re-signed this offseason and is currently competing to play either between Laich and Semin on the second line or Chimera and Fehr on the 3rd.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s a good point, and I did consider it while posting above.
From October – January (December?) he was a legit regular; the falloff from there was dramatic. Just noting that those contributions will no longer be present.
If you disagree with me I am no longer listening.
/GS’d
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
agreed — he was a nice player to have early in the season
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think the team the Caps will ice on opening night is as good as the one that skated in Game 7 of the Montreal series. Too thin on defense, uncertainty in goal (neither goalie has played a full NHL season yet) being the most obvious concerns. But they could be better on April 1st than they are today, perhaps even better than that team last spring if Carlson and Alzner grow up faster than they have so far, either Varlamor or Neuvirth takes the goaltending job by the throat (platooning goalies in the playoffs is not generally a successful proposition), they see continuing improvement from young guys such as Fleischmann, Fehr, Green, etc.
I’m not concerned with now, in terms of whether they are better than last year’s team. I’m concerned with whether the team that skates next April is better than last year’s team.
If you've read this far...seek help.
I don’t think the team the Caps will ice on opening night is as good as the one that skated in Game 7 of the Montreal series.
Personally, I think this year’s team is better because they played in that Game 7. Anger and fear can be great motivators. That loss to Montreal has given this organization something they didn’t experience much last year, a hard slap in the face. This year’s squad seems far more focused on redeeming themselves than last year’s team did after losing to Pittsburgh. With young players, sometimes it just takes a little longer for the light to come on. In the end, losing to Montreal the way they did may be the best thing to ever happen to the organization.
Personally, I think this year’s team is better because they played in that Game 7.
That statement could apply to the last 3 seasons. At some point, they have to start winning in 5 or 6. Heck, how about 4.
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
Not really. The first year they were just happy to make the playoffs. The second go round, the expectations were higher but Pittsburgh was still the favorite and losing to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion took away some of the shame. Last year, none of those excuses applied. They were odds on favorites to reach the Finals, President Cup champs and they blew a 3-1 lead to the #8 seed. There’s no way to hide from those facts, hot goalie theory or not.
by b.orr4 on Oct 1, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
In “the second go round,” they went down 3-1 to a 7 seed in the first round. If folks want to say that last year was the tipping point for this, bully, but this is behavior that’s going to continue to exist until (at some point) it doesn’t.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 1, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Not an excuse, but we should also remember it was a team of players who had very little playoff experience who locked up a playoff spot very early and didn’t have to play a meaningful game for the last few weeks of the regular season.
Should they have mentally relaxed and checked out? No. Did they?
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Oct 1, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Not an excuse, but we should also remember it was a team of players who had very little playoff experience who locked up a playoff spot very early and didn’t have to play a meaningful game for the last few weeks of the regular season.
And that’s on who, the veteran leadership who should have reminded the young players to keep the hammer down? The coaching staff? Or was it just what it was?
You’ll excuse me for saying it, but all this rationalizing sounds like a battered wife saying “you don’t know him like I do.”
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 1, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m not trying to rationalize it, just explain it. I think they weren’t in playoff mode for the first half of the series against the Rangers and it showed. That’s what I was responding to. I think they realized it and started playing harder, but digging that hole and going 7 games twice will catch up to you, and it did against the Penguins (obviously a better team than NYR). Does anyone think the Caps went out to game 7 of that series and said “Well, we got this far, time to give up”? I think they weren’t ready for it and I put the blame directly on their shoulders for that.
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Oct 1, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
To further my own thought — coming up with excuses is detrimental to further development, but so is not trying to identify the actual causes of failure. I know that people here are smart enough to do this, and it’s been done to death over the last two Mays. Last year, hot goalie or not, power play disaster or not, they were too good to flame out in the first round, and I don’t think anyone is letting them skate on that one. This year they better be pissed off beyond belief, enough to stop believing the platitudes that everyone was throwing their way, and realize “We’re not good enough when everyone says we are; we’re good enough when we have the cup in hand. Don’t stop until that point.”
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Oct 1, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the most interesting question is whether it was lack of experience (something that will change) or strength of character) something that won’t. Was it the people, or was it the situation? We’ll find out…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Well in terms of the situation, without counting last year they’ve ralled to come back from being down 3-1 (in games) twice and blown a 2-0 lead once. I hope they really have had their epiphany because frankly they’re running out of different ways to experience it.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 1, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
In 2008, one could say that the Caps overachieved, merely by virtue of making the playoffs after digging such a deep hole.
In 2009 they probably finished as they should have, winning in the opening round and losing to the eventual champions (although they took a long, arguably unneccessary raod to get there, allowing the Rangers to drag them to seven games).
In 2010, they fell way, way short of expectations.
It’s part of a long, sad history about the Caps. In 35-plus seasons, how many Caps teams can you say were “overachievers?” I wouldn’t think more than five. The 1990, 1998, and 2008 teams are the only ones that leap to mind. Perhaps the 2006 team, the first one our of the lockout, if only because most folks thought they would be epically bad, yet still managed 70 points.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Speaking of the Convention, it looks like CSN Washington plans to cover it pretty extensively.
I beg to differ.
Signed,
C. Masisak
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 1, 2010 8:52 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
What happened here? I go out of town for a few days, and I miss all the news.
If you've read this far...seek help.
CSN is scaling his online content back.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
Seriously? Why? He’s the only decent thing on their entire site. If it weren’t for him, I’d never go there.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
They have him doing a pregame show now, right? Got to prep and put on the makeup and all that. Plus the ad dollars on the TV. They’d like the Corey fans to shift their love from online to TV.
The wait for 10/7 begins. This man is focused. Are you?
If memory serves, I don’t think he was on it much before, and I don’t know what type of plans they’ve got for him on the “new pre-game show.”
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
I bet the new Monumental Sports Network could put Corey to better use…
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
They sure could, but, selfishly, that’d be a loss for us hockey fans – I like Corey more when he’s not a company man (which isn’t to say that someone on the payroll can’t do great work, as Vogs is a prime example that it can be done brililantly… but still).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Nothing against Katie, but when the Post learned that TEB wanted to shift positions (and he apparently told them that a year before he made the change), couldn’t they have hired the best Caps beat writer around?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
cheaper to just shuffle the internal resources around, rather than add another position.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Yes. The newspaper industry is in a horrible cash crunch.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I lack sympathy.
If you’re in the newspaper business and you can’t make money off Corey Masisak, then you’re doing it wrong.
Maybe it’s decisions like this that have gotten them into their cash crunch.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
Yes, they could have. But their culture is to promote from within, and they did.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
And their product will be worse for it, at least this year. I don’t want to make this about Katie, but Corey’s at the top of his game right now. He writes better articles, gets the scoops faster, and seems to have better contacts than TEB last year. Corey’s truly excellent.
My philosophy is that when true excellence is available, you snap it up. But then, I’m the one who thinks it’s crazy that John Walton is still calling games in Hershey. That guy is also excellent at his job, and nothing against Kolbe, but he ain’t excellent.
I’d feel differently if the Post were to have more than one beat reporter or the Caps more than one radio play by play guy. But when you only have one, that person ought to be the best you can get, no matter where they come from.
I know, I’m shouting into the wind here.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions 9 recs
You know I couldn’t agree with you more.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
His job is more than just radio play-by-play, so you could be right. Then again, living in Hershey/Harrisburg is cheaper.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I was thinking more in terms of the radio gig in Hershey being alot more important than the radio gig in DC, at least in relative terms. Kolbe’s position is one that screams “low budget” whereas Walton’s is kind of the opposite. But of course you’re right, as well, that Walton’s position seems to be much more official as well.
I believe Walton has said if the NHL comes calling, he’ll say yes
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Did Anyone See What Preceded This?
@DamoSpin @nateewell I wasn’t worried. Everyone knows your biases are coloring your viewpoint. But that’s part of being a paid flack. No worries.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Yeah, Nate tweeted:
Was worried that my own biases colored my reaction to the book on Ovi, but this 3d-party review rings true http://bit.ly/d2guQC
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Thanks.
Delayed response by Cox. Nate’s tweet was sometime late yesterday afternoon, as I recall.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Cox was too busy with Steinberg and his commenters yesterday afternoon.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I can’t think of another time when the subject of a Bog post (except the random fans that Steinberg occasionally features at Caps/Skins/Nats games) posted in the comments. But I did allow myself, for a moment, to imagine the hilarity that would have ensued if someone like Vinny Cerrato or Rob Dibble had done so.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s reading the comments here, too.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Oct 1, 2010 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
What’s also funny is that both he and Joyce only responded to the more inflammatory posts.
I wrote—I just couldn’t help myself—what I thought were a few pretty rational posts but was completely ignored by both of them.
I loved reading some of the other posters though who supported Cox and Joyce saying that they were sure that the book was objective and fair and just to ignore the homers. All in all it was pretty funny reading. I think Cox has a skin as thin as Ted’s. And tweeting is indeed a pretty miserable way to express complex ideas or take potshots at Caps fans or the Caps owner.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
And potshots at the Caps PR guy Nate. Yup Cox has taken it personal with the Capitals at every level.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
What a cocksucker that guy is. Has he always been such an ass, or is he making a special effort in this case?
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
He’s always been an ass – just ask the PPP guys, or anyone in Toronto for that matter.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Think this guy doesn’t obsess much?
And to think Ted the Transparent constantly rips the media – the Canadian media – for getting it wrong. 9:50 PM Sep 29th via web
Poor Ted. Out $100,000 for blabbing too much. We’re all just SHOCKED, aren’t we? Wonder if he’ll blame me for this one. . . . . . 9:44 PM Sep 29th via web
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Wow. What a jerkface.
He’s trying to be controversial, and ends up looking worse than Don Cherry in magenta plaid.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
Yeah. And I’m going to tell you all right now, I’m beyond fed up with this guy and would prefer not to devote any more pixels to this wart on the face of Canadian media. We all know he’s a tool – he’s trying to generate interest in a crappy book by attacking our team, our fans and our owner, and I’m so over helping him do that.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
by Becca H on Oct 1, 2010 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Agreed. My apologies for getting us down this path again. I just couldn’t figure out where his morning tweet came from, and I knew someone here would know.
Then again, a random “Leonsis sucks” email from wouldn’t be surprising.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Hey, it’s in the clips, so it’s fair game. No need to apologize for discussing it today. And I definitely think that Bog post and the ensuing comments were Clips material.
With that said, if we want to start a Cox embargo starting tomorrow, I’d support it.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Stuff like this (or coverage of Ovechkin-on-Campbell, and so on) puts me in a bit of a spot. On the one hand, I want to link to it to be as comprehensive as possible in presenting relevant Caps news (and while some would argue that this isn’t necessarily relevant, I’d rather be over-inclusive than under-). On the other hand, I know where the discussion goes and get tired of that.
That’s why I like when topics like this get FanPosts (like Em has done so often), updated as events warrant; people who want to talk about it and keep abreast of the latest news can, people who want to ignore it aren’t subjected to it.
/minirant
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
If you post the link, perhaps set up a fan post and steer the discussion there from the bullet point?
If you've read this far...seek help.
Yeah, for multi-newscycle stories we may want to go that route.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
And then in the Clips you can say “And there’s an update on the Cox story. Please discuss it there” so we know to look for it if we’re interested.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly. He’s a troll, and the Capitals, with a large online presence between Nate, Ted, Vogel, and the number of active of blogs, seem like an easy group of people to troll, especially since he just wrote a book about Ovechkin.
Either that, or he’s a sad, angry man. Either way, he’s not worth anyone’s time.
Didn’t people learn to ignore guys like this in . . . oh. . . fourth grade?
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
by D'ohboy on Oct 1, 2010 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
That is what I don’t get. It’s not like Cox all of a sudden turned into a tool. He’s always been like this. Just ignore.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
Put him in the file marked Brophy/Fischler/Kornheiser.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Wise recommendation.
There's no 'i' in "team". But there's a 'nap' in "champion".
by redlineblue on Oct 1, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It’s Flashing? Your double-meaning detector is getting management praise and TOI disproportionate to its actual performance, and works unreliably in traffic?
That must be annoying, especially here at the Rink.
There's no 'i' in "team". But there's a 'nap' in "champion".
At some point, he has to figure out that he’s not winning this war of words and that he’s becoming a running joke in the hockey world. Seriously, this is the kind of childish behavior that would make even Larry Brooks blush.
I think you’re over-estimating Cox’s level of self-awareness.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
by RedBirdie on Oct 1, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Or perhaps, more importantly, how much he would care. It’s easy enough for him to continue to dismiss this type of thing as the ravings of a fanbase (even though it isn’t, and even if he doesn’t believe it) and still play along for the publicity. His stature within the media wasn’t exactly great before this so how much of a hit is he really taking?
so how much of a hit is he really taking?
As noted below, his book is 34th among just hockey books and it’s not selling much even in Canada. If all this is just a publicity strategy, it’s failing miserably. And if I’m his publisher, I’d be telling him to knock it off. I know the old saying is “There’s no such thing as bad publicity” but at some point sounding like a whiny crybaby becomes a turnoff.
Are we really helping him by talking about it in the clips though? I certainly don’t want to buy the book or anything, but I can’t see how talking about it in this forum helps him publicize his book. The tweet wars however….I’m thinking Ted and Co. needs to cut Cox off and stop responding.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Ted and Co. needs to cut Cox off
That sound you heard was every Rink Rat grimacing.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 1, 2010 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
He should at least squeeze Cox out.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
by jordanDC on Oct 1, 2010 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
I don’t think Ted would stoop to having Cox beaten.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Oct 1, 2010 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t be surprised to read a review directed right at the author reading simply, “I expected it to suck, Cox, and it does.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 1, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 12 recs
He should at least squeeze Cox out.
That would imply Cox was inside the Caps to begin with. He complained openly about not being inside. I think we all see the problem here.
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 Oct 1, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Someone just needs to take Cox into his own hands.
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Oct 1, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
you’re saying DamoSpin’s lifelong dream is to work for Nate? Explains so much!
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
True. And when his up-front access was denied, it’s as if he tried to get in through the back door.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 1, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
I meant from a current PR standpoint—stop responding in a public form to Cox’s tweets and articles.
But this thread has gone into some pretty amusing directions via my word “squeeze”. Been fun to read tho’ wish I could say I meant the double entendres.
Also, I believe that Ted did give Cox access in the form of interviews with players, staff and management etc, especially with him. That was part of his problem with the resulting book. Very little of what he and other insiders provided ended up in the book—or at least that is how Ted views it.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_entendre
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 Oct 1, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Honest I forgot I wrote “cut”. Credit Jordan with “squeeze”.
I was laughing and lost track. Might say I’m the target for innuendos. Or the straight man in the joke.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
haha no worries. We appreciate the material!
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Hey someone has to do the dirty work for the high flyers around here.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Damien sounds biiter. But then again, if I invested a lot of time writing a book on the NHL’s most marketable star, and somehow turned it into an poorly selling, unreadable, unmarketable error stricken mess, i’d be pretty grumpy too.
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 Oct 1, 2010 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 12 recs
Damien’s book is currently #6,562 in all Book sales on Amazon Canada, and only 15th among ice hockey books. Theo fluery’s book, which has been out for almost a full year is #5.
On Amazon USA, it’s 125,467 in all books, and 34th among ice hockey books, fittingly 3 places behind Hockey For Dummies.
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 Oct 1, 2010 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Fluery’s probably seeing a bump in Canadian sales since he’s now on “Battle of the Blades”
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
No audio version either. Wonder why they didn’t invest in that?
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
this guy’s schedule was booked http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laKprX-HP94&p=32D3500802EA2026&playnext=1&index=52#t=1m15s
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 1, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Convention Schedule
Does anyone have a copy of the convention schedule or know where I can find one? I saw a link to a PDF the other day, but now I can’t find it on the Caps’ website.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Incredibly difficult to find on the site, isn’t it?
Click here (pdf).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I looked around the site – nada. I googled it – nada. I searched for it on the site – nada.
Thanks to both of you!!!
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
(I only have the link from an email)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Via Corey, tonight's expected roster:
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Neuvy/Sabs. :(
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
are you doing your best Pouty Neuvy impression?
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
And Flash still not healthy.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Yeesh, we need some inner padding for Varly’s groin.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 1, 2010 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Matching up numbers on the other side, looks like Kyle Wilson’s playing tonight.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
FYI, the Columbus blog has line and d combos for the Blue Jackets tonight and Wilson is slotted in at second line center for the game.
RAHJC is out.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Right, but Green, Schultz, Fahey, Poti, Erskine, Sloan, and Alzner are all listed. There are also twelve forwards listed, so I assume one of the D-men isn’t dressing. Given that Green had some injury that kept him out of the Boston game, I’m guessing that he’s not going to play.
Corey just tweeted that Fahey will be the one to sit out.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
I know they’ve got until after the last game (?), but with the convention tomorrow and unveiling the roster, I’d assume they’d like to make the last cut before noon tomorrow. Otherwise, someone’s going to be feeling more crappy than they would be otherwise after they get cut.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Who’s not there?
Dressing 7 D. No 74.
Dressing 12 forwards. No 10, 39, 15, 14.
Did I miss anyone?
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Whoops and no #25.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Uh, can you do that? Dress 21 players that is. Sure can’t in the regular season.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I had the same question, but was just going by the roster.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Probably those 21 will take warm-ups and someone’s going to be a late scratch.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Possible lines:
Ovi – Backstrom – Knuble
Laich – Perreault – Semin
Hendricks – Johansson – Fehr
King – Beagle – A. Gordon
Green – Schultz
Poti – Sloan
Erskine – Fahey
Neuvirth
Sabourin
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Oops, I overlooked Alzner.
/Boudreau’d
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
cmasisak22 From what I can tell, John Carlson and Semyon Varlamov are the only guys who aren’t practicing today.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
But “Carlson isn’t practicing” definitely frightens me, but let’s assume he simply has something personal to attend to.
"It's always good to have vikings."
In the basement of someone who’s a huge Brent Johnson fan. Ahem.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Amen, brother!
Wait, you were talking about goaltenders?
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
by Scott in Shaw on Oct 1, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
The Caps are reporting that John Carlson will miss a day of practice with an abominal injury that looks remarkably like he was impaled by the corner of a large 3/4 inch board. There were reportedly streaks of green and white paint on his shirt when he was seen by training staff, as well as a fine-mesh-shaped imprint on his cheek.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Geez, I started to freak out until I got past the first line. Don’t do that!
"It's always good to have vikings."
Hey, he’s a gamer who brings the same intensity to everything he does. Who says it didn’t happen?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Hello
Hello fellow Caps fans. New guy to the site here. Just wanted to introduce myself. Go Caps!
by Lloyd_Christmas on Oct 1, 2010 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Thanks for joining, hope you brought your shaggin’ wagon.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
No avatar policing? You’re slipping on the job B.P.
May I humbly suggest
http://mmii.info/icons/Synergy/movies_lloydChristmas.gif
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 Oct 1, 2010 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Welcome aboard. Let me be the first of many to suggest you find an avatar. We can be a bit picky about that.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Sounds good. Still trying to get my feel for the site. I’ll get one up momentarily.
by Lloyd_Christmas on Oct 1, 2010 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
By picky, they mean they’ll badger you until you cave. It took me about 6 minutes, but I’m weak.
If Lurking equaled Learning, I'd be a force to be reckoned with.
Nah you’re just a fast learner. BTW if you ever change sigs I’m stealing yours.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
welcome! I highly recommend getting an avatar, as well as presenting proof of purchase of “Elements of Style” or similar manual.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
by RedBirdie on Oct 1, 2010 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Wow. We are definitely sensitive about those avatars.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Speaking of avatars, I’m shocked no one has gone with AO’s head in a locker (or bowling ball bag) as theirs yet…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I finally saw that ad for the first time last night. I about fell out laughing.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Me too. Ovi’s mad laugh is perfect.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Oct 1, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Alright, I hooked up the avatar. So what is consensus on changing the Avatars? Is the policy, once you have one are you stuck for life or can you change it every so often?
by Lloyd_Christmas on Oct 1, 2010 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
you can change it. Some do, some don’t.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Same with signature. Some change and some don’t.
That’s your next step.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Or don’t worry about it. I use my phone to read the rink so I don’t see avatars!
A danger to myself and others on the ice
by can't skate on Oct 1, 2010 11:00 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Change it per your whims or fancies – it’s your voice and identity. Studies show those with avatars tend to walk a little more upright and score higher on aptitude tests, so you’ve entered a greater world.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 1, 2010 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Much like your voice my friend.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 1, 2010 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
More Olie radio goodness! From XM home ice this morning. Outstanding intro music selection.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
I know why they picked Crosby, Toews, and Parise to build a team around over Ovechkin. It makes sense, but what about building or re-building an entire franchise? I think for teams that don’t have a cup, or a consistent fan base, a guy like Ovechkin turns them into that elite franchise. Like Roenick said, “If you want to sell tickets…” I wouldn’t disagree with them but I can argue why Ovi is better for certain teams. I’m just surprised no one picked a goalie or a defenseman, like Pronger, Miller etc…
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Oct 1, 2010 10:42 AM EDT reply actions
Toews and Crosby I could see as the “Center is important” argument. But Parise? I love me some Zach Parise, I think he’s the second best wing in the league, but he’s damn sure no Alex Ovechkin.
Defensively excellent in a way that AO is not? Yes. Offensively unparalleled in the way that AO is? Not even close.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 1, 2010 1:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I agree with your sentiment there. Centers are the current consensus or common idea of what a team needs to build around but yeah, Parise? You might as well put half the leagues centers into contention if you want to build a team around them. Parise just seems like he had a nod because he wouldn’t otherwise be picked, like if a list had Nash but not Kovalchuk for wingers.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Defensively excellent in a way that AO is not? Yes.
Zach Parise’s ES GAON/60 last year: 1.82
Alex Ovechkin’s ES GAON/60 last year: 1.77
Did Ovi have clearly better goaltending behind him? Clearly better defense? Or maybe there’s something about Ovi himself that keeps the puck out of his own net.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
The name is Backstrom, Nick Backstrom.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
I’ll start with this proposition: Martin Brodeur is a better goalie than Jose Theodore. I don’t think that’s an unfair claim.
The next thing to observe is that the save percentage behind the two players was practically identical, .935 for Parise and .936 for Ovechkin. There’s some combination of (and some of the terms can have a negative value assigned to them): Caps defensive system is better than Lemaire’s trap, Theodore is better goalie than Brodeur, AO got a bit lucky, given that forwards don’t have a large effect on shooting percentage as a consistent skill (meaning it regresses to the mean very hard), Parise faced tougher competition, AO had better teammates.
I think we can agree that Lemaire’s trap is a stronger defensive system than Boudreau’s pressure forecheck, so we’ll assign that a negative value. As I started with, I also think that Marty Brodeur is a better goalie than Jose Theodore, so we’ll assign that a negative value, too. Looking at the QualComp metrics (you can argue their validity, but even if you have doubts about specific applications, they still paint a good broad picture) Parise is tops in two of the three and 2nd in the other of the three metrics. If you want to call that a wash, you can, but it looks to me like Parise got used as power-vs-power; given the ice time he plays, it’s unlikely he could have faced tougher competition than he did. I think it’s also fair to say that AO had better teammates than Parise, although the Devils that Parise played with weren’t slouches by any stretch of the imagination (and I think Travis Zajac is generally underrated).
So, conservatively, we have, from AO’s perspective:
(-) Goalie Talent
(-) Defensive System
(=) Competition (this is very conservative; Parise played in the Atlantic Division and apparently power-vs.-power)
(+) Teammates
(?) Luck
It’s possible that AO is simply a dominating force on both sides of the ice, but I don’t think that’s anywhere near as likely as AO simply got lucky on which pucks crossed the line when he was on the ice. What AO does better than anyone else in the league is get offensive shots – to do that, he has to have the puck, which means that the other team doesn’t have it and can’t shoot. That’s why you see such massive Corsi totals when he’s on the ice.
If you go back and look at the prior seasons available on BtN, the Devils are excellent at controlling shots against when Parise is on the ice. This is a new phenomenon for AO and one I dearly hope he repeats next season; it will signify a maturation into a complete forward in the mold of Marian Hossa, just better. Given the sample sizes and everything else arrayed there, I suspect that AO got a bit luckier and that Parise is in fact the better player defensively.
GAON/60 isn’t a great metric for measuring defense – it’s very raw and less predictive of future results than shooting measures like Corsi or Fenwick, or even SAON/60, because of how comparatively rare goal events are. Since shot quality doesn’t play a large role in the aggregate (on individual plays it does, but the evidence is mounting that very few players can consistently control shot quality per se), shot volume is a better measure.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 1, 2010 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
I agree with all of this. I definitely agree that when Ovi is on the ice, the Caps probably have the puck. And even when they don’t, the distraction/respect factor of just having Ovi out there keeps other teams more conservative than they otherwise would be. Which, in my mind, is just an unconventional way of playing good defense…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve made that exact point about defense and offense being related in the past and I think it still stands. To AO’s credit, he was massively better this season at controlling shots against than he was in years prior; as I said above, I dearly hope that continues as a trend.
The whole point of my original response is that even if you spot Parise the defensive advantage as such, AO is still the better player, younger, and the better guy to build a team around.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 1, 2010 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Puck Daddy Preview
Pretty fair, I thought. Indeed, I found this to be spot-on:
Potential Flop
Varlamov. Simply put, he needs to show he can be an NHL regular-season goaltender from a health and mental stamina perspective. Neuvirth provides a different kind of challenge than Theodore did: One was a veteran with an expiring contract, the other is as much the Goalie Of The Future as Varlamov is.
I certainly don’t hope Varly fails, but I recognize the potential, and also (like several others here) wouldn’t be surprised if Neuvy ends up having the better career (perhaps sooner rather than later).
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
Yup.
I thought his grade for Bruce – a B – was a generous.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Odd grade for BB. I’d give him a solid A for the regular season, but a D-minus for the playoffs.
Not sure where the B comes from, really.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I’ve just got this feeling that Neuvy could be a star.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
There are only a handful of goalies with his technical and mental ability to ever play. Neuvirth is an extreme outlier. If he has some maturation left, he could be a legitimate great.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Pinner back to Hershey.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
No surprise. Hopefully he’ll get a bit more discipline down there…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Which is to say hopefully he’ll learn to be more disciplined – I’m not hoping he receives more discipline.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You’re on a roll today.
Six Beers Too Many fantasy team: It's Neu-virth Than Usual
"I wake up in the middle night frustrated because we lost out in the first round and I want to see our players hoist the Stanley Cup." -Brooks Laich
by CapitalCentre on Oct 1, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, from what I saw, he didn’t run the opposing goalie in a team scrimmage this year :)
On a serious note, the improvement in his on-ice discipline from season to season in the last 3 years has been noticeable, although with lapses.
So, I agree.
I didn’t see his double-minor the other night in Boston. Bad?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
He was giving his team valuable PK practice experience!
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
by EmilyB on Oct 1, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I didn’t realize he got a double minor (didn’t see it).
He had a minor (tripping or interference) in the third that wasn’t too bad. A D got beat on a bad pinch and he dove for the puck while backchecking, missed the puck, and slid into and took the feet out from under the B’s forward.
Kind of a hustly penalty, in the D zone, stopped a guy from walking in and having an uncontested shot.
Those we can live with.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
28 remaining:
G (3): Neuvirth, Sabourin, Varlamov
D (8): Alzner, Carlson, Erskine, Fahey, Green, Poti, Schultz, Sloan
F (17): Backstrom, Beagle, Bradley, Chimera, Fehr, Fleischmann, AGordon, BGordon, Hendricks, Johansson, King, Knuble, Laich, Ovechkin, Perreault, Semin, Steckel
If they left it to me, I’d cut Sabourin, Fahey, Hendricks, Beagle and … Sloan.
I get that Sloan is the 7th D and he’ll be up with the team most of the year, but if you can do without him for a couple of weeks until someone needs a break, doesn’t it make more sense to watch A. Godon, M. Perreault and Johansson a little longer and in real game situations?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Three easy cuts:
Sabourin (or Varlamov if he begins the season on IR)
Fahey
Beagle
Between AGordon and Hendricks:
AGordon stays because he is playing well and wouldn’t pass through waivers; Hendricks goes because AGordon stays.
Between Johansson and Perreault:
This is a pick’em. Both of the guys have played well. However, if Johansson returns to Sweden, it might be really difficult to get him back this season. Perreault, because he can pass through waivers, is probably the odd man out.
However, if Johansson returns to Sweden, it might be really difficult to get him back this season
Yup. By rule, he pretty much can’t.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 1, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree mostly, but I’d cut Stecks and keep A. Gordon and Hendricks. I think both offer more to the team at this point. If Stecks gets picked up by someone else (which I doubt considering his cap hit), than so be it. At the very least, Hendricks is an upgrade for 4th line pivot and PK. I also believe his cap hit is significantly less. Or they copuld choose between A. Gordon and Hendricks and keep MP AND MaJo. I think both scenarios offer the caps an upgrade over keeping Stecks.
by cbl on Oct 1, 2010 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
And, just for kicks, your opening night roster:
G (3): Neuvirth, Sabourin, Varlamov
D (8): Alzner, Carlson, Erskine, Fahey, Green, Poti, Schultz, Sloan
F (17): Backstrom, Beagle, Bradley, Chimera, Fehr, Fleischmann, AGordon, BGordon, Hendricks, Johansson, King, Knuble, Laich, Ovechkin, Perreault, Semin, Steckel
He’s a winger! a center! a winger! a center!
There's no 'i' in "team". But there's a 'nap' in "champion".
Relax man, you’re two tents
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
JP on NY Times RE: NHL Blogger Guidelines
Sure it will be in tomorrow’s Caps Clips, but it’s over on the “What We’re Reading” sidebar off the Rink’s homepage now. Good article with some quotes from JP. Prime Time JP!
Fascinating article. This seems a flank battle in the Canadian vs. US market debate. The Canadian teams are already saturated with fanatical coverage and want to control things. In the US, most teams are second class citizens in their home media markets. If the NHL wants to get ahead of the curve on anything, they need to be as friendly to bloggers as possible. On the one hand, they probably want to complain about their national TV deals and dwindling coverage in these national outlets. On the other hand, they’ve got people who want to cover the teams and they’re kind of limiting access.
The linked article on the Capitals policy is very revealing as well. Way to go JP, and I continually lift this site up as a model to Nats fans with their own gripes about coverage about their team with mixed results.
The wait for 10/7 begins. This man is focused. Are you?
Must really be hockey season. The STH party tickets just arrived.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Hey, this is my third year as a STH and I’ve yet to go. Not all that interested in Six Flags, but I might go this year.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I am 1. envious and 2. just good-naturedly ribbing you.
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
well, I have people fighting to come with me every year. If you don’t want them, I can put them to use. My buddies don’t like the ignominy of a public dance off.
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
Heh heh. Sorry, though, because if I don’t go this time, dinasaur will take a friend. She’s had to work the past two years, but not this year.
"It's always good to have vikings."
same here!
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Just saw this on NHL.com, and had to laugh.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=539231
Read the last two lines especially. As a player, would you really want a guy whose job was to piss people off representing you?
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
Verizon Center Wi-Fi
I want to try this out tonight. What are the Network ID and Password?
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Watch out. Ted will be monitoring your emails and texts and will have you tossed if he detects even the slightest hint of negative talk about his team.
You’re Welcome,
@DamoSpin
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
Yeah, I heard those two don’t get along.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
by jordanDC on Oct 1, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
http://www.japersrink.com/2010/10/1/1724965/game-day-open-thread-blue-jackets-caps
The ice will show everything.
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