The Noon Number

2.03 - Semyon Varlamov's goals against average (to go along with a .930 save percentage) in his nine 2010-11 appearances other than that one bad start at Madison Square Garden

over 1 year ago J.P. 46 comments 0 recs |

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And if you like Varly stats, there are more coming up in about 15 minutes…

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by J.P. on Dec 27, 2010 1:46 PM EST reply actions

i feel remarkably good about our goalie tandem heading down the stretch.

in the playoffs:
varly/neuvy vs. bobrovsky/leighton?
varly/neuvy vs. MAF/johnson?
varly/neuvy vs. ellis/?nabakov??

the only goalie in the eastern conference who really scares me is lundqvist, and that’s one mental hurdle the caps have actually put behind them.

by Natty Bumppo on Dec 27, 2010 1:49 PM EST reply actions

Right now, I worry about Pavelec. In April, who knows.

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by CapitalCentre on Dec 27, 2010 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

Ryan Miller scares me, but the Buffalo Sabres do not.

And it’s worth noting that Jaroslav Halak probably didn’t scare any of us too much as of April 20, when he was 1-2/4.05/.887 through Game 3.

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by J.P. on Dec 27, 2010 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

Very True. I can also see some heroic goaltending out of the Flyers. A team that scares me come playoff time.

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by Amacaps on Dec 27, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

A sort of wise (and always insane) woman once said…

Halak’s kind of a mixed bag. He’s capable of putting up back-to-back shutouts and turning aside 40, 45, 50 shots a night to steal a game, doing so on a regular basis in the NHL and routinely facing high shot totals at the Olympics. At the same time he’s equally capable of putting up back-to-back stinkers, as was the case in the last three games of the regular season. If Montreal is to have any shot against a potent Washington offense, it lies in the hands of Jaroslav Halak.

If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.

by Becca H on Dec 27, 2010 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

You forgot the word “shaky” in that last clause.

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by J.P. on Dec 27, 2010 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, now…I’m wise. I’m not psychic.

If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.

by Becca H on Dec 27, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

that’s for causing flashbacks.

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by RedBirdie on Dec 27, 2010 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

You’re banking on Nabokov going to TBL? Remember, if anyone signs Nabokov he has to go through waivers before he comes to the NHL. That’s going to be a huge problem. If TBL signs him to a good contract (i.e. low money) then someone like the Flyers or any other team that needs a goalie could claim him and he never gets there.

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by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

You may then see trades in exchange for not claiming him. Seems like one big game of chicken or “How to Mortgage Your Franchise on One Easy Step.”

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by STLSpidey on Dec 27, 2010 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t see how that works. I understand that you could have a gentleman’s agreement that isn’t technically part of a trade, but you’d have to do it with too many teams to make it practical. You just don’t know who is looking for a goalie and who might snatch up Nabokov on a good deal. Let’s say TBL arranges to get Nabokov for 1.5 for the rest of the year. I don’t think the Caps need a goalie, but that might be worth taking him on waivers just because it’s such a good price, he’s a good goalie, and it keeps him from TBL.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

Does the team trying to bring him back as UFA get to put in a waiver claim, or do they lose their spot on the waiver list by starting the process?

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by SmallZ827 on Dec 27, 2010 4:57 PM EST up reply actions

The latter, I think. It wouldn’t make much sense to do the former, I don’t think. NYI was one of the worst teams in the league when they tried to bring in Dubi, but CBJ could have potentially be worse. I’m not 100% positive on it but I think the whole league gets a crack at the guy before he’s officially on your team.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

I guess I was thinking of it this way, if TBL wanted Nabokov, but were worried about, say, PHI claiming him, it would be a moot point if TBL still had their position on the waiver list.

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by SmallZ827 on Dec 27, 2010 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, it’s a good point. I just don’t think it works like that.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

Which is a detriment to the player, in theory. Say Team A and Team B both want the guy, but Team A won’t offer him anything because they know Team B will claim him off waivers and vice versa, so neither offers him a contract. It just seems weird that the team taking the initiative would (at least with a player as attractive as Nabokov) be the last to get a chance at him.

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by SmallZ827 on Dec 27, 2010 5:14 PM EST up reply actions

It might be simpler than that. I was overthinking.

TBL could sign Nabokov to a contract and put him through waivers. It could wait for a team to claim him and then make a trade. In theory, it could be prearranged with a team well-down the list.

For example, it could “pay” the Devils with a player to claim Nabokov before anyone else has a shot and then trade him back.

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Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.

by STLSpidey on Dec 27, 2010 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

That would be interesting. I wonder what Lou would want in return, and whether or not there’d be a chance that another team would catch wind and try to out-bid TBL from NJD.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

It would have to be pre-done with a lock of some kind to prevent Lou from claiming and then go to auction.

I think there are precedents for this. I think the Eli Manning for Philip Rivers deal was done before the Giants drafted Rivers and the Chargers drafted Manning. In the NBA, you hear about trades done all the time during the draft contingent on one team drafting a kid and then trading him.

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Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.

by STLSpidey on Dec 27, 2010 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think the draft analogy is a particularly good one. The timing of the agreements and the number of other actors involved is a big difference.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

That’s why the deal would have to be with NJD and no one else.

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Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.

by STLSpidey on Dec 27, 2010 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

And the tiny, hilarious, possibility where TBL (or whichever team) then reneges on their deal and leaves NJD stuck with Nabby’s cap hit.

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by SmallZ827 on Dec 27, 2010 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

This was what I was thinking. Under this format you basically have to go to the worst team in the league and say “We know our division rival is going to claim him to spite us, we’ll give you a fourth-rounder just to claim the guy for us,” or something.

Eat, drink, and be merry! And then drink some more.

by SmallZ827 on Dec 27, 2010 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

But why wouldn’t NJD hold out for more? Leverage means a lot and the team trying to make the deal has no leverage and NJD could use a lot more help than a 4th.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t know. In my scenario Lou didn’t see TBL’s offer of a fourth and immediately go to GMGM telling him what TBL was up to, but of course he would.

Eat, drink, and be merry! And then drink some more.

by SmallZ827 on Dec 27, 2010 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

And even if he doesn’t, the second he claims Nabby everyone knows it’s not to keep him so PHI calls and asks what they want for him, etc.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

Can you claim someone if you have no cap space to fit him? Claim him with say 24 hours to make it work?

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Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.

by STLSpidey on Dec 27, 2010 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t know.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

I thought if you pick someone off waivers you have to keep them for a specified time (30 days?). Or just that you can’t try to send him to the AHL?

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by gfcaps fan on Dec 27, 2010 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

I thought Nabby was a UFA and not the property of any NHL team at the moment so wouldn’t he be free to sign with whoever he wants in the NHL?

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by CapsFan75 on Dec 27, 2010 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, but any UFA signed after the start of the season is still subjected to waivers. CBA rules. It’s why most teams do their free agent signing over the summer.

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by Becca H on Dec 27, 2010 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

…that might only apply if they’ve played in Europe, though. I’m a little fuzzy on the specifics.

If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.

by Becca H on Dec 27, 2010 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

I believe it does. CBJ snatched Dubliewicz off waivers when NYI tried to bring him back from Russia a couple years ago.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

i’m not “banking.” hence all my question marks. but if i’m tampa i call.

by Natty Bumppo on Dec 27, 2010 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

I’d call if I was Tampa, SJS, CHI, DAL, and probably a handful of other teams as well. Then if I’m TOR, I just wait for someone to sign him and snatch him up on waivers.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

if that were to happen, would the team claiming him off waivers be responsible for all or half or the salary?

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by RedBirdie on Dec 27, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions

All, it wouldn’t be re-entry waivers. The issue with a guy like Nabokov is that he’s worth a lot more than he’s going to sign for (if he returns to the NHL) because teams don’t have the cap space to pay him market value (same as over the summer but even more dramatically so) and so any deal he signs is going to look like a bargain. At that point, it makes little sense not to pick him up.

Drunk Guy: "Alex Ovechkin is playing more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan this year."
Laichitor: "He has AIDS?"

by Rob Parker on Dec 27, 2010 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

thanks, and I agree. Any number of teams that wouldn’t mind getting a competent goalie on the cheap.

even if no one tries to sign Nabby and start this waiver watch drama, do you (and anyone else who wants to chime in) see him trying to get back in the NHL next season?

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by RedBirdie on Dec 27, 2010 5:08 PM EST up reply actions