Tuesday Caps Clips: Capital Collapse
by EmilyB on Dec 7, 2010 6:36 AM EST
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Your savory breakfast links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's game from us, Vogs, NHL.com (Masisak), WaPo (Carrera: blog, gamer), DC Examiner (McNally), Caps365 video (Boudreau, players), CSN Washington (Beninati), Frankovic, Peerless, OFB, RMNB, Capitals News Network, TBD (Chamberlain), KOL, Hockey Ramblings, Caps In Pictures (pics), Clydeorama (pics), and the National Post.
- A Rink stick salute to Sarge as he reports to sick bay: Jeff Schultz blocked a shot with his hand, broke his thumb, and is out for 4-6 weeks. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Mr. Nasty. [ProHockeyTalk, TBD (Chamberlain), SB Nation DC]
- Believe it or not, they did actually practice yesterday before the game. [bridgetds on Flickr]
- Eric Staal, Alexander Semin, and Steven Stamkos walk into a bar ... er, no, it's something to do with statistics. [Hockey Prospectus]
- Questions will have answers. On HBO, no less. [Capitals Kremlin]
- Brian Fahey, happy in Hershey. [LDN]
- Michal Neuvirth had a rough night in net but has a new accolade - he's been named The MeiGray Group ECHL Alumnus of the Month for November. No, really. [ECHL.com]
- Anton Gustafsson was on the ice recently, pondering his future as a hockey player. We won't hold our breath. [FanShot (translation in comments)]
- Finally, anyone interested in the latest Japers' Rink pick-up game, read this. Thanks.
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Stat of the Day: MP85 now has seven points (3G, 4A) in four “first games” (i.e. the first games on recalls). He has 3G, 3A in 21 non-first games.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Not surprised. It’d be interesting to see what the team’s win/loss record is with MP in those games.
Previously incarnated as UF and UnleashFurry...
Lost member of the now defunct 'Black Avatar Alliance'
Almost have to turn Slayer up all the more to drown out any possible fapping over Sarge’s injury.
"If you don't shut the [hell] up, I'm going to kick you in the balls so hard your dentist is going to have to work around them at your next cleaning."
The Caps just got tougher by subtraction!!!!
"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 Dec 7, 2010 9:12 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Despite the meltdown the night belonged to
MA-TTY MA-TTY
by Brainumbc on Dec 7, 2010 7:57 AM EST reply actions 5 recs
Per JP’s comment above, it’s up to him to not flame out from here. I’ll be rooting for him.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Damn straight. Wasn’t it awesome and ironic, though, in the frist couple minutes of the game to hear Joe B have to stop in the middle of a sentance, talking about MP’s consistency, to yell “GOOOOAAL! PERREAULT”
I just watched the recap. It went like this
“Theyre looking for energy and consistency from this young man starting with his reca…… DEFLECTION SCORE! IT’s Pereault on the doorstep!”
by Brainumbc on Dec 7, 2010 8:12 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
MP needs to stay here for good. Why does Makkan get a such a long leash and if MP doesn’t do anything for 2-3 games he’s back in Hershey? MP is miles ahead of Makkan right now in terms of NHL readiness. MP needs to be at 2C/3C for at least a couple months.
Choking since 1985.
Why does Makkan get a such a long leash and if MP doesn’t do anything for 2-3 games he’s back in Hershey?
Because Mackan’s upside is much higher (taller, G.O.D.?), and he’s less of a liability defensively if he’s not producing offensively. Moreover, MP has had some off-ice behavioral issues that have painted him as less than professional in the eyes of the organization.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Better question – why is this same exact topic discussed in every comment section on this site?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 7, 2010 10:53 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Because a lot of people must work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
CaptainAwesome is now PrincessPowerful
by PrincessPowerful on Dec 7, 2010 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
Like I said yesterday, I’m just responding to stuff other folks put up.
I’ll stop if it’s objectionable.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
No, not at all – just an observation. I guess at some point everyone will have read some version of it and the question will no longer be asked. Keep fightin’ the good fight.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Like Schultz for Norris, I guess.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
by red army line on Dec 7, 2010 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
Because there is a very loud lobby for MP who like to push his good games and ignore his bad ones…while Mackan even when not producing points playing with linemates who have consistently missed golden chances still goes out on the PK and plays well defensively at ES as well.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 5:35 PM EST up reply actions
MP has had some off-ice behavioral issues that have painted him as less than professional in the eyes of the organization
You need to elaborate with examples and sources or don’t bother with such suggestions.
Choking since 1985.
It’s been discussed ad nauseum. Go back and look at the discussion in yesterday’s FanShot discussing the recall.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Ad nauseum ftw.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
ZOMG sorry for having a life and not keeping up with every thread at JR. Totally off topic and inappropriate for me to be discussing MP here and now.
Choking since 1985.
I think it was your “do as I command” approach to asking for more info on the topic.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
Yeah…that came off with “do as I command”. Asking someone to cite specific sources an examples before they rip someone’s cred.
When did this become Sports Bitch Nation?
Choking since 1985.
You askin' or you tellin'? 'Cause nobody tells Boxy Brown
"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 Dec 7, 2010 11:09 AM EST up reply actions 7 recs
Ahhhh if only aqua teen was as funny
FTFY.
"If you want money go to the bank, if you want bread go to the bakery if you want goals go to the net." - #21
ATHF is genious, er was. It’;s just you can only go on so long with that type of humor
ATHF:Cartoons :: GTA3:VIdeo Games
ZOMG sorry for having a life and not keeping up with every thread at JR.
It’s not about keeping up with every thread here. If you’re going to argue a point strongly, you had better be at least somewhat informed about the point you’re making. The background to the MP story is well-tilled earth at this point. It’s not been in just a few obscure threads, and it’s not by coincidence that both J.P. and I said “ad nauseum.”
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I’m pretty sure this is a snarkful reference to the JP-sk8 convo yesterday, no?
Don't worry about getting to your point, I'm going to live forever.
by SeattleCapsFan on Dec 7, 2010 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
Yea I’m getting that now…too bad, because it made me chuckle when I thought he was kidding.
Don't worry about getting to your point, I'm going to live forever.
by SeattleCapsFan on Dec 7, 2010 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
Mackan is the one ahead in NHL readiness. MP is better offensively, but Mackan is better in almost every other aspect. He plays better defense, he is a skilled passer, and he is doing what he needs to as 3C. MP has the makings to potentially be a 2C, but he has yet to prove that he can do it consistently.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
Mackan is the one ahead in NHL readiness
False. Why must people regurgitate popular opinions instead of believing what they see? MP has been a plus player, he’s shown some offensive spark and is ample enough defensively.
I still like Makkan for long term upside but not giving MP a real chance to stay up is a travesty.
Choking since 1985.
It’s actually an unpopular opinion.
MP85 has been and will be given “a real chance to stay up.” He has to earn it. There’s no “travesty” here.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
While I’m not going to go full on and agree with Macvechkin, I will say that, barring off-ice issues, MP needs to be allowed to play through the inevitable slump or a handful of “down” games. They happen to everyone and it’s really, really hard to play your game when you’re worried that one off game gets you sent back down to Hershey (see Alzner, Karl).
Put another way, as long as MP keeps his shit together, I’d like to see him get a solid 15-game tryout. The last time, he had a couple hot games followed by a lot of poor play. Let him work through the poor play and come out the other side – or at least give him a chance to try.
Still, it’s not a travishamockery.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I think there’s a difference between slumping an maturity issues, and that maturity issues should get you sent down, right away. I really hope he’s ready to show that he’s going to put in a consistent effort this time.
I actually think that may be the case. Being the guy everyone depended on in Hershey with Aucoin out, and being embarrassed publicly and privately by Boudreau ought to have some effect. At least I hope so.
What really kills me right now is that half of the Caps’ centers right now are getting stapled to the bench for the last 10 minutes of the game. That’s brutal on Backstrom and 4C-of-the-day.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 7, 2010 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
I think there’s a difference between slumping an maturity issues, and that maturity issues should get you sent down, right away.
Agree completely. I just know that, if I were in the same position and I knew that one bad game would get me sent back to Hershey, I might not perform as well as possible.
What really kills me right now is that half of the Caps’ centers right now are getting stapled to the bench for the last 10 minutes of the game.
Agreed, but this is where, in theory, having guys like Hendricks, Gordon, and even Laich is supposed to help. They can all go out and take a draw if need be. It sure didn’t seem to work out that way last night, but Backstrom was terrible and that’s not really foreseeable.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I agree that last recall was too brief, due mostly to roster restrictions, some of which are no longer present. This stint should be longer, provided he earns it (and by that I don’t necessarily mean “two points per game,” but I’m sure Bruce knows MP well enough to know when he’s working through a slump and coasting).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yesterday, someone mentioned that maybe Bruce sees himself in MP, with the size and not always having the best work ethic when younger. (And I noticed they’re both Capricorns.)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
by CapsFan75 on Dec 7, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Meh. People said that about Flash. It’s a bit pop-psych-y for my tastes.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think there are a lot of players where Bruce sees a little of himself in them. I think sometimes he’s even mentioned it. But he’s also smart enough to not let that affect his decisions. Usually.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I hope it’s longer, with the Semin-MP-Laich line staying together. MP and Semin are both playmakers who can also shoot. If Laich stays in front of the net, that could be a potent combo.
But Bruce – PLEASE don’t put MP between Laich and Knuble. Give the kid a chance.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
I don’t know; I see those two as two of the better Caps players at digging the puck out of the corners and getting it into the slot; MP’s second goal last night came off of exactly such a play. That might not be a bad combo.
I think MP would do better with a good passer though – which neither is. MP and Semin are both good at setting the other up, all they need is a player to crash the net. I’d even be fine with Knuble taking that spot and moving Laich up to the 1st.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
MP is a good passer himself, and he can set up both Laich and Knuble, who are capable shooters. But he’s also good at getting the puck into open space, and he has good patience with it and a decent shot. I’m just pointing out that he won’t be as lost on that line as one might think.
The key to what you said is “staying together.” Too often this year, I’ve seen the puck being passed by the Caps in the offensive zone to…..no one. I’d guess that the linemate from practice or in the last game would have been there, but with all the line-shuffling, no one knows where anyone will be. BL’s quote down below about playing with Matty (“he’s really predictable. I know where he’s going to be”) emphasizes how important that everyone knows where everyone is. But if you’re not use to playing with someone, how can you know? IMO that’s especially true with what’s happening to the 3rd and 4th lines, and their lack of scoring. We went through this last year, until Knuble stepped up and told BB to stop. Hopefully that will happen again soon.
"I would feed them lefts until I was pretty much tired of doing it." - Alan May, JRR, 10.16.2010
Totally agree. I would like to see 8-19-22, 21-85-28, 16-90-25, 26-39-10/15 as lines for quite a while.
Something I was wondering about – has anyone heard who went on IR to be able to bring MP up? I was thinking maybe Steckel, with how much time he missed against Atlanta.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
BL’s quote down below about playing with Matty ("he’s really predictable. I know where he’s going to be") emphasizes how important that everyone knows where everyone is
From what I’ve seen, this is what MP has over Mackan at this point in spades. MP’s understanding of where to be on the ice in the offensive zone is light-years ahead of Mackan’s, which I’d largely attribute to greater familiarity with North American hockey/rinks and Boudreau’s system.
Beyond that, though, I think MP’s second-best skill (after his ungodly ability to move quickly with the puck in tight spaces) is his ability to find soft spots in defensive coverage.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
When you’re as small as he is and Contract Year Sasha is on your line it certainly helps in finding the soft spots in coverage. Last night he played very well, I want to see him keep it up and maybe improve some of his deficiencies in the D zone. With Flash gone I think he does have the opportunity for an extended tryout this time even if he has a down game or two.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 5:42 PM EST up reply actions
earns
For some reason this made me think of Denis Lemieux; “earnzzzuh, earnnnzuh.”
But seriously, there’s a fine line between “earning it” and “playing great every game.” I’d just like to coaching staff to cut him enough slack on the ice so that, if he does have a couple bad games, he doesn’t start to get nervous and try to hard knowing that he’s headed back to Hershey.
The off-ice stuff, however, is on MP.
I guess I’d like to see them say to MP: “you’ve got 15 games. Play well and play consistently and keep your shit together and you’ll stick around after. Give inconsistent effort or show up late to a meeting and you’ll be headed back to Hershey after game 15.”
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
He may end up back in Hershey after game 15 anyway due to roster considerations, but I’d like to see him earn the right to stay and make the roster decision difficult.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I’d continue to debate you but obviously it’s off topic now. The Gods have spoken.
Choking since 1985.
Calm down, dude.
"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 Dec 7, 2010 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
How about not insulting people’s intelligence? I’m going off what I see. What I see is that Mackan has already shown himself to be a viable 3C. MP has the makings to be a 2C, which the Caps haven’t had an open slot for until now. I’m fine with him being given a chance – I was one of the people saying he should have made the Caps out of camp instead of Mackan. Mackan has shown himself to be worth keeping, and I hope MP does the same.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
I do, too. I think MP has shown more at 2C than anyone else we have tried this year, frankly.
Except when MP is up, our line situation is as follows:
1) Put Semin on first line. Result is generally good productivity for 1st line and crappy productivity for 2nd line.
2) Put Semin on 2nd line. No productivity for either line.
However, there was also the exception when we had Brooksie on top line. On those occasions we actually did well.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I’ll say this – when MP is on his game, he’s been hands-down the best #2C we’ve had. The only problem is, he only manages to be on his game for one or two games before backsliding pretty hard.
The ultimate poop-stain that last night’s game became aside, it was really nice to see the team play with two legitimate scoring lines and a 3rd line (16-90-25) that could do some damage.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Personally, I’d rather see Perreault on that third – gives a little more defensive conscience to the 2nd (something about 28-85 sends danger signals to me) and gives Fehr/Chimmer a more creative pivot. I think it’s a better balance.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah, I can see that. It’s just that the 21-85-28 line was dangerous every time they hit the ice last night, in a way that 21-90-28 hasn’t been with any consistency.
Also, I think I disagree about 28-85 – I think Semin’s defensive play has got to the point where he ought to be considered one of the Caps’ best defensive forwards. The two of them put nice backpressure on the puck all night and generated several turnovers (usual caveats about consistency apply).
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I don’t disagree that 28 is one of the top defensive forwards. I just think that playing him with 85 presents some opportunity to get too cute. And let’s be honest – Semin should be able to make any line dangerous, regardless of his center (but see Montreal series).
With Perreault on the second line, you essentially have two scoring lines. With him on the third, you have three. Obviously the extent to which each is a scoring line changes, but I still think it’s a bit more balanced.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The real question for me would be: could MP manage to get F-16 going?
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I think you’d have to say that he has a better chance of doing so than MoJo does, no? So that’s another benefit of that alignment.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Agreed. And the I also think MP might be a little more willing to play dump & chase. The idea of MP dumping the puck in, letting Chimera or Fehr go and get it, then finding the soft spots in the O-zone as a trailer is pretty tantalizing.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Would be a great line for generating PPs for.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
To be honest, MP chases pretty well on his own. I know you mention Chimera and Fehr because of their size, but MP’s speed is probably a bigger asset in dump and chase than Fehr’s size is (at least if Fehr is in fact as slow as you claim he is). Think about that goal against FLA last year, that was him being the first guy in chasing the puck.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Kinda hilarious that Semin can be one of the most trusted PKers but his ES defense sends danger signals.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
False
False that it’s false.
There, ha!
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 7, 2010 11:07 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I was all set to declare him “The Matt Hatter” if he got the third one (unless Kolbe beat me to it).
If you've read this far...seek help.
I was ready to be a newspaper headline writer as well with, “A Matt-Trick for Perreault!”
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
The play where he passed to Semin, who rang the inside of the post, had hat trick written all over it. I think it was even packaged with a bow.
Surprised no one went with “Welcome, Matt”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I dunno, first thing that popped to mind was “You’re about to get walked [on] by everyone.”
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 7, 2010 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
Act like you’ve been there before.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
by jordanDC on Dec 7, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Or maybe the novelty has worn off after posting it multiple times last night and then again this morning. Pandering for recs is so unbecoming.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 7, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs
I’d also like to add “Demanding others rec something” to the list, but I’d be called elitist.
"If you don't shut the [hell] up, I'm going to kick you in the balls so hard your dentist is going to have to work around them at your next cleaning."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 7, 2010 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 9 recs
REC THIS!!!111
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Ok…ok…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 7, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
TURN THIS GREEN!!!111
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
by D'ohboy on Dec 7, 2010 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
i still can’t believe that’s him
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
Nice photoshoping of MP85’s head… Anyone want to try changing the jersey number too?
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 7, 2010 12:06 PM EST up reply actions
Well this sucks
Saint John Sea Dogs President Wayne Long announced today that the team’s annual ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ promotion, originally scheduled to be held on December 12, has officially been cancelled due to concerns regarding an infestation of hematophagous parasites (bedbugs) that has proliferated throughout south western New Brunswick in recent months.
John Carlson - Glory follows him.
Six Beers Too Many Fantasy Team - BizNasty's Hobo Rodeo
So.. they don’t wash the teddy bears?
So.. they don’t wash the teddy bears?Ick.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
Has brainumbc taken over J.P.’s mind?
"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 Dec 7, 2010 9:13 AM EST up reply actions
Dude, if you could wash a teddy bear-a blanket-a mattress, and get rid of bedbugs, the world would be a better place.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 7, 2010 9:18 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, those little effers are virtually indestructible.
John Carlson - Glory follows him.
Six Beers Too Many Fantasy Team - BizNasty's Hobo Rodeo
For me, the most endearing moment of the night was following Ovechkin’s goal, he came up and stick tapped the glass in front of King…for me, that proved a good sign of his growing maturity in being a Captain
When my friend Robbie and I played hockey in the driveway on our rollerblades....I was always Peter Bondra
Hyperbole (and poor spelling) alert
Changes need to be made. I think the coach needs to remove the C on Ovechkin’s sweater. I like Ovie, but the fact that this keeps happening reflects poorly on his leadership as Capitan. If changing capitans doesn’t fix it the next option is the coach.
Posted by: akmzrazor | December 7, 2010 7:53 AM | Report abuse
"If you don't shut the [hell] up, I'm going to kick you in the balls so hard your dentist is going to have to work around them at your next cleaning."
Flag
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
In fairness to that moran, dig AO’s effort on the second Toronto goal.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I’m not as concerned about Ovechkin’s leadership, because he appears to be growing into the job of Captain. He’s made some progress, but he has some room to grow. I’m more concerned about the coaching staff. Is Bruce losing the room, or is he just not leaning hard enough on these guys about putting together a complete effort and playing better in their own end? There is only so much a Captain can do during the game. Ultimately, the inconsistent effort reflects more poorly on how the coaching staff motivates and prepares the players.
by NHL Observer on Dec 7, 2010 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
Is Bruce losing the room, or is he just not leaning hard enough on these guys
My vote is for the latter. As outsiders, it is difficult to say if he is "losing the room," but those more intimate with the situation (Alan May) have mentioned that the players buy into everything Boudreau says. Much more than they ever did with Glen Hanlon. When they actually listen and apply what Bruce says, things go well. When they don’t, you get collapses like we saw last night. I sincerely doubt he is losing the room, because most of the players absolutely love him, especially those who played under him in Hershey. I think it all comes down to a lack of proper motivation, not a lack of respect.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 7, 2010 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
I think it all comes down to a lack of proper motivation, not a lack of respect.
I still can’t tell exactly what it is, but I think a good percentage is the fact that the team consists of a lot of highly-talented players, and when things break down, those guys go into “fuck it, I’ve got this” mode and we get ugliness.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
by D'ohboy on Dec 7, 2010 12:06 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
as good an explanation as I’ve seen yet.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Yeah, that was an awesome moment… but second to Armstrong mocking Semin’s fighting style.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Imagine how good it would have been if King actually landed a punch.
"If you don't shut the [hell] up, I'm going to kick you in the balls so hard your dentist is going to have to work around them at your next cleaning."
Orr tied him up immediately. Pretty impressive.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
King got a few good shots in, but got dominated…. again.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
In what sense was King “dominated?” By Orr slamming his hand into the side of King’s helmet? It wasn’t a Peat-Stock fight, but neither was is dominated by one or the other, Orr’s goofy smiling at the end notwithstanding.
If you've read this far...seek help.
I saw King take many more punches than he landed. That’s happened in every fight this season so far.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
It’s not number landed — it’s quality.
I think King tends to sit back, absorb a few, look for an opening to do real damage. That’s a brave way of fighting, in my opinion.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 7, 2010 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
I have no problem with that fighting style, because I’ve seen King pull it off against Boogaard. The problem is, he’s not landing more than one or two good punches per fight. If he could land some good punches, that would be a different story. King is a much better fighter than what he’s done this season – I wonder if he’s just rusty from missing so much of the last two seasons.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
The voting on hockeyfights.com is pretty one-sided in Orr’s favor, for what it’s worth.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 7, 2010 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
3 fights for King this season, and each time his opponent has been voted as the winner by 78.1%, 81.5%, and 87.8%. It’s not like he got annihilated in any of them, but he’s gotten dominated pretty badly – tied up, hasn’t landed many punches, has taken a lot of punches, etc.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
in all fairness, he only gets to play once every 10 games… it’s not like you can practice beating up your teammates in practice :-)
Some guys on the Kings apparently do (lol) slap fights at the end of practice to work on balance and tying-up techniques.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
Yeah, I’ve seen players do that, but there’s no faking a bare knuckle punch in the face. That’s the key to it all, and something the players won’t do in practice (Aliu v. Downey aside).
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 7, 2010 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
Eh…Orr just tied him up so King couldn’t fire any punches. He only took 1 or 2 good punches.
I don’t have much tolerance for stupid. Or cheese on food that doesn’t need it. -duck
by twistedlogic on Dec 7, 2010 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t trust any public poll on the internet between a Maple Leafs and a Caps player.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 7, 2010 11:11 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Nice deterrant that King. Orr had no problems taking liberties with Ovi. Orr knew it would result in a dance with DJ, which is what he wants to justify his existence. So in effect, the the deterrant actually is an enticement. How about that.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Dec 7, 2010 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
Wow, what a ridiculous conclusion you drew, actually blaming King for Orr’s hit. So if Orr had never hit Ovi, and King fights him, it’s a stupid staged fight. But when he actually responds like he did last night, he’s actually enticing the team to take liberties. Makes perfect sense.
I guess you missed Ovi’s stick tap on the penalty box when he scored a 1:25 after the fight. Not saying the fight had anything to do with the goal, but it’s pretty clear King doesn’t need to “justify his existence” to his teammates. He just needs to do what he did last night.
I agree that King’s presence caused the liberties Orr took with Ovie. Orr wanted to fight King, so he goaded him into it by taking a shot at Ovechkin. Not too complicated. It wasn’t King’s fault, but it was a result of his presence.
You had me at no problem.
Disagree. Last game they fought with no cheap shots from Orr. This game they fought after a cheap shot from Orr. Last year Orr cheapshotted a Cap with no King/heavyweight in the lineup, and Shaone Morrisson was forced to come to the rescue.
Sounds to me like Orr is going to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it. Blaming yesterday’s hit on King is a stretch to me, and a ridiculous one at that.
To repeat: It wasn’t King’s fault, but a result of his presence. And I would still say he ought to be in the lineup against TOR.
You think it’s “a ridiculous stretch” to speculate that Orr took a shot at Ovie to get King riled up? Good for you.
You had me at no problem.
You can wordsmith “fault/result of his presence” all you want, but Orr would make that hit whether King was in the lineup or not. He’s demonstrated his willingness to do so in the past.
How bout I retract the word “ridiculous”, and just call it a stretch based on Orr’s history? Good for you, or still just for me?
Pretty sure you are proving the point I was making, which is what good is having a deterrant such as King on the bench when he, in fact, it not deterring anything and may, in fact, be encouraging bad behavior. Orr fights, one way or the other. That’s what he WANTS to do.
They fought 6 minutes into the game last month, clearly a staged fight. This game was humming along without the same opportunity. So being down 3-1, Orr took liberties with Ovi knowing full well that it would result in BB sending DJ out to fight. He did and they went.
Would he have done the same thing w/ no King on the bench? Probably. Did having King on the bench deter him? Clearly not. Did having King on the bench make his decision easier? I say yes. You may disagree but it’s not a stretch to consider that my conclusion could be correct.
Again, my overall question is, what good is having a guy like King on the bench if he doesn’t keep guys like Orr off Ovi’s back?
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
It may not have any tangible effect to us, but Ovechkin sure seemed to appreciate him in his goal celebration stick-tap.
Eat, drink, and be merry! And then drink some more.
Well, let’s just say that you and I are in completely different camps when it comes to carrying someone like King on the roster. You clearly see no benefit, whereas I do.
Where was Orr after the fight? I’d like to see the number of shifts he had afterwards. Is that because he got his fight with King and Wilson planted him on the bench? Maybe. Does that keep him from doing the same thing to other skill players? Probably. Is it because Toronto made a comeback in the third period, negating the need for their 4th line? Probably. Did the Caps appreciate and respond to what King did? Well, they scored less than two minutes, and had multiple players show acknowledge DJ while in the box. Would they have done the same thing if Hendricks had fought Orr? Yes. Would Hendricks have fought Orr? Doubtful. Would that mean that both sides would’ve turned the game into “Now it’s my turn to hit your star”? Maybe.
This is my whole point. I HATE the “enforcers don’t deter!” argument. It is untestable and unmeasurable. You can’t tell me with any certainty that what King did didn’t deter other acts on the ice, just like I can’t tell you that it did.
His teammates clearly appreciate what he does. Their record with him in the lineup is 5-2-1, without him it’s 13-6-2. Goals per game with him is 3.5, without is 3.1. He’s contributing to none of that, but his presence in the lineup is clearly not hurting the team in terms of winning or scoring.
Eight goals against the Caps alone.
>:(
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Orr was probably planted on the bench (I didn’t look at shift charts) because the Leafs were down 4-1 and Orr ain’t exactly the guy who is going to lead a comeback.
You can’t tell me with any certainty that what King did didn’t deter other acts on the ice, just like I can’t tell you that it did.
I can tell you King didn’t deter Orr from cross checking Ovi. Perhaps King’s presence deterred other acts, who knows. And I’m not against the concept of having a guy like King in the lineup. I am saying that if his job is to keep guys like Orr off Ovi and other skill guys, it didn’t work this time and I question whether it will work if he keeps losing such fights.
Goals per game with him is 3.5, without is 3.1. He’s contributing to none of that, but his presence in the lineup is clearly not hurting the team in terms of winning or scoring.
To use your logic, you can’t tell me with certainty that King helped or hurt the team in those games. Maybe without him they win those two games. Maybe they win the game last night if he doesn’t fight and lose to Orr..
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Dec 7, 2010 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I am saying that if his job is to keep guys like Orr off Ovi and other skill guys, it didn’t work this time
And what I’m saying is that it’s impossible for any player, whether it’s King, Orr, Boogaard, or Sven Nuckledrager, to “deter” these types of hits 100% of the time. How is that possible? These aren’t the days of playing Dave Semenko on the same line as Wayne Gretzky.
So, the question you then ask is, what value is King’s presence on this roster? The last few years of Charmin-soft play by the Caps should lead you to your answer. They were fun to watch, amazingly skilled, but not at all “tough” to play against. I love the makeup of this year’s team. Grittier, snarlier, and overall, much tougher. Hendricks has a lot to do with that, now Hannan hopefully will, and yes, I believe having DJ King as an insurance policy to play every handful of games adds value to this team. It certainly hasn’t hurt them.
Maybe they win the game last night if he doesn’t fight and lose to Orr..
And maybe they lose the game anyway if he wins the fight against Orr. I’ve been disappointed in King’s “performance” in his fights, but it’s not like he’s getting the shit kicked out of him. He’s going against the best fighters in the league. Last night was not a dick-measuring contest, it was a primary reason King was acquired. To respond to liberties taken against our skill players. You want 100% deterrence, but you’re never going to get it. I’ll take what he did last night any day over what Shaone Morrisson had to do against Orr last year after his cheap shot on Green.
So, the question you then ask is, what value is King’s presence on this roster? The last few years of Charmin-soft play by the Caps should lead you to your answer.
You mean the team that won the President’s Trophy but lost in the first round when a guy like DJ King wouldn’t have been withing 100 yards of the lineup? That team?
I too like the makeup of this team. Hendricks was a top notch addition, and I think DJ has played well the past couple of games. I never questioned his value on the roster, just his value (and those of a similar ilk) as a deterrant, which I believe is minimal.
If he can skate and forecheck and create space on the ice, i’m all for having him here. If he’s going to take three shifts a game and just be there to strike fear in the hearts of the other team, that doesn’t work for me.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
You’re correct in that he’ll never sniff a playoff sweater, I never thought he would. But don’t compare the six-month rigor of a regular season to the no-nonsense level that is demanded in the postseason. Ask Eric Godard and that shiny thing on this finger if he cared about never dressing in the playoffs. Guess what? This year’s much snarlier team can also win the Presidents Cup (on pace, or close, ain’t they?), in the process also playing a style that’s less dipsy-doo, toe-dragaroo and more wearing on their opponents.
I never questioned his value on the roster, just his value (and those of a similar ilk) as a deterrant, which I believe is minimal.
If you don’t question his value on the roster, then don’t expect him to deter others from goonery, because you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Like you said, expect him to skate, forecheck, play physical, but know that his ass will be glued to the bench in the third period of a close game. Oh yeah, and if the big, bad guy on the other team wants to fight and start chippy play to goad him into a fight, then fight! That’s what he did, nothing more could’ve been asked of him.
Parros 7:00 TOI
Shelley 6:18 TOI
King 5:54 TOI
Godard 5:47 TOI
Bissonette 5:34 TOI
Orr 5:03 TOI
Boogaard 4:39 TOI
Janssen 4:14 TOI
Just a snapshot of others of his “ilk”. No one except Parros has more than two points, and I’d say the Caps (and Pens) are in the fortunate position of not having to dress these guys, like the others, on an almost nightly basis due to their depth.
I don’t want DJ to play every night. But I also don’t expect him to prevent other teams from doing things to Caps players when he does. He needs to do what you mentioned above (skate, forecheck, etc), but just as importantly, make the regular season a little easier for our skill guys to get through, and a little more difficult for the opponent to get in the Caps faces. Don’t ask me how you measure that, only time will tell. Give him a chance.
I’m with Cluster. Orr is a goon, he’s going to do that regardless of who else is on the ice.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
which makes me hate having an enforcer, especially since Hendricks has shown he knows how to fight.
Many a night from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,
Did I look on great Orion sloping slowly to the West.
The difference being that Hendricks gets the shit kicked out of him 100% of the time against Orr, with serious risk of injury. King should be doing much better in his fights, but he is Orr’s equal in terms of fighting skill.
And if King gets the shit kicked out of him and has to sit out a few games…well…he’d probably be sitting anyway. Hendricks is establishing himself as a pretty key guy, and if he were out for a few games I’d be money that we’d miss him.
Don't worry about getting to your point, I'm going to live forever.
by SeattleCapsFan on Dec 7, 2010 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
Orr turtled pretty hard against King. I’d put him closer to Hendricks in ability than I would against King.
Many a night from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,
Did I look on great Orion sloping slowly to the West.
Why, Alex? This will kill your image. :-)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/12/ovechkin_will_be_well-groomed.html
"It's always good to have vikings."
And the Caps sell-out streak continues. Zing!
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by J.P. on Dec 7, 2010 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
First thing I thought of when I read that? Major League 2.
"If you don't shut the [hell] up, I'm going to kick you in the balls so hard your dentist is going to have to work around them at your next cleaning."
Didn’t get to see the game last night. I read the recap (but not the comments), Vogs, Masisak, and Carrera, but I still kind of don’t get it. What the hell happened? I was coming home from work and it was 3-1. I get home, and they’ve lost 5-4.
I see that Backstrom was out for all three 3rd period goals. Was he double shifting in place of Perreault? Was he dog tired? I also see that Alzner and Carlson were out for two of them, and Hannan-Poti (“Hottie”?) were out for the last one. Did the D fall apart? Was Neuvirth just bad?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
The entire team kind of pulled a Care Bears in the third. If MP was on the ice, they were trying to get him that third goal. If he wasn’t on the ice, they were making bad passes in the D zone and the usual failed clearings.
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We used to win those games
Back when we were very young, and known as the Rally Caps. The Cardiac Caps. That used to be us. Now look at us. Where have our boys gone?
there have been several “Cardiac Caps” game this season. Looked like this might be one of them.
as if the game wasn’t bad enough, I had “Monica Guy” screaming during the whole damn game. I wanted to throw him over the rail.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
MEH. I was so disgusted by what occurred in the third period, I turned off my TV while continuing to DVR the OT and shootout just in case the Caps woke up in time to get the two points. What was I thinking? These Caps just don’t seem to have the heart or the will that’s necessary for playoff success. History does repeat itself for the Caps; nothing has changed.
Unfortunately, this Caps team shows no sign of having learned anything from their prior playoff failures. I attribute that to Boudreau’s stubborn resistance to doing anything different from what caused the Caps to fail in the past. I think the biggest problem is he’s viewed as a “players coach” and by that I mean he coddles his favorites and holds hardly anyone, including himself, accountable for the poor results on the ice. As much as I hate to say this, unless he grows a set of b***s and very quickly, I don’t see the Caps having any success in this year’s playoffs.
attribute that to Boudreau’s stubborn resistance to doing anything different from what caused the Caps to fail in the past.
Okay. But his TOI’s really, really low for that. The coaching on the PK clearly has changed, (if not far enough to move AO). The D look encouraged to stand faster at both blue lines and to get puck to net more.
It’s getting late to say it’s early, but it’s not getting late. Fleischmann out and Hannan in = two good changes. PK and offensive D = 1.5 more. Healthy Varlavirth is what, 10 games into what was supposed to be a 50game test?
But last night’s game was 1/3 bullshit. Which is enough to make total bullshit, with a team this talented.
There's no 'i' in "team". But there's a 'nap' in "champion".
Just as an FYI, Leafs Nation counts scoring chances for the Leafs. I didn’t catch the game, but I’m guessing Slava Duris will have up his count sometime soon. Did Knee high count last night?
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
I didn’t; I had kitchen duty and an opening shift today. I went to bed after the first commercial break in the 3rd, thinking the game was well in hand, even at 4-2.
I checked the box score this morning and got hella grumpy.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 9:27 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
10-3, 7-6, 7-7, 1-2 in chances by period. Progressively worse, yikes.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
by red army line on Dec 7, 2010 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
So with Schultz and Sloan out, and Poti being Poti, what happens?
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
They did it with Helmer. If they need him and Fahey isn’t the answer, and McNeill isn’t available, they gotta do something.
by NHL Observer on Dec 7, 2010 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
I wonder if Miskovic would get a look, being a right-shooter.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
Can we all agree that we hope it doesn’t get to needing someone from Hershey now that we have eight D on the roster?
"It's always good to have vikings."
Sure. But two of the eight are on IR, and three of the others (Poti, Erskine and Green) don’t appear to be at 100%.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I’d be surprised if they thought the marginal value of Nycholat over Fahey would be worth burning another contract towards the 50-K limit, barring injuries. But I could be wrong.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
We start clamoring for Milan Jurcina.
The Kolzilla PR department has advised me to post a link to my work at Inside Hockey, so here it is.
www.Insidehockey.com
by Kolzilla on Dec 7, 2010 9:28 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Funny you should mention Jurcina. Just heard this morning on HTM that he was back practicing with full pads. I didn’t realize his latest injury was hamstring. Wasn’t that the same last spring?
"I would feed them lefts until I was pretty much tired of doing it." - Alan May, JRR, 10.16.2010
Thought he had a sports hernia
I don’t have much tolerance for stupid. Or cheese on food that doesn’t need it. -duck
by twistedlogic on Dec 7, 2010 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
NYI
I don’t have much tolerance for stupid. Or cheese on food that doesn’t need it. -duck
by twistedlogic on Dec 7, 2010 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
BIG FRAME DEFENSIVE DEFENSEMAN WHO IS A BIG HITTER
Many a night from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,
Did I look on great Orion sloping slowly to the West.
Ottawa’s ice cold and Phillips is a 2011 UFA, I think.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
by red army line on Dec 7, 2010 10:57 PM EST up reply actions
here’s hoping to a very speedy recover so he can play at WC. It might be “just another game” but it’s just another game that every player wants to play in.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Surprised this didn’t make the Clips.
A recent issue of THN magazine featured a cover story on Stamkos with the sell line "The NHL’s New Best Player." It wasn’t meant as a declaration of his status as No. 1, but rather that he’s joined the debate. The 20-year-old has slowed some since that was written, but 65 goals and 120 to 130 points is still an outstanding pace. He’s still as dangerous as they come.
But he’s no Sid and, in my humble opinion, neither is Ovechkin.
I mean, it’s not like Crosby has an otherworldly shooting percentage right now (20.1%). It’s not like that’s about 5 points higher than his career shooting percentage, and not like he’s shooting at 3 percentage points higher than usual. And it’s not like Ovechkin has a career low shooting percentage (9.4) which is 3 points below his career average. Nope-he’s on a hot streak. Let’s jump the gun and declare that he’s the best player in the world right now.
You don’t see many “This guy is hot but let’s be realistic” articles.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
And it’s going to get very realistic once teams start playing Stamkos the way they play Ovechkin.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 7, 2010 9:47 AM EST up reply actions
They already are. He’s not had many points lately, and 50-in-50 seems to be receding into the distance.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
It occurred to me that I hadn’t heard him mentioned much lately, but I just assumed it was because Sid’s been getting all the attention. Stamkos’ last goal was 11/24 against the Rangers – the game before the Caps’ 6-0 win. He’s goalless in five games.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Five games? He’s Canadian and clean-shaven, so that’s just a minor blip. No need to point it out.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Right now, Crosby is on a pace for a year that would be as dominating as any since the Gretzky-Lemieux days.
Right now…since another time.
Ovechkin has a season on his resume where he set an all time record for goals by a left wing, not the “best since so and so.” That same season he scored more points than any left wing had in the previous 41 years.
They each have had instances of one-upmanship, ever since Ovechkin won the Calder in their rookie seasons. Right now, Sid has the upper hand and should be considered the “best” player in the league. Will it last? Is this where Sid pulls away? Maybe.
Maybe not.
If you've read this far...seek help.
A bit of a mystery in St. John, NB, as we can get no official confirmation that Stas Galiev is going/has gone to Moscow to Team Russia camp. He actually should be there now, as camp opened +/- 8 hours ago, Moscow time.
The Sea Dogs will not confirm or deny, and we won’t know ‘til they play tonight @PEI if he’s still in North America.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Galiev’s playing in the Q tonight according to the game summary
FWIW, I haven’t seen any clear indication of whether the CHL-based players were expected to join Team Russia’s preliminary camp starting today in Russia or just meet up with the team when they arrive in NA to continue training and competing for the final roster spots.
More prospect updates - Caleb Herbert
My apologies if this has been posted as I have only been on the site for a brief time since last week.
Some information about Herbert’s injury and a link to a brief interview with Herbert from before the injury.
I found it. The North American players will indeed stay with their teams until the Russian squad arrives in Buffalo on 12/19, and will be doing just that – injury fill-ins and competing for a very few spots available.
http://hockey.sport-express.ru/reviews/9803/ (You’ll need to Googletrans yourself)
Coach Bragin explains himself quite clearly – the Russians are in the “Group of Death” with Canada and Sweden right up front and therefore have very little margin for error.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
USA Hockey should be announcing its final WJC camp roster in about 45 minutes.
Our D prospect Patrick Wey attended the Team USA summer camp, but I don’t know if he’s shown enough then or since to get the invite today. My guess would be “no.”
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I’m told you can watch the announcement live here:
http://video.sabres.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=616&id=85776
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Congrats to Patrick, but he’s a long shot for the team. I bet they try to keep the guys that played last year and the core from the U-17 team last year. Interesting to see Tinordi didn’t get an invite. The two biggest crease clearing D from last draft both left off the WJC invite rosters? Who’d have thought.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
The hints have been there. He’s been struggling:
http://ohlprospects.blogspot.com/2010/12/sunday-top-10-step-up-ohl-version.html
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Needs more McIlrath?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 7, 2010 4:55 PM EST up reply actions
Perrault-cho Cinco
I know that he has always started out strong, and the stat earlier is pretty telling about his “first” games and subsequent games…but, how often has he been paired with Semin and Laich (I don’t know). For the most part, he was fantastic last night and if all of the Caps played with his energy, the last three years of blown leads and seventh game home losses would be quickly forgotton.
I just have a feeling that this might be the time he puts it all together.
On another note, am I the only one who hates seeing Ovie on the point shuffling the puck around without what seems to be any ideas of shooting? He’s 6’4" 240, why doesn’t he crash the net from time to time? A certain pretty boy whining center pretty much camps out there when he comes to VC.
If you are driving in the left hand lane and you are not passing, you are a #$@&$
by alisterio on Dec 7, 2010 10:46 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Rec’d. I think you made some pretty valid points. I saw Perrault play a few weeks ago in Hershey and he seemed almost out of place. Clearly his skill set is beyond that of his fellow AHLers (btw, Souray looked very mediocre for a highly paid NHLer). Hopefully Matty will take this opportunity more seriously than previous call-ups. I would love to see his skills be a more permanent presence on the Caps. Re: your point regarding Ovie: I too am finding his role as a "quarterback" on PP a waste of his size and strength. Yes, Ovie has cannon, but so does Carlzner and Green. I agree that Ovie would be in a better position to contribute points hanging out by the hash marks or in front of the net, muscling for rebounds.
"Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!"
Kyle Wilson
Kyle Wilson the shootout winner last night for Columbus over Dallas. He’s 4-5-9 and is +4 his last 15 games in about 10 min of avg ice time.
Caps are heavy in their bottom 6 centers so its understandable he went elsewhere to find a NHL spot, but man is that salt in the wound to see him scoring SO goals the same night the caps get blanked in it.
Brooks on EITM...
…when asked about how it is playing with MP as his center, he said something to the effect of “He’s a really skilled player, and he’s really predictable. I know where he’s going to be, off the puck he doesn’t float around the ice…”
Not a reference to a former pseudo-2C, I’m sure
Don't worry about getting to your point, I'm going to live forever.
I doubt it’s a shot at Flash. Brooks was the guy that got snippy with a reporter before the season with a line like ‘I don’t know if you guys remember, but Flash was our 2C during the long winning streak.’
Who knows.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
Oh I’m sure it wasn’t Laich purposefully badmouthing Flash. But the use of the word “float” was just too perfect to pass over.
Don't worry about getting to your point, I'm going to live forever.
by SeattleCapsFan on Dec 7, 2010 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
Wow. Excellent catch.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Sycophant.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 7, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Maybe that was self-referential.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
by D'ohboy on Dec 7, 2010 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I am the only one who thought the correct word was syncophant?
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Dec 7, 2010 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
I thought it referred to this
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I’d like Alan May to do a regular spot in the TV booth. He was money as a color guy against Dallas.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
He seemed a bit nervous at times, which I thought was adorable. But yea, I agree. Really liked listening to his thoughts on air.
Don't worry about getting to your point, I'm going to live forever.
by SeattleCapsFan on Dec 7, 2010 12:01 PM EST up reply actions
Did they give him more time today? Yesterday it was all of about 2 minutes (supposed to have been on at 11:50, but didn’t get on until 11:57 due to an interview about the Nats pick up).
"I would feed them lefts until I was pretty much tired of doing it." - Alan May, JRR, 10.16.2010
I was talking about as the color guy against Dallas. That’s the only time I’ve heard him talk.
Don't worry about getting to your point, I'm going to live forever.
by SeattleCapsFan on Dec 7, 2010 12:06 PM EST up reply actions
When I spoke with Russ Thaler at the viewing party (yes, I am totally name dropping right here), he said May does get very nervous and self-conscious about his performance. At May’s insistence, after every show, they break down the night and figure out areas he can improve. I thought he was pretty rusty when he started last season, but he has improved greatly since then. Consider me a fan.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 7, 2010 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
Well and by “nervous” I meant he tripped over what he was saying a few times. Which really wasn’t bad at all, and is something that will totally improve as he settles in. Seconded on being a fan.
Don't worry about getting to your point, I'm going to live forever.
by SeattleCapsFan on Dec 7, 2010 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
At May’s insistence, after every show, they break down the night and figure out areas he can improve.
That’s just…awesome. I mean, talk about a consummate professional, I just love that. I’m with you on how much he’s improved – and he’s become my favorite part of Comcast broadcasts by a long shot.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
by Becca H on Dec 7, 2010 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He can also reminisce with the best of them. One need look no further than his Japers’ Rink Radio appearances.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 7, 2010 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
Thaler gets name-dropped. JP? Not so much…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
When I spoke with J.P. at the viewing party (yes, I am totally name dropping right here), he told me that he rarely remembers the names of people whom he meets at viewing parties. When then spoke of our mutual dislike of Buffalo, among other things. He then asked who I was again.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 7, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 9 recs
When I spoke with Russ Thaler at the viewing party (yes, I am totally name dropping right here), he said May does get very nervous and self-conscious about his performance. At May’s insistence, after every show, they break down the night and figure out areas he can improve.
Somehow I believe this.
"If you don't shut the [hell] up, I'm going to kick you in the balls so hard your dentist is going to have to work around them at your next cleaning."
Russ was also nice enough to let himself get sucked into a very long conversation about a whole lot of stuff with several rats and rabbits. Real nice guy.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
The more he does the color analysis, the better he’ll get at it. I remember him as a player, he came in as pretty much a goon, but he worked hard at learning the game and became a so-so checking forward by the time his career was over… fighting got him to the NHL, but he was always looking to learn the game, and defense is 20% talent and 80% hustle (hint hint…)
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 7, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
Could be true. Back then there were a couple of minor leagues ahead of the ECHL… Now the ECHL is #2 in the sequence.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 7, 2010 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
Oddly, neither the wikipedia entry nor hockeydb show an ECHL team in his playing career list. Both show one year with an ACHL team, though (in the last year of that league’s initial run).
by TJA on Dec 7, 2010 11:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Sooo, who joins Green on the top line? Hannan?
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 12:04 PM EST reply actions
P.S. Schultz is gonna miss the Classic…bummer.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
And the Classic is going to miss Sarge. I was looking forward to seeing him skate downwind…
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Dec 7, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe Ovi will skate so fast he’ll score and jump through the boards :) That would be EPIC.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
My guess is:
Green-Hannan
Carlson-Alzner
Poti-Erskine
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Such a shame about Sarge. Poti with defensive defenseman Hannan to back him up was able to create last night and had three beautiful assists.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
He’s not able to be quite as creative with Erskine as wingman, though Lumberjack has had a pretty nice season so far. Ima guessing a night off in the pressbox did him some good, too.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I’ve got no problem with Erskine, but that’s not saying we wont feel the loss of Schultz these next 4-6 weeks.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
We certainly felt it last night. I didn’t realize that Schultz wasn’t taking shifts in the third, when the caps team D suddenly got very leaky. I think the (top line especially) forwards are so used to Schultz backing them up and they did not adjust to his absence. (plus new guy, plus rookies, plus Backs and Ovi deciding to brain cramp)
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I didn’t like BB’s line choices in the last 2-3 minutes of the game. I think Ovi’s boys were out there for like a minute and a half…that’s not a shut down group by any means. Maybe it’s because they couldn’t get the puck out of their zone.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
The 4th goal can be attributed to BB both for the line choice and his decision not to use the timeout. Either give them a 30 second breather or get fresh legs out on the ice because the goalie was going to be pulled for the faceoff and there will be a 6th attacker in zone.
That didn’t happen, and the rest is history. At least he used the timeout in OT
Maybe, but also realize that rotating five D after losing a top-pair guy is rarely going to be seamless, regardless of who the D is. Put another way, it’s likely they missed having a sixth defenseman more than they missed having Jeff Schultz there.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
They sure are getting a lot of practice at rotating 5 dmen. Seems like they’ve had to do that at some point during the last 4 or 5 games.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Dec 7, 2010 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
I was looking at number of shifts, and both Poti and Hannan took 3 more shifts in the 3rd than any other period, and Green took 2 extra. Neither Carlson or Alzner had extra though. But that probably wore them out a bit.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
Blame it on a certain poster on CI who had been spewing all types of venom about Schultz as of late — to the point of being beyond offensive. He must have given off so many bad vibes that it had an effect.
Time for the chorus: “It’s all his fault”.
(Okay, it’s not really the CI poster’s fault but….. And not all the posters there are bad, IMO. There are some opinions expressed that I enjoy reading. But the bad ones are -- bad.)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I think I speak for most of us when I say that the view of CI is for fodder and have little care or concern for what goes on there.
"If you don't shut the [hell] up, I'm going to kick you in the balls so hard your dentist is going to have to work around them at your next cleaning."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 7, 2010 8:27 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Also, quick question, is the 2011 WJC in December/January referring to this December, as in a couple weeks away, or December a year from now. If in the former, a couple weeks seems like an awfully little amount of practice time for such a big event.
More practice time together than the Olympic teams got, actually. Plus they all had a summer camp so the coaches could put their preliminary teams together.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Team USA is pretty formidable, or so they say. Canada will contend, but they’ve got a lot more lunchpail guys than superstars. Dark horse could be … Team Russia, under head coach Valery Bragin, who actually knows what he’s doing. Malin may know more about Team Sweden, but Russia (under Bragin and with Kuznetsov/Orlov) beat Sweden head-to-head earlier this year. Germany with have caps prospect Grubauer backstopping them – he more-or-less singleglovedly rescued Deutschland from relegation last year, but I’ve no idea how the rest of that team stacks up.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
did he play at world championships with the big boys, or do I have him confused with someone else?
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Ummmmmmmmmm…dunno. But I don’t think so, he would have been playing his way to the Memorial Cup with the Windsor Spitfires at that time.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I agree that this might be Russia’s year Blues prospect Tarasenko is really good. It wouldn’t surprise me if he become the “MVP” of the tourney.
On paper Små Kronorna is a bit weaker this year. But I really like the philosophy of the new coach and he is not afraid of using players from CHL. For some reason Swedish coaches have been very reluctant to include those kind of players in the past.
Gabriel Landeskog (Kitchener Rangers), Adam Larsson and Tim Eixson (Calgary prospect) are probably the biggest names. Erixson is the only first rounder from last year that’s in the squad – with Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Päjärvi in the NHL. Both Landeskog and Larsson are exspected to go in the first round of the 2011 draft.
Sweden do have a bunch of second rounders from last years draft that are pretty good.
The last two seasons Sweden have entered the tournament as one of the favorites and that never works out. Swedish teams are usually much better when they are the underdogs.
by Malin A on Dec 7, 2010 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Cody Eakin is tuning up for Team Canada camp. He had a hat trick and an assist today, scoring his third goal right out of the penalty box.
Also, Tarasenko took a high stick in the mouth a few days ago in Omsk. It didn’t take his teeth out cleanly, just broke two of the front ones. he says it hurts to drink cold water. I hope he gets proper care for them, but who knows, it’s Russia.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Also, Tarasenko took a high stick in the mouth a few days ago in Omsk. It didn’t take his teeth out cleanly, just broke two of the front ones. he says it hurts to drink cold water
It was late in the game and the score was 3-3. Tarasenko didn’t miss a shift in the game he just got right back out there and tried to win the game for his team. He commented after the game: “That’s just part of the job.”
That’s just typical for one of those soft Euros.
For people that follow the AnGus saga – I have added some new stuff in the Anton Gustafsson Fan Shot.
by Malin A on Dec 7, 2010 1:23 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
The definition is accurate, but . . .
There are two successive “feature stories” on stlblues.com.
On Sunday at 6:45pm, they said Andy McDonald is out indefinitely with an upper body injury.
Today at 11:51am, they say he is out with a concussion. I guess the head is upper body – but it sounds like John Davidson is taking George McPhee lessons.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Patrick Thoreson should know.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Seeing that name still makes me wince…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 7, 2010 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
ASG voting is starting to make me very sad.
Kris Letang in the top 2 defensemen? Ovechkin out of top 3 forwards. Serious facepalm.
I don’t think Pitt or Chi have large enough fan bases imo
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
Letang is having a career year so far and is playing really well. He’s replacing a potential hall-of-famer in Gonchar and doing it well. He is even tied for the league lead in face off percentage at 100% (admittedly a very small sample size.) As tough as it is to admit, he belongs in the All-star game this year…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 7, 2010 3:36 PM EST up reply actions
I watched a lot of penguins games last year because I get FSN Pitt. I knew he was going to be on fire, that’s why I drafted him to my fantasy team. Once Gonchar left, Tanger is all they have to quarterback the PP, and with Crosby and Malkin, of course he’s gonna rack up the points.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 3:38 PM EST up reply actions
No…really mediocre last year and other than his PP success early in the season he hasn’t done anything.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
goligoski was pretty damn successful on the PP for a very long stretch. the other thing: he’s not the same caliber at even strength as martin or letang, so he’s going to keep gettin PP chances if he’s with the team.
so yeah, “all they have to quarterback the PP” is pretty blatantly wrong considering goligoski and martin are in the fold.
p.s. paul martin sort of looks like cluster.
Toews being in any talk about an All-Star game is absolutely ridiculous. Talk about North American homers.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
LOL he’s second in votes too. Just goes to show we shouldn’t leave voting up to the fans.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 3:47 PM EST up reply actions
Is it really a big deal if last season’s playoff MVP gets into the all-star game?
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
getting in is one thing…being a leader in votes is another…
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
Jonathon Toews is a beast. He’s not a huge point guy, but he’s a legitimate 1C on the defending Cup champions. I’d think very hard about making a 1:1 swap with the ’Hawks if they offered Toews for Backstrom. Very hard.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 3:49 PM EST up reply actions
yeah but, second in votes? above stamkos, ovi, semin, and kane?
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
He’d get into the game anyway, you’d have to think.
"Semin had two goals this year, Perreault comes in and he gets three."
i don’t have a problem with him playing…but the fact that that many people voted for him over some other players irks me.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Dec 7, 2010 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
2nd in votes is probably wrong, but he definitely has a case for an All-Star game. A damn good one, point of fact.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
I offered Eric Staal for Toews in fantasy. Got rejected.
I don’t have much tolerance for stupid. Or cheese on food that doesn’t need it. -duck
Depending on the categories, that’s probably better for you that you did.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
Toews is an elite player, there’s no question about it. But he has no case in the top 3 forwards in the league. If he played like he did during the regular season, on a consistent basis, like he did during the playoffs we might have a discussion here. His best season was .89 pt per game pace and career for .85. Last year’s playoffs he was 1.3 pts per game.
Point being he is a great gritty and smart center but isn’t as rounded in his play as Crosby, Malkin, Backstrom, Datsyuk, Sedin, Thorton. I mean he definitely should be in the all star game but there’s a decently long list of guys I’d take over him, depending on line chemistry. A Datyuk-Toews-Semin line could be hell to play.
As for Letang, career year aside the next 10 people below him in voting(except PK Subban, he’s just that high up because of canadian homerism) I’d take every day of the week over him. Pronger, Keith, Lidstrom, Seabrook, Doughty, Green, Rafalski, Byfuglien.
I’m just a little saddened people obviously don’t think about who their voting for. I voted like 10 times on the first day with various combinations including: Ovi, Backstrom, Semin, Crosby, Stamkos, Quick, Thomas, Green, Doughty, Keith and Lidstrom. All of those guys can certainly have a case made about them being the best in the league.
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
I think the issue is that everyone has different criteria – are you voting for the best players in the League or is it the players playing the best right now? I’d say most people go with the latter, including me. If it’s just “let’s vote in the best players overall” then it would be the same guys year after year rather than being a celebration of guys who are performing at a high level right now. Why do you think there’s such debate over who ended up on the ballot in the first place?
For example, I believe Brodeur’s on there. So is Iginla, Bouwmeester, Gonchar, Anderson, etc. I’d have a hard time saying Kovalchuk’s not worthy of being there if you go by the criteria of only picking the “best” overall, but based on the season he’s having I’d never vote him in. Keith’s had a rough start to the year, at least relative to what he’s capable of, but he’s among the best defensemen.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
But he has no case in the top 3 forwards in the league.
If that were the question, the answer would be different. The initial case was that he had no place in the all-star game, which is horseshit.
His best season was .89 pt per game pace and career for .85. Last year’s playoffs he was 1.3 pts per game.
Boxcars are a terrible way to measure a player. Toews is a two-way C who scores and keeps the puck out of his own net. Boxcars don’t matter if you score 100 points, but allow a bunch of goals in return. As a holistic player, Toews is young, he’s elite defensively, he’s very good offensively and he shoulders a heavy load for the Hawks.
Point being he is a great gritty and smart center but isn’t as rounded in his play as Crosby, Malkin, Backstrom, Datsyuk, Sedin, Thorton.
The only two guys stand out on that list as well-rounded as Jon Toews; Pavel Datsyuk and Joe Thornton. Malkin, Backstrom, Sedin, and Crosby are all much more offensively minded players, but that doesn’t make them necessarily more effective.
As for Letang, career year aside the next 10 people below him in voting(except PK Subban, he’s just that high up because of canadian homerism) I’d take every day of the week over him. Pronger, Keith, Lidstrom,Seabrook, Doughty, Green,Rafalski, Byfuglien.
Letang’s been legit for the Pens this season and he was last season as well. Seabrook isn’t completely carried by Keith, but let’s just say that Letang has been doing a more with a lot less by way of blueline partners. Rafalski is getting old and is partnered with one of the top-3 defenders of all time, while Byfuglien has been the PP triggerman on an ATL unit that’s been on fire since the start of the season. If I had to guess, I’d say that Enstrom was the straw that stirs the drink on that unit. Also, Bogosian/Hainsey get the tough minutes, while Enstrom and Buff get the offensive draws and the PP time.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 6:54 PM EST up reply actions
For rounded centers, Zetterberg belongs there too.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.
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"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
by red army line on Dec 7, 2010 11:17 PM EST up reply actions
I started voting as of last week and I’m doing it 30 times a day (I believe that’s the limit) and it only takes me about 10 mins. It’s very easy to do. It looks like a lot of Caps fans aren’t voting at all based on the low number of votes for Backstrom and Semin who is not even in the top 20. Ovi must be getting a lot of votes from other fans. Pens, Canadiens, Hawks, and Flyers fans are definitely stuffing the vote box (PK Subban, Markov,Timonen, Fleury?) and I like Seabrook but he shouldn’t be ahead of Doughty, Green, Chara, Weber, etc.
Lobbies: Green, Carlson, Orlov
You’re a lot more dedicated than me in the All Star voting department. In my case, I was doing it 5 times a day, except on days I miss.
But I hope my small contribution in the voting department helps some of our boys (and if other people here would do the same.) Every little bit helps.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I hope the folks complaining are voting all day long. I voted several times at the beginning, but I can’t spend my life doing that. I guess the majority of Caps fans are the same way. I can’t get all up in arms about it.
I do think that voting should be limited, though.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I delight in doing it the old fashioned way for baseball every summer, but I hate the NHL’s online only format and refuse to have anything to do with it.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
…hey, you can also text the names….. :D
So I did some math – I may have sprained my brain but here’s what I figured out:
- Voting closes January 3 – that’s 28 days away (including today)
- The Rink has 3,280 registered members
- If every member of the Rink voted a straight party line (all Caps players – Ovi, Semin, Backstrom and Green) the allotted 30 times per day from now until voting closed, it would add up to 2,755,200 votes for each of our boys
- …but that’s probably not realistic. Even if only 200 members of the Rink did this, however, it would still add up to 168,000 votes per player. Not bad, right?
Look, a lot of our guys deserve to be there. They also don’t deserve to be embarrassed by getting a fraction of the votes given to players who are much less worthy of a spot. They may not get into the “starting lineup” (since that’s only 6 guys total anyway and they don’t necessarily get to start) and they may not even get into the game at all depending on what side of the bed the powers that be woke up on that morning…but it’d be nice to see them up near the top in votes received, wouldn’t it?
So in conclusion – go vote, guys :) I’ve let it slide but I’m making a pledge to take 5-10 minutes out of my day to do it, you all should to! So sayeth Becca, J.B.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
by Becca H on Dec 7, 2010 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
I’ve generally voted about 5 times on most days. I just can’t spend my entire life voting for All Star teams, unlike some people in Pittsburgh and Philly (and various other places).
I’ll admit I have not voted for Crosby — figure he does not need my votes to get in. I have been voting for the persons I consider the best forwards not named Crosby; i.e. Stamkos, Ovi, and Semin.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I didn’t notice if anyone said anything about this last night, but Puck Daddy has photographic evidence of the board screw up last night for the scratches and lineups for the Toronto/Atlanta Maple Leafs/Thrashers. How embarrassing.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Carrera with an article on the enigma that is Semin. She interviewed some of his teammates. Sadly she didn’t interview those seen in Semin’s most recent bromantic moments, Green and Carlson.
So, from Elliotte Friedman’s column yesterday, apparently Mark Recchi has played in 16 NHL arenas that are no longer used for the NHL. Let’s see if we can name them all!
I’ve got the following:
The Aud in Buffalo
Capital Centre
Winnipeg Arena
The Met Center in Bloomington, MN
The Spectrum
The Checkerdome in St. Louis
Boston Garden
Miami Arena
Chicago Stadium
McNichols Sports Arena in Denver
Reunion Arena in Dallas
Mellon Arena’s slated to be demolished, but it hasn’t been. And the Montreal Forum is no longer used as an arena, but it still exists. So I appear to be missing five. Any ideas?
But if the criteria is “no longer used for the NHL” than Mellon and the Forum count, you’re missing 3…right?
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
so with Hartford, Carolina part 1 and Maple Leaf Gardens, we should have them all, right?
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
I think I misstated that; the criteria is that they no longer exist, not that they are no longer in use for hockey. If “no longer in use for the NHL” is a criteria, then you have to include Colisee Pepsi up in Quebec, the Hartford Civic Center, the Ottawa Civic Arena, the LA Forum, the Thunderdome (which is now Tropicana Field), the Cow Palace in San Jose, Greensboro Coliseum, the Los Angeles Forum, Maple Leaf Gardens, and the Montreal Forum. All of those buildings still exist, but of those, only the Hartford Civic Center, Colisee Pepsi, Ottawa Civic Arena, and Greensboro Coliseum are still used for hockey.
Hartford Civic Center Coliseum
http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/HartfordWhalers/index.htm
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Hurricanes played their first season or so in Greensboro, didn’t they?
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
When the Carolina Hurricanes announced their move from Hartford, Connecticut in 1997 (when they were known as the Hartford Whalers), they leased the Coliseum for two years while waiting for the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina to be completed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensboro_Coliseum#Hockey
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Tampa
The Lightning played in “Expo Hall” in 1992, and in “the Thunderdome” from 1993-2000.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Does anyone ever refer to Capital Centre as USAir Arena?
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
San Francisco Cow Palace? (I’m not kidding — Sharks played there for a while)
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 7, 2010 6:13 PM EST up reply actions
Seals definitely played there, but I don’t think Recchi is that old.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
If the Sharks played there, it’s a good bet that Rex played there.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
My brother saw a Sharks game there. They played there for sure, while HP was being built.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 7, 2010 9:40 PM EST up reply actions
Confirmed --
Sharks played 2 seasons there — 1991-92 and 92-93. Recchi was a Penguin and then a Flyer (traded late in 91-92), so there’s a pretty good chance he got one away game there.
Of course, I was really thinking of ex-Shark Mike Ricci. And there’s no excuse too thin to post this:
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 7, 2010 9:44 PM EST up reply actions
Grabovski's spinorama
Saw it liveand finally stomached to watch a replay. Still think the same thing — he stopped forward progress with the puck, AND the puck also started going backward before he shot it.
Nobody has ever been deemed unhealthy for eating too much broccoli. -- Andrew Gordon at RMNB
The NHL has been through this with other spinoramas, and have decided that they are allowable and don’t violate the spirit of the law.
The guy is Peter Schumpmaker. Lord knows what a schump is, but you can bet your bippy his ancestors made them. What he's doing is far worse than crafting fine schumps.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 7, 2010 10:28 PM EST up reply actions
At the end of the season there will be a Top Ten of awesome goals scored against the Capitals.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
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