Tuesday Caps Clips: Let The Games Begin
by J.P. on Feb 16, 2010 6:30 AM EST
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Your savory breakfast links:
- Today in Olympic hockey: USA vs. Switzerland (3:00p Eastern, USA), Canada vs. Norway (7:30p Eastern, CNBC), Russia vs. Latvia (Midnight Eastern, CNBC)
- "If we'll meet in the Olympics, I will kill him." That would be Alex Ovechkin talking about Nicklas Backstrom. [Alex Ovetjkin]
- Maybe that's why, in Glenn Healey's world, AO is KGB-trained. [CBC (video, ~3:52)]
- Checking in with the Caps' Russian contingent... [CI, Alex Ovetjkin, Alex Ovetjkin]
- ... and a former Cap on that squad. [CTV]
- AO will wear an "A" and skate with Pavel Datsyuk and Alexander Semin. [Alex Ovetjkin]
- Ovechkin on Jaromir Jagr and the Czechs (including his Czech teammates). [RMNB]
- Flaming skate blades with a deranged sheep's head on one of them? Nice. [CI]
- The Veep answers a tough political question. [Alex Ovetjkin]
- The Caps definitely needed this break, and should be good-to-go coming out of it. [Corey Masisak, The Hockey News]
- The Boss on the state of his team. [Ted's Take]
- Elliotte Friedman hits the nail squarely on the head on Janssen/Bradley: "Cam Janssen’s hit on Matt Bradley is Exhibit A of what needs to be removed from hockey. Don’t give me the excuse Bradley wasn’t looking. Why would he? He was following the play. I love hitting, but come on." [CBC]
- On Sid vs. Alex. [Ed Frankovic's Blog]
- Ovechkin is well on his way to a Hart three-peat... [5ive Hole, FanHouse]
- ... which isn't surprising, considering the kind of season he's putting together. [BtN]
- Setting the table (a familiar setting, in fact) as the Caps head towards the trade deadline. [TSN]
- Fresh power rankings, with the Caps down one to second at CBC and down two to third at The Hockey News.
- Darren Pang (who really could use an editor) talks Caps. [Hockeychats (h/t KK)]
- If the Caps do feel the need to make a move in goal, expect them to ask about Marty Turco. [NY Post]
- More on goalies the Caps could look at, and a very intriguing player is apparently available in C'bus:
Milan JurcinaJan Hejda. [Ottawa Sun] - Mike Green isn't one of the five best defensemen in hockey. [Versus]
- Revisiting The Snub. [RMNB]
- Pens fan writes ESPN to complain about AO's empty-net-padded goal totals. Yawn. [ESPN]
- Nice editorial from Saturday's Post. [WaPo]
- If you can focus on something other than trying to find a postage-stamp-sized space on his uniform that doesn't have advertising on it, check out what Michael Nylander is up to these days. [FanShot]
- Bear Tracks! [LDN]
- Checking in on a handful of the Caps' top prospects. [FanPost (good stuff, YNC!)]
- Happy 34th birthday, Colin Forbes and happy 56th, Paul Nicholson.
- Finally, we're starting something new today - an Off-Topic Open Thread (or OTOT) posted directly below this post - to try to give you all somewhere to talk about whatever you want to talk about. The basic ground rules, then, are that comments to substantive posts should be about or closely related to the topic of the post; comments to Clips posts can be about anything hockey-related; and comments to Game Day Open Threads or OTOTs can be about anything at all. Let's give it a try, shall we?
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Nice to see the clips back!
Bryan from Annapolis is clearly just bitter, hoping Sid can get the scoring title or something.
Also big ups Al from the UK for staying up for these heart attacks!
"Welcome to Canada -– everything fun is always behind a fence."
I know the Versus list is going to cause a bit of a stir here (although I don’t know why it would…it’s Versus), but it’s hard to move any one of those 5 people off of the list to place Green on it.
Weber, Keith, and Lidstrom are all locks for the top-5, although I don’t know how many top-5 days Lidstrom has left.
The two maybes are Pronger and Doughty. Everyone likes to say they aren’t impressed with Pronger, or he makes the list based on reputation alone, but he is having a very good season in Philly. He has lost a step, but he is still a minute-munching force out there.
As for Doughty….the kid is awesome. I think he might get hyped up a little just because he is so young, and it usually takes D-men a little longer to develop. I think if Green deserves a top-5 spot right now, he takes Doughty’s place.
On a side note: Glad to see Chara didn’t make the list. Top-10, yes. Def. not top-5.
think Pronger's a bit overrated
I’d put Green in his spot, or even Niedermayer who is carrying his blueline more than Pronger at this point..
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 8:27 AM EST up reply actions
No way would I put Nieds on the list over Pronger if we’re judging by this season alone. I wouldn’t put Nieds over Green either.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 8:31 AM EST up reply actions
Pronger
Is helped quite a bit by Timonen. Who’s paired with Niedermayer? Wisneiwski? Yeah.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 8:35 AM EST up reply actions
Niedermayer’s QualTeam is 0.102 and Pronger’s is 0.128. Pretty negligible difference. Nied’s QualComp is 0.123 and Pronger’s is 0.115. Again, similar. Combine that with the fact that Pronger has better stats in just about every other category, and I feel pretty confident in the above assertion.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 8:52 AM EST up reply actions
I think the bottom line is that Niedermayer shouldn’t be on this team. That was the selection that shocked me the most.
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Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 8:53 AM EST up reply actions
They are just putting a lot into the whole “we’re selecting a team, not the best players” thing. I can certainly see why they wanted Niedermayer’s presence. He has won everything and then some. He still has his wheels. I think it may end up being the right decision.
They have plenty of guys who have won everything. Doesn’t make any sense that they picked him for “leadership” either, because there’s like a thousand team captains already on the team.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 8:56 AM EST up reply actions
eh
Nieds is a captain’s captain. Second choice would’ve been Iginla.
You really don’t want to see Nash, Crosby, Richards or Toews captaining Canada yet, do you? (unless you’re a USA fan…)
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 8:59 AM EST up reply actions
Iginla or Pronger both would have been fine. Or Luongo ;)
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:01 AM EST up reply actions
interesting
I thought Boyle was the least deserving, but you may be right. Bottom line there for me is that he has good chemistry with Pronger (although, according to @russotrib, he’ll be with Weber), and is a great leader. Was top choice for captain in my mind. He’s just a team player, and some people (his detractors, not me) may think Green plays in an overly-offensive system and benefits from AO, Backstrom, etc…
In the end, I wouldn’t have picked Boyle, Seabrook, or Niedermayer, but thats just me.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 8:56 AM EST up reply actions
I actually understand Seabrook more than Boyle, that’s for sure.
If Canada doesn’t win, and it’s mainly a result of a lack of scoring, there will definitely be thousands of “Why Wasn’t Mike Green Selected” articles out there.
Reason #1,057 why Caps fans are rooting for Russia.
Reason #1,057 why Caps fans are rooting forRussiaTeam USA, then Russia or Sweden.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 16, 2010 9:08 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
this
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 9:08 AM EST up reply actions
I still maintain that Team Canada has far bigger issues than not choosing Green if they can’t score enough.
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by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 9:11 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Niedermayer has to be there because of his winning pedigree. He has won pretty much every major hockey tournament there is and you just can’t ignore that experience. And even if he’s lost a step he is still an elite Dman in the NHL.
Seabrook isn’t a top 7 Canadian Dman on his own, but I also think that his chemistry with Keith is very valuable in such a short tournament. That leaves Boyle as the biggest head scratcher. Green is definitely better, but someone pointed out last week that Boyle is familiar with Babcock’s PP system, and that is also a pretty big advantage.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 16, 2010 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
Niedermayer has to be there because of his winning pedigree. He has won pretty much every major hockey tournament there is and you just can’t ignore that experience. And even if he’s lost a step he is still an elite Dman in the NHL.
So has Pronger.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions
Chris Pronger: 1each of Stanley Cup, WJC Gold, Olympic Gold, World Championship Gold
Scott Niedermayer: Memorial Cup (and MVP), 4 Stanley Cups (1 Conn Smythe), WJC Gold, World Cup of Hockey Gold and Silver, Olympic Gold, World Championship Gold
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
My response was to the “Scott Niedermayer has won pretty much every major hockey tournament there is”. Chris Pronger has as well. There’s no reason Niedermayer should be on this team.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
And I’m saying Pronger hasn’t. He hasn’t won the Memorial Cup, which is one of the most important championships to Canadians. And he hasn’t won the World Cup. Yeah, he’s won, but not nearly as much as Nieds.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Warning: stat dump
Pronger
GAON/60: 1.63
GFON/60: 2.36
+/-/60: 0.73
Total GVT: 14.1
QualTeam: 0.128
QualComp: 0.115
Green
GAON/60: 2.63
GFON/60: 4.69
+/-/60: 2.07
Total GVT: 17.2
QualTeam: 0.345
QualComp: 0.001
Niedermayer
GAON/60: 3.09
GFON/60: 2.28
+/-/60: -0.80
Total GVT: 5.8
QualComp: 0.123
QualTeam: 0.102
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 9:02 AM EST up reply actions
whoa
GAON/60: 2.63
GFON/60: 4.69
QualComp: 0.001
That GFON is a killer.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 9:03 AM EST up reply actions
That’s better than Pronger and Niedermayer COMBINED.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:05 AM EST up reply actions
amazing
I mean, I know Pronger/Niedermayer don’t play with the guys Green does but to have it that high is obscene.
His GAON isn’t as high as I was expecting.
So who do you leave off the team for Green and why?
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 9:07 AM EST up reply actions
I would go with Niedermayer, if only for the fact that I don’t think he’s needed. I don’t think I would have put Doughty on the team either, because he’s only 19 years old. Also, Mike Green does what Dan Boyle does, only a hell of a lot better, so if you had to keep Doughty and Niedermayer, i’d put him on there over Boyle.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:10 AM EST up reply actions
I'd agree with this.
I still have questions about bringing Seabrook, he’s basically hanging on to Keith for dear life.
James Mirtle wanted to leave Shea Weber at home.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 9:16 AM EST up reply actions
Neids got in on who he was, and Seabrook and Boyle got in based on their teammates. I would be fine with putting Green in over any of those three, but Boyle is the one who plays most like Green.
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The consensus around here is that everything Dan Boyle does, Mike Green does better. He’s a better PP rover, he’s an even better skater, he’s more of an offensive threat — all the reasons why Boyle was taken, Team Canada could have upgraded with Mike Green.
The other players all bring something that Green doesn’t and they do something better than Mike Green. Dan Boyle? Not so much.
At this point, Green is a better player than Nieds by a fair piece, but that’s not why Nieds is there.
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by Knee high to a duck on Feb 16, 2010 9:11 AM EST up reply actions
His GAON isn’t as high as I was expecting.
That’s as much about his skating as anything else. People dog him for being defensively unreliable, but a lot of defensively dangerous situations and 1:1 battles never develop because Green is such an amazing skater. When there’s a race to a puck, I’m uniformly shocked when Green doesn’t get there before they guy he’s competing against, then he just skates away with it and starts the breakout, or a quick transition back into the offensive zone.
Stuff like that doesn’t get as much recognition, because it’s harder to see what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten there first and had to defuse a situation, rather than just getting the puck and moving out.
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by Knee high to a duck on Feb 16, 2010 9:22 AM EST up reply actions
Green’s skating is really underrated outside of Washington. I’s just so quick and easy, to the point where it never looks like he’s trying.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
it never looks like he’s trying.
I think you’re onto something there…
Game-Over Green? Canada-Over Carlson!
by Scott in Shaw on Feb 16, 2010 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
It makes perfect sense if you think about it. Washington scores 3.92 goals per game while Philly scores 2.93 and Anaheim scores 2.79. All three guys play a high number of minutes for their respective teams, so they are going to be on the ice for a decent chunk of that average.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 9:11 AM EST up reply actions
Olympic lines
From Mike Russo:
Canada:
Nash – Crosby – Bergeron
Marleau – Thornton – Heatley
Staal – Getzlaf – Perry
Richards – Toews – Iginla
Pronger/Boyle
Keith/Seabrook
Niedermayer/Weber
USA:
Parise – Stastny – Kane
Ryan – Drury – Backes
Brown – Kesler – Langenbrunner
Malone – Pavelski – Kessel
Suter/Rafalski
Gleason/E. Johnson
J. Johnson/Orpik
So, any surprises here? I’m surprised Babcock broke up Pronger/Nieds, and that Bergeron is with Crosby. For USA, that 3rd line is going to be one hell of a shutdown unit. Surprised Backes is as high as he is. Looks like Callahan to the press box.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 9:36 AM EST up reply actions
A few months back I don’t think many would have pegged Patrice Bergeron for a spot on Canada’s team much less their top line. I’d flip him and Iggy, personally.
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They combined for 11 goals and 11 assists to help Canada win gold at the 2005 World Juniors in Grand Forks, N.D. At the World Championships in Riga, Latvia, the following year, the Canadians finished fourth but Crosby and Bergeron played together and were the top two scorers in the tournament, combining for 16 goals and 16 assists.
by Malin A on Feb 16, 2010 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I read different lines for the USA.
Parise – Stastny – Kane
Malone – Pavelski – Kessel
Langenbrunner – Kesler – Brown
Ryan – Backes – Callahan
Rafalski – Suter
J. Johnson – Orpik
E.. Johnson – Gleason
From the LA Times
Free Eric Fehr!
I would switch the 2nd and 3rd D pairings. I think EJ is better than JJ and Gleason is better than Orpik.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 16, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed but it doesn’t make much difference now. It’ll be an issue if that’s how they are deployed. If JJ isn’t carefully managed and used as a 6D and PP specialist then we are toast.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
watching the game, F/B?
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
How the hell is Drury a 2C? He’s not even a 2C in the NHL and that’s not exactly an all star team. Ridiculous.
Kessel on the 4th line surprises me, but maybe that gives us some scoring depth.
Bergeron was selected in large part because he has chemistry with Crosby. They played together (and lit it up) in the WJC on the same line.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Wisnieski’s quietly one of the best D-men in the league.
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by Whiter Mage on Feb 16, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
One of the best? No. He’s reliable and underrated (and fragile as hell) but he’s not top 25% or anything like that.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Actually, I think Doughty is closer to being a lock in the top 5 than is Weber. You say Doughty is over hyped because of his age, and I think Weber is just as over hyped because of his huge shot and big hits. As the article mentions, his defensive positioning needs some work.
I don’t have a big problem with Green not making the list, because in my mind if the list is for this season then the only real lock is Keith. I think that Weber, Doughty, Green, Pronger, and Lidstrom are all in the conversation (with maybe a couple other guys) and you can make legitimate arguments for any of them being the odd man out.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 16, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
Weber isn’t really hyped, actually, outside of him being a god on some message boards for his shot. And at any rate, how is acknowledging he has a good shot and is an excellent hitter overhyping? I can understand overhype if he was getting all sorts of praise and accolades like Doughty, but he really isn’t. I don’t think he’s the best defenseman in the league, but he has the potential to be.
What makes Keith the best defenseman in the league over some of those other guys? Are his stats padded?
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
You’re right that Weber doesn’t get a ton of media attention, but every time there is a discussion of best defensemen or when discussing Olympic rosters Weber is also seen as an automatic lock without much in the way of discussion. He’s a great player, but I don’t think he is the unquestionable lock in these discussions that many treat him as.
Keith is the only Dman that comes close to Green’s offensive production and still plays excellent defense while playing in a shutdown role against the other team’s top players. I think he has shown the best combination of offense and defense this year to make him pretty clearly the top Dman so far. Again, this is all my opinion though.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 16, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
Keith and Green lead all Dmen in DGVT right now at 7.6 and 7.1 respectively.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
Scratch that….lead the entire LEAGUE in DGVT.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 1:50 PM EST up reply actions
Jeez….am I off today…that should have been Keith and Seabrook, not Keith and Green.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
Seabrook is 2nd to Keith in DGVT, not Green. Green’s DGVT is only 3.4, but he is 2nd in overall (behind Keith) because of his gaudy OGVT.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 16, 2010 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
Oops, shoulda read your correction first.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 16, 2010 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
good points all
The thing regarding him as a lock, though, is interesting. No one (in reference to the Rink) is going to drop Weber to put someone else (Green) on the Canadian team, just Boyle, Seabrook, or Niedermayer. Thats pretty close to “lock” status as far as the Olympics go.
Certainly, he may not be a top 5 defenseman just yet, so in that I agree with you. There isn’t a whole lot of competition, though. If he’s not top 5, he’s definitely 6th or 7th and a surefire All-Star in an ASG year (like ASG selections count for anything)
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, he is definitely top 6 or 7, which is why I said he is certainly in the argument for top 5, but not a lock.
As far as picking Weber over Green for the Olympics, I would be cautious about translating that to being best D in the NHL. There are different considerations going into picking Olympic vs. NHL rosters, and while many people here acknowledged that Green’s defensive gaffes can be killer in a short Olympic tournament I don’t think that many of those people would rather have Weber over Green on the Caps.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 16, 2010 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
right
I was mainly speaking in regards to the whole “lock” term for Olympians.
Yeah, you can’t pick a bunch of offensive-minded defensemen and not have balance as an Olympic team, which is likely why Green left off (not that he’s poor defensively). They Canadians will have plenty of punch from the back end while not being in any way at risk of a gaffe (as long as a 19 year old isn’t out there). Green may have been a risk for a breakdown. Anyway, water under the bridge.
I’d rather have Weber than Green on the Preds, but thats because we have a Green lite in Suter. Washington could use a Weber-type but not at the expense of Green, obviously.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
federov
any way Federov could come back to the caps for the 2nd half? he could be the 2nd/3rd line center we need, and we wouldn’t need to trade anything to get him.
His KHL contract forbids him from getting poached. Besides, I’m sure he’s loving the tax-free money he’s getting over there.
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 16, 2010 8:11 AM EST up reply actions
But maybe if they misspelled his name they could sneak him through without the league noticing…
Game-Over Green? Canada-Over Carlson!
by Scott in Shaw on Feb 16, 2010 11:52 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Sure they could… We could spell it “Fyodorov” – that’d be a better transliteration anyway!
Just like “Syomin” would be better than “Semin”… ë = yo, right?
Too bad Semyon Varlamov wasn’t around when Sasha arrived on the scene. Now he’s forever known as an unrepeatable nickname thanks to transliteratory failure.
(I also have “Semen Varlamov” cards in my collection…)
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
Is that a nickname?
I seem to remember a pronunciation guide around here somewhere, but I can’t find it… could’a sworn it was “Syomin” when I listened…
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
Bradley has a better nickname for him…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 16, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
There was a Caps Insider post by Slava way back when everyone was trying to figure out how to pronounce Varlamov. IIRC you might get both Semin and Varly to respond to Syoma.
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RMNB had a post a week or so ago about pronouncing the Russian players’ names correctly, and it linked to the CI by Slava. Good stuff (and a nice refresher for me as I’ve forgotten most of my college Russian!).
You had me at "no problem"!
I was making fun of the original poster.
Game-Over Green? Canada-Over Carlson!
by Scott in Shaw on Feb 16, 2010 12:10 PM EST up reply actions
And I was making fun of you. :-)
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
Nope. KHL contracts are honored by the NHL, and I don’t see Magnitogorsk (sp?) releasing him. I mean, how would you like it if a fan from Omsk asked if Semin could come over for the stretch run? You’d be pretty pissed.
if the Caps go deep this spring, I wouldn’t be surprised to find him in Dc watching from a suite. But that’s about the closest he’ll come to the ice.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
That would be lovely. Maybe when his contract is up in Siberia he’ll return as a coach, or to run player development, or some such thing. I do miss him — can hardly bear to visit the Iceplex, it seems so strange without our Legend. Anyway, he appears to be enjoying the twilight of his playing career. I suppose they promised him an Olympic berth as a condition of returning. All to the good — I am recording every one of his games. I hope he helps carry the team to the final round.
On the return of Caps Red Line Monday: I guess we add analyst to the growing list of things Bradley can do, but he needed the Acela telestrator. And Stretch pushed Bruce a little too hard.
"Ah, dinner. The perfect break between work and drunk." - Homer Simpson
Anyone know if the USA game will be online or on the radio? I’ll still be at work when the game starts, sadly.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 8:13 AM EST reply actions
NBC is streaming hockey live (also curling).
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/live-full-replays.html
by darwintheboxer on Feb 16, 2010 8:43 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Thanks, mate.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 8:56 AM EST up reply actions
What about the USA-Switzerland game? Are there any other alternative online streams?
"Where can you go from there? Where? ... Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?"
by Christoph J on Feb 16, 2010 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
FML
I’m screwed. Speakeasy is our internet service provider.
"Where can you go from there? Where? ... Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?"
by Christoph J on Feb 16, 2010 10:52 AM EST up reply actions
What a hassle!
So I just tried to log into this at work. First I needed to install silverlight (requiring admin privileges) then I need to verify that I am a customer of a partner cable, satellite or IPTV provider. I guess if you still get your TV for free you are shit out of luck. So I had to go through some more bullshit to set up an account (my online bill pay account apparently doesn’t count) with my cable provider. WTF NBC! If I didn’t love 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation I would never watch your stupid network again.
/end rant
Sorry!
by darwintheboxer on Feb 16, 2010 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
If the Caps do feel the need to make a move in goal, expect them to ask about Marty Turco. [NY Post]
Do not want.
More on goalies the Caps could look at, and a very intriguing player is apparently available in C’bus:Milan JurcinaJan Hejda. [Ottawa Sun]
WANT!!!!!!!!!
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 16, 2010 8:42 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Trading Hejda makes zero sense for the Jackets (superb Dman with a $2M cap hit for another year). I guess he’s available in the sense that no one is untradeable, but I have to take a “consider the source” view on this one.
by Reckless on Feb 16, 2010 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Kevin Allen seemed to speculate/hint that Hejda could get moved too, but that was a “he could get moved, maybe” type of thing. If I’m Howson, I’d at least take a phone call or two to see what offers are like, particularly if Volchenkov comes off the market.
"Where are we going Morty?"
"Back to the boatyard. Somebody's about to get a fucking slap."
by Bald Pollack on Feb 16, 2010 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t see how on Earth Ottawa parts with Volchenkov considering their resurgence the past few weeks. Do you?
by mechanicsville on Feb 16, 2010 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
No. And Bryan Murray has lisped, err, said as much. They’re going to re-sign him (or at least give it their best shot).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Howson’s already shopping Jurcina? Wow…they must have soured on him quick. I figured that once Hitch was gone, Milan would get a better shot.
Also surprised that while that Ottawa Sun story discusses three sorta possibles for the Caps in goal at the trade deadline, it doesn’t mention Vokoun, then discusses Vokoun’s possible availability for other teams. Although the Panthers are in the same division as the Capitals, they’re clearly not headed for the playoffs this season, and I would think if McPhee is serious about upgrading the goalie position, he’d be looking at Vokoun.
Juice has an expiring contract. CBJ isn’t going to make the playoffs. Those are pretty substantial reasons to shop him.
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 8:49 AM EST up reply actions
Eh. If i’m Columbus and I can get a decent draft pick for him, I make the deal in a heartbeat.
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Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
Columbus’ main target was Clark, Jurcina was probably more of a throw-in by GMGM and a pending UFA as well.
"Ah, dinner. The perfect break between work and drunk." - Homer Simpson
I get the feeling Juice is going to have a fairly extensive collection of sweaters by the time his career is over.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I have a suspicion his next sweater will feature a lot of advertising on it.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Feb 16, 2010 9:00 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Actually, Howson said he started the discussions with Washington because he wanted a defenseman to help the Blue Jackets’ depleted blueline.
“Howson said that he has been in discussion with Washington for nearly three weeks. ‘At first, it started out as they have an extra defenseman, Rusty (Klesla) got hurt, I started talking about this,’ Howson said. "
Yep. And had GMGM his choice, it’d likely have been Mo sent to C’bus and not Juicy Juice.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Really? Juice > Mo when they both have expiring contracts? For an extra couple hundred thou under the cap?
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
I’m not sure they would have even given us two of those giant industrial strength canisters of Juicy Juice we used to have in Kindergarten for Mo.
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
Considering the relative health of both of those guys, yeah.
"Where are we going Morty?"
"Back to the boatyard. Somebody's about to get a fucking slap."
by Bald Pollack on Feb 16, 2010 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
He’ll win the Norris this year. Mike Green has a better plus-minus and more points than Keith (and Caps fans are the ones who will deluge me with nasty emails more than anyone for leaving him off this list). But most GMs, if they were picking by secret ballot, would choose Keith over Green. He plays a harder game, a little heartier game. Chicago is going to be a winner for a long time with this guy on the blue line.
I like that we’re determining who’s a good defenseman by playing the game “hearty”. Does this qualify for a “food metaphors” tag?
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 8:48 AM EST reply actions
I find it annoying that it appears the Norris race was over in November. Same thing happened to Green last year, and I’m willing to admit that his standing may be a little less this year because the goal total isn’t as gaudy. All the other categories seem to have had somewhat of a rotation of who’s on top, although the main players have been fairly constant.
I’m not a BtN afficianado (probably wouldn’t understand it anyway), so can someone explain why Green’s Quality of Competition is so much lower than the others’ when he’s our top defenseman and his numbers are good? How much does the total stink of the SE come into play?
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
In this case, I’m actually fine with the Norris going to Duncan Keith. That Green didn’t get it last year was a big mistake on the part of the voters, but Keith has been ridiculously awesome this season.
BtN GVT defensive contribution ratings
Keith has the highest rating out of all D-men there, along with some other names you’d expect to see near the top of the heap: Lidstrom, Pronger, Doughty, Chara, etc.
He’s also got the second highest offensive GVT (behind Green, who’s absolutely running away with it).
This is actually a pretty good FAQ - well explained without getting too technical. The short answer is that QComp is determined by the difference in the team’s +/ for the player when they’re on the ice versus off the ice. Then you average the relative +/- of the players that he’s facing and that’s his QComp for the shift. It’s kind of crude and definitely “first order” in that it doesn’t correct for strong players playing against other strong players or weak on weak (The situation you’re looking at in the SE with Carolina and much of Atlanta) because it’s, to use Gabe’s words, computationally cumbersome. Adding that type of calculation requires a lot of extra processor cycles.
Tom Poti and Jeff Schultz, respectively, face the toughest opposing competition at 5on5, by that admittedly flawed metric. I suspect that WSH has a higher QTeam than QComp, if you go sum everything up.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 16, 2010 10:22 AM EST up reply actions
Fat fingered that, meant to hit preview first. Dammit all.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 16, 2010 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
I wish they would disable the strikethough notation with the dashes. It’s particularly annoying on hockey blogs when +/- is used frequently.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Agreed. Drop ‘em a line at support@sbnation.com and make the suggestion – it’s a good one.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 16, 2010 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Turn this green!
I did so, and suggested using two “‘-’s” instead of the single “-” for the shortcut instead… of course, that shortcuts to a “—”…
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
Obviously it’s going to take me a bit to read this and hope I understand it, but I guess a significant part of it is that Washington is just so much better than everyone else that it hurts these stats? Although I guess I’d be confused why Poti and Schultz have better competition. Does it have to with Green being on the ice with the top line so much?
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
I think it might have to do with the fact that Bruce refuses to match D-men to the opposing offense. He believes that everyone on the team should be able to play against everyone else at even strength. But you’re also right that Green is out on the ice with Ovechkin a lot as a bit of an extra kick to the offense.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
I don’t think that’s strictly true, from what I can tell Bruce is pretty aware of who’s out there on D, but he doesn’t tend to match forward lines very often.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 16, 2010 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
Right. If that were the case then they’d all be about identical. The reason Poti/Schultz are higher is because BB is routinely deploying them against the other teams’ top units.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I don’t understand why it matters if it’s strong players vs. strong players or weak players vs. weak players. The aim of the metric is to give a rough estimate of how strong opposing players are. Isn’t that independant of how good the player in question is?
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
I take both Qcomp and Qteam with a huge grain of salt. Especially Qteam. First, being based on +/- is not a great indicator to start with. Secondly, AO’s Qteam in his first two years would have been high, but only because he was so good. He singlehandedly boosted the plus/minus of Clark/Zubrus/Kozlov/whoever so it looked like he was playing with good teammates, when he was really just awesome.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Interesting...
People (elseblog) have bitched and moaned about how we gave Nylander a no-movement-clause, and waah-waah-can’t-get-rid-of-him? I’m fascinated about the rest of the players out there with similar clauses, listed in the TSN article. We have NOBODY else with an NMC.
Atlanta: Ron Hainsey, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Pavel Kubina.
Boston:: Zdeno Chara, Marc Savard, Marco Sturm, Derek Morris, Miroslav Satan, Tim Thomas.
Buffalo: Ryan Miller.
Carolina: Ray Whitney, Scott Walker.
Florida: Keith Ballard, Bryan McCabe, Tomas Vokoun.
Montreal: Scott Gomez, Roman Hamrlik, Andrei Markov, Georges Laraque.
New Jersey: Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jay Pandolfo, Brian Rolston, Colin White.
NY Islanders</strong: Brendan Witt, Bruno Gervais.
NY Rangers: Chris Drury, Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival.
Ottawa: Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher, Jason Spezza, Filip Kuba, Chris Phillips.
Philadelphia: Daniel Briere, Simon Gagne, Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen.
Pittsburgh: Sergei Gonchar, Brooks Orpik.
Tampa Bay: Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis.
Toronto: Tomas Kaberle, Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
Washington: Michael Nylander.
Anybody want to complain now?
I’m glad we only have the one to deal with… and he’s dealt.
I need a snappy signature...
That Wade Redden contract gets more and more hilarious every time I read about it.
He’s making 8 million this year, and will make 23 million over the next 4 years.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 8:59 AM EST up reply actions
Orpik is on a steal of a contract though. He took a hometown discount and probably said “if I’m taking this discount you better not move me” and that’s how it happened. That one doesn’t look so bad.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Hey, don’t forget my albatross of a contract.
Signed,
M. Roszival ($5 million per through 2011-2012)
If you've read this far...seek help.
If Bob Gainey wasn’t such a knucklehead to take Gomez, the Rangers would have pretty much every terrible contract in the NHL (Drury, Roszival, Redden, Avery)
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:04 AM EST up reply actions
Even though they got rid of him, Ales Kotalik was making 3.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:07 AM EST up reply actions
Avery isn’t terrible for the Rangers. It’s terrible for DAL who is paying half that salary.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
does that count against Dallas’ cap hit?
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
Oh yes...
And the Western Conference:
Anaheim: Teemu Selanne.
Calgary: Jarome Iginla, Niklas Hagman, Miikka Kiprusoff, Robyn Regehr.
Chicago: Brian Campbell.
Colorado: Adam Foote, Scott Hannan, Milan Hejduk, John-Michael Liles.
Columbus: Kristian Huselius, R.J. Umberger, Derick Brassard, Samuel Pahlsson, Nikita Filatov, Rostislav Klesla.
Dallas: Mike Modano, Brenden Morrow, Brad Richards.
Detroit: Dan Cleary, Pavel Datsyuk, Kris Draper, Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Brad Stuart.
Edmonton: Sheldon Souray, Lubomir Visnovsky.
Los Angeles: Michal Handzus, Ryan Smyth.
Minnesota: Antti Miettinen, Chuck Kobasew.
Nashville: Jason Arnott, J.P. Dumont, David Legwand.
Phoenix: Shane Doan, Ed Jovanovski.
San Jose: Dan Boyle, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Niclas Wallin, Evgeni Nabokov.
St. Louis: Eric Brewer, Barret Jackman, Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk.
Vancouver: Roberto Luongo, Sami Salo, Willie Mitchell.
I need a snappy signature...
Nashville
Martin Erat also has one, so thats an error on TSN’s part.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 9:08 AM EST up reply actions
Man, I hope Detroit is willing to part with some of their NMC’s… I mean it’d be awful to have to deal with Datsyuk’s NMC… ;-)
That he’s centering Ovechkin and Semin in the Olympics… scary….
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 16, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
except that Dats is signed for like a billion years. No thank you!
ridiculous how many NMC’s Detroit has. No wonder they’re in cap-hell.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
Holmstrom, Lidstrom, Maltby, Bertuzzi, Jason Williams, Lilja and Lebda are all expiring after this year. Draper and Osgood expire next year. I can’t see them bringing back ANY of those guys.
I would say they would load up for one last Cup run, but do they really have anyone to trade that’s valuable? I think its rebuild time in the D.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
To continue further on that, as of now Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen are the only 3 guys signed through 13/14.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
they'll bring back Lidstrom
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
He’s 39 years old and will be 40 next year. I know the guy is an institution there, but I think its pretty likely he will retire.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
I think he gives it one last chance. This season has been a disaster. He’s not going to want it to end like this.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
With how many games those guys have played the last two years, combined with Olympics, and playoff games, at their ages, I think THIS year was their last run. Back in the day they could add guys like Hull, or Robataille or Lang, but in the new salary cap world, they can’t do that any longer. At some point, they’ve got to start shipping out the old guys and get younger, more skilled guys in there.
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
He’s 39 years old and will be 40 next year
…No way!! (Couldn’t resist)
by mechanicsville on Feb 16, 2010 1:40 PM EST up reply actions
But he plays a low stress game that doesn’t destroy his body. He can play for another couple years if he wants to. He was a Norris nominee last year (and should have won) and he’s still one of the best D in the game. He’s got plenty left in the tank even if he’s not going to put a stranglehold on the Norris anymore.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
IF Lilja can return to form, I think they may bring him back. Lidstrom comes back if he wants to. Holmer……..he may retire. He’s so beat up. But if he wants to come back, I bet Ken Holland finds a way.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
Uh...
Doesn’t Ovechkin have a no-movement clause?
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 16, 2010 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
It’s funny how Jagr was never praised for his heart and work ethic in that Brooks article. That soulless shell of man doesn’t deserve success in anything he ever does.
That asshole can go eat an entire prickle of fucking porcupines.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 9:15 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
It’s funny how that works out.
Can’t say I blame you. Can’t imagine you really blame me either.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 9:23 AM EST up reply actions
Jagr and Forsberg are having fun sniping at each other in VAN.
Yawn.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Jagr attacked Forsberg for no reason what so ever, the journalists tried to get Forsberg to snipe back at Jagr but he refused to do it, end of story. I agree with Steckel Me Elmo Jagr can eat ett helt gäng igelkottar.
Can I see links to this?
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 9:49 AM EST up reply actions
My links were all in Swedish too. And there is a shameful lack of reporting on Nicky Backstrom. Miss you, Lars!
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Haha yeah. I was just being a jerk. Can’t blame you either. It really sucks that Jagr was the best offensive player in the game before he went to the Caps, fell off a cliff while he was on the Caps, then had that NY resurgance. Slap in the face. Maybe he was more loyal to Pittsburgh than we though, eh?
Or maybe he was just happier and so he cared to play. If ever there was a guy that didn’t deserve his god given talent.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Jagr or Larry Brooks?
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:19 AM EST up reply actions
Well, I was mainly referring to Jagr. But both; Brooks sucks too.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 9:23 AM EST up reply actions
I always liked how a group of crows was a murder. And a group of Albatrosses is a Rookery. And a group of Apes a shrewdness.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:23 AM EST up reply actions
Anyone for a Destruction of wildcats? Or a Gulp of Comorants? Or an Implausability of Gnus?
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:25 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Anyone for a Destruction of wildcats?
Randy Sexton is on line one.
I was all about Ballard until I realized he was signed through 2015 at 4.5 mil. No thanks!
Awesome pulls, I love all of those names, especially the Comorants.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 16, 2010 9:28 AM EST up reply actions
Plump of Wildfowl. Rafter of Turkeys. Storytelling of Ravens.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
I like Mews of Capons. No idea what a Chough is, but that’s a clattering.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:34 AM EST up reply actions
A bouquet of pheasants is cool.
…but how did they get a wisdom of wombats?!
I need a snappy signature...
All of this (probably starting with YLM’s reply above), btw, is off topic and the kind of stuff that belongs in the OTOT.
I know it’s somewhat unnatural, but if YLM had gone over to that thread and started with “Saw reference to a ‘prickle of porcupines’…” that’d work.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
We don’t want the experiment to fail on the very first day.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 9:48 AM EST up reply actions
Every day. I expect more and will get it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 16, 2010 9:52 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Sorry. Won’t happen again.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:45 AM EST up reply actions
No worries – it’s going to be an adjustment for all of us, but one that will be worth it in the end.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 16, 2010 9:53 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I thought that would be a good little nugget to drop. And as YLM commented while I was typing this there are some awesome animal group names.
And seriously, Brooks may suck, but at least he didn’t mistake Jagr for someone who actually has heart.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 9:25 AM EST up reply actions
Gotta love Ovechkin. From the RMNB clip:
Soviet Sport – Have you ever played against Dominik Hasek?
AO – Yeah, he was in Detroit while I played.
Soviet Sport – How was it?
AO – I scored.
Womens' Hockey
I’m pretty sure the gold medal game in Women’s hockey is going to be USA vs. Canada again, just looking at the scores so far…of course, anything could happen, but still…
Sweden vs. Switzerland (3-0 Sweden)
Canada vs. Slovakia (18-0 Canada)
USA vs. China (12-1 USA)
Finland vs. Russia (5-1 Finland)
Switzerland vs. Canada (10-1 Canada)
Sweden vs. Slovakia (6-2 Sweden)
Today, we have:
2:30 PM – Russia vs. USA
7:00 PM – Finland vs. China
Right now, looking at the standings, we have:
Canada (2-0, 28 GF, 1 GA)
Sweden (2-0, 9 GF, 2 GA )
USA (1-0, 12 GF, 1 GA)
Finland (1-0, 5 GF, 1 GA)
Russia (0-1, 1GF, 5 GA)
China (0-1, 1GF, 12 GA)
Switzerland (0-2, 1 GF, 13 GA)
Slovakia (0-2, 2 GF, 24 GA)
The standings should change after today’s round of games, putting all eight teams on even footing as far as games played. I wish they would publish a game summary like the NHL does, so that I could follow the games from work, but they don’t (that I’ve found), so I can’t. :-p
I need a snappy signature...
I watched USA vs. China over the weekend. I felt sorry for China having to play through such a smakedown. Kudos to our women.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 9:46 AM EST up reply actions
China’s goaltender was actually not bad. She made some pretty good saves.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 9:51 AM EST up reply actions
Most definitely. She was hung out to try in her own end. Absolutely suffocating forecheck by the US.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 9:54 AM EST up reply actions
The Swiss goaltender was pretty great in yesterday’s game, too, despite the score.
I have a C on my heart.
I watched a lot of that game. I felt bad for the Swiss. There was a point in the third period where the Canadians had control of the puck so much that they made two complete changes on ice while still maintaining possession in the Swiss end.
I was happy that the Swiss scored, though.
Yuck.
That’s just SICK.
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
I saw one of our women do the AO between-the-legs and around the defender move, finished off with a beauty five-hole goal. It was really nice.
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Yep. That’s her. Hell of a move.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Very slick move. If you didn’t catch it, there was a piece in SI on the Lamoureux family a couple weeks back. Not the greatest writing, but a very interesting story.
by mechanicsville on Feb 16, 2010 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
Do you have a link?
I’d love to see that. Jocelyne and Monique are the Sedins of the women’s hockey world. :-)
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
This should work...
…if not, it’s the 2/1/10 issue. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1165306/index.htm
by mechanicsville on Feb 16, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
Awwwwwwwww. Poor China. For once their women get put up against a superior team. How can you have any pity for China in the Olympics? Ever.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Well, I do think this is China’s first foray into Olympic hockey, isn’t it…?
Four years from now, they will be a …
well, maybe not a force to be reckoned with, but they may actually manage to score more than one goal.
As a friend of mine put it, “they’re resurfacing both ends of the ice like it needs it.”
I need a snappy signature...
I’m pretty sure China was in the last Olympics for women’s hockey as well.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
nope. there 8 teams were:
Canada
Sweden
USA
Finland
Germany
Russia
Switzerland
Italy (got in on the being the host country)
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
Those were the women’s teams? Damn. I was almost positive I remember the US women smoking China before. Maybe 2002.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
yep, 2002.
Canada
US
Sweden
Finland
Russia
Germany
China
Kazakhstan
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
More Ov Envy
From the burgh. Such a stupid question put to Bucci in another feeble attempt to try and somehow convince themselves and others that crosby is better than OV. why they can’t just enjoy the fact that they have one of the best players in the league on their team and leave it at that?
i appreciate Bucci’s response, but he should have noted that in order to score an empty net goal your team needs to be leading at the end of the game. something the caps have done more than any other team apparantly. empty net goals are good and to score one is a positive not a negative.
OV doesnt need to pad his stats because he will most likely run away with the goal scoring title this year. same number of goals in 7 fewer games…
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
I expect Ovechkin to win the Richard, too, but I don’t see it being a runaway. For him to win while playing eight fewer games will be incredible, but the actual margin isn’t going to be that big.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
true, runaway is a strong word considering its all about total goals and not goals per game. then again, with all those 3 minute, empty-net goal hanging shifts at the end of the game, he may just run away with it!!!
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Feb 16, 2010 9:59 AM EST up reply actions
They’re tied at 42 goals with 20 games left to play. Someone on twitter said this will be the best Richard Trophy race ever. Mean Lars may have to turn over that puck a little more than he wants to…
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I don’t know if this is the actual procedure, but if there is a tie for the Richard the tiebreaker should be fewer GP.
Love how Crosby cracks a career high 40!!</faux excitement> and delusional Pens fans think he is suddenly a superior scorer to AO.
The whining about ENG was priceless though. That pretty much personifies most Pens fans for me. Not super knowledgeable mega fans that they think they are, but rather the same dumb hicks from Western PA that they accuse us of being. Without the Western PA part, of course.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
How many Pens fans have you met that try to say Crosby is a better scorer than Ovechkin?
The fact that he is tied with Ovechkin at all at this point in the season, despite the number of games Ovechkin missed, is enough for me. Crosby is not a natural goal scorer. Ovechkin is the best offensive player in the game. Just the fact that Crosby has kept it close is enough for me.
How does a dumb email from one person cover a whole fanbase? I could bring over some idiotic posts on Puck Daddy that would cover every fanbase, if you want me to. I also have a co-worker who just started watching hockey last year and bought a red Ovechkin jersey. Therefore, I could say all Caps fans are bandwagoners who only have an Ovechkin jersey.
Ovechkin will run away with the Art Ross and probably the Richard, too. Everyone knows it.
by Link_Gaetz on Feb 16, 2010 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
The point is Pens fans purvey a “holier than thou” attitude and the reality is, as you say, there are just as many stupid Pens fans as there are following any team. The implication of the email is that AO is padding his goal stats with ENG.
I speak in generalizations, yes. Don’t take it personally, I’ll save that for the next Pens game. :-)
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
Its one email in a Buccigross mailbag. I think that’s a pretty broad brush to paint with.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
Here is a perfect example of a dumb Caps fan’s email being pulled out of the ol’ ESPN mailbag. It’s not unique to any fanbase.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
God Damn, people.
there are just as many stupid Pens fans as there are following any team
I speak in generalizations, yes
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
So because you concede the fact in your comment, we aren’t allow to expound on it?
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
What more is there to expound on? I didn’t need an example of dumb Caps fans, that wasn’t my contention. And the examples aren’t that hard to find.
And no, this isn’t one of them.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
I was replying to YLM who pointed out that it was one dumb email sent to an ESPN contributor. That reminded me of a past email sent to another ESPN contributor by a Caps fan. That email was linked to in that day’s Caps Clips. I thought it was relevant and interesting, which is why I commented on it. My apologies. In the future I will make sure all of my comments cater to your needs.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 16, 2010 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry, I didn’t realize you were following up, I thought you were concurring with the original reply which obviously didn’t understand at all the gist of my statement, no matter how clear it was. I don’t have an issue with the facts that anyone has laid out.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
Considering the source of the email, and the site it was on, why get up in arms about it? That was my point on the matter.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 1:00 PM EST up reply actions
Pens fans on internet message boards may act holier than thou, but it’s a message board. Caps fans on message boards can be pretty damn cocky, too. It should be expected – The Pens are the defending champs, have won it three times, and have owned the Caps in the playoffs. Just like the Caps are the best team in the NHL right now, they have a great core, and they are the most exciting team in the league. When these rival fans start chirping each other on message boards, both attitudes will be a little exaggerated.
I’m not necessarily taking it personally, but I of course have to defend my hometown, right?
I am probably more embarrassed by that email in Bucci’s mailbag than you are angry.
Hmmm. Wasn’t OV and Kovalchuk tied for the Richard at around 35-40 goals two years ago right before OV ran away to 65? I expect something similar this year. I think Kovy finished with 52 that year.
Поклон перед вашим капитаном!
by Knubles and Bits on Feb 16, 2010 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
I remember during Crosby/Ovie’s second year, when Sid ran away with the scoring title and won the Hart, all my Caps friends would play the “Look at Sid’s team! Look who he plays with! Ovechkin doesn’t have as much surrounding talent!” card.
Well, now that Ovechkin is on the superior team and plays with superior linemates, you don’t hear me making that same argument, right?
(I hope you like how I secretly made the argument, while acting like I didn’t make the argument. I’m sly like that)
No need to be sly, Sid clearly needs better wingers. I’m hard-pressed to even name his linemates. Is it still Guerin and Kunitz? Or Geno some of the time? It will be interesting to see him with Nash and Bergeron.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I personally think it's hysterical
That the defending SCF champs could play the “we don’t have enough talent around our star player” card.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I agree with this, and that’s why I personally love having foreign fans come here and bring the perspective.
That said, there is some delicious irony after all the years of Pens fans bitching that AO doesn’t pass the puck and that’s how he gets goals, then seeing Crosby become a huge goal scoring threat at the expense of his assists (while AO has increased his assists and maintained his goal scoring). If he gets this 3rd Hart I don’t ever want to hear shit from a Pens fan about AO again.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Wow...
…you don’t want much, do you? ;-)
I don’t ever want to hear shit from a Pens fan about AO again.
Isn’t that like saying you don’t want the sun to come up in the east any more, you’d rather it came up from the south?
I need a snappy signature...
Mostly yeah. I guess it’ll just be that much easier to dismiss them when they try to trash the guy in exclusive company with Orr and Gretzky.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
No tiebreak for games played. A few years back Nash, Iginla, and Kovalchuk tied with 41. One of them didn’t play a full season but they all got the Richard.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Hamhuis Update
Penguins speculation:(more in link)
Hamhuis would be the perfect fit as a smart, solid defenseman capable of shutting down the names like Ovechkin and Kovalchuk dotting the Eastern Conference playoff gauntlet. He will be an UFA this summer and carries a $2 million price tag. With big money already committed to defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, it looks increasingly unlikely that Nashville will be able to resign Hamhuis in the offseason, especially given his well-documented prior negotiations with GM David Poile.
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Poile’s going to get paid. At least three teams will want Hamhuis a) to improve their blueline and b) to keep him away from their competition. Getting Hamhuis is like winning a Divisional game – it’s a four-point swing, of sorts, not just a two-point win.
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Player A:
1.4 Offensive GVT
2.5 Defensive GVT
-3.4 RPM
2.92 GA/60
2.86 GF/60
Player B:
5.4 Offensive GVT
2.5 Defensive GVT
8.7 RPM
2.84 GA/60
3.40 GF/60
Player A is Dan Hamhuis.
Player B is Pavel Kubina.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
lame
Come on. We’re not talking apples and apples here, if you’re implying that Kubina > Hamhuis. Their respective roles couldn’t be different. Hamhuis can shut down Crosby, and has. Don’t think Kubina can, do you?
Hamhuis’ cap hit is 3 million less. He’s six years younger. He plays on a team that scores less goals than Atlanta. He is never, ever asked to provide offensive punch on his team (those duties are Weber’s, Suter’s, and Franson’s). He’s paired with dead weight, aka Kevin Klein, and on the rare, rare occasions those two are apart, Dan is a different player.
Kubina played on a team with Kovalchuk much of the year, and other high-point producers. When you feed the puck to Kovy, Afinogenov, and Peverley, of course your stats will be inflated. Enstrom has the same deal.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 10:09 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
There is all that along with the fact that the Caps need a Hamhuis more than they need a Kubina.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
Kubina= VERY light Mike Green
and an expensive one, too.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
Perhaps, but he’s better than Shaone Morrisonn, Tyler Sloan, or John Erskine.
Kubina’s top 4. He’d be an upgrade for sure.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 16, 2010 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
You’ll find no arguments from me (or anyone who knows hockey at all) on that front.
But I think Dan’s HamHouse provides something that is more immediately needed than Kubina. He also is younger and thus a better choice to be able to re-sign. It’s also reasonable to believe that due to the nature of stats, Kubina will be more expensive to re-sign anyway, but I’m not so sure that’s a given in this case, partly because of their age.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 10:26 AM EST up reply actions
With Alzner and Carlson, et al, would we really need to sign Hamhuis? Is he really that much of an upgrade over what those two would become? PK comes in as a 20 game rental player, and then leaves with no further need on our part.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
Would they need to? No, probably not.
But I’d be a lot happier with a D corps of Green, Schultz, Poti, Carlznerson, and Hamhuis than I would be with one that involves Sloan, Erskine, or ShaMo.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
eh
Maybe not, but Hamhuis is a more capable shutdown defenseman.
Later down the road, are you happier with Green, Hamhuis, Carlson, and Alzner as your top four, or a liability in that 4th spot?
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
We’ve got Schultz in the Top 4 already, not a liability.
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And, as pointed out above, Kubina is not a defensive liability.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions
Not what they would become, but they won’t get there for a few years. In the next 3-4 years Hamhuis would maintain a veteran presence in our top 4 D and allow those guys to develop without having to be asked to play top 4 minutes on a Cup contender until they are ready.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
And I know the team is scoring a ton of goals right now, but, God forbid, if Mike Green goes down, there is NO OFFENSE from the back line. Zip. Zero.
That’s a problem.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
They’re dependent on Green defensively too. If he goes down then the depth chart becomes a mess. All the more reason to make a move, be it for Kubina, Hammer or someone else.
Which, unfortunately due to Green’s history, he has had a proclivity to injury, whether it be Mono (wocka wocka) or other issues.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 10:24 AM EST up reply actions
I trust the offense to pick up the slack when Green’s hurt more than I trust the D to be able to consistently shut down top tier talent when healthy.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
But how? They’re already scoring at an insane pace. They really can’t produce any more than they are now. And I have less faith the forwards can keep up that pace, seeing as the back 6 forwards don’t have a lot of offensive firepower (and that’s being nice).
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 10:26 AM EST up reply actions
Because the Caps arguably have the highest level of skill on their top 6 forwards in the NHL. The Caps’ D corps is underwhelming, to say the least. We all saw what happened last year when Green was injured and playing like crap. The offense (Ovechkin) was still producing, but the D couldn’t stop Hellen Keller from scoring right after she got off the TeaCup ride at Six Flags.
I’m am more willing to bet that the Caps forwards (AO, Baxter, Knuble, Semin) can pick up the slack than I am to bet that the D can stop an NHL level forward corps.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
the D couldn’t stop Hellen Keller from scoring right after she got off the TeaCup ride at Six Flags.
Rec’d for accuracy and amusement value!
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by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 10:40 AM EST up reply actions
I agree that our Offense isn’t going to get much better, especially not without Green. But I think it’s moot because no matter who we pick up, if we lose Green we are in serious trouble.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I would counter that by saying the Caps could probably use some offensive punch from the backline, considering there is none after Mike Green. Also, Kubina’s a UFA after this year, so it doesn’t really matter that he’s six years older. He’s defensively responsible and has tons of experience.
Furthermore, Hamhuis’ QUALCOMP is .039, and Kubina’s is .056. Not much of a difference, but enough to point out that its not like PK’s been playing against a bunch of stiffs while Hamhuis is shutting down Crosby every night.
Also, Nashville has played Pittsburgh once this year? How is there enough of a sample size to say Hamhuis can shut down Crosby? And cosistently?
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
I'm not saying
Hamhuis is incapable of offensive work. He’s not. In fact, he has a good deal of offensive talent. He just doesn’t need to do it in Nashville.
Crosby was more of an example, sorry. I’m talking about that caliber of player. Change it to Rick Nash, or Henrik Zetterberg or something.
Who do you trust more to NOT get turned into a road cone come playoff time? Kubina or Hamhuis?
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
How much PP time would most D men get on a team with Weber and Suter? Not much. Very few D would be asked to carry an offensive burden over those 2.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 10:34 AM EST up reply actions
Atlanta has Enstrom, Hainsey and Bogosian. Not easy to find PP time with those three there either.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
Hamhuis’s 5-on-5 rating is -0.42, Kubina’s is 1.10. That means, essentially, that the Preds are better with Hamhuis off the ice, the Thrash better with Kubina on the ice (and is analagous to the RPM lines above). Granted, this is where Hamhuis is hurt by having two super teammates who play big minutes (Weber and Suter) and Kubina is helped by not having as strong teammates. But it’s still worth noting.
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by J.P. on Feb 16, 2010 10:35 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
duly noted
However, we’re still not talking apples/apples. Kubina’s 5 on 5 is going to be higher with the type of scoring forwards he plays with. Hamhuis usually plays with Nashville’s shutdown line, and he and Klein face the toughest competition on the team. Rarely do you see him with Sullivan/Arnott/Hornqvist. I think those facts lend themselves to Kubina being on the ice for more goals, right?
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
And (sorry), but Nashville doesn’t exactly have the best talent on their top lines even if Hamhuis were to play with lines 1 and 2.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
right
Totally agree. Atlanta’s top forwards are better than Nashville’s.
My point isn’t to trash Kubina, its more to say that Hamhuis may be a better fit for what Washington needs.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
But he doesn’t make us that much better defensively, and he doesn’t bring what Kubina brings offensively AND defensively.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
SBN's Kubina flaws
Tends to struggle against speedy wingers and occasionally makes critical mistakes in the defensive zone. Lacks consistency in the physicality department.
Hamhuis never struggles against speedy wingers, is physical, and rarely makes huge mistakes. I realize there is a certain element of bias to my arguments, but I also watch him every night. You also need to take into consideration what DH can bring offensively if given the chance.
One other point is Atlanta is not really selling. Kubina is crucial to their playoff hopes.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
Couldn’t you say the same thing about Hamhuis and Nashville? They’re in 7th in the West right now, and they didn’t just deal Kovalchuk.
Also, if we’re gonna mention flaws, here’s DH:
Isn’t a physical defenseman, which somewhat limits his effectiveness against big NHL forwards. Is also a limited contributor in the offensive zone.
Seems like pretty much the same kind of flaws?
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
notice
That his flaws do not include “slow” or “makes critical mistakes”.
The difference, seller/buyer wise, between Nashville and Atlanta is that Atlanta doesn’t have a stable of world-class defensive talent waiting just outside the door. Alex Sulzer is capable of filling the 6th defenseman spot if DH leaves and they don’t get a veteran D in return. Atlanta just traded Anssi Salmela.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
Enstrom and Bogosian aren’t “world class” already? And its not like they couldn’t just re-sign him after the season if they wanted him back. Besides, selling Kovalchuk looks like a pretty strong indication to me that they’re throwing in the towel this year.
And that thing also says Hamhuis has limited effectiveness against big forwards. Sid and Malkin aren’t small guys. Neither is Kovalchuk, nor much of the guys on the Flyers.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
uh
No, sorry, Enstrom and Bogosian aren’t world class yet, and furthermore, they’re kind of already on the team and would not be replacing Kubina like a Pred prospect would replace Hamhuis.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
Have you seen Enstrom’s stats? There isn’t a team in the entire league that wouldn’t trade a ton for either him or Bogosian.
My point is, if ATL’s already throwing in the towel as evidenced by their trading of Kovalchuk, PK’s expiring contract to a contender is a good deal for them.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
heh
Nashville wouldn’t trade for ’em ;).
I’m not sure what makes you think Atlanta’s throwing in the towel. They really had no choice but to deal Kovy.
They’re two points out of it. Selling would be stupid.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, but they just traded their best player, and they’re in a 5-team muck. If anything, they would have ADDED and tried to make a run this year if they felt they could (and their goal differential is -12, which I don’t see getting better with no Kovy).
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
So you think they should’ve kept Kovalchuk and let him walk?
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
Its akin to the Alfonso Soriano/Nats situation a few years ago, and its definitely one of those “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” things. And since they’ve already chosen to deal him, and it looks like they won’t be buyers at the deadline, this looks a lot like throwing in the towel.
But as of right now, the Preds are in 7th in the West and have a MUCH better chance of making the playoffs than ATL does at this point.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
ATL refused to trade Kovy for just picks and prospects because they weren’t throwing in the towel. They are definitely not trying to sell.
Hamhuis plays behind Weber and Suter, both veterans. Enstrom and Bogosian are good but are not veterans and so ATL still wants a veteran on the D corps if they make a playoff push.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Not really... sortof?
Kubina’s a big guy – 6’4", 250#… If we’re complaining about big defensemen who are pylons when it comes to dealing with fast wingers, Kubina fits that bill…
Hamhuis is 6’1", 209#… but we already have defensemen who aren’t physical enough… and he’s not a big guy, either height or weight-wise. For that size, he’d best be damned quick on his skates.
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by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
2nd fastest d-man
on the Preds (it’d take a damn fast skater to be faster than Suter).
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
Of course we have some of the fastest wingers in the business, so bringing Kubina would mean we wouldn’t have to face him, but since he’s not a big problem against fast wingers, that’s not a factor. But we’re not the only team with fast wingers, and we already have a 6’4" guy who doesn’t move very quickly. His name’s John Erskine.
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
Sure. But Kubina’s also on for fewer goals against per 60 than Hamhuis on a team that gives up a ton more goals at 5-on-5 than the Preds.
The Western Conference is tougher, sure. But Kubina, like Hamhuis, has the second-highest QualComp of the Ds on his team. Bottom line, I suppose, is that we shouldn’t sell Kubina’s defensive abilities short.
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But aren’t the scoring forwards better because Kubina’s out there?
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
Mark me down for a ‘nay’ if it comes to vote on overpaying for a good but not great defenseman who is only under contract through the end of this season.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
I’m with you on that count.
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
Conspicuously absent in that article is any discussion of return package, the fact that NSH wants players to contribute now, and the fact that PIT has none to offer.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
is their system that bare?
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
Well it’s not great; they pretty much need all their high profile guys to work out or they are in trouble. But the bigger point is that NSH wants roster players that can help now, most likely on offense. PIT has 3 offensive players worth acquiring, and none of them are moving (and DH isn’t enough to get any of them anyway). PIT can’t give up a roster player for Hamhuis without seriously hurting their offensive depth. We can.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
You know who Feds looks like in that photo?
by Brainumbc on Feb 16, 2010 10:35 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
“That’s what I love about the Olympics, man. I get older, the figure skaters stay the same age.”
by patred48 on Feb 16, 2010 10:40 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
(I’m ignoring the “late” before 30’s) But you can only participate in the Olympics if you’re eighte… Oh, I see what you did there.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
You mean that little stick tap he did got him two games?
You’re jesting…
Or he is… he does play for Jokerit, after all… Sheesh!
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
Apparently “Ovechkin” roughly translates to “little sheep” … or something like that.
"I am ready for his provocations"
by PaintDrinkingPete on Feb 16, 2010 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
That’s a sheep? It almost looks like a sheep-demon to me!
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
Want a closer look at those yellow things on the front of the blade too…
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
A closer look at the blade overall would be really good… The yellow thing on the front of the right blade appears to be a number 8, and the left blade appears to have flames running down it, which feeds into my “sheep-demon” thing… ;-)
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
The back of the left skate has a Russian flag, and a … WTF is the other thing back there?
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
“Lamb” in Russian is “Ovechka”
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
I’m thinking its a lamb with Ovi’s face.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 16, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
Interesting...
Овечка = lamb, yeah…
Ovi’s more like a lion, though… or maybe he’s lulling the opposition into a false sense of security, when he rips off the sheep’s clothing and turns into a wolf… ;-)
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
Somehow I don’t think he has anyone fooled…
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Heh...
It was worth wishing… ;-)
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
A slightly better look at that left skate
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
OK...
So flames and a Russian flag…
I need a snappy signature...
by IRockTheRed on Feb 16, 2010 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
Looks like an NHL 10 powerup.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Feb 16, 2010 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
A Demon Sheep?
Game-Over Green? Canada-Over Carlson!
by Scott in Shaw on Feb 16, 2010 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
It's not a sheep, but I thought of this
"Welcome to Canada -– everything fun is always behind a fence."
by Ovechwin on Feb 16, 2010 6:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Awesome movie. And I can see the facial likeness.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 16, 2010 8:22 PM EST up reply actions
an SB Nation-wide
Game Thread is going to go up for USA-Canada. Oughta be sweet. I’ll post link when it goes up.
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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uh
I meant USA-Switzerland. My bad.
#fail
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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by Chris Burton on Feb 16, 2010 11:54 AM EST up reply actions
@DarrenDreger:
Jeff Carter is soaking up the Oly atmosphere. He’s in Vancouver until at least tomorrow taking in some events, including Can vs Norway.Translation:
Jeff Carter flew all the way to Vancouver, so he might as well nail a few snowboarders while he’s here.
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by J.P. on Feb 16, 2010 1:15 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Empty Net Goals...
…almost always means regulation win.
Yes Ovechkin leads the league in Empty Netters. Guess what? The Caps are tied for the lead in wins.
Get over it Bryan.
Let's go Caps!
join me
and apparently other SBN hockey bloggers in the USA-Switzerland Game Thread!
On the Forecheck-where Patric Hornqvist is never underappreciated.
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Anyone know of a sight where I can watch the USA-Switzerland game for free?
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
The Swedish team will look like this against Germany.
D Sedin – H Sedin – Weinhandl
Öhlund – Enström
Forsberg – Zetterberg – Hörnqvist
Lidström – Kronwall
Eriksson – Bäckström – Alfredsson
Tallinder – Johansson
Franzen – Påhlsson – Modin
Murray – Oduya
4 D pairs? I don’t even think they are allowed to do that.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Maybe they do quintet changes like Russia?
Game-Over Green? Canada-Over Carlson!
by Scott in Shaw on Feb 16, 2010 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
Am I missing someone?
Leonsis’ blog says “we now have six players that go to Vancouver and play in the Olympics.” Who is the 6th? Is he talking about Osala?
Maybe he forgot they traded Jurcina.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
53 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 61 |
|
Washington
|
54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
53 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 52 |
|
Carolina
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.10.2012 at 9:27 AM EST)
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