Red Cloud, Silver Lining
by Becca H on Apr 29, 2010 3:30 PM EDT
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Alfred Lord Tennyson famously said, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
Well…I’m guessing ol’ Alfie wasn’t a Caps fan. Because when summer starts in April and stretched ahead of you are months of questioning what could have been, when yet another year of high expectations ends with a resounding thud, when heartbreak again comes to call in DC…never loving at all sounds pretty good sometimes.
And yet the reality is most of us would, in the end, agree with Tennyson – to love this team and have them break our hearts over and over again is better than never having loved them at all. In fact, it’s almost (I stress, almost) part of their charm. The eternal underdogs, destined to fail despite great expectations…until the one time they don’t. That day is coming, it has to be, and that’s what keeps us coming back.
So in the wake of what is probably the most heart-wrenching playoff failure in franchise history (which is saying something), it’s important to remember why we choose to love this team. There will be plenty of time to dissect what happened here – and believe me, plenty of scalpels (and some hatchets) are poised and ready to do just that – but there is always some good to be taken with the bad.
To use another worn out cliche, the darkest hour is indeed just before the dawn:
- Another year of Mike Knuble and Jason Chimera - The two veterans brought experience, grit and leadership to a locker room that was at times lacking in all three. The difference they made in the lineup was noticeable; the first line became more terrifying, the third/fourth lines became faster. And maybe another year of that is what this team needs – in particular, imagine a full season with someone like Chimera on the roster. It's a nice thought, isn't it?
- A regular season for the ages - Sure, regular season means [Franceschetti] when the ultimate goal is and always will be the Cup; but when it’s all you have left, it’s worth it to reflect back on just how incredible this season was. The franchise records, the individual achievements, the great performances – all of these things may have ultimately set us up for greater heartache because of the expectations attached, but still…what a year.
- Super Swede - There may be no better Caps' story this year than that of Nicklas Backstrom and his continued evolution into a bona fide superstar. The question around Backstrom has always been whether his numbers are inflated by playing alongside Alex Ovechkin, whether Ovechkin actually makes him look better. Turns out the answer may be that it’s the other way around. At the very least the two have created magic together; it’s not just anyone who can skate with #8, and Backstrom makes it look easy. Sure, with every goal, every assist, every play in which his strength with and without the puck became clear, Caps fans could hear the cash register ringing – but if they can get this deal done he’ll be worth every penny.
- A new era on the blue line - Together Mike Green and Jeff Schultz formed a dominant pairing on the blue line throughout the regular season. And in Game 7, we got a glimpse of the next potentially great D pair in John Carlson and Karl Alzner. All four have made mistakes, the kind of mistakes that come with youth and fade with experience, but the fact remains that the future of the Caps’ defense is in good, capable hands. And we’ll get to see it full time next year, you can count on that.
- The emergence of Eric Fehr - Bruce Boudreau famously called out some of his players for being "passengers" after Game 5, and there were certainly some passengers on this team through the playoffs; Eric Fehr was not one of them, nor was he in the regular season. He was remarkably efficient in limited (thanks, Bruce) ice time, set career numbers for himself during the season and was easily one of the Caps’ better players through the Montreal series. All of this after undergoing double shoulder surgery over the summer, no less. He could be a casualty of the salary cap this summer should another team target him with an offer sheet. They'd be smart to; here’s hoping McPhee is smarter.
- Life lessons learned - We said it last year. We said it the year before. And yet it still rings true today – this team is still young, still growing and still learning how to win. This was the first year in which they entered the playoffs with the pressure of being a Cup favorite, with the expectations of a League and the hopes of a city on their shoulders. That’s not always an easy place to be, something the San Jose Sharks could probably attest to, and having had this experience – and learning from it – will be key to trying again next year. If it’s the hockey version of "that which does not kill us makes us stronger", we’re growing stronger by the year.
Right now the silver lining looks tarnished and faded, overshadowed by the loss last night that will surely leave a bitter taste in our mouths for a long time to come. But it's there - what was good is still good, and the closer we get to next season the brighter that silver lining will be.
Keep the faith.
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Love it, love it, love it.
So excited for next year. I think we can be even better.
The entire British Empire was built on cups of tea, and if you think I'm going to war without one, you're mistaken.
Ramblin' on.
That’s not always an easy place to be, something the San Jose Sharks could probably attest to.
Aye aye.
Fear the Fin - all Evgeni, all the time.
Yes we can. I don’t know what words to say to help you guys thru this. You would think I could find some seeing how it was just 12 short months ago this was us. Yeah I still have nothing, just try to smile at the little things. And next season will be here sooner than you know. :)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
Thanks. In all seriousness.
I keep telling myself to think of all the things in life that are going on that are so much more important and so much more serious than a game. Can’t quite get there yet because the hurt is so much.
Very much appreciate the words of encouragement from someone who has been there, as much as it sucked for you all last year and it sucks for us right now.
by SOIBF Caps on Apr 29, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thanks from me too for the words of encouragement and support. While I’m still disappointed and bummed out about how the Caps season ended, I still love this team and support it 100%. It’s nice to hear some positive comments from others to counter all the hate and vitriol being hurled at the team in the media and from other so-called Caps fans. A true fan will feel the hurt without turning their inner negative feelings outward to bash and trash the team that provided so many wonderful moments during the regular season. This team will be back and so will their loyal fans; the bandwagon jumpers should go elsewhere if all they can do is criticize.
Thank you for writing this, Becca.
I’m actually scared of the day the Caps win the Cup. What happens afterwards? No subsequent success will be as delicious as our first Silver Chalice. We’ll reach it when we’re meant to reach it.
Also, the Caps losing means I watch a lot of Lord of the Rings.
"My face is my mask."
Sister Becca, testify.
I still wish we could have seen the names of the members of this year’s team engraved on the Cup, but as it was not to be, I’m glad it’s over sooner than later. Or at least that’s what I am telling myself now.
Looking forward to the (ugh) Lessons Learned™ portion of the off-season, and the inevitable roster moves that will bring us to glory in 2011.
Hallelujah.
Fine tune, don't detonate
There are SO many people running around today calling for heads, it’s pretty awful. I think Bruce can coach, but in a lot of ways, he was outcoached in the final three games of this series. I think he will survive this unhappy conclusion, but he’s got to get this team to the third round next year, or you really have to wonder if he’s the guy to go forward with.
GMGM gets to keep his job for another year, but he’s got some moves to make this summer. This team needs some fine-tuning and some guys will have to go, just because of economics. At the end of the day, he has to come up with the money to make Backstrom happy long-term and probably lock-up Fehr, too. It’s probably time to find a new home for Flash and maybe Semin, if it means they pick-up two solid defensive defensemen. Wouldn’t mind moving Semin straight-up for Tomas Vokoun, to buy Varly another year of apprenticeship. Don’t quite know if I’d ride Green out of town on a rail or not, but if you have to move him, how about swapping him with Calgary for Robyn Regehr? Might be worth spending some more money on a second-line center and Anton Volchenkov, while the checkbook is out.
Some guys will be gone, there’s no doubt about it, but the nucleus of the team should stay intact. Carlson and Alzner looked pretty good together last night and that will be start of a decent future on defense for these Caps. Add some heart and some stay-at-home defense, ditch some floaters and this team might be scary good, not just fun-to-watch-good. If this team is going to be a force, it has to be re-tooled a little bit to be dominant. The whole unit is potent up front, but not dominant at both ends.
...but don't wait!
Many good points here as opposed to some of the other posts but I would add the urgency is now. There is no time to revel in the past season and it is not too soon to think of the changes. Remember, this collapse is MONUMENTAL and not just another down-to-the-wire series. Indeed Boudreau was outcoached – badly – and in many aspects it was a season long problem. I do like and respect him but the penalty kill, and solutions to it, were so obvious as to be frustrating. Together with McPhee, the needs upfront and the penalty kill were not addressed with Belanger and I’m lukewarm on the necessity of Chimera though do respect the speed. Corvo was simply unnecessary and as opposed to many people I think Walker was a fine addition based on his ability to elevate play in the playoffs (and hit!) and he was given a shot at one game. Erskine, the only scary D-man on the roster didn’t even get a sweater!
So, not to run on but the Caps can’t be the Sharks or the Senators. This was the year, not next year, and people shouldn’t lose sight of that. By not seeing the urgency even now (and granted, we’re only fans) is to commit the same mistakes again next year. Move Semin, Fleischmann and I might even throw in Green if the offer is right. The team’s needs have been obvious since the midpoint of the season and were not addressed. Where the blame lies – players, coach, GM – who knows, probably a combo of all three. And when remaking the roster, forget regular season glory. The playoffs are elemental – punishing D, north/south game, crash the net and hit, hit, hit! None of those things did the Caps do with any regularity during this series, nor last year, nor the year before that. No more excuses.
The playoffs are elemental – punishing D, north/south game, crash the net and hit, hit, hit!
And you’re lukewarm on Chimera?
Only in the sense that I think he fits the mold of Gordon, Fehr and Bradley so didn’t see him as an answer to the lack of penalty kill or punishing D which weren’t addressed. Oddly, Jurcina was moved when he, like Erskine, was punishing in front of their net. But like I said, lukewarm in those senses and wouldn’t necessarily advocate any movement with him.
The “new NHL” has some fundamental differences in approach from the “old NHL.” The most obvious one is that restraining fouls are called more tightly, and to reduce PIMs, teams have to cut down on that. That means skating is at a premium. Chimera is very valuable because he can play physical and skate quickly as well. Jurcina and Erskine both are not great skaters and against a fast team looking to exploit this weakness wouldn’t be able to hold their own, I bet. That’s partly why Green, Morrisonn, Corvo, Carlson, and Alzner didn’t make complete fools of themselves with regards to getting “owned” defensively against MTL—they can skate with MTL (though Green made a fool of himself in other ways).
I think most of us agree the bad PK is more a result of poor system choice rather than personnel. Minnesota ran the same PK to the #2 unit in the NHL a couple of years ago IIRC partly because Niklas Backstrom had a great SH sv% and the Minnesota forwards blocked shots like crazy. The Caps don’t do that, nor should they need to. Almost every good penalty-killing team employs a more aggressive PK, right?
I also disagree that this year was “the year.” While I highly doubt we’ll ever see a more successful regular season team in terms of points (unless the system gets changed, like to 3 pts for a win) we could definitely see places for improvement, especially with regards to defense. It wasn’t bad, just inconsistent. While this didn’t end up being the Caps’ downfall (who would have thought offense would be?) the inconsistent D shed light on the Caps not really making adjustments, even minor tweaks to suit an opponent, more than just dressing one guy over another. In-game, this happens too, and maybe that’s why we see teams jump out on the Caps or mount a comeback—they make the necessary adjustments, although 54/82 times the Caps’ skill overwhelmed (or at least around 50 times—count games like Theo vs DET as you wish). Again, I don’t see what McPhee could have done. He got the right personnel. It just didn’t work out.
Meanwhile, next season could be even better. We’re theoretically looking at Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Knuble, Alexander Semin, Mathieu Perreault, Brooks Laich, Eric Fehr, David Steckel, Jason Chimera, Boyd Gordon, Matt Bradley, Quintin Laing, and another guy up front, with Mike Green, Jeff Schultz, Karl Alzner, John Carlson, Tom Poti, Tyler Sloan, and another guy on defense, with Semyon Varlamov, Michal Neuvirth, and Braden Holtby in goal.
Wow.
Sometimes a team just needs to grow. Pittsburgh seemed to get a lot worse between 2008 and 2009, losing Hossa for a good package and then shipping Ryan Whitney to Anaheim. Detroit appeared to improve by getting Hossa. But look how that turned out.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 29, 2010 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Superb points and I’m not completely wedded to my own assessments other than a starting point for thinking about what has happened over the past three seasons and how to avoid a fourth. As to Jurcina and Erskine I completely agree that they’re not smooth skaters (particularly Erskine) but you think twice before crossing their path or going into the corner with them. The psychological factor can’t be understated let alone the fact they win those puck battles.
To the PK I believe they would have been better served using a passive system with the big forwards (Gordon, Bradley, Steckel, Fehr) so they can play a tight positional box, use their sticks to clog passing lanes and block shots. For an aggressive kill their fast/skill guys, other than Laich & Chimera, don’t have the right mentality whether it’s willingness to battle on the boards or play disciplined.
In the end, I think there is a pattern that can be discerned over the three years and sometimes it’s instinctual. We’ve all played with players who collapse come playoff time or just don’t have the ability to elevate their game at critical times. They play scared. I see this with some of the players mentioned above and in particular Semin and Green. I single them out partly because they have huge value and can attract players that would complement the roster in a way that would be critical come playoff time (just as Guerin did in Pittsburgh) and partly because I see that pattern developing where I question whether they will ever have what it takes (and I do think that Mike Green plays lazy on too many shifts and most critically on the second goal last night).
Lastly, I too keep hearing of the new NHL and am enthusiastic about the changes I see in the game. That said, it hasn’t changed what works in the playoffs and that’s evidenced by who we see advance and who doesn’t. In the East, Philly, Pittsburgh and Boston all beat their opponents physically and crash the net even when it means a penalty early in a game. In the West we see a little more smooth skating but the four teams that advanced all hit hard as well and again, crash the net.
Erskine and Jurcina were examples of using guys who were barely good enough to be in the regular lineup rather than acquiring, and paying for, the requisite skill. Having said that, Jurcina elevates his game in the playoffs, as we saw last year, and as we saw in the Olympics. On the same token, we saw Flash disappear in the playoffs last year, large stretches this year, especially against better teams, and in the Olympics as well. MNGT needs to get it right and stop this nonesense of “overpaying”. Paying big money for big players is ok. Paying big money for disappearing acts is not. I saw Volchenkov play great and block everything thrown his way. Thats not overpaying, that’s getting what you pay for.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I just look to someone like Martin Brodeur to see how the playoffs have changed. Granted, compared to the regular season, you need a less risky, stronger defensively, clutch, more physical, desperate attitude, but I think the premium on offense has risen. Brodeur’s GAA in the playoffs prior to last postseason was something like 1.71. MAF won last year with a 2.8 or something, IIRC. The game is more wide open, and I think the balance of physicality-skill has shifted a little more in the “skill” direction.
While Flash is a disappearing act now, Green and Semin have shown up previously (both in 2008, Semin in ECQF 2009), so I wouldn’t give them the disappearing act label—yet.
I also can’t help but wonder if they’d be heroes if Semin deflects that puck a little lower and Green shoots an inch more to the left. Oh well.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 30, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah – zero to hero is a thin line (I know because I had a tournament on my stick at one time and mishandled the puck – instant zero despite all else leading up to that point). No doubt about it, it has opened up and I agree about the offensive premium. I think the Caps get great balance from the 3rd and 4th lines it’s really the 2nd I worry about most. That and I’d like to see a bit more defensive-minded hockey in the clutch from the 1st line.
This was the year, not next year, and people shouldn’t lose sight of that
Why “shouldn’t” we? No matter what the outcome this year, I certainly expected next year to be (even) better: youth and/or stability at G; Carlznerson; seasoned 55; savvier 8; etc. There’s no reason to think this was the year not next.
Hey let's go, today is going to be our night
I kind of address that in the post immediately above; the organization itself felt this was the year and I truly thought it was until I saw the signs coming down the stretch and the moves at the trade deadline. The team is missing the intangibles, the do-or-die players, the character guys we always hear about. It’s not taught, it’s inherent. Ottawa is a good point in that they have Spezza (ton of skill and puts up points in the regular season) being completely outshined by Peter Regin, a rookie and with Cullen probably the best forwards Ottawa had in the playoffs. You can’t teach that and I don’t see it changing without some roster moves.
Not that anyone was confused on Spezza being a doormat in the playoffs even before their series this year. Regin was a gem, an unexpected one at that. At least on the level that he performed in their series.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions
And we can easily say the same thing about Carlson. He was a gem as well. Looking at the Caps draft history though, aside from Carlson who was an awesome pick already, and Alzner who was legit top 4 choice in a somewhat shallow draft, the Caps have drafted some undersized forwards. I see Giroux in Philly and think “man, they keep getting guys with playoff hockey size and girth, not tall lanky dudes with no physical acumen.” At one point, they need to shift focus away from this “speedy, passing forward” prospect to some with some size and girth. We’re the tallest team in the league, not the biggest team. And then we traded Osala, a winger buried on the farm who’s 6’4" for another offensive defenseman.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions
GMGM needs to pull the Jedi mind trick and swap Flash for Regin.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Well. ..he is like 35 but only a 4 mil cap hit. But he is UFA next off-season and has an NTC
It's The Wait for Red October. Except rather than Sean Connery, Alex Baldwin, and Sam Neill, it's George McPhee, Bruce Boudreau, and Alex Ovechkin.
Not Tom Clancy, but Gary Bettman. Not the Soviet Kremlin, but. . .well. . . .yeah, the Soviet Kremlin
Most players would be crazy to use the NTC to veto a move to DC, unless they play with another contender. St. Louis unfortunately already has a championship and may reject it in favor of stability, a la Modano.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 30, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, but he has expressed a desire to get out of TB so I think the NTC would be waived for the right situation. Though he is 35 (@Kingzman264) he shows no real wear and tear and would certainly be a good lift for the next 2-3 years. Great in the locker room too. Thinking out loud do you offer up Semin and Alzner? You’re giving away youth but the intangibles may be worth it and it frees up some potential cap space to go after a Volchenkov or Mitchell. You lose no speed, get consistent points and a superb two-way player who takes nothing in penalties.
I’ll have to look at this post when the sting isn’t so fresh :-/
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Apr 29, 2010 4:11 PM EDT reply actions
Amen,
Being a Cubs fan in addition to a Caps fan, getting eliminated from the playoffs (if they get there at all) just means that I get to sit back reflect on all the joy that my team has brought me over the past season, and look forward to the offseason moves and the start of next year.
I’m really excited about having Beast all season next year as well as Carlson and Alzner up for the full season. I’m fairly certain that GMGM will lock up Backstrom long term, and possibly look at giving Eric Fehr a deal to keep him in DC. I’d love to see the Caps go after a guy like Volchenkov to get a solid vet Dman to go with our young and maturing D corps, and maybe pursue a trade to get a guy like Vokoun so Varly gets another year of seasoning. In addition, we might see Matty Perrault for most of next season in Red at Verizon.
We have an embarassment of riches in prospects that are starting to mature, and will be a power in the NHL for years to come. The loss hurts, but I remain very optimistic about the future for the entire organization. After watching the Cubs retool a club two years ago that had fantastic chemistry and won the most games in the NL regular season simply because they crashed out of the postseason, I’d argue for some small retooling, not a major roster revision.
I’m keeping the faith. I love this team, and if they break through soon, they have the potential to become a NHL dynasty.
IT...COULD...WORK!!!!
Really good point Cubs fan. Cubs kind of went overboard by looking for the “Soriano will save us” side of things. I’m a Nats fan, but I hope the Cubs get their day sooner rather than later. It’s tragic that Piniella and mismanagement are transforming them from lovable losers to a team that is leveraging the money its loyal fan base provides into fiscal irresponsibility.
But perennial heartache franchises are cousins of the Caps on this day. Thanks for these thoughts and let’s hope the Cubs turn it around and contend.
A real American hero...taking down Habs one game at a time
Great point on the Cubs. I would not feel too badly if the Cubs won a World Series in a few years, even though my baseball teams are the Cardinals, Nats, and Orioles, the first of whom is a team many Cub fans hate.
But the comparison between the Cubs and Caps is pretty apt. But in many ways, the Caps saga reminds me of the old Brooklyn Dodgers who had either blown a world series or the league championship several times during the decade since WW II, along with other heartbreaks in their history. They finally won a series in 1955.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Wow, you know, I was just reflecting on what it means to be both a Caps fan and a Cubs fan at the same time myself. Pretty good reflection, that – and it’s definitely a part of the cockeyed optimist make-up I have. :-)
I’m looking forward to next season, for certain-sure. Can’t wait!
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
I always love your recaps but this one is especially good—a little balm on the wound. I feel better having read it.
As you so wisely note, the Caps have many positives for the foreseeable future. As an franchise, the Caps will just have to take stock of what worked and prune away what didn’t.
This season was a hell of a ride!
Are we rooting for San Jose now?
Then the inevitable “they’re the San Jose of the East” may not hurt as much.
A real American hero...taking down Habs one game at a time
I know I’m rooting for San Jose, if for no other reason than to give our guys some hope that it’s possible
LET'S GO CAPS!!!
considering the nucleus of players 25 and under we have I’m slowly coming to grips with things.
Ovie – 23
Semin – 25
Backstrom – 21
Fehr – 23
Gordon – 25
MP – 21
Green – 23
Schultz – 23
Alzner – 20
Carlson – 19
Varly – 21
Neuvirth – 21
and Good Samaritan Brooksie is only 26.
I tend to forget how young this team is and how their potential has yet to be realized. Another year with Chimera and Knuble will do wonders for this team. I’m already looking forward to next year.
My great fear is that the nucleus of this team is so close in age. Half of that list is up for a new contract in the next 2 seasons, so you have to wonder how long GMGM can keep the group together and keep the salaries under the cap.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Apr 29, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
And Ovie’s 24 and Varly just turned 22 and Carlson is 20. All of those ages appear to be from before the season started. Not that it makes too much of a difference.
This series is taking years off of my life.
by Knubles and Bits on Apr 29, 2010 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea, no biggie. Not like a year really makes a big difference. They are still young guys and have a lot more hockey ahead of them.
This series is taking years off of my life.
by Knubles and Bits on Apr 29, 2010 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
RFAs this summer
Fehr
Schultz
Gordon
The team has $20M in cap space to sign a goalie, a defenceman, and five forwards.
But it gets worst next summer:
UFAs in 2011
Semin
Laich
Bradley
RFAs in 2011
Varlamov
Alzner
Neuvirth
GMGM will have a lot of work ahead of him in the next two summers to keep the team at the same high level. The window is not endless.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
A goalie, eh? If you were the Caps, you wouldn’t roll the dice a little and go with Varlamov and Neuvirth?
I would take my chances. If things aren’t working out by the deadline, then you have a chance to make a move.
This series is taking years off of my life.
by Knubles and Bits on Apr 29, 2010 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh yeah, Neuvirth still has one year on his ELC. But if you do that then you still have to re-sign one of them the year after so you’d need to manage the cap to leave that space open.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
They’ll probably sign up this year’s RFA’s. At least that’s my guess.
As for next year, we’ll see what happens. My wishes on that front include a nice birthday present for Brooks Laich, as in a shiny new center to anchor the line between him & Sasha. And for that center to do well during the 2nd half of the season and throughout the playoffs. To give both him and Semin a better chance of scoring in next year’s playoffs. And a greater incentive for keeping them both.
Rocking the Red since 1975
The Hunt Wait for Red October
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 29, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Tennyson and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
I found this from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (thanks Google) and it would seem like an anthem we want to adopt.
The song is called “The Roses of Success” and the first verse is:
Every bursted bubble has a glory!
Each abysmal failure makes a point!
Every glowing path that goes astray,
Shows you how to find a better way.
So every time you stumble never grumble.
Next time you’ll bumble even less!
For up from the ashes, up from the ashes, grow the roses of success!
Watching more games on Slingbox than anyone else!
And now, I have it stuck in my head…
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
here’s some more balm for things. No team has won the SC the year it won it’s first Presidents’ Trophy, and 4 other teams won the PT and lost in the first round of the playoffs, San Jose last year, Detroit in ‘05-’06, St. Louis in ‘99-’00, and Chicago in ‘90-’91. So at least we’re not alone.
LET'S GO CAPS!!!
Amen to all of this.
Championships take time.
And I know its never happened. But when we talk about this team, this core group of guys, they are still very young.
proud 4th line advocate
resident master jinxer
For sure, it will be a bit difficult to keep all the guys together the season after next, but no one usually does that in the Salary Cap world.
Pray that we win next year.
It's The Wait for Red October. Except rather than Sean Connery, Alex Baldwin, and Sam Neill, it's George McPhee, Bruce Boudreau, and Alex Ovechkin.
Not Tom Clancy, but Gary Bettman. Not the Soviet Kremlin, but. . .well. . . .yeah, the Soviet Kremlin
yea, I mean I would love to see our lineup next year look something like this:
Ovechkin Backstrom Knuble
Semin Perreault Laich
Fehr Belanger Chimera
Bradley Steckel Gordon
Green Schultz
Carlson Alzner
Poti/Juice ?
Varlamov
Theo/Neuvirth
proud 4th line advocate
resident master jinxer
I think the Caps are completely capable of that if they drop some excess cap hits with Theo and various other players.
It's The Wait for Red October. Except rather than Sean Connery, Alex Baldwin, and Sam Neill, it's George McPhee, Bruce Boudreau, and Alex Ovechkin.
Not Tom Clancy, but Gary Bettman. Not the Soviet Kremlin, but. . .well. . . .yeah, the Soviet Kremlin
I have a hard time understanding what we all learn from this. This was the best team the Caps have ever assembled. It was one of the historically best teams in the NHL. It was a team so far ahead of all the other teams this year. It would have surprised no one if their names were on the Stanley Cup. And yet, they blow the season in the most heart-wrenchingly terrible way.
How do you make the team better, or less likely to do this again? That’s what I don’t get. How come Backstrom and Ovechkin don’t perform in the playoffs when needed, but Crosby and Malkin seem to? How does a team with friggin Mark Eaton and Pascal Dupuis win the Cup, when our players in those positions are so much better? That’s what frustrates the hell out of me. Our team on paper doesn’t look worse than the Pens or the Wings. But on the ice, it always somehow is when it counts. Scott Gomez is leading his team to the 2nd round, but Alexander Semin is on a plane to Krasnoyarsk. What does one learn from that??
I don’t see where you go from here. Those are some reasonable points above, Becca, but I don’t get what they mean to the franchise, or what one can make them mean.
I don’t know exactly, but maybe we should ask the early 80s Wayne Gretzky Oilers teams, who put up 111 and 106 points in the regular season yet lost in the first round of the playoffs, then lost in the Cup finals … before breaking through and winning FIVE CUPS IN SEVEN YEARS, even one of them without #99!
by marconi64 on Apr 29, 2010 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think we can say that Backstrom and Ovechkin don’t perform. I thought they were something like 47% of the team’s offensive production heading into game 7 of this series after being far less than that during the regular season. It’s that the complementary parts that needed to be greater. Ovechkin and 5(6) goals in the series and 10 points. Backstrom almost singlehandedly won game 2. I thought that out top stars were just a hair less than we needed them to be but strong enough to get the job done had other parts like Semin, Green, and Flash performed closer to regular season expectations.
A real American hero...taking down Habs one game at a time
Sorry, but there is no silver lining. A talented and healthy Caps team, one who won the overall title for the regular season just lost in the 1st round of the playoffs. This for a team whose core and coach lost in the 1st round and 2nd round in the two prior years and was forced to a Game 7 in the one series it did win by an inferior opponent.
This shouldn’t have happened. If this franchise didn’t learn from the 2 previous years, not sure how much faith I have that they will learn lessons from this year. And even if they do this was a golden opportunity wasted. The combination of a healthy team with depth in a weak conference doesn’t come along often.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
A talented and healthy Caps team
Probably the biggest forsaken element of our post-season.
We were healthy, we made it through the entire season and had everybody. Fucking blows man, it fucking blows
It's The Wait for Red October. Except rather than Sean Connery, Alex Baldwin, and Sam Neill, it's George McPhee, Bruce Boudreau, and Alex Ovechkin.
Not Tom Clancy, but Gary Bettman. Not the Soviet Kremlin, but. . .well. . . .yeah, the Soviet Kremlin
Golden Chances ....
I wonder who in here HASN’T blown a golden chance in their life?
The Farm report is DA Bomb... read it, rec it, love it ....
by TheFuryUnleashed on Apr 29, 2010 6:09 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Thanks for the effort
but I’m not ready for any silver linings. There are none, to me. This season is a huge failure. I don’t care about records, and all that junk, not really. I just caer about the playoffs. 82 games to get ready for it, and thats all. If you can do all that in the regular season, then you should have problem beating the 8th seed in round 1. The fact that they didn’t means, to me, that all those regular season milestones are just that- stones, worth little more than touys to kick around down the path to glory.
The sad fact of the matter is, I overlooked a lot of the things I knew were wrong with the team when I shouldn’t have; sure, i acknowledged them to myself, but no more free passes. No more"oh, its ok, they’re first in the east by a mile." No more “schultz is a +500 with a million hitpoints…” This team is lacking a physical presence and as long as we except the softies we will continue to be the laughing stocks of the league. The Caps needed to desperately upgrade their 2nd line to hang with the Philly’s, Boston’s, Pens and Sharks. They didn’t. They stayed light on the wings heading into a post season that I KNOW requires grit, sandpaper, punishing physical contact and viscous corner and half-board wars to be successful. Instead, they went with Flash while the Pens grabbed Ponikarovsky. I didn’t make to much of it at the time, because I was busy denying. But They should have added 6’4" 220lb LW’s to a line that was paper thin and completely unproven in the post season. These decisions, every year, mire this team in a perpetual hole of losing and unfulfilled promise. Young or not.
We can talk of silver linings and smile about our next years all we want. The reality is, next year just a couple of unfortunate but critical injuries could keep this team from either getting to the playoffs or making it far. They were healthy going into it this year. They might not be so lucky again. Fate is cruel and clouds bring rain. Enjoy the parade, I mean no disrespect, but I’m not buying into it. Not again.
All that matters is the playoffs. The regular season just sets up who gets in.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 6:31 PM EDT reply actions
No more"oh, its ok, they’re first in the east by a mile." No more "schultz is a +500 with a million hitpoints…" This team is lacking a physical presence and as long as we except the softies we will continue to be the laughing stocks of the league.
I really, really don’t think the Capitals lost this series because they don’t his enough.
by David Getz on Apr 29, 2010 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
because they don’thishit enough
Price a flanché, cette fois devant le tsar lui-même, Alex Ovechkin.
No, and you can’t put it on any one thing. There was more than one thing. Regardless, after 20+ years of watching playoff hockey, its quite clear to me that the Caps weren’t physical enough. Its not just hitting, its winning the battles, along the boards, in the neutral zone, in the corners…and what you need is an assortment of skill and physical prowess. Lets not confuse being physical with hitting.
They don’t hit enough, though, especially the guys that need to be hit.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe it’s the right type of hitting we were lacking…granted the way they track hits for the stats never seems right on the money, but we led in hits something like 15 to 3 after the 1st last night. Truthfully watching that 1st period, aside from the stupid penalty by Green and the 4 on 3 goal that resulted, you felt like that Caps did exactly what they didn’t do in Games 5 and 6…get behind early and spend the rest of the game catching up. Up until that penalty I felt like we’d done a good job of controlling the game and limiting their chances.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree, they did do a good job of controlling the game. My point is that the Caps simply don’t play a physical enough brand of hockey. I saw Steckel (the few games that he played) pull off and avoid finishing a check too much for my liking. I saw Flash disappear entirely because he was unable to get clear or outmuscle the guy on him. I hardly ever saw anyone getting rubbed out along the boards, hardly a snarl, no meanness, no aggression. Ovechkin is known for big big hits, and yet there weren’t many of those. Its just not enough in the playoffs. Remember when the Ducks won the cup? They led the league in fighting majors. I don’t mean “everyone should fight”. I mean that team was built up of guys who were willing to get dirty, physically imposing, and play with snarl. That’s what complemented the skilled guys. Pittsburgh last year played balls out in your face hockey and they put guys on the wing that could keep up with the grind. If they didn’t, they sat em. Detroit is a complement of skill and physical power. Holmstrom stands in the crease looking for rebounds and deflections every shift. Franzen is called ‘mule’. We have Ovechkin. One mule (or rabid sheep) and then no one until you get to Chimera and Bradley, (and Walker who was more suited to a ‘physical team" according to the coach). I would have put Chimera and Fehr on the 2nd line because they were playing like it, rather than Semin and Flash who were clearly over matched. Thats all I’m saying. Too much dangling, not enough snarl, too soft in the top 6, too soft up front on the blueline. Just my opinion. Its worked for other teams though, and the Caps model hasn’t seemed to work for anyone yet.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Snarl!
Caps have snarl samples, rather than baked-in snarl. Post-suspension 8 relents. I see Carlson unfriendly, but the seasoned snarl is what Caps want. You gotta bake it right in though, or it’s no good.
Hey let's go, today is going to be our night
I give Carlson a pass on lack of monster snarl because he had enough of the aggressive snarl to actually stand guys up and win battles on the boards rather than give ground to a bunch of shifty, speedy forwards.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Amen to that! Carlson was very, very impressive. I can’t say enough about him. Seeing Carlson shove guys around, at 20, made it even more noticeable how much of it was missing. redlineblue, I agree too. Backed in snarl, not just samples of it here and there. Shifty, speedy, UNDERSIZED forwards. If you aren’t gonna push Gionta and Gomez around then who you gonna shove?
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
it still making my blood pressure rise. Ovechkin had a big hit on Gionta along the boards but then no one else followed up on it. You have simply got to wear a team down in a 7 game series. The Caps are always trying to conserve energy and save themselves for the next game, everyone minus Ovechkin, who shouldn’t have to be the only one throwing a body in the top 6.
This was the one team I did not want to face in the first round. Anyone but the Canadiens. They didn’t play the Caps physically all year, and Washington was more than happy to go along with that. When Philly stepped up, Caps stepped up. But you have to push the Caps to make them play like that. Montreal kept it a regular season speed, less than physical affair, and so dictated the course of play. I simply did not want Montreal for that reason. I hate that my fear ended up becoming reality.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I should say intelligent snarl as well. For all the blaming of Carlson for not backchecking hard enough on the 2nd goal last night…I still think that’s because he and everyone else with common sense didn’t think Mike Green would make the stupid play he made there. If you win the race to the puck, shouldn’t you you know, play the puck?
Green falls in love with landing a big hit or two when he can like it somehow makes up good “physical, defensive” play. That, or he gets worried about taking a hit sometimes in a vulnerable position when he’s making a play on a puck that he feels like he has to hit the other first to operate from a position of strength. I don’t mind that at times…except when you take not only the other guy, but yourself out of the play. It’s not the first time he’s made the mistake of going for the big hit without stopping the puck.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Each of those teams have a different makeup. I wouldn’t equate the Ducks Cup team with Detroit or even Pitt of the last 2 years at all. Like everything else in building a successful team there is a balance to be had. You need grit in all the right places. Hell thinking about it Ovechkin’s hitting did seem to be muted big time from other playoff series. You have to think the suspensions did something to him this year at least regarding his physical play.
I’m on the fence with Semin right now. When you think about it, he’s got one year but no more playoffs until the trade deadline before he becomes an UFA. A decision will need to be made regarding him. It’s hard for me to think there wasn’t at least some truth to him being snakebit in this series because while he produced nothing, he was not invisible in the slightest compared to Flash. If that tip in on that great 3 on 2 goes in in the 1st period every post on this site for the last 26 hours might look completely different right now.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I do wish Walker had played more. I was actually seeing some hitting and puck possession/dump and chase from that roster spot last night. Flash is a perfect example of what success in the regular season v. success in the playoffs is all about.
In the regular season you need enough guys who can produce scoring from throughout your team to outscore a different opposition from night to night. In the playoffs, when you’re facing the same team for possibly 7 games in a row, it’s about imposing your will on that team.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve been a big proponent of Smeins leading up to this series. THe guy has game breaking talent. His shot is great. But without a center that can finish, and a LW partner to get open, impose his will, crash the net for rebounds, Semin can’t get it done all by himself in the playoffs. There was just a complete absence of 2nd line presence. I fail to understand why Chimera didn’t get moved up to the wing so that he could crash the net and give Semin some more room, at least offer an option. Flash was just nowhere, not even visible. You play the guys that are doing the most work, the ones that are making a difference. That comes down to coaching. And no, I don’t think its easy because I’m in an arm chair. It was just plainly obvious.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I still think Semin was at least some unlucky in this series while Flash was the complete failure. Does that mean we’re a better team with Semin going forward (and when I say forward, I mean in future playoffs) or with the value we could get from moving him? I don’t know. That’s the hard decision that needs to get made before the deadline next year.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions
If you are going to use a bongo player like Semin on the right side, you need a physically imposing and skilled center, and full size LW. You can’t be soft on both sides of the line. It makes your second line too easy to keep in check. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why the coaches didn’t see that and move Chimera up, or play Fehr and Chimera 2nd line minutes. Those are serious lapses in judgment and illustrate the problems going forward. The whole line matching thing is another issue. Yes, you need to watch who you play Flash against, just like you watch who you play Sloan against. Just like DMG said yesterday, (or was that this morning?) there are some serious answers Bruce needs to come up with, because the questions are vital.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t mind Laich on the other side of Semin, although he seemed to play with a lot less snarl or at least aggressiveness most of the series. I felt he could have finished a few more of those rebounds as well. When he went to the bakery it worked.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions
just not with the centers they were using. Laich is a slim guy, too. If he’s staying at 2nd line LW (is he a legit 2nd line LW?), the center needs to be a brute. Eitherway, I want a brutish center on this team. There must be at least one on the team. Just imagine, for a moment, Getzlaf on teh 2nd line with Semin and Laich. Snarl, skill, size, the ability to impose his wiill. No way we get him, but he’s the model I’m trying to find out there. Morrison faded in November. Belanger is a defensive center and fit for a 3rd line. I’d keep Belanger over Steckel, thats for sure.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Belanger is more of a fit for 3C in my mind. When we talk Steckel at this point its only 4C…and then you have the him or Gordo discussion. I like your thinking on a big 2C, of course we could have drafted Getzlaf, but then we’d have no Fehr!. The idea to give MP a shot at 2C kind of ruins this idea to a degree.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I dont know about this MP thing. This team has to get tougher all around before I feel comfortable sending a guy who’s 5’9" in to play with Semin and Laich in the playoffs. HE might turn out to be a dynamo, I don’t know, but if he needs protection isn’t worthwhile to trade him before we go the Flash route and diminish his value? We’ve got 6’+ getting pushed around by Montreal!
I’d keep Gordon over Steckel at 4th C. He at least showed up.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed on Gordo over Steckel, although he can play wing as well…the only wildcard there is his back. Steckel could bounce back as well. I feel like MP and Semin could be a dynamic combo if they had the right guy on the other wing. I like Laich because he can contribute on basically any line but maybe he isn’t the right fit with those 2 guys.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
If only he didn’t have Hands of Stone.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Chimera is a solid 3rd line guy. The problem that GMGM and BB have made is putting guys on lines and positions that they just aren;t suited for
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions
A bit too much tinkering in the first place. Only time I ever remember him letting all 4 lines play pretty much intact for any number of games in his 3 years was around the time of the 14 game streak.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions
and the players responded overwhelmingly. Sad fact of the matter is he was married to Flash when he shouldn’t have been and down on Fehr when he needn’t be.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Forgot to finish… Semin is RW convert form the left. I see no viable rationale for not putting Semin on the left and Fehr on the right. After all the tinkering, why not that?
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I would like this. The reasoning for moving Semin over was so Ovechkin could get on ice sooner on changes since Semin takes a longer shift at times right? Discipline that. Semin/MP/Fehr might work. Fehr is more aggressive than overly physical but he at least would bring some of the size that Laich is lacking to a degree.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t mind managing Fehr’s minutes early in the year but as it went on he clearly deserved more of them. We all got semi fooled on Flash this year. He made good on that “potential 20 goal scorer” moniker. He just hasn’t shown up much in the playoffs at all. That’s where Semin differs in that he’s played 2 good series, and 2 bad ones.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder how much GMGM is involved in setting the lineups. Not sure I have any real confirmations/reports of his heavy involvement — do you?
No idea really.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
if you were GM, wouldn’t YOU have said something at one point? I sure as hell would have. I’m sure Burke isn’t letting his coaches have the full say. Why be the boss and let someone else dictate the roster?
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know why he wouldn’t want to see certain combinations if he’s the one that has to field the roster and select talent. They’ve been waiting on Fehr to come into his own since they drafted him. They left Getzlaf on the board because they had no depth on RW at all. They didn’t draft him to be a 3rd line grinder.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Imagine, if you will, a 2nd line center that played like Carter or Richards or Getzlaf, with CHimera on the 3rd line, a walker-esque player onthe 4th line with Brads, and commentators talking about how the 1st line could hurt you physically and score, the 2nd ine could hurt you physically and score, and the 3rd, and the 4th… thats what I want. Coupled with a Blueline that hurt you physically as well, and could score, so that if you somehow made it through the road blocks the forwards set up, you’re still getting crushed by the D. It makes me think back to those Caps teams of old with Langway and Hatcher and Stevens… I was too young back then to think that would all go away. Now I look at Green playing with Schultz and Its just not the same…
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Green and Schultz don’t play as physical as their sizes would indicate. Granted, #55 picked it up more this year versus other years, and I don’t think he had a bad series…not as effective as he was in the regular season but not bad. He’s getting better. I just want to see Green improve his decision making across the board. He overthinks.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions
There is going to be a season next year. Year after that? Another season. Year after that? Another season.
Every year has its own variables, its own random events, its own ridiculous turn of fate. Savard? They had no idea that would happen, no one would. You got it right.
The field was open. We had 80 yards of green grass ahead of us. The tackle from Philly tripped up and was practically flubbing around on the terf waiting for us to trample over him. The corner, clad in yellow and black, was in the back of their minds; yet, they really weren’t as stalwart as last year. Furthermore, we were even bigger, even stronger. And then finally. That safety. . sitting out in the green. The Caps couldn’t see that far out, but they were confident that they could bowl over the torn up safety in the distance. ANd then, in an instant, the inside linebacker. OF ALL PEOPLE. somehow broke through and got the Caps.
Thought i’d try my hand at some metaphor
It's The Wait for Red October. Except rather than Sean Connery, Alex Baldwin, and Sam Neill, it's George McPhee, Bruce Boudreau, and Alex Ovechkin.
Not Tom Clancy, but Gary Bettman. Not the Soviet Kremlin, but. . .well. . . .yeah, the Soviet Kremlin
OV Failed
I’ll start by saying I’m a Flyers fan, and I’m not here to rub any salt into your festering wound. Let’s just say I know the feeling of a surprising early elimination and it sucks. What I do want to comment on is AOV. I’ve been a staunch supporter of his since he and Cindy came into the league, always taking his side in the “Who’s Better” debate. As much as it pains me to say, as these two have matured into veterans, I’m switching my choice in the debate (still hate the guy). Cindy has proven to be clutch, and as John Buccigross will tell you, clutch is everything in life. I don’t need to recount Cindy’s big moments here. Neither of us like that, but we all know what they are.
As he has grown, AOV has started to get his opportunities, but has fallen short every single time. He’s now played in 4 Game 7’s. His team has lost three of them, and in the one they won — Game 7 vs. the Rangers — it was another Russian (Fedorov of all people) who was clutch. While watching last night’s game, I was rooting for the Caps (I wanted Philly to play you again and beat you, but my ulterior motive is irrelevant here).
I kept saying to myself “Come on Alex, now’s your chance. Tie this team onto your back and carry them. Summon your inner Keith Primeau and will your team to victory.”
He couldn’t do it. Couldn’t do it in any of his 3 previous Game 7’s (to his credit – he almost did it to Philly, but you can’t contain Joffrey Lupul). Couldn’t do it in the Olympics. I want the guy to succeed. He’s a blast to watch. My friend in DC will tell you, I was honestly pulling for the guy.
But unfortunately, he succumbed to the old knock on the Russians — disappears in the big games.
Maybe next year, Alex. имейте хорошее лето (have a nice summer).
On a side note, we don’t do things like “Cindy” here, since Crosby, while possibly hated, is immensely respected as well.
But unfortunately, he succumbed to the old knock on the Russians — disappears in the big games.
I don’t like how this comes up so frequently, especially in the media. Seems like Alexander Semin and Alexei Kovalev and Viktor Kozlov are the only people we’re speaking of with that. I mean, Slava Kozlov, Larionov, Konstantinov, Fetisov, Fedorov, Gonchar, Markov, Zubov, Nabokov (okay, he had one bad playoffs, but has been stellar otherwise), heck, even Varlamov if you toss out one particular game. Ovechkin fits with this latter camp, I think. He definitely wasn’t invisible. He just didn’t produce, but neither did any of the other Caps, really. Like you mentioned, he showed up against Philly, then showed up but couldn’t get much done against NYR (though on the replay seems like he was a factor in getting Fedorov so much room to shoot), no one showed up against PIT, really, and he showed up but was pressing against MTL. The team as a whole needs to find a better killer instinct.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 29, 2010 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Well as I recall at the game Ovi did have a goal at the beginning of the 3rd that would have tied the game, but as we all know it was disallowed due to skate contact between Knubes and Halak. So no I don’t lay this miserable, horrible loss solely at the feet of Ovi. This is a shared, epic failure.
by capsyoungguns on Apr 29, 2010 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions
If you’re going to include Crosby as clutch, you might want to look at his Stanley Cup Finals performance from last year. He was absolutely erased by Henrik Zetterberg. They’re both scoring above their (very, very high) career averages in the post-season, I don’t think you can call either of them non-clutch. Even Sid’s golden goal was after he disappeared in Canada’s three biggest games and Iginla hit him with a great feed along the boards. To his credit, he made a mind-blowing play to go skate-to-stick there, but he was a total non-factor to that point.
You know yourself that when the Caps were up against the wall in ’08, Ovechkin absolutely picked up the team on his back and very nearly won the series against Philly. He scored two points a game against PIT and barring a post from David Steckel in OT of game three, that turns out very differently.
The team failed, but it wasn’t for lack of effort or play on Ovechkin’s part, especially in games five and six.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 29, 2010 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions
It takes a whole team. Very few would (or should) argue that Crosby wasn’t the best player in the league in Round 1. In Game 6 when they eliminated Ottawa he was on ice for all 3 goals against that gave Ottawa a 3-0 lead and finished a -2 with 0 points. The rest of his team picked up their play and completed the comeback and elimination by winning in OT 4-3 with him doing nothing. No one is great every game, that’s why it’s a team effort that will get you through in the games that you don’t put the team on your back.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions
First of all, Ovie didn’t fail, the Caps as a TEAM did. Crosby, a great player in his own right, has had luck as well as talent on his side. He benefited by playing for better TEAMS with better coaching in last year’s playoffs and this year’s Olympics.
Crosby didn’t win the Stanley Cup by himself, the Penguins as a TEAM did. Crosby wasn’t the best Pens player either, it was his RUSSIAN teammate Evegni Malkin who won the Conn Smythe trophy.
Aside from scoring the winning goal in OT in the Olympics gold medal game, Crosby did next to nothing to help Team Canada. The best player of the tournament surely wasn’t Sid, it was US goalie Ryan Miller. Also, compare Team Canada’s coach Mike Babcock to the horrid Team Russia coach, plus the infighting between the KHL players vs. the NHL players, and that’s all you need to know about how and why TEAM Russia lost, not just Ovie.
Agree... But in due time.
I appreciate the optimism here, and I’ll agree with most of the points made. However, unlike the other recent wasabi bursts of playoff pain, this is a long slow habenero burn seeded in game 1 that is not going to go away anytime soon.
This was a golden opportunity, one most teams are rarely afforded – a healthy run into the playoffs with home ice through the end, with good trades made to bolster an already stellar team.
I enjoyed this season, and it has been a fantastic ride. I don’t regret trudging four miles after the February blizzard to watch one of the best games I’ve seen against the Pens.
I will be there once again full tilt come October, but the shadow of this series will loom over whatever happens between then and April, met with enjoyment but also expectations. I don’t doubt we will be a strong club for a long time to come, but this one hurts, and it hurts bad.
That said, thanks to all here, on the team, on the staff, for a great season. We’ll get there yet.
It’ll be interesting to see what Washington does. Before the small market teams agitated for a salary cap the Capitals would have almost a decade to learn before they risked losing their players to free agency and with Ted they would have had a very rich owner willing to foot the bill.
Now the window is not multiple years but a couple if you’re lucky. Some players on the team have progressed but as a unit this year feels like a step backwards during the time that matters most. It will be important to see how Washington reacts in the regular season next year when they know that the regular season games do not matter to a team of their calibre beyond ensuring that they are in the playoffs. If they start out slow I don’t think it would be the worst idea to move on from Boudreau but that was an entire other fanpost.
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by PPP on Apr 29, 2010 7:45 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Great post PPP. This is exactly why I don’t buy the comparison’s to previous era’s teams like the Oilers & Wings that others have brought up. The salary cap changes the dynamics and makes it extremely hard to keep a core of players intact for an extended period of time.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I think you can still keep the window open for a decade provided that you do exceptionally well in the draft. The Capitals will probably build around a core of Backstrom, Ovie, Alzner, Carlson and Green for the next seven or so years. McPhee’s big challenge now is to fill in the gaps with role players. Maybe shedding some of the talent like Semin will do them some good.
You can do it (Ken Holland is the best example), but you absolutely must get production and regular minutes out of your lower-round draft picks. I’ve yet to see much of that from George, here’s hoping that changes, and soon.
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by Knee high to a duck on Apr 29, 2010 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve yet to see that on a consistent basis from many franchises not named Detroit.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 29, 2010 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Holland’s done it for five years since the lockout. He’s shed a lot of talent every year. It’ll be interesting to see who he loses this year.
Drafting definitely offsets a lot of that but it puts a lot of pressure on the scouts.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
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It puts an enormous amount of pressure on the scouts, but draft picks are the best way to cost-control talent with the market set up the way it is. If you spend to the cap (Detroit certainly does), then you have two resources – roster spots and production per cap dollar. Assuming everyone uses all their roster spots (I’m looking at you, Calgary), it’s all about getting maximum benefit over league average per cap dollar. Since ELCs are so much cheaper than any other option, I think scouting and development with respect to the draft are the single most important management aspects that a franchise can undertake and it’s not even close. To field a contender, you absolutely must get solid production from your draft, especially on ELCs, or have cheaper RFAs. There’s really no way around it, unless you can take advantage of the goalie market inefficiencies.
So the upshoot is that while Holland’s approach puts an enormous amount of pressure on the scouts, every team should have enormous pressure on its scouts, until the CBA changes dramatically.
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by Knee high to a duck on Apr 29, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
yessum. and this begs the question of whether the talent pool is watered down too much with 30 franchises. Perhaps this CBA model requires less talent dilution to better the league. Its not american football, where you have loads and loads of players to choose from. There are only 30 million Canadians!
#needsmorecanadians?
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I’m more in line with PPP’s thinking on this, and frankly I am not especially optimistic about next year. In fact, this season has the risk of having been the “high water point” for this club for a few years. The things I would be concerned about…
— A perverse “Stanley Cup hangover.” The bitter taste of this season spilling over into next, and the club playing in a funk for three months.
— The “leash” problem. In retrospect, it appears at least credible that too many players enjoyed too long a leash by the coaching staff. Spin that forward… the coaching staff tries to pull back, the players either grumble or act out resistance to that, performance suffers on the ice, the coaching staff loses the room, the team loses the season.
- The “frog in the pot” problem. Put a frog in a pot of boiling water, it jumps out. Put a frog in a pot of cool water and slowly turn up the heat, it never knows the difference. Go back to looking a clips of Alex Ovechkin in his first couple of years, and what you see is what folks loved about him - boundless enthusiasm, unquenchable hunger to score goals from anywhere, infectious personality. His game has taken on something of a more sullen hue to it. There is the “physical” aspect that seems at times to hit just to hit. Offensively, I had the feeling his wires were crossed a lot of the time this year, consiously trying to spread things around and passing up opportunities. Maybe it’s the sorting out process for him as captain — a leader of men trying to pull them all along — but its a process that hopefully has a happy end. The player Ovechkin became this year has been subtle in its evolution, but it looks quite different than the 2006-2008 version. I’m not sure its a better edition.
— Ability to adapt. There is now a users manual on how to play the Caps, courtesy of the Penguins and Canadiens. Active forechecking and patient, boring, position-oriented defense. That the Caps play in a weak division means that they will play teams a lot that can’t muster that sort of game, but the teams against which they will compete in the playoffs can. They’d better find a way to adapt to it.
— Soft underbelly. In case you haven’t noticed, the bottom half of the forwards are now a mess. David Steckel sat for four games of the series. Tomas Flesichmann was getting fourth-liner amounts of minutes at the end, then was given a seat. Scott Walker played one game after not playing since April 11th. Brendan Morrison sat for two games. I think Boyd Gordon and played himself into a new contract with this club, and thank heavens Chimera still has two years on his deal, but the others? And who replaces them?
— Youth. The Caps will almost certainly have two rookies getting significant minutes on the blue line – Carlson and Alzner. Carlson played a good series against Montreal, but when he made mistakes, they were significant. Alzner has been uneven in his time with the big club. There will be a lot of that next year as they get their bearings over a full NHL season. Think they will be better over 82 games than Shaone Morrison and John Erskine? Eventually, they will be far better, but next year… not so sure. You could also see Mathieu Perreault graduate to the big club. He had spurts when he looked mighty good, others when he was completely invisible.
- Upheaval. If the Caps get off to a bad start next year, Boudreau could be next year’s “Michel Therrien” - a coach who had a big season, then gets shown the door the next. That’s the only scenario I can see in which Boudreau is relieved. I highly doubt he’d be fired this summer.
— Goaltending. You’re likely to see two very young guys getting significant minutes next year (though I suspect the Caps will be looking hard at a solid backup veteran). That’s a prescription for volatility, especially when you’re breaking in two rookie defensemen, too.
I can’t see a way that the Caps miss the playoffs next year. They have too much talent at the top of the roster for that, and they play in a weak division. But I don’t think it inconceivable that they actually finish behind Carolina next year and end up with a 6-8 seed. They could look a lot like Boston this year in terms of the ride they take to make the playoffs. The question will be whether at the end of that ride they will be more playoff ready than they were this year.
This year was a step back, and I’m concerned they will take another next year.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Apr 30, 2010 6:51 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I can see your points on the Caps having “Disappointing Season Hangoveritis” for next year. That is a certainly a valid fear and it’s in the back of my mind. There certainly will not be the same drive to play to become the #1 seed since where did it get them.
I say they will still make the playoffs, even if they will probably be breaking in Alzner and possibly other kids from Hershey.
One possible piece of heartening news. It took 4 tries for the Wayne Gretzky era Edmonton Oilers to win a Stanley Cup. Before that they tended to lose in Round 1 or Round 2, generally the former and that was the case in Year 3.
Rocking the Red since 1975
For me, one of the best silver linings was the story with Brooks changing someone’s tire. As frustrating as this team can be, I will always be able to root for people like that on the squad, you know?
24 hours later, I find myself feeling less hurt about this then maybe I should. It was a great season, and as much as I desperately want a Cup, I can only chalk this year up to another less learned. I can only hope the boys take something from this and grow.
I will hope forever, and someday I’ll have to be right. :P
I’m not sure this wasn’t mentioned yesterday/today in this ocean of messages, but I can’t get rid of a feeling that GMGM’s trades somehow disrupted cohesiveness of this team. With such a long bench, BB was in fact forced to shuffle the lines more than necessary, even to his liking. As a result, the players in all lines but the first were not much feeling each other.
It muddied up the bottom 6, for sure, but it seems like those guys came through and did what you want your 3rd and 4th line to do. I agree with your sentiment though, things got wonky towards the end. However, I don’t think that was a large factor in the playoff implosion. It was the guys who were safe that had the most trouble, and BMo.
by The Jade Donkey on Apr 29, 2010 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, one things for sure, I wont miss the olympics next year. Something about it that screwed us up big time once the season started back up.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 29, 2010 10:55 PM EDT reply actions
Indeed! And the hammering of him by the refs throughout the season, starting with the excessive penalties, which led to the suspensions. It was as if the refs decided to create the track record such as throwing him out of the game for that Kaleta hit early in the season.
By the time he seemed to regain himself after the Olympics for that Chicago game, boom he uses too much force on Campbell and gets thrown out again and suspended. I think the Campbell hit and suspension especially had him questioning the degree of physicality he should bring.
And the rationale for the suspensions must have driven him crazy: suspend for the kneeing because he COULD have caused injury and suspend in the second example because he DID cause injury.
Personally I thought the league disciplinarians were trying to box him in somehow, and the pure rhythm of and total confidence in his game has been erratic ever since. I truly hope he finds his center this off-season, because the fact that he could still put up such great numbers despite the setbacks and subtle changes in his game astounds me.
by capsyoungguns on May 1, 2010 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree with your assessment on the penalties on Ovi. For the Kaleta hit, I would have been fine with Ovi getting a two minute minor. The ironic thing is that Ovi’s 5 minute major in that game was the first penalty called in that entire game. The refs had essentially put away their whistles, until then.
And then Gleeson hit where he got tossed out and, of course, he’s the one injured and not Gleeson who came back while the 5 minute penalty was still being served.
It did seem to me that he was being made an example of this season. The message to the fans and the league that “yes, we do suspend superstars and not just 4th liners.”
Rocking the Red since 1975
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Founder of the Eric Fehr Fan Club.
Our hearts are broken – this is not new to us – we are Capitals fans.
Just win the cup before I die. Not asking much…
I’m asking for the same thing also, my friend. I was 22 when I started following the Caps. Now I’m nearly 57. Yes, I followed them almost from the beginning and seen them through every heartbreak.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I’ve been a Caps fan since the 1980s when I got satellite TV and discovered the HTS channel (long time fans will know what I mean). I’ve been through decades of a roller coaster of feelings, of high hopes and expectations turned to ashes in the playoffs. I too hope to live long enough to see the Caps hoist and drink champagne from Lord Stanley’s chalice. And I especially want to witness this glorious moment while Ovie is still playing for the team. I want to see him vindicated and joyously happy as a Stanley Cup champion.
I don’t wish to be a buzzkill, just trying to think how we can win the Cup. All of the “excited for next year” talk seems justified when you look at our absolutely sick roster of incredible talent. No doubt it’s the best in the league. But you can only keep that together for so long. You may only have a couple of shots at winning the Cup and we totally blew one of those this year. Why? A coach who was completely and totally lost.
I have zero faith that Boudreau can get us a Cup. If we don’t change coaches, then prepare to repeat “what-a-great-regular-season-so-close-in-the-playoffs-can-you-believe-we-were-shut-down-by-[insert goalie here]-oh-well-excited-for-next-year” for two more years and then our nucleus will fall apart because of salary cap issues. And then what?
Replace Boudreau. Get a winner, then go win the damn Cup. With this talent, there’s no excuse.
Deja Vu all Over Again- Yogi Berra
Becca,
It’s hard to keep the faith when we just saw the Penguins dismantle Montreal and went something like 4 for 4 on the power play. We just don’t have what it takes in the playoffs. Mostly show horses and just a few draft mules, all who seem to tighten up in a must win situation. I’m tired of hearing this “hot goalie” shit. I’ve heard that for years whether we were shooting into Hrudy’s glove or Vanbiesbrook’s chest or whoever.
I remember when Pisarcek fumbled into the end zone on a hand off while running out the clock when the Giants played the Eagles back in the 70’s or 80’s and Philly recovered to score the winning TD. The next game at Giants stadium someone hired a banner plane that said “20 years of rebuilding- we’ve had enough”.
Of course after 911 we couldn’t do that over the VC but after almost 36 years of really pulling for this team, pretty much bringing my son up at the old Cap Centre, and thinking this was our year, I’m damn close to having enough.
"Don’t put your beer in the microwave, eh. It’ll boil."-Bob McKenzie
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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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