Bondra On Considering Position With the Caps: "This Is My Future"
by Stephen Pepper on May 24, 2010 1:00 PM EDT
in Translations
Email
Print
An interview with Slovak national team General Manager -- and, of course, Washington Capitals legend -- Peter Bondra published over the weekend in Bratislava's Pravda, following the conclusion of Slovakia's play in the IIHF World Championships, revealed that Bondra has had an offer on the table for a position with the Caps. One that may still impact his decision to stay on with the national team in his current post. Translated via Google (bearing in mind its limitations), in relevant part:
At the prior [World Championship] you have declared that you will decide after the next [WC] if you will continue in the post of general manager. Staying? Are you going?
The work I enjoy, but in the last two years, I have to table an offer from the club Washington Capitals - and delayed a decision on whether to accept.
What is the position?
We discussed it, but I cannot anticipate. In Washington, I played a substantial part of my career. I could help build it as an employee of the club. Familiar environment, management knows me. This is my future. Before the Olympics in Vancouver, I did not want to leave. Now, Glen Hanlon has come to coach the Slovak national team. I feel responsible to help him in the beginning. I would like to continue, because the future world championships will be in Slovakia.
No further information was available from the Caps.
We could certainly envision Bondra serving in some sort of player development role, much like Dale Hunter did for a brief period following his Washington career.
37 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Yes. Want.
Seeing as how he has frequented games, lives in the area (ish – he’s in Annapolis, I do believe), and the fans here adore him, I would love to see him back in the organization in some capacity.
Well, let's see. It's like ZORT! or, um, POIT!
I imagine that is coming next year or the year after. Very soon. They already are keeping people from wearing 12 so it is an inevitability.
Either way I’d love Bondra as part of the team. As much as I love Ovechkin, he isn’t creating a path he is just following in Bondra’s footsteps. He was the heart of the team and still is in my opinion.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again
Bondra still lives in the area? Did not know that. Was thinking that VP of European Scouting might be a possible job that was offered to him.
"Yes, but Rimmer Directive 271 states just as clearly, 'No chance you metal ba****d.'"
I believe his son plays in one of the Kettler hockey leagues.
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.
by Steck It Out on May 25, 2010 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Here’s the link to David Bondra:
http://www.atlantichockey.org/player_information.php?playerid=237
Rocking the Red since 1975
.
As good a time as any to break this out:
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on May 24, 2010 1:42 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
That is one dirty sweater. Dirty beautiful, that is.
by Stephen Pepper on May 24, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Wishful thinking? Bondra scored .47 goals per game in the regular season over his career and .375 in the playoffs. By comparison, Ovi’s at .68 regular season and .71 in the playoffs. If there’s one person who you’d hope could get Semin’s head straight, it’s his best buddy.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Alexander Semin had 8 points in the 7 games against Philadelphia, including 4 goals IIRC, in 2008, and then had 11 points against NYR with what, 5 goals? His first two postseason series were excellent.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Red Line Station: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
(note name change)
by red army line on May 24, 2010 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Sasha is an unfinished painting and Bonzai has had a career, so I decided to look at their years when they both were 23-26 years-old, since that is what Sasha is now. Sasha’s stats are better.
In the 4 seasons under consideration, Bondra scored 101 goals, had 111 assists (212 pts.) in 277 games played in the regular season for .77 PG. Sasha scored 138 goals, had 140 assists (278 pts.) in 275 games played in the regular season for 1.0 PG.
In post-season play, Bondra scored 8 goals, had 13 assists (21 pts.) in 26 games played for .81 PG. Sasha also scored 8 goals, had 16 assists (24 pts.) in 28 games played for .86 PG.
So, so far, Sasha has out-performed Bondra at the same points in their NHL careers by age. This does not include that first, truncated year Sasha had here as a 19-20 year-old.
Bondra is revered in our house, but Sasha has a similarly stellar start in comparison, if not better. The rest remains to be seen.
Bondra also played against much tougher defense and came to the NHL at a later age.
I waited all year for this?
The ages are really the same when they truly arrived in the NHL. Sasha was first here as a 19-year-old, playing 52 games. But, then there was the lock-out and the extra year he stayed in Russia. When he returned, he was 22, the same age Bondra was when he arrived in the NHL. They both played in leagues in their own countries for 4 seasons beforehand. The only difference is that Semin started that a year younger than Bondra. I can’t really compare further than that because Semin is now just 26.
Not sure what you mean by “played against much tougher defense:” exactly who and what and when as comapred to what Sasha has played against thus far? You mean during these specific years the defense was tougher, across the board? You can make that blanket statement? Not to mention that whatever defenses Sasha might play against remain to be seen.
The point is that their performances are comparable thus far when looking at nearly the same points in their careers and ages, and Sasha’s is even a little better in these stats. That’s not a small thing when Semin is routinely bashed with ferocity here. Last time I checked scoring stats, there were no asterisks for “tougher defense” as a qualifier for anyone’s scoring.
There’s no asterisks, but that’s why people do era-adjusted stats. The post-2005-lockout NHL is the easiest era to score since the 80s. That’s why I make a blanket statement about better defense. Bondra maybe caught a couple looser years when he was first entering the league but I don’t think it’s that controversial to say that the era Semin is playing in is easier for offensive players than the era Bondra played in.
I waited all year for this?
So Semin’s first year of only 52 games doesn’t count, but Bondra’s first year of 54 games does? Maybe you are trying to match ages, but when comparing how people break into the league as young players experience is at least (if not more so) important than age. Take the first 4 seasons of each player and the numbers aren’t so different.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on May 27, 2010 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions
To be fair, most players offensive totals go down in the playoffs, as the quality of the opponents goes up. You don’t get to play against the Thrashers, Oilers and Leafs in this year’s playoffs. Plus Bondra actually was hurt for a good chunk of the 1998 playoff run. He missed a game or two against Boston, and wasn’t really 100% until the Buffalo series, since the Caps eliminated Ottawa quickly and had a week off…
The stats you have there, showing that Ovi’s per game numbers go up in the postseason screams about how valuable he is to the Caps. Dale Hunter was similar and he scored at a higher rate in the postseason than the regular season throughout his career.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on May 24, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Ovi is certainly a step above Bonzai, but Bonzai was no slouch. The era he played in and the talent he was surrounded by were different. If he had Baks centering him his numbers would have been better.
As for coaching, I’m with you J.P., I don’t see how Bondra helps Semin. Then again I’m not sure who can.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I think Bondra would be more of a scout/talent evaluator than a coach/mentor role for this team. I think thats where his real talent will come through.
Interesting. When Bondra was a younger player, there were criticisms about his play too. “Sure he’s fast and good on the attack, but he doesn’t play any defense.” Not true, of course, and he is probably one of the best PK forwards the Caps have had in their history (gads, the Caps were blessed with those in the late 1990s/early 2000s: Oates, Bondra, Hunter, Halpern, Konowalchuk, Nikolishin, Kelly Miller…)
Semin’s got a “Put up or shut up” year coming up. Let’s see what he does with it.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on May 24, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Related to this, I once read an article that was comparing Bondra (early career) to Semin.
Both of them spent the early part of their careers in the shadow of another forward. In Bondra’s case, he was in the shadow of Dmitry Khristich, who ironically enough, wore #8. (Incidentally, both Bondra and Khristich were born in the Ukraine even though Bondra went on to represent Slovakia.)
They had fairly similar offensive statistics.
Rocking the Red since 1975
My Favorite Cap Ever
Love Bonzai. I would be thrilled if he took a position in the front office. Even though he still does many events for the club, I’m more thrilled that he and GMGM/Ted are able to officially put aside any lingering bad taste from the end of his career. Didn’t Bondra want to come back here for his final season, but the Caps thought he was asking for too much $$?
Also, something gets lost in the translation. The language seems contradictory in parts. He says the Caps are “his future”, but that he wants “to continue” his current Slovakian post because the WC is coming there soon.
I’m guessing any lingering bad taste has already been set aside. Bondra’s been a fixture at games these past few seasons.
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
I don’t know what the truth was, but I got the impression post lockout that his agent was toying with the Caps. They wanted him back, but he kept waiting rather than committing. Ultimately he ended up in Atlanta that year with a contract with incentives, and if I recall correctly, he would have ended up with more money if he had taken the Caps’ contract. I always saw it as a “cut off your nose to spite your face” situation, so I’m glad they eventually patched up the relationship.
"It's always good to have vikings."
It is, but I think he’s saying that he eventually wants to be involved in the NHL, after he sees it through with the national team.
Apparently, there’s no timetable imposed by the Caps for him accepting whatever position was offered.
by Stephen Pepper on May 25, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
This article makes me want to break out the old black Bondra jersey.
"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 May 24, 2010 6:09 PM EDT reply actions
Reading between the lines...
Before the Olympics in Vancouver, I did not want to leave. Now, Glen Hanlon has come to coach the Slovak national team.
Check out Fight For Old DC and DC Sports Plus!
by what Juneau about that? on May 24, 2010 6:58 PM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
The Vault
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Who are the Non-Smythe candidates for the Devils, Kings?
- End is near for Rick Nash, Blue Jackets as trade discussions set to resume
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Driven DeBoer delivers Devils back to NHL's elite
- Driven DeBoer, fired by Panthers, delivers Devils back to the land of elite in just one year
- Bruins acquire son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque
- Bruins add a Bourque: Chris Bourque, son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, acquired from Capitals
- Shinnimin named CHL's Player of the Year
