Tuesday Caps Clips
by J.P. on May 25, 2010 6:38 AM EDT
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- Craig Laughlin offers his thoughts on the Caps' roster going forward (spoiler alert: Eric Belanger is back, Brendan Morrison isn't, and Tomas Fleischmann... is a 30-goal scorer?). [CSN Washington (video)]
- By my math, the Caps' top five 2010-11 cap hits (excluding Michael Nylander) will take up a bit more than half of the total cap space allotted to each team... and that's not necessarily a bad thing. [FanHouse]
- A bit more on the Alex Ovechkin/Brooks Laich mini-kerfuffle and Semyon Varlamov's thoughts thereafter. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Speaking of Ovechkin, Scott Burnside takes a moment to kick him while he's down, which is always easiest, given the short distance one's foot has to travel. [ESPN]
- Oh, and Ovi's got a dog (insert Alexander Semin joke here). [Alex Ovetjkin]
- The Verizon Center is over-booked (at least for our liking) for the same reason we're all over-worked: gots to pay the bills. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Jose Theodore gets nominated for the King Clancy Trophy. [RtR]
- Re-CAPSule: Scott Walker. [Capitals]
- OFB's interns discuss Semin and Mike Gr- wait... OFB's interns? [OFB]
- Pretty sweet (albeit pricey) piece of nostalgia. [OFB]
- Sounds like Joel Broda doesn't think the Caps will sign him prior to the deadline for doing so, which is hardly surprising at this point. [Calgary Herald]
- With the Draft just a month away, here are three mock drafts, two of which have the Caps looking for a physical defenseman. My bet is that the team goes a different direction. [NHL, NHL, NHL]
- And speaking of 2010 Draft prospects, you knew Jarred Tinordi is the son of a former Cap Mark, is a big blueliner (6-5, 202), and is a US NTDP product, all of which had to place him squarely on George McPhee's radar. Now comes word that he might ditch Notre Dame (to which he had committed) and head to London (OHL) to play for Dale Hunter this fall. Hmm... [OHL Prospects]
- Future Washington Wizard John Wall knows that D.C. is a "great city" with "great fans" and "a great hockey team." Great. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Finally, happy 53rd birthday to Robert Picard.
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Buh — I’m seeing these clips appear from the wrong end of Monday.
I’m back in California now, but I just covered a deposition that was held in Taiwan by listening to it on the phone and watching the transcript appear over the internet live via computer. It ran from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM my time.
Mamas, don’t let yer babies grow up to be lawyers.
Good night everyone!
Atta dinnin stick a who!
good morning!
I don’t have much tolerance for stupid. Or cheese on food that doesn’t need it. -duck
by twistedlogic on May 25, 2010 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions
I feel like I’m a broken record — Burnside is an ass. I hated that he got the duty to cover our series. That’s it — I’ll blame it on him!
"It's always good to have vikings."
He is an ass, but...
At what point does his point about Ovie become reality? One of the best players in the world and the best player on teams that seem to “underachieve” in playoff/medal games. With every team disappointment for Ovie, the pressure grows.
by Direction 87 on May 25, 2010 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions
With Burnside, it’s not the what, it’s the how. I think there are comparables where the athlete in question may have been described as never being able to win “the big one”, but has it ever been so personal? Maybe it has and I don’t remember or didn’t notice because it wasn’t hockey. I’m thinking NFL, say Dan Marino? It took years for Peyton Manning to win the Super Bowl; was his ability as a player (or as a person) ever questioned?
"It's always good to have vikings."
by gfcaps fan on May 25, 2010 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
A quarterback in football takes control of the ball on nearly every single offensive snap in a game. Any one skater in hockey is on the ice for less than half a game and in control of the puck for a minimal amount of time. I might buy comparing a goalie to a QB, but not any one skater.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 25, 2010 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
No argument. Maybe compare to a baseball player? There’s someone who is 1/9 of the offense, but can have disproportional effect on the outcome. I was simply looking for guys who were labeled with being playoff chokers in the past. In football it’s going to be the quarterback, and those were names that jumped into my head. They never seemed to get personal character attacks for not succeeding, or maybe I’m just not remembering that.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I think somebody like Wilt Chamberlain would be a better comparison, who had amassed a bunch of individual records but not many championships. He didn’t really win the big one until he was on a Laker team with Jerry West. I don’t think anyone questioned Wilt’s ability.
Another example is Lebron James, who after 6 years in the NBA without a championship (and with a lousy team around him), has officially been thrown under the bus by the media,
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
Welcome to the world brought to you by the human race -“What have you done for me lately?”. Short term thinking reigns.
I told someone a long time ago MSM should just recycle old sports columns from the previous 8 decades and just substitute names.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Here’s the quote:
[I]f we’re going to continue to laud Ovechkin as one of the top two or three players in the world, it might be nice for him to lead his teams to something other than bitter disappointment and underachievement at some point.
To me, that reads as “If we’re going to talk about this guy as one of the best individuals in the game, let’s stop looking at him as an individual.” Um, ok.
One could argue – probably fairly – that “big game” performance is a key component of being one of the best players in the world, but to suggest that we completely disregard his individual abilities because of a small handful of games (many of which his high-profile teammates mailed in) is a joke.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 25, 2010 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Obviously I agree with this. The sample set of “big games” for AO isn’t all that big to begin with, but now Burnside and the hater crowd want to focus on a small subset of that already small set; ignoring that his overall numbers in “big games” are pretty damn good.
I waited all year for this?
by Rob Parker on May 25, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And furthermore, didn’t Russia win three straight WCs and place 4th in Torino in AO’s rookie season? Not too shabby there.
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 25, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah. I think Russia went silver in 07, Gold in 08 and 09, Silver in 10.
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Does he "underachieve?"
Ovechkin’s NHL Playoff Performance:
08: 1.3 PPG
09: 1.5 PPG
10: 1.4 PPG
Ovi’s International Performance during same timeframe:
08 WC: 1.3 PPG
10 Oly: 1.0 PPG
10 WC: .67 PPG
Which gives him a combined 1.2 PPG performance in playoff/international play over the past 3 years. The teams my underachieve, but it’s not Ovi doing it.
by Gin and Tonic on May 25, 2010 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Great work, but just to throw some anecdotal flavor in the mix:
GWG against Canada in the 2006 Olympics.
Points on both goals in game 7 against PHI, and two 3rd period goals in game 6 (GWG and insurance), and a GWG in game 1.
Leading scorer in the PIT series last year.
Led the Caps in scoring in the MON series.
He’s there when his team needs him.
I waited all year for this?
But he doesn’t make sure his team’s there when HE needs THEM!
But grace can still be found within the gale. With fear and reverence, raise your ragged sail.
by Steckel Me Elmo on May 25, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I wasn’t thrilled with his performances in games 5-7, were you? Not saying Burnside is right, but there are certainly improvements he can make IMO.
Everyone can make improvements. I wasn’t particularly disappointed with his 5-7 performance. I thought he was making an impact on the game and his line was generally dominating the Habs except Halak. He tried to do his one man show a little more than I like, but I thought he was engaged and playing pretty well.
I waited all year for this?
He would have gotten a goal in Game 7 if Knuble’s skate hadn’t brushed Halak’s.
by Gin and Tonic on May 25, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
But if we’re going to continue to laud Ovechkin as one of the top two or three players in the world, it might be nice for him to lead his teams to something other than bitter disappointment and underachievement at some point.
Um, 2008 IIHF Worlds anyone?
I believe in JC.
He also lead his team to three consecutive Division titles and a Presidents’ Trophy.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
exactly. if burnside is going to use the worlds as a guage, then why not include that? how about he’s won a gold, silver and bronze in three of the last four international competitions he’s played in.
as for underachievement, well this year no doubt. but losing in game seven to the eventual cup champs…dissapointing, not really underacheivement. and the year before going from worst to first….hmm.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on May 25, 2010 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Or why not look at individual statistics in those games? Over the last 3 years Ovi had a combined 1.2 PPG in playoff and international play.
by Gin and Tonic on May 25, 2010 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Touted as a spectacular individual talent, Alex Ovechkin’s team success has left much to be desired.
Tsn’s version of Ovechkin as a failure includes a lot of dramatic music affects but do have a voice of reason in Bob McKenzie.
What can I say I’m a JP fangirl. I will follow him into the darkest and filthiest of alleys, even the comment section at Puck Daddy.
Not sure why they need to throw “Touted as” in there at the beginning, but it’s hard to disagree with the rest of the sentence.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
How is it that the performance of a player who is 20-20-40, +14 in 28 playoff games, 6-5-11, +6 in nine elimination games be construed as a “failure” in his NHL playoff career. His teams failed, he didn’t.
As for the international record, the Russian team in Vancouver was very vulnerable on defense and on their bottom two lines; the Worlds was a team-wide effort to lose the championship game.
We said (and have been saying) since 2004 and 2005, the trick isn’t in drafting an Ovechkin or a Crosby. The trick is going to be what kind of team is built around them. Gretzky never won a Cup without a Messier. Jordan never won an NBA championship without a Pippen. The Caps have to get better, edgier, call it what you will, at other positions to succeed at this time of year, and that has nothing to do with Alex Ovechkin.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on May 25, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Who would be the whipping boy for the Canadian media if Ovie didn’t exist? Its almost gross how they, as a group, revel in every thing that doesn’t go right for the Great 8. When Ovie wins the cup they will ask why he hasn’t done more to solve hunger. There must be some other story hockey fans find more interesting.
by Direction 87 on May 25, 2010 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Because I’ve got to get it out of my head and into others (and I know the logistical issues with it), the Junkies mentioned rather casually at the 7am update the Caps and Rangers are playing at Yankee Stadium for the ’11 WC.
They're coming.
I know the logistical issues with it
To elaborate, the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl (ugh) will be played there on December 30, 2010. So, um, yeah. No hockey two days later (though if it was the Verizon Center…).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The name of that bowl game makes my brain hurt.
Related: Did Dan Beebe get the Big 12 job by beating out Cleon Lett?
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on May 25, 2010 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions
CitiField?
Anyway, I don’t understand why this keeps coming up. I thought Pittsburgh was already laying the ice at Heinz Field.
"It's always good to have vikings."
The possibility of CitiField to hold the Winter Classic came up last month. Conspiracy theories aside, I can’t see them giving this to Pittsburgh (a relatively small market) again, particularly with this year’s drop off in viewership.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
except that Pittsburgh pulls in HUGE viewership numbers. As does Washington (I think Washington had the highest first round games on Vs. might be wrong, though). You could put a Washington-Pittsburgh matchup in rural Saskatchewan and it would still result in record viewership levels.
that said, I really have no desire to watch the Caps play their Winter Classic in Pittsburgh. Or against Pittsburgh. Or have pretty much anything to do with Pittsburgh.
#savethekittens!
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There was an ever so small touch of snark to my comment, although I thought the latest buzz was that it was in fact a done deal Pens/Caps @ Heinz Field. The CitiField possibility was brought up last winter as soon as people realized that it couldn’t be at Yankee Stadium.
"It's always good to have vikings."
So is the primary function of the OFB interns to re-fill all those OFB coffee mugs? Also, when do the Rink interns start? I have a fax that I need sent.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on May 25, 2010 7:54 AM EDT reply actions
more importantly, will Rink interns do my actual work for me, thus allowing me even more free time to comment here?
#savethekittens!
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by RedBirdie on May 25, 2010 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
heh
Captain Canes Country suggests Nabokov to Washington (I know, I know):
Those goalies are making GM’s look silly for paying top money to established netminders as they are getting better results on the cheap. Although don’t look for Nabokov to make that kind of money again in his next contract, whether he re-signs with the Sharks or not.
Where will he end up? How about Washington? He would probably fit in perfectly with another group of postseason under-performers and might make a perfect mentor for Semyon Varlamov.
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damn
Last part obviously supposed to be quoted.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that’s a horrible idea that simply isn’t going to happen.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yup. Wrong on so many levels. Don’t even know where to start on that one.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I imagine they start with ‘f’ and ‘o’, respectively.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
“Russian FAs to Washington?” stories during the offseason run a close second to “Sid or AO” articles in terms of overall personal tolerance.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on May 25, 2010 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
not only that
But I found this wholly unnecessary:
He would probably fit in perfectly with another group of postseason under-performers
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions
At least they made the post-season and don’t have an owner who’s trying to sell 49% of the team.
Three years after winning the Stanley Cup, the Hurricanes broke even financially in the 2008-2009 season, when they reached the Eastern Conference finals in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Canes failed to reach the playoffs this season, however, and regular-season attendance declined. Karmanos said during the season that the team would take a “huge financial hit.”
News Observer
Allegedly the sale is to find a replacement for someone that died. In general I agree with any and all smears of CAR, and especially their fan base, but at the end of the day the truth is that when CAR somehow makes the playoffs, they tend to do damage.
I waited all year for this?
they tend to do damage.
Thanks in no small part to the leadership of Eric Staal.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
So you’re saying your head would ‘splode if you read "Sidney Crosby made Alexei Ponakorovsky better in the latter’s brief stint in Pittsburgh – let’s see if Alex Ovechkin can match Sid’s accomplishment and do the same, should Poni end up in D.C. as is widely expected."
Note: There isn’t a grain of truth in the example above, other than that Crosby, Poni and Ovi are actual human beings.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Well we can add “sign Nabokov” to the “trade for Kovalchuk/signing Volchenkov/re-sign Fedorov” rumors/speculation.
But to answer your question, I’d be like Florida Evans if that were to ever come down.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on May 25, 2010 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Do yourself a favor and when you see Harwood as the author of a piece just look away. If you are going to lose brain cells do it the old fashioned way…drink them away.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I don’t want to crap on him too much because he’s part of our network and has treated me fairly, but, uh, yeah. That wasn’t the brightest of articles.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Bleh. He obviously gave no thought at all to the statement ‘What about Washington?’ so its not really worth beating up.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Haha. I saw that and couldn’t wait to read the comments before getting up and arms. My failure to Z strikes again.
I waited all year for this?
Thats okay; I was looking forward to you chiming in on that one anyway.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Happy F'in Birthday Picard
you waste of a draft pick…didnt need mike bossy or doug wilson or any one of those other guys. go choke on a nice slice of pizza..
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
Not his fault the Caps picked him where they did. In fact, Picard was a very respectable defenseman during his sting here and went on to have a solid NHL career that spanned 13 seasons. He was also one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet.
Not to mention that he boldly went where no blah blah blah had gone before.
If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.
by Hang a Laingtern on Your Problems on May 25, 2010 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
yeah, not his fault. doesnt mean i cant be bitter about not having mike bossy instead…or that we drafted greg joly and mike marson before brian trottier…hmm bossy and trottier, how’d they do?
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on May 25, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Per several tweets, Steve Yzerman poised to be named TBL GM this afternoon, and might become the highest paid GM in hockey.
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He’s got some good players there. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if TBL make the playoffs next year.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup. It’s not like he’s going in to a job in Calgary, where the youngest player signed long term is Matt Stajan. That team has nothing to build around right now.
But grace can still be found within the gale. With fear and reverence, raise your ragged sail.
by Steckel Me Elmo on May 25, 2010 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Calgary’s one big clusterfuck right now. Not that I mind, but they’ve really messed up that organization.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I love it. Every nail in the Old Boy’s Network is a positive in my eyes. Time for the dinosaurs to move out and let people with brains run the league/teams.
I waited all year for this?
There really are fewer and fewer GMs who actually know what they’re doing these days.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
and might become the highest paid GM in hockey
That’s disturbing and insulting to numerous other GMs who have accomplished a lot more over a lot longer period of time. His name better sell a lot of tickets down in Tampa.
Oh I agree, but Stevie had the leverage in that situation.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
How many GMs have Olympic Gold! He’s had one GM stint and won the championship! 100%!
I waited all year for this?
I can’t imagine the cap hit! but, you knwo, it’s Stevie Y, I’m sure the NHL will grant him an exemption.
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It will all be a part of a conspiracy to make sure he never returns to the DET org.
Gary: “Hey Steve, we want you in TBL.”
Steve: “Bwahahahaha. Good one.”
Gary: “No, seriously.”
Steve: …
Gary: “We’ll relax the salary cap and make sure we rout as many Team Canada members to TBL as we can…”
I waited all year for this?
Gary: “Oh, and we’ll make sure you never, ever have to be anywhere close to Mike Green. deal?”
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“Except for the division games when you get to use your team to prove how bad he is defensively… or get torched by him in your own end. Either way.”
I waited all year for this?
here’s to hoping the “get torched by him in your own end” scenario happens 6 times next season.
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surprised to see him leave Detroit, since he’s been GM-in-waiting. Then again, St. Petersburg is a hell of a lot nicer place than Detroit.
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This is the crux of the matter. A few weeks back it was reported that Mike Ilitch wanted to promote Holland to team president to make room for Stevie Y. to become GM, but Holland said no.
hadn’t heard that, but its very interesting. For years, Holland said he’ll retire when Lidstrom retires. I wonder how serious he is about that.
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Hahahaha. It makes sense for TBL, I just find it hysterical that the core of that team is 3 Canadian guys that Yzerman deemed not good enough to play in the Olympics.
I waited all year for this?
That’ll be awkward! He needs to work some magic pretty quick, though, because Lecavalier and St. Louis aren’t really spring chickens anymore.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Actually, I think he’s in pretty damn good shape with the core he has, even without Marty. Stamkos is a brilliant player, Hedman is a bluechip stud and they’re drafting near the top of the first round again – they’re going to get another impact guy this season. If (and it’s a big if) Yzerman can plug in some good role players around those guys, they’ll be set for years to come.
Vinnie is an interesting case – he hasn’t been the same since his shoulder injury (It was Matt Cooke, wasn’t it?) and he’s definitely past the age where NHL players hit their peak. Even over and above that, he’s been playing full-time in the NHL since he was 18 and he’s put a lot of wear and tear in over those years.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
TBL has some good role players. The problem is they are paying them like they aren’t role players (looking at you, Ryan Malone). That won’t be a problem until they have to re-sign Hedman and Stamkos, but at some point they’ll regret the long term deals to Ohlund and Malone and maybe Bizzaros.
I waited all year for this?
Holy balls, I didn’t realize Malone was getting 4.5 mil. Or Mezsaros was getting 4 mil. Ohlund doesn’t look so hot at his cap number either, but it’s slightly more manageable.
But the Vinnie contract is a killer if he can’t get back to ~80 points and 35+ goals. You just can’t pay a guy 7.7 until 2020 if you’re not getting serious production out of him.
I didn’t realize it was that bad, he’s got his work cut out for him.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
The problem with the Ohlund deal is that he’s already 32, with a lot of miles and some recent health issues, and he’s signed through 2015-16. By that time he won’t be earning anything near his cap number and they’ll be paying Stamkos and Hedman in their second or third contracts.
Vinny’s contract is bad but he was still almost a point per game guy this year and I think there’s a decent chance they could find a taker if Vinny agreed to be moved. But you’re right, you can’t tie up that much money for that term in a guy that isn’t giving you cornerstone production.
I waited all year for this?
and Vinny’s production has gone done every year since the lockout. I’m not holding out hope that he’s going to get back to the elite level that you’d expect out of a guy with a 7.7 million cap hit.
So mostly I just laugh at that ridiculous contract Tamps Bay is stuck with for the next 9 years.
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that’s like asking if I prefer malaria or dengue fever.
E. Staal makes 8.25?! jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezus.
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He definitely held the leverage there. The Conn, the C, no other CAR “superstars”… but damn, overpayment!
He doesn’t have the Conn. Ward does. And he’s making 6+ through 2015-16.
I waited all year for this?
I don’t think there are more than a couple goalies that deserve more than 5.5 so I’m pretty much reflexively against a goalie getting paid 6+. I know I’m probably in the minority there though.
I waited all year for this?
I’d concur with this, and we’re seeing it proven repeatedly this year. There’s no reason to pay Luongo that much when a Niemi-type is just as effective.
I can’t really fault the Canes for paying Ward, though – he’s very good, and I’d definitely prefer him over MAF. I think.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d probably prefer him over MAF but not by a ton. Both can get hot, both have tons of skill, both have had their bouts with inconsistency. I’d say Ward is maybe a little more consistent but I don’t think it’s worth the 1.3 extra he makes over MAF. It doesn’t matter for CAR right now because they don’t have anyone else they need to lock up, but I wouldn’t commit that much money to a goalie.
I waited all year for this?
There’s no doubt you don’t commit that much money, but under the circumstances, I don’t know that I can blame Carolina. He’s won a Conn Smythe and looked superb. You can’t risk letting that go.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
You’re thinking of Carey Price.
"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 25, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m still not sure who I’d pick MAF or Ward, but I’d concur – Ward has been solid for them, and they’ve rode him in the playoffs more than once. But I’d still call it big overpayment on the Canes’ part.
Is that with or without money being part of the equation?
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you see the blog post last week (I’ll see if I can find it) that pretty much says after the top 3 or 4 goalies, pretty much every NHL starting goalie is of equal talent/value.
So overpaying for guys that aren’t Ryan Miller is foolish.
On BtN? Yeah I looked at it briefly, not a shock. This year, more than any other, confirms that it’s not about having a name goalie, it’s about having a goalie that is on their game. Not even necessarily hot, just on their game and not letting in weak goals. Leighton and Boucher have pretty much done that with PHI. They aren’t stealing anything but aren’t killing them either. I’d rather have Neuvirth and Varlamov and get 2 chances at a goalie that can play than put 6 million eggs in one goalie basket.
I waited all year for this?
But let’s not forget that both MTL and PHI have really solid Top 4 D, especially in the case of PHI. They also having been blocking ridiculous shot totals in the playoffs. I’m not completely comfortable with saying the same of our own D.
Yeah PHI definitely has a better D, but I don’t see how that negates the point. I’d point to PHI and say that we should load up paying our skaters instead of our goalies and ride the RFA contracts of Varly/Neuvy/Holtby as long as we can.
I waited all year for this?
It doesn’t. I agree with you, I guess I should’ve just expanded to say if we went with Varlavirth, then I’d only be comfortable if we beefed up at least our D. I’m very on-board with the way, for example, the Red Wings built their team.
The Wings have an awesome 2C.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
The Wings are pretty much awesome at every skater position. The Caps are not.
I waited all year for this?
I didn’t flesh that point out well. The Wings’ system works well in part because they have a really, really good 2C.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
And really, really good D (especially in terms of skating and puck moving). And have a well-rounded group of Fs who are all capable of great play in all zones.
I waited all year for this?
Yeah, exactly. I was just saying that in order to model after the Wings you’re gonna want a 2C like Pavelski instead of BMo.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, Miller may not even be in that group, because this season he was helped by a really good shorthanded sv%, which varies a lot from year to year. I think it’s Kiprusoff, Luongo, Lundqvist, and Vokoun, or something like that.
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(note name change)
by red army line on May 25, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
this season, Miller looked like the real deal to me.
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Miller is the real deal, he just has durability problems. If I was going to sign a goalie to a long term deal right now it would be Miller or Lundqvist. Luongo doesn’t do it for me and Kiprusoff is still basking in the glory of 2004. He’s been inconsistent and not exactly reliable since then.
I waited all year for this?
You wouldn’t sign him long term.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Age is a bit of a concern right now. He’s on the cusp and I do love Koun, but I don’t think I’d give him 6 years.
I waited all year for this?
I agree. Just was surprised you didn’t mention him with the group above. I’m not sure there is a goalie out there I’d sign to a 6 year deal right now. Maybe Miller. Another reason I like the Caps goalie situation right now.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Miller scares me because he gets hurt a lot. Honestly, I don’t think I’d give it to anyone but Lundqvist is probably the one I’m most likely to give it to with Miller just behind.
I waited all year for this?
Rinne? Bueller? Bueller?
Kidding, I wouldn’t even do that. Jonas Hiller is pretty intriguing as far as long term options go, though.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Too young. I’m not sold on any of these goalies that have fewer than 3 standout years.
I waited all year for this?
You’re right, and I think that ANA and NSH agree with you. The Rinne/Hiller deals are better than the MAF/Ward deals in that it gives both GMs a little time to see what they’ve got before breaking the piggy bank open.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Ward and MAF are both first round picks right? I wonder how much hype plays into those deals.
I waited all year for this?
IIRC, yes.
Makes sense.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Kipper definitely lived off of 2004 for a while, but this year he rebounded nicely and actually lived up to his reputation. His consistency is still definitely a problem though, and he’s too old to give a long term deal to anyway.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on May 25, 2010 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Staal is only (hahaha) signed until 2016, is younger and should produce more in the coming seasons. I’ll take that contract over the Lecavalier one, but hot damn.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
/gulp.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of Vinny’s they owe dead money to Prospal for the next 5 years.
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by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
They bought him out in the summer of ’09. He had 3 years left but they chose to take the hit over 5 years.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Lucky him. And then he goes right to the Rags for a new deal and was their second best offensive player.
I waited all year for this?
And now he’s a UFA who gets to capitalize on his season with the Rangers.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Really? How did I miss him in my search for 2Cs? Must be listed as a W.
How about a 1yr deal for him as the Caps 2c?
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
I was going to make a comment that Gaborik makes a lot of centers look better than they are, but Semin can do the same thing to a slightly lesser extent.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
And Prospal has legitimately been a productive player several times in his career. He hasn’t always been carried by linemates.
I waited all year for this?
I could definitely be wrong on this, but I keep thinking he’s a LW, and I’m not sure he plays well at C.
I’m pretty sure he played center (and quite well) this year. I know for certain he did against Nashville.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
OK, thought so. He’s a LW in NHL 08!
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
He was also a LW in Yahoo Fantasy Hockey.
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by Steckel Me Elmo on May 25, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Beat me to it.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Am I the only one who thinks Stamkos might take a sizeable step back now that teams will build their entire game plan around stopping him and not Vinnie? The kid’s a tremendous talent, but I can’t count how many times I saw him score on that one timer from the wing.
I think you may be right, at least on the PP where he did most of his damage. He still has a great shot and blazing speed so he should produce, but his production was highly predicated on St. Louis feeding him pucks.
I waited all year for this?
He’s got great hands too, he’s really good at swiping pucks as you go through the neutral zone and he’s a pretty big kid – I expect to see him fill out a bit as he gets older.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see his goals drop a bit, but his assists go up next season. Teams have got to have enough tape on the play where MSL walks up the boards and feeds from cross-ice to Stamkos for a one-timer from the right dot by now.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Depending on the coach they get, I’m predicting TBL has a top 5 PP next year.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Oates looks like a pretty good PP guy if he stays on and there’s a lot of talent there. Wouldn’t surprise me.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Hedman, Foster, VL, MSTL, Stamkos, Ohlund, Meszaros, Malone, Downie.
Not bad at all.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know of a good way to figure this up, but I think Stamkos’ production is going to directly correlate with St. Louis’. That guy’s ageless.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Marty is a love/hate thing with me. He pisses me off to no end because he’s so damn good. If there was one guy in the SE I’d love to have on the Caps it would be him. His tenacity alone is incredible.
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by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
IMO, he’s long been one of the league’s most underrated guys. He can dish the puck like few can.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I think I just /Fehr and Balanced’d
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah, Cooke. second-to-last game of 2007-2008, iirc.
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Perhaps, but the contracts to good, but not great, guys like Malone/Meszaros are handicapping him from signing other guys.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s what hurts every team — overpaying for 2nd-line players. It’s not a terrible thing to overpay Ovechkin or Crosby or Malkin or Zetterberg, because you’re getting things from those players that isn’t so easily replaced. Ryan Malone or Chris Kunitz or Daymond Langkow getting $4M+ just kills your team.
LOL. I feel bad for Iginla, I really do.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
we all feel bad for Iggy.
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I just wonder why Iginla hasn’t gotten the Ovechkin treatment. He’s been in the league for much longer and yet his team hasn’t done shit in the playoffs except for Mr. Kiprusoff’s wild ride.
I waited all year for this?
He’s Canadian, duh.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
and he has a gold medal.
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That’s the big one, and I can’t even really begrudge him since he scored 2 regulation goals in the gold medal game and was huge for Team Canada. But until then he had done nothing in the playoffs (and neither had his team) but you didn’t hear shit. AO has had international success as well (though not Olympic gold) and yet that is always overlooked.
I waited all year for this?
Two gold medals.
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by Killer_Carlson on May 25, 2010 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I hope people remember these comments when Alex Semin on his way elsewhere.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
If a team wants to pay Alexander Semin $7.5 million a year to be their top line left wing, then more power to them. But the Caps cannot afford to put $16 million in two wingers when they have problems of depth down the middle. If Semin survives the summer without being traded, I suspect next year is his last here, unless he accepts a deep hometown discount. And I suspect that whoever signs him to that $7.5 million deal will regret the signing, not for lack of talent, but for the fact that he is going to be the go-to guy, and he does not have the consistency of an Ovechkin or even a Kovalchuk to take on that responsibility successfully.
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by ThePeerless on May 25, 2010 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Peerless I’m in complete agreement. I hope you didn’t read my comments as thinking Semin was worth keeping at what he’s going to want to be paid.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m still of the belief that if the Caps don’t resign him after this contract, the next jersey Semin wears will have the team name in Cyrillic letters. I just don’t see him being comfortable in an NHL environment where Ovechkin isn’t riding shotgun. If he gets traded before this season, he’ll honor the last year, but I bet he bolts to the KHL in 2011.
Does it have to be Ovechkin? Would he be cool with another Russian or two?
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
You have anybody in mind? Seriously, Semin and Ovechkin are incredibly close, but more than that AO is a magnet for all the attention, both good and bad. Semin, by all reports, is very shy so I think he needs to be not only with another Russian(s), but also a star Russian. Kovalchuk could be a guy he might feel comfortable with, but Kovy is married with kids, so I don’t know.
Off the top of my head (and obviously not all of these guys’ teams have room for Semin): Malkin, Datsyuk, Grebeshkov, Volchenkov, Nabokov, Bryzgalov, Afinogenov, Kovalchuk, and a few others. I don’t know what these guys are like off the ice (other than Grebeshkov, a little), I was just wondering if it was a Russian friend Sasha was after or specifically Ovechkin.
I’m also pretty certain that Alex Radulov would be back quickly on a team with a Russian or two.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Point to ponder as a tangent to this conversation – this is the first SCF without any Russian players since 1991.
(per Chesnokov)
So that’s why Don Cherry was so happy last night.
by b.orr4 on May 25, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think, because Sasha gives off the impression that he is so shy, it has to be a Russian player that is at least as much of a “star” as he is. Malkin, Dats, Kovalchuk, perhaps even Bryz or Volchenkov would all fit. But then again, Sasha is the epitome of enigmatic, so who know what he thinks.
Does Malkin seem comfortable with a lot of attention? II didn’t get that impression. At least he seems to know more English than Semin. I do agree that Sasha would have to be paired with another Russian buddy, and the team would also have to have a superstar to deflect attention from him. Probably would work best if they were the same person.
Ovie and Semin seem like very close friends, they are still spending time together while back in Russia. I think Semin would have a hard adjustment without Ovie. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see him go back to the KHL.
Semin knows English (drafted back in 2002), but is still shy about using it, I think. There are stories of him speaking to other players, calling players to meetings, etc, in good English.
I don’t know, Datsyuk flies under the radar in Detroit without another Russian. I think Semin just needs a star to deflect attention, and in a place not all curious about a European player (like Detroit, with the Russians, then Swedes, I guess so the city isn’t all curious about Datsyuk).
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(note name change)
by red army line on May 25, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
There have been persistent rumors this summer about the KHL having issues meeting payroll, which makes jumping for a big contract a lot less appealing.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s part of what made the Coyotes so effective this season – they paid a bunch of second line producers third line money and they outperformed those contracts. That and Bryzgalov went nuts.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
they paid a bunch of second line producers third line money and they outperformed those contracts
I disagree. Name me one guy who outplayed his deal on their top 3 lines. Keep in mind Lombardi & Upshall were RFA’s so their deals were in line with their status. Vrbata was maybe the only one close to such a supposition and he still got 3 mil for his 24 goals. He’s the only guy who put up “second line” numbers. As for forwards who outperformed their contracts period its Prucha and Pyatt. Those guys had 13 and 12 goals respectively.
Maloney was smart. He went and got a bunch of vet free agents who were relatively cheap to fill the holes at every position, not just forwards. Most of the guys he got were “hungry” for various reasons. Therefore they did was Tippet asked aka defense first. None of their FA’s put up huge offensive numbers in a surprising manner.
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by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Stempniak?
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
That was a trade late in the season born partly out of pure need. I’ll give you he way outperformed what they had to pay him, but that was not how Maloney really constructed things to begin the year.
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by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Right, all I was going for was a guy who outperformed his pay.
They shouldn’t re-sign him, though.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Interesting. What are your reasons? Assuming he’s not going to score much this coming season? Contract demands?
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by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
A little of both. I don’t see a scenario where he produces relative to the contract that he will want. He’s mind numbingly inconsistent.
Vern Fiddler isn’t the type of center who’s going to make him better, either. I might sign him for 2, but thats pushing it.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Doesn’t matter if they were RFA or UFA, if he got more production than he paid them for, that’s a win. I also don’t define production simply as offensive output, but rather in total goal differential. He got more goal differential than you’d expect out of Vrbata, Upshall, Lombardi and Fiddler, given their contracts. They’re not Fs, but Yandle massively outperformed his contract, as did Sami Lepisto.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I concede after looking at league stats that Vrbata outperformed his deal relative to what other guys who had similar numbers put up. Probably even more so because of the stifling defense he played.
Everyone in PHX expected Lombardi & Upshall to put up big numbers based on what happened after they arrived the prior spring. I guess I was looking at it in terms of how he constructed the team and how guys get paid based on the salary structure of the league. I’d have to get a large slide rule, but I’m pretty sure RFA’s disproportionately outperform their deals because their salaries are constrained by the system and lack of offer sheets. They were both good pick ups at the deadline the prior year, but I’m not sure they were surprises.
As for D-men no argument there. Under any analysis or metric Yandle and Lepisto outperformed their contracts. The blueline was the true catalyst for the team on both ends of the ice.
Yandle was the big surprise. Everyone knew he had offensive talent, but his play in his own zone was what stood out most to me.
Sammi was a good cheap young fill in who held his own when called upon. Cheaper than Sloan too. (Caps fans groan).
Just to be clear – As I have mentioned before, Maloney has done a great job here. He has been working under serious budget constraints and in the middle of a lot of turmoil. The assets he was able to get at the deadline the last 2 seasons have been incredible. problem for him was and still is he can’t spend the type of money he needs to get front line scoring help. No one on their roster minus Upshall potentially is a 1st line guy. That includes the old guy with the “C”.
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by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I also want to mention since you brought up D-men who outperformed their deals that LaBarbera way outperformed his in net. They paid a UFA 1 mil for a .928 save percentage/.213 GAA in 17 games.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Jeff Marek Tweet
From people I have just spoken with the new GM in Tampa will be Steve Yzerman.
Wow! I wasn’t expecting that.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Wow! I wasn’t expecting that.
Know who was? This guy. Break out the auto-back-patter…
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by J.P. on May 25, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This close enough?
#NeedsMoreBradley
by Addison H. on May 25, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Re: Nabokov on the sidebar
Where will he end up? How about Washington? He would probably fit in perfectly with another group of postseason under-performers and might make a perfect mentor for Semyon Varlamov.
And he thinks we’re going to cut him slack for “Are the Caps ripe for a fall?” He follows a division rival and he still doesn’t have a clue. He totally whiffed on the Backstrom extension piece, he has no clue how good our players are, and he’s either taking a cheap shot at the Caps (which they may deserve) or he hasn’t been paying attention to… anything (why would we want to pay Nabokov what he’ll cost considering his lack of playoff performance? Why would Nabokov be the guy we want to mentor Varlamov?). He can delude himself into thinking Nabokov will go to the Caps and fuck our whole salary cap, but I don’t think there is a single intelligent observer that would peg Nabokov going to the Caps. He needs a crash course in CapGeek.
I waited all year for this?
I don’t think CapGeek is the first class he needs to take; you can deduce this one using common sense.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
I didn’t watch the Laughlin thing and probably won’t. Anyone want to summarize his logic behind Belanger coming back and Flash scoring 30 goals? Does Laughlin even acknowledge that Flash is a one trick pony?
I waited all year for this?
Can Flash gain 15-20 lbs over the summer like Backy did and maybe be able to compete a bit more physically? If he can, he’d be a much more effective player.
perhaps. I wonder how much his blood clot affected his off-season training last year and if that was at all a contributing factor
#NeedsMoreBradley
I wonder what his 2010-11 excuse for playing like a cupcake is going to be.
I waited all year for this?
by Rob Parker on May 25, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Flash reportedly put on 10 pounds of muscle in his core after his bout with deep vein thrombosis and didn’t look like he could keep it on over the course of the season. Doesn’t matter how strong or big he gets, he’s still going to have to look for contact in the dirty areas instead of shying away from it if he wants to be a consistently effective NHL scorer.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Re: Flash – he’s good “bang for the buck” in that he’ll give you 30 goals (his number, not mine). That’s the logic.
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I won’t deny that Flash was good bang for the buck the past couple seasons. But that era with Flash is over.
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by Steckel Me Elmo on May 25, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I like Laughlin, but frankly, I don’t much care if Fleischmann is a 30 goal scorer next year. The Caps have a lot of goal scoring, and what’s another 30-goal scorer, especially when that 30-goal scorer in waiting has exactly three goals in 22 career playoff games.
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by ThePeerless on May 25, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m going off memory, but he talked about the possible signing of Volchenkov and why he’d be a good fit, but in the same breath he said that they wouldn’t get rid of Semin. Just a curory look at the cap numbers shows that signing the A Train almost certainly requires jettisoning Semin’s $6 million salary.
we did the math… hard to see how the Caps can accommodate Semin and Volchenkov under the cap, unless they trade other assets, don’t re-sign others, and pretty much promote anyone of note from Hershey.
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by ThePeerless on May 25, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
and with Volchenkov, you really are geting (or need to have) more like 1.2 players. He’s missed 47 games the last three seasons.
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by ThePeerless on May 25, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
And plays a style that’s going to keep him banged up for the forseeable future. He’s not old, but that body has a lot of miles on it from blocking all those pucks.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
And given all those caveats, I’d still be clicking my heels if they got him on July 1st provided the deal was reasonable.
Schultz-Green
Carlson-Alzner
Poti-Volchenkov
That’s a defense that could win a Cup.
Caps still need to address their problems in goal.
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We can just pick up Boucher and Leighton in the off-season.
I waited all year for this?
by Rob Parker on May 25, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Stings like a bitch, but rec’d nonetheless.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on May 25, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
But not in the offseason. Start with Varlamov and Neuvirth. See if they’re as good as you think they could be. If not, good goalies can always be had on the trade market during the season. It’s not like you have to work hard to work them into your game plan — “the plan is for you to stop the puck…”
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on May 25, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
How easily could Poti be traded if they sign Volchenkov? He would likely take a lot of the PK time away from Poti, and Carlson would take away a lot of his secondary PP time.
If there’s anyone expendable, it’s him.
I agree; I’d love to see Poti gone. I just don’t see a taker. GMGM and BB seemed to value him pretty highly and won’t just give him away, but who would pay a lot for Poti? Plus, moving him and signing AV still leaves us with only 3 guys that are reliably top 4 NHL D.
I waited all year for this?
I know nobody loves Sloan or Erskine, but they can certainly play 3rd-pair minutes without doing too much damage.
Not in the playoffs. We can play basically anyone in the regular season but if Sloskine is in our top 6 come playoff time we are in trouble again.
I waited all year for this?
Sure, but that’s what the deadline’s for.
The Caps will be up against the salary cap for years to come, so they have to find ways to save money through the regular season. Trading for an expiring deal in March doesn’t put that much of a burden on their salary issues.
I basically agree with you but the deadline thing hasn’t exactly worked out for us. Maybe we get lucky but I’m not comfortable having Sloskine in the lineup at the deadline. Then we are over a barrel and absolutely have to find help. I’d rather have 6 reliable D and look for depth. I’d prefer Green/Schultz/Carlson/Alzner/Poti/Juice to anything that involves Sloskine in the lineup. We can still make a deadline move but we have more flexibility and breathing room that way.
I waited all year for this?
Plus, counting on the deadline for help means you have to be willing to overpay and outbid other teams for the D you want, and D of the variety we’d like aren’t a common commodity. I’d rather be looking for help to push us over the top, but not absolutely needing it per se.
Exactly, and you don’t even know if the guy you want is available. You don’t have enough control at the deadline to make it a valid team-building strategy. You can get depth and role players but I wouldn’t count on getting a major contributor at the deadline.
I waited all year for this?
I would argue that picking up a #6 D-man at the deadline to push Esrkine/Sloan out of the rotation is the very definition of a depth/role pickup.
Of course, if we are talking about having them as a our entire 3rd pair, and not just half of it, that’s not really acceptable.
I’d rather pick up a guy at the deadline that pushes Erskine to 8 and Sloan to Hershey. I’m just concerned that we give Sloskine a roster spot and say “we’ll address it at the deadline” and then are unable to find anyone that fits what we need and can pay. Remember, we don’t have a 2 in the 2011 draft anymore so it’ll be harder for us to pick up a quality D.
I waited all year for this?
I’m not really sure why you’d pick up a 6th D man at the deadline though… the “savings” you’d get, which I gather was RCheli’s point, by having said 6th Dman at the beginning of the season can’t be that much.
Well you’re already paying Erskine and Sloan this year regardless, so by scratching them every night, you’re throwing away nearly $2M.
If you use that $2M through the season and not add any more salary to your defense corps, you can more easily get a guy at the deadline that will strengthen you in your playoff run without hurting your cap.
I really, really wish that were true, but both of those guys have to be carefully managed and kept away from their weaknesses. For example, Erskine has to be kept away from speedy players like Stamkos or Gaborik – he flat out can’t catch them to play his brand of defense. He’s more okay with stronger skill guys and power forwards, but I still don’t want him out there against top line players.
Sloan has to be kept away from players who are effective puck movers – they pull him out of position and then exploit the void he left. He’s a good skater, but he has to use that because he’s scrambling back into position way more than he should be.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Not in the same game.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on May 25, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
congrats to Theo on his King Clancy nom. fingers crossed.
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Good piece on producing more revenue for NHL Network
From EMc at Off Wing -
http://offwing.com/2010/05/time-for-the-nhl-to-steal-a-good-idea-from-the-tennis-channel
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Cool idea. I could certainly stand to see something other than the same cash for gold commercials every 8 minutes.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on May 25, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the ad revenue for the NHL Network in the US is growing pretty significantly. The first couple of years, it was full of those short films on hockey history (Gretzky’s 50 in 38, Sittler’s 10 point game, etc.). You never see those any more. Sure, they’re mostly replaced by ads for stupid exercise equipment, but it’s a start.
I don’t know what the Google TV ads are like, but I think there’s a bigger audience and ad revenue in waiting for the NHL Network than the Tennis Channel.
I don’t know what the Google TV ads are like, but I think there’s a bigger audience and ad revenue in waiting for the NHL Network than the Tennis Channel.
I don’t know what the difference in the ratings and demos are between the channels. Given the relatively small hockey fanbase in this country I wouldn’t assume that.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I think that if you have the ability to control your own ad revenue — selling it yourself — you’re likely to get better deals than if you go through something like Google.
Problem is, especially for a bastardized entity like NHL network who has multiple owners who have other priorities using something like Google, at least short term isn’t a bad idea. This is especially true if you are having trouble selling ad space period which NHL net seems to be doing. Is it worth spending money on in-house sales force vs. contracting out vs. partnering with other company. Every company has to make those kinds of decisions. Depending on your current capital situation different things make sense to do at one time versus another.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Did anyone notice the TOI numbers for the Flyers’ 5th and 6th defenders last night?
Lukas Krajicek had 5:59 and Ryan Parent had 3:01. With a Blackhawks team that is faster, younger, and more skilled than the Canadiens, I don’t think they can ride those other 4 guys as much in the finals.
I didn’t look at the specific TOI but I knew they were riding the top 4. I don’t think either team was going to give CHI much trouble, they are just way too hot right now. Even riding the top 4 I think PHI is going to be over-matched. The Habs forwards were even able to cause Pronger some trouble with speed, just imagine what the ‘Hawks forwards are going to do. I also think Buff is going to eat Leighton for lunch. CHI will test Leighton and get second chances like nobody PHI has seen yet. PHI has a solid D and very good F corps, but they have only faced NJD, BOS, and MON offenses. Not exactly a murderers’ row. I’m not sure you could combine those three teams and create a F corps as good as CHI’s.
I waited all year for this?
I saw someone today, who’s opinion I normally respect, call the Flyers top 4 D the best in the league.
Hmm.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
lol wut
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Keith > Pronger
Seabrook < Timmonen
Campbell > Carle
Hjalmersson > Coburn
I’d take Timmonen over Seabrook, but that’s it. This is, of course, disregarding contractual attributes.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed on this, and thats not even addressing how many other d corps that might be better than PHI’s. Nashville, Detroit, Phoenix could put up a fair argument.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
NSH could have with Hammer but he’s gone. I’m not so sure anymore. DET can as long as they have Lidstrom.
I waited all year for this?
Eh, the season isn’t over so I was going with who’s still technically under contract. Weber/Suter/Hamhuis/Grebeshkov/Klein/Bouillon/Franson.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree on everything except this:
Campbell > Carle
Carle has been lights out with Pronger lately
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
And Campbell has been good for CHI all year. Carle has been impressive being covered by Pronger; Campbell has been impressive playing with a rookie. And I dispute “lights out.” Carle has been good but he’s still an adventure in his own end.
I waited all year for this?
The Flyers’ 3rd pair has been eaten alive all season long, whether it was Krajicek, Svyret, Parent, OKT, whoever. In the regular season they played more significant minutes, because Timmo and Pronger had to keep their minutes at least a little bit under control so they’d have something left for the playoffs. I don’t know if they can make the Flyers put that pairing out there (probably, they forecheck better than the Habs) more often, but one thing is for sure – any time they’re out there, the Flyers’ faithful is in for a wild ride.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Regardless of the defense Lavvy ices, Philly’s in for a ride anyway with Leighton in net. He’s been good, but it hasn’t been Toews/Kane/Hossa/Sharp/Buff he’s been facing, either.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, he’s only had to deal with first shots so far, and even then he had a squeaky five hole.
I waited all year for this?
And even if Pronger/Carle, Timonen/Coburn ‘stop’ the Toews and Sharp lines, there’s no way that Krajicek and Parent will be able to deal with Bolland/Versteeg/Ladd. Best third line in hockey, possibly.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I agree. Bolland has been a beast. I used to think that PIT had the best 3rd line but that CHI third line is ridiculous. I just don’t see a single spot where PHI has the advantage over CHI. You can start with every position on the top line and go down through the line up, and I think CHI is man for man a better team.
I waited all year for this?
The only area that Philadelphia might have the advantage is behind the bench.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe, but Q is no hack. Both guys have coached Cup winning teams and so far Q has taken CHI to the WCF (when they had no business getting that far) and now the SCF. He’s kind of a douche, but Q can coach.
I waited all year for this?
Let me have my bias dammit!
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
HOSSA DIDN’T BOARD HIM, HAMHUIS EMBELLISHED!!!!1
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Just remember to apply that to every coach in the league. It’s all in the game.
I waited all year for this?
I’m aware.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m wondering if Duncan Keith’s missing teeth are going to be a problem for him. He was able to finish the game on adrenaline, but it’s gotta be hard to get in all your calories with a mouth full of splinters.
I’m pretty sure Bolland centers that line, but yeah.
If I’m PHI, the last thing I want is Patrick Kane going one on one with Pronger with the puck in space.
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by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
He definitely centers it, I just listed the players in the order I remembered ‘em ;). Versteeg definitely isn’t center material.
Yeah, Kane is capable of making you look damn foolish. I’d love to have another .gif of this, though. He’s obviously not Pronger quality (but is a better skater), but Kane made Hamhuis look like roadkill multiple times.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Chicago is probably going to win the battle for the Cup and they’d better because they are going to be decimated in the Salary Cap war. That to me will be the #1 off-season story line- only 14 players signed and already $800,000 over next season’s cap. And Niemi needs to be signed to what will likely be a mega-contract. I can’t wait to see how they pull this one off.
Mega contract? What do you define as a “mega contract.” I don’t think Niemi gets too much money. He probably signs a short deal for 3ish.
I waited all year for this?
I’d guess Niemi signs right around or a little lower than Rinne/Hiller.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep, sorry. 2yrs/6m.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
If he wins a Cup, Niemi immediately elevates way above Rinne and Hiller. If I’m his agent, I’m looking for three years around $4 million. It may sound outrageous but look at what Cam Ward got after he won the Cup in ‘06 or what MAF got from Pittsburgh. I know Niemi really hasn’t proven himself long-term like those guys, but he’s also going to be 27 this summer. He needs to get a big contract as soon as possible.
do you think Chicago tries to keep Niemi, or admits defeat given the salary cap realities and Niemi gets his payday elsewhere?
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If he wins the Cup, they don’t have a lot of choice, do they?
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
and Huet has already proven he can’t be depended upon. Unless they find takers for Huet, or they want to go the UFA route, they’re going to have to pay Niemi and Niemi’s agent will just have to play it smart.
That said, if it proves too pricey, then they can’t keep Niemi, and they only have themselves to blame.
The Huet deal is killing the Blackhawks, and it reinforces the idea of not locking up goalies for the same sorts of term deals that get thrown around these days. Huet still has two years on his deal. If you tie up all that money in a position for which there is only one on the ice (you only have one number one goaltender, you don’t swap them out like lines or pairs), and that deal goes bad, then you have to spend a lot of money just to make yourself semi-well at that one position, and it cuts into your ability to balance the rest of the roster.
The Hawks have 14 players under contract for next year (not including Niemi, who must be re-signed), and still they have to shed money just to get under the cap. Sharp? Versteeg? Byfuglien? Seabrook? All of them are at risk of being moved ($13.5M in combined cap hit). How they fill a roster is anyone’s guess.
If you've read this far...seek help.
will make for interesting viewing this summer, at the very least.
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He’s going to have to take a number. I think every GM in the league is circling Chicago looking to pick up some talent for draft choices and/or prospects
Probably not that many in terms in terms of prospects, but it still comes down to the salary cap. If they move Semin, the world opens up like an oyster.
They don’t even have to move Semin. Theoretically we can fit both Sharp and Seabrook on the team without moving Semin.
I waited all year for this?
If George gets those two, I hope he at least buys Stan Bowman breakfast in the morning.
by b.orr4 on May 25, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If he gets those two we won’t have a first day draft pick for a couple years and won’t have either MP or Mackan, I’d bet. But it won’t happen. I’m just saying we do have the cap space to make it work.
I waited all year for this?
And I’d be fine with giving up picks and those two for Seabrook and Sharp. We get proven commodities to fill glaring holes and their contracts are workable too.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I’d give one First and both or Two first and one of them. I wouldn’t give all 4. I’d try so hard to get them to take Flash first though. He’ll be a 30 goal scorer!
I waited all year for this?
Problem is he’ll cost them more than the minimum. They couldn’t afford him even with his RFA status.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Taking Flash would be nice but it would defeat their purpose since they need to shed salary without getting some in return. Enjoy this Cup if you win it Chicago because your roster is so royally screwed.
They will need to sign players anyway. It doesn’t matter if they come in UFA or in trade, as long as they are cheap. Flash, depending on what you can sign him for, is still cheaper than Versteeg and is an actual NHL player. They can’t just dress the big 4 and then fill it out with Jay Beagles.
I waited all year for this?
Agree. and Flash can play Top 6, if they really, desperately needed him to, in the event of injuries. That’s a plus, right :D?
I don’t think there’s any hope of us landing both of them. I’d love Seabrook on our team if we could get him, but feel like Sharp would be a more valuable piece. I wonder if Versteeg might be had for cheaper.
Sharp is the crown jewel for us. Seabrook would be nice but is a luxury. Sharp fits a much bigger need. Why would we need Versteeg, we have wings?
I waited all year for this?
But isn’t Chicago going to be able to keep their big guns in place?
Their 3rd line may need to be rebuilt, but those stars will still be there, and if they have Bfufggyyffyflien or someone else grinding it out, they’ll stay contenders, IMO.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Depends on you consider their big guns. I consider Sharp and Buff pretty big cogs as the playoffs have demonstrated. How do you keep them and sell the big overpriced contracts of Hossa, Huet, and Campbell? Good luck finding a buyer. Even if you find a buyer for those 3 high priced deals only gives you about 5 mil for the remaining 6 spots. They are so screwed.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Z fail strikes again.
I do disagree that Hossa is even available. They signed him to be a key player going forward.
I waited all year for this?
Yeah, as much as I hate him, Hossa’s damn good. His defense is pretty incredible.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree, but my example was just to go with logic of dealing the older players who had over priced deals that brought big relief cap wise if you wanted to go in the direction smurf seemed to allude to. I wasn’t dealing in reality. None of the three I mentioned are getting dealt, especially not Campbell or Hossa. Huet I guess could if some GM wanted to pay a ridiculous amount of money to an average goalie. Hmm, on second thought, maybe Bowman should call Boston.
As has been mentioned here before, most likely Hawks are going to be stuck to dealing much of their depth – Bolland, Versteeg, Buff, Sharp, etc.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I really think Seabrook is on the block as well. No way they can re-sign him after next year.
I waited all year for this?
No doubt. My lazy “etc.” stood for Seabrook and Sopel.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Hey for the Hawks that is 2.33 off the cap.
I think they may have to dump Kopecky just to clear 500k. They then sign a guy at 700k to take his place. The choices they are going to be forced to make are mind numbing.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Yeah, I’ve talked about it before. Sopel is gone, one of Seabrook/Sharp is gone (at least) and 2 of Bolland, Buff, Versteeg are gone (at least). I don’t see another way.
I waited all year for this?
The key part there is “at least”. If they dump the most salary out of those choices you gave -Sopel,Sharp, Bolland, & Versteeg they are then just under 12 mil under the cap. Of course at that point they only have 10 guys on their roster.
The Hawks Salary Cap game is so much fun. Every time you play it ends the same. They are screwed.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on May 25, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Chicago has five contracts that go out to at least to 2015 occupying $30.6 million in cap space. I have no problem with signing Kane or Toews to long term deals — home grown, high end performers. Or even Keith. They’re the kind of guys you build around. But Chicago built around them with Hossa and Campbell (the other two), and then other top-dollar contracts instead of interchangeable parts or other home grown guys. All nine of the players they have under contract for 2011-2012 have cap hits in excess of $3.0M.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Depends how you define big guns. Sharp is almost definitely gone and there’s a very good chance Seabrook is gone. If they can find a taker, Campbell will be gone. I’d say they have 4 untouchables: Kane, Toews, Keith, Hossa.
I waited all year for this?
Is Buff or Versteeg a FA?
We could use either, sadly we don’t have the money.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Capmbell has a no-movement clause, so he’s not going anywhere unless he wants to leave. In fact, the Blackhawks have four guys with NMCs which is mind-boggling, even though three of them are very good players. Still, it just handucffs a GM who has to make moves down the road.
as painful as it has been at times, I’m glad GMGM learned his lesson on blanket NMCs now, and not down the road when it really could screw the Caps.
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Yeah the Nyls deal bit us but it didn’t cost much of our window. I’d say if anything it hurt us in 09 but I don’t think it was a factor in this year’s meltdown. There are definitely other teams that are going to have huge NMC problems on the horizon (cough PHI cough).
I waited all year for this?
cough Nashville cough
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Erat, Dumont, Arnott, Legwand, Sullivan. Basically the five oldest and quickest declining players on the team. D’OH!
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I know. Do I ever know.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
That seems out of character for him. I’m a little surprised. Why did he do that?
I waited all year for this?
My guess would be (and I don’t really know for sure) is that since all those guys except for Sullivan were signed right around the time we almost won the President’s Trophy, he was afraid of losing them for peanuts or something like that. They all played pretty well and produced, so it was imperative we locked up what we had. I suppose the players had the leverage, but man, the Dumont and Arnott deals are bad.
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by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
hmm, Steinberg has an interesting take on Ovechkin and worlds in chat today:
Here’s what I’d say though: if the Russians won that weird, sorta phony tournament (that just shouldn’t be contested in Olympic years), no one would give Ovechkin credit for a world title. It would be sniffed at as an irrelevant NIT-caliber prize. So if it means nothing to win it, it means nothing to lose it, either.
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by RedBirdie on May 25, 2010 12:06 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I’m not sure I’d agree with the sentiment, because it meant something to Ovechkin and the other NHLers who made the trip. It was promoted by several of those same players as “playing for our country.”
It was an NIT-level tournament, and the Russians appear to have taken the final less seriously than perhaps they should.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on May 25, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s the hypocrisy of some in the Canadian press. When Crosby didn’t go and Canada got trounced, the story line was the tournament was a meaningless exhibition. Yet when Russia/Ovechkin loses, it’s a black mark on his career. So which one is it because it certainly can’t be both.
Just catching up on things, is this you in the chat?
My husband is a Red Wings fan, he finds Chicago to be detestable and obnoxious. And quite honest, I find few redeeming qualities about Chicago, its team, or its people. So, quite the conundrum.
"It's always good to have vikings."
no. Possible it’s my sister, since she also married a Wings fan. but they’re not nearly as hockey-obsessed as we are.
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It just had some of the hallmarks, especially the cracks we make around here, such as “asteroid in 4”, and hate of all things PA except Hershey.
"It's always good to have vikings."
that’s why I think it’s my sister. Had dinner with her last night and that was pretty much my rant as soon as the Flyers won. and the husbands were bitching about how much they hate Chicago and the Hawks and Q-stashe.
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def. her. She tried to dance around it, she’s a terrible liar.
siblings…..Not sure why she needed to rip me off.
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I disagree with him. It doesn’t mean anything to win because Russia had so much more talent in their lineup, not because the tournament is meaningless (even though it is). It does mean something to lose, because it is something Russia should have easily won. It was a no-win situation for AO (from a PR standpoint) from the start.
It’s the same thing as having the Stanley Cup winner play the KHL winner: the NHL has nothing to gain by doing so. If the SC winner wins then no one cares because everyone already knows the best talent is in the NHL, so it means nothing and the NHL doesn’t gain anything. But if the SC winner loses then it gives a ton of credence to the KHL as a legitimate challenger to the NHL, and the NHL thus loses a lot.
All that said, the loss means a hell of a lot more for Team Russia than it does for Ovechkin as a player.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on May 25, 2010 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions
oh man
DGB Habs eulogy in minutes:
Wysh:
This eulogy has me in tears. Up ASAP.
On the Forecheck: preaching the Predators' gospel to the unwashed masses.
Twitter/Cycle Like the Sedins
by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 2:54 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
On the Forecheck: preaching the Predators' gospel to the unwashed masses.
Twitter/Cycle Like the Sedins
by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Best one by far. No offense to J.P., but the videos alone make it epic.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I liked JP’s a ton, but yeah, this was just epic.
On the Forecheck: preaching the Predators' gospel to the unwashed masses.
Twitter/Cycle Like the Sedins
by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder if Smokey McFornicate hangs out with Chatty McChubbycheeks.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on May 26, 2010 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Go Texas Stars!
JWalton Tweets:
PK Subban and Ben Maxwell have been assigned to Hamilton. Both will be available for Game 7 Wednesday night against Texas.
about 3 hours ago via web
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
Yup, in Hamilton. They tied it up with 5 min. to go in the third; ended up winning 3-2 in OT.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
Saves For Kids Reminder!
sorry to harp on y’all, but I am taking a batch of donations over on Tuesday (June 1), so if you haven’t sent your pledge in, you still have time. Click on the link in my signature for instructions on how/where to send.
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
stop what you’re doing an read Corey’s piece on Neuvy.
"He came to me [before the series] and said, ‘Bernier is getting a lot of press.’ I said, ‘Yeah, yeah,’ and then he goes, ‘but I’m better,’ " Hershey coach Mark French said. "It was with a very straight face and he meant no disservice, but I think he took this series as a personal challenge.
First thought: AWESOME
second thought: Neuvirth is capable of doing straight-faced?
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
by RedBirdie on May 25, 2010 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
(he’s not actually better than Bernier…right?)
On the Forecheck: preaching the Predators' gospel to the unwashed masses.
Twitter/Cycle Like the Sedins
by Chris Burton on May 25, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know. We’ll see I guess. He’s 26-6 in the AHL playoffs with one MVP (and counting?). I don’t care what the hype or draft slot was, who played better? Both HER and MAN have said that Neuvirth was the best Bear in that series. He has played against good teams with more hyped goalies and keeps winning. I’ve never seen Bernier play but this is the first year he’s even remotely lived up to his hype and he had a ridiculously stringent defensive club in front of him.
I waited all year for this?
“That’s my goal – I’m not even thinking about not making the team next year," Neuvirth said. "I would be really upset. I think I prove I belong in the NHL and I just want to make the last step, win another Calder Cup and go to the NHL as a champion of the AHL."
I simply love his mindset. Not arrogance, but complete confidence in his game.
"I’m very happy to hear the news," Ovechkin said when he heard about Backstrom's longterm contract, "because he’s one of the top centers in the world, one of my best friends and we want to play together for a long time. He’s a guy who wants to stay in one place and be comfortable and win, just like me. We talk all the time about playing together, and we talked after the playoffs about how we can win in Washington."
by capsyoungguns on May 25, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s beautiful — it’s like he’s coming to the Caps to redeem Czech hockey…
Looks like I picked the wrong season to stop sniffing glue.
Hit post too quickly — that should read “redeem Czech hockey in the hearts of a Flashed-out fanbase”.
Sorry about that.
Looks like I picked the wrong season to stop sniffing glue.
Ha. As far as anti-Czech sentiment, Flash is an afterthought among Caps fans.
I waited all year for this?
For some reason, I completely forgot the Mullet. Oops!
Looks like I picked the wrong season to stop sniffing glue.
We should all be so lucky.
But grace can still be found within the gale. With fear and reverence, raise your ragged sail.
by Steckel Me Elmo on May 25, 2010 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Amazingly (not), Leone also has a Neuvy profile up. His take
Semyon Varlamov has tracked a step ahead of Neuvirth in the developmental pipeline the last two seasons. If the Washington Capitals ever win the Stanley Cup, it will be no surprise if Neuvirth is the one who ultimately backstops them to it.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I’ve started humming Chelsea Dagger as I walk by people I know are Flyers fans. Gotten some pretty good reactions, ranging from the vulgar to amused.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on May 25, 2010 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Nat Ewell tweeted about a soccer blog that referenced a search engine to find any Princeton grad’s senior thesis. Jeff Halpern’s was entitled The Stadium Debate: The Economics of Publicly Subsidized Stadiums. Seems appropriate for a DC native.
Ewell’s was Visiting the Past: Tourism in the Weirs, N.H., in the Late Nineteenth Century.
in the face of adversity, never, ever blink
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