Tuesday Caps Clips: Bears Back on Track
by J.P. on Jun 8, 2010 6:43 AM EDT
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Your savory breakfast links:
- With a 6-3 win last night, the Bears are back in the Calder Cup Finals, now trailing two games to one. [Leone, Vogs, Frankovic, Flounders, Peerless, RMNB, Defending Big D]
- If you liked watching the Bears on CSN and want to do it more often during next regular season, let CSN know by signing a petition. [Live In Red]
- Ron Weber was a stat-head before being a stat-head was cool (alright, if not "cool," how about "acceptable"?). [D.C. Sports Bog]
- If Anton Volchenkov is off the wishlist, who's left? [RtR]
- Would the Caps match an offer sheet for $2.75 - $3.1 million for Jeff Schultz? What if a $1.5 million offer sheet for Eric Fehr was signed at the same time? [Copper n' Blue]
- Speaking of Fehr, could he be an object of Brian Burke's desire? [Bitter Leaf Fan]
- Another three things the Caps could learn from the Flyers and 'Hawks. [Maryland Pro Sports]
- SI.com's list of the ten greatest moments in D.C. sports history was a mess, but they've since cleaned it up (including deleting their only Caps entry, which didn't happen in D.C. anyway). [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Bryan Helmer chose Hershey over other options that might have ended with him returning to the NHL. That says a lot. [Masisak]
- Is Alexandre Giroux headed to the KHL? If a tree falls in a forest... nevermind. [Live In Red]
- Finally, happy 31st birthday to Quintin Laing and happy 37th to Bryan Muir.
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Oh Bears….
I had totally forgotten what it was like to yell at Alexandre Giroux on my TV.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 6:52 AM EDT reply actions
That actually was meant to be a tad neutral in regards to Giroux himself; it was more in the realm of why torture yourself, just let it go.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays in Hershey, depending on the money. It’s a nice gig for him. And last year proved that no other NHL team is going to sign him.
"It's always good to have vikings."
He could always run to the K?
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 7:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I yelled more at the camera operators. Apparently it’s OK for them to drink on the job.
I believe in JC.
Oh dear GOD were they terrible!!!
Someone needed to tell them to focus on the puck, and not the players. All night Hershey would clear the puck into the Texas zone and change, and the camera would stay on the Bears bench while they were changing instead of following the puck into the zone.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m glad they made me aware that Ollie’s was a sponsor.
Also – no PP time clock.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions
The broadcast showed how out-of-date the Giant Center’s scoreboard is. The Stars had nice big screens on theirs – Giant Center’s screens are the size of postage stamps.
With tiny seats (in Pennsylvania…the land of food). It absolutely boggles my mind how crappily built that place is.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I actually thought the seats were fine, although not cushy. I also felt like I had more space than in my seats at Verizon.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I felt exactly the opposite. Compared to Verizon, its like going from sitting in a barcalounger to sitting in a barcalounger with two other people.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ve found it depends on where you sit. Seats down low on the risers can be pretty tight. Up higher, in the permanent stands (in the 100 level), the seats seem roomier.
If you've read this far...seek help.
They’re (somewhat) roomier down low, and pretty intolerable in the higher sections. Its to where if I can’t get seats in the lower bowl, I don’t go.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions
I yelled more at the camera operators
Did anyone see any other view than from the center line waaaaaay up high?
Every bursted bubble has a glory! Each abysmal failure makes a point! Every glowing path that goes astray,shows you how to find a better way. So every time you stumble never grumble. Next time you'll bumble even less!
It really was a cruise on the S.S. Vertigo with that camera work. Part of the problem was that it was too tight a shot. If you’re trying to follow the puck with that tight a shot of the ice, all you end up doing is making it look like one of those edgy crime dramas that are shot entirely with a hand-held camera.
If you've read this far...seek help.
But hey… at least we got to see the game. Let’s be thankful.
And let’s be thankful for John Walton. I love listening to him call a game.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 8, 2010 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I don’t catch many Bears games on the radio, but John Walton does call a solid game.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jun 8, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
The tightness didn’t bother me, but the wild swings from ice to overhead from corner to corner drove me nuts.
Every bursted bubble has a glory! Each abysmal failure makes a point! Every glowing path that goes astray,shows you how to find a better way. So every time you stumble never grumble. Next time you'll bumble even less!
It would have been better if they didn’t try to zoom in with the main camera at all. At least we would have been able to watch the play with the puck (kinda like it looks from the 400’s at the phone booth).
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
Hey everyone …. the Texas Stadium is NOT designed for TV Broadcasting …. I’m in broadcasting and it looks like a horrible building to broadcast in. The next game will be better .. who knows who was directing the game … they will work it out.
The Farm report is DA Bomb... read it, rec it, love it ....
by TheFuryUnleashed on Jun 8, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it me, or has Carlson been making some bad decisions these past 2 games? He’s seemed surprisingly Green-like at times…
Some are speculating that he’s probably gassed. The guy’s played a World Junior Tournament, most of an AHL season, a quarter of an NHL season, a 7 Game NHL Playoff series, and 3 rounds of AHL playoffs.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 7:13 AM EDT up reply actions
By my count, that’s about 96 games so far this year
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Carlson definitely looked like a different player from the guy who was awesome in the Montreal series.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jun 8, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I had totally forgot the Bears game was on last night, course it didn’t help that the tv guide on my cable box didn’t have it listed either, but when I did check just to see if it was on anyways, it was right before they scored to tie it at 3-3. After that it stayed on till it was over, even though getting up at 5:30 this morning wasn’t fun.
LET'S GO CAPS!!!
Where's that nice strong armed Paper Boy?
I think there are some popsicles down in the basement
by MetalCap on Jun 8, 2010 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
A. Gordon moved to the top of my list of favs after I read his blog. What a lucid and perceptive writer.
Great game last night. Once they got past that first period tho’. Poor Neuvy with his miss-hit of the puck. Reminded me a bit of Theo’s fanning of the puck in the Snovechkin 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 Jun 8, 2010 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions
As soon as I saw him collect the puck I was screaming at myself, DON’T PLAY THE PUCK DON’T PLAY THE PUCK. Any pass he made from there carried just the risk he took. Should have just covered it and taken the faceoff.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Says a lot for Neuvy that he didn’t give up another goal after that debacle in the first period.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
I’ll give it to the kid. He seems to have a quiet demeanor, but also seems quite mentally tough.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Indeed he does seem to have it mentally. The ability to shake off a bad play and stay in the moment of the game and make timely saves after that is huge.
I feel really good about Neuvy coming up full-time next season, despite his and Varly’s youth. Goaltending is one area that I don’t think we need an upgrade. Theo has been a great mentor and veteran for them, and for that alone I will always have great memories of Theo. The streak was pretty good too.
"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 Jun 8, 2010 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Agree completely, but we need to have a veteran in the organization somewhere. What if Neuvy or Varly is hurt for a while, which seems inevitable. Who is the back-up? Holtby?
It seems to me that for the regular season going with Varly/Neuvy and yes bring up Holtby at some point to test him out in the NHL would give them some real experience. Then trade for a goalie nearer to the playoffs if it’s clear that the team needs one.
Of course I may be completely off-base and we will see a veteran goalie in place at the start of the season. I just didn’t think that goaltending was the Caps’ undoing in the last playoffs. Varly may not have stolen any games but overall I thought he played solidly.
"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 Jun 8, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
The Lightning have hired Guy Boucher just a day after he jilted the Blue Jackets.
On the Forecheck: preaching the Predators' gospel to the unwashed masses.
Twitter/Cycle Like the Sedins
Smart move. Tampa much further along than Columbus, which took a big step backwards this past year.
If you've read this far...seek help.
I’m waiting for Columbus fans to give him the nickname “Guy Doucher”.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Funny, I read your post and thought of Little Feat (their best album, for all the old folks like me out there)
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
...
Dixie Chicken?
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Sigh…memories…. Dixie Chicken, Hot ‘lanta, Tripe Face Boogie. “Waiting for Columbus” is probably my favorite live album. Coolest thing was the introduction yelled out at the beginning of the concert was done by WHFS’ own Cerphe (not sure where it was recorded). But I’ll shut up now before it gets too OT.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
interesting news
I’m all for making our division stronger and more competitive. It’s been a slow process to build rivalries down south, but I have to admit I already feel a little passion when the Caps play the Bolts. Downie kinda brings that out in others methinks.
"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 Jun 8, 2010 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Would the Caps match an offer sheet for $2.75 – $3.1 million for Jeff Schultz? What if a $1.5 million offer sheet for Eric Fehr was signed at the same time?
This would be interesting…What thinks you guys? I would guess the Caps match both, reluctantly, but then they’d likely have to make a trade. I believe if a team match their RFA’s offer sheet then they are unable to trade him for a period of time (to prevent just signing and trading), so that wouldn’t be a possibility to deal Schultz/Fehr, perhaps Flash would go?
Having to sign Schultz/Fehr for about $4.5 million is $2+ million more than most projections I’ve seen around here. Not back-breaking but still not fun for the Caps trying to hold down these young guys’ salaries.
I would love to see how pissed this would make McPhee. Unfortunately his rage wouldn’t be as public and open as Burke, but I’m sure he’d have a few snappingly bitter statements to slide out there (I know I would).
No team is probably going to be as bold as C’n’B proposes to attack with multiple offer sheets, so this is probably all hypothetical…But given Schultz’s eye-popping +50 and size/youth, if a GM wants to make an enemy why not offer $3 million -risking only a 2nd - and see if you can put Washington in a bind if he makes it to July 1 without a contract?
Right. This is the kind of stuff folks like us dream up, that the “good ol’ boys” in expensive suits would never pull.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think I made this point before, but those RFA deals are so significant that we can remember most of them. They do nothing but engender bad feelings on all sides. If I were a GM I wouldn’t even think of putting out an offer sheet to another team’s restricted guy unless there were really unusual circumstances.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions
This. While in theory the double offer sheet is brilliant, in actuality it is the nuclear option. Any GM that tried to pull it off would be shunned by the rest of the league so fast his head would spin.
#NeedsMoreBradley
It’s generally a desperation move. That’s the only reason Lowe was running around throwing them at people a few years back – he needed to cobble together a team and no one was cooperating. I’d be surprised if anyone actually tried it with our guys, I don’t think there are any teams in that sort of situation right now.
You don’t think there are any GM’s desperate to turn their teams around and foolish enough to throw around crazy contracts in the summer?
Think again :)
Aside from the extreme option of multi-targeting players on a single team, if I was the GM on a poor team and Jeff Schultz made it to July 1, I’d definitely consider signing him for $3 million to see if that put the Caps in a bind. It’s worth a 2nd round pick. Is it worth GMGM’s everlasting smite?
I challenge you to a fight!
/spits out dip
But seriously, the reputation hit of extending an offer sheet has to be a huge factor for GM’s, perhaps just as important as the price you pay the player and the compensation you give up if it goes unmatches. Not to mention the target it puts on your back when one of your players becomes and RFA (like Bernier getting his salary inflated by St. Louis in exchange for the offer Vancouver made to Backes).
Not to mention i’m pretty sure the Sabres had no intention of signing Thomas Vanek to a deal worth 7 and 50.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Retaliation is a great point. If EDM gives our guys an offer I say we offer Hall/Seguin 8 million for one year the minute they hit RFA. They’d have to match and be stuck with an overpaid player like BUF with Vanek.
I waited all year for this?
by Rob Parker on Jun 8, 2010 11:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You can mention retaliation, but it makes no sense. A good general manager does what is best for his team. Taking personal offense in an offer sheet and trying to avenge it later makes no sense. None of the 30 or so instances of offer sheets being signed have resulted in retaliation.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Vancouver tendering Backes wasn’t “retaliation”?
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
You don’t think there are any GM’s desperate toturn their teams aroundsave their jobs and foolish enough to throw around crazy contracts in the summer
I could definitely see some GM who’s been given one more season to win or else pulling a move like that.
What people don’t calculate is that people like Fehr, Schultz and Fleischmann are loyal to the organization and I’d be shocked if they went to the length of signing an offer sheet.
Choking since 1985.
A RFA doesn’t have much leverage, there’s only so much they can do. Signing an offer sheet is one of the few measures they’re provided.
Loyalty and being around friends only goes so far. No doubt all those players would prefer to stay around.
The team is trying to get them for the lowest price and the players (and agents) are trying to extract the highest possible price. It’s professional but at the same time both sides have different interests.
I always thought one of the best quotes I ever heard on contracts was from Barry Bonds, when he said “the last game I played was in College….all of this is a business”
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Let’s not break out any Barry Balco Bonds references here.
The point is, they are young, loyal guys who want to be here, and they know for a fact that they’ll be treated fairly by the organization. This would make it extremely unlikely that they’d sign an offer sheet in my opinion. Talk to some other teams, sure, why not….
Choking since 1985.
As little loyalty as organizations can show their own players sometimes, it seems like its always the players who take the heat for not being “loyal”
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah exactly. If I was in Fehr/Fleischmann’s shoes (especially Fehr since he gets like 12 minutes a night) I wouldn’t be that loyal if Washington only qualifies me for like $800k and then let’s me sit all summer hoping I’ll sign for cheaper than I want.
If someone came around with a $1.5 million, I’d sign it in a heartbeat. Sign it hoping Washington matches, of course, so you stay at your same house with your teammates/friends and fimiliar coaches and everything, but if they don’t want to do that, maybe it’s time to move on.
You got the brief case, I got the shotgun, but it’s all a part of the game, right?
The game is the game.
Omar: I’ll do what I can to help y’all. But, the game’s out there, and it’s play or get played. That simple.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
The RFAs (hopefully not Flash though) are going to get paid.
The Bonds/Omar references are a little over the top. Would everyone you know leave their current employer if they could make 10% more somewhere else? What about 20%?
Choking since 1985.
Depends on the person and on their situation and the situation they would be getting into. But for me? I sure would.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Why sign the sheet when you can just have your agent inform GM that there are legit offers for 1.5M?
And who is to say Washington isn’t offering him 1.5M?
Choking since 1985.
Talk is cheap, especially from agents. Floating figures (that may or may not be true) doesn’t make the Caps offer $1.5 million. Signing the offer sheet is the only way.
Teams often let their RFA’s hang out in the wind all summer, since they hold most the cards and control the pace/flow of most negotiations.
Further, I get the sense you think a player isn’t loyal if he signs an offer sheet..Not true, it’s a business, which is why the Bonds/Omar references are valid.
You think Ryan Kesler isn’t loyal to Vancouver (hell, he might be captain next year)? You think David Backes isn’t loyal to St. Louis? They both signed offer sheets with other teams.
That’s how the business goes sometimes.
As quickly as a career can end, you’ve got to get what you can as quickly as possible. Most of these guys are done with athletics by their mid to late 30s, and a lot of them don’t know HOW to do anything else except play hockey.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think that this isn’t a business, but these arguments that the decision will be purely unemotional and solely a Marian Hossa/Ryan Malone money grab are a bit much.
Choking since 1985.
Being UFA and signing with a different club is 100% different than being RFA signing an offer sheet.
Most the time, unless it’s a Vanek or Penner like monster over-payment the player and agent know from the beginning the original team will match and everyone ends up happy. Well, except the GM on the receiving end, who likely had to pay a little more than he wanted.
I think the offer sheet is useful when an RFA and his team can’t come to to a consensus on what his value is. I don’t envision that happening with Schultz or Fehr, and I don’t really care if it happens with Fleischmann, as long as the Caps don’t match it.
Choking since 1985.
I don’t really care if it happens with Fleischmann, as long as the Caps don’t match it.
Despite what you might think of Flash, he’s a valuable asset that can bring something worthwhile in a trade. No way you let him go for nothing. There are plenty of goal-starved teams that would line up to get a 23-goal scorer.
There’s compensation for offer sheets, so he wouldn’t go for nothing. I don’t know the exact numbers, but an offer sheet that the caps might deem too high would likely result in a 2nd coming back in compensation. I don’t really see flash being worth much more than that on the trade market.
What about to a team like Chicago that’s trying to trade off some of it’s players for smaller contracts so they can get under the Cap. Then a guy like Flash becomes better cause even though he’s probably a downgrade from who ever we’d be getting (hopefully Sharp in this case) he can still score and be a top 6 forward for a team.
LET'S GO CAPS!!!
There is a sizeable list of players that have signed offer sheets, including Adam Graves, Brendan Shanahan, Chris Gratton, Craig Simpson, Dave Christian, Dave Manson, Dave Thomlinson, David Backes, Dustin Penner, Gary Nylund, Geoff Courtnall, Glen Featherstone, Joe Sakic, Keith Tkachuk, Kelly Miller, Kevin Stevens, Marty McSorley, Mattias Ohlund, Michel Goulet, Mike Craig, Petr Nedved, Ron Tugnutt, Ryan Kesler, Scott Stevens, Scott Stevens, Sergei Fedorov, Shayne Corson, Steve Bernier, Steven Rice, Stu Grimson, Teemu Selanne, Thomas Vanek.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
by Derek Zona on Jun 8, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
And the above list is only players that have actually signed the offer sheet. There may be dozens or hundreds more offer sheets that have been tendered, but never signed and the only people that would know would be the team that made the offer, the player that received it and his agent.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’m talking more of the “modern” ones that have been tendered since the new CBA, like the Kesler sheet, the Bernier/Backes offer sheets, the Penner/Vanek sheets, etc.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions
The “modern” ones engender more hostility because its someone messing around with your Cap and arbitrarily setting the price for your own FAs, not to mention screwing with the market for future comparables.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Again, you only know the offers that have been signed.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
How many agents and RFAs do you think walk away from more money?
I waited all year for this?
by Rob Parker on Jun 8, 2010 11:40 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If they’re restricted, they have to accept what they’ve been offered, correct?
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Probably about the same percentage of unrestricted free agents that walk away from more money.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’d bet it’s even lower. A large percentage of UFAs that walk away from money are either entrenched in the community or are aging vets looking for a chance to win. I’m not sure an RFA, already being underpaid, has those concerns.
I waited all year for this?
by Rob Parker on Jun 8, 2010 12:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Scott Stevens, Scott Stevens,
Ouch.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 8, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I still think Schultz will garner $2mil+ contract next season without a threat of an offer sheet.
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Jun 8, 2010 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t. There’s no need to proactively make your salary cap situation that much tighter. Unless he elects to shoot for the moon in an arb hearing, it’s better to wait for the Erskine contract to lapse before Sarge gets piz-aid.
They're coming.
I just can’t imagine his agent not pushing for arbitration, given his numbers, if the Caps offer less than $2mil.
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Jun 8, 2010 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Let him push. Getting him in a breakout year isn’t justification alone to treble his salary.
They're coming.
I agree, but that did not stop Shaone Morisson from earning $2mil last year with less impressive numbers.
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Jun 8, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
And once ShaMo put himself into that situation suddenly became ineffective relative to his cost, and will likely (hopefully?) sign a modest deal elsewhere. Seeing that example happen in front of his face in the room is either going to make him work for that deal (it that’s the road he takes) or lets him work more modestly over the course of a longer term and get a larger deal than ShaMo’s going to get when Sarge is a UFA.
They're coming.
I gotcha. The Schultz scenario is the one I am most keen on resolving, aside from the 2C void. I just hope it doesn’t blow up in our faces if the two sides cannot come to an amicable agreement.
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Jun 8, 2010 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I still think Schultz will garner $2mil+ contract next season
Agreed. If you look at comparable players, that’s about where he falls.
A quick look says Ehrhoff and Carle, both of who are making about 3 mil per year. Schultz is a bargain.
#NeedsMoreBradley
A potential problem could be that many of his peers — like M.E. Vlasic ($3.1mm for 4 years), Alex Edler ($3.25m for 4 years), Ryan Suter ($3.5m 4 years) all have signed longer term contracts than you’d get in arbitration.
He is, but he’s also not skating over 20 minutes a night and with a lot more special teams time than those two do, to say nothing of the fact that Schultz is considerably younger than both those guys, to say nothing of the fact that you can play his last 8 postseason games on a reel.
They're coming.
Divide it in half and I’m right with you.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Jun 8, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Go for it. Make the check payable to D. Fishman.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Jun 8, 2010 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice. No famous alumni from mine, they all began their long road to the middle after graduation.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Jun 8, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I graduated with Delonte West. But this is OT.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Offense gets paid a high premium and 55 won’t get that benefit.
I waited all year for this?
by Rob Parker on Jun 8, 2010 11:43 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Here’s a quick list of some top-four defenseman and the first big non-rookie contract they signed and their age when they signed it. Actually, $2 million for Schultz doesn’t look so bad.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic- 23, $3.1 million cap hit
Brent Seabrook- 23- $3.5 million
Matt Carle-24-$3.4 million
Fedor Tyutin-24-$2.8 million
Cam Barker-23-$3 million
Kris Letang-23-$3.5 million
Dan Hamhuis-23-$2 million
James Wisniewski-23-$2.75 Million
by b.orr4 on Jun 8, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
$2 million on a multi year deal would be a steal for Schultz. $2 million for a 1 year deal sets him up again for next summer to cash in incrementally.
The hope with some of these players (like Letang) is that they grow into the contract and by year 3 or 4 look like a steal. Perhaps you over-pay in the beginning years to even it out by the end if they develop as you expect/hope.
From my example above, I think Edler ($3.25) and Suter ($3.5) are reasonable comps too. $3 to 3.5 million for 4 years is definitely about the going rate for a solid young defenseman these days
As Caps fans we tend to see every flaw in Schultz’s game. An opposing GM looks at him and sees a 6’6", 230 pound man-child just growing into his body, (who just led the league in plus/minus) and dreams about what he’ll be when he’s 26 or 27.
The 3 defenseman to have led the league in +/- since Chelios did it are Marek Malik, Michael Rozsival and Wade Redden. Which I guess means if someone wants to give Sarge $5m per when he’s a UFA, let them.
But at this point the club holds most of the cards right now, and throwing out anything north of two million now (when almost $5m of d-men come off the books at the end of next year) seems a little fiscally questionable particularly when you’re looking at needs this year.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Jun 8, 2010 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Interesting on the last three D-men who lead the league in +/-. Weren’t all those guys Rangers at some point?
Yes—Malik (typed Malkin by accident the first time) had that between the legs shootout game winner in the 17 rounder against Olie and the Caps, Rozival almost beat Green in defenseman goals in 2008, and Redden is Redden.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
матовая Клими, Михал нуивирт ваш 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 Jun 8, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I see Rozival at 13 goal, to Green’s 18. here’s NHL.com’s list
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
For most of the winter they were close, of that I’m certain. I wasn’t sure about the spring.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
матовая Клими, Михал нуивирт ваш 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 Jun 8, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
No, scratch that. Winter goes until March.
I meant basically beginning of season to roughly the all-star break, I guess.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
матовая Клими, Михал нуивирт ваш 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 Jun 8, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
With by far the highest PDO (on-ice shooting% + on-ice save%) since BtN started publishing the stat. 55 is a solid defender, but that +50 doesn’t represent the kind of player he actually is. He’s not a Lidstrom or a Pronger circa 2000.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 8, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d love it if Jeff Schultz were comparable to Ryan Suter, but I don’t think that’s realistic.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 8, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks to the work of Japers, we did a mock arb in that same vein.
Average 4.1 yrs
3.706
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’d like to see a mock arbitration for Schultz between JP and DMG. I can’t imagine either of them arguing against Schultz.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Jun 8, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Would it be painful for you?
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Jun 8, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Nope. The last thing I wrote for fun was in college… all of this is a business.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jun 8, 2010 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
Let’s not break out any Petco Press references here.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Jun 8, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the answer is…depends which team is pulling the offer sheet shenanigans. I love 55, but would he be worth a high second from, say, the Oil in 2011? I would say no.
More norrissey, less morrissey
Schultz was a former first round pick and is already solidly a Top 4 NHL defenseman at a young age.
You’d trade that for likely a high second round pick* that may or may not be an impact player 3-5 years down the road?
*The 2011 draft class is perceived and projected to be not as deep as recent years as well.
No, I wouldn’t. In the double offer sheet scenario described, I would keep Schultz and lose Fehr.
More norrissey, less morrissey
Thats the most likely scenario, I fear. For whatever reason (I still like the run-over dog theory) the team is much higher on Fleischmann than Fehr. I think (sadly) they would let Fehr go in a heartbeat.
#NeedsMoreBradley
I thought that the BB was the one guilty of favoritism. Not sure that’s necessarily true of McPhee, but I really have only my impressions of the situation.
"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 Jun 8, 2010 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
One thing…what’s stopping GMGM from matching both offers on Schultz and Fehr? I mean, the Caps can send down Sloan and Erskine, and sign a player, and voila, under the cap, no? They’re not that hard pressed against the cap for the time being.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
матовая Клими, Михал нуивирт ваш 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 Jun 8, 2010 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
*It’s wasy too early to project the 2011 class. The 09 and 10 started weak and ended deep.
I waited all year for this?
by Rob Parker on Jun 8, 2010 11:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It would be an interesting tactic for a team to try. That said, a $2.5M offer for Schultz combined with $1.5M for Fehr would result in the Caps matching both offers.
The Caps are not in Cap trouble as a whole bunch of salary is coming off the books on July 1 (Theodore and Nylander are just about $9M right there, along with Morrisonn, Morrison, Jurcina, etc.) Admittedly, the next task for George is to find (again) the 2C and another defenseman. It is possible that Poti might not be ready opening day (that injury was, frankly, horrific). Among the RFAs, I certainly see Fleischmann signing his qualifying offer. Fehr and Schultz may go to arbitration rather than look for an offer sheet….
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Jun 8, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Backstrom eats up a good chunk of that 9 million coming off the books.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Theo’s salary and cap hit were 4.5 million, isn’t back’s 6.7 starting next season?
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Yes, but I was looking at the increase. Backs’ cap hit this year is $2.4 mil, and goes up to $6.7 next year, an increase of $4.3. So, basically the amount of Theo’s salary.
I also think its hysterical that an EDM blog is hypong the offer sheets. What is in the water up there? Oh, right, it fucking blows. Keep your dirty hands off our talent and try drafting your own for once. Those offers are both overpaying but that’s how the RFA game works. I hope someone makes an offer for Flash; weird how they didn’t really discuss him.
I waited all year for this?
by Rob Parker on Jun 8, 2010 11:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I wish we had let them sign Nylander.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I wishweMrs. Nylander had let them sign Nylander.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
матовая Клими, Михал нуивирт ваш 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 Jun 8, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Happy Birthday Quintin
Ok, how many of you are wondering what sort of weird injury Q will end up with when he blows out the candles on his birthday cake?
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
The line changes made after the first period last night MUST REMAIN. You can’t put them back unless there is an injury. Bourque adds a level of energy to the top line that they didn’t have before and Giroux adds a scoring element that didn’t exist on the second line before.
Sure Gordon and Perreault capitalized last night and they weren’t part of the changes. So you might think that it had nothing to do with the line changes. And if you think that, you haven’t been paying attention.
Goals scored with original lines = 5 in 7 periods
Goals scored with new lines = 5 in 2 periods
The energy and styles of both lines changed when French switched Bourque and Giroux. By far the best (and probably toughest) decision he has made this season.
Nothing but love to Coach French for recognizing that he needed a shakeup and going through with it.
I never travel far....without a little Big Star...
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 8, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
FYI, Steckel’s Wrap will be a little late due to this morning’s “bonus” content.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
the mere thought of what I’m going to have to give Stecks after a lackluster season makes me want to cry. I had such high hopes.
Loved to bonus content, though!
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Bryan Helmer chose Hershey over other options that might have ended with him returning to the NHL.
Last night, I closed my eyes when Helmer was giving his interview, and I couldn’t help but think, “my God, he sounds like Michael Jackson.”
If you've read this far...seek help.
Wow, you’re right, he did. Wasn’t expecting that voice out of that guy at all.
"If you close your eyes in the NHL, you'll take one upside the head." - Alexander Semin
by mercurialwinger on Jun 8, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Theo unlikely to be back net season. Via TEB:
The agent for goaltender Jose Theodore, who just completed his second season in Washington, said there have been no discussions regarding an extension for the 33-year-old unrestricted free agent to be.
“They haven’t communicated with me at all,” Don Meehan said this morning from his Toronto-area office.
Meehan didn’t want to speculate about the Caps’ plans. But we know this: If there hasn’t been a single discussion of an extension by now, most likely there’s not going to be one.
I knew it was likely, but still kinda sucks. (and I just put the picture of me and Theo up on my wall here at work today! sniff)
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
If we could bring him back for under 2 mil, I’d say do it. I don’t think that’s gonna happen, so I was prepared for this as well.
Why? Twice the coach has banished him for the playoffs? Why spend a single dollar on a guy who you don’t want on your team in April?
Choking since 1985.
For that cheap, he’s a veteran guy, who can take minutes in the regular season (fill in for Varly or Neuvy if hurt). That’s the only reason. He had good regular season numbers, and the guy did win like 20 games in a row. For 1.5 mil/per year I don’t see that as a bad signing. I don’t think Theo would do it though.
Why did McPhee bring Walker in? They never used him in April either.
I see this argument a lot (why get walker and not use him), but there are a couple of major problems with that argument.
1. McPhee doesn’t determine who’s in the lineup, he just provides BB with the pieces.
2. Walker was basically handed to GMGM by Rutherford, who was looking to give walker a chance at a cup. McPhee wasn’t actively trying to get walker, and gave up just a very late 7th round pick to get him.
Kinda aside from the point (OK, a lot aside) but this complaint always bugs me.
I understand. I was using that as a rebuttal as to why we shouldn’t resign Theodore for a cheap pricetag if he’s willing. GMGM didn’t pull Theodore, BB did. It’s McPhee’s job to sign the players. It’s BB’s job to play them effectively.
I know Theo is not the answer for us the playoffs, but he has shown that he can be effective for periods of time during the regular season. I don’t think his post-season’s are reason enough to not bring him back on the cheap. Jose can probably get a better contract elsewhere, so it looks like he’s gone.
I agree with his post-season not being reason enough not to bring him back cheaply (did that even make sense?). To me, this year especially, I don’t think he deserved what he got in the post-season. You can’t pull a goalie who plays a spectacular season 8 minutes into Game 2 of the playoffs. I guess I’m saying I don’t think the post-season mattered that much because he wasn’t really given a chance to perform. He was pulled because the team needed a “jolt” and was never put back in. If he does leave, I would just feel bad because of how things ended with him.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Hmmm. Kirill Kabanov’s name has been mentioned once or twice as a possible draft target by the Caps, though not from first-hand sources. The kid has had a very odd year, and now his agent has dropped him:
Always be wary of the word “mercurial”, is my motto.
Hey!
"If you close your eyes in the NHL, you'll take one upside the head." - Alexander Semin
by mercurialwinger on Jun 8, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Where's a good place to post/reference pix?
Most of the “sharing” sites are blocked for me.
When I post to myspace it takes my beautiful pictures and shrinks and degrades them.
Flickr lets you upload a full size pic and then will host them in smaller sizes for you as well.
Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/560xls/4621618592/sizes/o/in/set-72157624093720894/
Will you write about your experience at the game? Was it awesome?
Biggest crowd in the (short) history of Cedar Park Center.
We got to the game at 7:40 because of a problem with Ticketmaster/my tickets. We were the first car that had to park on the grass because all the parking spots at the arena were taken, and cars were still coming.
$2 beer again. I’ve been to my share of drinking events and I have NEVER seen bathroom lines as long as I saw for this game, the corridors were filled with almost overlapping lines as they extended from each bathroom. The crowd was not a big factor later in the 2nd and 3rd, the score didn’t help, but I bet half the crowd was in line for the bathrooms too.
There were a lot of cars with pro Stars and anti Hershey slogans painted on them, I was shocked at that. And a couple of guys in one piece nylon green suits that covered their heads too.
Friday was sold out by the time I got home to buy tickets.
When the Stars played the Wolves someone threw beer on the ice when a double-minor was called against a Star. With the cheap beer flowing I would be surprised if there wasn’t an incident between the ice and fans in one of these next two games.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but Carlson didn’t seem particularly dominating. Maybe I was expecting laser vision or for him to fly.
Perrault – could he have been left any more open on his second goal?
And rebound control directly cost the Stars at least 2 goals that I saw. I thought the other goalie was the starter before injury, I’d think they’d want him back in net, I don’t remember him being Mr. Rebound from the one game I saw. (Though he did let a softie in)
I hope you’ll have a chance to post the good pics at some point — these look promising. And I love the Texas-eye view of the game.
by CapitalCentre on Jun 8, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Carlson has been looking iffy for a few games. I hope it’s just exhaustion and he’s not hiding an injury. Or maybe the reverse.
I’m worried about the regular goalie getting healthy, only because we’ve seen how the Bears played against a team they’d never seen before, what happens when they have a new goalie?
"It's always good to have vikings."
Krahn is recovering from a concussion where his head hit the crossbar in a game. So if he’s in my advice would be “crash the net.”
Wow. $2.00 beer at a sporting event. Who knew?
I remember once on Puck Podcast they had on Jason Cohen, the author of “Zamboni Rodeo” about the Austin Icebats. If I recall, he said that though the crowds weren’t big they loved their hockey down in the Lone Star State.
I’m guessing if Wed’s game is another Bears clinic like last night’s game, you’ll have no trouble picking up tickets cheap for Friday night (and a better parking space).
Thanks for the writeup.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
Hockey IQ has picked up significantly in these last couple of years with influx of northerns. Icebat hockey was bad, and fans just wanted fights.
There are still a lot of people who just watch for fights, they get pissed whenever the puck is frozen by either goalie with players around and there isn’t a bench-clearing brawl. They yell insults at their own players for not fighting in such cases.
Tickets are already sold out for Weds and Friday. I’ll keep trying, I invited a group of about 12 to go Friday, seems like everybody else did too :(
There are still a lot of people who just watch for fights, they get pissed whenever the puck is frozen by either goalie with players around and there isn’t a bench-clearing brawl. They yell insults at their own players for not fighting in such cases.
that sounds a lot like my trip to a Charlotte Checkers game. Seemed like most of the fans were there to act out bad stereotypes.
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
The “Slap Shot” effect…
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
that’s what it was like, without the added bonus of a striptease on ice.
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Bears TV Petition
I mentioned this to the live in red blog edittor, but MASN might be a more likely AHL partner than CSN. CSN has a full winter schedule with the Caps and the Wiz and a few Terrapins Basketball games. MASN has nothing between basbeall seasons.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
and, interestingly, MASN broadcast the NCAA hockey regional games that were going to be available on EPSN360. So they’ve shown a willingness to broadcast hockey.
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Andrew Gordon’s Game 3 blog is up now. It’s a great read about how to win in the playoffs, like this:
To win you have to sacrifice your body, your time and your relaxing summer at home. Some players aren’t willing to make those sacrifices, and those are the players who are easily broken. They can put in a 90% effort and feel good about what they did. But they will never be winners only going 90%. Someone else on another team is willing to go 100% (or better) and eventually they will win out.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
I spit tea all oevr my computer screen reading this, via Puck daddy
The lawyer for Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin will ask for an impaired driving charge be thrown out because the police asked The Bulin Wall to perform a field sobriety test with a bad back.
CBC has the full story.
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Tarik tweeting that Fehr is in multi-year contract discussion with the Caps.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
that would be 110% awesome.
#savethekittens!
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Neuvy talkin smack
I don’t even think that Climie is that really good…I’ve seen better goalies in this league than him. That’s why I told the guys ‘shoot the puck on this guy’.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
I could not agree more with this statement. Why teams don’t score 8 goals a game off his rebounds I may never know. How Hamilton could take advantage for that matter – but I may learn Friday now that I’ve purchased scalped tix at 3x face value.
by Icebat on Jun 8, 2010 8:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Neuvy’s a cocky bastard. I love it.
#savethekittens!
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