Thursday Caps Clips
by J.P. on Aug 26, 2010 6:45 AM EDT
in Caps Clips
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PrintYour savory breakfast links:
- The NHL's national television schedules were released yesterday, and there'll be plenty of chances for the world (especially those that get Versus) to see the Caps. [Capitals, Puck Daddy, Puck Daddy, Kukla's Korner]
- Welcome, Semyon Varlamov, to the blogosphere... [RMNB]
- ... and to English-language promos... [Caps365 (video), RMNB]
- ... and to another Google Translated interview. [Sportsdaily.ru via Google Translate]
- Continuing with the Varly theme, an overview of the Caps' goaltending situation. [Kings of Leonsis]
- Buy or sell the Rangers being on the outside looking in come playoff time? [Masisak]
- A reminder of which team owns this town. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Caps A-to-Z. [Jumping the Glass]
- If Fenty and Gray don't do it for you... perhaps AO does. [We Love DC]
- Why the deal Willie Mitchell got in LA would've been too rich for the Caps' blood. [Peerless]
- Steve Pinizzotto celebrates his day with the Calder Cup. [Mississauga.com]
- Speaking of the Bears, their schedule was released yesterday, and includes a December 30 game in at the new arena in Pittsburgh (which coincides nicely with an NHL game played a couple of days later in that town). [Bears, Patriot-News, HBH]
- If you're looking for something to do after work or school today, here's an "It's almost hockey season" happy hour. [FanPost]
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The Caps as they are right now are no worse than the 3rd seed in the East. Which is fine. The regular season doesn’t really matter much, nor does the regular season roster. Playoff time is all that matters.
I’m guilty of just wanting better players for the sake of not having my least favorite Caps suit up.
The reality is that something has to give in Vancouver, too many players not enough money. I’m hoping Bieska finds his way over here so Erskine and Sloan only suit up after Poti sprains his belly from laying on the ice too early, too often.
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
by JSchon on Aug 26, 2010 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think the regular season does matter (or else why go to games?). It establishes the character/style of the team. Bad habits are formed or broken. And even with an acquisition or two at the deadline, the team stays pretty much the same. Besides the obvious fact that you have to make the playoffs, I think the pattern of play you establish during the season (especially the last half) matters a lot.
I honestly don’t think it’s going to happen, at this point. I don’t think the Caps are going to do anything else, and that we’re going into the season with what we have. McPhee is more likely to do wintertime or trade-deadline trades than free agency acquisitions.
I just keep telling myself that the roster on April 1 matters more than the one on October 1, and that we’ve got to give the kids a chance.
It’s not easy, though, to shut up the little voice that’s saying “enh, it’s not going to happen this year, don’t even bother.”
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
I don’t get this. The Caps didn’t get that really solid shutdown defenseman who costs 3.5 Million per year. Now they need to make sure they get the just-average defenseman who costs 250,000 more plus whatever the Caps trade away for him and who has a much worse history of injury problems? Was the one extra year in Mitchell’s contract really that unpalatable?
Is there anything Bieksa gives the team at 3,750,000 that Mike Mottau or even Paul Mara wouldn’t at half the price?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 26, 2010 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 8 recs
Technically, Bieksa would cost 3.75 MINUS the cost of the player(s) that we traded away.
I don’t disagree with your conclusions, however.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Thank you for G.O.D. Cannot rec this one enough. Bieksa is not all that. I would recommend going for Mottau if we want an upgrade on the Sloan/Erskine duo. Makes more financial sense and we can save our resources for later in the year.
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory
by Rather Bengt on Aug 26, 2010 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
So Mottau as an FA acquisition to fill the 6D slot.
Presumably Belanger as another FA acquistion. With Flash still on the roster, I have to think Belanger goes to 3C and Flash goes to 2C? If things break right, Flash has another strong start to the season and he can then be parlayed into a legit 2C?
That’s a lot of if’s and might-be’s, but that’s basically what we’re left with.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
but we’d be losing the players (likely prospects), which is itself a cost.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 26, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
That too. I was just looking at the cap considerations.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I was looking at it the Natty way
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 26, 2010 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
?
With one eye closed?
Money don't make my world go round...i'm reaching out to a higher ground
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 26, 2010 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
rec’d for truth. (i see him every day out my back window.)
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 26, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Word on Mara is he’s got very little left in the tank. I liked the guy a couple of years ago, but that he can’t get a sniff now says something.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Kim Johnsson is another one that intrigues me. 700+ games. I just hope he hasn’t played his last.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 26, 2010 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d take Johnsson over Mara in a heartbeat. Johnsson actually uses his body for positioning and leverage. Mara skates around doing nothing and his offensive game isn’t what people think it is. He’s vastly overrated.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
Says who?
Mara’s only 30, and he missed the last forty games of the season due to shoulder surgery, but that’s not necessarily the type of thing that’s going to affect his ability to skate, block shots, or get his stick in passing lanes. And if he’s fully recovered, he might be amenable to a good deal.
Another consideration: he’s eligible for the same type of one-year-with-performance-bonuses contract that Willie Mitchell was eligible for because he spent 100 days or more of the season on LTIR.
Yet another consideration: his playoff beard is awesome.
Say those close to the Bruins, who were said to be interested, but backed off.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Good post, but I disagree with this part:
who has a much worse history of injury problems?
Bieksa may have missed more games, but if I had to bet on who is more likely to stay healthy I’d bet on the younger guy who has had freak injuries that aren’t chronic over the older guy coming off of a vicious concussion.
I don’t have a problem with the Caps getting Bieksa (if Flash goes the other way they aren’t losing much and Bieksa’s cap hit becomes much more manageable), but then again I wouldn’t really have a big problem giving Mitchell the contract he got. Bieksa is better than the two guys you mentioned, particularly offensively and physically, but Mottau might not be a bad fit. Mara I think is done though.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Aug 26, 2010 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
I went on the record saying that I’d give Mitchell that deal three weeks ago.
I was going to write this post about how “the best way to have a good shutdown D on the team in April would have been to sign him in August,” but looking at the list of upcoming UFAs, I can think of at least three or four that would be good acquisitions for the Caps from potential non-playoff teams, including, but not limited to,
*Ed Jovanovski
*Bryan McCabe
*Andrei Markov
*Scott Hannan
*Craig Rivet
*James Wisniewski
*Jan Hejda
So yeah, I’m not too concerned, though I still think Mitchell would have been a good fit on this team for the next two years.
If GMGM can fiddle out Andrei Markov from MTL, he’s the bestest GM ever.
It’s been said before here that Hejda would be very good. The other guys I’m not so fond of.
by red army line on Aug 26, 2010 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I really doubt that happens. The only way I can see it happening is a) the Habs are terrible because Carey Price craps the bed, b) Markov decides he doesn’t want to play in Montreal anymore, and c) he waives his NTC to go to Washington to play for a cup with Ovechkin and Semin.
Those are some really big ifs, though.
Markov just got Canadian citizenship. Why would he leave to play in the US?
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
It’s only for a few months.
Markov decides he doesn’t want to play in Montreal anymore
I don’t think he’d want Toronto unless the Canada thing is really important to him. Ottawa, maybe. Vancouver has too many D, Calgary doesn’t have cap room IIRC, and Edmonton is Edmonton. (of course I’m assuming he’d waive to go to a “contender”)
by red army line on Aug 26, 2010 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
i watched a capstone presentation on markov modeling last week. the guy put up a picture of andrei as a joke (in place of russian mathematician andrey). i think i was the only one that laughed.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 26, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn’t someone just give Wisniewski a stupid amount of money?
Money don't make my world go round...i'm reaching out to a higher ground
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 26, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah. He got one year from NYI at 3.25.
Money don't make my world go round...i'm reaching out to a higher ground
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 26, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Corey’s breakdown is very entertaining and informative.
And yes, I agree that the Rangers are a borderline playoff team. They more than anyone else need to stay healthy. Not enough firepower to withstand injuries to their top 6 and if King Heiny goes down…
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
If they can get a full season from Henrik and Gaborik and get Staal under contract, then I think they’re a little better than last year and can sneak in. But I think their competition has also improved – TBL and CAR should be better, and ATL and TOR could improve too.
Almost every team that recently disappointed looks better in August than they did the previous April
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 26, 2010 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Pretty bummed out about Mitchell. Good thing the Erskine and Sloan contracts didn’t hurt us at all…
by Kolzilla on Aug 26, 2010 7:23 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Speaking of which, do we have a home for Michael Nylander yet?
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
No, and that’s the silent killer here. He won’t count against the cap, but he draws a big paycheck. A $4.875 million outlay makes waiving guys like Erskine or Sloan a little harder to swallow, since they will be drawing their NHL salaries AND the Caps will replace them on the roster with, say, a Kevin Bieksa and his $3.75 million cap hit. The cash outlays add up.
If you've read this far...seek help.
One fortunate thing for us is that Nylander is only making 3 million dollars this year. But 3 million for a guy who’s playing in the AHL or Europe is a bit hard to swallow.
Ahh, but here’s the rub. The Caps couldn’t have signed Mitchell for $3.5. That’s the west coast discount price. To lure Mitchell out east, I bet McPhee would have had to up the anty to near $4 million per season for two years. And that was never going to happen. Frankly, I don’t think Mitchell had any intention of ever signing here. Liut was just using the Caps to drive up the price for LA and SJ.
by b.orr4 on Aug 26, 2010 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly my point: even what the Kings paid (likely his minimum asking price that he would have laughed at coming from the Caps) is too much, in my opinion, for a guy who just missed half a season with a concussion.
#NeedsMoreBradley
And now a non-concussed veteran shutdown defender just got that much more expensive.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
So hypothetical: we get Mitchell for 3.5M for 2 years. Who do you not re-sign next year when we run up against cap issues?
#NeedsMoreBradley
Flash and Knuble are also players the org might decide it can replace. And Semin may go to the highest bidder. I’m pretty sure they could have afforded Mitchell for 2 years. I just think 2C (and 3C) is the more pressing need.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 26, 2010 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
The second year is actually the more friendly one in that it replaces Tom Poti’s cap hit (assuming you do not re-sign him).
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Aug 26, 2010 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Which makes it odd that the Caps were rumored to have only offered a one-year deal. If the first year is the tough one, why even bother?
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
by Scott in Shaw on Aug 26, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
because they probably didn’t offer 3.5, either.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
One-year deals can include bonuses, two-year deals can’t. My guess is that was the reason.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
Right, except for entry-level contracts, which can also have bonuses. Also, the only one-year deals that can have bonuses are for players over 35 and players (like Mitchell) who’ve played more than 400 or more games and spent 100 or more days on IR.
"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 Aug 26, 2010 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Grammar fail.
"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 Aug 26, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
i’m assuming there are no “option years” available under the NHL CBA? club options or player options for additional years?
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 26, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
you mean like how baseball has club options that they can choose to exercise or not?
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
right…that’s not possible in the NHL, correct? i assume if it were i’d have heard about it by now.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 26, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
to the best of my knowledge, they don’t exist in the NHL.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
that would involve me paying slightly more attention to football :)
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Fine, but maybe we could have swayed Mitchell to come back East for more money by throwing $700,000 more at him per year, which is instead tied up in Tyler Sloan. Between Sloan and Erskine, that’s $2 million that we could have used to spend on someone like Mitchell. Now we’re stuck in the current bind. I don’t think McPhee has done a terribly good job of putting together the defense for 2010-2011 to date. Maybe he makes a trade but our options continue to dwindle.
Sloan’s contract doesn’t enter into it. They can easily send him down if they’re concerned about his cap hit, and he’d be the first to go down anyway if we signed another legitimate top-4 NHL defenseman.
"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 Aug 26, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
$3.5M for Mitchell for two years is a hell of a risk, really. One good shot to the noggin, and he’s done. I’m lumping Mitchell in with Michalek and Martin. Would have been nice to have them, but not at the money they eventually got.
And for all the talk that “this is the year the Caps have to go for broke”, I don’t think that one good D makes this club into a Cup winner. They need a year of experience for the kid D, a year of experience for MarJo, and then, maybe, they’ll be ready to make a run for it.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I think PD said that the Kings were the only team that offered him two years.
Money don't make my world go round...i'm reaching out to a higher ground
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 26, 2010 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
And going for it one year is no guarantee. Far from it (what is it, best case your team has a 30% chance of winning it all?).
by red army line on Aug 26, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
If it’s a legit 30%, I have no problems pushing all the chips into the middle and making your stand right here, right now.
But the PK looks like it will continue to be a problem; the depth at C is definitely a problem; youth on the blueline is a problem. I don’t think this is the year to go for broke.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
If Mitchell really is done from one good shot to the head then his hit comes off the books and the Caps aren’t in any worse shape than they are right now. The only thing they would have had to give up to get him is cap space, and they get that back if he is injured. Signing Mitchell isn’t exactly going for broke. It’s picking up a player that fills a clear need for the present while not bankrupting your future.
I just don’t see this as a huge overpayment or risk. This is exactly what everyone was expecting him to get when he was at the top of the Caps fans’ wish list. I think there is a bit of a post-hoc rationalizing going on.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Aug 26, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
But you are then wedded to a $7M outlay for a guy that can’t play. The real dollars count, too.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Not to any of us, and considering how Nyls was treated I think Ted is willing to eat some real dollars to try to win a Cup. There is obviously a limit but I don’t know why this contract would necessarily be the tipping point.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I can understand Ted’s willingness to eat cash on an honest mistake, but also understand potential unwillingness to court it with a guy like Mitchell.
I have no idea how close or not close to any tipping point a Mitchell type contract might put the team.
But assuming there are not unlimited funds available for player personnel, the risk from a business operations standpoint is cognizable at the least. No?
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Aren’t they insured to cover this type of loss though?
You gotta run to a window and say: "Hey, these floors are dirty as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"
I very seriously doubt that any insurer would write a policy that covers Mitchell’s head injuries.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I don’t think that’s how it works though. Teams get a certain amount of coverage and allocate it how they want (as I understand). The Caps could just allocate it to Mitchell if that’s what they thought was the smartest move.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Wow, where’d you hear that? Blanket policies like you describe are great when you can get them.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
We were talking about it earlier in the summer and someone linked an article that discussed insurance with Jim Rutherford. I originally thought all contracts were individually insured but the Rutherford comments basically said teams get a certain amount of coverage (nowhere close to enough to insure the whole roster) and that the teams have discretion over how to apply it. Teams can individually purchase extra insurance but it’s very costly and a lot of the poorer teams can’t afford to do it.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
If Mitchell really is done from one good shot to the head then his hit comes off the books and the Caps aren’t in any worse shape than they are right now.
Opportunity cost. A surprise hole in your lineup is much worse than one you plan for.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 26, 2010 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure, but I don’t think that cost comes close to outweighing the benefit Mitchell would bring to the team.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Aug 26, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
No, I’m saying the Caps are worse off with a broken Mitchell who isn’t playing than with no Mitchell at all.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 26, 2010 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I understand that, but I think the potential risk in that situation isn’t enough to outweigh the benefit he would likely bring to the team.
Plus, in the scenario above where Mitchell’s career is ended, the Caps really aren’t worse off than not having him at all. His hit is off the books and he can be replaced without worrying about him coming back and killing the cap. The bigger problem would be if Mitchell were injured indefinitely so the Caps couldn’t replace him but couldn’t use him. But that is a potential problem for every player.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Aug 26, 2010 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m bummed as well. This team is worse going into this season than it was when Game 7 ended last year. That worries me, a lot.
Might be worse than when Game 7 ended, but even with just this roster they should be better (if healthy) coming into the playoffs because Alzner and Carlson will have a season under their belts.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 26, 2010 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
If healthy, I think that’s probably true. But it’s hard for me to ignore the huge question marks currently at 2C, 3C, 6D, the kids expected to be 82-gamers at 3D and 4D, and the fact that both goalies are relatively young and unproven.
The 09-10 Caps may not have had the upside, but they had more reliable guys filling some of these roles (both when the season started and especially when the playoffs ended). I think GMGM is taking a prudent long-term approach going into this season with this roster, but he’s going to have to double down at some point soon, and he might have left himself too many holes to plug for it to happen this year. That said, the offseason ain’t over yet.
Varly is really unleashing the charm offensive, isn’t he? I gotta admit – I’m a little bit charmed.
After that last bitter loss in Cologne, he seems to have done some thinking, and some growing.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Can’t help but note that Varly’s been with the Caps for a little over two years and he’s already doing promos in english. Semin’s been here three times longer and we’re still waiting on his first publicly spoken english word.
there is one video of him speaking English. CSN, maybe? He was doing a hockey clinic for some kids.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
I forget where I read it – I believe it was a translation from RMNB or Alex Ovetjkin – Semin basically said he doesn’t really care to learn English… he knows enough to understand and communicate, but that’s about all he wants to do… and that he’ll continue to do interviews in Russian. (Noting that most of the post game questions are the same every night)
Seems like he’s had a different smell since he was in Cologne
Money don't make my world go round...i'm reaching out to a higher ground
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 26, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions
the guy is utterly charming even when he speaks Russian. I went to the goalie panel at CapsCon last year and between him, Irbe, and Theo, it was the most amusing 60 minutes that didn’t involve Brooks Laich and Matt Bradley.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
so does this mean we’ll finally find out the deal on Belanger?
A danger to myself and others on the ice
Ted is really leveraging those Winter Classic tickets. Just got an e-mail promoting various combined Caps/Wiz ticket packages that include either a ticket to the the WC or a guarantee to purchase them.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
Gotta buy another gallon of paint to finish the stairs at the Phonebooth.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
That masisak article has a link to another interesting article on the same site: Top 15 Calder Candidates for this upcoming year. Two Caps on the list, and Varly isn’t one. I don’t think Varly’s elligible anymore, is he?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/443359-top-15-calder-candidates?utm_source=nhl.com#page/16
Nope, just crossed the 25 game threshold.
"I think he is just a joy to watch, he plays every game like there's not going to be one next week for him, like someone's going to take it away from him next game."
by Bald Pollack on Aug 26, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
D’ya mind lising them? I’m allergic to Bleacher Report.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
From 15 to 1 (their order of how likely):
15: Logan Couture (SJS)
14: Tyler Ennis (BUF)
13: Michael Grabner (VAN)
12: Brayden Schenn (LAK)
11: Thomas Greiss (SJS)
10:Nazem Kadri (TOR)
9: Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (EDM)
8: Jonathan Bernier (LAK)
7: Jordan Eberle (EDM)
6: Neuvy
5: Mikael Backlund (CGY)
4: Jamie McBain (CAR)
3: P.K. Subban (MTL)
2: Taylor Hall (EDM)
1: RAHJC
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
by timmyv38 on Aug 26, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
RAHJC FTW!
Not a bad list, especially considering it’s Bleacher Report.
"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 Aug 26, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Is Alzner not eligible or has he played too many games?
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Played too many.
"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 Aug 26, 2010 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep, went over the limit.
"I think he is just a joy to watch, he plays every game like there's not going to be one next week for him, like someone's going to take it away from him next game."
by Bald Pollack on Aug 26, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Huge omission. I’m fairly confident he’s more NHL ready than Hall.
OtF: our captain can beat up your captain.
Bitter and Blue: if you can't beat 'em; buy 'em.
by Chris Burton on Aug 26, 2010 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
He might not get as much time due to Boston’s depth at C. I do agree he should be on here though.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
I’m not so sure about the guys ranked below 5 or so on that list, but yeah, because of Boston’s center depth I’m wouldn’t put Seguin on my list. Probably Carlson, Hall, Larsson (as Ice Warrior says below—I was scouting HF the other day and was surprised Phoenix had that 8.5B on D), McBain, and Kadri/Subban, or something like that.
Goalies are a big wildcard in this too.
by red army line on Aug 26, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Willie Mitchell gonna help Bernier look good in LA.
ahem.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Bernier is going to have to move quickly then to get that starting job to help his Calder chances.
by red army line on Aug 26, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Subban and Kadri are my top 2 for the Calder
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
As I said before – I think it’s far too early to say anything about the calder yet. I found a list of top candidates from this time last year here (HFBoards). Look at where Tyler Myers ended up on this list.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Its never too early, sparkly. Especially on days where I can’t focus on anything.
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Aug 26, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Are those actually your favorites, or do you just think they jump to the top of the list because they will be playing in Montreal and Toronto?
I’d have to put Subban high on the list – he was great during the playoffs last season. I don’t know as much about Kadri though.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
Subban is also stuck behind Markov, similar to RAHJC behind Green. That could make it tough.
by red army line on Aug 26, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
And Subban had the advantage of being totally new to his opposition during MTL’s playoff run. He’s got nice skating and puck skills, but the league was already starting to catch up to him by the third round. He’s going to have to simplify his game if he wants to avoiid being exploited. IMHO, of course.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
And he was starting to wear down after two bruising seven-game series.
Much like RAHJC was finally showing some fatigue in MTL Game 7 for sure and even in the TEX-HER series. And Jamie Benn as well.
Kids played a lot of hockey last year.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Yotes seem to be really high on the kid. I can’t wait to see him play in person.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Aug 26, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
No love for Linus Omark?
Money don't make my world go round...i'm reaching out to a higher ground
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 26, 2010 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s hard to win the Calder when you play hockey for Oklahoma City Barons and I think he will be doing that until one of Oilers LW:s get injured. If only he was a center.
Pft why play a small French guy when you have a Svensk viking.
Or until Roo gets sent back down.
:(
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Why not play him with the big club? They’re not going to win this year or next year anyway.
Money don't make my world go round...i'm reaching out to a higher ground
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 26, 2010 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Starts his RFA clock a year earlier than it would have, is the main thing I can think of.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Meh. Might as well find out if the kid can play.
Money don't make my world go round...i'm reaching out to a higher ground
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 26, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Omark needs to play on a scoring line IMO. He is competing for a LW spot with Hall and Pääjärvi-Svensson and they are in front of him on the depth chart. But maybe the Oilers view it differently I don’t know enough about their roster to say if it make sense to keep him up with the big club even if he doesn’t get a lot of ice time. Maybe it would be better for him to start in the AHL and get tons of ice time and time on the first pp unit and be more prepared when he do get a chance to play in the NHL.
Pft why play a small French guy when you have a Svensk viking.
Here’s a great read on Eberle from Copper and Blue, partly because it pretty much completely contradicts the explanation in the slideshow for Eberle at 7.
by red army line on Aug 26, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
The Copper & Blue is such a great blog. It’s really too bad that they have to spend so much time writing about a terrible team.
by Wheeler on Aug 26, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
That was the Caps not so long ago.
"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 Aug 26, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, I know, but the Oilers aren’t a team with a young nucleus rounded out by a bunch of AHL players on bargain basement contracts. They’re a team with some quality young players rounded out by a bunch of overly long and bloated contracts that can’t be dealt away. They’re probably going to be better than they were last year (at least if they get better goaltending and aren’t crippled by injuries to their top guys) but even if that happens, they’re not a serious Cup contender.
Long story short, there’s not much of a light at the end of that tunnel.
today
I feel like Krusty the Klown — after missing out on Willie Mitchell (for a deal I dont think is a stretch), i then got excited for the rest of the chips to fall (trade, signing of Belanger, etc). … Then I remembered GM"slow play"GM is at the helm + all most the comments above and I’m relegated back to feeling down. ….
"If you want money, go to the bank. If you want bread, go to the bakery. If you want goals, go to the net." - Brooks Laich
"...I got the most gentlemanly player in juniors my last year. I'm a gentleman, always a gentleman." - Matt Bradley
Don’t worry… it’s not like George has a track record that’s bad… he’s done a helluva job so far, and while there is more to do, they have time. The Caps don’t need to have another defenseman now, or even out of the gate… as long as they’ve shored that up by the trading deadline, the Caps should be good to go for April, May and June.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Aug 26, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
you certainly are a “glass is half full” guy which I appreciate. Yes, you’re right about GMGM’s track record overall so i guess thats solid consolation… I also found looking at the caps roster 3 years+ ago helps one feel better about where we are today….
"If you want money, go to the bank. If you want bread, go to the bakery. If you want goals, go to the net." - Brooks Laich
"...I got the most gentlemanly player in juniors my last year. I'm a gentleman, always a gentleman." - Matt Bradley
Would disagree that GMGM has done a great job. His drafting has been spotty (against Carlson, Green, and Fehr, you have Finley, Mestery, Baby Gus, for example). The Sloan and Erskine contracts also defy logic.
On balance, I think he’s been pretty good, but he’s certainly not foolproof.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
does any GM bat 1000%….
Curious (but out of fear of hijacking this thread… or perhaps this would be a better FanShot Q), who do you feel is the best GM in the league? Is there anyone substantially better than GMGM? I.E. is anyone available that you would replace GMGM with?
separately, Ive been most impressed with Yzerman but his body of work has yet to hit the ice.
"If you want money, go to the bank. If you want bread, go to the bakery. If you want goals, go to the net." - Brooks Laich
"...I got the most gentlemanly player in juniors my last year. I'm a gentleman, always a gentleman." - Matt Bradley
Ken Holland ain’t too shabby. I also like Doug Wilson’s style.
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
by Scott in Shaw on Aug 26, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Yzerman has had a good couple of months. I think I’d go with Poile.
by red army line on Aug 26, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Holland gets it for me. I can understand the argument for Poile, but let’s be honest, he’s not under pressure like Holland is. It’s one thing to be lovable overachievers in a small market, it’s another to win consistently in a big market. The most impressive thing he ever did was the near-seamless transition from the Yzerman-Fedorov-Hull-Shanahan core to the Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Franzen core. That was freaking amazing.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I will excuse my bias for a moment and begrudgingly admit that its probably Ken Holland, followed by David Poile.
OtF: our captain can beat up your captain.
Bitter and Blue: if you can't beat 'em; buy 'em.
by Chris Burton on Aug 26, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I can’t remember where, but I think I read something recently about Holland’s draft reputation being undeserved (i.e., he either performed at or below league average).
You can’t argue with his team’s record, though, so he’s gotta be respected for his overall success.
I believe you read it, but I don’t buy that – in the decade of the 2000’s he picked above 20 only once (Jakub Kindl, 19th overall 2005). It’s easy to hit home-runs on top picks like Pittsburgh, Chicago and Washington have done lately, it’s a lot harder to draft deep.
You can say that he doesn’t always convert the high pick (like Kindl) but in that draft he plucked Darren Helm 132nd and Justin Abdelkader 42nd. In almost every draft it seems like they develop 2 solid NHL players, which is enough to maintain.
Plus the reaches for guys like Zetterberg and Datsyuk make it a little legendary.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
I read something along those lines too and I think it was a thread here.
However it wasn’t that his reputation was undeserved but rather that he hasn’t had as many hits out of the ballpark the way both Zetterberg and Datsyuk were. As I recall the general sentiment was that Holland, though still great at drafting, had slipped a bit recently.
"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 Aug 26, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Re: JP’s tweet earlier about some Ovi/Kovy hockey game in Moscow on 9/4. I can’t agree more strongly with the sentiments. How ‘bout Ovi gets back to DC captain his team. The second half of the season was undoubtedly a rough one for #8. Between skipping optional skates and apparently showing up mid-September at the earliest this year, I’m concerned about Ovi’s willingness to do the little things that help to make a good leader.
by mechanicsville on Aug 26, 2010 11:11 AM EDT reply actions
IIRC AO has shown up for rookie camp in the past. Before then I don’t really care. I mean, how many of the guys are actually here? AO can’t captain a team if there isn’t a team assembled.
by red army line on Aug 26, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the team has all reported at (or before) camp starting before, so while I’m not as concerned about his leadership at the beginning of the year, it’s his leadership during it that I’m more interested by.
"I think he is just a joy to watch, he plays every game like there's not going to be one next week for him, like someone's going to take it away from him next game."
by Bald Pollack on Aug 26, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
In-season leadership is clearly paramount. I wonder, though, whether he’s in better position to lead by example if he’s here in DC early, working out at Kettler, showing everyone else, in person, how it’s done. If he’s training anyway, why not train in DC? (Just something to ponder on an August morning…)
by mechanicsville on Aug 26, 2010 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Why not indeed.
"I think he is just a joy to watch, he plays every game like there's not going to be one next week for him, like someone's going to take it away from him next game."
by Bald Pollack on Aug 26, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
honestly, I don’t have a problem with it. Yes, Ovie’s clearly having a good time during his vacation (and I don’t blame him. I’d really like to rent a yacht in Turkey, too), but every time he goes out there and does some sort of publicity event, be it skating with Dynamo or holding some Ovie/Kovy hockey game, it’s bringing additional publicity to the sport in Russia and hopefully encouraging kids to either take up or remain with the sport. Clearly, the decline in hockey participation in Russia is a concern to Ovie, and it should be a concern to all of us who care about hockey.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
by RedBirdie on Aug 26, 2010 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Puck Daddy: NHL teams want bloggers banned from visitors’ locker rooms. Go read. Now. Some teams still don’t get it.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
I’m guessing no one is shocked that the Rangers figure prominently in the article. I’m pretty sure James Dolan’s middle name is Clueless.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Aug 26, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
nor Edmonton, after that flap last season. I’m very curious as to how this is going to play out. And I’d love to get Nate’s opinion on it, since he may have been on that call.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
Looks like Guerin is available. Wonder if he can play center? We could try and get Federov back and play a geezer line of Guerin/Feds/Knuble. I’m joking…I think.
I’m pretty sure I was kidding. What exactly is the Pens plan though? Have Crosby center Staal and Malkin and just play all 3 for 60 minutes a night? Do they even have a wing worth mentioning anymore?
by HateOffSeason on Aug 26, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Staal will bump up to 2C, Malkin over to 2W with maybe Dupuis on that line. Crosby/Kunitz will be together, tight now it looks like Kennedy or Talbot may get top six minutes if no more moves are made.
The 3rd/4th lines are stacked with all the forechecking, toughness and grit in the world (Cooke, Talbot/TK, Asham, Rupp, Adams) and the defense ought to be solid. Only thing missing is that one skilled player.
I’d still love to see them take a chance on O’Sullivan or Svatos, but I don’t know if either player would be willing to accept about $1 million for one year.
Might just have to go a mix of Talbot/TK until Tangradi can carry the minutes.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Yeah, with all the top 6 wing issues, you kind of forget (especially if you aren’t a pens fan) about how much experience and grit you guys have down on lines 3 and 4. Honestly, with that much forechecking, you guys should probably make an effort to not play Crosby and Malkin so much to save them for later in the season. Would just have to get used to a few more lower/closer scoring games probably.
by HateOffSeason on Aug 26, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn’t know the Staal to 2C thing had firmed up beyond fan speculation. Should make Staal a good fantasy pick!
If his foot is okay. Reports are he’s had a setback. And no, that’s not a good thing.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Staal had a 2nd surgery in June to fix his problem (Subban’s skate clipped top of his foot, cutting a tendon) and was OK.
But then I heard last week Staal was supposed to go to Haiti on the charity trip Rupp and Talbot took but didn’t to further rehab his foot and I was concerned. Now there’s breaking news about an unknown “setback”.
Considering the initial injury happened 3.5 months ago, who knows what or how his condition is. Guess we’ll have to wait and see, which doesn’t have me feeling very good at this point.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
I don’t want to sound like “I told you so” (since I don’t think I ever actually said anything), but rushing back to the playoffs from an injury that was supposed to pretty much end his season probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do. And yes, I realize that hindsight is always 20/20.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
Not life or death concerned
Penguins general manager Ray Shero said today that key forward Jordan Staal has had “a few setbacks” with his right foot and should find out next week following a medical re-evaluation whether he will be ready for the start of training camp next month.
Shero stressed that the tendon on the top of Staal’s foot that was cut April 30 is strong but that there are other issues keeping Staal from being at full force. Staal had surgery that night and again in June.
Sounds pretty much like his summer training isn’t up to speed. Don’t think it’ll effect him come October 7th
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
No way am I implying his career, or even his season is in peril, but that reads to me like he’s not exactly going to be in top form on opening night. But that doesn’t matter all that much, as you’ve pointed out what matters is how he is late in the season.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
any time a tendon has to be sewn back together, it’s worrisome. Medical science has made some really cool advances, but at the same time, you can’t make a tendon heal faster. You can sew it back together, you can do all sorts of things to promote healing, but there comes a point where you can’t make it happen any quicker and you just have to sit back and let nature do it’s thing. it really sucks and it’s frustrating. and then you have the rehab the damn thing! rehab sucks almost as much as the actual surgery. Given what I’ve heard about Staal’s repeated attempts to rush back, I’d be damn worried if I were the Pens organization.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
We’ll see, RB. From the clip above, Shero said the tendon is strong, sounds like a different type of issue.
Even if Staal isn’t at full strength for 6 months that means February 26th. At this point, I think it’s an excitable writer trying to drum up a panic for his web-hits. We’ll see next week at the medical evaluation.
Which, as we all know is still weeks away from the meaningful games.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
honestly, I hope it’s nothing more than being behind in getting back into shape. Far from my favorite player , but tendons injuries of any sort blow, and I wouldn’t wish a major setback directly related to the injury/repair on anyone.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
And they only have a little bit over a million in cap room. Joy.
Money don't make my world go round...i'm reaching out to a higher ground
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 26, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
$1.7 million with a lineup of 12 forwards (which includes Godard), 7 d-men and 2 goalies. So yeah, promoting a prospect brings it to about a million, give or take a little.
If the Pens waive Godard (who’s sort of redundant with Asham and Rupp), there’s $750k more breathing room right there.
It’s a tight squeeze but actually a better situation than this time last season.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Should the Caps sign Brendan Witt & Chris Chelios as well?
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
It is funny when you think about it, but is either of them really worse than Sloskine? Especially with the intangibles in the locker room? (that last more for Chelios probably).
Again, not real serious about any of this.
by HateOffSeason on Aug 26, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d take Sloan and Erskine over Brendan Witt. Unless the Flyers start dressing SUVs for games, of course.
Watching the O’s try to use strategy is like watching Mike Green trying to figure out the difference between "your" and "you’re"--Terpgrrl
Donation info for SAVES FOR KIDS 2010!! Make a difference.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
53 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 61 |
|
Washington
|
54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
53 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 52 |
|
Carolina
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.10.2012 at 9:27 AM EST)
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