Pick 'Em: Duchesne Cup Winner
by David Getz on Sep 17, 2010 5:04 PM EDT
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With less than 24 hours before the Capitals begin their 2010 training camp, and less than 48 hours before the team's third annual Duchesne Cup gets underway, Washington has announced their training camp groups. Via Mike Vogel, here's how the three groups stack up:
GROUP A
Goalies: Brandon Anderson, Semyon Varlamov
Defensemen: Karl Alzner, John Carlson, Brett Flemming, Lawrence Nycholat, Tyler Sloan, Dylan Yeo
Forwards: Nicklas Backstrom, Stanislav Galiev, Kyle Greentree, Anton Gustafsson, Marcus Johansson, Andrew Joudrey, Nikita Kashirsky, D.J. King, Mike Knuble, Dmitry Kugryshev, Alex Ovechkin, Brian Willsie
GROUP B
Goalies: Todd Ford, Michal Neuvirth
Defensemen: Patrick Cullity, John Erskine, Josh Godfrey, Johan Kroll, Tom Poti, Dustin Stevenson, Patrick Wellar
Forwards: Matt Bradley, Cody Eakin, Tomas Fleischmann, Boyd Gordon, Jake Hauswirth, Matt Hendricks, Boyd Kane, Brooks Laich, Garrett Mitchell, Joel Rechlicz, Alexander Semin, David Steckel
GROUP C
Goalies: Dany Sabourin, Philipp Grubauer, Braden Holtby
Defensemen: Samuel Carrier, Sean Collins, Brian Fahey, Joe Finley, Mike Green, Grant McNeill, Jeff Schultz.
Forwards: Keith Aucoin, Jay Beagle, Francois Bouchard, Trevor Bruess, Jason Chimera, David de Kastrozza, Eric Fehr, Andrew Gordon, Mathieu Perreault, Steven Pinizzotto, Ashton Rome
Our question to you, then, is who's your Duchesne Cup pick?
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They stacked all the Russians and all the Swedes in Group A.
Hmmm.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Except Snowflake in B with Flash. Think that sent a message?
If so, did Sasha interpret that message as “I must have a contract > $6MM to be in Group A. Note to self: ask for $7MM at end of season.”
“Also note to self, ask before playoffs start.”
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Sep 17, 2010 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
How are these groups chosen? Is it by lot? Because this is really lopsided.
Eat, drink, and be merry! And then drink some more.
From what I’ve been able to figure out, Group A gets the top line and the (anticipated) third Defensive pairing and the top goalie. Group B gets the 2nd line and the 2nd defensive pairing and the 2nd goalie. Group C gets the 3rd line and the top defensive pairing. At least that’s how the personnel assignments seem to be divvied up or that’s how it’s been for this year and the last two years.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Team A, and I’m not sure it’s close. Their only weakness might be the D, but I don’t think the other teams have the offense to challenge or exploit it. Putting AO and Backstrom on the same team is just not fair. It’s not like they need the work together for chemistry purposes.
I also wonder what’s going to happen having Mackan and Galiev in the same group. I assume Mackan will get a long look at C, so unless Galiev is going to 3C for that team he probably has to move to the wing. I really wish they would have put Mackan in a group that would have allowed him to play with an NHL caliber scorer. Mackan and Semin would have been fun to watch.
Unless Semin and Neuvirth play ridiculously well I think group B gets stomped. Unless MP and Fehr have some magic group C is going to get more scoring from their D than their O.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I was really hoping Mackan and Semin would get paired together. Maybe they play Mackan on a line with Ovie for a bit? Like you said it’s not like Ovie and Backstrom need more time to work together.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Sep 17, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Group A’s weakness may be defense, but Varly has shown in the past that he doesn’t really need great defense to be in front of him to be outstanding.
The stache is back!
by Knubles and Bits on Sep 17, 2010 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Group A is stacked. Varly, Ovie, Backstrom, Knuble, Johansson, Carlson, and Alzner. Seems pretty lopsided in their favor.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Group B has some stuff but definite underdogs.
Group C just doesn’t seem to have a chance baring a Patrick Roy level performance from the goalies.
Group A just makes me laugh. Caps actual first line, Varly, the dynamic duo on D, and all the top prospects.
Super Summary being Skill Group v Group Tryhard v Group Grit.
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
Some people would not consider Group B to be Group Tryhard. (I’m assuming that Skill Group is Group A and Group Grit is Team C.) Or are my assumptions all wrong?
Last year, I referred to Group A as the good boys (as they had Ovi, Knuble, Backstrom, Alzner, and Carlson) and Group B as the bad boys (who had Semin and Joe Finley and Della Rovere).
Rocking the Red since 1975
So stepping back,
Team A has 1st Line, 3rd D pairing, and #1 G
Team B has 2nd Line, 2nd pairing, and #2 G
Team C has 3rd Line, 1st D pairing, and #3G
You can argue some about the D pairing of Poti/Erskin over Carlzner.
Seams like each team should have had 1,2,3 of each may have been more balanced, but there may be deeper reasons for the mix too. Also this assumes MP is 3C and Flash is 2C
I’d call Carlson part of the 2nd pairing, and Erskine part of the 3rd – but I could see it being the other way too. And does this say something about MP vs. Mackan for 3C?
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
Not really.
my thinking is it’s the incumbents job to lose and based on professional games played at the NHL and AHL level flash/mp are 2c/3c incumbents. But mackan or eakin could earn one of those spots. From what I’ve read sounds like mackan has a good chance to do that but the true test is now!
by realityczech on Sep 17, 2010 7:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I couldn’t see Eakin getting the job, but Mackan has a definite shot. I just thought it was interesting that they had the top 3 lines together – if MP is 3C.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
That seems to be the pattern for the GD Cup every year. Although last year’s camp was messed up in that regard since Flash and Fehr were medically unable to play. (Ironically, the lines that played the 1st and 2nd lines throughout training camp last year were recombined into different combinations for most of the first month of the season.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
A has two of the NHL’s top 5 players in it. The other two groups have none… A is likely the winner.
As for the other two groups, Group C may surprise and finish second. They’re probably the most defensively responsible group…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
Last year the A squad won. (The B’s were the first one eliminated) Two years ago, the B squad won, but, then again, they had Sergei Fedorov.
Next question, can we read how the team will do as a whole based on what happens in the Gaetan Duchesne Cup?
Rocking the Red since 1975
I thought Team A was a lock for the Duchesne Cup, but after today I’m not so sure. I think it’s an open tournament at this point.. I don’t know how to predict overall team performance based on the outcome. But as for individual “dark horse” players, we might be able to tell who would most likely make the opening night roster or be likely call-ups during the season. It will be an interesting battle.
by Ovietracker on Sep 18, 2010 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I really like how they put Kugryshev and Johansson with Nicky and Ovi. It will be a great experience for them.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Sep 20, 2010 1:55 AM EDT reply actions
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