Thursday Caps Clips
by J.P. on Sep 2, 2010 6:38 AM EDT
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Your savory breakfast links:
- Jeff Schultz had mono this summer and lost 25 pounds, but is good to go now (which means it's fair game to joke about). [CI]
- From eight place to the Finals to fifth place - buckle up for the Flyers roller coaster. [Masisak]
- Ah, September. [Dump n' Chase]
- A few Caps are among the top Calder candidates. [Hockey Independent]
- Isn't it a little early for the haters to be burying Mike Green? [From the Rink]
- Andrew Gordon answers your questions (and tells of his Brooks Laich-related dream). If he's as talented as he is verbose, the Caps are in good shape. [RMNB]
- What if Alexander Semin took as many shots as Alex Ovechkin? (Note: interesting aspect of this comparison does not apply to 2010 playoff statistics.) [JtG]
- Speaking of Ovi, was "The Goal" a miracle? (And if so, is he half way to sainthood?) [Hoffman]
- 30 Caps in 30 Days: Keith Aucoin. [Red Line Station]
- I was told there'd be no math on this exam. [RtR]
- Marcus Johansson: "The Coaches said to me several times that they believe really hard in me and that I will take a regular spot." [hockeysverige.se via FanPost]
- There AO goes, promoting the 2014 Winter Olympics again... [Alex Ovetjkin]
- ... and he's off to school, apparently borrowing one of the kids' leather jackets. [Alex Ovetjkin]
- Lisa Hillary's greatest hits. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- We know the Caps are tough. Here's a reminder that some of their fans are, too. [Singing From The Crease via Ted's Take]
- The inaugural Charity Hockey Classic to benefit Inova Blood Donor Services is coming up a week from Saturday out at Kettler. Check it out. [CHC]
- Finally, it's a big day for birthdays as Dany Sabourin turns 30, Ivan Majesky turns 34, Kevin Miller hits 45, Bobby Gould is 53 and Michel Belhumeur (he of the 0-29-4 record with a 5.32 GAA as a Cap) is 61. Happy happy to all.
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CI is slipping. It took 5 comments for the first “Schultz sucks” comment.
i dunno, sometimes he plays like he has mono. If he was a normal sized player with that level of effort he puts out sometimes, he’d be very average.
He lost 25lbs.? Then he must have been down to 155.
Hope the IV’s had a few ounces of toughness, muscle and meaness.
If being weak is a sign of having mono,then shultz must of had symptoms all season long! Even if he is cured doesnt mean he still isnt a wuss.
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 Sep 2, 2010 7:10 AM EDT reply actions
I stopped reading the CI comments when I graduated to the Rink last year.
"If you want money go to the bank, if you want bread go to the bakery if you want goals go to the net." - #21
by snakegriffin on Sep 2, 2010 7:15 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
They’re comedy gold.
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 Sep 2, 2010 7:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Sometimes there are some good ones (comments) over there. Sometimes, there are some pretty bad ones. And there are some commentators over there that are pretty daggone negative. (Nattering nabobs of negativity)
Rocking the Red since 1975
Wrong. Right. Right.
But ultimately, screw ’em.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 2, 2010 7:23 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The good commenters over there usually find their way over here.
"I wake up in the middle night frustrated because we lost out in the first round and I want to see our players hoist the Stanley Cup." -Brooks Laich
by CapitalCentre on Sep 2, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I guess this time mono actually is mono.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Sep 2, 2010 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
That depends on what the definition of “is” is….
Ok, I’ll get out of DC political hack-talk… sorry…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
I believe the puck that Ovechkin scored with has to heal the sick for him to be considered for Sainthood. ;)
Nuh-uh! It could also turn water into wine.
by Becca H on Sep 2, 2010 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Vodka, more likely.
"I wake up in the middle night frustrated because we lost out in the first round and I want to see our players hoist the Stanley Cup." -Brooks Laich
by CapitalCentre on Sep 2, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Please… since he has already had one Miracle attributed to him, don’t we need to call him Blessed Alex?
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Ovie and the Immaculate Conception
I’m trying to wrap my mind around the thought of Virgin Alex. Given some of the photos and stories we’ve seen about him, sainthood is not an achievable goal for him. Unless the standards for what is and is not a saint are relaxed—no, rather, bent out of shape to the point of destruction.
Mike Green, Washington Capitals — To be honest, Green will probably be a Norris finalist again if he stays healthy. But he’s not going to win until he can shake his reputation as an average defender. While you could argue all five defensemen listed above are the best players on their team, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who would call Green the Caps’ top player — and you probably would see him listed third or even lower by most. That’s not a recipe for winning a major award.
Well if Drew Doughty was on the Capitals, he’d be the 3rd or 4th best player on the team.
If Duncan Keith was on the Capitals, he’d be the 3rd or 4th best player on the team.
If Chara was on the Capitals, he’d be the 5th best player.
If Lidstrom was on the Capitals, he’d be the 3rd or 4th best player on the team.
If Shea Weber was on the Capitals, he’d be the 4th or 5th best player on the Capitals.
And Anze Kopitar, Pavel Datysuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrice Bergeron would like to defend themselves.
I’m not saying M.Green is better than any of those guys, but knock on Green and his defense being lousy or average is really overblown.
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
I can’t tell if the intent is to predict what will happen (i.e. “voters will devalue Green because of the talents around him” – fair and likely true) or what should (i.e. “voters should devalue Green because of the talents around him” – unfair and irrelevant to the award itself).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think it was the authors personal opinion rather than any type of reality when determining the winner of the Norris. I mean Mike Green hasn’t won it yet, but he’s been 2nd 2 times and both times all you’d hear is that his defense isn’t up to par, not that he has awesome teammates.
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
I think it’s also an attempt to influence. If you say something enough, it becomes true? Sure, Green has created an image by crashing and burning in the playoffs, but the last time I checked, it was still a regular season award.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
Becca was over there and basically saying the same thing. Go Becca!
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
I couldn’t resist…all I kept saying was that while in some cases, not being the best player on your team might hurt you, in this case he’s trailing a couple of guys named Ovechkin and Backstrom. Being right behind guys like that is not a bad thing, and if you put any of the players on that list on the Caps they’d be 3rd best, too.
But they aren’t even defensemen?
Doesn’t Keith have a couple forwards on his team that really good 2-way forwards?
Shouldn’t that count against him?
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
Well, that was my other issue. They’re comparing apples to oranges – if he’s the 2nd or 3rd best defenseman on his team then no, he shouldn’t be considered for the Norris in any way. But being the best D and the 3rd best player behind seriously world class forwards isn’t a knock on his defensive ability.
D pointed out that to some extent the ability to carry a team is considered but I still don’t buy that as much, I think that only really matters for the Hart.
Oops meant to reply here.
"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 Sep 2, 2010 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions
No player carries a team. To even be considered for a Hart you have to have a pretty damn good team around you. Think of all the players that have been dismissed because their team didn’t make the playoffs.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
To even be considered for a Hart you have to have a pretty damn good team around you.
Hmm…don’t remember the 06-07 Penguins being all that good, or the 07-08 Caps for that matter. Generally you need to make the playoffs, sure, but that’s pretty true of most of the awards. Just about everyone who wins the Hart is someone who to some extent carries his team – hence the description, “awarded to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team”.
Obviously it’s a team sport and no one guy can do it all but to say you only win the Hart if your team is good? Eh.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Yeah I do. Do you not remember all the “If the Caps make the playoffs then AO is the MVP” talk. That demonstrated that a lot of voters consider factors that are outside the player’s individual control. The Pens that year made the playoffs as well, and they still had the same core that won the Cup (if younger). When was the last time you truly saw a player carry a team? Now narrow it down to skaters. It doesn’t happen very often and the teams that are “carried” by a player either stink or have a lot more depth and talent than they are given credit for.
You can look at other awards as well. Brodeur should be thanking his lucky stars that Luongo was stuck in that clusterfuck in FLA for so long or a couple of those Vezinas would belong to Luongo (voted on by GMs, but same principle).
And what’s the point of bolding that language? Everyone knows that it’s a perennial debate about what the standard of MVP voting is. You can bold that language and we can just devolve to the “best player or most valuable to his team” debate, but I’m not sure how it applies to the current discussion.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I do remember it – but making the playoffs isn’t the mark of a good team, more than half the teams in the League make the cut. And it’s not completely unreasonable to consider, since there’s no way the Caps are a playoff team in 07-08 if Ovechkin doesn’t shoulder more of the burden than his teammates, and there’s no way the Pens are the year before if Crosby doesn’t do the same.
Hell, I almost thought Crosby should have won the Hart this year because of the singularly individual effort he had to put forth in order to even get his team into the playoffs. They don’t finish where they did without him and there’s no way in hell they get out of the first round without him.
And I bolded it partly to point out the criteria that is most forgotten by fans (and that is relevant to this discussion) – valuable to his team – and partly just to see how much of a snarky response I could get from you. Success.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
So where do the Caps end up in 08 without Huet?
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Had he been here a whole season and played at the level he played over the last month, he might have gotten consideration.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
My point is that AO didn’t “carry” the Caps. He was the best player, but he was just a couple standings points from not being considered by a lot of people, and he needed Huet, Feds, etc. to step up to get those points. It wasn’t AO carrying a bunch of beer-leaguers.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
And Becca’s point is that every player carries his team to a certain extent (as long as he’s not a net liability). In the 2008 AO example, did any player contribute more than he did? Seems like the way you’re explaining it only Hasek in his Hart years was good enough to “carry” his team, and I think we need to use a broader definition or a different word then.
by red army line on Sep 2, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
every player carries his team to a certain extent (as long as he’s not a net liability)
That’s kind of my point and framing it like that sort of undermines the value of “carrying” your team. Basically you’re defining it down to “not hurting your team.” That’s not what people talk about when they carry the team.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I don’t think people mean a 100GVT and 17 extra wins, either, like it may be in basketball.
by red army line on Sep 2, 2010 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Go Becca too! I was so happy to read your defense of Green. There was a lot of hot air in that piece.
"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 Sep 2, 2010 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions
You know what else isn’t a recipe for winning a major award? All of the voters of a particular city getting together and colluding to spike a guy’s vote totals by not voting for him at all to drive some kind of personal vendetta and to promote their own guy.
If the Philly journalists really did that, why isn’t that a bigger story?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Did I miss a story here? There’s no NHL award for best moustache, and even if Carcillo had gotten the votes over Clutterbuck, I’m sure he’d want to go toe-to-toe with him and explain his merits.
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Sep 2, 2010 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
....
You have to make sure that “major awards” aren’t too “fragile”
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
YOU USED ALL THE GLUE…ON PURPOSE!
"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 Sep 2, 2010 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Think any of Toronto’s defensemen will get a Norris nomination this season?
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I find it horrifying that Melinda Dillon was Hanrahan’s wife in Slapshot.
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
You’re just going to ignore my Jeff Finger setup? Ok.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I just now got it. I suck.
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
NOTTTTTTAAAAAAA FINNGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
that’s Italian!
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
by Scott in Shaw on Sep 2, 2010 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s comforting
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
All I know (which is not much) is that Vogs made that accusation on one of his CR shows about the Philly media colluding to leave Green off the ballots. I believe it was around the time that the nominees were announced. Whether it’s true or not I have no idea.
"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 Sep 2, 2010 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s where I was getting it from
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
As I recollect (bit hazy) it was to help Pronger and because they thought Green was overrated. Vogs does like to make veiled allusions so I wasn’t sure how accurate it was or if it was just insider gossip.
"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 Sep 2, 2010 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Far be it for me to rain on a conspiracy theory, but each city gets two PHWA votes and then there are a number of national votes to be allocated in addition.
Keith beat Green 1096-831. If two Philly writers left Green off entirely and voted Keith first, had they voted the other way (Green 1st, Keith off), Green would’ve lost 1076-851 (voting is 10-7-5-3-1 for 1st through 5th.
In other words, for Philly to have conspired and thrown the Norris vote away from Green, they’d have needed another 7 votes in addition to Philly’s 2 (doubtful they have that many), and for each of those voters to have voted Keith first and not voted Green in the top-4 (and most not in the top-5). Doesn’t that sound like a bit of a stretch?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 2, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
What Vogel was saying was not nearly that involved. Just that the Philly voters got together and agreed to keep Green of their own ballots. This is hazy now because it’s been several weeks, but I think Vogel was saying that he knew Green did not appear on those ballots, and then Vogel speculated about why that might be. Nobody is saying it cost Green the Norris. Just that it was unprofessional (if true). Or hey, maybe those guys really don’t think Mike Green is all that good.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that’s all possible and would be horribly unprofessional. I just wanted to quantify how much of an impact it really could have had.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yup. That’s exactly what limiting the voters to a particular pool of professionals (in that instance journalists) is supposed to avoid.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions
If they let the public vote on it, PK Subban would be a lock.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Followed by Markov, Gill, Spacek, O’Byrne and Larry Robinson.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
So, the criteria for winning the Norris is that you have to be the best player on your team. Well that explains everything.
And Larry Robinson…. and Denis Potvin…. and….
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I had issues with statements such as
While he [Weber]may not have 70-point potential like Keith…
where the author is talking about potential-70 point defensemen being prime Norris candidates but dismisses Green who has had achieved consecutive 70-point seasons. Then in the comments he says that Green will need to get 90-points before he overcome the idea that he is average. Well if the knock on him is that he’s not good enough in his own end I don’t understand how getting more points would make him a better Norris candidate by the standards he set. Apparently Green gets judged by a different set of standards than other elite defensemen.
"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 Sep 2, 2010 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions
He doesn’t get judged by a different set of criteria, he’s saying that since Green’s not the defensive player the other two are (or isn’t perceived to be) he needs to do more on offense to make up for it.
Okay I get your point—not really a logic fail on his part—but suggesting that Green would need 90 points before he could win the Norris seemed like climbing Mount Olympus to me, an impossible feat.
"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 Sep 2, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I didn’t have an issue with what Cory wrote. I saw more of “regardless what I think, this is what the voters will think” type of argument to leave Green off. His 2 runner-ups disagree, but it is what it is.
by red army line on Sep 2, 2010 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I like the line about Green giving it his best shot two years ago and failing. Typical that a Canes fan would expect a player’s best season to be their sophomore year. Most other fans realize players actually get better with time and that Green in all likelihood will become an even better player.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I don’t agree with him, but I think he has a point in the sense I would be a little surprised if Green finishes that far ahead of everyone in offensive production or hits 30 goals again.
Maybe, but don’t you think it’s too soon to tell? Green has shown that he has generational offensive skill, and he missed about 20% of that season. I’m not comfortable saying that 08-09 is going to be Green’s best season in his career, statistical or otherwise.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Absolutely too soon to tell if it’s his best chance to win the Norris, since so many things factor in to it. Statistically? I’d never say it authoritatively, but I will be pretty surprised if Green ever hits 30 again, barring some pretty significant rule change(s).
On the one hand I agree; 30 is just so hard for a D that you simply can’t expect it. On the other hand, Green already did it and did it missing a significant number of games. Maybe everything just went right for him that year, but I don’t think the skill has gone away and I think he’ll have at least one more huge offensive season where he at least threatens 30. Then again, if he doesn’t commit himself to staying in shape he won’t continue to develop like we hoped/thought he would. His skating is really what sets him apart, and that ‘ll be the first thing to go if he doesn’t stay in shape.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Typical that a Canes fan with a blog and enough of an audience to spout stuff with an assumed air of authority would expect a player’s best season to be their sophomore year.
Not all people who like the Canes still drag their knuckles, promise.
The last mosquito that bit me had to check into the Betty Ford Clinic.
Long-running continuity joke from last summer, vis-a-vis Backstrom having peaked, or not, at 22-66-88.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 2, 2010 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
What from The Rink has turned into is an embarrassment.
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 Sep 2, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Is it just me or does Belhumeur look a bit like a younger Dubya?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
/Waits for pic Michel in an F-102 cockpit
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
Since it would run afoul of our community guidelines, I won’t note the similarities in their respective success rates in job performance.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 2, 2010 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Burn.
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 Sep 2, 2010 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions
so saying something like, “at least belhumeur played for the team that drafted him” would be against rink policy?
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Sep 2, 2010 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
After yesterday’s green Obama comment, I think we need to add an “except JP” coda to the no political arguments bit in the community guidelines.
Me, I’m just wondering if the Caps can send Fleischmann to the Dominican Republic to hang out with Manuel Zelaya
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
[Insert your own “Same Amount of Success in Washington, DC” joke here]
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
While you could argue all five defensemen listed above are the best players on their team
Sure, you could argue that. And you’d probably lose the argument (at least on all five of them, or even a majority of them).
Lidstrom > Datsyuk? Once upon a time, maybe. Not now. Zetterberg might be better at this point. It says a lot about Detroit’s depth.
Keith > Toews? Nope. Chicago would feel Toews’ absence long before they felt Keith’s. Kane might be better. And this is why the Blackhawks are the defending champions.
Weber > everyone else? OK, there’s one.
Chara > Savard or Rask? Two years ago, yeah (Rask played in only one game for the Bruins). Last year, no (discounting games Savard missed to injury). He’s 33 and slipped, if not a lot, then noticeably last year. If he was 28 and slipped, you could say it was a hiccup. At 33?
Doughty > Kopitar? I’m not convinced. Someday, Doughty is going to be a great defenseman. It might be this year. But while he had a fine year last year, color me thinking he was overrated.
I’m still trying to figure out how a guy who had better goals allowed on ice/60 (5-on-5) than either Keith or Weber last year has this perpetuating theme of being a slug in his own end. And he is still the best offensive defenseman of this era. There isn’t even a second place in that respect.
And talk about an empty argument…
…you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who would call Green the Caps’ top player — and you probably would see him listed third or even lower by most…
Duh! Alex Ovechkin is seen by many as the best player in the league and Nicklas Backstrom had 100 points. Both, if it hasn’t escaped notice, are forwards. None of the other five defenseman on that list have a remotely similar context, not even Lidstrom or Keith.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Just as a side question, didn’t Chara play with a hand injury last year? I wouldn’t be that quick to write him off then.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
Not writing him off. That’s why I compared his production had he been 28 with his being 33 this year. For the younger player, I’d be more inclined to just asume he’d shrug it off. Not so willing to just accept that at his age. Can he come back? Absolutely. Is it a given? Nope. Is that the sort of player you want to pencil in as a pre-season favorite to be a Norris finalist?
If you've read this far...seek help.
To use the Jeff Schultz argument, if Chara were 6’4" would he be getting any consideration for the Norris? Chara, to me, is like a lot of the huge offensive lineman in the NFL or some of the gigantic centers in the NBA. Their size makes them a lot better than than their skill-set would indicate. That being said, Chara can play for my team any day and he probably was the best defenseman in the league when he won the Norris. But I think his size makes up for a lot of mistakes smaller players like Green can’t get away with on the ice.
I think that cuts both ways to an extent. Surely a smaller man might have more agility and quickness. Chara’s come a long way in that frame of his, which has no doubt had its advantages and drawbacks.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
For a big guy he’s a remarkably agile and quick(ish) skater. I’d hesitate to say that he gets more credit than he deserves just because of his size – the guy’s a beast.
Where Cory Lavalette really lost me on Chara is when he said that he counts Chara’s PIMs as a positive thing because they show Chara’s snarl. That’s thinking like a fantasy GM right there; if Chara is really a Norris-caliber defenseman because of his defensive play, don’t you want him a) not taking a lot of penalties so that he’s on the ice during the penalty kill and b) not getting in fights so that he can log more ice time?
The Bruins are paying Shawn Thornton 800k a year to fight and forecheck, too. Why make him redundant?
by Wheeler on Sep 2, 2010 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t mind a few fights (he had one in the regular season and one in the post-season last year), but all the 2 minute PIMs are undoubtedly a bad thing. People definitely look at it like a fantasy GM right there. Ridiculous.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Chara did one thing that I hope Schultz will learn to do one day and that is learn how to leverage his size into putting more behind his shot from the point. When Chara came into the league, his shot was pretty hard, but nothing like the 105 mph blast it is now. He worked on it and learned to put more of his big frame behind the puck when shooting.
He is pretty nimble on his feet for his size, but that wasn’t as big an issue when he came over. He grew up in what was Czecholslovakia, and back then, the first thing they taught hockey players in Czecholslovakia was how to skate with power, speed and agility. The goal there was always to skate better than the USSR, since there was no way they could realistically compete on a talent level. They had to outwork the Russians…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Schultz is 24. At age 24, Chara was still with the Islanders, and he wasn’t all that great.
A year later it was Zdeno Chara and the pick that became Jason Spezza for Alexei Yashin — still one of the most lopsided trades of all time.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
A very lopsided and one-sided trade, but amazingly not the most lopsided one that Milbury made… it’s astonishing that anyone would want to listen to the guy…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Chara’s Norris year was insanely overrated. No way he was better than Green that year and he definitely wasn’t better than Lidstrom either. I might not have had Chara in the top 3 but everyone loves the BCCD and he had been making his name for years at that point so voters wanted to reward him.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Keith > Toews? Nope. Chicago would feel Toews’ absence long before they felt Keith’s. Kane might be better. And this is why the Blackhawks are the defending champions.
Maybe, but that’s doesn’t mean one’s better than the other. Look at the Caps – given the way their depth chart looks at the moment, you could argue that they’d miss Backstrom more than Ovechkin, even though Ovechkin’s the better player.
Doughty > Kopitar? I’m not convinced. Someday, Doughty is going to be a great defenseman. It might be this year. But while he had a fine year last year, color me thinking he was overrated.
I am convinced from watching them play on Center Ice last year. Kopitar is nothing short of amazing, but Doughty is an elite defenseman in the league and he won’t be able to legally have a beer with the boys after the game until after December 8th of this year… DD has the potential to be as good as Lidstrom in his prime, if not better. He could be the best defenseman the NHL has seen since Bobby Orr.
Kopitar is a special talent, and is an elite, world class player, but I doubt he will ever be regarded as one of the all-time greats. Would love to have him on my team, but there are probably half a dozen forwards that are better than he is (and two of them play in DC).
If I had to pick one of the two that has a shot at being one of the top 50 NHL players of all time, I’d put my money on Doughty, no question.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
As good or better than Lidstrom? Best defenseman since Bobby Orr? Let’s tone down the hyperbole for a second and recognize that plenty of players with great potential never live up to it. I think Doughty is going to be great, but holy crap.
"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 Sep 2, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
And Dustin Brown is better than the both of them anyways.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I’ve seen 20-30 games of his… and this kid is the real deal. And he’s already got a Norris Trophy nomination and an Olympic Gold Medal, so he is living up to the potential. Plus, since he is 21, he is going to get better.
As for better than Lidstrom, Doughty is already ahead of him. It took Lidstrom 7 seasons to be named a first team All Star. Doughty’s already there.
Of course, all of this is barring injury to Doughty… here’s hoping he’s not fragile…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2010 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
can we please leave out the Olympic gold? Drew Doughty did not single handedly drag Canada to Olympic gold. If Drew Doughty wasn’t on that team, they probably still would have won. A lucky break here or there, and we’re talking about Ryan Miller, America’s Golden Boy for the next 4 years. Great couple of games between the US and Canada, but let’s not make that gold out to be something it isn’t.
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.
Making the Canadian Olympic team as a second year player is pretty impressive, though.
by red army line on Sep 2, 2010 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
He was very good in the Olympics. He wasn’t a guy Canada had to hide, and from the first game he played really well. I’d say Doughty and Weber were the two best Canadian D in the tournament, though the greybeards turned it on late and Keith was pretty good (though not what I expected from him). I’d say Boyle and Seabrook were the Canadian D that really disappointed.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Gordon’s article is really informative. Long is okay – he’s got a clear and engaging writing style, so I don’t mind the length. Also, a lot of what he said is really germane to me particularly and confirms some things that I’d been thinking about my trainer’s approach.
Reminder to all – if you’re an STH, the pre-sale for individual tickets is on. Prices have gone up, especially for the “Gold” games – the tickets for the Gold games like Pittsburgh and Chicago weekend games were $85 a pop for the cheap seats.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
And technically, you can’t even buy a “cheap seat”, as they’re 100% sold to season ticket holders. Boy, if I wanted to sell those games I could make a lot of money, but no way.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
Not really. They do set some tickets aside for individual sales. Sunday has been decreed “family day” in my family, and we do various things. I have purchased tickets for my family for all of the Sunday home games on the schedule (I counted seven), and most of them are in the lower rows of 403 – most in C or D.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Interesting. I could have sworn the team said they were all sold. I guess when they say that, they don’t include the ones they set aside for single game sales. Sneaky.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
I think those are the folding seats that are on same level as the tunnel. During weekday games, they’re usually covered up by tarps. They’re really convenient to get in and out of.
"HISTORY DOESN’T MATTER!!! .... Who cares if it’s never been done? We aren’t those teams who failed before. We are in control of our own destiny, and we will make it happen our own way.." - A Gordon, June 2010
No. My usual STH seat is right above one of those sets of seats – those are reserved for guests with disabilities who cannot climb stairs. I get the impression that the first 3-4 rows in every section in the 400’s are single-game or group-reserved. Can’t confirm but I have that impression.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
LAICH – PERRAULT – GORDON
Yes, please.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Sorry, can’t read the small print. :-)
Not an opinion on which of them should get the gig. At the moment, there’s sort of room for both of them.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
Doesn’t have to be immediately!
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble
Semin-Fleischmann-Fehr
Laich-Perreault-A. Gordon
Chimera-B. Gordon-Bradley
Doesn’t look so bad…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Getting Laich down in the lineup is a win. Getting Fehr up in the lineup is a win. It all hinges on getting Semin on the left side, which I’d love to have happen, but I doubt BB thinks outside the box that much.
When DJ King plays, who sits?
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
IIRC he’s a LW, so BoGo would get a chance to rest his back.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Who would center that line, then?
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Stecks. A King/Stecks/Brads 4th line would be a little bit huge, actually
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Boyd Gordon. He rests his back and stays clear of the flying fists.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
You still have one too many players.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Correct. You have to sit a LW in order to dress King, and the candidates are Laich and Chimera. Each has its set of downsides.
The roster is looking mis-shapen, is the larger point I’m getting at here.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
If the roster is mis-shapen because DJ King and Dave Steckel may have to sit on the bench more than they play, I’ll take it.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Sure, but it would be better not to have to contort the lines in order to get them TOI when you want to.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I’m just glad the team has 12 forwards who are better than either of those guys.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This is it. You’re either sitting Laich or Chimera to get King into the lineup. Against a team that compels the use of DJ King, I would think that you would also want Chimera in the lineup.
As pedestrian as Laich’s contribution may be, it’s surely more impressive than what King can bring to the table.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I don’t think Laich is pedestrian at all. He’s a damned good 3LW, an adequate 2LW, a poor C, and an emergency D. That’s a very valuable player to have.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Should have put “pedestrian” in quotes – in the context of the statement, it was intended to be ironic.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
gotcha. I’m a little sensitive about it because I’ve been negative about Laich this offseason, but I’m more negative about the role he’s being asked to perform than about his actual talents
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
No worries. I view Laich as a legit, regular role-player in the NHL. A sizeable (sp? Firefox is giving this a squiggly line, but I’m not buying it) contingent here regards him as bleonging in another tier or two higher in the pecking order. I’ve made some fairly strenuous arguments against that perception, which is the reason for the irony.
DJ King is not a regular, so as potentially over-valued as Laich might be, he’s still loads more valuable than DJ King.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Happy Birthday Ivan Majesky
In honour of his 34th (really?…cripes) birthday, the only Ivan Majesky clip worth remembering:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7s40yugLms
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory
Had a feeling it might be that one.
Still, he’s no Sarge.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
All birthdays today are of the Beverly Hills variety … it’s 90210.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
It’s only a matter of time before a certain GIF makes an appearance to celebrate another of today’s b-days…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
There’s a gif of it? I haven’t seen the gif
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Scroll down the page a little bit.
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Needs a reverse angle real bad.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I don’t know if there’s another angle in the original. That’s the slow mo.
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Al Koken going into hysterics is the best.
“Here’s a guy, 6-5, 200 pounds, and they think he can’t defend himself!!!!!!!!!”
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
“I will look the same 20 years from now!”
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I think my favorite part is Koken referring to Lemieux as having a “hawk-like face”. His whole part in that clip is GOLD.
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Huh. I always pegged Kjell Samuelsson for looking like a bird.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 2, 2010 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Not after Michal Pivonka got a hold of him
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
As I recall, didn’t he hit Kjell at another point in that game and get thrown out?
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 Sep 2, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Dunno, but it seems like a “hit him before he kills me” thing.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Kjell was always a giant ninny.
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 Sep 2, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Scott Hartnell-Mike Richards-Danny Briere
James van Riemsdyk-Jeff Carter-Nikolai Zherdev
Daniel Carcillo-Claude Giroux-Ville Leino
Darroll Powe-Blair Betts-Ian Laperriere
Corey has our offense vs. the Flyers offense as EVEN at EVEN strength. (Rating as a boxing match)
1st line –
LW – Hartnell’s goals dropped from 30 to 14 last year. On the decline. He was never fast and is getting slower
LW – Ovechkin will have more goals by early-December then Hartnell all year.
WAS – 10 PHI – 5
C – Richards had a down year last year as questions came up about his ability to lead, but even a bounce back season doesn’t put him the same category of Backstom
C – Backstrom is now in the discussion of best pivots in the game, 33 goals last season too, with room to improve assists wise.
WAS – 10 PHI – 8
RW – Briere has to be the key to the first line, if he produces then it’s a really good 1st line. He also has more pressure on him to produce because of the departure of Gagne.
RW – Knuble is rock solid and is going to give you exactly what the 1st line needs, an huge ass in the crease knocking in rebounds.
WAS – 10 PHI – 10
2nd line
LW – JVR is a talented kid with a great future ahead of him and put up 15 goals in his first season with Philly. He’ll improve on those numbers to 20 goals.
LW – Laich is heading into his prime at 27 and put up 59 points last season. The is no reason to believe that his production will decrease, look for 60 to 65 points from him.
WAS – 10 PHI – 9
C – Carter took a huge step back last season as players figured out he could only attack the net on the left. Is he as good as the 2009/10 season? No. Is he as bad as he was last season? No. Somewhere in the middle.
C – Flash… Not a good C to be honest, but thats what we are looking at I think at the moment. He notched 50 points and probably can do better but the rest of his play is questionable.
PHI – 10 WAS – 8
RW – Zherdev is a talented headcase, no question, but not nearly as talented as our headcase at RW.
RW – Semin in my opinion is usually the most talented guy on the ice at every game, just not mentally talented all the time.
WAS 10 PHI -7
3rd line
LW – Carcillo has one worst mustaches and tempers in the game. A ticking timebomb. Has ability but negates most of that with stupid penalties.
LW – Chimera doesn’t have the best hands but is fast as hell and has plenty of grit. Solid 3rd line winger that can find ways to score, just not on breakaways.
WAS – 10 PHI – 9
C – Giroux is going to be around for a long time, a fantastic player. He’ll push Carter throughout the season for the 2C spot and maybe even push Carter out the door at the deadline for a goalie.
C – Belanger had a so/so first stint with the Caps. I’m not too terribly excited about him but between Chimera and Fehr he should put up at least 40 points.
PHI – 10 WAS – 8
RW – Leino came over from the Red Wings to Philly because Detroit thought he was expendable because he hasn’t lived up to expectations. True, and he still hasnt.
RW – Fehr is my boy.
WAS – 10 PHI – 7
4th line overall
Powe/Betts/LaPerriere/Shelley vs Gordon/King/Steckel/Bradley
WAS – 10 PHI – 10
My score?
WAS – 96
PHI – 85
Winner by TKO – WAS
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
by JSchon on Sep 2, 2010 9:12 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Interesting way to look at it, but it needs some weighting. For example, I have a hard time getting past Alex Ovechkin’s “10” being equal to Jason Chimera’s “10” in the final tally.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I also have a hard time with Laich being ranked higher than JVR, and Flash/Belanger being even close to Carter/Giroux in their scores. (Though it could just be because I don’t really follow boxing and don’t know how close scores usually are).
The guy is Peter Schumpmaker. Lord knows what a schump is, but you can bet your bippy his ancestors made them. What he's doing is far worse than crafting fine schumps.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Sep 2, 2010 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
JVR will be better than Laich, no question. I would trade Laich for JVR right now. But we are talking about the 2010/2011 season and who will have a better year and more impact on their teams and lines. I do not think JVR is going top 60 points and play on ST’s like Laich. So this season goes to Laich IMO.
And, yes, I kinda messed up on Giroux vs. Belanger. I’d rescore it now Giroux 10, Belanger 6.
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
The criteria’s only even strength, though, right? 5-on-5 Brooks really doesn’t produce that much and his defensive numbers are only okay.
So would you rather have JVR this year only over Laich?
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
Yes.
The guy is Peter Schumpmaker. Lord knows what a schump is, but you can bet your bippy his ancestors made them. What he's doing is far worse than crafting fine schumps.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Sep 2, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t forget that Laich likes the PP. A lot of his goals come from there.
by red army line on Sep 2, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Rec’d (and spilled coffee) for this:
RW – Zherdev is a talented headcase, no question, but not nearly as talented as our headcase at RW.
"HISTORY DOESN’T MATTER!!! .... Who cares if it’s never been done? We aren’t those teams who failed before. We are in control of our own destiny, and we will make it happen our own way.." - A Gordon, June 2010
by bagace on Sep 2, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Knuble a 10? Laich a 10? Flash an 8?
Pass it to the left, JSchon.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
He’s scoring it on the “10 point must” system, a la boxing – the winner of the “round” (in this case, the head to head matchup, gets 10 points automatically).
I don’t think it’s a particularly helpful way to grade matchups in hockey, but within the context of that framework, I can see those scores being awarded.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I thought it was a pretty clever way to look at the issue, really.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I get that, but Knuble isn’t a 10 tied with Briere, Laich is definitely not the 10 against JVR, and Flash is like a 3 against Carer.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
You definitely can’t stand Flash, neither can I but I can see how he has some value to the team with his scoring. Plenty of Flyer fans wanted to get rid of Carter. I think Carter is a fine player but not good enough of a player say he is 267% better than Flash.
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
Flyer fans want to move Carter to address other needs; most don’t want to move him because he actively hurts the team.
Flash may have some value, but he’s not a true C, so his value is diminished in that comparison. Carter is a true C that plays great in both ends of the ice and can be a fixture on the PP and PK. Flash, while being played in those roles, just isn’t as good at them. Carter is younger, tougher, and better in all phases. Flash maybe gets an 8 if he’s being compared to a wing (maybe JVR) but he’s not an 8 when compared to an actual C. I know, you think Carter can only score from the left side (care to explain?), but Flash is even easier to shut down. I’d say Carter is closer to being 267% the player Flash is than Flash is to being 80% the player Carter is.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
That is fair. So maybe you give Carter 10 and Flash 5. I probably gave Flash too much credit as I did with Belanger.
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
He did the scoring as if the teams were in a boxing match. I trust you know that even if two boxer’s round 8s are just sloppy jabs and slow punches to the body, the full 10 points is still given at the end. They rate the rounds relative to each boxer’s performance in that round; not to other rounds. By the same token, Ovie v. Hartnell and Chimera v. Carcillo both fight for the possible 10 points.
That being said, no way Belanger and Flash beat out their respective Philly counterparts
It's The Wait for Red October. Except rather than Sean Connery, Alex Baldwin, and Sam Neill, it's George McPhee, Bruce Boudreau, and Alex Ovechkin.
Not Tom Clancy, but Gary Bettman. Not the Soviet Kremlin, but. . .well. . . .yeah, the Soviet Kremlin
You all have covered my major complaint about the Mike Green argument, but there is one other thing that bothers me…
If not being the best player on your team must be taken into consideration, shouldn’t the quality of your defensive teammates also be a factor? I mean, if you are going to look at the difference between Ovi and Green, yeah, that’s a gap, but so is the difference between Greenie and the rest of our D. A lot of these other guys on the list have better help on the side of the ice that the Norris is actually interested in; if you slot them in Green’s spot on the ice, they’d probably find themselves a bit more exposed as well.
TKO? Not quite, but certainly WAS is the clear victor – most nights.
You know what I would like? The ability of Ovechkin, Semin and Green to rise up in the manner Richards, Briere, and Pronger did in the playoffs. Richards has that undeniable leadership quality in the post season, as does Pronger.
I know you all threw up a little bit when I mentioned Briere, but he was having a Conn Smythe run there for a while.
/ Umberger/d
Both cases involve one highly skilled player, one hard working guy with good size and a known scoring ability…and me. Ha! I’m still trying to figure out what I ring to the table here! Decent writing ability maybe?
I enjoyed the RMNB piece with A. Gordo. He comes across as very mature and stable. Definitely a personality with lots to say.
"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."
Astonishing Irony...
…when I signed into the Rink today and read through the clips, the number of comments on the bottom said “66”… and it’s Bobby Gould’s birthday. Heh.
That list of rookies at NHL.com… that’d be a team that could win a bunch of games, eh?
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
....
Since it’s his birthday
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 Sep 2, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 10 recs
Hey! Kevin Collins separating a couple guys without getting punched in the face!
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 2, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Collins was one of the best linesmen in his day, and unlike most of the officials at the time, he used to work out and could hold those guys off…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Awesome. Thank you YLM
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
@brettleonhardt: My fav Cap will be joining the skate today… Guess who? Hint: his shin pads score more then his stick
Methinks Grandpa Slippers is back in town! :)
Gramps has been back for at least a week, but Ima guessing they were getting the kids ready for schoolin’.
Now it’s time to lace ’em up.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Yeah, I figured he’d be back by, at the latest, this weekend – get those kids back to school right after Labor Day! But it’s nice to have confirmation :)
Also? Weekend plans = made. If anyone needs me I’ll be sitting at Kettler.
If anyone needs me I’ll be sitting at Kettler.
Might as well make that your sig for a while.
John Carlson - Glory follows him.
by boutros23 on Sep 2, 2010 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ha! Done and done. I’ve never had a sig before, this seems like a good one to start with :)
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
by Becca H on Sep 2, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
…and I’m still wondering why the captain remains in Russia.
by mechanicsville on Sep 2, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
No doubt it’s his right. I would be more comfortable, though, if he were at Kettler getting his captain on.
by mechanicsville on Sep 2, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
If my job made me go to the other side of planet Earth for 9 months a year, I’d want to extend my time on this side of the globe as long as possible as well. Let him do his thing.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
You can go home again
I have some issues with Ovie, but going home to Russia for the entire off-season isn’t one of them. Perhaps he can return to DC a little sooner, but imo his time training on his home soil seems to prepare him well for how he plays. I’ll cut him some slack on this subject.
Hey, looky here – new content!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Happy Birthday Bob Gould.
Gould was the perfect David Poile player. Very smart, very disciplined, very hard working. Well rounded. For all that he’s famous for one fight, he wasn’t a frequent fighter. He was more of a guy who would do whatever was needed at that time. He scored timely goals played great D, and always put in maximum effort.
I was thinking about how the current Caps could use some more of that, but the truth is this team is far more talented than any team Gould played for. Even the star forwards of David Poile’s teams were known more for hard work than flashiness (think of Gartner, Ridley, Bengt). Sure there were beautiful goals, but there was always the system first. Their play opened up a bit with Bondra, Kristich and Pivonka, but it was never anything like this team.
Part of that was Poile’s constraints. Abe Pollin was never going to be one of the top spenders in the NHL, and for good reasons. Poile did then, as he does now, a fantastic job of working within limits. Gould was the perfect David Poile player because that’s what David Poile could work with.
Poile’s teams never won the Cup. As much as I appreciate Bobby Gould’s style of play, I’m happy to see the team playing with a more skilled, more exciting, and ultimately (I believe) more effective style.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 2, 2010 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Great write up G.O.D. Some really good points about the Caps in the Poile years. I do have a soft spot for a lot of those mid-late 80s teams with all the hard working role guys (Gould, Laughlin, Adams, Haworth, Franceschetti etc) but I agree with you about preferring the team now with their wide open style-of-play
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory
by Rather Bengt on Sep 2, 2010 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m looking at the promotional schedule. I’d like to go to Casino Night this year if I can afford it.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
I thinking that after I whined last year about the cost, I could take the money I’m spending on the Winter Classic and go to Casino Night. Oh, well. Maybe 2012.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
How many goals will Sid score this year? BtN takes a look.
Hint: not 50.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Remember – when a player has a big season, particularly one that’s out of line with what he’s done before, it’s because everything broke right for him.
That isn’t universally true, and I don’t think it is in the case of Crosby. It wasn’t a matter of things “breaking right” (odd hops, lucky bounces, free from injury, facing backup goalies, for example); I think it was a case of necessity. Sid has 50 goals in him, but the Penguins might not be a better team for it. He had excruciatingly weak support on his wings last year (Guerin is no longer a first line RW, and there was a revolving door on the other side), and Malkin had a drop-off. In a sense, he “had” to score more himself.
From another example, Alex Ovechkin had 65 goals in 2007-2008. He more or less had to, too. Only one other Cap had more than 20 that year. His goal production has gone from 65 to 56 to 50 (last year more a product of injury/.suspension-missed games), but the Caps have gone from 94 to 108 to 121 points. I do not think this is coincidence. Spreading the wealth around — a product of better players around him — reduced Ovechkin’s numbers, but the overall production more than makes up for it. If Crosby scores 40, I don’t think it will be a product of regressing to the mean, but a product of the Penguins getting more production from other forwards. If they struggle at wing again, I think Sid is going to be pushing 50 again.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Sep 2, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I could see it with a lot more shots, but there are lots of players who take lots of shots and didn’t shoot as well as Crosby on the whole last season. If he takes even more shots, which I think is likely, then I could see 45, but I have trouble with 50. I mean, the Richard has gone 65-54-51 and it’s getting tougher and tougher to score 50.
by red army line on Sep 2, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Steinberg reports that there are more Ovi Capital One commercials in the can, including one with McNabb.
Not to give away too many plot points here, but in addition to Ovechkin helping McNabb choose his local bank, Ovi also carries moving boxes into McNabb’s new home.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/09/mcnabb_and_ovechkin_co-star_in.html
OK, Geico, your turn.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
Ken Hitchcock helped apprehend a shoplifter in Kelowna
Hoping not to be too off topic, but saw this on Twitter a while ago and the images it evoked for me were amusing.
I’m going to say he blocked an exit?
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
That sounds like it’s well within his skill set.
by mechanicsville on Sep 2, 2010 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably involved a trap.
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Sep 2, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Fat and defensive.. I think we covered everything, right? Good show.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Can you fit a Captain Kangaroo joke in there somewhere?
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
OT: But Caps related...
Why won’t CSN broadcast pre-season games? It seems like they would since:
1. There is nothing on their network (Mystics are done, Wizards haven’t started, Caps will be starting…)
- Other than the 4 Redskin pre-season games…
2. Over the last few years the following of the Caps has increased dramatically.
3. The Caps are considered to be the DC team with the highest possibility of success
I JUST WANT HOCKEY TO START!
"If I was being paid thirty-thousand dollars a year, the very least I could do was hit .400." - Ted Williams
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Four post day. Fuck yeah, Rink.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 2, 2010 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
50 | 24 | 15 | 11 | 59 |
|
Washington
|
50 | 26 | 20 | 4 | 56 |
|
Winnipeg
|
53 | 24 | 23 | 6 | 54 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
50 | 22 | 23 | 5 | 49 |
|
Carolina
|
53 | 19 | 25 | 9 | 47 |
(updated 2.4.2012 at 8:30 AM EST)
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- Friday’s Three Stars: Brassard wins it for Blue Jackets in overtime; Halak blanks Kings
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