Thursday Caps Clips: Caps Sweep B's
by J.P. on Sep 30, 2010 6:16 AM EDT
in Caps Clips
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Your savory breakfast links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's win from us (on Matt Hendricks' early fireworks), Vogs, Carrera (blog, gamer), Caps365 video (highlights, players, Boudreau), Frankovic, Capitals Center, CSN New England (Haggerty), Bruins blog (and again), SCOC, Expressen via Google Translate.
- In case you missed it, our long
nationalNylander nightmare is over. [Puck Daddy, Litter Box Cats, On Frozen Pond, CK] - CSN Washington is adding a half-hour pre-game show to its Caps coverage, which is nice... but I'll take a 28-minute show and more online content from Corey Masisak if given the choice. [D.C. Sports Bog, CSN Washington]
- John Carlson sounds like he's ready to try to meet the lofty expectations that have been set for him. [Masisak]
- How does a team stay focused over the course of the regular season following a year like the last one? Mike Knuble explains. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- Bruce Boudreau is (rightly) playing it safe on even the smallest injuries (which presumably includes whatever's ailing Semyon Varlamov... presumably). [CI]
- Perhaps the most poetically described moments leading up to an opening faceoff you'll ever read. [mediachameleon]
- D.J. King sees himself as "big brother." [CI]
- Pictures from yesterday's practice. [bridgetds]
- On the open center position(s). [TBD, The Checking Line, The Hockey Writers]
- E.J. Hradek ranks the NHL's top ten blueliners (spoiler alert: Mike Green comes in at number seven). [ESPN ($)]
- Also behind ESPN's pay wall, it's 2010-11 power rankings based on the Puck Prospectus VUKOTA system (spoiler alert: Caps hold the top spot). [ESPN ($)]
- Preseason Hart Trophy candidates. Guess who's on the list. [Blackhawks]
- An outsider review of The Ovechkin Project from a presumably unbiased source. [Hockey Book Reviews]
- Did/do the Caps need an enforcer? [RMNB]
- Eric Duhatschek has nine Caps in the NHL's top-200 scorers for the upcoming season (try to name 'em before clicking through). [Globe and Mail]
- Two Caps find themselves in the bottom half of Hockey Future's latest top-50 prospect rankings. [HF]
- Olie Kolzig did a phoner with Elliot In The Morning yesterday. Fall in love all over again! [D.C. Sports Bog, EITM (YouTube)]
- Always-interesting George McPhee was on NHL Live! [NHL Live! (audio)]
- Ted Leonsis (wearing his Wizards Owner hat) gets fined $100,000 for wanting the NBA to be more like the NHL. [CBC, Wizards Insider]
- Another Caps season preview. [The Sports Network]
- Caps games to not look forward to in 2010-11. [Box Seats]
- Braden Holtby is ready to be "the guy" in Hershey... [Lancaster Online]
- ... and here's a look at his new mask. [DAVEART]
- Speaking of the Bears, here's plenty of coverage from their training camp... [Leone (on Brian Willsie), Leone (on Joel Rechlicz), Leone (on Wes O'Neill), Bears (video)]
- ... and here's a peek at their new third jerseys. [Bears]
- Oh, and next time? Ticketmaster, Chief. [Patriot-News]
- Down a level, the Stingrays have announced their training camp dates. [Stingrays]
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From the WI story about Ted's fine...
“And I’d honestly have to say at this point in time that the NHL is stronger than the NBA, clearly because it has a CBA in place that protect owners from taking stupid pills … There is a hard cap in the NHL. In the NBA, you can spend a lot of money and every dollar you’re over this luxury tax you get fined. And there’s a lot of basketball teams who are losing a lot of money (emphasis added).”
Uh, no. The NHL cap merely allows owners to get stupid pills over the counter in lower doses instead of the prescription doses. Front-loading contracts and pinning salary cap dollars on 10-plus year contracts for players that will take them into their 40’s is hardly an antidote to stoopidosis.
And by-the-by, does this fine mean Ted is now throwing down the gauntlet to Mark Cuban? $100K down… $1,565,000 to go.
If you've read this far...seek help.
I think Ted realized right away what he’d done and was trying to backtrack before the fine was levied. I don’t see it happening again. Which is probably too bad.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Welcome back sir.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 7:31 AM EDT up reply actions
To be fair, doesn’t escrow take care of almost everything from an owner’s perspective? Between that and the offseason cap there’s a good amount of cost certainty.
Now GM’s, on the other hand, can get themselves into real tight binds. But if the owner cares about cash, rather than cap space, I think I see what Ted is getting at.
Yes, they will. The review stated that the primary audience for a book on Ovi would NOT buy it. (That was a poor strategy — to write a book and p*** off the primary audience.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
Primary audience?
Straight from the Cox via JRR and printed here:
A hardcore fan who just wants to hear good things about their team [isn’t] going to be happy, [but] people who are looking for a more complete picture of this guy [will] really enjoy an independent look.
Pelletier’s take for contrast:
But the bottom line is the book’s #1 audience target – the legions of Alexander Ovechkin fans – will not want to spend their money on this.
I am having a hard time deciding exactly who is the primary audience. Best solution: ignore the problem until it goes away.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Sep 30, 2010 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Return of Laichitor!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 30, 2010 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Conveniently in time for the after party.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Reminds me – I probably won’t show up right at 7, I need to stop for dinner on my way down from the Convention Center.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Indeed. Parole boards can be awfully fickle.
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Sep 30, 2010 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions
The next thing you know, Alexei Kovalev will be involved in an on-ice fight or something.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, or Evgeni Malkin and Rick Nash will throw ’em down, too.
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey now Geno throws punch’s. Just from behind, over the shoulder of a teammate, or after the whistle!
A danger to myself and others on the ice
by can't skate on Sep 30, 2010 9:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That’s not really what I was getting at…
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, that’s not offensive at all.
If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.
by Hang a Laingtern on Your Problems on Sep 30, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I think what’s offensive is your uninformed / Western-centric judgment of my comment.
Choking since 1985.
I don’t really see how a joke predicated entirely on a gross stereotype renders me uninformed, but sure. Go ahead.
If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.
by Hang a Laingtern on Your Problems on Sep 30, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
That was my problem too. cox and Joyce set a false dichotomy as if Caps’s fans must have only a glowing, onto a pedestal biop of Ovi. I would have been happy with a middle-of-the road objective analysis of Ovi.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Sep 30, 2010 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions
In fairness to them, I think that’s what they believe they’ve delivered.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That’s kind of sad, because I don’t think it’s objective or fair at all just from the excerpt I’ve read. It’s viewed too much from a Canadian perspective; Canadians are serious flag-wavers when it comes to their hockey, and I wonder if they even realize it.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
I don’t have a problem with a “Canadian” perspective, but Pelletier points out the real problem, the one that neither author thinks clouds their judgement – the glowing bio of Crosby that Joyce wrote. I haven’t read it (and obviously wouldn’t), but I imagine there’s no way anyone else (sans Gretzky, who preceded him) can live up to that.
"It's always good to have vikings."
(including the actual Crosby himself)
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Warning, psychology theory ahead.
The glowing bio of Crosby is a symptom of the same thing. Remember the Canada / Russia rivalries of the 60’s and 70’s? Canadians of that age lived through those years where the Soviets pounded them every Olympics for what, thirty years running? There’s an absolute ingrained hate of Russian hockey players deep in their psyches, much like Caps fans’ hate of the Penguins and anything to do with them (and for much the same reason).
(Disclaimer – this discussion doesn’t concern necessarily any one individual so much as a collective mindset. There will be individual exceptions to it. I acknowledge that many Canadians are fascinated by Ovechkin, and I’m still working that into how this mindset works.)
The Canadians firmly believe, deep down, that the sport is theirs, and that none shall exceed them in it. It’s one of their few points of pride, and for that it’s understandable. Sidney Crosby, I think, is their hometown hockey hero – he’s become the icon of Canadian hockey, the living proof that there just isn’t anything better. Similarly, Ovechkin’s become an icon of Russian hockey in the collective mind, their chief rival. Canadian pride can’t deal with even the possibility that Ovechkin is even Crosby’s equal, let alone his superior. Crosby just has to come out on top in the end – Canadian pride depends on it. He’s just got to.
This, I think, is the real reason why the Crosby/Ovechkin rivalry sells as well as it does, and why the Canadian media trashes him as much as they do. It’s not personal. He’s just an icon of that hated Russian hockey that tormented them for so long, and that they desperately want revenge for. He’s kind of become a target of that. Still, it colors the thinking of guys like Cox in a way that they’re not even aware of because they’re so steeped in that.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
by gotsparkly on Sep 30, 2010 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ve known a number of Canadians who dislike Crosby because of either his personality or him being a rival of whatever Canadian team they are a fan of. I think many of them like Ovechkin due simply to his skill. Just some thoughts on reasons for the exceptions you mentioned.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
I think the Canadian/Russian theory is way overplayed. Crosby (persona) is introspective, quiet, and does things by the book. Ovechkin (person) is a gregarious, over-the-top risk taker. I don’t think nationality really enters into why some people are more drawn to one type than the other. After all, the Russians are famous for their own brooding introspective types. And as for gregarious Canadians, have you ever seen Kids In The Hall?
I think it has more to do with hockey culture. Think about the Roenick/Yzerman rivalry days — hockey has an entrenched love for its quiet superstars.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Rec’d for Kids in the Hall reference (and good reasoning). If you’d found a way to work You Can’t Do that on Television into your argument, I’d have built a shrine to you.
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
This whole thread reminds me of this opening – “Hi and welcome to You Can’t Do That On Television. Today’s show is about Enemies and Paranoia.”
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
You mean the one beginning, Hulk Hogan vs. Punky Brewster?
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
That’s the one. I love the paranoia and grammar line.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Over the top Canadians??
"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
Question for the OTOT.
Six Beers Too Many fantasy team: It's Neu-virth Than Usual
"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 30, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Perhaps but it is a missed opportunity for them.
Cox also questioned Ovi’s authenticity in that JRR piece which at the time I thought odd because Ovi’s public persona had been one relatively so unfiltered and unguarded.
After reading the review and hearing Ted say he doesn’t recognize the person they have described I’ve concluded that they decided ahead that Ovi’s public persona is false. Perhaps they really believe that with their negative take on the major events in Ovi’s life that they have captured the true inner Ovi—that dark, mad Russian out to hurt everyone and who is filled with Crosby envy (just kidding—sorta).
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Sep 30, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
That dark persona is what they want to see. Good vs. evil always sells – they’re setting up a Snidely Whiplash vs. Dudley Do-right scenario to frame the rivalry in, because that’s what markets to people who follow the Canadian / Russian rivalry thing I outlined above. It’s a mindset and a way to frame the tale. Media tells stories – that’s their job. They’re just framing the story to their audience, and coming to believe that it’s true in the process.
Me, sometimes you gotta root for the villain of the tale.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
It will be interesting to see how the media characterizes them for the winter Classic. I do think that the Olympics brought out much of that collective mindset you describe above. There also may be some envy bias as well. Once Ovi signed longterm, the Canadians had to stop dreaming of Ovi on one of their teams during his prime years.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Sep 30, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Whether they do or not, it’s good to see a review from an “outsider.” And, on a personal note, it’s good to see someone write about “comparing him endlessly to Sidney Crosby” after I was maligned in this space for cherry-picking a couple of Crosby bits to present as representative excerpts.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That was my thought. I love his bitch-slap of Cox, too. I see he just had to take another jab at Ted on twitter last night about the NBA fine.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Are we going to enjoy another twitter mini-meltdown later on today from Mr. Cox when he reads that review?
Lobbies: Green, Carlson, Orlov
Wouldn’t doubt it, but only if considers the source important enough.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Joe Pelletier is a pretty important source as far as hockey historians go (and I’m not just saying that because I’m obligated to under the terms of my membership in the JP Club).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
If only the review didn’t include errors like this
But this book immediately wreaks of a biased mandate
Six Beers Too Many fantasy team: It's Neu-virth Than Usual
"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 30, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
If Damien Cox would agree to come to the Verizon Center, sit in the press box and have his ugly mug shown on the big screen, I would actually pay for his flight and hotel.
Uh… can you make it Angelina Jolie instead… her mug’s not ugly and I think you’d get lots of folks to help contribute….
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Why won’t Pelletier admit that he drinks heartily from the trough of shared hockey book reviewier revenues?
/@Damospin
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Sep 30, 2010 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Not sure where in this thread to post this, but both authors have commented on the Bog post today. Interesting tidbit: Cox voted Ovechkin #1 on his Hart ballot.
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
by Scott in Shaw on Sep 30, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s what he claims and it’s not the first time he’s used that argument to support his “impartiality”. He can go suck a big one for all I care.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Yeah, he’s said that before. He really likes playing the martyr/victim card, making it sound like it’s us vs. him, crazy Caps and their fans vs. the hard-working Canadian media just trying to write a fair story.
There are so many people in the Canadian media that I admire. There are people that write somewhat harsh critiques of Ovechkin whose work I trust, respect and value. Cox is neither of those – and I’m so beyond tired of hearing what he has to say or listening to his pathetic attempts to justify his words and sell crappy books.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
by Becca H on Sep 30, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
I’ll refer you to the “Dismissive Wanking” .GIF above.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Cox’s “I voted Ovechkin for Hart” is hockey’s “I have black friends” or a its version of the guy who is an obnoxious drunk but thinks it’s ok because he picks up the tab.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 30, 2010 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
I don’t mind the latter all that much…
Choking since 1985.
by macvechkin on Sep 30, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
You mean picking up the tab isn’t enough?
by Stephen Pepper on Sep 30, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Perhaps the most poetically described moments leading up to an opening faceoff you’ll ever read.
This was great, but they left out the part where the angry spray of ice explodes over the innocent child.
"This guy is an android. He's not human....Oh my goodness."
And the part about David Steckel intimidating the officials… ;-)
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Anyone with a subscription to ESPN Insider care to run down Hradek’s list of the top 10 defensemen in the game?
1. Pronger
2. Doughty
3. Lidstrom
4. Keith
5. Weber
6. Boyle
7. Green
8. Chara
9. Rafalski
10. Gonchar
Putting Boyle ahead of Green is a complete and total fail (a.k.a. Yzerman-ing).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 30, 2010 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
(That is to say that choosing Boyle ahead of Green is Yzerman-ing.)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Obviously reasonable minds can differ over whether or not Boyle was a better fit on Team Canada than Green would have been (and no one can argue with the results that Yzerman got in Vancouver). But on a “who’s the best player” list? Harder to make the argument that Boyle > Green.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I know – I was just clarifying before some yokel came ‘round with a comment like, "Yeah, if Yzerman had taken Green over Boyle maybe they’d have won two golds1"
Go Kanadaz!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Doughty is #2 on this list? You have got to be kidding me. Yeah, he’s good, but a lot of folks are projecting what he’s going to be five years from now into what he is at the moment. And what he is at the moment is not the second-best defenseman in all the land.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Doughty’s the latest flavor of the month for hockey writers like Hradek. Doughty is good, potentially very good, but he’s played at a high level for exactly one season. You could wallpaper your living room with a list of guys who have burst into the league and never lived up to the sizzle. I’m not saying that’s going to happen with Doughty, but putting him ahead of not only Green but also Keith, Lidstrom and Weber is typical Hradek. Then again, it is ESPN.
To this I would add Eric Brewer and Barret Jackman.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Seriously. What herbacious haze was Hradek stumbling around in?
back to cool special
by bigonetimer on Sep 30, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I would take Chara or Pronger, but settle for Chara because he’s not a prick. Who is a RFA this year, IIRC. It’s hard to argue with Pronger’s playoff mettle, though: vital in EDM, ANA, and PHI in their SC runs.
It amazes how many writers have Doughty at the top of the list of Norris contenders.
by S h a g g y on Sep 30, 2010 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Heck, I don’t even think Doughty is the best “young” defenseman – I’d give that award to Tyler Myers. He’s Zdeno Chara with speed.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Agreed. Myers has no drawbacks other than he isn’t a Capital.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
He’s scary good. When Chara was that age he looked like Bambi on skates.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
You have inspired me.
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Any thoughts on who Thumper ought to be?
I’m putting my money on Marc Savard. Or Andy Ference.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I’m resisting a great urge to use Doanface.
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Resistance = failure.
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 9 recs
Yay for Doanface!
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
So much awesomeness.
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
by Scott in Shaw on Sep 30, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
FWIW – In Sports Illustrated’s article about young defenseman, they feature Doughty, Myers, Bogosian, and E. Johnson.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
I hope so.
Signed,
S. Bayless.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not surprised. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see Doughty at #1 by the end of this season. It is probably a little high though. I’m not surprised, although a bit disappointed that Bogosian isn’t on the list. If he played on a good team he’d be getting much more recognition.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
You think the Kings aren’t a good team? They’re playoff worthy in my eyes.
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Putting Pronger ahead of everyone is another fail.
I hate these stupid lists.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
His list of accomplishments is intimidating – you have to admit.
by S h a g g y on Sep 30, 2010 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions
True, but his list of accomplishments now includes being old.
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
And being named Chrissy while wearing a skirt.
Signed,
Chicago Tribune
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Let’s put this another way… Let’s assume you had the pick of the litter for this year, and this year ONLY. Money is no object. Which defenseman do you pick?
If you've read this far...seek help.
Assuming you’re the Caps or assuming your starting a defense from scratch?
If the latter… I’ve gotta like Lidstrom or Keith here, I think.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Since it is picking the player you rate highest, as opposed to filling a gap, I would assume the latter. And in order, I would take Lidstrom, Keith, Green, Weber. Lidstrom because he brings the experience of multiple Cups and still can contribute 20-plus minutes. Keith for being perhaps the best balanced of the defensemen on this list. Green because no one approaches his offensive production and has underrated defensive skills. Weber for being the next best “Keith” on the list.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Me and Peerless is like peas and carrots…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Switch Weber and Green and I’m with ya. Give Weber Green’s PP time on the Caps and I bet he’s within sniffin’ distance of Green’s numbers (and better in the D zone).
Disagree. He doesn’t have Green’s offensive instincts, regardless of how many nets he can put a slapper through at one time.
by DrinkingPartner on Sep 30, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
If I am GMGM, Lidstrom. Phoenix was scoring at will on the PK when Lidstrom wasn’t on the ice. He has easily a year left of NHL play in him.
If it’s making an all star team, Keith. Guy can play both ends but does a phenomenal job of prioritizing which role to assume each time he is on the ice.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
My dislike for Boyle increased exponentially during the Olympics. His slewfoot/horsecollar takedown of Jizz was one of the cheapest shots I’ve ever seen!
A danger to myself and others on the ice
by can't skate on Sep 30, 2010 9:53 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 5 recs
My top 10 (feel free to debate…)
1. Keith
2. Lidstrom
3. Green
4. Chara
5. Weber
6. Doughty
7. Pronger
8. Myers
9. Bogosian
10. Brewer
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I like your 1 thru 7…8-10 is always a crapshoot, but I’d put Suter ahead of Bogo and Brewer.
back to cool special
by bigonetimer on Sep 30, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Suter is a stud and if it was a top 15, he’d be on it.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, but he’s underrated in that, frankly, he’s better than Weber but never gets the credit for it. Weber’s got a big shot and is a good bit more physical, but Suter is the more reliable shutdown guy there.
that's saying a lot
against the 1st pairing in Chicago. Keith-Seabrook is considered at least a step above. I guess when you take their styles, Weber-Suter is enticing for size and offense, but the former has been shutting down top lines for 2 years now. And Keith has developed his offense since then.
Weber and Suter is a shutdown pairing too. Suter-Rafalski was that pairing in the Olympics as well, for what it’s worth.
by red army line on Sep 30, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Duncan Keith is better than either Weber or Suter (and every other defender in the league right now), but both Predators are significantly better than Seabrook. If you put a gun to my head and made me choose which pair I’d want, there’s a pretty good chance I go with the NSH pair.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
“significantly” is a strong word, though I think they are both better, numbers-wise. It’s probably true that Seabrook made Canada’s team because he & Keith played together but he is also a quintessential shut down D-man who hits like a truck and also pitched in 30 points and +20. Along with Keith’s 69 points and +21 and how they instinctively know what the other is doing makes them a tough pair. I do like Weber and Suter a lot, though.
I get the sense that CHI pair is helped by the quality of their forwards; the Preds aren’t a terrible team, but they damn sure don’t have Hossa, Toews, Bolland, and Madden backchecking for them either.
In terms of chemistry, Weber and Suter were practically inseparable last season, so they’ve got that going on, too.
My general take is that Keith is underrated, somehow, in that people don’t realize exactly how good he is because of the talent around him. Since Seabrook is usually on the ice with him, he gets the benefit of the team stats (plus-minus, et cetera). I’m as big a Keith fan as you’ll find outside of the CHI fanbase and I still think the NSH pair has a higher probability of being better, because of how very good both of their studs are.
Similarly, Suter plays alongside the much flashier Weber and doesn’t get enough credit
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
The panthers are sending Nylander to THEIR AHL team? Seriously?
Nylander’s still a talented guy. You’d think a team like Florida would put him on their NHL team.
Um, read the articles. That’s not how it works. The Caps are loaning him to Rochester – they could not loan him to an NHL team (they’d have to trade him).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Gotta wonder what one of the Amerks’ most famous alumni, Don Cherry, think about the Amerks adding Nylander to the roster….
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
…which is kind of why I don’t get the “Nylander Nightmare over” declaration. It’s not over, it’s status quo. Caps are still paying him and he still counts as a contract.
But at least it’s out of our hair until it really is over July 1, 2011.
Choking since 1985.
His no-move clause is over. The team didn’t need to do a song and dance to get him to Rochester.
You had me at no problem.
I am aware of that but we have known since last year’s song and dance that we wouldn’t need to do another song and dance. Anyway, I quibble…
Choking since 1985.
Well, until yesterday he still counted against the Caps’ cap. The demotion/loan was inevitable, but wasn’t yet completed. Now it is.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
If I’m the Panthers, I take advantage of the almost free preview of Nyls before I take on his full salary for the year.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Sep 30, 2010 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions
When Brendan Morrison (for example) could’ve been had for ~$1m (or less?), why would anyone pay $3m for Nylander?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The only reason I can think of is being too close to the cap floor.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Not a problem Florida has, but that could conceivably be a rationale for some other team.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Right. I didn’t think Florida was affected by that, but I think NYI and COL are?
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
They’re both in the clear, per CapGeek (floor is $43.4m).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Actually, Colorado depends on what happens with a few injured guys, such as Mueller. At least, that’s how it was reading on MHH yesterday.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I believe if they put Mueller on LTIR he still counts against the cap. They just get an injury allowance. Am I correct?
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
They’re allowed to exceed the cap by the amount it takes to replace him, up to his cap hit.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Thanks. That is what I thought. According to Cap Geek’s numbers, the Avs are currently above the floor by almost 700k.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah. I wasn’t paying a super-huge amount to the discussion so perhaps that’s where it came down. I think it also depended on who they kept around from among the rookies. Apparently they’re sending Shatnerkirk down and keeping Cohen up.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Shatnerkirk… hee hee
John Carlson - Glory follows him.
Six Beers Too Many Fantasy Team - BizNasty's Hobo Rodeo
I don’t know how that hasn’t been coined yet.
Shatnerkirk ©
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I thought you did that on purpose.
John Carlson - Glory follows him.
Six Beers Too Many Fantasy Team - BizNasty's Hobo Rodeo
I meant to do that.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
by D'ohboy on Sep 30, 2010 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Gotta Rec Pee Wee…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
This is my understanding, as there was some question of whether the Isles would be below the floor if the LTIR’d Streit. The answer was that they wouldn’t be – LTIR’d guys count against the cap (but if you exceed the cap due to an LTIR’d guy, you can exceed the cap by that amount, as sparkly notes).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Correct.
The other aspect of this is just because a player is eligible for LTIR does not mean that player will be placed on LTIR, instead of just on the IR. The exemption is there for a team needing to exceed the cap max. (50.10D)
(LTIR: One of those people write in shorthand rules, which then results in confusing others.)
You have to put a guy on LTIR (not just regular IR) to clear up the roster spot, correct? Or does IR open up a roster spot as well?
Didn’t he try to trade for Nylander once before? Hmm..
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Bingo! Then Dustin Byfuglien might have been in Washington giving us a few pointers, maybe…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
And remember…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Dale Tallon made huge contributions to the Stanley Cup winners (drafting Kane, Toews, and acquiring Sharp)- and made huge mistakes as well (Huet/Khabi, Brian Campbell). He helped completely turn around that franchise – I admire the guy, to be honest.
I believe the Hawks actually sent him a Stanley Cup Ring.
by S h a g g y on Sep 30, 2010 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry if it was not clear, I was not mocking Tallon; I was trying to reference the Tallon/Nylander history.
Shockingly, the Nylander inference went right by me. ;)
I just felt like saying some good things about the man.
by S h a g g y on Sep 30, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I believe the Hawks actually sent him a Stanley Cup Ring.
His name’s on the Cup for last year’s win, too.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Buying karma for being the team that put Hossa’s name on the cup?
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
It's a sign
I think that’s how indebted to Tallon the Hawks are. Don’t want to muddle down this thread with a fan’s conspiracy theory, but I honestly think that the management forced his hand on some things. Campbell, I attribute to him because, at the time, the Hawks didn’t really have a puck moving guy who could skate like that. I know people think “what about Keith?”. I think many Hawks fans were surprised he’d pick up that many points. He’s pretty much been a 40 point guy his whole career.
The signing of Huet, and the mysterious qualifying offer blunders don’t have his fingerprints on them. When he did weekly interviews on the team’s site, he is a confident — close to cocky — guy who absolutely is 100% behind his personnel choices. He admitted to no mistakes (Adrian Aucoin, Khabi, Martin Lapointe), so I find it strange he’d do something like pay the top FA goalie to come over when he still had his other #1 under contract. The Q.O. thing happened only a week after he signed Dave Bolland (47 pts) to a four year $13M contract and one year after Byfuglien was signed to a $9M contract after scoring 37 points. People complained he overpayed guys too soon, so it’s more than suspicious that he would then “forget” to mail the basic contract tenders to keep these guys he drafted from being UFAs. As a fan, them winning a Cup is crazy — I kind of still can’t believe it happened — and it softens the blow but I think dig deep and modern, cap-era, winning hockey is seamy when it comes to patience and loyalty.
$3 million cash and $4.875 million in cap space (which they can afford) say otherwise. Not to mention that they’d have to give something in return, even if only a seventh round draft pick.
"It's always good to have vikings."
8th round pick.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Sep 30, 2010 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Sure, they could trade considerations for Nylander, but then they’d be paying the $3m which they wouldn’t want to do.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Hmmm, I suppose. Related question, though – if Florida actually wanted him after seeing him play, do you think the Caps would consider a recall so he can be claimed? There’s probably enough cap space for the 50%, but I imagine they wouldn’t want to do it.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I can’t imagine the Caps would have any interest in taking on an empty ~$2.4m cap hit. If Florida wants him (which they don’t), they can trade for him and then recall him.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
In other words, why would the Caps willingly take a relatively big cap hit when they wouldn’t need to?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
if Florida actually wanted him after seeing him play
Then the Caps would trade him for a conditional 7th round pick, conditioned on the sun going out…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Technically, the Caps can trade him for $1.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Couldn’t we just waiver him if some team said they wanted him?
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
The Caps did… no takers other than the Rochester Americans…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
But snark aside, this does make me wonder if Tallon is intrigued by the guy and would be interested in acquiring him for Florida sometime later in the season, when his cap hit and remaining salary are a bit more palatable.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I wondered that as well. FWIW, Rochester/AHL does have a need for a top 6 center with Cullen’s injury and it looking like Santorelli will start the season in the NHL. Someone reported before training camp started that Nylander had expressed his interest in playing pro hockey in N.A. this season. Nylander had cleared waivers and like last year, he was not going to be assigned to Hershey.
So Rochester needs a center, Nylander needs a place to play. Tallon is very familiar with Nylander and can help Nylander and Rochester.
Also, of note, Florida moved a lot of the AHL vet contracts this summer, including Mink to minimized the money being spent on Rochester players. So getting a veteran player for $100,000 fits with the organization’s agenda. It may also appease a growing segment of the Rochester fanbase, which has been displeased with the affiliation. There has been a good amount written and said about the issues with that affiliation.
Haha Nicky :)
From the CI blog recap:
Backstrom offered a little insight into what it’s like to wear a captain’s “C”: “It’s fun that the coaches maybe believe in me and that kind of thing. So, it’s good that I’m 100 percent. Ovie should be worried.”
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
The line starts behind me.
Signed,
M. Bradley
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions
His smily face at the top of this post warms my heart.
John Carlson - Glory follows him.
Six Beers Too Many Fantasy Team - BizNasty's Hobo Rodeo
It’s a great picture, it makes me so happy – and you know he’s smiling extra wide because he knows I just got his jersey… :)
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Caps have video of that interview and I think he made it through without once resorting to using “I mean…..”
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.
unpossible!
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
by BetterOffWith28 on Sep 30, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Oooh. The Baby Viking has gotten a taste of power and likes it.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
Ovie will never see the puck again.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I love his dry wit in the google translated piece in Expressen, that he was sure he would be paired with Knubes but wasn’t sure who else would be on his “chain” (I love google translations). Nicky’s going for the big guns now. He’s competing with the Professor for the funniest.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Sep 30, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Eric Duhatschek has nine Caps in the NHL’s top-200 scorers for the upcoming season (try to name ’em before clicking through). [Globe and Mail]
1. Ovechkin
2. Semin
3. Backstrom
4. Laich
5. Knuble
6. Fleischmann
7. Fehr
8. Green
9. Chimera?
4th Floor, is next, swimvare, undervare, Eric Fehr...
Yep. Swap Carlson in for Chimmer on JSchon’s list.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I got all of them except Carlson very easily. Still can’t figure out why he’s there exactly – 200th this season was 35 points, and I’m not sure if Carlson can get that.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
In my mind he was the only one that could fit that last slot. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in on more PP time, possibly taking some from Green, or possibly putting both Green and Carlson out on the points.
LET'S GO CAPS!!!
They had nine scorers in the top-167 last year. It’s a pretty safe bet, even if one of last year’s group (Morrison) is gone. The question is, who might be the 10th, were there to be one? Perreault? Johansson? Last year, you needed 35 points to qualiy among the top-200.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Headlines
Thursday Caps Clips: Caps Sweep B’s
Hopefully we see a lot more like this come April, May, and June
#NeedsMoreBradley
I’d settle for just four.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 30, 2010 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Well, the most you’ll get of Caps sweeiping B’s at that time of year is one – the other three would be someone else.
/smartass
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
By “like this,” I assume he meant it would be acceptable to swap other teams in for “B’s.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
fo’ fo’ fo’ fo’
Signed,
Moses M.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Sep 30, 2010 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Wonky Truck
FYI – there was a tweet from @eatwonky last night during first intermission gauging interest for having the Wonky Truck show up at Gallery Place before a Caps game. Their food is a heart attack waiting to happen, but supposedly is super-good.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
They replied to me via twitter, stating that they will be present for home opener…location TBA.
"I am ready for his provocations"
by PaintDrinkingPete on Sep 30, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
That Kolzig interview made me so happy. That man is the reason I became a hockey fan way back when, I’m so bummed I’m missing him at the Convention this weekend. Glad to hear he and the Kolzig clan are back in DC and that he seems to be settling into a happy and busy retirement. Can’t wait for that jersey to be hung in the rafters.
"Do you see my fist? It was fists like these that built quaint Canadian cities out of the harsh Canadian wilderness, etc. etc."
That is gonna be so awesome! I hope it’s soon, because he deserves it, totally.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
Olie on Eliot brought back memories of skipping my first class at school to drive aimlessly around Gaithersburg, waiting for Olie to come on.
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.
What a gem from The Sports Network’s “preview” of the Caps:
Veteran Tom Poti (4g, 20a), given a two-year contract extension prior to the start of the season, is the veteran of the group and will likely anchor the top defensive pairing with Green, while 6-foot-6 24-year-old Jeff Schultz is coming off an eye-popping season in which he posted a plus-50 rating.
Mm-hmm. And there's a penalty for that?
They got them backwards; Schultz will play with Green and Poti was the one with the eye-popping issues.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
by jordanDC on Sep 30, 2010 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 9 recs
Nah… he appears to be fine. He looked pretty solid Tuesday night vs. Boston, in that I barely noticed the 20+ minutes he was out there. I don’t think he made any mistakes.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Win. Will be interesting to see how Poti’s even strength minutes are managed. Are we still expecting the Chocolate Thunder paring to stay together?
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Sep 30, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions
pairing*
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Sep 30, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I didn’t realize Carlson and Alzner practiced interplanetary funkmanship on planet Lovetron this offseason.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Funkade-rec’d.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Ouch! Rec.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
If I had a dime for every time the Boston announcers called Holtby “Sabourin” or called Johansson “Perrault,” I’d probably be able to make several selections off the dollar menu. Is it really that hard to look at a roster?
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Sep 30, 2010 9:20 AM EDT reply actions
I had Kolbe and Vogel synced up to the scoreboard feed. I wish Vogel was the regular radio color guy. He is genuinely funny.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I was working and not paying full attention to the video, and the radio guys were 1.5 seconds ahead of the play, so when something interesting happened I could look up after hearing about it to see it.
Feature not a bug!
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
D.J. King see himself as “big brother.” [CI]
I guess he is kind of massive and Neanderthal like, but that’s no reason to use caveman grammar on him I guess.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 9:51 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Maybe they mean he sees himself as the faceless head of a police state?
"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 30, 2010 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Tonto help Clips write.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Mods no help, prefer bust balls. JP not forget.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 30, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
My rule: bust grammar/spelling balls only when it’s funny (thus boxcars yesterday)
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, look at the quote of him in my sig…he sometimes talk like caveman. Hulk smash good.
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
Or “I guess that’s not going to be happening too much longer, I guess.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Big Brother is Watching You!
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
by IRockTheRed on Sep 30, 2010 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh, look who's ad is on Vog's recap
First time I’ve seen it on a North American webpage.
"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
I’ve seen the Crosby one on the Caps site… which is just wrong.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I saw Malkin on the Caps site the other day. Guess they need to tailor the ads to individual sites more if they haven’t done so already.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
I hate to say it, but it is effective advertising – it got our attention and it’s memorable.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I doubt it was that intentional.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
What if they were doing ads with beacons? Don’t those things look thru your cookies etc. in browser history and do targeted deployment of ads based on webpages you’ve visited and search terms you’ve inputed?
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
This is so far out of my expertise that I have no idea. I just don’t think they put Malkin on the Caps page because they knew it would piss us off and thus leave a lasting impression.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
There’s a big Ovechkin Zigtech ad in Georgetown.
"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 30, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Alright... which one of you belongs to this jersey foul?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Wow. That is beyond comprehension.
"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 30, 2010 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
There are some particularly heinous crimes in that link. The horse blanket, the sleeveless….
Yikes.
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
Ovechkin would take out that horse’s knees if he got the chance. Go Flyers!
"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 30, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
The horse is probably named “Glue Process Input” or worse… Hartnell.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 30, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
If the standard alternative is that eye-watering purple in the same photo, give me the flyers blanket every time…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
From the Masisak article on RAHJC:
Added Alzner: "He is a player who is just like Mike Green."
Why does Alzner hate Carlson?
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
Because he has more Twitter followers?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
…only a bazillion dollars cheaper
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Sep 30, 2010 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Caps PK
During last night’s game, did anyone else notice how much worse the Caps’ PK was when Steckel was out there?
During the 8 minute PIM-fest, the PK looked phenomenal except for one stretch when Steckel was on the ice. For most of the 8 minutes, the Caps were challenging the Bs at the blueline and forcing them to dump the puck, then pressuring the puck in the corners. It was the aggressive PK that we’ve all been hoping for. Not only did Boston fail to score, but they really didn’t even have many chances.
During the last minor, however, Steckel took a shift and it was right back to the same old crap. The Caps failed to hold the blueline and the Bs gained the zone with possession. After that, it was all passive box, with Steckel just standing around waving his stick. The Bs held the puck in the zone for about a minute and they had more scoring chances in that one minute than they had in the previous seven minutes of power play time.
Fast forward to the 3rd period and Boston’s PP goal and it was the same thing all over again – Steckel was on the ice with Brads and the PK failed to force a dump-in, then retreated back into a passive box allowing the player at the half-boards all day to set the play up. Admittedly, it was Brads on that side of the play, but I don’t think that necessarily excuses Steckel’s passive play throughout the whole sequence.
The more I watch this preseason, the more I hope that Hendricks stays with the Caps in lieu of Steckel.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
by D'ohboy on Sep 30, 2010 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Thanks for the report (didn’t see any of the game).
Disappointing? Yes. Surprised? Other than yes.
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He relies on his reach on the PK and unless you’re a swede or a rooskie, you ain’t got the hands to use your stick to control a zone.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
The difference is that our Swedes, Russkies, Canadians and Americans have all been moving their feet on the PK, with the exception of Steckel and, in one case, Brads.
If Steckel cannot or will not buy into the new PK system, then I say good riddance. It looked outstanding for 7/8 minutes in the 2nd period.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Yeah, not saying guys like Datsyuk are being passive — they just have the option to do stupid stuff since they have other skill to bail them out.
You could claim Steckel’s conditioning is off from the summer but it’s the same franceschetti from last year. He didn’t turn the corner then and he’s not going to turn the corner now. Move him back to the blueline where his speed isn’t as big of a deficit or ship him out so there’s room for someone that is still hungry. If Hendricks can take a faceoff, throw him out there. He’s a big enough kid not to get clobbered by the guys in the east.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
and, not to overlook it, moving your feet means shorthanded goals or picnics in the offensive zone to kill the clock. Clearing the puck is good and all but an effective PK will always do more than just that.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Steckel has no problems clearing the puck, Steckel has problems taking the puck away/getting to the puck.
Poti is the guy with the trick moves that keep the puck from passing the blue line no matter what. If only he was around in the two line pass years, he’d have been DOMINANT.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Steckel on the blueline is an even worse idea. Py. Lon.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
by Rob Parker on Sep 30, 2010 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I say good riddance
The question becomes, HOW do the Caps get rid of him now? He might be a difficult guy to trade, and he’d occupy a roster spot better used on developing talent in Hershey. And he’d also be a very expensive guy to stick in Hershey.
You had me at no problem.
Steckel isn’t that great on the Capitals but he’s an improvement somewhere. Difficulty will be recovering anything of value for their investment but if there’s a guy in the wings that can fill his role, just get something before the guy hits the wrong side of 30.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Get something for him if you can, but I’d be happy just to see Stecks head to another team with his comfortable contract in hand. If he has to go, we at least gave him a nice going-away present.
You had me at no problem.
Steckel should be tradable, as a 4th line center with a great faceoff %. He’d probably fit well into a system that didn’t require as much speed. I wouldn’t expect to get much back for Steckel – a pick or prospect, or maybe a 6D.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
I’d bet they could get a 6th, maybe even a 5th for him if they find the right team.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
he’d occupy a roster spot better used on developing talent in Hershey
No. He’d presumably occupy the same spot that Hendricks would. The difference is that I can see a team taking Steckel off waivers and relieving the Caps of his salary.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I’d give Stecks and Flash to a team for a 7th round pick. Addition by subtraction. Sometimes just cutting your losses is enough to make a trade worthwhile. Both would be replaced by cheaper guys who can keep the puck out of the Caps net better.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
That is basically the way teams cut players in the NHL and get some value.
To take you at face value, read this article for some ideas.
You never know.
Troy Brouwer
Matt Hunwick
Patrick Hornqvist
Paul Gaustad
Chris Campoli
Marek Svatos
Matthew Lombardi
Joe Pavelski
Cristobal Huet
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Love seeing Gaustad on that list. I used to watch him with the Winterhawks and I even skated with him a couple times at stick and puck. Just by watching you could tell he was going to make the N. I’m still not sure why he dropped to the 7th round.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Gaustad is a relative stud at 3C/4C. If he had some talent on the wings to help him out his contract would look a ton better.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Steckel the past few years has had GAON/60s under 2, high qualcomps, low qualteams, and tough zonestart (compared to his teammates), as well as above-average (on the Caps) Corsi%.
Steckel can be traded for value. Losing him for nothing is only addition by subtraction if Bruce Boudreau keeps stubbornly using him on the PK (like Poti, but to a lesser extent), and even then, I’m not convinced.
by red army line on Sep 30, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
So you’ve got a 4th line guy who can’t play the PK and can’t score. You are essentially keeping him to forecheck and win faceoffs. For that you are paying him over a mil a year on a multi-year deal. Sorry, but I’d prefer to go for a cheaper, more versatile option.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
First, you’re letting numbers get in the way of your analysis. Steckel isn’t primarily a 5v5 player – he’s the Caps’ #1PK forward and our PK sucks. And, if you look at his PK BtN stats, you can kinda see why.
Second, your numbers are wrong. His qualcomp 5v5 was lower half on the team.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I’m using relative Corsi-based qualcomp (Corsi Rel QoC). Theoretically, it’s supposed to work better than QualComp (which is rel plus-minus based).
(side note: why the hell is Flash near the top of that list???)
Conversely, Steckel was the Caps’ best PK forward in 2007-2008 and 2nd-best in 2008-2009.
While he does play a relatively high amount of his TOI on the PK, it’s still less than a quarter of his total ice time. I don’t really think it’s fair to call out Steckel for the poor PK—so without him maybe it’s 1% or 2% better. That’s a goal per…25 games, roughly. Even a 5% increase is only around a goal every 5 games. This feels like the Tom Poti argument Becca likes to make, but to a lesser degree.
As for his offense, I’m not optimistic, but it is worth noting he shot 3.7% at 5-on-5 last season. The previous two years he was at 5% and 6.1%.
I don’t disagree that he’s overpaid, but just getting rid of him for free strikes me as kind of ridiculous (well, at least before this past offseason it did—I can’t say I’d rather have Steckel at $1.1 million than Belanger at $700k, at 4C). We’re not picking up Blair Betts or John Madden for that bottom line. Boyd Gordon is the other 4th line center that can handle tough minutes, and we all know his injury history. Potential replacements like Beagle, given Steckel and Gordon’s minutes, I think would get killed in those ~12 minutes a night.
In the spring, when every shift matters, that’s very important.
by red army line on Sep 30, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
You don’t sell an asset at the bottom. I don’t think Steckel is as good as his 08-09 playoffs led us to believe, but I don’t think he’s as bad as last season’s numbers suggest either.
Would I rather have Hendricks? I kind of like the idea of stashing Hendricks in the A where he can come up at any time without passing through reentry waivers. Somebody’s going to get hurt before the season’s through, and I suspect Hendricks is the first grinder forward who’ll be brought up (which is good, because Beagle, Pinner and Joudrey don’t strike me as ready to contribute every day in the NHL).
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Beagle is an odd one. He was called up for the Pens series, but hasn’t had much of a sniff of the NHL since. You’d think if he was an option for the playoffs two seasons ago he’d at least be capable of playing in the NHL regular season. I have a feeling he’s topped out.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
He played 7 NHL games last season, six in November and one in April.
There was also an issue relating to the cap for portions of last season.
Of the forward call-ups last season, Perreault played in 21games, Aucoin and Giroux each played in 9 games and Beagle played in 7. (Kane, 3; AGordon, 2; Wilson, 2; and Bourque, 1.) Outside of Bourque’s 1 game after being reclaimed on waivers and 3 games for Perreault, all of the games played by forward call-ups were in 2009. Before the Clark/Chimera trade, the trade deadline, etc., plus they also played Sloan at 4th line wing at times during the season. After the trade deadline, the Caps were juggling a lot of players, players used to playing were getting scratched.
So do you think he’s still improving? I’m not sure what point you’re making.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I think he was disagreeing with your “hasn’t had much of a sniff” comment.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I guess. Subjective definition of “sniff” so to each their own. How many minutes did he play? I just felt like BB and GMGM were more excited by him in the ’09 playoffs than they were last year.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I was responding to your comment that he hadn’t been given much of an opportunity since the ‘09 playoffs and your wording which made it sound like he didn’t play any regular season games last season.
From my perspective, he was given as much of an opportunity as anyone not named Perreault among the forwards and before looking at his game log, I’d say in most games he was given ‘real’ minutes and regular shifts, although I recall being annoyed they weren’t giving him a tryout on the PK.
You may be right, I guess he just didn’t leave much of a lasting impression with me. I thought last year he would get a cup o’ coffee and show that he was ready to be the next grinder called up. He didn’t leave me with that impression.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
FYI, here’s Beagle’s game log.
So 5 of the 7 games with close to or more than 10 minutes of ice time with almost no special teams TOI.
He averaged 9:15 TOI per game and 12 shifts a game for the 7 games. From memory, he played wing in some games, center in a couple.
Corsi-based qualcomp (Corsi Rel QoC)
So this is quality of competition based on shot-generation, rather than on scoring? After looking at the Corsi ratings, I’m calling (slight) BS on this. Any stat that says that Adam Mair is a tougher QoC than Thomas Vanek has some pretty serious flaws. The problem with using Corsi Rel QoC for analyzing a player’s defensive play is that Corsi Rel is both an offensive and defensive stat. So take the Vanek/Mair example above. Mair might have great Corsi ratings because he keeps the opposition from shooting and shoots a lot himself, but that doesn’t mean he’s tough to play defense against because you know that he couldn’t score in a brothel. Vanek might give up lots of shots against, but every time he touches the puck he can put it in the back of the net.
I’ve got to look more into this.
Steckel was the Caps’ best PK forward in 2007-2008 and 2nd-best in 2008-2009.
On one of the worst penalty-killing teams in the league. That’s like being the fastest kid at fat camp.
I don’t really think it’s fair to call out Steckel for the poor PK—so without him maybe it’s 1% or 2% better.
Why not, exactly? He gets more PK TOI/game than any other forward. Subjectively, it’s quite easy to observe his deficiencies and objectively, he doesn’t look a hell of a lot better.
without him maybe it’s 1% or 2% better. That’s a goal per…25 games, roughly.
As for his offense, I’m not optimistic, but it is worth noting he shot 3.7% at 5-on-5 last season. The previous two years he was at 5% and 6.1%.
You can’t use the argument that his detriment to the PK is only marginal then come right back with the shooting percentage argument, because the latter is just as, or even more marginal than the former. Steckel isn’t paid to score, he’s paid to keep pucks out of our net. If he doesn’t do the latter all that well, a small increase in the former won’t offset his inability at the latter.
Potential replacements like Beagle
Hendricks. Cheaper. Faster. Better hands. Seems willing and able to play an aggressive PK. Furthermore, he’d just be a backup to Gordo.
In the spring, when every shift matters, that’s very important.
Last spring, when every shift mattered, Steckel was on the bench because he couldn’t hang with the opposition’s speed.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
On one of the worst penalty-killing teams in the league. That’s like being the fastest kid at fat camp.
And the Caps were even worse this year, correct? Steckel wasn’t the only one that was worse.
Why not, exactly? He gets more PK TOI/game than any other forward. Subjectively, it’s quite easy to observe his deficiencies and objectively, he doesn’t look a hell of a lot better.
3rd toughest minutes and 3rd worst teammates by Corsi. Anyways, as late as 2008-2009 he was one of the Caps’ best PKers. He was bad last year in a bad system. Can’t really blame him a ton, I think.
You can’t use the argument that his detriment to the PK is only marginal then come right back with the shooting percentage argument, because the latter is just as, or even more marginal than the former.
Fair enough, but it’s still just a handful of bad bounces that separates Backstrom from Steckel on the PK.
Steckel isn’t paid to score, he’s paid to keep pucks out of our net. If he doesn’t do the latter all that well, a small increase in the former won’t offset his inability at the latter.
He keeps pucks out of the Caps’ net at 5-on-5. That has some value (this sounds a bit like the Fedorov discussion from a few days ago). He helps the Caps get most of the shots when he’s on the ice. There’s value there.
Hendricks. Cheaper. Faster. Better hands. Seems willing and able to play an aggressive PK. Furthermore, he’d just be a backup to Gordo.
You want Hendricks centering the 4th line for potentially 50 games and through the playoffs? I’d rather have overpaid Steckel. The Capitals right now have three scoring lines and a checking line. Making that four scoring lines I think is a mistake. Hendricks fits less seamlessly into the lineup as Gordon’s replacement than Steckel, if you ask me (based on logic).
Last spring, when every shift mattered, Steckel was on the bench because he couldn’t hang with the opposition’s speed.
The Caps don’t have Scotty Walker, Brendan Morrison, or Eric Belanger this time around to push Steckel out of the lineup. It doesn’t make sense to have a one-way defensive player in the lineup when defense isn’t an issue, like in the MON series.
by red army line on Sep 30, 2010 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
And the Caps were even worse this year, correct? Steckel wasn’t the only one that was worse.
Actually, among the regular PK forwards over the last two years, (Gordo, Steckel, Brads and Laich) Steckel is the ONLY one to see a statistical decline (I’m using overall rating here because it compares how the team fares when a guy is both on and off the ice), and that decline is huge. Every other guy saw their rating increase.
He was bad last year in a bad system. Can’t really blame him a ton, I think.
You’re admitting that he was bad. He was the Caps’ #1 PK forward. And yet you don’t think we can blame him, despite the fact that he was outperformed by almost every other PK regular. The PK was worse when he was on the ice, and better when he was off it. I’m not sure how much clearer it gets.
Fair enough, but it’s still just a handful of bad bounces that separates Backstrom from Steckel on the PK.
Who’s comparing him just to Backstrom? How about the massive difference between him and Bradley, or Laich? That’s not a couple bounces.
You want Hendricks centering the 4th line for potentially 50 games and through the playoffs?
Qualified yes. I wouldn’t plan on Hendricks playing every night. He’s Gordo’s backup. Moreover, 4th-line PK guys are available every deadline for next to nothing.
Here’s the issue – the Caps’ PK is horrendous. It’s horrendous in large part because it’s passive. The passivity of the PK is one part coaching and one part personnel in my opinion. The Caps’ plan on the PK for the last few years has been to bank on winning the faceoff and getting a clear and, barring that, playing passively and letting the goalie see the puck. David Steckel’s skills fit that sort of PK style. He’s a good faceoff artist with a long reach – he’s perfect for a passive box. The only problem is, the passive box is a terrible PK strategy. The Caps look much better when they’re aggressive, but Steckel cannot or will not play that style. The difference in the pre-season games I’ve watched has been obvious. With Steckel, the Caps are generally passive. Without him, they’re challenging the puck.
The Caps don’t have Scotty Walker, Brendan Morrison, or Eric Belanger this time around to push Steckel out of the lineup.
Instead they’ll have Andrew Gordon, Matt Hendricks, Boyd Gordon and, during the regular season, DJ King. Moreover, you’ll note that two of the players you mentioned were not with the Caps when they broke camp last year. The Caps likely will not finish this season with the same roster they begin it with.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Actually, among the regular PK forwards over the last two years, (Gordo, Steckel, Brads and Laich) Steckel is the ONLY one to see a statistical decline (I’m using overall rating here because it compares how the team fares when a guy is both on and off the ice), and that decline is huge. Every other guy saw their rating increase.
Then again, rating incorporates goals for, which I think skews the results for PK for the Caps, since the team’s SHGF end up being fluky rather than the norm (like it would be for Philly or Chicago). I count Gordon, Bradley, Backstrom, and Steckel with higher GAON/60.
Who’s comparing him just to Backstrom? How about the massive difference between him and Bradley, or Laich? That’s not a couple bounces.
Not a couple, but a handful. Steckel plays 60 minutes of 4-on-5 time around every 20 games, I guess. 2 goals per sixty then is 8 goals on the season.
Here’s the issue – the Caps’ PK is horrendous. It’s horrendous in large part because it’s passive…
I guess here’s where we differ. I’m not sold just because Steckel looks bad and Hendricks terrific on the PK through a few preseason games. I guess I want three weeks of regular season games at least before I pass judgment.
Instead they’ll have Andrew Gordon, Matt Hendricks, Boyd Gordon and, during the regular season, DJ King.
Boyd Gordon was there last year too. The point is that I’d rather have Steckel at 4C than A. Gordon, Hendricks (at this point—need to see more), and DJ King. I don’t care if Steckel gets scratched when Boyd Gordon is healthy. It’s when he isn’t that makes me happy the Caps at least have a replacement.
by red army line on Sep 30, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
rating incorporates goals for
Only 4 SHG in 316 total times shorthanded. 1.3% of our times shorthanded. It’s effectively noise. Rating shows how players on the same team did relative to one another. I understand that Steckel played against a higher quality of competition, but the team gave up fewer goals when he was off the ice versus when he was on it by a fairly wide margin – a much larger margin than can be accounted for with SHGs.
2 goals per sixty then is 8 goals on the season.
That relatively small improvement would have taken our PK from 78.8% to around 81.3. We’d have gone from bad to mediocre (19th vs 25th). Not a huge improvement, but nothing to sneeze at, either.
I’m not sold just because Steckel looks bad and Hendricks terrific on the PK through a few preseason games.
This isn’t just this year. The team has had a passive PK for years, and it has been shitty for years. We can all agree that Steckel is a bad skater, and that bad skaters aren’t suited to a more aggressive PK system. I’d rather scrap Steckel than scrap a system that seems to be working.
The point is that I’d rather have Steckel at 4C than A. Gordon, Hendricks (at this point—need to see more), and DJ King.
You’re missing the point here, the point is that the Caps have plenty of 4th line and potential 4th line players.
If you don’t buy Hendricks as the replacement, then how about Steve Begin, who’s still available? There are any number of guys available who could fill the hole. Hendricks just so happens to be in camp.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Only 4 SHG in 316 total times shorthanded. 1.3% of our times shorthanded. It’s effectively noise.
That’s exactly my point.
That relatively small improvement would have taken our PK from 78.8% to around 81.3. We’d have gone from bad to mediocre (19th vs 25th). Not a huge improvement, but nothing to sneeze at, either.
My point was the two goals per sixty here could just be noise. 8 goals? I’m pretty sure that’s within reasonable luck range.
You’re missing the point here, the point is that the Caps have plenty of 4th line and potential 4th line players.
We both are, apparently. I’m just saying Steckel’s not worthless. He’s an NHL player who plays lots of PK time and over 12 minutes a night overall. He should fetch something in a trade, even if just a low pick.
by red army line on Oct 3, 2010 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
The PK was worse when he was on the ice, and better when he was off it. I’m not sure how much clearer it gets.
I agree with you in this argument, I just want to point out that if Steckel is facing a team’s PP1 and the other guys face PP2 then you’d expect the other guys to have better numbers. Of course, there are two forwards so if it really was a cut and dry PP1 v. PP2 issue then you’d see Steckel’s partner showing similar numbers.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Any stat that says that Adam Mair is a tougher QoC than Thomas Vanek has some pretty serious flaws. The problem with using Corsi Rel QoC for analyzing a player’s defensive play is that Corsi Rel is both an offensive and defensive stat. So take the Vanek/Mair example above. Mair might have great Corsi ratings because he keeps the opposition from shooting and shoots a lot himself, but that doesn’t mean he’s tough to play defense against because you know that he couldn’t score in a brothel. Vanek might give up lots of shots against, but every time he touches the puck he can put it in the back of the net.
Corsi based QComp is much more useful for overall flow of the game, as opposed to single zone situations. Vic Ferrari has a system that adjusts recursively for players that play against tough competition themselves, you can read about it here and the comments are worth a gander as well.
As an idea, a metric could be used for players in the O-Zone; shots-per-shift after an O-Zone start. The most dangerous players should generate more shots (or more goals) after O-Zone starts and the players that are defensive studs (Madden, Mair, and their ilk) but can’t score worth a damn would see the puck exit into the neutral zone much sooner, no? I guess you could also use career shooting percentage as a coefficient to normalize the results for guys that get better shots (possibly career on-ice shooting percentage for a larger sample, although they obviously have less control over that than their own). It also wouldn’t penalize players who get stuck in the D-Zone all the time (like Madden and Mair) and consequently get drilled on stats that aren’t adjusted for that.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll just point out that I fundamentally have a problem with the Qcomp stats as treating players as fungible. Offensive players and defensive players are qualitatively different, and one stat isn’t going to tell you who is more difficult to play against. A guy like Madden who is used as a defensive specialist is more difficult for AO to play against, but easier for Steckel to play against. Conversely, a guy like Vanek is easier for AO to play against, but harder for Steckel to play against. Until the Qcomp stats take into account different roles and systems, I can only take them with a heavy dose of salt.
Further, as D’ohboy indicates, there are such blatantly inaccurate results in the Qcomp stats that any informed observer has to realize something is amiss. Even in the Corsi based stat, you see that Brian Campbell is rated as more difficult competition than Duncan Keith; that is obviously bogus. Thus, you rely on your qualitative understanding of the game; that Campbell plays against easier competition and thus is able to rack up more offensive production, while Keith is racking up less offensive production and burned more frequently defensively because he plays against more difficult competition.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
by Rob Parker on Sep 30, 2010 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Dead on. And it’s important to remember that all of these tools are new. They’re untested.
I almost wonder if it’d be better to identify players as playing on “Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4” and then measure qualcomp by measuring TOI vs. each line. That’s what everyone seems to use it as a proxy for anyway.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s more how I look at it. I look at who you are matched against, but then you have to look at how coaches like to use their players. Does anyone think that Crosby and AO and Sedin were not facing the other team’s top stoppers? You can look at the numbers and justify thinking that one guy played “tougher competition” but that means you think that there are coaches out there that don’t make their top priority stopping AO/Crosby/Sedin. Obviously that’s not true.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Hockey players are fungible. You can trade them. I’m not sure it ever makes sense to draft anyone other than the best available player. It certainly didn’t make sense in this situation, since Toews is so much better than Staal.
I’ll just point out that I fundamentally have a problem with the Qcomp stats as treating players as fungible. Offensive players and defensive players are qualitatively different, and one stat isn’t going to tell you who is more difficult to play against.
For what it’s worth, I think the idea of grabbing TOI against different lines is a good one, but broken down further into better players is more interesting. For example: playing against SOB is different than playing against 8/19/22, but both instances are against the first line.
Could you clarify what you mean by untested?
All these tools are definitely new, relative to stats in things like baseball, even if hockey were as easy to measure as baseball is, which it obviously isn’t.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
New as in, I suspect in 10 years we’ll have something that we call “Quality of Competition” or the like, and it’ll be calculated differently because we (and I mean more specifically, people smarter than me) will have more experience with seeing how these numbers match reality.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s perfectly reasonable and I imagine you’re right.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d rather let Gouldie speak for himself, but it seems as if fungible is being used differently in the two block quotes. In my statement I’m saying that not all players do the same job on the ice, and that you don’t ask them to do the same thing, so trying to analyze them all in a “one size fits all” manner doesn’t make sense.
In the above context I think it relates more to drafting and whether it makes sense to draft for need. You should draft the best player, and if you find that you need something later, you can trade a player from a position of abundance to fill a position of need. But you’re still not asking them to do the same thing (and I think that’s implicit in the argument against drafting for need).
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
They are used differently, I’m just poking a little bit of fun.
A point I meant to make in a prior post; using the raw data as a cross-league comparison is useful to a point, but it’s much more useful on individual teams, just like GVT, because of differences in quality of the team and coaching systems and opponents on a given night, et cetera.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree that it’s much more useful within a team, but then how does that apply when you look at the Qcomp stats for a player after he’s played 82 games against 29 different teams (with each team having it’s own unique combination of those 82 games). Wouldn’t that mean that each Qcomp stat loses some meaning because the Qcomp numbers you see for Brian Campbell came from different combinations as those from Vinny Lecavalier? The large numbers may help address it to some degree, but I don’t think 82 games is large enough to fully address it; especially with the huge imbalance between conference schedules (so should we only compare EC players to EC players? Or SE players to SE players and ATL players to ATL players? How far do you take it?).
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Just a few mischaracterizations doesn’t ruin the system. It’s not perfect, but with hundreds of NHLers a year adding to the sample size, it’s worth looking at.
by red army line on Oct 3, 2010 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
And you have the problem that secondary players on strong teams get punished because of their studs. Thus, guys like Laich (-3.5) and Ladd (-.2) actually come across as poor competition, not because they are bad, but because the top line guys on their team can dominate. On the other hand, guys like Josh Bailey (1.0) and Sergei Samsonov (1.7) look like decently good competition because the other players on their teams don’t do much. I’ll take Laich or Ladd over Bailey (for now) or Samsonov (forever).
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
This is actually the precise point I was going to make, but somehow it got lost and I didn’t bother to re-write it.
To pile on your comment, I’d also like to point out an issue I have with Corsi stats, and that’s something I’d like to call “the Jason Blake Effect.”
There are some players who shoot like an ADD kid with an AK – frequently and inaccurately. These players will always look good on Corsi, but really aren’t all that great. Jason Blake is just one example.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
And there are other players (Alex Tanguay comes to mind), who horde their shots like a tweaker hordes remote control parts. It’s not a be-all-end-all number. But used in conjunction with other things, it does tell you quite a bit of useful information. For most players in the league, who necessarily fall nearer the average, it’s a better representation. Yes, there are outliers, no one will deny that. But to dismiss the stat out of hand for a handful of examples isn’t doing it justice, either.
Since you’re here and I remember it, here’s the individual shooting data for Anaheim (where Blake landed)
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
If you want to see something really silly, check out Calgary’s 5v5 Corsi Rel.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
What, specifically, do you find silly about it?
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Check out where Iginla is, then get back to me. :)
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
A few factors at work here; Iggy is facing tough competition, plays with weak teammates, and is declining. He rates as the player that plays the opponents with the highest ratings, and 4th in both Corsi competition ratings. He plays with decent outshooters, but terrible ratings – it’s possible that the Flames got really unlucky with their shooting last season when Iginla was on the ice, given that his career on-ice shooting percentage is much higher than what he had last season. He’s also a power forward on the dark side of 30. His point production has been declining steadily over the last three years, the team has been getting worse and he’s playing tougher competition. All of this points to him having a bad Corsi Rating relative to his teammates – the Flames were an outshooting team to the tune of +5 per game with Iginla off the ice and almost exactly even with him on the ice. That’s where that rating comes from and doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 1, 2010 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thus, you rely on your qualitative understanding of the game; that Campbell plays against easier competition and thus is able to rack up more offensive production, while Keith is racking up less offensive production and burned more frequently defensively because he plays against more difficult competition.
Which is why Vic Ferrari’s QComp computation idea is so interesting; it accounts for playing the toughs and adjusts upwards as a result.
As an aside, I don’t necessarily think you need to use a qualitative understanding of the game to see that Campbell plays against what amounts to the weakest competition, while Keith plays the 2nd strongest. I think Keith would play stronger competition than he already does, except he sometimes gets thrown out for additional time with weaker teammates, while the Keith/Seabrook pair gets the toughest draws, You can also see that in the Zone Starts; Campbell gets massively favorable starts while Keith gets to start in the D Zone much more often.
What that initially tells us is that Keith is probably better than Campbell if their numbers are at all similar and indeed, they’re much closer than they should be given the disparity of the context.
To the idea that Campbell should be rated as weaker competition; these measures are for Corsi or adjusted plus-minus, which means they’re used as a predictor of those same things, which are proxies for what really win games. Campbell is tough to play against because if you’re playing against Brian Campbell, you’re starting out in the defensive zone against the ‘Hawks better offensive players three times out of two against the converse (starting against Brian Campbell and the ’Hawks lower lines in their D Zone). So while Corsi Rel may not fully represent why the results happen that way when Brian Campbell is on the ice, they do accurately represent what the results were for those specific measures, which has some predictive value for those measures, so long as Campbell continues to be used in the same capacity by Quennville. If the context changed, we’d expect Corsi Rel to change right along with it.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions
The problem with all the QComp stats you link to is that they are subject to the same flaw the Qcomp stats try to address. Every single data point in your raw data is unadjusted for the QComp. If Qcomp is important enough to adjust for, then you simply can’t ignore that your raw data hasn’t been adjusted. The recursive idea at least tries to adjust it, but the dependent and independent variables are so inherently related that it becomes circular. Campbell’s numbers are what they are because of who he plays against. Keith’s numbers are what they are because of who he plays against. Likewise for the rest of the league.
I’m not even sure what to make of zone starts. As you note, zone start can mean two different things.; either a player is very good, or very bad. How do you know which it is without looking at the player and resorting to the qualitative understanding of the game that you already have? I also don’t see why you would adjust the “quality” of a good offensive player downward simply because they get more offensive zone starts, especially considering the good players frequently get the high offensive zone starts. Again, it’s circular to me. Good players get lots of offensive zone starts, but they aren’t that good because they get so many offensive zone starts, but they get lots of offensive zone starts because they’re good…
Campbell is tough to play against because if you’re playing against Brian Campbell, you’re starting out in the defensive zone against the ‘Hawks better offensive players three times out of two against the converse (starting against Brian Campbell and the ’Hawks lower lines in their D Zone)
I disagree. Campbell isn’t tough to play against because you start in the defensive zone. Starting in the defensive zone may be more difficult because of the situation, but it has literally zero bearing on how good a player Brian Campbell is. He is what he is no matter where the face off is taken. (And what of the fact that the zone starts ignore all neutral zone draws? What percentage of draws are neutral zone? Is taking a center ice draw absolutely neutral, while draws just outside the blueline are indicative or greater or lesser prowess?)
I guess at the end of the day it comes down to this: if your raw data (or the plus/minus based version) doesn’t accurately reflect who you think the best players (or highest quality players) are, then how can the aggregated and averaged statistics accurately be a reflection of the quality of your opposition? We see the anomalies when they are glaring, like Campbell and Keith, but we don’t know how many other anomalies are there in close cases. Do we really know if Mason Raymond is a higher quality player than Chris Kunitz? How about Marian Hossa? Or Bergeron? Or Zajac? Or Crosby? Etc. (I guess that’s a bad example, because so many of them seem obviously wrong, but you can pick lots of players that seem equal quality but wouldn’t be represented that way by the raw data.) That list is raw data, and that raw data loses a lot of it’s value and meaning without looking back at the role those players play, and the quality of competition, the variable you are trying to prove! I really hope I expressed this clearly, but I fear I didn’t.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I can’t respond to this fully right now, as I’m about to hit the hay, but something to note; any type of recursion is definitionally at least somewhat circular. What the Ferrari method addresses is that each player in the league affects the metric of every other player.
As for adjusting the “quality” downwards because of zone-start, you do that because all other things being equal, each offensive zone start is worth .8 positive Corsi events or .6 positive Fenwick events. Players who get to start in the O-Zone more often therefore have an inherent advantage in those type of counting stats. If the quality is measured by differential of those stats, you have to adjust for zone starts. Neutral zone draws turn out to be neutral in terms of Corsi and Fenwick, so they’re ignored for this purpose.
I disagree. Campbell isn’t tough to play against because you start in the defensive zone. Starting in the defensive zone may be more difficult because of the situation, but it has literally zero bearing on how good a player Brian Campbell is. He is what he is no matter where the face off is taken. (And what of the fact that the zone starts ignore all neutral zone draws? What percentage of draws are neutral zone? Is taking a center ice draw absolutely neutral, while draws just outside the blueline are indicative or greater or lesser prowess?)
It’s not necessarily that Campbell is tough to play against, but Campbell in the context that he’s used in is tough to play against. In a neutral context, he’s not as strong as he is with all the situational advantages he enjoys, but that’s the environment that other players encounter Brian Campbell in. I don’t think we’re disagreeing on the actual subject there, because contextual adjustment for full value of a player is necessary. But the question of whether or not he’s tough competition for his opponents is connected with what context he gets on the ice.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Players who get to start in the O-Zone more often therefore have an inherent advantage in those type of counting stats. If the quality is measured by differential of those stats, you have to adjust for zone starts.
Ok, but now you are adjusting for a proxy of “quality” because there are biases in your initial method of measuring “quality.” There are more moving parts, and more inaccuracies.
I see what you are saying about the context of Brian Campbell, but again we are abstracting away from Brian Campbell’s actual quality and towards exogenous factors like system and coaching style. It would be more accurate to term the stat “situational difficulty” than trying to put a number on the quality of the opposition.
I also think the stats are much better at quantifying offensive quality, and that the stats we have are very inadequate at measuring defensive quality. If you view each player as fungible, as both an offensive and defensive player, then maybe that’s less of an issue. But I think that the defensive contributions are so undervalued statistically that it’s not fair to try to measure that way, even if that’s how you view players (which I already said I disagree with).
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Here’s the thing about the measured qual comp and the exogenous factors; those factors matter on the ice. Is the context neutral Brian Campbell as good an outshooter/outscorer as the unadjusted stats suggest he is?
No.
But that Brian Campbell isn’t the one players face on the ice. They face the one that has all those exogenous factors going for him. If those factors change, then the expected results change, too. That’s why he rates as tough competition; when the player is out against Campbell, he’s likely in a tough spot – in his own zone, against Chicago’s good offensive players. Shouldn’t that rate as tougher competition than a neutral context?
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 1, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’d like to hold onto Flash. He’s got actual value, though I may not think he’s right for this team.
I have a hard time thinking of a reason to keep Steckel around. He’s demonstrably worse than cheaper alternatives.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I’m fine keeping Flash until the deadline. At that point he needs to be gone. I don’t want to see him on the ice in April unless its with another sweater on.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Here’s a suggestion. How ’bout we get to the regular season before dieciding to unload Flash in April?
by mechanicsville on Sep 30, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
How ‘bout I’ve already seen enough of Flash to know I don’t want to see him in April. I don’t need another regular season to tell me a stiff wind will knock him over come the playoffs.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
So you don’t think an offseason of training (which he hasn’t had in awhile) will make any difference? He’s clearly been fading down the stretch, and it seems logical to think that a healthy offseason = more left in the tank late in the season.
No, I don’t. Nothing about his game has shown me he is physically capable of playing the physical brand of hockey necessary to succeed in the playoffs. He doesn’t win puck battles and doesn’t go to the net or other high traffic areas consistently.
I hoped for the past 2 seasons he’d come around. I was in favor of the Caps giving him every opportunity to prove himself. However, that time has passed.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
He does go to the net somewhat consistently, he’s just not strong enough to impose his will there for more than the quickest plays. Not that that’s much better of course, but it does show a willingness I suppose.
Even if I believe that he did, as you say that’s not much better. In the end actions are more important than intentions.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
But it does go to potential. If he has the willingness, he needs the strength, and a healthy offseason to train might (stress on might) yield that.
If he has neither all bets are probably off.
At some point the potential needs to meet the performance. How much longer do you wait? He’s 26 years old and has now been in 260 NHL games.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, seeing as he’s a UFA this year, this is probably a good time to have him fish or cut bait.
If you can get a better replacement (at the deadline or earlier) great, but otherwise there’s little reason for them to get rid of him just to get rid of him. Let him walk as a UFA if he still disappoints.
Who would you propose picking up, keeping in mind that it takes two teams to tango, and that the other team has to be willing to let the player in question go, and has to have a need for a Flash-like player.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
by IRockTheRed on Sep 30, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I have no idea who will be out there. I don’t know if we have the assets for Richards, but he wouldn’t be a horrible target (ideally it’d be nice to have someone bigger, but if there’s nothing there…)
I would have loved to see them target someone like Handzus or Stoll this offseason (maybe two separate deals, Flash for something and something else for one of those two).
Matt Stajan is out in Calgary. Daymond Langkow’s return is indefinite. The team is really short on centers right now and could use a guy who can play as a second-line center behind Jokinen until one of their injured guys comes back; then they can shift him to left wing (Calgary’s top two left wings right now are Alex Tanguay and Niklas Hagman, neither of whom are much bette, if any better, than Fleischmann).
Did I mention that they also need cap space? Fleischmann’s cheaper than Cory Sarich, Robyn Regher, Ian White, and Steve Staios.
St. Louis is a target, also. They’re so overloaded with centers they’ve transitioned a number of natural centers to wing. They’ve also been looking to trim salary since a major investor pulled out of the team, and shipping out a guy like Brad Boyes could make their salary situation much more flexible.
Getting a guy like Fleischmann would give L.A. a little more scoring depth (right now, they have a top line, two third lines, and a fourth line) but L.A. isn’t exactly deep at center, and can’t afford to ship out Handzus or Stoll unless they pick up someone who will be able to take their place.
Just say hell no to Steve Staios. I don’t want that guy within 2,000 miles of the Caps blueline.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d love to get Ian White. I wouldn’t be a big fan of getting Boyes just because I think he’s what we already have: a wing that can play C inadequately.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I’d love to get Ian White, too, but I don’t think Burke is able to pry away Phaneuf without sending White back the other way.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
St Louis has many centers, but not necessarily many good ones. And the good ones are still cheap, so they’re keeping them.
The Blues seem to really want the playoffs this year, so I don’t expect a deadline trade unless they really really tank. If they do super tank, we might be able to get Boyes. But do we really want a center who has maxed out at 72 points in the past three years?
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
If he would be taking the 2C spot over Flash, that would be a big upgrade – so yes.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
In four-odd years of watching Flash, when has he EVER consistently demonstrated the willingness?
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Nov-Dec 2009? I think at one point he was on a per-82 33 goal pace or so.
by red army line on Sep 30, 2010 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I guarantee if you check those stats against the teams that were played he was up against slower, less able backcheckers.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Flash playoffs: 22gp 3g 2a 5p -3
Fehr: 22gp 4g 1a 5p +/- 0
Pretty similiar stats, except fehr had a good 7 game stretch last season. So otherwise he hasn’t been good in playoffs but isn’t criticised at all. Without last years playoffs:
Flash: 16gp 3-1-4 -2
Fehr: 14gp 1-0-1 -2
Obviously players can change.
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.
by breaklance on Sep 30, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I feel like Caps fans need a whipping boy, and this season and last, it’s become Tomas Fleischmann. Not that many Caps had a great playoff series against the Canadiens last year, let’s face it. But I don’t see the harsh in-the-spotlight criticism of others who fell short of the mark (with the possible exception of Semin, but nobody’s saying “get rid of him” with the regularity that they are of Flash).
I get the feeling that people just don’t like him because they perceive him as Boudreau’s pet. :-p
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
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by IRockTheRed on Sep 30, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the biggest thing is the perception that he doesn’t fit. They don’t really need him on the wing and he hasn’t shown himself to be a good enough center. He’ll silence a decent number of detractors if he can step up as the 2C and do it well.
I hope that he does. I think that people forget that technically he was a rookie center last year. If you compare him as a rookie center rather than as a 3rd year player, or whatever, you will get a different set of comparisons.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
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by IRockTheRed on Sep 30, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I disagree. I dislike Flash’s game because of what he has/has not done on the ice. I don’t care what other players have done/do when grading him. My problem with BB’s love of Flash is simply because its not warranted based on his numbers/performance.
Whether he plays center or wing his inability to fight and gain control of pucks and be able to hang in high traffic areas hurts. If anything, its worse if he’s playing center because of his defensive responsibilities. They moved him back to wing after the center experiment mainly due to his poor defensive play.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
My problem with BB’s love of Flash is simply because its not warranted based on his numbers/performance.
I like how, in this past season’s Hockey Diaries, there’s a clip of Bruce talking about Sloan playing the wing. “He’s no Tomas Fleishmann out there, but…” Funny that, even when making a hyperbolic example, he was the first to come up.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Sep 30, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh. I noticed that too.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Sep 30, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
You’ve said this a few times, but it’s still wrong. He wasn’t a rookie. He wasn’t “technically” a rookie. He played a new position, but he still has experience, years of it, battling and playing against NHL players. The new responsibilities wasn’t why he disappeared, the tougher nature of the game was.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Flash is a floater on a team that can be easily broken by floaters. All out offense works when you have responsible forwards but the second they start playing lackadaisical it stands out.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
He’s a lesser version of Semin in some of their similiar ways and you only need one “finesse player” like that for this team. While offensively he’s better than a lot of the guys on the team, he has no defense on a team oft criticised for its non-existant defense so he’s pretty logical for whipping.
Kind of the same way Poti is slammed for being a poor defender because of his perception, no being able to clear the PK, being on ice all the time(usually agianst toughest comp too) but has stats that prove he’s actually really good.
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.
but has stats that prove he’s actually really good.
He also has stats the prove that he’s fucking worthless on the PK.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
hyperbole much? Poti’s not actually a bad PKer. He’s just not the team’s best (an he hasn’t earned getting so much more PK time than any other defender)
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
In the last three years, Poti has never finished better than third-from-last in 4v5 rating. The guys behind him have been Sloskine (last year), Rookie Alzner and Sean Collins (two years ago), and Brian Pothier (three years ago). He’s bad. Really, really bad.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
And it’s not even close. His QualComp is quite a bit higher.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s overused. Really really overused.
Stats are amenable to different interpretations. He gets 50% more PK TOI than everyone else.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll go with this. The team’s lack of a second mobile PKing defender last year led to Poti’s overuse. Hopefully, this year, we’ll see Poti’s PKTOI decrease with Alzner spending a full year on the team and the emergence of Schultz. Oh, and Carlson hasn’t looked that bad on the PK in the preseason, either.
Green’s not a bad PKer either
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Stats, eyes, whatever. Poti just sucks as a penalty killer.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
But you kinda proved my point in that some players are catalysts and really polarize people to hate them, justified or not.
All the players have deficiencies we only focus on some of them. And no, don’t ask me what AO or Lars’ are.
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.
And my opinions about Poti aren’t some kind of blind hatred. He’s our #1PK defenseman and we’ve had a terrible PK. He doesn’t clear the puck well, he’s bad at keeping his stick in the passing lanes, and he doesn’t use his size effectively to clear the front of the net.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Poti isn’t alone out there, while he is the leading PK guy and it weighs more heavily on him he’s not the only guy out there. The PK as a whole was terrible, especially when your better defensive players out there are Semin.
I’m not trying to say Poti is great on PK, he is pretty bad, but earlier last season people were riding that aspect of his game so hard they completely missed how good he was on ES is what im more so trying to say. I lost a lot of arguments about this only to have more proof for me come out over the summer.
Should Flash still leave? Yeah he should for a lot of reasons not all of them “because hes so bad” but because me could be worth a decent amount.
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.
By what mechanism can a player be good defensively ES and bad defensively on the PK? I don’t think that’s an indictment of the player, I think it’s something else. Like perhaps being used incorrectly (overused) or being used in a bad PK system.
The physical/mental tools involved in playing good defense at ES and PK are so interrelated, that if the stats are dramatically different for a particular player, it probably has more to do with externals than anything about that player. I just don’t buy that some people are inherently really good defenders except on PK.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Every D on the team doesn’t utilize their body. The goalies get left out to dry so often on rebounds because they don’t get people the hell off the crease.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
But I don’t see the harsh in-the-spotlight
Then obviously you haven’t been paying much attention.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
You’re right, I’ve ignored it all off-season.
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by IRockTheRed on Sep 30, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d say there has been pretty harsh commentary on Boudreau, Semin, Ovechkin, Laich, Green. . .
The notion that everyone is just ganging up on Flash for no reason is misplaced. The reality is that there are a ton of forwards in the NHL who could put up similar stats to Flash if given the opportunity to play with guys like Semin and get regular PP time. Flash is no doubt a very talented player, but unfortunately, he’s not consistently willing to do the things that lead to playoff success.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Actually the commentary here has been harshest with Flash not that I necessarily disagree.
For me he is the most expendable and if we are going with rookie centermen (if we can describe Flash thusly) then I’m more excited by Mackan, MP, and Hendricks. But they haven’t disappointed me yet.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Sep 30, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
For one thing, Semin, for all his flaws, has a ceiling that Flash simply doesn’t. Semin can, and does, take over games with his skill. He’s far better defensively and has had successful playoff series in the past.
Mike Green and Alex Semin were both excoriated in this very space for their failures over the last two playoff series.
All that said, if the Caps could get a player like Patrice Bergeron for Semin, I think they should ship him out as soon as they can. I think that’s a pretty common sentiment, as least as common as cutting Flash or trading him for whatever they could get. They’re both wings and the Caps are flush with skill wings who can score. Trading either one for a bonafide center is something I think improves the Caps, both from here to April and beyond that.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Trading for a center to pair with Semin is the best option but unless they move someone who is untouchable, that ain’t happening unfortunately. They need to move Semin and hope one of the roughly 600,000 prospects for the wing pan out.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
It’s not a whipping boy. Whipping boy’s are blamed for other people’s mistakes. Flash is blamed for disappearing, his own mistakes. Semin has taken heat, and so has Laich from the crowd that isn’t smitten by his good looks and charm. Green has been heavily maligned for his poor play, but then you say we “turn on him.”
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Sorry, but this comparison is bullshit.
Even after BB started benching him in the MTL series, Flash still averaged more TOI/Game than Fehr (13:21 to 11:24), and he outpaced him in PP TOI/Game as well.
Furthermore, Flash was skating with Semin and Laich, whereas Fehr was skating with Chimera and Belanger. I love Chimera, but Semin and Laich are clearly better players.
If you go back a year to 08-09, the difference is even starker – Flash got almost seven minutes more TOI/Game than Fehr and over a minute and a half more PP TOI/Game.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
by D'ohboy on Sep 30, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Flash playoffs: 22gp 3g 2a 5p -3
Fehr: 22gp 4g 1a 5p +/- 0
Flash playoff minutes: 300, including regular PP time.
Fehr playoff minutes: 195, including much less PP time.
by David Getz on Sep 30, 2010 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Flash healthy shoulders: 2
Fehr healthy shoulders: 1 (and then 0)
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
*
Obviously this stat is for the 09 playoffs. Fehr out-performed Flash in the ‘10 playoffs so there’s not much else to be said.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I’m just surprised there are any people against me. When you looks at his performance it doesn’t pass the eyes or stats test for a 2nd line guy playing on a team with the talent this one does not to mention with the PP minutes the guy gets.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
If you are ever surprised that anyone disagrees with you on a topic, it means that you are so convinced of your own rightness that you are no longer listening.
/justsayin
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Or that you’re right.
For example, I think the Capitals are a better hockey team than the Bloomington PrairieThunder. I’d be pretty surprised if anyone disagrees with me on that.
by David Getz on Sep 30, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Or both.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Well played!! An overdue dose of perspective from the Baltimore area.
by mechanicsville on Sep 30, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
It was tongue and cheek. I realized some wouldn’t get that, so I added the reply. I might add said reply was posted 20 minutes before yours, so I’m not sure why you decided to respond with your post.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He was talking about what sausage is made of.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I can understand why people are against you. The “he finally has a healthy off-season” is an appealing argument if you are a fan of the guy. They can point to the pneumonia and the DVT and say that he hasn’t had the chance to get himself prepared for an NHL season and justify it. I can understand the argument, I just think his style of play is such that it won’t really matter if he packs on more muscle because he doesn’t choose to use the muscle he does have.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Last offseason, he was able to spend most of the time building strength – something he hadn’t done before. He STILL faded down the stretch. How is that going to improve?
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
Yes, and that’s why he was so much stronger. He worked on building his core and upper body, unlike previous years.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
Yeah, but shouldn’t lower body and cardio have a ton more to do with endurance for someone who’s game is (partly) skating (and probably how difficult he is to push off the puck)?
He’s demonstrably worse than cheaper alternatives
This is why I think it may be tough to get rid of him. He’s about $500k more expensive than young talent.
You had me at no problem.
Yet he’s still cheap if you’re not a team like the Capitals that has a dearth of guys who are viable grind line centers.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Gordon. Hendricks. Beagle.
We’re not lacking grinder centers.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Beagle’s on a one-way contract next year, too. I have a feeling that the Caps did that expecting either Steckel or Gordon to be gone next year (and Beagle’s a righty, so I have the feeling they’re expecting Gordon to be gone).
I don’t know if I’d say that means anything (righty/lefty, I mean) since Gordon is literally our only righty NHL faceoff man. One isn’t necessarily enough.
I’m guessing his back will have infinitely more to do with whether or not he’s, well, back.
Don’t think it matters too terribly much — right handed shooters aren’t common but not super uncommon. Hell I think it’s almost a 50/50 split amongst forwards.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Right-handed centers with a chance of making the Caps this year are, however, something of a rarity. Beagle and Gordon are pretty much the only two.
Ouch, didn’t realize they were so thin. Talking completely out my ass, however, I can’t see being a righty as a center being a limiting factor. I can see it for a wing or even defenseman (seems like virtually all the guys outside of America shoot left) but a center seems to either/or in terms of ability.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Yeah, exactly. $1/yr isn’t worth it after he failed to turn it up a notch. There’s other guys that may end up being worse but they’re a blue light special being 50% off.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
I just watched the highlights from last night.
What’s the deal with the cut away to the pelvic-thrusting B’s fan after the first goal? Someone’s got a great sense of humor?
On a more serious note, 10 shows a great example for all kids of how to go to the net, “open up” to put the puck on his forehand, and keep his stick on the ice and extended waiting for the shot. 21 should have done that on Tuesday, and he might have scored.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Why is it such a big deal that CSN’s adding a pregame show? They’ve already had a half hour of pre- or postgame for most Caps and Wiz games.
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Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
I assume it means that the 6:30 Sportsnite (or whatever they’re going to call it now) won’t lead off with Redskins news before they spend maybe seven minutes on the pregame.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Recently they cut Wash Post Live down to 30 min so they can run an hour’s worth of Redskins (Coach’s show, then Redskins Now). My guess is the Coach’s show is going away, Redskins Now is moving to 5:30 and Sportsnight to 6pm. From a scheduling standpoint, I’ve always wondered why CSN waited 30 min. after Sportscenter started to run their sports news show. People don’t like to change the channel.
"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
Any chance that someone at Comcast might tell Julie Donaldson the correct pronunciation of Varlamov’s last name?
by mechanicsville on Sep 30, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
For 7 PM starts, the pre-game broadcast was usually just the last several minutes of SportsNite as opposed to its own dedicated show. The only times there were true half-hour pre-game shows were for the 7:30 starts.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Sep 30, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I won’t watch pre-game unless it’s a really big game anyways. I quite like tuning in, seeing the CSN logo and fanfare, and getting right to the action.
When you watch 75 or so regular season games(and follow the league online), you really don’t need the TV crew to remind you of the storylines.
You had me at no problem.
As much as I loathe Comcast the cable giant, I have to admit they’ve got some good on-line writers (Joe Haggerty in Boston, Corey here, )
"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
Im a little surprised the top 200 scorers, I had the players right and almost in order except having Laich ahead of Flash. Which will probably happen
Also the pre-hart talk is pretty funny. With guys like Crosby and Ovechkin in the league you really have to perform to get into the conversation and I don’t see most of their candidates doing so. Toews hasn’t broken 70 points yet, he’s young and probably can but going up agianst venerated Century Club members is a very long shot for him. Malkin, Backstrom, and Getzlaf are the only other forwards capable of breaking 100 points and probably won’t be in consideration again if Miller plays Capn USA again for the sabres. Adding to that Malkin and Backstrom have their detriments playing along side the other 2 “owners” of the hart.
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.
Oh Sasha
John Carlson - Glory follows him.
Six Beers Too Many Fantasy Team - BizNasty's Hobo Rodeo
by boutros23 on Sep 30, 2010 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Chimmer can’t get jizz off his back.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
Hey, what’s that groaning out there?
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
About half of all my posts are being eaten by SBN, wtf.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
The quotation gestapo is snatching them all up.
by DrinkingPartner on Sep 30, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Can’t see it at the moment, is it reminiscent of when he was on Carlson, or when he was on Green?
by CaptainAwesome on Sep 30, 2010 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn’t he sit on Neuvy once, too?
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
He’s sat on pretty much every goalie we’ve ever had (and Ovie a fair number of times, too). I think he just prefers them to chairs. Whatevs, to each his own :)
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Cuddliest Siberian I’ve ever seen.
John Carlson - Glory follows him.
Six Beers Too Many Fantasy Team - BizNasty's Hobo Rodeo
…that’s actually a really perfect comparison. Sometimes sweet and cuddly but often aloof, enigmatic and seemingly disinterested in the world around him.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
And occasionally he’ll claw you in the face.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
And always land on his feet face?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY7-jO71K2I&feature=related
You had me at no problem.
There’s one where he’s sitting on Johnson, and the look on Johnson’s face is absolute gold.
by CaptainAwesome on Sep 30, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I noticed in the highlights from the game the other night that Semin seemed to give Neuvy a little extra love in the post-game celebration. Wonder if they are pals.
Seems like a caring veteran to me.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
…and I want a new contract, with lots of monies, and to play with Ovie, and for hooking penalties to be removed in the next rule change…
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Sep 30, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
Opulence, I has it.
Choking since 1985.
by macvechkin on Sep 30, 2010 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Malkin, Backstrom, and Getzlaf are the only other forwards capable of breaking 100 points
I’m pretty sure Parise, Kovy, and Kane, Stamkos among others could join Sedin (I’m assuming you just forgot to mention him), Crosby, and Ovi in the 100+ points category,if things fell their way.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
Reply fail.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
No i meant to infer Sedin could again too. List didn’t include stamkos though they should indeed.
Parise and Kovy could in the “new” offensive minded devils. I think kane will be lucky to break 90 with so many of his cast moved.
So basically the hart possibles should actually be: Ovechkin, Crosby, Stamkos, Sedin, Parise, Backstrom, Kovy, Miller, Kane.
And i’d pretty much rank their % to win, in that order too.
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.
Kane will have the exact same line, I think. With 88 last year, he’s breaking 90 I think. I don’t think anyone on the Devils will break 100 points. Thornton could get it, but he’s been putting up less points since McLellan put them at power-vs-power (Thornton leads Sharks centers in corsi rel qoc).
I don’t even think Sedin is a better possibility than any of those other guys. His season strikes me as a total fluke (how many guys jump from ~1 pt/gm to 1.3 pts/gm in UFA years?).
What about Malkin?
by red army line on Sep 30, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
depends on which version of Malkin we get this season.
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 who his linemates wind up being.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
by Carl Putnam on Sep 30, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I knew I was forgetting someone, i’d put malkin probably behind Sedin if he can perform.
I think the twins were a fluke too. Realistically the people I foresee breaking 100 points are only Crosby, Stamkos, Ovie and Lars. Parise and Kovy could float around 90, Kane and Sedin somewhere there too.
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.
I really think Parise & Kovy could break 100 depending on Devils PP and line combos.
Kane is going to have the hardest time for sure. His line will be intact, but the forward depth they lost will hurt because other teams can key on him easier now because their 3/4th lines most likely won’t be as potent.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
I think teams were keying on that top line anyhow. The depth won’t score as much this year, but I really doubt coaches were putting anything less than their best out against Kane/Toews/Hossa or Kane/Toews/Brouwer.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I think d-men will be able to expend less energy against their 3/4th liners. That might not seem huge in the grand scheme, but I think its enough to tamper down Kane’s stats enough.
"The most important thing - to get to the playoffs and move on." Evgeny Kuznetsov
This is a good point. The great 4th lines don’t score a lot but they spend a ton of time cycling. That just wears on a D. (It also goes back to what it means to be “tough” to play against; does it mean you punish the other team physically and make them expend energy? Or does it mean you’re more likely to score a goal?)
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Both can be, although the toughest lines combine the two. Like Ovie does – dangerous scorer, big hitter, and skates so well that you have to watch him.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
It’s easy when you talk about a guy like AO, but what about if you are talking about a guy like Prospal or Ruutu?
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Tough guys to play against are tough for different reasons. Ovie just happens to be one of a few to have a bunch of ways.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
Right, but that’s why he’s elite. There isn’t much argument about that. It’s the vast middle area that is tough to quantify, and the fact that players are tough for different reasons. See the discussion below with KHtaD.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
The Twins moved from matching up against the opponent’s top-line or 2nd line to matching up against the 3rd or 4th line. It’s not that surprising that their production increased when they went from playing against Iginla and Zetterberg to playing against Cogliano and Clutterbuck.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry Knee High, a quick run-through of Corsi rel qoc isn’t showing that trend. Do you have links? I’m getting Henrik Sedin last on Vancouver (among centers) in 2007-2008, 3rd in 2008-2009, and 2nd to last in 2009-2010.
by red army line on Sep 30, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
In 2008, they played the highest QComp (rating) on the team, but the Corsi ratings both read Kessler/Burrows as the top shutdown line all three seasons. I stand corrected.
IIRC, this was an article from IOF or Lowetide, or possibly in the comments at mchockey79 or BtN.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, if you use regular QualComp, rather then Corsi, the Sedins played against the toughest competition in 08-09, and some of the worst in 09-10. There is still a clear negative trend as they went from .279 and .224 Corsi Rel to -.182 and -.289.
So yeah, they’re playing against weaker competition.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
They were playing weaker comp, but they didn’t go from matching up against the very best to the very worst, but I know I’ve read from VAN fans that Vigneault tries to get them out against the 3rd and 4th lines (I don’t blame him, if you can throw Kesler at the top line, why wouldn’t you sic the twins on the weaker players?).
The trend wasn’t so much wrong as the comparison I was using, which is hyperbolic upon closer inspection.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Sep 30, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I also think Vigneault is one of the most notorious line-matchers in the game and he is damn near OCD about getting the Sedins out against the bottom lines. I’d imagine that would only really be successful at home, though.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Then you’re looking at the wrong thing, because I’m looking right at it, and it shows both the Sedins well below Kesler and the Canucks’ second-liners.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Caps games to not look forward to in 2010-11. [Box Seats]
This has to be one of the dumbest things I’ve read caps-related on the Post for quite a while.
First off, why the jab at Joe Flacco? Thank you for already alienating many Caps fans who also happen to be fans of the Ravens, such as myself. It’s a DC paper…try poking fun at the Cowboys if you must include a football reference in a hockey post.
Second, while some of the justifications are sound, some games are listed with either absurd explanations or no explanations at all.
12/23 against the Pens as a game you’re NOT looking forward to? A pre-Christmas break matchup to get both teams (who have played nothing but awesome games the past few years whenever they’ve met) good and fired up for the Winter Classic? Sounds like a “must see” to me.
Two Tampa Bay games listed right after the new year with no explanation?!? Why? The Lightening games have actually become quite exciting in recent history, and having two games so close in the schedule could even provide extra drama as well.
I could go on, but I think my point is clear…
"I am ready for his provocations"
by PaintDrinkingPete on Sep 30, 2010 12:45 PM EDT reply actions
He did explain the Tampa games. It’s that Tampa/Florida/Tampa/Florida stretch he’s talking about there.
Yeah, I see that now…but still don’t necessarily agree with it.
"I am ready for his provocations"
by PaintDrinkingPete on Sep 30, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Some people need stuff to gripe about.
Why wouldn't you play Perreault? He's a really talented young player.
I hate people like that
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Eh, I may have been a bit harsh…I do admit the crack on Joe Flacco soured me before I even got into the article. I guess the primary thing for me is that there is never any Caps game that I’m not looking forward to. I even enjoy some of those clustered divisional games that show up from time to time.
"I am ready for his provocations"
by PaintDrinkingPete on Sep 30, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m glad you went back to the classic avatar
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 30, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
“It is both senses of the word dangerous that are in play,” Joyce agreed. “I guess down in Washington they’re only taking it to mean he’s threatening bodily harm to everybody, but he is the most dangerous scorer. And in some ways, he’s the scariest force on the ice, the player who is most likely to knock you out of a career (like Jamie Heward) or knock you out for months at a time, like Brian Campbell.”
Oh, Gare Joyce… somewhere, Matt Cooke is spitting on the ground and stomping on his hat.
Per the Bog.
I’m probably overly sensitive about the phrasing, but each time I read:
[H]e’s the scariest force on the ice, the player who is most likely to knock you out of a career (like Jamie Heward) or knock you out for months at a time, like Brian Campbell.
it seems they are implying that Ovie is intetionally trying to put players out of commission.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
That’s what I read, too, so it isn’t just you.
Photography: I Rock the Red
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E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
by IRockTheRed on Sep 30, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
A couple more things about the Heward hit: first, Heward was 37 when that happened, and he already had a marginal NHL career. It wasn’t likely he was going to play for much longer.
There are other guys out there who are actively out to bruise, batter, hurt, and injure opposing teams’ players through chippy play (see, e.g., Matt Cooke, Jarkko Ruutu, Steve Ott, and Steve Downie) and that’s how they keep an NHL job. Ovechkin’s more dangerous than these guys? Hell, Jarome Ignila’s put a few players out of commission for a while (tripping Souray into the boards, for instance) but he’s just a nice western Canadian guy who plays his heart out every night for the flames.
Actually, I’d love to see a rundown of man-games lost to Matt-Cooke-induced-injuries. It’d probably be pretty enlightening.
IIRC, Heward also was careful to interpret Ovechkin’s hit as a hockey moment, not a Ruutu ride. For Cox to lumping Ovechkin’s game in with the ‘likely career-enders’ you identified is as stoopid as lumping his contract in with Kovalev’s.
There's no 'i' in "team". But there's a 'nap' in "champion".
But he’s a convict in the nhl and they do lump him in with the others by their rules.
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.
Plus factually misleading with Campbell’s injury. He was out for one month, not many. He was back on the ice by April 14th.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Sep 30, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
And went on to win some trophy…or something…I can’t really remember, it’s big and silver…?
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Yeah and with a bunch of names engraved on it. Heh!
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
by capsyoungguns on Sep 30, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I really do hope that they…er…sanitize the Cup.
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Silver is naturally antimicrobial.
Six Beers Too Many fantasy team: It's Neu-virth Than Usual
"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 30, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn't know that.
Cool.
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Perhaps not enough to be self-sterilizing after a baby has pooped in it, but yes.
Six Beers Too Many fantasy team: It's Neu-virth Than Usual
"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 30, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m far more worried about the Cup after Kid Rock handled 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.
give him a break, all he probably recalls in Quennville’s endless whining about how that big mean Ovie ruined, just ruin, poor nice, innocent, kitten-loving Brian Campbell’s life.
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’ve tried not to comment much on the topic of the book and the pre-released chapters, I simply know I won’t pay for a copy of the book.
The mentions of the Heward hit are a bit much for me.
FWIW, do they mention that Heward, while wearing a Capitals jersey, was involved in the play which ended Kevin Colley’s hockey career?
OT: One Cox’s tweet last night about Leonsis, this has gotten ridiculously personal between Cox and the Capitals’ owner.
Do we expect any Caps’ moves (presumably demotions) before tomorrow’s game?
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
They haven’t put anyone on waivers today (or so it appears), but Boudreau said there would probably be cuts tomorrow. So probably some movement before the game, even if its just stating an intention to assign a guy pending a waiver clear.
Tomorrow as in, before the game?
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
I expect some moves by tomorrow, but it also depends on the health of some guys and waivers for some.
Two preseason games remaining, both at home this weekend.
Caps current roster still has 31 players by my count:
G (3): Neuvirth, Sabourin, Varlamov
D (9): Alzner, Carlson, Erskine, Fahey, Green, Nycholat*, Poti, Schultz, Sloan
F (19): Backstrom, Beagle, Bradley, Chimera, Eakin, Fehr, Fleischmann, AGordon, BGordon, Hendricks, Johansson, King, Knuble, Laich, Ovechkin, Perreault, Pinizzotto, Semin, Steckel
- Nycholat is on an AHL contract
Eakin can’t play at Hershey, so he’s headed back to Swift Current, right?
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
And he can’t come back until his junior season is over.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
and there you go…no surprises in that group, thanks for the update, so the Caps current camp roster still has 29 players by my count:
G (3): Neuvirth, Sabourin, Varlamov
D (8): Alzner, Carlson, Erskine, Fahey, Green, Poti, Schultz, Sloan
F (18): Backstrom, Beagle, Bradley, Chimera, Fehr, Fleischmann, AGordon, BGordon, Hendricks, Johansson, King, Knuble, Laich, Ovechkin, Perreault, Pinizzotto, Semin, Steckel
Sabourin is a no brainer for Hershey as is Fahey. That sets the Goalies and the D, assuming they carry 7 D, which I suspect they will.
That means four forwards to go, assuming they keep 14. Beagle and Pinnizzotto seem obvious (at least to me).
Which gets us back to the bubble:
A Gordon
Hendricks
Johansson
Perrault
I’ll guess that Hendricks and Perrault go down, if only because they don’t need to clear waivers. That’s a simplistic look, because I think Hendricks has played very well.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
Why wouldn’t Hendricks need to go through waivers?
by DrinkingPartner on Sep 30, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Just my assumption. I can’t cite the rules here.
Life With Spidey -- a blog about sports, travel, work, family and fun.
Representing Caps fandom in the Gateway to the West.
hendricks does need to clear waivers.
by mechanicsville on Sep 30, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
My understanding – waiver exempt to start the 2010-11 season among the players remaining on the Capitals roster: Alzner, Beagle, Carlson, Johansson, Neuvirth, Perreault, Varlamov
Also it’s my understanding Patrick McNeill won’t be waived and sent to the AHL roster, officially, until he’s medically cleared.
Well, what I read was they put in a claim. If I goofed on what that means, oops.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Interesting that that would get out, and so soon even. Are you sure it wasn’t just speculation?
Regardless nothing will be settled until noon tomorrow. If there’s a team higher on the priority list that wants him, Minny will still be looking. It would make a great deal of sense though.
Russo tweeted and there was an ‘if’ at the front of the tweet, which was easy to miss. That might explain the confusion…
Russostrib
“If #mnwild puts in claim for Marty Gerber – reported the other day they like him – it’d 500K in NHL and 200K in minors. 15K claim fee.”
Ovie CCM Commercial
A new (disturbing) Ovie CCM skate commercial:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/ovechkins-new-commercial/article1734402/?from=1734427
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
oh my god, that’s hilariously creepy, in a good way.
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.
From Burnside’s preview, any idea who might have said this?
This doesn’t fall solely at Ovechkin’s feet, but as one former player said upon exiting the team, there are a lot of players who have a lot of growing up to do in that room.
Not saying it isn’t true, just interesting.
"It's always good to have vikings."
my guess as well
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 makes four of us. Bitter, much?
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
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I don’t know if it’s bitterness, really; it’s hard to deny that it’s true. This is a very young, very energetic, very fun-loving group – which is great for us fans but doesn’t always mesh with winning. How many of us haven’t said the same about Mike Green, or even Ovie?
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
True, but we aren’t public figures making those comments where they’ll be picked up by the media and tossed out for everyone to see, to be picked up and perpetuated ad nauseum, either.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
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Also, BMo made a point of giving some harsh parting shots on his way out the door. They may or may not be true, but they were harsher perhaps than necessary. I know if I said some of those things on an exit interview, I would never be going back to that place of business for work again, because I’d have burned the bridges beyond repair.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
Right, but that kind of thing happens all the time in sports. No doubt he was excited to be here at first but his play slipped and he fell out of favor w/ the coaching staff, the team choked hard in the first round and then he was cast out into free agent purgatory. It’s not like he was planning on coming back anyway, why not tell the truth?
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
You said, “his play slipped,” as the first part of that comment. So instead of saying, “other guys need to do some growing up” (true) and “the coach wouldn’t adjust” (maybe true) and whatever else he said, he could well have said, “hey, I wasn’t what the team thought I’d be, and that’s on me.”
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
Well, again…we don’t know everything he’s said ever, let alone what the actual quote was in its entirety. And I’d be willing to bet that each of these guys has felt that they weren’t good enough or something didn’t go right for them in the spring.
But B-Mo’s performance slipping wasn’t the biggest reason for the loss, and (if it’s even him, which we don’t know) maybe he felt kind of cheated by this fantastic team that played well below their abilities when it mattered.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
by Becca H on Sep 30, 2010 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
Fuck and yes.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I was just going to post something along these lines, Becca. Put another way, what’s wrong with that quote? Lotta truth there, IMO.
The ice will show everything.
I never said it wasn’t true; only that there’s a tone about it that is very pointed.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
I think you’re inferring a decent bit there. We don’t even have the direct quote, let alone the context or tone.
Perhaps.
This doesn’t fall solely at Ovechkin’s feet, but as one former player said upon exiting the team, there are a lot of players who have a lot of growing up to do in that room.
And perhaps some of it could fall on Burnside for bringing the quote up from “a former player on exiting the team,” and wording it the way he did. Morrison’s contempt on his way out the door is well documented. We don’t know it was him, so all of this is conjecture anyway.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
agreed. “Disappointment” might be a better word, for a whole host of reasons.
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.
What’s wrong with it? The veteran who maybe was brought in to be a mature role model in the room? Pot, meet kettle.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Actually, nothing. But it’s just juvenile whining, and the person being quoted was complaining about the boys in the room being immature.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Eh, I don’t read that as whining. I see it as a valid assessment of one of the biggest problems for this team right now – the talent is there, the pieces are there, the rest is mostly up to them being big boys and taking advantage of it.
I don’t know. I’ve heard so many harsh critiques of this team, from former players and analysts and all that…this doesn’t seem all that harsh, just true.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
by Becca H on Sep 30, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Personally, I think it’s just Burnside stirring the pot. Quote out of context, put in to underscore that “people in the know” think the Caps have a lot of growing up to do, and so everyone else must now buy into this unnamed source quote, when in all honesty, since Burnside didn’t name his source (and is not required to), we’ll never know who actually said that publicly – which goes back to Red Birdie and the dirty laundry business – and what else was said.
Taken out of context as it is, it appears whiny, pot calling the kettle black, and not something you say out in public. Comments on someone’s maturity should be kept private where they will be more effective. Or could be.
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Okay, I’ll agree that it is very likely to be true. But this argument can’t be won by having it one side of the debate say, “well we weren’t there and we don’t know if we even have the right player, or if it’s a direct quote or interpreted information. So you can’t say he was being immature.” and then have that same side of the argument say, “it’s true that the young boys in the locker room have a lot of growing up to do, because they didn’t play well in games 5-7.”
Basically, it’s unfair to say gfcaps fan has to have more proof than inference, when that’s exactly what everybody else is doing. Unless of course, we were all in that locker room during the series, and not just the 2 minutes of clips put up on Caps365.
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
at the same time, and as much as I love a little gossip, there’s some dirty laundry that maybe doesn’t need to be shared. Plus, I’m one of those people who thinks if you’re going to make a statement like that, man up and be willing to have your name attached to 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
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It’s funny, because B-Mo doesn’t strike me as the type to take parting shots.
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
He didn’t me, either, but they are out there on the record.
Photography: I Rock the Red
Twitter: @IRockTheRed
E-mail: irockthered {at} gmail {dot} com
Guess I’ll guess the same. I guess so.
.بله ، امضای من است به زبان فارسی
by Steck It Out on Sep 30, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Good guess. He was certainly outspoken when here, and I can’t see it from Theo, ShaMo or Juice, and Corvo, Belanger and Walker were probably not here long enough to really establish the credibility to say that.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Hey, so, yeah. Probably not BMo. Just sayin’.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
…or I should say any perceived wrongdoing since I don’t think the quote was really all that wrong and..yeah.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
You sound pretty certain. Am I missing something?
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
just JP’s amazing superpowers at work.
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'll take Kolzig
The quote’s not dated, and Olie broke some crockery on his way out the door. The gap from him to the greenest (ahem) Caps was maybe wider, too, than from BMo to last year’s kids.
There's no 'i' in "team". But there's a 'nap' in "champion".
Q Laing. Lots of young, immature guys who wouldn’t almost lose an internal organ for the team.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Sep 30, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Would have guessed Kolzig or Johnny. Goalies are a goofy bunch and they always have a ton of leeway to talk it seems. Given when they were with the team and the age of the guys they’re playing with, it makes sense.
On top of that it stinks of isolated context.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
McPhee's comments
Anyone else catch McPhee’s comments at the end of his appearance on NHL Live? I thought it was notable he said something along the lines of there may be surprise changes up front. It really got me to thinking about one or both of Flash/Laich moving, maybe Fehr moving up, and possibly someone else as 2C (she types hopefully).
He was asked whether during the HBO shooting if they would be allowed to shoot during contract negotiations with Semin should that be going on. He basically said yes. We may even get answers to questions we didn’t know we had with this event.
HBO better get some good Russian translators. And maybe Norman Chad to offer insight into McPhee’s poker face.
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Sep 30, 2010 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
So… GMGM isn’t going to offer Semin an extension until after the HBO cameras are gone is what I should take from this, right?
"Yes, but Rimmer Directive 271 states just as clearly, 'No chance you metal ba****d.'"
surprise changes up front
I think there will be some guys who thought they had a roster spot sewn up who maybe do not.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
You wishing David Steckel away ain’t gonna make it happen… or is it?
duh Duh DUH!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Compelling negotiations. One guy speaks Russian, the other guys just winks and says nothing.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Sep 30, 2010 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Agent Steinz has Bruce’s new Mercedes ad….um, wow? (and I didn’t know it was possible, but Ryan Zimmerman’s is even weirder)
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.
Cox (and to be fair, his partner in shoddy journalism, Gare Joyce) is now stalking his way through Steinberg’s comment section. I believe this is one of those situations where “Get a life!” is a warranted response.
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.
Whatever. They’re trolls, trying to get a reaction out of people either because they think it’s funny or because they want to generate more interest and sell more books. The most satisfying thing to do is ignore them.
by David Getz on Sep 30, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Something something dismissive wanking.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 30, 2010 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Fuckin' a right.
Seriously. Who gives a toss what these fucking wankers think? If you wanna read the book, go ahead. If not, who fucking cares??? Do the opinions of these guys change how we feel about Ovechkin in any way? All the whining about the book comes off as insecure. I’m sure that Ted and the fans have lost way more sleep over this than Ovie or anyone else on the Caps.
This fanbase needs an enema.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
by D'ohboy on Sep 30, 2010 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good news! Volchenkov probably didn’t break his foot blocking a shot in practice today.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
But Staal has had a setback with his foot – no timetable for return…
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Of all the Pens (and even of all the Staals), I liked Jordan’s game the best, and I wish he didn’t have this injury. I knew the team rushed him back on the ice too soon, and IF he is able to start playing by December, it would be smart for him to sit out the Winter Classic. The circulation in that foot is already impaired with the infections and the multiple surgeries.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
what’s this, setback #726?
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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