Tuesday Caps Clips: Ducks @ Caps Game Day
by J.P. on Nov 1, 2011 6:39 AM EDT
in Caps Clips
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PrintYour savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight's dance with the Ducks from Vogs, NHL.com (Compton), OC Register (Ducks), SB Nation DC, Peerless, KOL and CRtC, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Anaheim Calling for more coverage from the other side of tonight's match-up.
- Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's practice:
- In general. [Caps365 video (Kettler Report, Boudreau, players)]
- Barring a miracle, Mike Green won't be in the lineup tonight (and, frankly, we'd all prefer the team save its miracles for the spring). [CI (El-Bashir), CW (Whyno)]
- Tomas Vokoun needs to "redeem" himself after one bad period in his last 19? Really? [CSNW (Gormley), with more on the goalies at CW (Whyno)]
- Despite being tied for the team lead in even-strength points, Mike Knuble has been dropped down to the fourth line, which fits with Bruce Boudreau's unofficial mantra: When the going gets tough, the tough get line-jugglin'. [Dump 'N Chase, CW (Whyno), CI (El-Bashir), CSNW (Sorenson video, Gormley)]
- Karl Alzner looks back on the Vancouver debacle and ahead to tonight. [Capitals Voice]
- Dwayne King joins Jazzy Jeff and Lance Rock as D.J.s who apparently won't be playing for the Caps any time soon as the part-time enforcer was put on waivers yesterday (at his own request). [CI (El-Bashir), WashTimes (Whyno), SB Nation DC (Vingan)]
- Remember when the penalty kill was awesome (like, prior to the last two games)? [WashTimes (Whyno), WaPo (El-Bashir), CI (Carrera)]
- These Caps know it's not about the start, but the finish. [NYT (Wendel)]
- A nice Caps-related Halloween wrap-up. [RMNB]
- Braden Holtby is pretty in pink. [Stack the Pads]
- Four Caps, a dozen different numbers. Neat. [Retired Capitals Numbers]
- Finally, happy 54th birthday to Brent Tremblay and happy 65th to Bill Lesuk.
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“The lines they are a changing” — song to dedicate to Boudreau.
While I would not have expected Knuble to be sent down to the 4th line, something good did happen after he was sent there on Saturday. Spark for the 4th line?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Spark for the 4th line?
If it is it will prob be short lived.
When Knuble played w/o skill players (Ovi, NB19, Semin and Laich) last year he put ~45% of 5v5 chances in WSH’s favor and converted on ~8% of them.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Right. Mike Knuble is a passenger, not a driver, and for him to be productive he needs to play with skill guys (drivers), not plumbers.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I was being slightly sarcastic there. But, with Perreault there, who actually generates chances, our 4th line is a bit of a different. (Of course, if Perreault weren’t on the 4th line, Knuble there would be a total “fail” in my humble opinion.)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
MP85 certainly brings more offensive creativity than Halpern or Hendricks, but I still don’t see it as a long-term successful combination.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I don’t expect it to be long term either — more like a one day shot. I expect Knuble to be back on either the 1st or 2nd line soonly.
Also was trying to see something positive to the move. I can’t see Knuble as a curfew violator or being late for a meeting or doing the typical offenses that merit demotion. And he had not even taken a costly penalty in the last 2 days.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Come gather round players, whatever your role
And admit that the team’s play has gone down a hole
And accept it that soon you’ll be standing in goal
If your job to you is worth savin’
So you better start skatin’ or you’ll hear me cajole
For the lines, they are a-changin’
Come centers and wingers with moves that are slick
Better stay on your toes, ‘cuz your linemates won’t stick
Don’t jump out there too soon, ‘cuz I still haven’t picked
And there’s no tellin’ who that I’m namin’
Oh, the doghoused now will soon hear their skates click
For the lines, they are a changin’
Now writers and pundits, please stay your hand
And don’t criticize what you can’t understand
If a writer grokked hockey in this strange land
He sure wouldn’t be writin’
Same lines all the time, well it gets really bland
For the lines, they are a changin’
Come Senators, Maple Leafs, don’t make me change
Every goal that you score will make me rearrange
Hendricks with Ovechkin to you may look strange
And the players themselves are ‘ragin
I’ll shake up my players ‘till they are deranged
For the lines, they are a changin’
The lineup is written, to the refs it’s been passed
And when this one don’t work, then a curse will be cast
And my first line wing will later be last
The order is rapidly fadin’
My big-minute players will sho‘nuff be gassed
For the lines, they are a ‘changin’
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 1, 2011 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions 28 recs
Wow, nice work, its even better if you imagine it in the crazy Dylan voice.
Aim for the head baby Jesus
How else would you read it? : )
Well done, Gouldie.
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
Crazy Boudreau voice?
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 1, 2011 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Sadly, this makes me hum, not Dylan, but Styx: “Too much time on my hands (ti-ti-tickin’ awaaaay), too much time on my hands…”
We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?
by bilspacecadet on Nov 1, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought that wasn’t too bad for 6:00 to 6:27 AM, Pacific time
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 1, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
awsome. now rewrite it to include Eakin.
I’m just in it for the Schadenfreude. -D'ohboy
by Alz in the family on Nov 1, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
That was so brilliant, I actualy had to sing it. Excellent work!
by Aliceanna on Nov 1, 2011 11:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
New Shutdown Line tonight?
Rooting for the Caps from the OBX.
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Nov 1, 2011 7:19 AM EDT reply actions
Hope so, Laich-Ward-Chimera has been disappointing. I just submitted WaPo post on same.
/shamlessplug
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Yeah, they came out guns a-blazin’, but fizzled a bit (and not just offensively, as I’m sure your WaPo piece will show). Laich’s been on the ice for an awful lot of goals…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Laich’s been on the ice for an awful lot of goals…
Yup. At 5v5 last year, Laich on ice for 1 of the 14 GA thru nine. This year: 5 of 14.
Removing score effects, 5v5 tied thru first nine games:
2010-11 0 of 6
2011-12 3 of 9
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Throw in PPGAs and he’s been on for 11 of the 23 they’ve allowed.
At least he scored that… one. And won shorthanded faceoffs at… 28%.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
No bueno.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Which player is which…
A. 9 games, 1-3-4
B. 9 games, 1-3-4
Player A is Karl Alzner, Player B is Brooks Laich…or vice-versa
If you've read this far...seek help.
And Alzner’s been on for 10 goals, second-most on the team.
In fairness to them both, it should be noted that they’re playing big PK minutes.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Bad news, folks – Google rolled out a new version of Reader and it no longer allows for “sharing” the way it did previously. What does this mean to us? That the “What We’re Reading” sidebar is effectively dead (unless there’s some sort of workaround), since it’s populated by me sharing things from my Reader account.
Boo. Fuckin’ boo.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Google Moves Reader Sharing to Plus, Despite Complaints
Google Reader users who want to continue sharing RSS feed content with others thus need to set up a membership in Google+, the company’s new social networking site.
If they have been sharing on Reader using a pseudonym, they’ll now have to switch to using their real name, which is required for a Google+ account. Google has said that it will allow pseudonyms on Google+ at some point, but hasn’t said when nor how.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Yeah, but it’s different in that everyone needs to be following me and even then it only shares to my G+ page (which has gone dormant, more or less) and not a widget on the site.
The switch isn’t a huge deal for person-to-person sharing, but for website-to-world sharing, it’s a death knell.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
(For the moment, I can still share through my phone’s version of Reader, so it’s not totally dead yet, but it’s only a matter of time… as well as a pain in the ass.)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Just put in a message to support@google.com. I’m sure they’re 100% as nice and responsive as support@sbnation.com. They’ll probably just reverse their decision or have a workaround within hours, right?
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 1, 2011 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that’s pretty likely.
Sucks… I’d been a big Google fanboy prior to this.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Oh no!
I love that sidebar! And I am too lazy to dig up articles during the day on my own…
I will be less educated about non-caps related hockey, that is for sure.
by KSR17 on Nov 1, 2011 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
There’s gotta be a workaround, and/or Google will see its mistake.
#OccupyGoogle
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 1, 2011 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
1% of search engines get 43% of the traffic.
Tortorella: Can I get another question? I went in here in a pretty good mood today, too.
Larry Brooks: So did I.
Tortorella: Well, you obviously f***ed that up, didn't you?
by Wheeler on Nov 1, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
And we here at www.findthatthingyouwerelookingforthatyoudon’tknowwhatitis.com stand with the 99%!!
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 1, 2011 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Who is that, Smithers?
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 1, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
blows. Every day, there’s at least 5 things I find in “What We’re Reading” that I wouldn’t otherwise see.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$306.70
: )
@BenRaby31
#Caps Mike Green is skating lightly on his own, with no equipment about 30 mins prior to his teammates taking the ice at KCI.
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
Fantastic, in a couple of games he should be healthy enough to blow out his shoulder five games later.
Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...
by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Nov 1, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
So, I just watched this ESPN Halloween segment where Barry Melrose gave his top 10 scariest goalie masks ever. It’s entertaining enough, but his good-natured dig at the end made me chuckle.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Some suggest that Staal’s problems are psychological and go back to last season when he hit his brother Marc and gave him a concussion. Marc Staal has not played since.
Shouldn’t there be some sort of attribution to “some suggest?” Is it just the author’s way of floating this proposition without having to take credit for it? And obviously the last sentence is not accurate.
Please, call me F&B.
It’s the Fox News style of creating the news first and then reporting peoples reactions to the news that you created.
Aim for the head baby Jesus
I think it’s just the news style across the board. Remember when NBC was altering gas tanks on pickup trucks to make them explode…
I’m just in it for the Schadenfreude. -D'ohboy
by Alz in the family on Nov 1, 2011 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions
nonononono you don’t understand, he really does have a source. Another writer told him that.
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 1, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
It is interesting the conclusion you jumped to here when you could have simply asked me a question and got things right. The Marc Staal theory concerning Eric’s poor play is something a couple people have suggested to me in real life conversations. As for a link, how is this one from the News and Observer a North Carolina newspaper?
by PuckStopsHere on Nov 1, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Caps recall Eakin, per everyone.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Gimme a sec and we’ll fanshot it for discussion…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Whatever you do, don’t click the DJ King to Waivers link and start reading any of the comments from CI. You have been warned.
Tu ne cede malis
Well, some of them are so absurd they’re worth the laugh. But then you realize they’re being serious and your eyes begin to tear…
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Nov 1, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that’s how CI goes sometimes. Just don’t take it too seriously and maybe get a laugh or two out of it.
Please, call me F&B.
Oh yea D.J., who doth look on from above, gaze down upon our star players. Protect them, in thy wisdom, oh D.J., from cheap stick work and dirty hits.
Tortorella: Can I get another question? I went in here in a pretty good mood today, too.
Larry Brooks: So did I.
Tortorella: Well, you obviously f***ed that up, didn't you?
Other teams dirty players were terrified of having nachos thrown at them, now they won’t be.
Aim for the head baby Jesus
by Doncosmic on Nov 1, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
A sampling of some of the wackiness:
“What good has Halpern done other than falling on his wallet and taking abuse from players smaller than himself? Hockey has evolved and King has evolved with the game.”
“So who should King replace in the line-up?” Responses: “Semin obviously.” and “Who takes the worst penalty’s in the NHL?”
“Honestly I feel bad for DJK because he was never given a shot here. Waive him and let him play somewhere… that I can respect.”
Some bonus Schultz hate:
“Why is Jeff Schultz playing on any team in the NHL? Is that a stupid question?”
“Orlov should replace Schultz”
And my favorite:
“Yes, I know we got Brouwer and Ward (who seems to have zero skill)”
Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...
by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Nov 1, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
That so-called knock on Ward kills me. Are there Caps fans that really feel that way? Oof.
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Nov 1, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
theres a great new piece up by Neil talking about just how bad Ward – Laich – Chimera has been, so some people don’t think his play has been great.
Just a week ago it had been pretty good. For a line like that, low Corsi Rel’s aren’t necessarily a bad thing because it might mean that they’re doing their job and freeing up the scoring lines to get soft minutes they can dominate (which pushes down the Laich line’s Corsi Rel). Does that make sense?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
2 losses later, one in which we give up 7 goals, and lately their play looks less shiny. More games please.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 1, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
It also depends on which QComp score you look at. If you believe they actually have been fed easy minutes, then less than 50% scoring chances is unacceptable. If you look at the Corsi-based QComp score and see that they are all in the top 5 of toughest assignments on the team, then it’s more justifiable to have a lower scoring chance ratio. Not everyone can dominate, and if they are playing top lines to a near-standstill then they are opening up opportunities for the other lines to dominate, which I’m fine with.
Please, call me F&B.
Kerstein
#Caps have 6 dmen on the ice this morning, 27, 74, 44, 6, 55, 4
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"I worry that we're reaching that point where college-age kids don't know what goatse is anymore."
Erskine is going to fillet some ducks tonight.
"A picture is worth a thousand words. For moving pictures we manage to shorten it to one or two."
Collins reassigned (as implied).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
any guesses on how tonight’s game goes? Last season, the Caps played the Ducks twice, and the games were two wildly different styles. Game 1 saw a Caps team in the middle of the losing streak try and trap their way to victory (they fell in OT; there was also a rare Tom Poti sighting!). Game 2 was that wild affair of back-and-forth shinny hockey that saw 15total goals and 11 different goal scores—Semin had a hatty.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$306.70
I would like to see a repeat performance from Semin.
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Nov 1, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
So would my fantasy team. He’s been dead weight up till now.
by Murshawursha on Nov 1, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t you mean…dead wood?
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 1, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Which is why I said it, he’s on my fantasy team as well. Thanks for the PIMs though…
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Nov 1, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
you’re right. My math is about as good as DJ King’s goal scoring skills.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$306.70
No worries…with my memory & the good (but $$ beer at the Duck Pond), had to question myself if I missed a couple
must have been a hell of a game to watch in person! heart-attack inducing, but all sorts of awesomeness at the end.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$306.70
It was…was surprised with all the Caps support & fans out there. Was with Dad and So.Cal Uncle & Aunt (Ducks fans). When Semin scored the hatty…almost swiped my Uncles hat to throw…good time. (sorry..a bit OT)
Kesler Fans
Will probably find this really interesting
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.
Eyebleach! Nowwwwwwww!
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 1, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
On the bottom there is a link to a video of some of the Canucks reacting to Kesler’s pictures. Bieksa’s a pretty funny guy.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 1, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
"Sometimes you don’t have the luxury of being with a consistent group and your team’s always in a state of change. You’ve got to deal with it."
Doesn’t sound like we’re the only ones fed up with BB’s line juggling…
Where’s that come from?
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 1, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Interesting, since it was Knuble that got BB to stop with the juggling back in Jan ’10 – right before the team went on a 14 game winning streak.
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
by bagace on Nov 1, 2011 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I hope there is something else going on, and it isn’t that after only 2 losses (following 7 straight wins, might I add) BB is going to start flipping people around.
I think what we had was clearly working, we need Greener back.
Just when I was finally starting to think Bruce might be turning over a new leaf, this shit happens and makes me question his coaching again.
by Murshawursha on Nov 1, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Will A. Gordo get some cheers tonight? I hope so. You can’t blame a guy for wanting to play full time in the NHL and looking for an organization that would fulfill that.
He’ll get some, but most folks probably don’t remember him at all. They’ll wonder when Boyd got traded to Anaheim….
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 1, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
4-5 more weeks, per Coach Gallant
@Galixon_97
Stanislav Galiev Halloween is over, so had to change color of my cast lol. Now it’s blue.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
___
Hopefully he doesn’t let himself go like HJO:
/OT
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Oh well, at least we tried. It’s unfortunate that there’s now a level of disdain between a player and the coaches/team. I doubt he’ll get sent to Hershey, and so it’s ride the pine except vs. Ottawa.
Maybe an enforcer will go down somewhere and he’ll be moved for future considerations.
by TFG on Nov 1, 2011 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
He was waived at his request. Shouldn’t be any more disdain now than there was before. Theoretically, less, because the organization did what he asked and demonstrated that no one is interested in him. I doubt he sits around thinking “Damn the Capitals for giving me this contract and not playing me when there are so many people interested in not playing me AND not paying for that privilege!”
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Nov 1, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Beags on LTI to make room for Eakin. When he dropped mittins with Asham, much of the commentary was about how a fringe NHLer like Beags has to respond to the challenge (or make the challenge depending upon who you believe) or he’ll be replaced.
So by responding and getting a concussion having concussion-like syndrome having to go through concussion protocol a bad head cold, he’s probably further down the depth chart than he probably would have been had he just skated to the bench.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
IR, correction.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Nov 1, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I hate saying it, but it almost felt like Beagle being out of the picture allowed for BB to make better decisions about who he dressed.
I’m not a Beagle fan, but I don’t think I’m a hater either – I’ve just never really seen how he fits on the team.
by TFG on Nov 1, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Knuble and "the room"
Knuble’s demotion is a classic case of how a coach can “lose the room.” It’s clear to anyone paying attention that Bruce has generally treated Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom and Green with kid gloves over the years.
It’s also clear to everyone that one player – Alex Semin – has been singled out by his peers as not really deserving this treatment. The fairness of that assessment is irrelevant; it’s how the players feel.
It’s also beyond clear that Knuble is an exceptionally popular player in the dressing room, and he’s someone that most players look up to for veteran leadership.
Semin has been “Bad Sasha” for the last few games, while Knuble has contributing positively, and yet Semin skates free while Knuble gets demoted. This isn’t the accountability the players were looking for. This is how a coach can really mess up his relationships with his players. If Knuble is willing to mildly complain about this in the press, one can only imagine how pissed he is privately, and it’s not a huge leap to assume that there are many guys alongside him in the room who are pissed as well.
Unleash the Apathy.
by D'ohboy on Nov 1, 2011 2:55 PM EDT reply actions 12 recs
… as Halpern gets healthy-scratched tonight.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Those two moves in combination seem almost like a slap in the face to the grinders. Knuble and Halpern have both been playing solid games, and one gets scratched while the other is demoted – and yet nothing is done to the stars who aren’t playing even close to the level we know they’re capable of? This is verging on idiocy from BB.
My mind is all twisted like a peanut.
Is it possible that the Caps are hiding an injury to #15? I may be grasping at straws here in a vain effort to find the logic.
by mechanicsville on Nov 1, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d think that if there was a plausible explanation that didn’t humiliate a veteran, Boudreau would have gone with it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Can’t argue with that, unfortunately. Even with all the empirical data, I’m still having a hard time accepting that BB is this obtuse.
by mechanicsville on Nov 1, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
What about his tenure so far suggests otherwise? BB’s not known for intelligent personnel decisions coughfleischmanncough
Nothing about his tenure suggests otherwise…thus, the “empirical data” comment. Just hoping for some growth, I suppose.
by mechanicsville on Nov 1, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
The moves themselves don’t bother me a ton – I think Halpern was bad the other night, they could use a little more life, so Eakin for Halpy works; Knuble, well, if they’re trying to rotate guys through, it’s fine. The problem, as you note, is the inconsistency.
Halpern’s actually seen the prequel to this movie, eight or so years ago, when Bruce Cassidy would have the team busting its ass at one end of the rink while Jaromir Jagr skated around shooting pucks into an empty net at the other end. That turned out well…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I agree, and I also don’t think that Knuble has been very good either. So I can live with him on the 4th line for a game or two to get his attention. Even old dogs need to see the whip hand every now and then.
But Semin has been worse, and for him to get off scot-free…well, I agree with D’oh. If Knuble is going to the 4th line, then Semin ought to be getting a game to think about it.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I can’t speak to the feelings inside/outside the room, but I doubt that moving Sasha to the fourth line would improve his game. I know Knuble is an offensive passenger on 1/2R, but he seems like he will respond to the shake-up, similar to Perrault or Johannson getting scratched in the opener. Scratching Semin might be necessary, but he’s so mercurial that he might get on a plane to Russia that night or he might just sleep through the game. I have no clue.
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Nov 1, 2011 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
At this point, isn’t it as important to tell the other 22 guys that everyone’s treated equally as it is to kickstart Pouty McSulksalot?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 1, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
he’s so mercurial that he might get on a plane to Russia that night or he might just sleep through the game.
Doesn’t this really tell you all you need to know about him?
Unleash the Apathy.
by D'ohboy on Nov 1, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I have always been of the mindset that he could get traded to another SE team and absolutely destroy us in the playoffs, or he could get $6.7MM from GMGM and absolutely destroy us in the playoffs, too.
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Nov 1, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
So we’re essentially paying him $6.7 mil to prevent the off chance that we’d play his new team in the playoffs and he’d be on fire and “absolutely destroy us”. Sweet.
"Neuvy was eating pucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
by SeattleCapsFan on Nov 1, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Do we have any idea whether Sasha is indifferent to benching? Bruce doesn’t do it and I can’t remember if Hanlon did or not.
You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is "Never Try."
I find it almost comforting in a way. The 7 game win streak had me dangerously close to thinking that things would be different this year with BB at the helm, making the inevitable failure all the more disappointing.
This nonsense dispels that fantasy.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 1, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
But did Knuble talk to Semin?
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"I worry that we're reaching that point where college-age kids don't know what goatse is anymore."
by Bald Pollack on Nov 1, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Here’s a take. Semin is, and will probably remain, a streaky player who runs hot and cold. Right now he’s cold, tonight (tomorrow the next day) he could get hot for a while. The bitch is you just never know when that’s gonna happen. Since he’s the type of player who can dominate a game, he stays in the lineup to try and work things out. Taking him out of the game doesn’t help the team win and potentially extends the cold streak based upon his reaction to the benching.
Knub’s game is simpler. Go hard, go to the net, make shit happen. Not streaky, not hot or cold. When he’s not going good he gets 4th line duty to try and work things out. Get back to the grind game that makes him so effective.
One thing I never like to hear is that every player needs to be treated equally. No they don’t. Players are motivated by different things and thus need to be treated according to what motivates them. Coaches only have two levers to pull to motivate/influence players, where and how much they play.
Who knows whether Sasha is skating free? Maybe BB yells at him in meetings because that’s what works with him? Maybe sitting him would make things worse? Perhaps nothing motivates that guy and therefore you might as well keep him in the lineup?
There was lots of hand wringing here after the Caps got off to a “bad” start. Now they’ve lost a few in uninspiring fasion and so you would expect change to happen. Perhaps BB is singling out Knubs and Halpy cause he knows they are vets and will take it the right way.
Either way, I don’t view this as “losing the room”. I would say losing two games in the fasion they did, and doing nothing about it, would be worse for the team long term.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
So maybe you don’t scratch Semin but shouldn’t his TOI drop in-game when it’s clear he’s cold?
Please, call me F&B.
Perhaps. Take away some PP time. So hard to determine when he’s cold and staying cold or about to get hot. I think sitting a guy intragame can be more effective than putting him in the press box. Let him hear the coach calling out other lines for a while.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
2 pence
As a hockey newb, I’m still finding it hard to understand the idea of a “demotion.” I would thnk that regardless of the line number, each has a role, each line has a function (mostly to score I think), and the cast of characters may be shifted upon the opposing team, injuries, or BB’s whim (especially since it’s a new season).
Seems a lot of time is being given to something as simple as the coach just wants to see how others play in different situations. Doesn’t always need to a lesson for a player.
Oh, and Halpern may be hurt.
But then I don’t know much, as I said at the start.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
Knuble didn’t even mildly complain about this in the press, though. I don’t see where you could interpret any of his quotes as even close to complaining.
Read In Between the Li-ons, Read Iiiin Be-tweeen the Li-oooons
"I don’t know if it’s part of a process or the way it is today."
Implication: line juggling occurs with no rhyme or reason, the further implication of which is that he does not feel he deserves the demotion.
"Sometimes you don’t have the luxury of being with a consistent group and your team’s always in a state of change. You’ve got to deal with it."
Implication: A constant state of change is not a good thing.
I’d call that mild complaining.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I, too, find this flopping around a bit disconcerting as if BB is losing some control. On the other hand, I don’t mind moving Knuble down occasionally, As someone said, he is a ‘passenger’ and, besides, at his age and declining productivity he should be able to expect – and accept – it. Likewise, it is also ok to flop Halpy around….although, of course, we all like both guys. The point with these guys, though, is that other than the ‘spirit’ of the team, these moves probably won’t mean much in terms of the win/loss columns. Let’s face it, they are on the margin there. Semin, on the other hand, although mercurial and maddeningly inconsistent, DOES affect won/losses. Sitting him could cost us big points, despite the fact that one has to grin and bear it while he floats along. In short, either trade him for another big time producer….or play him.
I’d gladly give up the regular season points that sitting Semin would cost the Caps (I’m skeptical that it is very many, especially since we aren’t talking a season long benching) if it created a sense of accountability and discipline that helped the team in the playoffs. I’d make that trade every fucking day of the week.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 1, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I agree here. If my earlier comment led people to believe I was advocating against benching Semin, it’s because I was unclear. I just don’t know what results that would buy from him — I think the message to the team would greatly outweigh any loss of productivity from Sasha.
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Nov 1, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
The assumption here, of course, is that Semin would react ‘positively’ and come back stronger. Maybe so, but then again, maybe not. He does seem to be in his own realm and plays like he plays regardless of what is going on around him. BB could not motivate him the past couple years, Ovi seemingly has had little influence, and even Arnott last year (if inside stories were correct) had similar non-success. These are grown men and, basically, as a business decision (which is ultimately what this is about) GMGM has ‘invested’ in Semin and therefore has to play him accordingly. I guess, then, the “bottom line” is that that at the end of the season his contributions will be ‘significant’ (one way or another). Knuble’s and Halpy’s…. not so much.
I think the takeaway everyone is looking for is the effect it would have on the rest of the team, not just Semin. If Semin gets benched or demoted for slacking, it sends the message that the rules apply to everybody. If he plays like crap but never facesa any consequences from BB while other guys are getting benched or demoted, it creates an atmosphere of resentment among the other players who may fee slighted that bruce isn’t dealing with them fairly. Then, in an extreme case, they start to resent Semin for getting special treatment, they start to resent Bruce for giving it to him, and then boom, locker room cancer.
Well that certainly is a good point. If that were the case and that is all it would take, then I got to believe that Ovi could – and should havehave – mediated this issue somehow before it got to this point. But, what do I know? Interesting discussion. Believe me, I am all for ‘sending messages’ to motivate the team.
The issue I have with that is Ovechkin also seems to get a degree of special treatment from Bruce, in which case I feel like the rest of the team would take anything mediated by him with a grain of salt.
Granted, in a perfect world these guys are professionals and don’t let this shit get to them, but everybody’s human. In the end I think the onus is on the coach to keep everybody on the same page.
life
they aren’t all equal. Ovi’s paycheck says so. His C says so. His stats say so.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
I tend to agree, and given that nobody’s ever questioned Ovie’s “give-a-damn” level, it’s significantly less of an issue with him than it is with somebody like Semin.
That said, if there’s that level of discontent in the locker room, I’m not sure “That’s life” is going to be a satisfying answer… Probably just gonna piss people off more.
Is there some brewing discontent? After a couple of games and the team’s falling apart and in an uproar? Now, that would be a fragile,soft team. Tortorella should point to the Caps next time his team gets called marshmallow.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
It’s not just losing these past couple of games… Some of these recurring issues go back years.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that the room is that pissed off right now, it was more an extreme example. But if special treatment of certain players at the expense of others, and the whole accountability thing the players asked for after last season (and that hasn’t really ever existed in Bruce’s time behind the bench) either A) doesn’t exist, or B) is applied unfairly, then do I think that we could eventually end up at that point? Yes, absolutely.
1. Because he’s had a great regular season record thus far.
2. Because that’s apparently not how Ted and GMGM roll.
It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to parse from public comments (Bradley, Steckel, ShaMo), anonymous comments (Clark? BMo?) and postseason innuendo (Laich and Knuble’s exit interviews) that Semin, and his treatment by the coaching staff, is a bit of a sore point in the locker room.
Unleash the Apathy.
Yeah, for the first 7 games when we had stable lines and accountability was “in”… Then we lose two games and all that goes out the window?
I dunno. I was firmly in the camp that wanted him fired after last year’s playoffs. Probably too early this season to call for his head, but given that he seems to be shifting back into all of the bad habits and problems that have plagued his tenure, I’m starting to wonder again.
Of course this is one story on one day, so I’m probably overreacting.
When Bradley’s saying something as blunt as “he just doesn’t care”, and the rest of the team just kind of goes, “uh huh”, then there’s something going on.
I’m also with you: when Knuble is irked enough to voice any sort of displeasure to the media, he’s bloody well peeved.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
This whole thread seems strange to me. How the hell did Semin get to be the source of all wrongs just because BB is playing different lines? I think he’s just many folks’ favorite whipping boy.
I know when I think of whippin’, I think of semin soon after.
ba da
BING!
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
Among the commetariat here, lack of accountability among the star players is an often-cited and much-rued culprit for the team’s underwhelming playoff performances. We have felt vindicated in these concerns when a couple of veterans – Laich and Knuble if memory serves (?) – indicated in their exit interview that accountability was an issue.
The FO and coaching staff even went as far as to vow that accountability was among the issues of focus for the team.
To start the year, BB benched MoJo, which seemed like a start, but we waited to see if he could keep the stars accountable. With this latest development, where Semin has played poorly but only Knuble is having his ice-time and role reduced, it seems like he cannot or at least is not doing that.
Which leads many of us – if I can attribute my own thoughts to others here – to conclude that it’s the same old shit; the stars will do as they please on the ice, and when the going gets tough in the playoffs, they’ll pull the old el-foldo.
Happened against Montreal – the team did not or would not adjust to what MTL was doing defensively. Happened against TBL – the team got flatly outworked and could not ratchet up their compete level.
Sorry for the epistle, and sorry if I incorrectly attribute my own feelings to others here.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Thanks for the input. Food for thought. I am just hoping Bruce is just trying to find the pieces that fit more than just slapping people on the wrist.
I just want a great team, a great time and a Stanley Cup on the White House my lawn.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
How do you say this? What proof? The guys seemed to be all onboard just a game or two ago, but because BB juggled lines they are jumping ship? That’s hard to believe.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
It’s the fallback to old habits after the slightest bit of adversity that has people (or maybe just me?) worried.
Two issues got conflated. The first was Bruce’s juggling of Knuble & Halpy and, then, why Semin wasn’t/isn’t being juggled too (preferential treatment being the allegation). You’re correct that two crappy games doesn’t mean the ship is sinking but what it did point out is Bruce’s coaching style and the (apparent) possible dissension in the clubhouse (again) since Knuble was grousing about it….It is my opinion that 2 and/or 8 games is too small a sample size for too many final personnel or coaching decisions. Regardless, it is probably not a good thing, though, if Knoobs is complaining.
This whole thread is bordering on the ridiculous. No one is mentioning that they want to get a look at Eakin, so he needs a spot to shine. Do you really think any NHL coach is going to put Semin on the 4th line instead of Knuble in this case? All players aren’t equal, as someone above said. Knuble is not equal to Semin in terms of talent, salary, or what he’s expected to produce in terms of points. You play your best players until and/or unless there is some egregious reason not to. We’re 9 games in and Semin has played pretty well up until the last couple, but he’s not scoring much — yet. You all assume that Knuble’s comments have to do with Semin. You all assume that he didn’t play well because he doesn’t care (this crap again?). Semin doesn’t get scoring by playing less. If he’s scoring that’s good for the team. Don’t you think that maybe after 4 or so years that BB and GMGM pretty well know how it works with Semin and that he just needs to keep playing until it works? As I’ve said before, I don’t even think Semin knows the why or how it works for him sometimes, and sometimes not. All of this talk of demoting or benching Semin and I’ve been thinking what really needs to happen is he needs to play more, such as on the PK, which could use some help. Who was it who said the more involved he is in all aspects of the game, the better he plays?
There might come a time when he’s demoted or benched, who knows? But I would call that a drastic measure and I don’t think we’re there.
Are you not entertained?
Semin doesn’t get scoring by playing less.
How does anyone know that? Outside of being benched for a couple shifts Semin’s never really been held accountable for his poor stretches.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 1, 2011 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions
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