Saturday Caps Clips: Bolts, Beaten
by EmilyB on Feb 5, 2011 8:14 AM EST
in Caps Clips
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PrintYour savory Saturday brunch links:
- Japers' Rink Radio hits the interwaves today at 10 Eastern. Pepper and Russell make it two Damiens in two weeks as they welcome returning guest Damian Cristodero, the Bolts' beat reporter for the St. Pete Times. You can read his Caps-'Ning preview here and his game recap here. Then they welcome back the irrepressible Joe Beninati. [JRR]
- Caps Red Line returns to CSN Washington this morning at 9 Eastern. The perfect intro for Japers' Rink Radio, naturally. [Capitals News]
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's win from us, Vogs, NHL.com, WaPo (Carrera: blog, gamer), DCEx (McNally), CSN Washington (Beninati), Caps365 video (Boudreau, players), Frankovic, RMNB, OFB, Puck Daddy, PHT, KOL, Capitals News Network, Capitals Outsider, Puckhead, WC2010, Hockey Ramblings, Caps 'Round the Clock, and Creative Loafing has the Bolts perspective.
- Hockeyfights.com brings word of rising tensions, and the evening's fight card. [Hendricks v. Downie, Bradley v. Hall]
- In case you missed the Matt Hendricks/Dwayne Roloson dustup, here 'tis. [Half Smokes (video)]
- The Rinkmeister gets results. [SB Nation]
- C'mon, turn 'em loose, Bruce. They just wanna run free, McPhee. [Puck'n'Hockey]
- Matt Hendricks has taken the long way 'round to the Capitals' fourth line. [NHL.com]
- Matt Bradley, unsung hero. [Box Seats (Weissman)]
- Andrew Gordon was mic'd up for the skills competition at the AHL All-Star weekend. He's no Sidney Crosby, that's for sure. [SHoE]
- The phrase one really doesn't want to have to fret over at this point in the season: "Goaltending depth." But the idea of a Hershey net 'tended by Braden Holtby and Ray Emery is intriguing, no? [Rink Rebel]
- And now that you mention it, the trade deadline approaches. [NHL.com (Masisak), DCEX (McNally)]
- Bold, I say bold predictions for the Eastern Conference. [SB Nation]
- Whither Dmitri Orlov?
- As Metallurg Novokuznetsk's miserable season draws to a close, here's a report that says he's hopping the pond and headed for Hershey. [SportsHaze]
- But here's his name on Team Russia's reserve squad under his WJC coach Valery Bragin, slated to train in Moscow and then travel to Denmark for a tournament. [Russian Hockey Federation]
- We know where Evgeny Kuznetsov will be found today - in St. Petersburg at the KHL All-Star Game on the third line of Team Jagr with Sergei Fedorov. He's also taking part in the "Master Show" skills competition... [KHL, KHL in English]
- ...after which he can return to Chelyabinsk and his brand new apartment. [AllHockey.ru]
- Finally, happy 30th birthday, Kris Beech.
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Matt Bradley at 3-3 in 6 bouts this season? Pretty solid year for him so far, compared to recent seasons.
You had me at no problem.
what is the world coming to if Matt Bradley wins 50% of his fights?
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Live streaming feed?
Feels much better waking up after a solid hard fought win and damn do I love that Hendricks signing more every day.
Does anyone know of a way to listen to Caps game live on an iPhone?
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Feb 5, 2011 8:45 AM EST via mobile reply actions
tune in radio
On Blackberry they had an app called “radio companion” – looked for something like that for a while on iphone to no avail. Have a droid X now and found an app called “tune in radio” that gets just about every radio station imaginable.
http://tunein.com/ says iphone is supported.
I can resist anything, except temptation.
Great find- thanks. Is there a solution if I’m not in the DC area, though? (will be on a bus from NY during Caps/Pens game)
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Feb 5, 2011 9:11 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
You can get wfed 1500 anywhere there is 3g coverage – or internet or whatever.
I can resist anything, except temptation.
It is a beautiful thing!
i live in LA and finish my work day off with the sweet sound of…. an OT loss.
Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Caps get league permission to give Brian Pothier more than two weeks of conditioning in Hershey when he was coming off his concussion?
Would that be an option for Ray Emery? He’s coming off a pretty significant injury. If two weeks ain’t gonna do it, isn’t there a way for the league to authorize more?
Wearing the weagle is a way a’ life
Funny you ask
I was reading about this topic in the CBA re the (gag) Flyers and Leighton, citing these couple clauses:
“Conditioning Assignment. Unless a player consents, he
shall not be sent to a minor league club for conditioning
reasons. Nor shall such conditioning extend for more than 14
consecutive days without the player’s consent. The player shall
continue, during such period or mutually agreed to extension of
such period, to receive the same salary, and be entitled to the
same benefits, that he would have received had he continued to
play with the Club.”
and
“The Club must decide and notify player not later than
the 28th day following the move as to whether or not the player
will remain with the Club to which he has been moved. Until such
notification, the player may not incur liability in connection
with rental or purchase of quarters, except at his own risk.”
Interesting.
For the record, the answer to G.O.D.’s question about Pothier is his conditioning stint in Hershey was actually only a week.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalsinsider/morning-reading-list-pothier-r.html
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
I don’t have the CBA handy at the moment, but there’s a difference between LTIR conditioning (Potsy) and regular conditioning. LTIR conditioning stints are only good for a few days and and can have a one time extension.
This sig is brought to you by... Frungy, The Sport of Kings!
You are correct. Here is the LTIR conditioning paragraph from the CBA.
13.9 Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception Conditioning Loan. A Player
who is on the Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception as set forth in Article 50
may, with his consent, during the term of such Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness
Exception (but in no event during the first fourteen (14) calendar days and six (6) NHL
Games), be Loaned on a Conditioning Loan (the “Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness
Exception Conditioning Loan”) for a period not to exceed up to the longer of six (6) days
and three (3) games, solely for the purpose of determining whether the Player is fit to
play. If the Club determines that it needs more time to assess the Player’s fitness to play,
the Club may file a written request by facsimile with the Commissioner’s Office, with a
copy to the NHLPA, in accordance with Exhibit 3 hereof, to extend the Loan for an
additional two (2) games. The Commissioner, upon good cause, may approve the onetime
extension. The Commissioner’s approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. A
Player on a Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception Conditioning Loan will
continue to be listed on Injured Reserve and will not count against the Club’s 23-man
roster limit. The Club’s Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception will continue
until the Conditioning Loan ends, and his Paragraph 1 NHL Salary and Bonuses will
continue to count against the Club’s Upper Limit and the Players’ Share during such time.
So in other words, there’s no good way to send Emery to the minors for an extended period of time without running into the waivers rules, eh?
Wearing the weagle is a way a’ life
by Gould Old Days on Feb 5, 2011 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
There was a bit of a controversy over an extended conditioning stint a couple of years ago. I want to say Kurtis Foster, but I’m not sure that’s right.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
He would also have to go through waivers eventually if he wanted to play in the NHL, right?
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.
Probably, but I don’t think it matters in this scenario. AFAICT, the organization would only interested in Emery as a Hershey netminder to hold the fort while D-Sabs rehabs, keeping Holtby free to go up to the big club if necessary. I don’t think that Emery figures into the Capitals’ plans at all.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I’d think he’d want to sign with an organization where he’d at least have a shot at getting called up.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.
If he felt he would have a big enough audition stage in Hershey, it could work very well for him. Hershey is a very good team, with good defense and lots of goal support, which will help his numbers. The location is excellent if his family is still in or near Philly. Plus Hershey has all those nice loyal enthusiastic fans.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
The problem for him would be if he goes to Hershey he’s most likely stuck there the whole rest of the season.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.
Well, I would like to see him playing there, and a little Ray Emery mentoring of Braden Holtby would be really good for Braden’s development as a big league goaltender. I hope Yingst, Inc. can make it work.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I’m definitely for such a move. I just don’t believe from Emery’s perspective it would be an option he’d prefer.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.
Yeah, I really can’t see an NHL goaltender going to a place where he knows he’d be fourth on the depth chart if he can go to a place where he’d be third or second.
There’s also been some chatter that Columbus is looking to trade Steve Mason; Emery could step in there right away and be a number two if Columbus did that.
a little Ray Emery mentoring…
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Wearing the weagle is a way a’ life
by Gould Old Days on Feb 5, 2011 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
Hendy and Downie
1) One of the user comments on HockeyFights refers to these guys as two of the league’s less likables. Is Hendy disliked by others around the league?
2) Would anyone really want Downie on our team like Laugher was saying on csn last night?
I can resist anything, except temptation.
1) I wouldn’t think other teams’ fans would know enough about Hendricks to dislike him. But who knows.
2) I’d take Downie. I feel like he’s more of just a total psycho than an all out a-hole like Carcillo or Avery, and for some reason that doesn’t bother me as much. Then again, 20 game suspensions would probably bother me. But I’m assuming those days are behind him.
And he puts up points. 22g/24a/46pts and plus 14 last season in 79 games. 5g/17a/22pts and plus 6 in 37 games this season. I’m assuming he missed some games this year due to injury?
Just fyi for those who don’t know…. His father was killed in a car accident when Steve was just 10 or so years old while driving his son to hockey practice. Steve Downie was not injured in the crash. That’s got to mess with your head.
He’s also deaf in one ear.
"And then they’ll look at guys in my situation, that could play three good games in a row and have one bad shift, and they’ll say, ‘Well, that’s why he’s been in the minor leagues his whole career.'" --Matt Hendricks
He’s still nuts. I’m betting dollars to hagen-das that most people know Downie a lot more than Hendricks because Downie has been a consistent force in the nhl.
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.
Downie has also been on an NHL roster for much longer than Hendricks, and Downie is a widely known scumbag. Pens fans hate him after he basically tried to break Sid’s leg last year. Despite being a scumbag, not unlike Sean Avery, Downie is actually a pretty good hockey player. He’d be an NHL whether a pest or not.
The Hendricks vs. Rolaids dust up last night struck me as BB saying in a film session on Thursday “we need to get in his face, rattle him, and get him off his game.” The result being his loyal soldier going in, getting in his face, getting him rattled, and getting Roly off his game.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
Bet he wasn’t expecting Roli to respond with punches to Hendy’s noggin tho.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
He should have. Roloson is the whiniest goalie in the league and freaks out whenever anyone goes near his crease, regardless of whether or not they were pushed in by the D.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 5, 2011 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
Well, to be fair, Hendricks pretty much ran over Roloson. If that were Kolzig, you would have seen the same reaction (except Kolzig woulda chased Hendricks to the penalty box).
He didn’t really run him over like full on straight into Rolo. He turned and was sliding to a spot while Rolo starting moving to take up the same ice. Definitely interference, but not a full on “running” in my book.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 5, 2011 6:19 PM EST up reply actions
Little bit of unassisted right elbow to the side of the mask.
"And as it’s my personal opinion, I’d appreciate not being told it’s stupid, thanks." - BeccaH
a love tap ;)
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 5, 2011 6:36 PM EST up reply actions
I feel like Downie is more of a scumbag than Avery, simply because I think Avery is keenly aware of his role. Downie is just a psychopath in all honesty who I’m convinced is going to end someones year or career prematurely. Whereas I think Avery is an asshole, Downie is potentially dangerous.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Feb 5, 2011 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
As a UNC and Caps fan I approve of the new 4 corners offense that was utilized last night.
Karl Alzner + John Carlson = Carl Carlson!
As a thinking human being I disapprove of Lightning fans booing the Caps’ defensemen for passing the puck back and forth in their own zone when even token pressure from the team they support would have forced the Caps to move the puck up ice.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That was the best part of the game for me watching the replay at like 4am after getting home. Tremendous.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 5, 2011 10:11 AM EST up reply actions
It really did a number on the Tampa players’ heads. From the NHL.com recap:
The Caps also changed their strategy, occasionally keeping the puck in their zone until Tampa Bay, which used a 1-3-1 defensive setup in the neutral zone, sent in a forechecker.
"I don’t know if it was kind of a mockery of our system or a game plan, but they obviously had a couple days to prepare for the game and then that’s what they thought best," Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos said. "It killed some time, so I guess it was successful that way. Obviously, a first for us seeing a team try that."
Said Washington coach Bruce Boudreau: "It’s only good when you’re leading. It was something we tried because nothing seemed to work before. He’ll [Boucher] figure something out to stop that, but it worked for one night."
Of course what coach meant was “It’s only good when you’ve scored AT LEAST ONE GOAL, so thank you Matt Hendricks!”
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I like being in their heads a little bit…especially when we’re nowhere near full strength or performance yet. Although 8 and 19 looked pretty damn good last night.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 5, 2011 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
Imma hoping that Tampa comes to the next game thinking “revenge” and not “score.” Lulz.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I just want us to use last night as a springboard to put together a good stretch of games. Huge 4 point game and we got it done. 3 points behind division lead time to start staking our claim again.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 5, 2011 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
When the D pulled up for the third time in the game, and none of our wingers were coming back with them I knew it was part of the game plan and I started laughing because TBL didn’t know wtf was happening.
That was the best game I’ve seen WSH play in a long, long time.
"And as it’s my personal opinion, I’d appreciate not being told it’s stupid, thanks." - BeccaH
So I guess this means that Boudreau remembered how to coach again.
by b.orr4 on Feb 5, 2011 10:16 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Impossible. He’s incapable of change I thought.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 5, 2011 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
I’m not sure he remembered, I think he learned. The playoffs last year were a hard lesson. Having a game plan that works 90% of the time doesn’t mean you can run it against every team. BB and his staff broke down the film, looked at what they were doing, and found a way to beat their system. If they look at whoever our playoff opponent ends up being, and breaks down the game film, wins a couple games early, analyze the adjustments our opponents make, and make a few more adjustments, we win the first round in 5 or 6 instead of losing in 7.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
Personally, it has never been about whether or not he’s a good coach. That goes without saying. The question is whether or not the players are responding/listening to him anymore. One game against TBL does not change what has transpired over the season. I’m a season ticket holder and I do NOT want BB to be fired, but I don’t want a team with this talent to waste a year.
I can resist anything, except temptation.
by alisterio on Feb 5, 2011 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
it has never been about whether or not he’s a good coach.
Good coaches usually find a way to get their players to listen to them. Boudreau’s been telling his team to create traffic in front of the net since . . . March of 08. Have we ever seen it consistently? It’s not as though they’ve been listening and executing for 3 years and have suddenly started tuning him out.
Boudreau has seemed like a decent strategist, but he can get tactically worked in games and short series. Given time to watch film and prepare a game plan, he can do what he did last night. Where he falls down is in making quick adjustments mid-game.
I blame Schultz
Even good coaches get tuned out eventually. Your critiques have merit, but I don’t see how there can be any legitimate question as to whether BB is a good coach.
Go Steelers.
Even good coaches get tuned out eventually.
Yeah, but the bad habits displayed by the Caps aren’t new…
Like I said, I think that he’s a good coach in coming up with a strategy to win games. Against Tampa, that was clearly – sit back, force their forecheckers to come to you, then exploit the space at center ice with long dump-ins with speed.
I just wonder what would have happened had Boucher switched his forecheck scheme up mid-game in response.
I blame Schultz
For what it’s worth, I agree that BB is a good coach. I’m just not sure he’s the right coach for this team.
I blame Schultz
I think that Boudreau would be a perfect coach on a team with more veterans and a mature culture of accountability .
I blame Schultz
He could be. The maturity and leadership would be important and could really change the picture of this team, potentially. I just think that if you aren’t Scotty Bowman your message gets stale at some point. It’s the nature of the job. BB went in with his system, got us as far as it would get us, and now he has struggled to show that he’s going to get us over that hump. Of course, it’s hard to separate all the issues going on with this team at the current moment to assign blame. If Nick and AO are having Nick and AO years are we talking about BB’s job? Is the fact that Nick and AO aren’t having Nick and AO years on BB? How much so?
Go Steelers.
I think my big issue is that he’s not been great at adjusting and that the adjustments he’s made have been primarily desperation moves.
Watching the team try to trap these last couple of games has been a complete joke. The Caps’ players seem to think that “trap” means “skate backwards and never pressure the puck.” I counted numerous trips down the ice where all five Caps skaters backed in below their own blueline before anyone challenged the puck carrier. I’m not sure if that’s coaching or players or what. . . but the old saying goes – you can’t fire all the players…
I blame Schultz
Looks like Kuznetsov got 1G, 4A in today’s KHL all-star game. Team Jagr won 18-16.
John Carlson - Glory follows him.
Six Beers Too Many Fantasy Team - BizNasty's Hobo Rodeo
Heh. He also ruled at the All-Star Skills Competition. Kuznetsov won his only event, the penalty shot/breakaway challenge. In fact, he was the ONLY skater to score in the event, bringing his Team Jagr into a tie with Team Yashin. And he scored on Dominic Hasek.
Sadly, Team Yashin defeated Team Jagr in the final event, “Fastest Skater” (Alexei Morozov? Really, Jaromir?) and so Team Yashin wins the “Master Show” title for 2011.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
OMG. Kuznetsov scored his goal, unassisted, at the 59:59 minute mark. OMG OMG OMG.
He had two assists to Feds, one to Ilya Nikulin (remember Nikulin? Ovie attended his kid’s christening this summer and is his godfather), and Denis Kulyash.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
All hail the breakaway challenge king of the KHL, Evgeny Kuznetsov. Ovi, he’s coming for you!
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
What is this I heard about him needing shoulder surgery? Was that truth or rumor?
"And then they’ll look at guys in my situation, that could play three good games in a row and have one bad shift, and they’ll say, ‘Well, that’s why he’s been in the minor leagues his whole career.'" --Matt Hendricks
He’s apparently had a long-term shoulder injury that should have been repaired better, sooner. There have been conflicting reports that he will need surgery, but recently he said a special exercise/rehab/conditioning regimen is all he needs.
Who really knows?
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Can’t believe I missed the game! Is it being rebroadcast on CSN at some point this weekend? I was at dinner when I checked the score and damn near jumped out of my chair and started to dance. Not just because of the score, but because of who scored. Welcome back, boys. I hope you intend on sticking around until June.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Everyone is now reporting Malkin is out with a torn MCL and ACL. That’s a huge loss for that team.
"Ovechkin is as subtle as a shot of vodka."
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=551726&cmpid=pit-twt-pghpenguins
Some folks had been saying he’d have surgery at the end of the season, now maybe the time frame has been moved up.
Get well soon, Geno.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Means the Caps’ search for a 2C just got a lot more expensive.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I hear Tim Connolly is available. When he too, isn’t injured.
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.
Don’t worry, Jason Arnott’s available.
In Lou We Trust/Twitter
Nothing says "Be Mine" like a pounding heart beneath the floorboards.
by Kevin Sellathamby on Feb 5, 2011 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Do you really think the Penguins will give up a ton to try and replace Malkin? I think they have invested so much in him, that they just have to accept the fact that he is gone. It’s a tough break, but I dont see them going after anything elite…it will kill them for years to come.
That means they’ll have a ton of LTIR Cap space with which to make a move… just sayin.
As much as I’m sick of seeing the Pens win, and I like our odds better with Malkin and Crosby out, I really do enjoy seeing the sheer amount of talent on the ice in a Caps vs. Pens game. With healthy rosters, you have Ovechkin, Semin, Green, and Backstrom, against Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Fleury. All eight of those players could be considered legitimate picks for an All-Star game. That’s something elde.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
fuck you, geno. get well soon so we caps fans can flip you off when you come back to play.
really tough loss for the Pens.
And it’ll be really tough for the Caps to watch Shero use that money to make the team better at the deadline while the Caps go in with basically the same weakness as all year.
Go Steelers.
For the last three years, McPhee has shown a strong willingness to pull the trigger on trades. I don’t see any reason to expect differently this trade deadline. He knows better than anyone about the need for a legit #2C. The question is can he find one at a decent price.
GMGM hasn’t shown the aggressiveness of Shero or the willingness to go all in. Yeah, he picked around the edges with Belanger and Corvo, but he’s never reached that Shero level, IMO. Of course, maybe Shero has just gotten luckier with his acquisitions panning out.
Go Steelers.
I’d argue that the acquisition of Huet was a fairly aggressive move, particularly when he had Kolzig already in net.
Maybe. But Huet wasn’t even an established starter at that point. It was more of a “we could use some goaltending help and this guy fits the bill.” Huet got hot and made the deal look good, but it’s not like he went all in for a Vokoun type.
Go Steelers.
i considered huet to be an established goaltender at the time (not sure where your bar is for “established”), but i was also surprised the habs were willing to move him so cheaply. certainly an aggressive move in terms of the makeup of the caps roster, but not aggressive in terms of price (2nd round pick).
but i was also surprised the habs were willing to move him so cheaply.
They had a logjam with him, Price and Halak. Looks like they choose wisely.
I blame Schultz
Right, the only surprise was that he had been playing so well and was a huge part of the reason they were winning their division and fighting for first in the east. Long term I don’t think anyone was surprised that Huet was the odd man out, but in the midst of that year, giving up their goalie depth was strange to me.
Go Steelers.
at the time i wasn’t really aware of halak, and it seemed like a lot to be putting on price’s shoulders.
The most Huet had ever started was 42 games. Not exactly established starter criteria. That year was really the first year he looked like he could be a true number 1. I agree that it was surprising how cheap he came, but I still didn’t think we were getting an established number 1.
Was Huet really any more aggressive than moving Teddy Ruth for Fedorov?
Go Steelers.
yes and no. fedorov seemed dead and buried with CBJ…i’m having a hard time remembering, but i don’t think i expected him to be our 2C. trading for a starting goalie mid-season when the #2 face of your franchise is still around is somewhat aggressive. he came cheaply enough that it doesn’t break the mold of GMGM making prudent, cheap deals. but it was also out-of-left-field enough that it makes me think GMGM could throw down if he felt it would push the team over the top.
I don’t necessarily disagree with any of that, I’m just waiting to see if GMGM makes that over the top deal. Hard to judge from where we sit. We don’t know what deals were on the table (with the exception, maybe, of Pronger), and we don’t know how much GMGM thinks we need to get over the top.
Go Steelers.
Shero’s only gone “all in” once—when he got Hossa in 2008. All of his other deadline trade deals have been similar to McPhee’s.
2008—Hossa, Hall Gill, and Pascal Dupuis
2009—Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz, Eric Tangradi, Andy Wozniewski
2010—Jordan Leopold, Steve Wagner, Alexi Ponikarovsky
McPhee’s
2008—Fedorov, Cooke, Huet
2009—no one (hindered by Nylander cap hit; more or less confirmed that the Capitals were the rumored team who had gotten Guerin but then the deal fell through)
2010—Corvo, Belanger, Walker (and Jurcina)
Both GMs historically attempt to address needs at the deadline with complimentary players. The only time Shero brought in a game-changing player was the Hossa trade. And I’d say both pretty much failed in 2010 with their trade acquisitions, while McPhee’s acquisitions in 2008 (Fedorov to replace Nylander, Huet to shore up the shaky goaltending, and Cooke to add an agitator) were all highly effective that year and essential in the Capitals making the playoffs.
I think that’s fair, but I give Shero more credit for successful deals. Gill wasn’t a rental. He stuck around and won a Cup. Ditto for Dupuis. Ditto for Kunitz and Tangradi and Guerin. Those guys were all “help now and next year(s)” type guys. GMGM got an extra year out of Fedorov, but that’s it.
I also think that while Gill wasn’t a huge pickup, he was such a perfect fit that he gets more credit than just a complimentary piece.
Go Steelers.
Guerin and Dupuis were rentals at the time of their trades—their contracts were expiring . What Shero has been better at is retaining those players. McPhee tried to keep Huet and, to a lesser extent, Belanger. The Capitals kept Fedorov. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Hannan.
Although I did forget one trade of McPhee’s from last year—Jason Chimera, who in my mind is just as important to the Caps the way Gill was with the Penguins.
No. Kunitz was in the Whitney deal. They realized that Whitney sucks, but they had him locked up. So they moved him to ANA (who was getting ready for Niedermayer and Pronger to leave), and got back Kunitz and Tangradi. Then ANA realized Whitney sucks, so they moved him to EDM for Lubo. Then he started playing well in EDM, and then the hockey gods remembered he sucks, and smote him down.
Go Steelers.
Sucks for them (and, to a much lesser extent, hockey in general).
But with Jordan Staal healthy and all the cap room this frees up, they’re probably in as good shape as could be imagined to deal with losing a player like that. Of course, that assumes two things: 1) Sid returns, and 2) they can find something among the crappy heap of players available.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
This know-nothing assumes that their actions hinge on Sid’s health. And all anyone knows at this point is that he’s allowed light workouts; no idea when he’s going to be back on the ice. I’d guess soon, but as we’ve seen this year with concussions, it’s anyone’s guess.
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Engelland, hopefully.
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Follow me on twitter, Picasa or at Pens Through My Lens. Or don't. Whatever.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Feb 5, 2011 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
I’d love it if the Pens sent Engelland out against AO’s line.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 5, 2011 5:13 PM EST up reply actions
Game is in DC. You guys get last change.
.
Follow me on twitter, Picasa or at Pens Through My Lens. Or don't. Whatever.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Feb 5, 2011 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
I’m not buying this whole “Pens are fine, they’ve got cap space” argument. Cap room ain’t everything. If you’re going to acquire a ton of big salary, you have to burn assets. This isn’t the kind of cap space that allows Shero to take on another team’s contract burden, the kind of cap space that it an asset in itself. They’ve got to barter Goligoski, Dupuis, and whatever other marginal players they’re willing to part with, and then they’ve got to sweeten the pot with draft picks and whatever they have in the cupboard.
If they use that cap space to get enough assets to fill it, they will have paid heavily to repair the hole that this injury leaves.
You had me at no problem.
I agree that it’s a net loss for PIT. But at the same time, it does allow them to do some things in terms of addressing other positions and filling Malkin’s spot. It’s better than this happening a month from now when the rosters are set.
Go Steelers.
It’s better than this happening a month from now when the rosters are set
Maybe, maybe no. If Shero “goes for it” and acquires a major piece to replace Malkin, and the Pens wind up losing early in the playoffs, they may end up wishing that Malkin had gotten injured on March 1st.
Personally, I think they’ll be fine with Crosby and Staal and whomever else below that. Winger remains their prime need.
You had me at no problem.
I agree that wingers are the prime need. But Malkin’s injury still helps them fix that. They are in a much better position to find a W (or two) now than they were before. Of course, this comes at a huge cost as the Crosby/Malkin 1/2 punch down the middle was unquestionably the strength of that team. Their D is still stout and MAF is playing well, so they should be in decent shape. They just aren’t as scary as before. This really helps PHI out quite a bit.
Go Steelers.
The Kings are the favorite destination for any star forward (center or winger) rumored to be on the market.
If the Pens wanted to deal with a team who has a surfeit of good wingers and were willing to part with a good winger for a chance to get the Cup next year, they could deal Malkin to that team. Except I didn’t think the Kings had good wingers to spare.
With Malkin traded for good winger, Pens have stacked top line and Staal as 2nd center and probably gain some cap space (and maybe some prospects) .
The dealing team gains center — but not until next year. So that team essentially would be giving up on the Cup for this year since Malkin’s out but gain a great center. Of course, I can’t think of any teams in that situation who are willing to give up a great winger this year to have Malkin available for next year and beyond.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I’m not buying this whole "Pens are fine, they’ve got cap space" argument.
Good, because I’m not making it. My point was simply that they lost their 2nd line center, have a guy who would be the 2nd line center on most teams still healthy, and now have cap room to make moves and the time to make ‘em, should they find any that make sense. There aren’t too many teams that could lose a player of his caliber (there are hardly any that have a player of his caliber in the first place), and not be irreparably damaged.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It would seem that you actually are making that exact point.
But with Jordan Staal healthy and all the cap room this frees up, they’re probably in as good shape as could be imagined to deal with losing a player like that..
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
“As good shape as could be imagined” certainly doesn’t mean “they’ll be fine.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Poor Geno
I feel really bad for him. He’s been a complete gimp on and off for the entire year with minor, nagging injuries, and now this. It has to be incredibly frustrating. We also have our regular 4C out for the season (Letestu). It is a huge loss for us, but fortunately we are hideously deep at center. J Staal moves to 2C, Talbot/Jeffrey at 3C, Talbot/Adams at 4C. The only 2 uspides in this scenario are: 1: Geno gets plenty of time to rest and heal (also think he will have surgery on the other knee this summer), 2: now we have a lot more cap space to play with at the deadline. I don’t really see Shero looking at centers, though.
Le-Tang Clan: Ain't Nuthin To Puck With!
After all this, perhaps it’s best for Geno just to shut it down for the year and get healthy, rather than doing permanent damage trying to suffer through.
I blame Schultz
Looks like he doesn’t have a choice.
Less drama, more hockey
by SeattleCapsFan on Feb 5, 2011 6:05 PM EST up reply actions
Suspend Tyler Myers!
Wearing the weagle is a way a’ life
by Gould Old Days on Feb 5, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
Dear NHL.com
Your video player sucks. Its horrendus. Even on broadband internet its slow, stops often and needs to buffer, and forget skipping around. You can only watch from start to finish, attempts at pausing or skipping parts only result in your video restarting and reloading. Why you choose to let your players only stream video, rather than download temp data, is beyond me. Commercials are flawless, go figure. Just use youtube like every other schmuck on the planet.
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 have no idea what your computer setup is, but we had those problems a lot until we upgraded our router recently. Now the NHL videos load quickly and I rarely have buffering.
Yeah I could easily buy it being my computer/router, I just don’t know enough to fix it. I’m getting a new computer soon, so I’m not that torn up about it. It would actually make more sense if it was an all-or-nothing thing, but sometimes I get the video and sometimes I don’t.
Go Steelers.
That was true here, too, not consistently bad, but it got worse. My son thought it was the router since he had no trouble when at school with his laptop, so we did some investigating and found ours was pretty out of date, which happens too quickly with tech these days. If you’re about to get a new computer, waiting makes sense.
i weirdly have all sorts of problems with the game highlights videos (green and blurry and loading incorrectly) but none at all with gamecenter. i blame my laptop, but it is annoying that youtube and gamecenter run fine on this little thing but NHL.com highlights are hit and miss.
Lol @ Fehrsie:
@EricFehr16
I’m off to bowling with the Caps! Hope to see you there! I won’t be doing any bowling but hopefully they have pinball…I love pinball
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
That’s not good. . .doesn’t that seem to indicate his shoulder is no where near ready?
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Question is — which of our injured guys will make it back first? Fehr, Poti, or Semin. Most indications are Semin but I wonder if there’s been a setback for him.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I think they’re taking it slow with everybody right now. There isn’t a real urgency for the guys to come back immediately. As for Semin, I feel like he’s finally gotten the opportunity to really heal up the many knocks, bruises, and injuries he’s had this year. I’m not that worried about him coming back not at 100%
Fehr, on the other hand, worries me. A reoccuring shoulder injury is a pretty bad one. After VLC’s shoulder was messed up, he never returned to top form. I just hope Fehr hasn’t continuely hurt the same muscle a 2nd time and his shoulder will be ok.
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
These groin injuries seem pretty difficult, look at Poti and the goalies. I think it’s been going on since somewhat early in the season. BB referred to a nagging injury when things were still going well, then after that horrid Rangers game it was reported by a Swedish reported, I think, that he was limping after the game, and then he missed 3 games. That hit/trip in the FL game he last played seemed to really catch the left leg and yank it back as he fell. He certainly was upset about it, kicking the bench when he got there and throwing his stick, IIRC. I’d rather have him 100% for the stretch than risk reinjury due to not really healed. But, I do miss him playing.
You’re right. I recall back in late November right before the Blues game when Semin missed a practice due to a nagging condition. (Could that have been the start of the groin issues, I wonder?) And then he missed the practice the day before the Avs game since he was sick. (I’m sure, the fact that he had a “nagging” condition AND was ill contributed to being more likely to overreact to the hit from Liles.) The VERY next day after the Avs game was that horrible Rangers game.
There’s no coincidence that Semin didn’t play well in December — with all the nagging problems and illness going on. Get well, Sasha.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Your daily Vegas odds update tells you that the Capitals are 2.3% better (i.e. 52.3% to win the game) than the injured Pens on neutral ice. Reassuring?
It sounds that way — on paper. Now let’s just hope that Fleury is not the super hot goalie tomorrow. And that our goalie is hotter!
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
He may be 3rd in SV% and 4th in GAA, but he’s 36th in minutes played, so I would take those statistics with a grain of salt.
The problem with some people is that when they aren't drunk, they're sober. ---William Butler Yeats
I just have enough confidence on Varly to not start watching games with the “I really hope their goaltender doesn’t stand on his head!” mentality, which I suffered of last year.
Of course there’s a minimum standard of scoring the Caps have to do to be sure of winning. We don’t want Fleury doing the shutout thing against us. Even though that certainly isn’t the norm for him to do against the Caps.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I like the bold predictions, but one line made me curious. Since when did Vokoun become a “well-traveled” goalie? Unless he means that all players from Europe are “well-traveled” or that every NHL player is “well-traveled” by virtue of the road schedule, I just don’t get it. Vokoun has played for two teams and gone all the way from Nashville to Florida. Hardly enough to make Mike Sillinger take notice.
Go Steelers.
And I’d love it for his prediction on the Rags to come true. Torts would be a great replacement for BB. Nobody has gotten more out of Vinny than he did, and I think that might be just what the doctor ordered for our own stars.
Go Steelers.
I think Torts would be a very bad choice for the Caps. Not because he would be inadequate, but, because it would be a very risky move. If Torts comes in he could really alienate the locker room
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
If they can’t handle a coach like Torts then they can’t win. I understand he can piss people off, but he pushes players and he gets more out of them than they are willing to dig for. That’s why Vinny hated him, and why Vinny played better for him than anyone else. I think the team may need to get away from the player-friendly coach. A coaching change is always a risk, but given how much success Torts has had I think he’s less of a risk than bringing in another unknown guy.
Go Steelers.
I was just talking about this yesterday with a friend of mine. Torts would be an excellent choice. He knows how to coach skilled players, knows how to win, and is a great motivator. So what if he’s not a players’ coach?
"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 Feb 5, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
If they can’t handle a coach like Torts then they can’t win.
Do you think that an incendiary coach like Torts is the only way the players on this team will win big games?
That’s why Vinny hated him, and why Vinny played better for him than anyone else.
I’ll definitely give you that. Vinny was 1 such player that needed a guy like Torts to get the best out of him. If you’re saying that this whole team really needs a guy like that, we’re betting quite a bit on the fact that all of these players don’t end up hating the guy and not listening to him.
If we were in a situation where BB gets replaced (which looks more and more likely), I would be open to the idea of Tortorella coaching here. . .but that doesnt mean i wouldnt have very large reservations
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
I don’t think there’s any one way to win big games. I just think the team needs to take another step, and BB hasn’t gotten them to do it yet.
I’m not saying everyone needs to be treated like Vinny, but I think AO does (and now maybe Nicky).
Go Steelers.
On what are you basing the fear that Torts will alienate the team? He’s a tough coach that demands accountability (something the Caps need) but he’s not like Keenan going in there and pissing everyone off immediately. He had a long and successful tenure in TB before the team tanked under the weight of poor post-cap management, and so far he’s been great for the Rangers and there are no signs of internal issues.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 5, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
There’s a line, unique to every team, between holding players accountable and leaving them out to dry/being an ass. After last season, Torts pretty much called out Gabby for not producing more during the later parts of the season and during the play-offs. Gaborik was hurt and bore the majority of the Ranger’s offense after Gomez left; yet, Torts still thought it would be a great idea to insult his superstar after the season had ended. That isn’t even “lighting a fire” under a player, that’s burning a bridge between the two.
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Is he burning a bridge? I don’t remember Gaborik getting bitchy in the press, and when Torts benched Gaborik he came back with a 4 goal game. At least Torts had the balls to bench their elite player to send a message.
Go Steelers.
This was more at the end up last season. I don’t think Gaborik not getting bitchy in the press proves or disproves that there’s a rift between the two.
I do respect the guy for benching his best player. That’s a pretty ballsy move and ended up working pretty well. Like i said above, that’s one player. It seems like some people around here think the whole team needs it. How would Torts pull that off?
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
I don’t think the whole team needs it. I think the stars on the team need it. I think the plumbers will be fine regardless.
Just like Gaborik not being bitchy doesn’t prove anything, you can’t just surmise a rift in the absence of any evidence.
Go Steelers.
I think the plumbers will be fine regardless.
It’s not for nothing that the team looks bifurcated, with the skill players playing one game and the grinders playing another. It’s also not surprising that, on nights when the Caps aren’t playing all that well, guys like Hendricks really stand out for doing things like going to the net.
I blame Schultz
Of course. It’s glaring and that’s why my focus in the new coach discussions has been on a coach that is going to get more from our studs. Really all a coach needs to get the plumbers to do is play a coherent system and try hard. And if a plumber isn’t already trying hard, then they fall out of the NHL quickly.
Go Steelers.
I’d argue that most teams are bifrucated (had to look that one up). Or trifrucated? if that’s a word. If they arent seperated based on the way they play, it’s how hard they play, or how willing they are to work hard for a win. If the ‘plumbers’ of the team will perform regardless, then why take such a drastic step in the way of getting the stars to perform? Going from a player’s coach to a hard-ass is a huge step
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
If just the stars need it, then why such a drastic change? Do we really need to go to the other end of the spectrum to get them to perform?
It is a bit of an absence of evidence; but, there isn’t evidence of absence either. There are conditions, though, that definitely create the possibility of a rift between Tortorella and his Gabby: severe underperforming to the point that he needed to be benched. it’s a total jump here; but,, Gabby’s 4 goal night could be out of spite for Torts just as much as it is to earn his approval
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
I don’t care why Gabby got 4 goals, I just care that Torts knows how to get his players to produce. He pushes the right buttons. I don’t even care if they hate him as long as they produce. There’s obviously a shelf-life on his coaching style, but that’s what I’ve been saying with D’ohboy, there’s a shelf life on all coaches.
If BB isn’t getting it done, then they need a new coach. BB is a players’ coach, and that was manifesting in a specific set of problems. It’s unlikely that another players’ coach would solve those problems. I think a tougher coach could get some of the stars to be more disciplined and accountable.
Go Steelers.
I’ll give you that. Regardless of how it happens, getting your players to perform is a good thing. . .whether it be out of spite or whatever. I’m worried that there may be very negative effects if Torts were to try this with ovechkin. But, similar to what you said earlier, if Ovechkin can’t handle Torts’ coaching, there are bigger problems at play.
I totally agree that BB’s position as a Coach should be vacated if he can’t get us past the 2nd round of the play-offs. The next coach doesn’t (and shouldn’t) be another players’ coach; but, it doesn’t (and, imo shouldn’t) be a guy as tough as Torts. it should be someone in between (assuming there’s someone like that available).
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
so far he’s been great for the Rangers and there are no signs of internal issues.
His record with the Rangers is 60-47-14. He’s never got the Rangers to finish higher than 3rd in the Atlantic Division and has gone once to the playoffs with New York and lost in the first round. Yeah, he was great the year Tampa won the Cup, but that was seven years ago. Since then, he’s never got his team out of the first round and he’s missed the playoffs twice. Sorry, I’ll pass on Torts.
Look at his roster though. He hasn’t exactly been working with a lot of talent in NYR and he damn near had them upset us in that first round.
Go Steelers.
He’s got one of the best goalies in hockey and a team that’s maxed at the salary cap. It’s not like he’s coaching the Islanders. There’s plenty of talent on that team, I just think his coaching style doesn’t maximize his players’ skills all the time. I do find it telling that after he won a Cup, he so alienated his players that they never won another series. There was nobody shedding a tear when they fired him in Tampa.
I think you’re being extremely selective and not exactly fairly characterizing him.
First, the Rags may be maxed out, but they are maxed out with 7+ mill on Gomez and Drury (then swapped Gomez for Gaborik). They have 6 on Redden, 5+ on Rozsival, and lots of overpaid players in the lower ranks (like Gilroy, etc.). All that stuff adds up to a “max cap” team, but it’s not nearly as talented as the other teams that go to the cap. He’s been coaching a team put together by one of the worst GMs in the game. I get that Lundqvist is good, but as I’m sure you’ve picked up, I don’t think it’s worth it to pay that much money to any goalie.
And TBL’s decline had nothing to do with Torts pissing off his players. That’s just flat unfair. The Lightning won a Cup, then went into a lockout and came out with a salary cap. The GM made some ridiculous contracts that clustefucked their roster, and then the ownership went into a tailspin and they had to start selling off players. They lost their goalie and replaced him with nothing, they lost the backbone of their D, hoping that Dan Boyle alone would carry them (and then he hit a rash of injuries). It was a team that basically had to win on the backs of 4 players, and that was just not going to happen in the cap era.
He was also a coach on Team USA Olympic team, FWIW.
Go Steelers.
Good points and maybe I am being a little unfair with Tortorella, but there’s still plenty of top end talent on that Rangers roster and they’re still a middle of the pack team. I just don’t think he’s an upgrade over Boudreau at all. He could come in and light a fire under the players at first, but long term I don’t believe his sarcastic style works in the NHL. In any case, it’s a moot point. Tortorella’s not going anywhere, least of all to Washington.
I think you’re right that it’s moot, but with NYR we can hope.
I’m not sure about “upgrades” in the NHL at coaching. Sometimes different is better just because it’s new. In an absolute sense, I don’t know who the better coach is. Maybe it is BB. But if BB has peaked with this team and they are tuning him out, don’t you have to look elsewhere? Whoever replaces him may not be an upgrade in terms of absolute coaching ability, but if the change of gears can get more out of the players then it’s an upgrade, right?
Go Steelers.
I’d like to see him have some coaching experience first. I don’t think the NHL is the place to cut your teeth as a head coach. Maybe if he’d take an assistant coach job.
The childhood Caps fan in me would also love to see Dale Hunter back there, but I don’t know how realistic that is.
Go Steelers.
Mu guess is that it’s not realistic at the present time. It’s not that he wouldn’t be a good coach in the NHL at some point in time. But making the jump from Coach of a Junior team directly to Head Coach of an NHL team would be too much of a transition. There are enough people on the boards here who were complaining that AHL head coaching experience is not enough for success at the NHL level and had been raised as a point against Boudreau and raised as a point with replacing him with French.
The transition from Juniors to the NHL is an even bigger jump to make.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Guy Boucher says hello.
You are what you eat, and I want my kids to grow up to be smart. So I feed them brains. Marc Savard brains. Right from the skull! -F&B
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 5, 2011 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
Fuck. Completely missed that. Thought he was straight out of the Q.
You are what you eat, and I want my kids to grow up to be smart. So I feed them brains. Marc Savard brains. Right from the skull! -F&B
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 5, 2011 9:34 PM EST up reply actions
There are enough people on the boards here who were complaining that AHL head coaching experience is not enough for success at the NHL level and had been raised as a point against Boudreau and raised as a point with replacing him with French.
I don’t know if this is being misrepresented or flat out confused, but let me explain it again; the difference between guys like Boucher and Bylsma and Mark French is that Boucher had a bunch of time in the national team program and Bylsma was exposed to NHL coaching as an assistant, to say nothing of his playing days. Mark French (to my knowledge) doesn’t have much exposure internationally or in the NHL, hence my skepticism on French replacing Boudreau if that were to happen.
If Deazy actually DOES sign, I'll do the stanky leg, and I'm the whitest guy I know.
Good points, here, on guys like Boucher and Bylsma.
Even though my originally point was about being skeptical about Hunter going direct to coaching in the NHL with no experience coaching professionals. And even primarily AHL coaching experience is better than no professional coaching experience at all.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
And I’m not sure Torts really be an improvement over BB. This is the same man who had thrown a water bottle at a Caps fan during the playoffs two years ago. Sure we want passion and accountability but Torts impresses me as too much of a loose cannon.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I thought he actually threw the bottle and it struck a fan. (On a personal note, she was someone I used to work with.)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I believe he threw the bottle itself. He’s a tad volatile for my taste. Just as emotional as BB but more like a drill sergeant and very negative. That’s my impression of him anyway.
Hockey won’t hold still for a portrait. To gain a glimpse inside you join it in progress—just as the players do.
by capsyoungguns on Feb 5, 2011 9:43 PM EST up reply actions
Definitely threw the bottle. Definitely volatile, but he doesn’t let players just do their own thing and figure it out. Emotional in his decision-making, not just in his demeanor. FAR more willing to call out players publicly.
Not saying he’d be better than BB overall. But if BB gets shit-canned because the team isn’t listening anymore, Torts would be a fun replacement.
You had me at no problem.
Well if all the rumors about Vokoun actually came true he’d be very well traveled.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 5, 2011 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
Chara dethroned?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6093452
Denis Kulyash recorded 110.3 mph slap shot apparently.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
This is Russia. I wouldn’t put a whole lot of faith in their ability to properly calibrate technical equipment.
Anyone watching DAL/PHI on NHLN? Morrow just scored to cut PHI’s lead to 1. Great cycling by him and Ribeiro and then Morrow beat M. Richards to the net to finish a Ribeiro pass.
Go Steelers.
Just listening to the Bears/Moose game. Hershey needs Holtby to get well yesterday. They’re leading after two, but it’s 4-3, and all of a sudden, neither goalie can stop anything.
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
The bold predictions got me thinking. Even if Semin steps his game up in the playoffs, can we win if Ovi and Nicky don’t? We all know just how deadly Sasha can be when he’s on his game.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
"I was pretty excited that Bruce made me captain and it's something I enjoyed. My record speaks for itself. I'm 1-0. I just went out there and did what I do: get the game winner." - Matt Bradley
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Feb 5, 2011 8:46 PM EST reply actions
The guy oozes intensity AND charisma. I believed every word he said.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Feb 6, 2011 12:36 AM EST up reply actions
Ha. We applauded Ferrence here for calling out his teammate. And now Don Cherry is ripping into Ferrence.
Go Steelers.
For that or something else?
Cherry’s a turd.
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Yeah for calling out Paille. Basically reiterates that it’s not cool to call out a teammate and it’ll hurt the locker room.
Go Steelers.
I liked his “race card” silliness about Kulemin. What a bizarre old man.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah that was funny. Before hearing him I agreed that Kulemin got what was coming, but his rant almost made me re-think that position.
Go Steelers.
Well, Kulemin did have it coming, but it has nothing to do with his equipment, nationality or pugilistic history.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Some sloppy sloppy D costs Dallas a goal. 3-1 PHI. DAL should have had the puck cleared and in the far end of the ice maybe 4 times and then Carter makes them pay. Brutal.
Go Steelers.
Interesting. First Matt Cooke has Johnnie finish up his fight with DiPietro and now he’s making promises the rest of the Penguins have to back up.
VogsCaps Cooke has Pens winning 2/6: “We’ll get a win in there, and then we’ll be cheering on the Steelers, that’s for sure.” http://bit.ly/hcirbc
6-2, really? Without Crosby and Malkin? I would give up hope for this team if that happens.
The problem with some people is that when they aren't drunk, they're sober. ---William Butler Yeats
I saw it on On the Fly. It was post-game, on the ice. He was asked about the Super Bowl. He pointed out that they have a game first. What do you want him to say? Didn’t bother me at all, I laughed. It’s up to the Caps to make him look like the idiot he is.
"It's always good to have vikings."
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
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![Via Traktor Chelyabinsk's website, here's Evgeny Kuznetsov graciously accepting a handmade hat from some of his fans.
The Traktor fans were aware of the NA tradition of the hat trick,and in honor of his strong performance at World Juniors, they made him one of his very own:
"It is known that the ocean [overseas leagues - ed.] has a tradition: after the execution of a hat-trick fans throw on the ice caps. Hat-trick in a literal translation - "hat trick". Kuznetsov played in the World Cup just two such trick: in the group stage, he scored 3 goals in the gate the Latvian team, and in the semi-finals three times, struck the gate of Canada. These two points are noted."
More awesome pix at the link.](http://cdn3.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/235874/kuzya20130112_small.jpg)
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