Backstrom: "They Had Us Fooled Completely"
by Malin A on Jun 16, 2011 9:30 AM EDT
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Print[Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom recently did a wide-ranging interview with Swedish outlet Gefle Dagblad. The translation of that interview appears below.]
It’s been a month since your team got bounced from the playoffs and you have had some time to put things in perspective. And you had a thumb injury that prevented you from participating in the World Championship. How’s your thumb feeling now?
It had to heal on its own, they couldn’t do anything to speed up the process. It was a fracture at first but then I tore the ligament and everything. But I feel much better now. I have regained feeling in the thumb and I can move it much better now.
How much did the thumb injury really affect you?
Of course I was affected by it, and of course you want to be 100%. But that’s hockey, injuries happen. You just have to accept the reality as it it and live with it.
It was not like I had broken foot so that I couldn’t skate. But it sucks to get this type of injury, sort of a "semi-injury" with just seven or eight games left before the playoffs. But there is nothing I can do about that now.
How do you view your season? You produced far fewer points this year than you did last year.
For me personally the stats mean a lot. I get judged based on how I produce - that’s just the way it is. But as a team I really think we had a decent regular season. We improved our defense, and when you do that you almost automatically score fewer goals. That was done with purpose and intent.
And I think it still felt good for us against the Rangers.
But then came Tampa - and I must say that they had us fooled completely with the way they played. We had no solutions. We couldn’t find a way to fix it or correct our mistakes. We couldn't solve them. They had a goalkeeper who stood on his head at times and stopped us. It's a little bit annoying actually. Frustrating.
What exactly does the team lack?
To be honest I don’t know. As I said - we tried to play more defensively. You have to play as a team and everyone must contribute in the playoffs and your goalie has to be really good. Then you need some luck too. And players like myself have to perform better.
I’m not making excuses but the opponents of course always use their best defensive players against the top lines. Especially in a playoff. I talked with Jason Arnott about this, he has been in many playoffs. When the opponents do manage to erase the top players it’s critical that other players step up and perform.
But as I said, I should have performed better. I must say it’s very frustrating.
At the same time, it must be something you can take advantage of now. You must be very motivated to train even harder.
Yeah that’s true. I have already trained for two weeks here at home. I train Monday through Friday, and on the weekends I do other stuff like playing tennis and things like that.
I understand you changed your personal trainer this summer. From Anders Bergström to the old skater Sebastian Falk.
Yes, I have trained with Anders for four years, and he has really helped me a lot. But I felt it was time to try something new, so I contacted Sebastian. He has worked with Brynäs previously and I have heard nothing but good things about him. So this summer I have worked with him in Sandviken, the training facility out there at Göransson Arena is really good. It feels like I made the right decision.
What have you focused on?
I want to improve my skating technique, so that’s what we are working on. You don’t use the exact same technique in speed skating as you do when you play hockey. But you do work on the same stuff in the preseason. And Sebastian seems to be really good and have very clever solutions and ideas.
We focus on agility, explosiveness and balance, things that I think I need to work on.
Any other plans for the summer?
Nothing special. I'm going to spend most of the time here at home.
How are things with [your new] house?
I’m really pleased with the house. A lot of people are interested and curious about it and I can understand that.
This thing with you giving your name to the rink in Valbo, what can you say about that?
I can’t really talk about it just yet. We will see what happens. I’m really excited about it but nothing is finalized we will see how things turn out.
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It was a fracture at first but then I tore the ligament and everything.
And how did it from fracture to ligament tear? Does that happen naturally? My guess is that it got exacerbated when he tried to play through it.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I thought there was an earlier interview that he fell on the hand during a game and did more damage.
probably an extremely small tear happened at the same time as the fracture. The fall probably finished off the job.
Caps fans aren’t on the ledge; they’ve already jumped, and are merely trying to drag others into a mournful descent with them..--Stienz
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Ah, I don’t remember that.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I do, wasn’t there a game where he missed most of the end of it? I think they said he fell on the hand. Didn’t he get the cast after that?
Youre right
I remember that game quite well and thinking, “Oh my goodness – we’re screwewd!” And once we downed NY I totatlly forgot about it. Looks like we should have remembered because apparently his ligament did – and it cost us. Hopefully we can get some more Center support for next season so he can take a breather, even in the playoffs if we’re doing well.
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
It was the last Tampa game where Nicky had fallen and missed most of the end of it. The cast was reported the next day. A fan had posted (I believe it was here or was it on CI) seeing Nicky with a hard cast when he was going to the doctor. There was quite a bit of discussion about whether it really was Nicky or not. (Boudreau had said that Nicky was “okay”).
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
For me personally the stats mean a lot. I get judged based on how I produce – that’s just the way it is. But as a team I really think we had a decent regular season. We improved our defense, and when you do that you almost automatically score fewer goals. That was done with purpose and intent.
Was it done with purpose and intent? Was there a conscious decision to forego goals for the sake of D? I think not.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I think he’s just stating the obvious — given the change to a more defensive posture with “purpose and intent” there were going to be fewer goals because the system is lower risk, lower reward.
by Dirk Dangler on Jun 16, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions
But the goals dried up before the system change.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Even still, there’s no way that the change in system didn’t sacrifice offense (real or potential) at fives.
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I guess. I just think pointing at the system is misleading in several ways. First, it lets the players off the hook for the lack of offense (which was really tied to the PP, which wasn’t related to the system at all). Second, it lets the coaches off the hook as though they were being proactive and had done an anticipatory cost-benefit analysis and determined we needed to play tighter D at the cost of O. If they were doing that, they’d have changed the system right after the MON loss, not 1/3 into the season when the team couldn’t score and was dropping like a rock in the standings.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
by Rob Parker on Jun 16, 2011 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
These things are true but what exactly are you expecting Nicky to say? I thought he was pretty candid.
I’m not blaming him, just tired of hearing that same claim.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Tired because it’s true or because you disagree with it???
"Baseball was my first love... hockey is a sultry temptress and stole my heart." - Corey Masisak
I don’t think it’s true, I think it’s just a narrative that people have fallen into and it strikes me as lazy. It’s like saying “PHI couldn’t get past the second round yet again because of their goaltending.”
PHI may need better goaltending, but it wasn’t the reason they lost this year (and didn’t really hold them back last year).
We may have needed to play better D, but we didn’t learn that from MON and we didn’t willingly implement it until our O dried up.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Yeah, I agree. But at the same time, they hit a slump. If they’d stuck to their run-and-gun system, I’ve gotta think the O would’ve rebounded a bit. At the time of “the change,” they were still averaging 3.00 goals per game on the season, though that number was 1.75 over the previous eight games. Don’t you think that number would’ve come back up a bit?
And I disagree to an extent about letting the coaches off the hook – Bruce changed what he was doing to maximize his team’s chances to win games. What’s wrong with that? The narrative is definitely misleading, but the bottom line is that the coach adapted and got the team on track… isn’t that desirable?
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It’s better than the alternative, but I think it demonstrates a much slower adaptation cycle for BB than is needed to succeed in the playoffs. You don’t have 1/3 of a season to turn things around. I’d have preferred to see him leave that MON series saying “something has to be different.” To his credit, the PK was different, but the PP hasn’t changed in over a year and he didn’t really try to tighten up our D until we were in mid-regular-season-disaster form.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
You don’t have 1/3 of a season to turn things around. I’d have preferred to see him leave that MON series saying "something has to be different.
The problem with the Montreal series is that Boudreau seemed unwilling to make the adjustments needed to win one last game against Montreal, similar to how Mark French and Hershey made adjustments after losing two in the Calder Cup finals. They didn’t abandon their system; they simply modified it to counter what Texas was doing. That’s Boudreau’s biggest weakness as a coach, and it happened again this year with Tampa.
However, what Boudreau did this year was completely change the Capitals’ system, which is far more intensive and involved than adjustments. And you don’t completely abandon a successful system because one team beat you in three straight games in the playoffs. Expecting Boudreau to dump the way the Capitals have played because of the Montreal series isn’t realistic; Boston and Pittsburgh didn’t dump their systems because of their playoff collapses in the second round. Only when it became evident that other teams figured out how to play the Capitals did Boudreau impose a complete change in approach, and the fact he managed to do so mid-season is not something that happens every day.
by Forsch31 on Jun 17, 2011 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I guess I disagree on how drastic the system change was. Sure, it was different, but he didn’t start from scratch and build a new system. He just made some parts of the system more conservative. He didn’t send two guys in hard as much, he had more F help up high, he didn’t play as aggressively in the neutral zone so he could help out the D. It used to be “if you smell the faintest hint of blood, go all out.” Now it turned into something more like “unless you are confident you’re going to win the loose puck, hang back and stay in defensive posture.”
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
by Rob Parker on Jun 17, 2011 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
There are two pieces to the argument… you expect the offense to sacrifice some production at 5-on-5 if there is a greater emphasis on defense.
How this explains what happened to the power play continues to elude me.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 16, 2011 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
It has absolutely nothing to do with the PP’s failures. Nada.
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And forgive me for being lazy and/or forgetting, but what percentage of our goal scoring drop can be attributed to the PP?
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
2009-10:
Total goals: 318
PPGs: 79
2010-11:
Total goals: 224
PPGs: 46
So they scored 42% fewer goals on the PP and 30% fewer goals, total.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah, so they dried up everywhere.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Yup. Definitely needed some team-wide lube.
But if the PP had bounced back along with the system change, things would’ve looked pretty damn good.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Non-PP dropped a “mere” 25%
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Jun 16, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
And on both the PP and at evens, one has to take into account a regression to a more sustainable production level than what they poured on in 2009-10. But to me that discount is far more applicable to evens than the PP – the PP should’ve reasonably regressed to, what, 22%? 20% max?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
But how much should the PP be affected by a systems change that occurs for 5-on-5 hockey? To me, the PP unit’s decline of production is a separate issue, just like the PK unit’s success this past season (being more aggressive in the PK is kinda the opposite of what they were doing on 5-on-5).
The PP should be 100% unaffected by a change to the 5v5 system, IMO.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Was there a conscious decision to forego goals for the sake of D?
There was certainly an acknowledgement that they’d be sacrificing some offense (that admittedly wasn’t exactly rolling at the time) for the sake of D, no?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It’s just hollow to me. You didn’t forego anything that you were getting. If they had been scoring at the 2009-10 pace and said “oh shit, we’ve seen this movie, we need to hit the breaks and tighten up our own end” then I’d buy the statement. But they weren’t scoring a lot and were in an 8 game skid so they said “shit, we aren’t scoring, we’d better keep the puck out.” Maybe they could have said “we aren’t getting lucky bounces, but our offense will come back at some point. We’re just going to focus on D now and maybe when we get the bounces we score less, but we’ll live with it.” It just doesn’t seem to me like they were that forward-thinking on the matter. The system change seemed to be reactionary and rooted in purely pragmatic concerns.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
You didn’t forego anything that you were getting
It was eight games. 1/10th of the season. It was a slump, not a complete system failure.
Maybe they could have said "we aren’t getting lucky bounces, but our offense will come back at some point. We’re just going to focus on D now and maybe when we get the bounces we score less, but we’ll live with it."
But they couldn’t just focus on D because the system needed to be changed for that to happen. And when the system changed, the chances for those bounces to come around were less frequent.
It just doesn’t seem to me like they were that forward-thinking on the matter. The system change seemed to be reactionary and rooted in purely pragmatic concerns.
Agreed. But I don’t think you can look at it (and I hope they didn’t) purely retroactively when making a decision like that. I assume the calculus was something to the tune of “We’re not scoring, but that should come around. At the same time, our defense is leaky and needs to be addressed in the short-term because we’re not scoring and in the long-term because it’s not ‘playoff-style’ enough. So we’ll reign everything in a bit and hope that the PP comes around and carries the O.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It was eight games. 1/10th of the season. It was a slump, not a complete system failure.
To put a finer point on this, it was six games into the losing streak. Six games – or 7% of the season – over which they scored just 1.33 goals per game… but fired more than 38 shots on goal per game (granted, some score effect, etc.). The team had a shooting percentage of under 3.5%. That’s not sustainable, and I don’t think anyone would react drastically and throw out the entire system based solely on a six-game drought.
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No, and I don’t think the entire system was thrown out either. But I do think anyone would have begun tweaking the system after the MON collapse.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Anyone didn’t. Did Boston change after their collapse? Did Pittsburgh after they were manhandled worse by Montreal?
How was PIT manhandled worse? They were the defending Cup champs who dominated play and lost a series. I’d think they had a much better reason to stick with what they were doing. I’d also bet Bylsma did in fact tweak his system but it didn’t fit the media narrative so it wasn’t reported on.
I don’t follow Boston all that closely, but I don’t think it was a system failure against PHI. Even so, I’d also bet they changed some things from last year to this year.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
The 8 game slump sticks out, but even before that the team wasn’t looking all that hot. We talked about how good Neuvirth was in October and how bad our record would have looked if it weren’t for him.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
And yet they scored 3.09 goals per game in October.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Our expectations are crazy.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Although they hung up 7 on NJD and CGY. Other than that they hit 4 once, 3 thrice, 2 twice, and 1 thrice. 8/11 games were three or fewer, not really what we were used to.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
And got shut out how many times?
"Neuvy was eating pucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
by SeattleCapsFan on Jun 16, 2011 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh my bad, I forgot ya’ll were talking just about October.
"Neuvy was eating pucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
by SeattleCapsFan on Jun 16, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Right – so in six of nine games they scored 3 goals which, on most nights, should be good enough to win in the NHL.
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Sorry, shitty math.
Three “should wins” (>3)
Three “50/50s” (3)
Five “not enoughs” (>3)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah that’s how I have it. 3 goals for is a toss up, IMO. Maybe if you have a, ahem, high priced elite goalie 3 is a “should win,” but for the majority of goalies, that’s not realistic.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Hypothetically, if goalie A has a ~2.5 GAA and gives up either 2 or 3 goals in every single game, 3 is going to be enough to win slightly more than 50% of your games, right? (You win every game he gives up 2 – which is half – and a few in OT/SO when he gives up 3). So sub-2.5 GAA would make 3GF games more likely wins, but at what point do you reasonably get to 3GF as “should wins”? 2.33? 2.25? Dunno.
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Team Defense?
Going to a "team defense" system is code for our defensemen not cutting the mustard. It’s like a hurt foot causing knee pain. Fix the foot and the knee pain goes away. If the Burins/Canucks series doesn’t demonstrate why we need bigger, tougher, harder hitting defensemen, I don’t know what does. Get the defensemen that I’m talking about and we can unleash the hounds, and Backstrom will be his old self.
Additionally, Backstrom’s comment about being fooled sure is a lambasting of our coaching staff.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
We don’t need Big Hard Hitting Defensemen. We need Big Hard Hitting Forwards. You can replace forwards more easily than D. Injuring one of your 6 D is worse than injuring one of your 12 F.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
I’d like to have both. There’s a reason that the big tough hard hitting defensemen are hard to replace. They are rare and a premium. They win cups. Without them, we will continue to struggle in the playoffs.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
Name the defensemen you are talking about and then we can talk about what it takes to get them. Seems to me you are looking for two guys. Z Chara and a healthy Chris Pronger.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I’ve been through this at nausea. Our GM has to find the next Chara, the next Pronger, the next Bieksa and so on. Will our young defensemen turn into those types of players? I’m not seeing it…………. yet.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
the next Chara, the next Pronger, the next Bieksa
Um…
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by J.P. on Jun 16, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Rec’d for at nausea.
Well you won’t know they’ve found them until it’s too late to talk about. You hated on Carlson and Alzner despite their awesome showing. Are you going to recant in a couple years?
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
by Rob Parker on Jun 16, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Most definitely. PLEASE prove me wrong. I just want to riot after we win the cup….
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
I can’t do anything. Carlson and Alzner will prove you wrong. Of course, if you don’t see that already then maybe not.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
They have the size and talent; I’d like to see some toughness and aggressiveness from them. You can see glimpses of that type of play from young defensemen IF they have that in them, which is what concerns me about Alzner and Carlson becoming cup winners.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
What. Evs.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
by Rob Parker on Jun 16, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
There aren’t two other players on the roster I have less concerns about than those two.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
by Carl Putnam on Jun 16, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 9 recs
Well put. I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I’m pretty sure I agree.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
They are arguably our first and best line on defense. What line would they be on with Boston or Vancouver? Second? Third? Alzner and Carlson are a good second or third pair. We need some studs to be our number one line on defense. We will not win a cup without better defensemen.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
Arguably?
And I’d take each of them over every single defenseman in that series other than one.
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Clearly the difference maker. 2-1 with him, 1-3 without him.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Realistically Game 3 was 0-0 when he left.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I was going to say 2-0, 1-4, but I knew someone would complain that he actually dressed for game 3.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I hear ya :)
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d say there’s 1 on each team that I would take over at least one of Carlznerson: Chara and Edler.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
That I would take right now, that is.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Edler isn’t nearly as far ahead, and the way he played with that busted hand he really wasn’t ahead at all I don’t think. (Of course, the way the rookies played against TBL maybe Edler did open that distance back up.)
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Edler clearly isn’t as far ahead as Chara. But he is a legit #1 D who is very good at both ends of the ice. And he’s only 25. I cut him some slack for playing with one hand (sorta like the inexperience gives the kids some leeway for their performance v. Tampa), and I wouldn’t bet on Edler being better than Carlzner down the road. But right now I think his offensive upside to go with his defensive play puts him at least ahead of Alzner, and probably Carlson two if you put a lot of stock in being able to repeat performances at the NHL level.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s fair. Either way, they’re as good or better than the majority of the SCF D, even if you don’t give them much benefit of the doubt. Say a healthy Hamhuis is better, and go ahead and throw in Bieksa too. Then throw in Seidenberg on BOS’ side. That’s still not even half (and Hamhuis didn’t play most of it). You gonna try to make the case that Ference or Kaberle is better?
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Definitely not. They are very clearly 2nd pairing on either team, at worst.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, second pairing...
says something—if the two cup finalists each have a better pairing, which of course they do. The Caps don’t have any intimidators on defense, really, which is why I agree with the point that we need a pronger or chara type who get in the other team’s head.
The Canucks or Bruins wouldn’t either and they know better than we do. I had Green in mind with the "arguably"
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
Yeah those are good points. Maybe if we had any reason to think Carlson or Alzner would get better, even a little bit better, then there’d be reason for more optimism. As it is right now they’d at best be the second pair on a Cup team and I’m guessing you’ll agree with me that it’s all downhill from here for them. I think they’re in a bit of a “sell high” situation now, we could probably get someone to show some aggression and toughness if we act now. I’m thinking maybe… Alzner for Andy Sutton, straight up (I’m hoping GMGM is clever enough to not have to sweeten the pot), and Carlson for, let’s see… Anton Volchenkov. I’m sure Carlson wouldn’t mind going back home.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Anton Volchenkov. I’m sure Carlson wouldn’t mind going back home.
We don’t need another defenseman to block shots. I’m thinking we’d need a couple of players in return…probably Colin White and Steckel. Crease clearing defenseman + the infamous head hunter.
I’m thinking we need to make major defensive moves sooner than later. I’m not sure how many years Ovechkin has in him considering how hard he plays. We have to win the cup now before Ovechkin gets hurt or turns into fine china. Can you imagine him in the finals? I cannot wait!
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
Making moves now is almost certainly a step in the wrong direction. Making moves back in 2003-05 when we could have set ourselves up to have an experienced D corps when AO arrived, sure. That would have been a smart thing to do. But that shit has sailed and there’s no way you’re going to get fair value for our young D at this point so you just have to ride with them and hope AO doesn’t get fat or brittle.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
The good news is that we are one good trade and one good coach away from the cup. I truly believe that.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
It doesn’t have to be trade, but yeah I agree we’re pretty close.
Every team is flawed. That’s just how it is now. You have to pick what flaws you want, hope your team lines up well with the playoff match ups, execute well (i.e. without lots of mistakes), and hope for some luck.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
My intuition tells me that our GM built this team to beat the Penguins……accomplished! Now we have to have a team that can beat any comer. The Bruins seemed to learn a lesson from last year. I’m still waiting for the Caps to learn from their decades of painful losses.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
Don’t hold your breath.
And I don’t think this team would have beaten a healthy Pens team.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I think you can make a very good case that a healthy Pens team would have rolled through the East and had an excellent shot at winning another Cup.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 16, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d make that case.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
We’ll never know
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
Nope. I’m just saying my opinion is that healthy rosters lined up, the Pens are superior for a 7 game series.
Sure, we won the regular season contest. Hooraaaaaay. How’d that work in ’09?
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
The sun was in our eyes in 2009.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
Weather just won’t cooperate. Sun in ’09, fog in ’10.
/scrambling for a moon joke
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
The eclipse in ’11
"Hockey won’t hold still for a portrait. To gain a glimpse inside you join it in progress—just as the players do." Epilogue of 24/7
by capsyoungguns on Jun 16, 2011 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess Lightning is their own weather problem. Don’t even need to reach.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
“We wuz zapped”
/overkill
"Hockey won’t hold still for a portrait. To gain a glimpse inside you join it in progress—just as the players do." Epilogue of 24/7
by capsyoungguns on Jun 16, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Plug in our D corps from this year into the ‘09 team and we win that series. Hell not having 2 OT goals go in off those ’09 D men could have changed the result. Wasn’t like they swept us…as much as the result matters besides Game 7 it was razor close.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Because Varly played out of his mind early. Our skaters were thoroughly outplayed.
by Dirk Dangler on Jun 16, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
thoroughly is a little strong in my opinion. I do felt like Pittsburgh had more possession and some big chances that Varly snuffed early in the series, but he also let in some soft goals as the series went on. We weren’t dramatically out shot in the early going, and frankly as we’ve seen from other series none of that really matters in the end it’s all about the result. When you’re talking about 2 losses in OT from unlucky deflections it is as close as it looks. By Game 7 our D corps were so banged up and Varly had such an off game I don’t think we would have won regardless of whether or not AO buries that early breakaway.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I think “thoroughly outplayed” is completely accurate. If not for Varlamov standing on his head early in the series and AO being unstoppable the whole series there’s no way that series goes to 7.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Those two statements though are on par with saying if we had cleared Crosby out of the crease during the series they might not have beaten us. Varly was fantastic early in the series but he was also the opposite at times later on in the series.
It could easily be said both us and Pittsburgh “thoroughly outplayed” Montreal for large stretches of each of those series last year, but it didn’t matter in the end.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, Varly wasn’t great at the end of the series…and the Caps lost 4 out of 5 games. And saying the Caps were dominated except for AO and Varly isn’t the same as saying the Caps just needed to shutdown Crosby. Sure, Crosby was a beast that series, but he wasn’t the only one scoring. And more importantly, he wasn’t the only one getting consistent offensive pressure. Outside of AO, no one on the Caps was consistently putting pressure on the Pens D, much less actually chipping in offense. That is getting outplayed. That the Caps and Pens outplayed MTL and lost is irrelevant to the Caps-Pens series the year before.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 17, 2011 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions
The Pens would have been in the hole Vancouver fell into…unless they kept it a 1-0 or 2-1 game, they’d be cooked. They had almost no offense going into the playoffs.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Accomplished?
My intuition tells me that our GM built this team to beat the Penguins……accomplished!
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
For the past two years, the high point of our season has been the regular season accomplishments against the Penguins.
Quand on change d'attitude ça change tout
Well if the regular season is the benchmark then GMGM has clearly built a team that can beat the entire NHL, not just the Pens.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 17, 2011 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m still waiting for the Caps to learn from their decades of painful losses.
I’d prefer that they focus on the painful losses of the last two years. What happened twenty years ago has absolutely no impact on today’s team.
I don’t know but that vancouver loss looked way more painful than any of the caps recent ones
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
by BetterOffWith28 on Jun 16, 2011 8:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’d take losing the Finals in game 7 over being swept in the 2nd round 100 times out of 100.
by Yoshietree on Jun 16, 2011 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Speaking of luck, how different is the series if Kesler isn’t playing through a torn labrum and a groin injury?
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 16, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Is that the official word?
How different is the series if Horton and Savard play healthy?
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Well, the Bruins were 0-2 with Horton. So maybe Rome did them a favor.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Hard to argue with that logic. Mark Savard is an anchor I tells ya.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
They blew a 3-0 series lead in the only series he’s played in the past 2 seasons!
But in all seriousness, if Savard is healthy that means Peverly is gone. Still probably an upgrade, but it’s not like it’s just adding Savard’s value to the current roster.
But the real question is, how good would the Bruins be if they didn’t have a mediocre goalie and no depth?
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That’s what I remember reading on Twitter at 4am, but I haven’t seen official confirmation. I remember being real surprised that Kesler was getting eaten by Krejci’s line, now I (think I) know why.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 16, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Kesler got pounded by toughness. I’m sure it caused or re-injured him. That’s part of the toughness that I’d like to see from the Caps.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
I’d also love to see some of that luck where it’s the other team’s top players getting injured and not ours. Maybe next year MSL has a busted thumb.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
The Caps need to add...
another good center and/or center, for starters. IMO this team is not as close as diehards want to think. The D is better but still not great—look at period three, game three in the tampa series. Pathetic. I like Semin but am not sold on him at all as a playoff asset—and the same for Chimera and Fehr.
And I’m not sold on Boudreau either: no excuse for getting swept by tampa. I’m actually rather shocked by Backstrom’s comment that Tampa “fooled us” and “we couldn’t solve them.” I have a hard time believe that Tampa did anything that the coaches or players had not seen before. It’s the coaches job to solve the puzzle that is the opponent’s tactics—and the Caps didn’t even come close against tampa. This team might make a serious cup run next year—but almost everyone would have to stay healthy and that just doesn’t happen in this sport. I don’t see the caps have enough depth of talent otherwise.
I’m thinking we need to make major defensive moves sooner than later.
So give a realistic example. As far as I can tell, you’re the only person who don’t believe that Alzner/Carlson are not, or will ever be, top defensemen. Who do you go after via trade or UFA? What do you offer up in return?
I’ve covered what I’d do "ad nauseam" (thanks Timmyv38) in earlier posts.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
I actually don’t think you ever gave us any concrete names or proposals.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Yeah, and in the first go around on this topic we had to badger for names/proposals. I guess we have a couple names, which is a start. I still don’t see much that could help form a coherent plan going forward.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I’m pretty sure any plan he came up with (coherent or otherwise) would have to include Alzner or Carlson for any of the proposed crease clearing defensemen at which point they become laughable…even if they are coherent.
My thoughts and the dozens of replies and comments are in the "armchair GM" on FanPosts. May 7 at 8:59 a.m. I’m still right, in my semi coherent 70’s altered mind
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
While coherent, your proposed trades were utterly unrealistic in that thread. If I"m reading the right post, you said:
That leaves Alzner, Carlson, Schultz and one of our goalies tradable in my opinion. I think we could get two big nasty stay at home defensemen for those four
You’re absolutely correct. I can’t think of a single GM right now that wouldn’t trade Gill or Pronger for some version of that package. But the only GM I can think of that would actually give up those assets for a Gill or a Pronger is Mike Milbury.
What I’d like to see/hear from you is a realistic trade proposal/UFA signing…not something you’d pull off in NHL11.
by Yoshietree on Jun 16, 2011 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I look at what you’re saying and it’s a compelling argument- the B’s pound the Sedins into submission, make them play patty cake on the power play, and voila, they have a Cup.
I don’t think it’s as cut and dried as that. While the coaching staff should be pilloried, the players also had no answers. Watching the Canucks being foiled at one zone entry after another reminded me of the Caps heartlessly going in, or trying to, on the dump and chase against TB: woefully and painfully ineffective.
Some others have voiced that a major shakeup will go, likely Semin and or one of the young tenders. I’d love to see toughness in our wingahs, to tell you the truth, outside Nicky and Ovie.
by S h a g g y on Jun 16, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Erskine is a wingah…
"And therefore I looked down into the great pity of a person’s life on this earth. I don’t mean that we all end up dead, that’s not the great pity. I mean that he couldn’t tell me what he was dreaming, and I couldn’t tell him what was real."
- Denis Johnson ("Jesus' Son")
by Rather Bengt on Jun 16, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
career high in goals—he’s turning into an offensive specialist.
Caps fans aren’t on the ledge; they’ve already jumped, and are merely trying to drag others into a mournful descent with them..--Stienz
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Sadly, Oisk had one more goal and as many points in the post season as the subject of this interview,
"And therefore I looked down into the great pity of a person’s life on this earth. I don’t mean that we all end up dead, that’s not the great pity. I mean that he couldn’t tell me what he was dreaming, and I couldn’t tell him what was real."
- Denis Johnson ("Jesus' Son")
by Rather Bengt on Jun 16, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
flagged for truth.
....when the truth is if they knew anything about the game, they'd be in it.
--GMGM
by redlineblue on Jun 16, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
“Team defense” is actually code for “our forwards need to play defense so we don’t have 2 dmen trying to cover 3 forwards”. The Caps have 5 good dmen right now, and a decent 7D. They just need a solid defensive type to pair with either Green or Wideman – and physicality there would be nice.
Backstrom being his old self won’t happen by getting dmen – it will happen by getting a 2/3C who can win defensive zone draws so Backstrom can be used in the offensive zone, where he should be getting the majority of his starts.
Also, for the record, it’s “ad nauseam”, not “at nausea”. Thanks for the laugh though.
Matt Bradley: He has sensitive skin, no?
by timmyv38 on Jun 16, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ve focused mostly on defensemen on this site because it seems like most here have their head in the sand about how good our defenseman really are (it nauseates me). Yes, we have some good defensemen, but it takes GREAT defensemen to win the cup.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
Yeah, like 60 year old Glen Wesley, Frank Kaberle, Aaron Ward, Bret Hedican, Nick Wallin, Anton Babchuk, Mike Commodore, Oleg Teverdovsky, and Andrew Hutchinson.
Which one of those guys are you clamoring for?
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
by Rob Parker on Jun 16, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t know enough about those guys to comment.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
That you don’t know enough kinda proves the point. None of them are GREAT defensemen and they won a Cup as a D corps.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I know without even looking up any of the guys you mentioned that everyone of them picked up their game in the playoffs. Ours did not.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
So it’s about picking up your game, and not being a GREAT D?
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
That’s what great defenseman do!
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
It’s also what not-great defensemen do. Aside from that list of Canes and the Pens D, Tom Poti has gotten lots of love around here for stepping up in the playoffs. Is he great?
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Sounds like you are the one with the blinders on.
This current group of defensemen is the best the Caps have had in years (decade?). Most of them are young enough and talented enough to develop quickly into a reliable core.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
by oldemystix on Jun 16, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Which defender for Pittsburgh was great in 2009?
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 16, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
The one from Long Island!
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
by Rob Parker on Jun 16, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nah, Ovechkin took care of that.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Gill comes to mind
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
We clearly aren’t operating under the same definition of “great” then.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
So what you want is a great performance, rather than a defender who’s objectively great beforehand. I think it’s pretty safe to say that the team who wins the Cup is likely to get some performances that are above the heads of the respective performers. Hal Gill is a long way from great in any consistent sense.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 16, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Gill’s a little long in the tooth now, so no (regarding a trade). But he sure played great in the playoffs. That’s what is important to me.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
Scuderi is still young, and he was even better than Gill.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Gill singlehandedly stifled us last year, that’s still stuck in my mind as well.
"Statistics are like a drunk with a lamppost: used more for support than illumination" Sir Winston Churchill
.
Gill singlehandedly stifled us last year
<cough, cough> Hello, remember me?
"I remembered when he said that and I kind of looked at him during the warm up and told myself that I got to shut these guys out tonight." - Michal Neuvirth, 02.06.11.
by bagace on Jun 16, 2011 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The only thing Hal Gill does singlehandedly is make a mockery of the obstruction rules.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
by Rob Parker on Jun 16, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
You know for a fact that he uses two hands to… nevermind… no one needs that visual.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
We have a few great dmen. Green, Carlson, and Alzner especially. Schultz is good, and can be a solid pair with a puckmover. Wideman is good, and he will probably be 3rd pair. After that…. no depth, which is an issue.
Matt Bradley: He has sensitive skin, no?
How many teams have better depth than those 5? Not many. Every team needs their best D to stay healthy.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Exactly. I think all we really need is a dman to put with Green or Wideman, stick Erskine at 7D, and then we have Poti if he ever recovers.
Matt Bradley: He has sensitive skin, no?
Please explain to me how the SCF demonstrates that our D needs to be more physical. Both those teams are extremely frustrating to play against, but not full of crease clearers. Just like Nicky says about Tampa above.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
To help with basic Timeonice functions.
If I reference a lot of stats, just assume I haven't seen anything to contradict or invalidate them.
by red army line on Jun 16, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Was it done with purpose and intent? Was there a conscious decision to forego goals for the sake of D? I think not.
What about using Backstrom for a higher number of d-zone draws, as has been discussed extensively on this blog
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Jun 17, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought that was also borne of necessity. There simply wasn’t anyone else he could trust to do it. If BB could have, he would have given someone else those D draws and let Nick play O (I hope).
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
This whole section is so encouraging:
You must be very motivated to train even harder.
Yeah that’s true. I have already trained for two weeks here at home. I train Monday through Friday, and on the weekends I do other stuff like playing tennis and things like that.
I understand you changed your personal trainer this summer. From Anders Bergström to the old skater Sebastian Falk.
Yes, I have trained with Anders for four years, and he has really helped me a lot. But I felt it was time to try something new, so I contacted Sebastian. He has worked with Brynäs previously and I have heard nothing but good things about him. So this summer I have worked with him in Sandviken, the training facility out there at Göransson Arena is really good. It feels like I made the right decision.
What have you focused on?
I want to improve my skating technique, so that’s what we are working on. You don’t use the exact same technique in speed skating as you do when you play hockey. But you do work on the same stuff in the preseason. And Sebastian seems to be really good and have very clever solutions and ideas.
We focus on agility, explosiveness and balance, things that I think I need to work on.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
A lot is encouraging and thanks as usual to Malin, but not the part about “they had us fooled” – ugh.
I definitely love that he’s working on his skating. He’ll be even scarier if he can improve that area.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
And conditioning, generally. Clearly he wasn’t in the best shape of his life last year.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I’d hope Mackan could show him a tip or two. If we could combine the best elements of both guys into 2 centers we’d be set for 7-10 years at 1C/2C
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not sure how much Mackan can teach what he has. That stride screams “god given.”
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
As long as he has it, I won’t complain. Hope he is training right now.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep. Him and Sjo-nuff.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Exactly. THIS is what I want to see from everyone, but especially Nicki and Ovie. The commitment needs to start now, not next spring.
We’ve got too many heroes. We need some monsters.
- The Jade Donkey
Having trouble wrapping my head around “Nick Backstrom” and “explosive skating.”
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Think seeing Marcus blow past him on the ice gave him a little incentive?
"I remembered when he said that and I kind of looked at him during the warm up and told myself that I got to shut these guys out tonight." - Michal Neuvirth, 02.06.11.
I had that exact same thought, especially since there have been quite a few Backstrom-MarJo comparisons over the past year.
"Neuvy was eating pucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
by SeattleCapsFan on Jun 16, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
We focus on agility, explosiveness and balance, things that I think I need to work on.
Balance? You can’t knock him off his skates with a bazooka when he has the puck. What is this going to look like next season?
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 16, 2011 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
guys who try and knock Nick down are going to feel like they’ve run into a brick wall.
Caps fans aren’t on the ledge; they’ve already jumped, and are merely trying to drag others into a mournful descent with them..--Stienz
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Falk better not mess with Nicky’s badonkadonk.
"I remembered when he said that and I kind of looked at him during the warm up and told myself that I got to shut these guys out tonight." - Michal Neuvirth, 02.06.11.
If he noticeably improves his agility and balance from where they already are?
His skating will look a lot like Sidney Crosby.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 16, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
You know I don’t believe in more than marginal improvements in skating at this point, but I’d love to see it. If Nick gets more first step and lateral explosion he’ll be an absolute nightmare. Better conditioning would obviously help that.
/says the lead footed beer gutted man
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Yeah, I feel like the best way to defend him right now is take advantage of his relative lack of explosion and cut off the angles. You know he’s shifty as hell, so you can’t come right at him, but he’s not going to beat you to the passing lane with quickness.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 16, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I’d agree, just keep him to the outside and don’t beat yourself with aggression. Almost like just treating him like he’s on the PP at all times.
Of course, you know who did exactly this to us? Jacques Martin. I forget when it was… feels relatively recent…
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I’m glad he realizes that to make changes training must be constant instead of jumping into it halfway through the summer. That makes three Caps who have mentioned that they are already training – Nicky, Carly, and Alzner – am I missing anyone?
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
I must say that they had us fooled completely with the way they played. We had no solutions. We couldn’t find a way to fix it or correct our mistakes. We couldn’t solve them.
This to me is the most honest anyone has been so far about the TBL series, and a part of me wonders if this is once again an example of Backstrom being more candid with the media than the team would like (Exhibit A being when he leaked news about his thumb to the Swedish media).
But more importantly, this just once again reiterates the need for a new coach. BB had 4 games to find a solution, any solution, to Tampa Bay and he failed miserably.
"Neuvy was eating pucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
Yup.
“no solutions” and “fix our mistakes” points directly at the coach.
BB’s positives and negatives have all been discussed extensively but I don’t know how one could reasonably expect to get to the SCF or win it all with a coach who can’t adjust well enough or be the guy who comes up with the genius tactical decision.
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
BB’s positives and negatives have all been discussed extensively but I don’t know how one could reasonably expect to get to the SCF or win it all with a coach who can’t adjust well enough or be the guy who comes up with the genius tactical decision
Go back and read the Boston papers after the Flyers came back from 0-3 and knocked the Bruins out of the playoffs last season. The same thing was being said about the guy who just won the Cup.
BB has blown it in 3 straight playoffs now though. And with a very good team all 3 times.
Matt Bradley: He has sensitive skin, no?
Yeah I’m not sure the comparison is accurate.
Similarities of circumstance, for sure. And I certainly haven’t watched enough Boston games over the years.
But was Julien getting out-coached on an annual basis as badly as BB has been?
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Boston fans were thinking so. In fact, I was reading “Stanley Cup of Chowder” during Round 1 and there were a number of fans there calling for his ouster, believing that Julien can’t coach during playoffs and the player had stopped listening to him; etc. Granted, this was when they were down 2 games to none but the panic was running very high over there.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
And was a Game 7 OT goal away against Montreal from being canned.
Not buying that Julien had all that much to do with Boston’s success. I am buying that he’s better than Boudreau.
It isn’t even anger-inducing. It does not seem to be worth that kind of emotional investment. It might not even be disappointing any more. It is expected.
-Peerless 5.6.2011
Then again there is the thought process that he is a good coach and just needed to be given time. Vancouver was one Game 7 OT goal away from being another 1st round President Trophy winning failure (only of the blown 3-0 series lead variety). I’m of the mindset that this is how it goes in the NHL playoffs. You need things to go your way or have someone step up at just the right time…very few times will you see a Cup winner who didn’t have a couple of these make-or-break moments during their run. We just haven’t done the right things at the right time or been on the right end of a couple good/bad bounces to put together a deep playoff run yet. We can certainly point out multiple moments in the 3 playoff exits before this one and find very small things that may have changed the course of the entire playoffs with respect to how deep we go.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
But rather than focus on the bounces and right end of luck, I’d rather focus on the fundamental flaws this team has.
It isn’t even anger-inducing. It does not seem to be worth that kind of emotional investment. It might not even be disappointing any more. It is expected.
-Peerless 5.6.2011
Agreed, but it’s apparent that there aren’t any team that doesn’t have such flaws. We have to figure out how to push through them, or work around them.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
The “we just didn’t get the bounces” argument isn’t quite as strong when you get swept in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
No, it’s not. At the same time, there were crucial own goals in games 1 and 2, the Malone no-GI in 3, the Bergenheim no X-check. I mean, there were some seriously fucked up bounces/calls that had a significant impact on in 3/4 games. Now, you can look at our responses to those bounces and there’s plenty of critique there. A bad bounce own goal when you are up 1 in the second period shouldn’t sink an entire game. (Back to J.P.’s point about mental frailty.)
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I’d like to see the Caps adopt the mindset that adversity is inevitable — whether it’s injuries, bad bounces, bad calls or whatever. The first thing they would need to do is “don’t whine, don’t complain and don’t make excuses”. The second is to work on those things which they can control.
I obviously don’t know what’s said behind closed doors, but I’d like to see evidence of some that attitude from the coach and the team.
Quand on change d'attitude ça change tout
Which would be the exact reasoning behind stating this:
the 3 playoff exits before this one
I assumed that was a pretty clear idea that this year was a far different result. We had no answer for Tampa, and couldn’t even hold on to momentum in the games we DID have good stretches in.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Missed that part of it. I’d agree that a bounce here or there could have easily been the difference in previous series. But I also think the Caps were seriously flawed and seeing as how they have always been the higher seed it’s troublesome that they can’t beat lower seeded teams (aside from the Rags) without getting the bounces.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 17, 2011 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions
And a team he already had seen 6 times.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Bingo.
"Neuvy was eating pucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
by SeattleCapsFan on Jun 16, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Sun Tzu says
If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general [manager] is to blame. But if his orders are clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers coach.
It isn’t even anger-inducing. It does not seem to be worth that kind of emotional investment. It might not even be disappointing any more. It is expected.
-Peerless 5.6.2011
by macvechkin on Jun 16, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Add Nicky’s “had us fooled” comments with Knuble’s comments about being being flabbergasted how TBL could “snap their fingers” and score, and you’ve got a recipe for team that’s lost.
"I remembered when he said that and I kind of looked at him during the warm up and told myself that I got to shut these guys out tonight." - Michal Neuvirth, 02.06.11.
That’s not really the recipe, more like indicators that there are some serious problems.
The metaphor might be…. there’s mold on your ingredients?
(?)
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
What I didn’t understand, ultimately, was how the tight, focused team we saw against the Rangers suddenly looked like they didn’t even know each others’ first names vs. Tampa.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Eh, with a few moments of exceptions I take issue with calling the Caps a “tight, focused team”. They definitely played better during the Rags series than they did against TBL, but there were several games where they looked pretty sloppy. That they closed out in 5 was – to me – due to a lot of lucky bounces going their way.
"Neuvy was eating pucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
by SeattleCapsFan on Jun 16, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Because at the first sign of trouble, this team goes to shit. As I tweeted last night, “It’s unreal how mentally fragile the Canucks are. And I know mentally fragile hockey teams – I’m a Caps fan.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I gotta disagree with at least the first part of that. What was their record when allowing the first goal, last year?
Geeks of All Nations, Compile!
Better than any other team in the NHL.
So let me amend my statement: at the second sign of trouble, this team goes to shit.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Or should we amend it to say “at the second sign of trouble in the playoffs, this team goes to shit.”
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Yup. The more I think about ‘10-11’s failures. The more I think about how little the other lines produced.
Vancouver’s top line had a quiet series for the most part and yet it went to game 7.
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
You could say that about ’10’s failures, ’09’s failures, and ’08’s failures as well.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I agree, I think ‘10 was the better of the bunch in terms of distribution/contributions but still not great. It’s why I’m not as married to the idea of bringing almost everyone back as some people I chat with about the Caps. I like a lot of the players, but that doesn’t mean I want them to continue as Caps for this reason.
Some change is needed….
Small comment, but a meaningful one about secondary players not stepping up during the playoffs.
Boston had 12 players in double digits in points in 25 playoff games. That’s a pace of having 12 players with more than 30 points over an 82-game season. They had eight players with five or more goals…works out to eight players on a pace for 15 or more goals over an 82 game season. That’s just the scoring side of the equation. Tim Thomas did much of the rest.
Boston got contributions from pretty much everywhere.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 16, 2011 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup. I really respect how Boston did it this year.
Great defense. Great goaltending. Tenacity. Hitting. Forechecking. Effort (and offense) from all over the roster.
It was a blueprint for how to win without having the best offensive players in the world like Ovechkin or Crosby.
The Caps, luckily, have some of that talent. They just need to learn so much from how the Bruins did it. (Or how the Canucks didn’t do it)
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
It’s not like Boston doesn’t have a Norris winner and 2 time Vezina winner…
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
not that he deserved the Norris….
Caps fans aren’t on the ledge; they’ve already jumped, and are merely trying to drag others into a mournful descent with them..--Stienz
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
So he’ll win an undeserved one and lose a deserved one.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
To help with basic Timeonice functions.
If I reference a lot of stats, just assume I haven't seen anything to contradict or invalidate them.
by red army line on Jun 16, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Right.
Not saying the Bruins don’t have talent. But their offensive talent is lacking, and yet as a team they got it done, to the point of winning a couple SCF blowouts.
The caps need to take their offensive skill, and mix in some of what Boston’s capable of doing.
Obviously you can’t trade for Chara or Tim Thomas’ 2010-11 season, but the point stands.
"By far the worst performers on the (Redskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Yeah, BOS doesn’t have the high end offensive talent, but they do have lots of depth, especially when healthy.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Considering the numbers that led the playoffs in goals and points this year, I have a hard time criticizing Ovie as much…we need more across the board production. You need it out of your top 2 lines, your 3rd line needs to contribute, and you need even the 4th line to chip in. Special teams can help alleviate some of the concerns, but we just haven’t gotten enough consistent production in the playoffs series to series from anyone other than Ovechkin. Backstrom and Semin have shown good numbers for a series or two, but not on the whole last couple of years (although Nicky injuring his shoulder in the middle of the Montreal series last year may have been another possible tipping point to us just winning in 5).
We need Neuvy to be better than he was in Round 2 as well. Yeah he needed more help, but he has to be better as well.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think you can name a single player on the roster that was good enough against TBL.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I would buy this. It’s hard for me to find even full games by players that I would call good enough. I think we were unlucky to have been beaten 4-0 but fortunate to have been swept in that it will make guys work harder (hopefully) and look for ways to change/improve their games.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
and when they had the ‘nucks on the ropes they didn’t stop punching. 8-1, 4-0, 5-2 and 4-0. When Boston scored they kept scoring and didn’t stop. When the caps score big they lose focus and get cute: try to set up a pretty goal, a pretty pass or pad a buddy’s stat sheet. They need to finish off opponents, mortal kombat style.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
Although I didn’t see much fight back from VAN in those losses.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Not at all. Once that team went down by a couple goals they completely fell apart, to a man. Sometimes it was Luongo’s fault that they gave up early goals, sometimes it was poor team play. But regardless of the cause that team just could not handle the adversity.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree. I do think Luongo had a big hand in digging the early holes in Boston, but not really last night. I do think he has to save at least one of the 2nd or 3rd goals, and really probably both (especially knowing what kind of game TT was going to have).
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I think if we are looking at the blame for the first goal or two in the BOS wins, Luongo was most culpable in Games 4 and 6, and the team in Games 3 and 7. Definitely a full team effort all around.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jun 16, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn’t particularly liked how he played the whole 2nd goal in game 7. And he just has to come up with a save on the 3rd goal. It’s not fair to call it soft because it was a pretty good player on a breakaway, but with it 2-0, he has to make the save.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Bergeron is an awesome player, but offensive skillset is probably his weakest area.
No one on the Bruins particularly terrifies me on a breakaway, but then, the skill guys aren’t always the good shootout players, so what the fuck do I know?
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Jun 16, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
No one on the Bruins particularly terrifies me at all.
On paper that team is particularly lacking the intimidation factor. A bunch of $4-5M forwards, Chara and some decent D. Thomas.
Yet there they sit, with the Cup, after dominating a Vancouver game to the tune of 8GA in 7 Games.
It isn’t even anger-inducing. It does not seem to be worth that kind of emotional investment. It might not even be disappointing any more. It is expected.
-Peerless 5.6.2011
Because they role lines that can all play on both sides of the ice.
I’m scared of Milan Lucic.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
Easy way to nullify Lucic: Don’t turn your back to him.
I have planned my grand attacks; I will stand behind their backs. With my brand new battle-axe, they will taste my wrath. They will hear me say as the pavement whirls, "I hate California girls."
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jun 16, 2011 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I also think there’s a mental difference between SO and breakaway in a game. I haven’t watched enough BOS to know who their good guys are in that situation.
And yeah, Bergeron’s offensive limitation is the reason I think it’s fair to say Luongo has to make the save.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I’m still not even sure I know what gave the puck momentum to go in on the 3rd. I thought it was interesting how Eddie O kept talking about the right (leading) hand “punching” the puck as he was sliding, I felt more like his left (trailing) hand might have done a quick little slap at the biscuit to propel it towards the net as he was sliding through, but really hard to tell from the replays we had available. I just don’t know really how Luongo stops that in any way other than just being fortunate it doesn’t pop out of the wash of bodies there.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with you, back hand looked more like the culprit but the puck was still a good ways behind Bergeron.
I thought after the initial save Luongo may have relaxed and not covered up the far post area as well as he could. I also think he should have done a better job tracking the puck, but that’s easy to say from a couch.
A kitten on fire, a baby in a blender, both sound as sweet as a playoff surrender.
I could definitely buy doing a better job of blocking off the entire lower portion of the net in that spot not knowing exactly where the puck is/possible shot is coming from.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jun 16, 2011 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
OK, so...next year's T-shirt?
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 16, 2011 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Fans or Players shirt?
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
by Carl Putnam on Jun 16, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
Except that in the Caps’ case, the band might be “The Who” as much as “The Huh?”
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 16, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
For me, it’s become “The Oh.”
If my answers frighten you, then you should cease asking scary questions.
by Steck It Out on Jun 16, 2011 11:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
58 | 27 | 20 | 11 | 65 |
|
Winnipeg
|
62 | 29 | 26 | 7 | 65 |
|
Washington
|
59 | 29 | 25 | 5 | 63 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
59 | 27 | 26 | 6 | 60 |
|
Carolina
|
60 | 23 | 26 | 11 | 57 |
(updated 2.22.2012 at 8:56 AM EST)
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