Thursday Caps Clips: Music City Mess
by EmilyB on Sep 29, 2011 6:40 AM EDT
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PrintYour savory breakfast links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's loss from Caps365 video (Boudreau, players), NHL.com, Vogs, WashTimes (Whyno), CI (Carrera), CW (Whyno here, and here), SB Nation DC and On The Forecheck (Preds).
- As time wound down in the game last night, word filtered out that Braden Holtby was en route back to Washington from Hershey as "[Michal] Neuvirth is nursing a minor injury and for precautionary reasons will be given a day off." Gulp? [WashTimes (Whyno, and again), CI (Carrera), SB Nation DC]
- Related: This move relieves some of the pressure on a crowded Hershey training camp crease, for the moment. [Stack the Pads (who also has some tight pics of Dany Sabourin's new bucket)]
- Last night notwithstanding, expectations for the Caps are sky high. [USA Today (Allen), ESPN Insider ($), ESPN (Burnside), Puck Daddy, CW (Whyno), Capitals Outsider]
- Top-ten projected League goal scorers. [Hockey Prospectus (Willis, $)]
- Prognosticatin' Jay Beagle and Karl Alzner. [Peerless, Peerless]
- Cody Eakin is working on his faceoffs... [CW (Whyno)]
- ... and recently received his Western Hockey League championship
blingring. [@JSmarts04] - Chris Bourque gets some pixels in his hometown press. [Salem News]
- Alexander Semin is interviewed in English... [CI (El-Bashir)]
- ... and Alex Ovechkin is interviewed in Russian. [Alex Ovetjkin]
- So you wanna be a hockey player? Here's some helpful tips. [RtR]
- Celebrating Caps fandom. [Box Seats (Weissman), and to help a Caps fan in very minor need, "Like" this guy's dorm room so he can win some contest]
- Finally, happy 47th birthday to John Tucker and happy 61st to Rolf Edberg.
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Only four teams have scored fewer than the nine goals the Caps have in five games of the pre-season, and all of them have played fewer games. Ten teams have allowed more than the 14 the Caps have given up. It might not mean much in the end, but no one need be happy about it.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Eh, I’m not worried. Once Erskine is back, they’ll be fine.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 29, 2011 7:19 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
ESPN’s season preview isn’t too bad. Some interesting points, an unfortunate number of few Cap’s Cliches™, but one definite head scratcher:
But what sets McPhee apart from some of his colleagues is he continues to resist the temptation to explode his team and keeps the core intact.
What temptation? I mean, the team is winning games, tons of them (albeit regular season, but still). They players are clearly good enough. In what world does it make sense to blow up a team that wins like that. Also…
The Caps signed the talented Russian to just a one-year, $6.7 million deal because they feared being tethered to him for longer.
I was under the impression that it was the other way around. In fact, so is everyone else, including Semin’s agent, GMGM, and Burnside’s fellow ESPN hockey reporter Pierre Lebrun. I don’t expect much from ESPN and I expect very little depth in these sorts of previews, but that is just lazy.
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Frankly, I don’t see what’s wrong with this. McPhee could’ve moved Green. He could’ve not re-signed Semin or unloaded him for pennies on the dollar. He could’ve let Laich walk. But he didn’t. He’s kept his core in tact despite likely temptation to blow it up after repeated failures. Where’s the issue?
As for the Semin deal, GMGM is comfortable with it at one-year, and I’m sure there’s a multi-year deal one could draw up that Semin’s side would’ve been all too thrilled to take. They’d probably have jumped at two-years at $6.7m, but GMGM wouldn’t have offered that deal… because he feared being tethered to him for longer.
The snark about ESPN.com not knowing anything about hockey is ridiculously over-the-top. They have some of the best hockey writers out there and do a great job covering the sport. If you let the fact that they put bozos on television color your opinion of the entire media outlet, well, that’s your loss.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I’m actually fine with Burnside on TV, I think he does come across as a good interpreter for a general audience that may not be familiar with hockey. I don’t see much merit in LeBruin’s writing, though. Are the E$PN Insider hockey writers better than what is freely available?
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
LeBrun is a good writer and incredibly well-sourced. Next to Bob McKenzie and maybe Darren Dreger, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who gets more scoops. There’s plenty of merit to his writing.
I’ve actually never seen Burnside on TV (I don’t watch ESPN other than for games, generally).
And yeah, there are good and/or interesting writers behind the pay wall (Custance, some stat guy…), but their free stuff is still as good as you’ll find from any national outlet in this country.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
there are good and/or interesting writers behind the pay wall (Custance, some stat guy…),
Is Custance the good or interesting one? Wait, don’t answer that…
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work on WaPo's Capitals Insider, ESPN Insider and Russian Machine Never Breaks (RMNB) Insider. I also log the Caps scoring chances. The 2010-11 summary spreadsheet is posted on Google Docs.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
I said, DON’T ANSWER THAT.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work on WaPo's Capitals Insider, ESPN Insider and Russian Machine Never Breaks (RMNB) Insider. I also log the Caps scoring chances. The 2010-11 summary spreadsheet is posted on Google Docs.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Well, I’ll give LeBruin another shot; what I recall reading of his turned me off and I stopped reading his articles. I’ve trended towards reading sources that are either not-national in scope or ex-US for hockey.
And Neil, I consider you more of an independent agent of statistics than an ESPN guy, and I mean that in a good way.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
but their free stuff is still as good as you’ll find from any national outlet in this country.
That’s the main point. Who is really getting their hockey news from a national outlet? If you’re serious about following hockey, your main stops for information are blogs, and in some outlets local media.
I do agree that ESPN has some quality writers, though.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
if you’re serious about following hockey, your main stops for information are blogs, and in some outlets local media.
I thought it was:
1. WashingtonCaps.com
2. Comcast SportsNet
3. Washington Post
4. Ted’s Take
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work on WaPo's Capitals Insider, ESPN Insider and Russian Machine Never Breaks (RMNB) Insider. I also log the Caps scoring chances. The 2010-11 summary spreadsheet is posted on Google Docs.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
by NGreenberg on Sep 29, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Well, yeah, I’m not really arguing that. But there’s plenty of big picture stuff that they do well, and there have certainly been times when LeBrun has had scoop that even the local beat writers didn’t have.
My bottom line, I suppose, is that if you go to an ice cream shop looking for a six-pack of Bear Republic Racer 5, you’re going to be disappointed, but that doesn’t mean the ice cream they’ve got is no good.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I like the analogy… and the beer.
And LeBrun works as hard as anyone. You can’t knock him. It’s funny, I’m sure there are people that will rip anything he does on ESPN, and then ignore that he’s frequently the highlight of Hot Stove on HNIC. Does that mean he’s an idiot when he writes for ESPN, and a credible genius when he is on HNIC (or any other Canadian outlet)?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Are the E$PN Insider hockey writers better than what is freely available?
Yes.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work on WaPo's Capitals Insider, ESPN Insider and Russian Machine Never Breaks (RMNB) Insider. I also log the Caps scoring chances. The 2010-11 summary spreadsheet is posted on Google Docs.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
The snark about ESPN.com not knowing anything about hockey is ridiculously over-the-top
Don’t put words in my mouth. I never said anything about ESPN’s knowledge of hockey. They have guys that know what they are talking about and guys that don’t. But that is expected for a company that reports on all manner of sports.
The comment was more on ESPN’s reporting in general. It is not very good. They, as an organization, occasionally (and too frequently in my book) show a lack of journalistic integrity and are prone to very lazy reporting across the board.
I’m not going to argue over the other stuff. It isn’t worth it. I think Burnside made some unsubstantiated claims, one in particular where there is direct evidence that contradicts it on their own website. As relevant to this Caps team, I guess the point is small. But it jumped out because it continues to justify my growing disillusionment with mainstream sports journalism.
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I’m not going to argue over the other stuff.
It isn’t? You blasted them on two points. I rebutted those two points. C’est fin?
And I didn’t mean for the “snark” line to be solely directed at you – more a general comment about how people love to pile on ESPN (or CI or whever) to the point that the valid criticisms lose nearly all credibility because they’re lost among the less legit.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Further, Scott Burnside knows more about and has spent more time with the Caps than just about anyone not employed by one of the local media outlets. I don’t think he “lacks journalistic integrity” or is lazy here.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
FWIW, I think their hockey reporting ain’t bad. I make a point to read what Lebrun has to say. My opinion on ESPN and its reporting is pretty clouded by college football. I love college football, I love reading about it, but ESPN’s involvement in many of the situations really stretches their integrity. But this topic is getting OT, so I’d rather take anything further elsewhere.
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I honestly, don’t have a problem with Burnside. In fact, I think he’s better than most. It’s just that I have found that these national guys, whether it’s ESPN or TSN, rarely tell me something about the Caps I haven’t read here twenty times before. I basically look to the national outlets for info on other teams, but never the Caps. The only exception might be Corey, but even that’s rare.
That’s generally fair (though there are certainly regular exceptions), but I think it’s to be expected, given the nature of the audience. I’d expect NHL.com to give you the 30,000-foot view, ESPN to be on an observation deck at the city’s highest point, the local papers and TV to be at ground level, and bloggers to be examining the dirt with a magnifying glass. Or something.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
…and bloggers to be examining the dirt with a magnifying glass in their mother’s basement. If they knew how to report they’d be real journalists, and if they knew anything about the game they’d be in it.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Sep 29, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
The piece wasn’t perfect, and by all means I generally have an intense dislike for Burnside, but I actually thought that piece was pretty well thought out. He took an approach that was contrary to the predominant public opinion and backed it up.
That after I’d been sort of following their training camp travels, and by lack of reporting after he said he was in DC, I’d been wondering why he even bothered to stop in. Now I know.
Don’t try to figure Sasha out. Just ride the wave.
I think Marty Brodeur is getting crazy in his old age. In the CNN piece on all the suspensions this preseason:
http://nhl-red-light.si.com/2011/09/28/things-i-dont-understand/
"Not everybody is following preseason, and when it’s over, the only thing people are going to hear about is, ‘twelve suspensions for 37 games or whatever it turns out,’ " Brodeur told The Post on Tuesday. "That’s not good for the game. No other sport does anything like that to itself."
According to that logic, police shouldn’t arrest or prosecute people who commit crimes in the ghettos because no one pays attention. People should only be charged with murder in northwest and Montgomery county. PG/SE/NE people are free to shoot and stab as they please.
It’s one thing to say “I don’t think these people deserved their suspensions”. He could at least argue that. But the argument “It’s just the preseason” is, well. BULL$#!T
According to that logic, police shouldn’t arrest or prosecute people who commit crimes in the ghettos because no one pays attention.
Brodeur said something stupid. Why the need to say something stupider?
What Marty seems to fail to understand is that what’s worse “for the game” than suspending Jody Shelley for five games is when you lose star players – the actual attractions – due to these crap hits.
Probably the dumbest thing said yesterday, though Danny Briere tried to top it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Probably the dumbest thing said yesterday, though Danny Briere tried to top it.
?
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"This [job] would be so much easier if it wasn't for the fucking [customers]."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 29, 2011 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions
though Danny Briere tried to top it.
Maybe he’s thinking of Avery. He tattled about someone calling him a “f@g” on the ice.
You’re really trying to one-up yourself on stupid today, aren’t you?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I never try. It just happens.
I don’t think my analogy earlier was that dumb. I just think Marty saying that the punishments were too much because it was the preseason and less people watch. I think it’s just like saying people don’t care about crime if it happens in an area where people don’t pay attention.
I shall quote the Wire, Season 5 Episide 3:
Alma: Four people murdered and it gets 4 inches below the fold.
Fletcher: Wrong zip code
Alma: What?
Fletcher: They’re dead where it doesn’t count
by Brainumbc on Sep 29, 2011 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Saved by the Wire quote.
But I still think the analogy is a stretch. Then again, I think it’s stupid when people draw parallels between discipline within the game and the criminal justice system, when athletes use war metaphors when talking about their games, and when commentators use references to women as insults.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 29, 2011 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
But I still think the analogy is a stretch.
Well a stretch, yes, but I think it still holds.
At least I hope it does. I take the LSAT on Saturday. :P
I think it’s stupid when people draw parallels between discipline within the game and the criminal justice system
Well, it was just a comparison of similarities in a system. I personally wasn’t trying to say that refs and players are like cops or soldiers or anything. It’s just an analogy that does exist, though, albeit a few octaves down the scale of gravity.
I see what you’re saying about the misogyny and the “battle” metaphors, though.
Yeah, the “criminal justice system” comment wasn’t in reference to Marty and this stuff, but rather the folks who justify taking a resultant injury into supplementary discipline considerations by saying “that’s the way it works in the real world” or similar.
Good luck on the test. When in doubt, “b” – worked for me.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I take the LSAT on Saturday
Goodness man, whatever problems you may have in your life, Law School is NOT the answer.
I want to start up a group of youtube videos for 1Ls called “It Gets Worse”
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Sep 29, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
So true. You might end up pissing your life away on some hockey blog…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Wish I had the time. Post what you want, and maybe I’ll get to it tonight. I shouldn’t even be reading this…
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Sep 29, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Law school is over in, what, three years? PhD programs go on forever. There is a reason the degree is called “Piled High…and Deep”
If you've read this far...seek help.
I hang out with a lot of people working on their PhD’s. Yea. They’ve been in there forever.
Not to generalize, but a lot of these people have their air of condescension for people that aren’t educated in a grad program.
To these people I always feel like saying: “Congratulations. You just spent an extra 6 years in college and will be earning probably the exact same amount as someone with a BS when you get out”
Well......
nice poke at yourself, all in jest, but I’m sure if you are as good a lawyer as you are a blogger, you are in good company.
cheers
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Sep 29, 2011 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Do not go to law school.
I could say the same about majoring in Information Systems.
At least with law you can fart and bill the people around you for 0.5 hours each for smelling it. I wanna be RICH!
And to keep this from going too OT, what do most sports agents end up having a major in? Law? Business?
Eating poo. You’re on the right track.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
By the way, I didn’t mean this to be interpreted as snark-free. I actually do like my job much of the time. And who likes their job all of the time?
Go to law school if you want to be a lawyer. Don’t go to law school if you don’t know what you want and you figure that’ll at least pay the bills. And enough of this OT
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Sep 29, 2011 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Said Briere on Wednesday: "It’s ironic everyone is defending Avery and it’s OK for him to call guys out about killing them."
Briere said Avery "just wants attention" and that he deliberately accused Simmonds because he wanted to pile on after the London, Ontario incident.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/130715498.html#ixzz1ZLF7DzKG
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah, I got nothing.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"This [job] would be so much easier if it wasn't for the fucking [customers]."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 29, 2011 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of "I got nothing"
wanted to apologize to BP for flagging the Brittanie Cecil snark the other day—obviously I missed the sarcasm—this morning it hit me that it could have been ironic so I went back and re-read it.
Clearly it was, and the replies by F&B and others convinced me that I was being a dumbass—so…yeah. Sorry bout that.
We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?
by bilspacecadet on Sep 29, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
No worries (or need) my friend.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"This [job] would be so much easier if it wasn't for the fucking [customers]."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 29, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
And then Briere speared the Philly reporter between the legs just for asking the question.
by b.orr4 on Sep 29, 2011 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think he has a point about Avery getting incensed about a slur, while making threats about other players. Avery has a history of crossing many other lines, but now it’s not okay when someone crosses a line that he doesn’t like?
But the connection to the London incident is just ridiculous.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Sep 29, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
As is the implication that the threat of murder was anything but horse shit.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Yeah, well the vast majority of trash talk – both threats and insults – is horse shit.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Sep 29, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
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Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
Avery’s been known to really get into a guy’s personal life… talking shit about guys wives and stuff. I agree that “I’ll kill you mother effer” isn’t a threat to be taken seriously, but Avery doesn’t get to pick which lines get crossed. If you talk shit about a guy’s wife, I wouldn’t expect him to bring you flowers.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Avery didn’t pick the line here – society did.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
As we’ve well covered here, society’s rules don’t govern what happens on the rink…
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
When what happens on the rink leaves the rink – when there’s video on a television broadcast of a player saying what Simmonds said – society’s rules matter.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Matter enough to suspend a guy? We all saw Cooke on Savard, but the NHL didn’t step up and suspend him. I’m also not sure society’s rules actually take a hard stand on this. We say that using a term like “homo” or “fag” is unacceptable, but do we treat those words with the same disdain we have for the word “nigger?”
I’m not saying that makes it right, or acceptable, but I don’t think society sees these as obviously unacceptable as some of the racial/ethnic slurs. I suspect my [not yet conceived] kids might treat slurs related to sexual orientation with the same disdain as racial/ethnic slurs, but I don’t think we’re there yet.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
And as K_C points out, there’s an entire generation of people that don’t think “fag” is even really a sexual orientation term. Just like “bitch” has morphed from it’s original and past meanings.
Insults will be made, they will be offensive, how do you avoid that?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Yup. If that wasn’t offensive, he’d have found something else to say that is
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Sep 29, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t suspend for that, no. But I’d fine the hell out of folks.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It’s really difficult to equate anything with “n” word given our country’s history so I don’t think that’s a particularly helpful comparison. I do think most adults (save perhaps KC’s generation which I most certainly am not a part of) would agree that “fag” is a bigotous remark. Simmonds got caught on tape using it. I think a reasonable fine would be more appropriate than a suspension but with the inability to really do that, I absolutely think that’s worth a game’s suspension. And I think with the circumstances of the Burke family, hockey may have the most reason to address this particular slur (or at least the impetus to show some leadership on the issue, though I realize that suggestion goes down a different path). If you can suspend Wiz for his obsence gesture because it’s offensive, I don’t see why you can’t suspend this.
by Dirk Dangler on Sep 29, 2011 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
__
Well, here’s part of the problem. When someone drops an n-bomb, it’s almost always an attack on the intended person for being who they are – an African-American/Canadian.
By contrast, when someone calls another player a faggot, it’s rarely a literal attack on the intended person for being who they are. Does Wayne Simmonds actually think Sean Avery is a homosexual? Maybe, but probably not. Did Tocchet/Trottier think Bellows was? Doubtful. I’d bet that easily 9 times out of 10 that that word (or similar) is thrown around, it’s used as a proxy for “you’re a chicken/wimp/not as manly as me” rather than “I believe you lead an alternative lifestyle for which you should be persecuted.” Really, it’s an attack on those people who are gay, that it would be used (and taken) as such an insult.
So you have one case in which the recipient is having hateful language directed at him for who he is and one case in which the recipient is having hateful language directed at him for how he acts. Personally, I think it’d be more offensive/wrong if a closeted-but-suspected homosexual was called “faggot” than if Alex Ovechkin was. And I think it’d be less offensive/wrong if someone called Sean Avery an n-bomb than if that slur was directed at a black player.
All of this, I suspect, is why people feel that n-bombs directed at black players are utterly intolerable and anti-gay slurs directed at (presumably) non-gay players aren’t met with nearly as much resistance. And while I think there’s some legitimacy to that, ultimately tolerating anti-gay slurs prevents or at the very least strongly discourages a subset of players from being comfortable with who they are. And to me, that’s just wrong.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 29, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 9 recs
I personally played with (and was in a fraternity with) a gay guy. He didn’t openly say it, but I’m pretty confident this type of behavior and language led to his withdrawal from most team activities. I 100% agree that the real issue is the impact on whether gay people feel comfortable or welcome joining the hockey community.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Perfectly summed up what I meant by people using “fag” or “gay” as a general insult rather than a homosexual slur. Sure, if you ask almost anyone they will think about it and say that fag is a derogatory slur towards gay people. But that’s not how it is typically used by large segments of the population. “That’s so gay” is more likely to mean “that’s so stupid” than it is to mean " that is two men having sex".
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Sep 29, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure he did. Society wouldn’t know/care about it until Avery made a stink about it. By going to the media he is inherently deciding that a line has been crossed, while being perfectly fine with the other shit that he’s said on the ice.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Sep 29, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Not true at all – the video was on Towelrod.com and message boards before the game even ended. It wasn’t about Avery making a big deal about it, it was about Simmonds being caught on tape.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You think this gets any sort of mainstream play without Avery’s comments? Please. I’ve never been to Towelrod.com, or heard anything about the comment until Avery said something.
Besides, multiple people can draw lines. Just because the public is also against gay slurs doesn’t mean Avery didn’t draw a line on what is acceptable on ice taunting and what is not. And I find it incredibly hypocritical given his past.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Sep 29, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
He was asked a question. He answered it. What do you want him to do?
And no, of course not. But I’m sure glad it did get the coverage it did – exposing the NHL’s tolerance for bigotry matters.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
half true. I’d be more inclined to believe that Avery is abusing a social line in the sand. If Avery can’t goat a player into a fight and then bitches to the press that the player called him a bad name, well Avery is the one who not only drew the line, but circled it and shouted for everybody to come look and see.
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
to be fair, a reported asked Avery if Simmonds dropped the F bomb after the game. I think if any reporter asks specifically like that, there’s no reason not to talk about the incident. That means it was either picked up by the broadcast or people are talking about it in which case there’s a certain onus to give your spiel on it.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
I think if any reporter asks specifically like that, there’s no reason not to talk about the incident.
I don’t know. Other players talk about a “what’s said on the ice stays on the ice” code.
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
I think I would generally disagree. In every single hockey game since the on ice mic was present there have been hundreds if not thousands of swears and unacceptable slurs said by players. Isolating a single player for a single occurrence and asking about it after a game is disingenuous at best and outright muckraking even then.
Especially so if it’s the traditional Four letter “F bomb” as opposed to what I am inferring from context as the Three letter F bomb.
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
First of all, it’s not just Avery that has a problem with this line – it’s most of civilized society. I’m not sure that similar lines that Avery has crossed (with some exceptions) are as generally unacceptable.
More to the point, however, just like Simmonds calling Avery what he did doesn’t take away from how Simmonds was wrongfully treated a week ago, what Avery did or didn’t say previously doesn’t make what Simmonds said here any less wrong.
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by J.P. on Sep 29, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
So by Avery standards making French-Canadian slurs is okay. Making fun of cancer patients is okay. Making fun of obesity is okay. Starting fights in your own locker room making fun of a teammate’s lisp is okay. But gay slurs are not okay.
Sure, it doesn’t make what Simmonds said less wrong. Doesn’t mean he should be punished for saying it. But then again I’m all for letting whatever is said on the ice stay on the ice. And I have no patience for Avery crying to the media about a comment he didn’t like given his history of intolerance towards other groups. Particularly when the word Simmonds is accused of using is one that for people of his generation has traditionally been separated from it’s connection to homosexuals and has been used as just a general insult. Not that that isn’t a problem in it’s own right, but it’s a cultural problem and not one that necessarily reflects total intolerance on the user.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Sep 29, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Who gives a fuck what Avery’s standards are? I sure don’t.
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Well Briere’s original quote referred to Avery playing the victim while not being an innocent himself. My initial comment was that I think that’s a valid point, and I stand by it. I don’t support what Simmonds said, but I also have zero sympathy for Avery, nor do I think he should be treated as some sort of champion for tolerance because of this. He’s a giant douche who is okay with crossing all sorts of lines but runs to the press when someone says something he doesn’t like. He may not have used racial slurs against Simmonds, but who knows what the hell he said and what lines he crossed to get Simmonds pissed off?
But again, this all comes down to me just not caring what is said on the ice.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Sep 29, 2011 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s all fair. I’m focused more on what was said (and the prevalance of similar things being said) than on the recipient of the taunt. I have very little sympathy for Sean Avery the hockey player or Sean Avery the person, regardless of what causes he champions in his free time.
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What Marty seems to fail to understand is that what’s worse "for the game" than suspending Jody Shelley for five games is when you lose star players – the actual attractions – due to these crap hits.
Know what else is worse for the game? Having the NHL come across as doing nothing to protect its players (stars and scrubs alike) from thugs on the ice in a climate where the NHL and other sports are under the microscope on issues of concussions and player safety.
Completely absurd comment from Brodeur.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Sep 29, 2011 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup. Almost literally unbelievable that he’d say that.
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Dementia is starting to kick in for him?
by Beakers Lab on Sep 29, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
If Caps365 is going to interrupt Boudreau eating his post-game meal to interview him, at least give the guy a glass of water. Lou Holttz laughs at this.
"You just have a sense," Holland says. "The type of player you want, the type of situation you reference for your next game, you see it."
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Sep 29, 2011 7:48 AM EDT reply actions
You never, ever like to see someone get hurt, especially when we’re talking about head shots.
Totally, unrelated…
Right near the end of the Sabres open practice Wednesday night, Pat Kaleta came out from behind the net to try to center the puck. Thomas Vanek of all people got him lined up in his sights and just hammered him. Kaleta laid on the ice before being helped to the lockerroom. Lindy Ruff said, "He’s shaken, but I think he’s going to be OK. He got a little bit of a shot to the head there, but he’s going to be OK."
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by J.P. on Sep 29, 2011 8:18 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Really hope Lindy quoted this when they got back to the room. (soundfile)
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"This [job] would be so much easier if it wasn't for the fucking [customers]."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 29, 2011 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions
"He got a little bit of a shot to the head there, but he’s going to be OK."
Did Shanny make a video?
If you've read this far...seek help.
Because Kaleta doesn’t have a brain, he should be fine.
by Dirk Dangler on Sep 29, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Rough night for Varly. I always thought he was like a flood gate…score 1 on him, and the rest will definitely flow. I hope he overcomes this, I really like the kid.
I hope he overcomes this, I really like the kid.
I believe you meant, “I hope he overcomes this next season, I really like the kid.”
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Well, I guess we should make that next, next season. I like 2 good picks in a row…Haha
by Michael Hardin on Sep 29, 2011 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t. I smiled when I saw the score and that he was in net.
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 Sep 29, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
___
The Goalie Guild (unabashed Avs and Varly fan) had a few interesting (though utterly unsurprising to Caps fans) tweets on Varly last night:
Varlamov’s angles have been suspect tonight. This is what bothers me; he has visible adjustments to make. How long until he makes them? 4-0.
Another one glove side on Varlamov. Off his angle again, squared up to the shooter, not the puck. This is getting ugly, even for preseason.
It’s kind of funny, because where Varlamov is now, Quick was there 2 years ago – all reflexes. Now look at Quick…he’s positionally sound.
Watch when shots go just wide. He doesn’t know how to read the shot and stay centered. He still reacts to them.
And this exchange:
@AvsGuildRachel @TheGoalieGuild Varly seems to be being beaten up high, is that pretty standard for him?
@TheGoalieGuild @avsguildrachel It is pretty standard for most goalies, but moreso for him because he gets so wide and has such a substantial crouch.
@TheGoalieGuild @avsguildrachel Now that you’re taking lessons from my sister, do you see why I am screaming for Varlamov to take Pilates? Man, he needs it.
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I follow TheGoalieGuild, but I guess I missed them last night. And honestly, I don’t see him being where Quick was 2 years ago. I guess time will tell if he can be a true #1 goalie.
For now, I guess we can be happy that he is the #1 on a weak Avs team…Gives us a better shot at Nail Yakupov or Ryan Murray.
by Michael Hardin on Sep 29, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I was starting to like Griffin Reinhart, but I guess we’ll have to see where his development takes him. I’ve seen he has had a rought start this year. I’ve been a Schultz supporter for years, but after this offseason, I feel like he is the low man on the totem pole. Might as well replace “size” with “size and skill”.
So far, I hear Murray is off to a good start. I guess it’s too early for me to know which one I want to go for…
by Michael Hardin on Sep 29, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, I was thinking in terms of “do you want a stud D or a stud F?” You can parse which D you want, though Murray seems to be ahead of the crowd by quite a bit, but I was thinking positionally.
But you’re right, there is so much time that the rankings will change. I’m not expecting a top pick from COL, so I hope a bunch of good ol’ Canadian boys have great seasons so Nail can fall to wherever we are picking. If we did somehow end up with a lotto pick, I don’t know.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
I’m more along the lines of a D-man, but even now I’m not 100% set on that. While I am pretty happy with the Forward corps we have now, there is not too many more down the pipeline. I guess the same can be said for the D corps as well though.
Eff it, I’ll let the scouts make the big bucks and tell me who I should want. That way, I can just come on here to the rink and complain one way or the other…haha
by Michael Hardin on Sep 29, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions
You could even parse it further into C/LW/D given players like Grigorenko & Galchenyuk as top-end centers. But, yeah, super early both from a draft position and ranking standpoint. The main thing I’m rooting for—aside from Colorado losing—is a strong draft class overall so that they’re well positioned to add some real quality young players. Early on the top 10-15 looks pretty strong and hopefully that will extend further down throughout the first round at least as well.
All accounts so far are that it’s going to be a very strong draft class. If GMGM holds both picks he should walk away with one excellent player, and one very good player. Or maybe he opts for oft-injured Angus Ridley and then lucks into a stud anyway.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
by Rob Parker on Sep 29, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Angus Ridley. Ha. That’s my new pseudonym when I check into hotels so that groupies can’t find me.
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I’ve seen people say it is a hell of a D class. Potentially grab a awesome forward and awesome D-man in the round 1? That’d be nice.
by Michael Hardin on Sep 29, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m thinking that if the F and D end up essentially tied for BPA, you go with the forward. Defensemen take longer to mature, and given the the Caps’ forwards (prime or maybe even slightly past, depending on who you ask) and defensemen (pre-prime), the forwards will need some more top-end youth sooner, especially with GMGM throwing around these role player extensions. You could look at it from the other angle, that the Caps’ system has more forwards that look like safe NHL bets (three or four) than defensemen (one), and so the impetus may be to go with D.
So go with goalie or legacy, obviously.
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by red army line on Sep 29, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh.
I’m with you on the logic. In the hypothetical BPA tie I think you may just go for the guy who will give the most ELC production, the F. And if the draft is that deep with D, maybe you hope that a guy falls to where the Caps draft with their own pick. Elite scorers won’t make it too far. Not even a Russian.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
I thought most goals were scored in the bottom foot of the net, not up high. Maybe that’s volume? Percentage-wise do more top shelf shots beat goalies than low shots?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Those are questions to which I have no answers.
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I remember someone posting a great graphic showing goal distribution, but it was for SM Liiga or a European league. The gist of it says you don’t really score goals where the pads sit in butterfly. Goals increased with height, but, that was just goals and also a league with a vastly different play style. I imagine on tighter ice there has to be some difference.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
___
Yep – SM Liiga. Badass stuff. More here: http://www.arcticicehockey.com/2010/11/29/1811028/finnish-sm-liiga-goal-locations-2009-10
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I see Bill and Ted playing air guitar, in both of them
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Sep 29, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Blocker high, no real surprise. Glove low? Kind of surprising. I guess in a paddle down situation you have more of the net covered, otherwise blocker low should be a bit more warm.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
It would be awesome if that data was normalized to glove and stick side. Anyone know if more goalies tend toward catching left or right?
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
Pretty sure most catch left, though don’t have exacts.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"This [job] would be so much easier if it wasn't for the fucking [customers]."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 29, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Good on the NHL for including bios and sortables, 79 of 87 caught left last year.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"This [job] would be so much easier if it wasn't for the fucking [customers]."
by Bald Pollack on Sep 29, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
If I remember correctly, Laughlin used to say that most catch left. The only reason I remember that, is because he used to say Theo was an oddball by catching right…
by Michael Hardin on Sep 29, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Get used to hearing it again with Vokoun in net.
DiPietro, Vokoun, Theodore; I believe Hiller and Harding, too.
You mean in Finland? In every league I’ve ever watched (or played in) it’s overwhelmingly toward catching with the left hand, blocker on the right.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Yeah, very few right-catching G’s anywhere (despite the Caps having two in the past three seasons).
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Assuming right-left distribution is the same there as it is here, around 5-10% of the goalies in that league would catch right. I think it’s a situation like with left handed catchers in baseball — if you’re left handed with a strong arm, you gain more of an advantage being a pitcher than a catcher. Likewise in hockey, if you’re left handed, you gain more of an advantage being a skater than a goalie.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
Left-handedness isn’t a big advantage as a skater. In the U.S., players tend to be right-handed more than left-handed, but elsewhere, the distribution is much closer to 50/50.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Not a big advantage, but bigger than a goalie being full right.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
As a skater? What’s the advantage to shooting left? Shooting left-handed is more common than right-handed pretty much everywhere but in the U.S..
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Being a natural left handed shot as well as if you’re skating backwards, you’re forcing someone to confront something they’re not used to — someone playing D left handed which is their dominant hand.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
I’m not clear on what you’re saying. Isn’t it the exact same on the opposite side of the ice for righties?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
I’m going by how fencing and other martial arts favor lefties — if you’re going up against someone head to head, any athlete is used to facing a right handed player. Going up against someone who is left handed isn’t the norm. It’s one of the reasons why left handed pro athletes are disproportionately represented in sports compared to regular population.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
But that’s because there is a disproportionate number of Righties to Lefties in those sports, because the dominant hand dictates that. That’s not the case in hockey, which is why the analogy breaks down.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
There’s still an inherent advantage to any lefty, and most certainly to left handed skaters since they’re more over-represented than full right goalies.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
As you said earlier though, people choose their shot based on control or power, being a “natural” left shot means you approach goalies with the left, but with more mustard behind your shot. Maybe that isn’t specifically the advantage but there’s something to it because of the disproportion to the regular population and the number of left handed players in the league.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
Okay… but left hand dominance doesn’t dictate which way one shoots. There might be a slight benefit in one’s ability to defend plays a certain way (since most skaters turn better to either their left or right depending on their dominant hand) but the difference is quite small, and that player is still weaker turning the other way.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought there were so few left-handed catchers because it’s traditionally been damn-near impossible to find a catcher’s mitt for them. Also because there are inherent advantages to being left-handed at first base (and disadvantages to being a left-handed catcher (throws down to third, throws down to second given more righty batters than lefties).
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There seems to be plenty of righty goalie gear (at least online). There are more color choices for lefties, but that is of little consequence.
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
Yeah, certainly more right-catching G’s than catchers. But still relatively few.
Oh, and you can find anything online… from what I’ve been told.
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Problem with that being, when most of the guys in the league were playing amateur hockey, they weren’t buying equipment online yet.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
exactly. Because a catchers mitt is such a specific piece of gear used by such a small number of players, the manufacturers don’t bother to make left ones. It tracks lefties to positions other than catcher from a young age. Even if a kid wants to be a lefty catcher, it’s all but impossible to find the correct glove. A little easier now because of internet ordering, but you’ll never find a lefty glove in a store.
/OT
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I was trying to figure out if that was also the case for kids as goalies, if by default they end up as lefty.
Follow up for those that played as a kid, did kids just start in net or do they play both net and out when they were young? I’m talking ages 3-7 or so, when you are going to pick your stick-handedness.
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
A lot of places you have the players rotate through G until someone decides they like it. It’s harder now, Americans don’t like the idea of sharing a set of equipment, but there still is an aspect of choice to it. Some people are just wired to be goalies, though.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
So in that case, your already chosen stick-handedness + the availability of goalie eq is a determining factor. Thanks
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
It depends. I didn’t play ice hockey at age 3-7, so it was different. I figured out stick-handedness playing street hockey, so I just kept the same thing. K_C has been a goalie in every sport he’s played, so when he picked up ice hockey it was an easy call. He learned to skate out, and is a garbage goal machine in men’s league, but there was never a question about what he’d play when he went to ice.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Much the same, I went lefty right away in the street. Took my free stick from stick night, bent the blade the other way and I was off.
In college I played goal in our rec roller league for a year. Much easier for a lefty to use the stock goalie equipment. Even easier because I throw a baseball right handed (and hence catch with my left).
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
Some people are just weird, and choose to be goalies, though.
FTFY
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah you have to be slightly off to want to have people shoot frozen rubber pucks at you. My mom flipped out when I told her I wanted to play hockey and be a goalie. she actually refused to let me do it.
by Beakers Lab on Sep 29, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
it’s a bit of the same with baseball catchers. they’re not as off as goalies, but I find something very odd about wanting to have a ball hurled at you while hoping that the guy swinging the bat doesn’t clonk you on the head.
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My brother was a goalie from a very very young age up through around 8th grade. Like every other goalie I’ve known, there’s just something off about the kid.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah I’ve definitely got my share of quirks. I ended playing goalie in roller hockey and then she let me play football and ended up as QB, because that makes sense to let people take free runs and try to hurt you but playing goalie in hockey was to dangerous. ahh the late 80’s
by Beakers Lab on Sep 29, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Says the narc ref.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
by Rob Parker on Sep 29, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Trust me.. he’s still the family oddball… and it isn’t even close.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s the inherent disadvantage of leftie catchers that you mention (which dictates the lack of lefty catching mitts available).
by Dirk Dangler on Sep 29, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think that analogy holds up. There isn’t a competitive advantage to being L/R in hockey. It’s a preference thing. Being a lefty pitcher is a competitive advantage because there are relatively few. In hockey, it’s not that there aren’t a lot of guys that can play L/R, it’s about whether you want your dominant hand to provide your power or control. There are certain considerations, like wanting an Righty shot on the point (related to the power hand thing), but I don’t think there’s a scarcity issue with skaters that would make it an advantage to play L or R.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
yeah, I made it seem like there’s a huge advantage like having a lefty 2nd baseman or a righty 2nd baseman. It’s more that there’s almost no advantage to being a full right goalie compared to some advantage in being a left-handed skater.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
I just don’t see what the advantage is to being a left-handed skater.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Inherent advantage to being a natural right shot, as a blueliner when most players are used to facing right handed players and the natural instinct of a lefty to change direction/etc toward the left instead of the right.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
But are most players righty? It seems like an even split. It’s a preference thing.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Shot, but not actual handedness. Canadians are 50% of the league, and something like 75% of them shoot left despite being right handed.
Actual left handed players mirror normal sports distribution which is around 5-10% of any given league even though lefties account for less than 5% of the population.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
But shooting left is more like batting left than throwing left. It’s about which task you want the dominant hand to perform. Righty shooters want their dominant hand to provide the power, lefty shooters want the dominant hand to provide the control. I haven’t looked into it, but I suspect there are plenty of MLB players that throw right and bat left.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Some more on right-catching G’s here:
http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2010/4/7/1409052/right-catching-goalies-may-or-may
Included is this Vokoun quote:
To Tomas Vokoun, one of the lefties, the difference gives him an edge, a slight one to be sure, but an edge nonetheless. And we all know how goalies love those advantages, however small.
"It’s a little bit easier for me to stop left-handed shots and most of the players in the NHL have left-handed shots," said Vokoun, the Florida Panthers’ top goalie. "Although, I don’t think it’s a significant advantage. I don’t think a goalie that catches with his right hand has a significant advantage."
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Ignoring the flip side, that righties get an easier shot at your low-blocker, the notoriously hardest place to stop a shot.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Yup. Know what’s even a bigger advantage for a goalie than catching right-handed? Being good at stopping pucks.
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by J.P. on Sep 29, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hey, people come to this site for analysis and I don’t want anyone saying they’re not getting their money’s worth.
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Did I just come into the Predator movie where the alien is looking at the commandos from the trees?
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Sep 29, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I listened to TheGoalieGuild’s postgame audio post, and I was really surprised to hear that the Avs don’t have a full-time goalie coach, just a “consultant” who spends about half a month with the team (and, I got the impression, not 15 days consecutively, but scattered throughout).
That seems unwise to me when you’ve got a young goalie who’s never gone a full season and is extra fragile with suspect mechanics. That 1st could be really, really good.
Btw, those new Preds home unis remind me of UMichigan (in case Peerless or Nate needed a reason to dislike Nashville).
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M Go-Bloo-hoo-hoo
Nashville is now coming up on the outside as my least favorite team…it’s a “maize” thing.
If you've read this far...seek help.
The Preds unis are like Michigan on crack. All that random white piping. Makes Michigan look tasteful.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Supporting autism awareness and treatment.
[I’ll save everyone the trouble and just start out with] I know it’s only preseason but…
4 goals given up last night. 3 of them at even-strength and, as opposed to previous games, only the first one had a suspect line (and all had NHL-level D):
Goal1: King-Knuble-Eakin , Alzner-Carlson
Goal2: Chimera-Sjogren-Knuble , Schultz-Green
Goal3: Semin-Backstrom-Ward , Schultz-Green
Only two games left to figure this out. Is the absence of Ovi (and Erskine, of course) that much of a factor?
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
I think the absence of any kind of urgency (outside those three guys fighting for a spot) is probably as big a factor.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Yeah, last night’s GIVEASHIT/60 was understandably low.
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by J.P. on Sep 29, 2011 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
That there’s a winner of a GIF.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Has anyone seen any info. about if Steffen Søberg has joined a team at this point for the season? I looked around this morning and couldn’t find anything. Obviously, there are several issues including getting the release from Swift Current (something I assume won’t be all that difficult) and finding a team near home that is in need of a goalie with the season’s having started. On eliteprospects it has him linked back to SC but only because no other team to link him with at this time. Also, his old team, Manglerud, appears to only have one goalie listed on the roster.
I’ve been looking too. So far, nada.
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A Metaphor for Last Season's Playoffs?
by Scott in Shaw on Sep 29, 2011 10:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I just RT’d that same link with (Insert “last year’s playoffs” joke). So yeah. And that little one on the right is Marty.
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And Bergenheim is the shot straight to the dome?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
by Rob Parker on Sep 29, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
And Semin’s in the picture, you just can’t see him because he’s invisible.
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If you look really closely you can see him walking around outside in the storm. He just doesn’t care.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
by Rob Parker on Sep 29, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Jean Guichard Photo of Carefree Sasha
Actually I usually think of this
And #28’s level of Not Caring.
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
by Boggles on Sep 29, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Lightning struck more than 3 times in the playoffs last year
…ba da bing…
by sk84fun_dc on Sep 29, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
The shot was taken from DJ King’s perspective, watching everything from across the river, far away and safe from the action….
Everything sounds smarter in Tikkanesse....
by Bonzai!!! on Sep 29, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
VogsCaps Mike Vogel
Pending clearance of waivers for all, Chris Bourque, Sean Collins and Patrick McNeill have been reassigned to Hershey of the AHL.
Guess Bourque is out of the running for a roster spot….
My mind is all twisted like a peanut.
Not necessarily. There are some advantages to sending a guy down now and then recalling him. To begin with, there are a ton of similar players on waivers now and teams don’t have needs so there’s a better chance he clears, perhaps, than there would be in three weeks or whenever. I think that applies more to Collins – whom the Caps might very well need at the outset of the season – but it applies to Bourque as well.
(That said, I wouldn’t bet on Bourque being back immediately.)
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Given that two waiver-exempt guys are still in the running, I’d guess that CBo is going to need a lot of injuries to the Caps to get called up.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
But he’ll be subject to waivers if he plays more than 9 games, like AGordon and Aucoin last year, correct?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
He’s subject to waivers at any point.
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Not sure what you mean by that post,
Anyway, a player who plays in 10 NHL games or stays on the NHL roster for 30 days after clearing waivers (whichever happens first), they have to go through waivers again. Before the player plays in 10 NHL games or before they hit 30 days on the NHL roster since clearing waivers, no waivers required to assign the player to the AHL.
So if the Caps bring up CBo on January 5, does he require waivers (assuming he has been in the AHL from now until then)? If not, he only has to clear waivers going down if he plays 10 games or is up for 30 days?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
By my math, Chris Bourque is exempt from re-entry waivers.
If he clears and is assigned before he stays on the NHL roster for 30 more days or he plays 10 NHL games, he does not require waivers again, until the counter hits 10 NHL GP or 30 days on the NHL roster (cumulative) – whichever happens first.
Right. So assuming Bourque clears going down, he, Sjogren and Eakin all can be recalled from HER without waivers, and all can be sent back down without waivers (the exception being CBo if/once he hits 10 games/30 days).
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So CBo may not be hurt if it’s a short-term replacement, but a longer term replacement gives an advantage to Eakin/Sjogren.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Right, that’s my understanding (and multiple short-term replacements obviously hurt CBo here, as it’s cumulative).
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I meant there was no way Chris Bourque was getting from D.C. to Hershey without going through waivers. Obviously if he passes through and gets back here he has that 10/30 exemption, but I didn’t think that was relevant to F&B’s point (which, now that I re-read it, isn’t the case).
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Hey, what we were talking about the other day….
Yes, the 7th dman might be on waivers right now if Erskine isn’t ready to start the season.
Also, waiting until the last day might have been a lesson learned from the Bourque situation a few years ago.
One other thing along with ‘sneaking’ a player through when a lot of players on waivers, etc., is it gives the team roster flexibility if they want to claim a player on waivers or make a trade.
As far as Sjogren and Orlov, there’s no timing issues with when they are sent down, if they are, since they are waiver-exempt.
Right. I don’t read this is “big win for Orlov” at all.
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@SWhyno #Caps send Chris Bourque, Patrick McNeill and Sean Collins to Hershey, pending waivers. Big win for Dmitry Orlov.
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I agree in the larger context but maybe the Caps keep Orlov initially so he gets a few NHL greenbacks before heading to HER. You know, a little something for the effort (of leaving the K, coming to NA, etc.). Hopefully 7D isn’t needed until Ersk is ready.
by Dirk Dangler on Sep 29, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry late to respond, just got back online, my contribution to this discussion isn’t about why Orlov is still up during camp…makes sense to give him the exposure and coaching and maybe even 1 more preseason game, but I don’t expect the Caps to keep a rookie, waiver exempt player up on the main roster for opening night to be a scratch over sending him to Hershey for playing time.
This is more about sending Collins on waivers now (and McNeil), IMO.
Wouldn’t they all have to clear waivers if they’re brought back up though? Why send any down if they might be used at the beginning of the season? Only reason I can think of is if it benefits Hershey.
My mind is all twisted like a peanut.
As of now, by my notes, the only players competing for the remaining spots who would require re-entry waivers: Beagle and King (yeah, I assume King has a spot on the roster.)
What’s the cutoff point for re-entry waivers? I’ve never been entirely clear on that, but I thought players like MP and Bourque would be required to clear them.
My mind is all twisted like a peanut.
Re-entry waiver rules:
in simple terms, if a player is not subject to waivers and/or makes $105,000 or less on the AHL portion of his salary, no re-entry waivers.
For those making more than $105,000 and requires waivers on the way down, the player requires re-entry waivers if he is not exempt due to the minor league vet rule.
The minor league vet rule exempts a number of players. Basically if a player has played in 320 or more pro games in NA (ECHL, AHL, NHL) and has not been on an NHL roster for 40 or more games last season or 80 or more games over the last 2 seasons, the player is exempt.
(typed without looking at the wording, but this should sum it up)
Ah…. so because all of the players competing for the spot have 2-way contracts with low AHL salaries, they do not have to clear re-entry waivers, basically? The exceptions to that being Beagle and King, I assume.
My mind is all twisted like a peanut.
Because Sean Collins will not be here for 82 games (unless he’s TSlo 2.0). So at some point you’re going to send him down. If you send him now and he clears, he comes back up and does not have to clear again if he’s here for less than 10 games/30 days. Assuming Erskine gets healthy within that time frame, Collins would then be sent down. So the question is whether he is more likely to clear now – when there are tons of depth D on waivers and teams don’t have needs (injuries haven’t hit, etc.) – or in four weeks, when that might not be the case. At least that’s the theory.
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I for one, buy into that theory given what we know about Erskine right now.
The issue is if Collins played well and as other injuries occur around the League, this could be the best time to place him on waivers as he could be a more appealing waiver claim later.
Exactly (and more succinctly put).
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“When you dump the puck in, the [defenseman] is not going to be very excited to go pick it up if you see 200 and whatever [pound] Ovi and 215 of myself coming at you,” Brouwer said on September 22. “It’s just no fun for [defensemen], so they’ll be a little more reluctant to go back and pick up the puck and it creates more offensive chances for us.”
LOL. What is this “dump the puck in” that you speak of?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
by Rob Parker on Sep 29, 2011 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Ha. Welcome to Washington, n00b.
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Great stuff from BIAF. I hope D’ohboy stops by, this stuff could really inform our (never ending) debates about the role of the G in contemporary team-building.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Reading it now. Google Chrome is being an ass and I can’t Z or comment on anything, so I’ve switched to butt-ass slow Firefox.
Armareddon.
Just got this from SBN tech folks on Twitter: “For javascript errors in Chrome, please download the latest version (15.0.874.51) and then clear your cache and cookies.”
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Related to the Brouwer bit above, as well as the Bourque-on-waivers bit, I was reading Matthew Tate’s commentary on why Brooks Laich should be used at center. The takeaway point I took from that article is that using Laich at wing probably results in Bourque getting demoted almost immediately due to the depth chart.
But there was one other thought that I had, which is that if you’re using Laich at wing, you get a depth chart that looks somewhat like this:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble
[Semin/Brouwer/Laich]-Johansson-[Semin/Brouwer]
[Brouwer/Chimera]-[Sjogren/Perreault/Eakin]-Ward
[Chimera/Hendricks]-Halpern-[Beagle/Hendricks]
Playing Chimera on the fourth line is an intriguing, if not ideal option, but I’m kind of interested in the possibility of Brouwer and Ward playing wing on the same lines.
Tortorella: Can I get another question? I went in here in a pretty good mood today, too.
Larry Brooks: So did I.
Tortorella: Well, you obviously f***ed that up, didn't you?
Whyno just tweeted that Erskine is not wearing the no-contact jersey today. Maybe he’ll be ready for the season opener?
My mind is all twisted like a peanut.
if he’s cleared for the season opener, why the franceschetti is Orlov staying up with the NHL club if he’s likely going to be the 7D
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
Plenty of time to send Orlov down still. They are likely using this time to acclimate him to the NHL as they expect him to be playing in the league eventually. If Erskine is healthy then Orlov would be the 8th D which is extremely unlikely to happen. The Caps will want him playing games.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
by Carl Putnam on Sep 29, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
If they want to acclimate him to the NHL they should move him to wing.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
by Rob Parker on Sep 29, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
And Vogs just tweeted that the Caps have extended Jason Chimera for two more years
Tortorella: Can I get another question? I went in here in a pretty good mood today, too.
Larry Brooks: So did I.
Tortorella: Well, you obviously f***ed that up, didn't you?
Give me a minute… I’ll post on it and you all can talk about it there.
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It’s up on the front page. Go talk about it there.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
what. the. fuck.
hell, I defended the Poti extension last year, but even I can’t come up with anything to defend this one.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Supporting autism awareness and treatment.
Where do people think Mackan comes in on this scale. Does it change expectations, projections, or comfort level with MoJo at 2C?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
A shade under “A good 2nd line centre scores just over 50 points,” I’d think. I liked that post, though. Good perspective, albeit very general. The thing for people to consider is that teams can be “way over expectations” in one area and make up for deficiencies in others – if, for example, Mackan is under “a good 2nd line C,” that should be more than compensated for by the production of Alex Semin as a second-liner, no?
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Right. It doesn’t take depth chart considerations. I’m not totally comfortable with our example (Semin and MoJo), but I think the Pens are fine having average or below average wings to go with their Cs.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Right, and my discomfort with our example doesn’t have all that much to do with whether MoJo hits 50 points or not.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Year 2 players are difficult to predict (we touched on it in the look at Johansson), but a jump of 23 points — almost doubling his point total from his rookie year — to get to 50 points might be a stretch for Johansson. He’ll be more productive, but I think somewhere in the 40-point range. What I think holds him back from something higher is consistency.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Thoughts on the Smith on Smith hit?
I’m sympathetic to the D, here. Ugly result, but hard to ask him to play it any other way. On BSH I’m arguing against a suggestion that a hip check was warranted there. I think that’s a terrible angle for a hip check, and it would have resulted in the puck carrier going in all alone on the goalie. This is going to be a very interesting case for Shanny.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
I think it can and should get a suspension, but it shouldn’t be too heavy. It looks like the D was coming in for a clean check, but a late move by the F stepped around it. It does look like he brought the shoulder up, which is why I think it deserves a suspension. However, it doesn’t look like he was coming into the hit looking for the headshot.
My mind is all twisted like a peanut.
But you are going to bring the shoulder up regardless, that’s how you hit.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
But you don’t bring it up into the head, which is what he did. It’s entirely possible he was trying to put it into the chest and missed – hard to tell from that video.
My mind is all twisted like a peanut.
He was angling for a hit — he had support coming from behind so he lines up to clean him out but oSmith slows up to toe drag around him, dSmith doesn’t adjust which means oSmith’s head is now where dSmith expected oSmith’s shoulder to be.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
That’s going to be a tough one. It was an ugly hit but oSmith ran into dSmith and you can see that he changed direction with a bit of a toe drag.
I can see it being a suspension because it is clearly a hit to the head, but I don’t think it’s anything other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time situation.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
my first reaction watching it live on TV last night was “dirty fucking hit.” Today, maybe not quite so dirty, but he was going to bring his shoulder up regardless, which is borderline, imo. I dunno, nasty hit, clearly, and I think he could have separated the puck carrier from the puck without attempting to knock him into next week.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Supporting autism awareness and treatment.
But you have to bring the shoulder up. If he hit center mass, the shoulder comes up. That’s just how you have to do it. If you don’t explode your shoulder, then you get pushed over. It just looks like he brought the shoulder “up” because he didn’t get the degree of resistance he expected.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
One of the things I didn’t consider in the whole discussion over head hits is that players so rarely just take a hit anymore. If Smith (Chi) doesn’t try to evade the check, and braces for it instead, head contact doesn’t occur. Instead, he tries to jump around it, and catches the shoulder with his head.
Smith (Det) will almost surely get suspended, but I’d have a hard time buying a long suspension on that one. The assertion that the dman should go for a hip check is laughable. The angle and speed of the play would make it insanely hard to execute, and hip checks are notoriously difficult to execute even in good circumstances.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
oSmith has a responsibility not to get hit there, if he gets dSmith to blow past him out toward the halfboards he has a chance to get in tight on the goalie. oSmith had zero support so anything he was going to do was entirely on his own meaning he can’t eat a hit there and turn the puck over.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
That’s my point, he would have been dodged and Babcock would have freaked.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
For sure. It’s a tough spot to be in as a prospect trying to make a team. Maybe he could have made an effort to minimize the head contact, but I can’t look at that and conclude he intended to hit the head, I actually see the opposite.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Sep 29, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Awkward….
Your exclusive conference call with Jay Beagle, Sean Collins and radio play-by-play announcer John Walton will take place today from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. Jay and Sean will discuss their goals for the upcoming season and the progress they’ve made during training camp.
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
Nice to see his name in there with Sedin. One question I have is the impact of the lockout. Sedin and Antropov were pre-lockout, do the rule changes make it easier for a young C to take a step forward?
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Paajarvi outpaced MoJo by a bit, and one of your least favorite SBN writers threw out Kopitar, Nylander, and Sundin as comparable (jumping from SEL to NHL as a 19 year old).
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I believe in next year.
by red army line on Sep 29, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
So with all the waiver discussion today, I didn’t see it mentioned that Nick Johnson was claimed on waivers by Minnesota (from the Pens.) The waiver claim(s) have begun…
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