Wednesday Caps Clips: Power Outage
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 6:30 AM EST
in Caps Clips
Email
PrintYour savory breakfast links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's loss from us, Caps365 video (Hunter, Caps players), Vogs, Capitals Voice, NHL.com, WaPo (gamer, blog), WashTimes (gamer, blog), CSNW (gamer, blog), SB Nation DC, Peerless, Frankovic, RMNB, DSP, Hockey Hourly and Sick Unbelievable.
- Save of the year? [Capitals Overtime, RMNB]
- Previews of tonight's colossal clash with the Cats from Vogs, NHL.com, WashTimes, Peerless, KOL, Hockey Hourly and CRtC, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Litter Box Cats for more coverage from the other side of tonight's match-up.
- Will we see Tomas Vokoun in net again? [WashTimes]
- Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's morning skate:
- In general. [Caps365 video (Two-Man Advantage, Hunter)]
- The Caps may very well be doomed. Doomed, I say, doomed! [ESPN ($)]
- These intradivisional games... they're big. [WaPo]
- And it's getting awfully late awfully early. [CSNW]
- Previewing and predicting February. [Nosebleeds]
- John Carlson's sophomore slide continues, but, on the plus side, he's well aware of it. [CSNW]
- Ditto Joel Ward (well, not the sophomore part, but you know what I meant). [WaPo]
- Joel Rechlicz has to be leading the hockey universe in words written about him per minute of ice time. [WashTimes (and again), CSNW, RMNB]
- These Caps look oddly familiar. [OFB]
- How a trade changed Tomas Kundratek's hockey life. [AHL]
- Do some good. For Hendy. (But really, for the cause.) [FanPost]
- Finally, "the fact that Ovechkin is using his star power to help out Pacioretty's foundation isn't going unnoticed." But I thought he was a selfish, whiny man-child. Huh. [CJAD]
708 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I thought he was a selfish, whiny man-child
No, he’s a cold, calculating, cynic merely trying to rebrand himself as a do-gooder.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Feb 1, 2012 7:02 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
A wolf in sheep’s clothing.
That'll make your weagle wink!
"You're the boss, apple sauce" - @GreenLife52
So, his name should be Alexander Volchov (or Alexander Volchenkov), using the last names that mean “wolf”.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
How many photos of that guy in that jersey even exist?
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 9:06 AM EST up reply actions
Apparently not enough that I could quickly find one in which you could clearly read the nameplate.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Anyway, thanks for the pic of our underachieving wolf who wasn’t in sheep’s clothing. (Some fans may even make the snarky comment that Ovi’s underachieving so much that he’s been taken over by the spirit of Volchkov which would give new meaning to that old expression.)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
One of the great 39’s in sports history…Larry Csonka, Dominik Hasek, Roy Campanella, David Steckel
If you've read this far...seek help.
000
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 9:43 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
That white mask is awesome. Need to bring that out of mothballs.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 9:49 AM EST up reply actions
So Jim Hrivnak played for the Caps right around the time Arturs “Like Wall” Irbe was making a name for himself in San Jose. My brother and I had a running joke:
Jim Hrivnak is “like wall.”
You mean he stops all the pucks?
No, he’s unresponsive.
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
Btw, this pic is just another reminder of how much better the throwbacks would look with blue pants…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Caps blue enough so far this year.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 1:11 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
How a trade changed Tomas Kundratek's hockey life
Meanwhile, on the other side of that trade…
When Kris Newbury returns from an injury and Sean Avery plays and behaves like he can, the Whale’s offensive output could be given a boost. But when your second line has Francois Bouchard on one wing (three goals in 32 games since being acquired by the Whale) you’re asking for trouble.
Since he turned pro, Bouchard has more PIMs (147) than points (122).
If you've read this far...seek help.
That trade was alchemy. Even if Kundratek never plays another minute in the NHL.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I just don’t understand it from the NYR perspective.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 8:40 AM EST up reply actions
Right. What could Kundratek have done to so annoy the FO that they dump him for Bouchard?
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I thought the story was he was buried on the depth chart in CT and asked for a trade. I don’t know that anyone would have expected it to turn out to be a dump.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
I don’t know that anyone would have expected it to turn out to be a dump.
Said the unfortunate man pre-Burger King hamburger.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 9:07 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You didn’t just say that… oh you did.
I LOL’ed (and Rec’d)
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 9:52 AM EST up reply actions
Yup. It helped that he and Bouchard had the same agent (Allen Walsh, I believe) and both were in situations that didn’t have much upside. Bouch knew he wasn’t going to crack the Caps lineup (and he lost his BFF on the way) and with other D prospects (not to mention Redden in the lineup), Kundratek was being healthy scratched by the Whale. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was Walsh that got this to work.
"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
Walsh doing something that would interfere with his client’s organizations and their hockey plans?
Never happen…
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
Not sure I see an issue in this case with Walsh. Two clients unhappy and frustrated with limited ice time and healthy scratches. Two clients looking for a fresh start. Worked out for at least one of them and while he may not be contributing on the scoreboard as much as wanted, Bouchard is getting more playing time, too.
No issue here; just commenting on how Walsh does more tampering with his players’ employers than probably any ten other agents combined.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
They are pretty deep with young D and have no scoring on the wing. Now, they are pretty deep with young D and have no scoring on the wing.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Kundratek was blocked by some older D, too, with Redden and Bell playing for the Whale, but yes, Erixon, Valentenko, Parlett, etc.
Organizationally, yes, I’m talking about playing time at the AHL level. He was being healthy scratched in the AHL; those guys weren’t taking away his AHL minutes this season.
Yeah, and I’d wager the organizational depth had more to do with it than anything. He wasn’t going to get a chance to play with the Rangers any time in the near future so they figure they could swap him for someone that might fit a need.
Please, call me F&B.
I was wondering this aloud on Twitter last night, but what’s the harm in bumping up Orlov’s TOI? He’s only seeing time on ES basically, but his GAON/60 is good (even if he’s got the easiest QUALCOMP among the regulars). Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about giving him 20 minutes a night, but he seems to be doing OK with the 16 he gets now.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
They certainly can’t make Erskine’s any lower. 7:42 last night. For an NHL defenseman, that’s bad. I completely forgot he was playing.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:36 AM EST up reply actions
Up until the GWG, Orlov was having perhaps his best defensive game, IMO.
And with RAHJC headed in the other direction (hopefully to the press box for a game, frankly), it’d make sense to me.
Also, there’s no fucking way playing Jeff Schultz could hurt this team right now.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Nope. He’d probably play 5 minutes and you wouldn’t even notice he was there.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:56 AM EST up reply actions
If you don’t notice Schultz’s minutes, then he’s playing good hockey.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 9:54 AM EST up reply actions
If he’s on-ice, then yeah. But not if he’s gambling for Dubble Bubble with Joel Rechlicz and Michal Neuvirth on the bench.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
True, but for those five minutes of ice time…
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 10:14 AM EST up reply actions
Was Orlov the guy that let MSL get wide on him, or was he the guy that lost Stamkos?
The latter is mortal, the former venal imo.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Orlov was on MSL. Carlson skated to cover absolutely nobody and gave Stamkos a free lane to the net, if memory serves.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 8:42 AM EST up reply actions
This is it. If memory serves, Orlov had a bad gap and might have been too far inside. But letting Stamkos walk around the cage unescorted is a real problem.
I also note that JC74 had the obligatory horrible turnover in the D zone last night. It did not end up in the net, thanks only to some luck.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Orlov could have played it better but more often than not, the same thing is going to happen. MSL got a shot off instead of a pass because of Orlov but the fact remains that no one was within a mile of Stamkos.
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
Orlov at least made MSL beat him wide, as opposed to letting him walk down the slot for a 2-1.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
yeah — it wasn’t an example you want to show people how to play defense, but it wasn’t totally horrid and he kept MSL to a narrow shooting window. Stamkos being THAT free while Carlson stares at the puck though, damn.
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
The nights he’s not? They are playing the Hurricanes.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 10:39 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Remember folks… “Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill” MSL has Age and skill. Orlov will learn from this and get better.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
-4 for JC74, he looks like a rookie out there but I’m a positive note he won’t cost much to resign
by Obi wan Knuble on Feb 1, 2012 7:34 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
It will cost a lot if he resigns because he was a first-round draft pick. And he would be pretty hard to replace.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:36 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs
But he’s still only a RFA!
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
If he resigns though, he won’t be playing for anyone.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:38 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Not even himself???
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I mean, he’ll be playing golf every day and doing whatever young 20-somethings do. He’ll have all the time in the world if he resigns.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:44 AM EST up reply actions
I’m resigned to that fact that JC74 is still going to cost big bucks. Offensive D get paid ya know!
Cross check and all call.
He has been pretty offensive lately. At this rate, he’s going to be lucky to end up with a contract comparable to Alzner’s.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Of course, for my earlier posts in this sub-thread, I was thinking of Carlson resigning his contract as opposed to resigning his commission as a Washington Capital. The latter would be big time depressing. I figure he’ll resign — but for less money than was anticipated prior to the start of this season.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
If we can’t trade him for a 1st rd pick, then I would think his value isn’t that of a 1st rd pick
by Obi wan Knuble on Feb 1, 2012 7:41 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Who would want him if he resigns? That happened to that one kid Legein from Columbus a few years ago who resigned right after he was drafted.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:46 AM EST up reply actions
And the Caps already have Angus and Mestery who resigned shortly after being drafted. At least Carlson stuck it through to the NHL.
Please, call me F&B.
The 2008 was one bad draft year for the Caps, except for Carlson. And now even his performance has not been good this year.
To add to our not-so-good track record for the 2008 draft, Kugryshev, a 2nd rounder, was released from his contract when he couldn’t make it with Hershey. And last I heard, he’s been sent to a developmental league in Russia.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
He will be in same boat as Alzner: no leverage. Prob gets $1.5×2 or something. It won’t be outrageous.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Alzner was a real eye-opener last summer. With very few exceptions, most were shocked out how cheap he came in.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think Carlson needs to spend a night or two in the ShameBox.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 7:45 AM EST up reply actions
eezn't dat de penalty box?
Signed,
Denis Lemieux
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Feb 1, 2012 7:50 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
You feel shame there, but it’s not the shame box.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 7:59 AM EST up reply actions
The Shame Box is not the same as the Penalty Box. There are no nachos available in the Penalty Box, only Gatorade.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 9:57 AM EST up reply actions
I was usually pretty happy when I was in the penalty box because at least it meant that I was on the scoresheet.
Unleash the Apathy.
should have been Rechlicz’s goal last ngiht.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$1210.35!
By my count, Carlson has been on the ice for 42 of the 67 goals allowed under Hunter. That’s staggering.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 9:35 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Wow. No joke.
My instant reaction is: A stat like that means that someone is doing something wrong. Maybe Carlson, maybe Hunter, maybe both. But that ain’t right.
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
i’m starting to convince myself that hunter isn’t the problem; johnson is. by my sharply honed eye-testing, the lack of puck possession seems to be a problem with the defense, not the forwards: poor coverage in the d-zone, chasing the other team around, no clean breakouts when they manage to recover the puck…
So… are you sure it’s Johnson and not the players themselves?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Even if scoring chances against are up under Hunter/Johnson, it’s not by a particularly large margin at all, right? I think the other two zones are more of a concern.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Feb 1, 2012 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
My understanding is that chances-against have held relatively static, overall.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
5v5 chances-for per game have been (11.9 under BB vs 11.5 under Hunter).
5v5 chances-against per game up under Hunter 14 vs 11
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
OK, so not relatively static. Significantly worse. Gulp.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah, that’s what I’d say. Carlson is playing poorly, Green is hurt, Orlov is inexperienced. Wideman is the only PMD that is realistically capable of moving the puck up ice right now and he made the ASG.
I have liked what Johnson has said publicly. Maybe it’s the public face, but his philosophy on things seems to be in the right spot (D get the puck, move the puck, get up ice, spend time on offense). Maybe the tactics are wrong, but I don’t think Johnson is dragging down the possession because he’s clueless. And if it’s tactical, it goes to the head coach.
Please, call me F&B.
“D get the puck, move the puck, get up ice, spend time on offense.” That sounds like any defense, anywhere and is pretty standard stuff. What I don’t understand is why there are so many easy tap-ins a la Stamkos and Malkin and so many lop-sided rushes into the zone? Under the standard ‘zone’ defenses, aren’t the pipes on each side of the goaler ‘automatically’ manned by the D’s? Hells, bells…I say we bring Sarge out of the press box and chain him to the net with a 10’ chain. That couldn’t possibly be any worse than Johnson’s/Dale’s man-on-man….or could it?
Well in principle I think that quote is generally applicable, but the pace and process that Johnson describes is clearly different from BB, who apparently preferred a less urgent pace with respect to the defensive retrieval and passing. A lot of the talk from Johnson has been about getting the D used to getting on the loose pucks immediately and making that first pass to the Fs. That tells me either a) the D wasn’t taught to do that under BB or b) they aren’t any good at it. Either way, it’s tough to blame Johnson for it.
And at the end of the day, the buck stops with the head coach. He hired the assistant, he signed off on the system and the coaching and the personnel decisions.
Please, call me F&B.
A lot of the talk from Johnson has been about getting the D used to getting on the loose pucks immediately and making that first pass to the Fs. That tells me either a) the D wasn’t taught to do that under BB or b) they aren’t any good at it.
This explains the sharp increase in flubbed exits along the right side of the defensive zone that have plagued the team since Hunter took over. So many short passes over there go awry and they lose the zone exit.
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
no, not sure at all. although i have a hard time believing that scoring chances against haven’t gone up under jj…neil?
it could be plenty of things, including the players having problems adjusting to something that could ultimately be successful. what i wish i had a better handle on was how many other nhl teams play a similar defensive system?
and didn’t hamrlik say that montreal did as well? it’s too bad we don’t have any smart posters who are good at breaking down systems with screencaps for us.
Check Blogging the Boys if you want real original content.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well done.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
by Bald Pollack on Feb 1, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
Just don’t look for the law firm of Young and Not.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
Edmonton too, yea?
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Yeah, I’d asked him and he said LA and VAN (but that doesn’t mean that Edmonton, Montreal and/or others aren’t also similar).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It’s also a sliding scale. Hamr said it was more similar to MON than what BB ran, but I don’t think he said it was the same system.
Please, call me F&B.
Yeah, I’m getting tired of the man-to-man system as well. I hope it’s not back next year.
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Feb 1, 2012 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
On the plus side (since I’m all about bringing the positive to offset the negative), Wideman’s been on for 39 of the 69 goals-for.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
He’s been ready to watch a game from the pressbox for awhile now. Amazing that Hamrlik got benched (or did he get injured?) and Carlson was playing at the end of the third and OT.
OT: So there’s the SI cover jinx, ES Sports, and others, someone said Carlson was on the Caps dog calendar for January and that February is Schultz.
FWIW, under Hunter, when Carlson is not on the ice with Alzner, his 5v5 scoring chance Sv% is .767.
That means there is better conversion on scoring chances for the opposition during 5v5 when Carlson is not on the ice with Alzner than when the opposing team is on PP.
Explains some of that, but not all.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
By “is not on the ice with Alzner,” you mean “on the ice without Alzner,” right? Just making sure.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Feb 1, 2012 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
He looked bad, I gotta put 2 on Hammer tho
Self-Appointed "Bring the Winter Classic to Camden Yards" Delegate
Check out a new social network, Hockey Connect, a place for coaches, players, family and fans to share strategies and experiences.
Replay showed Vinny locked his skate on Hamr, which caused him to fall.
"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
and he was offside…
Self-Appointed "Bring the Winter Classic to Camden Yards" Delegate
Check out a new social network, Hockey Connect, a place for coaches, players, family and fans to share strategies and experiences.
and he picked Carlson
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
and I’m pretty sure he clubbed a baby seal
RAMPAGE
by JediChewbacca on Feb 1, 2012 10:04 AM EST up reply actions
___
Always thought “Club Baby Seals” would be a great name for a club. Also,
/OT
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
2? I can understand the 3rd goal, where Hamrlik didn’t do enough to tie up Purcell, but which other? He got tripped on the 2nd goal, and I don’t think he was at fault for the 1st.
Failure is always an option.
And they were offside on the 2nd, but yea I put the 2nd more on Hammer, also Hammer could have done more on the Moore goal and Orlov certainly got smoked by St Louis in OT. Dont get me wrong I think JC74 looked and has looked like shit. But I dont think -4 tells the whole story….Really I think he needs his KingKarl security blanket back.
Self-Appointed "Bring the Winter Classic to Camden Yards" Delegate
Check out a new social network, Hockey Connect, a place for coaches, players, family and fans to share strategies and experiences.
Pretty crazy that in a 4-3 game, Johnny C was -4 and King Karl was +3…
by Twenty Seven Ninety on Feb 1, 2012 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t see how the 2nd is on Hamr. He got tripped – what was he supposed to do here?
Failure is always an option.
He was slightly out of position, He shouldnt have been that close to Vinny with MSL26 blazing down the wing.
Self-Appointed "Bring the Winter Classic to Camden Yards" Delegate
Check out a new social network, Hockey Connect, a place for coaches, players, family and fans to share strategies and experiences.
Rechlicz Abandon
His callup is baffling to me. Seemed like a terrific cheerleader, though.
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Feb 1, 2012 7:36 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Lord knows there aren’t any tougher.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
It’s difficult to make an impact when you play 1/30th of a hockey game.
"How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? The man can't even trust his own pants."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 1, 2012 7:53 AM EST up reply actions
I have the feeling that the impact he would make would not be a positive one for the Caps were he to play more.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 7:56 AM EST up reply actions
Was Downie’s almost apologetic reaction to high sticking MP (I think) a result of Joel’s visit?
/searching for logic
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Feb 1, 2012 7:53 AM EST up reply actions
Definitely a point I thought about – if you’re one for narrative, it’s plausible that just having him on the bench kept the Bolts in line. There were no obvious liberties taken, and the one moment that stuck out to me (as you noted) was when Downie high-sticked Perreault, he actually showed visible remorse, even patting MP85 on the ass. Don’t know that I’ve ever seen that from him.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
when Downie high-sticked Perreault, he actually showed visible remorse, even patting MP85 on the ass
Are we certain he didn’t just want to cop a feel?
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 7:59 AM EST up reply actions
Isn’t MP85 Semin’s groping property? He would have gone Bongos if Downie took a pass
RAMPAGE
by JediChewbacca on Feb 1, 2012 8:53 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Downie wanting a Snuggle, or maybe he wanted to go for a Bounce…
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 10 recs
In the history of this blog I don’t believe we’ve ever had a fabric softener joke before, so kudos for that.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
(grumble grumble search engine doesn’t go back anymore like it used to grumble)
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah. Lame. But Google “site:japersrink.com [search term]” and it’s a decent work around.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Thank you… thank you…
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t buy it. The deterrence provided by having a dedicated enforcer in the lineup is debatable. Even with Brash here, teams still took liberties with the Caps’ skill players, most notably Green. Rechlicz has played 24 NHL games. I don’t think his reputation precedes him quite yet, at least not to the degree that it quells Downie’s innate thuggishness.
I know this is crazy talk, but perhaps Downie genuinely felt bad about high-sticking MP. It’s like kicked a puppy. Even men with hearts of stone feel bad about kicking a puppy.
"How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? The man can't even trust his own pants."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 1, 2012 8:17 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Even this dog?
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 8:24 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I don’t buy it either. But, like I said, if you like a good narrative, that’s one for you.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I saw people on twitter making this argument last night. I have a hard time believing it with Erskine dressed. Sure if anyone thought Erskine was going to get minutes and taking a dman off the ice would be an issue that might not be a deterrent for Downie and company, but that’s not the case.
I haven’t seen enough of Rechlicz as a fighter, but I do get the sense that he’s more likely to be feared than Erskine (especially when you consider their respective incentives to “make an impression,” etc.). I could be wrong, though.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
While I hesitate to draw the straight line between Rechlisz and Downie’s good behavior, when was the last time you saw Downie fail to start a scrum after he’s taken a PIM?
I agree that the proposition makes no sense: if you mess with my star, I’ll send my tough guy out to fight someone other than you.
For some odd reason, the players seem to buy in to it, though. So I think it works because they think it works. Sort of like Gawain de la Coeur Hardie or Dumbo and his feather.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I dunno. After Downie HS’d Perreault, normally I’d have expected him to be face washing and jawing, trying to take someone with him. Instead he gives Perreault a little pat on the rear and heads for the box.
I think it’s a little instructive.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I hear he looks good in a skirt
Be Utterly Facinating @ http://www.thirstdc.com
by TheFuryUnleashed on Feb 1, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Sergei Berezin is Troy Brouwer? Really?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:38 AM EST reply actions
Troy Brouwer is routinely among the league leaders in hits and scores 20 goals a season as often as not.
Sergei Berezin … not so much.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
What is up with Semin? He looked brilliant at times, but then completely disinterested. It really looks like he has essentially given up on the season…Maybe he knows he will be traded? Maybe he’d rather go back to the KHL when his contract is done?
You new around here?
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
by bagace on Feb 1, 2012 7:42 AM EST up reply actions 11 recs
I keep waiting for the rest of the post, thinking the “post” button had accidentally been hit halfway through.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 7:46 AM EST up reply actions
No. I know his reputation. But it seemed more obvious last night for some reason. At least when he is taking stupid penalties, it looks like he is trying. Lazy, but trying. Last night, it just seemed like his head was just somewhere else..He has so much talent, and working with Perraeult, I thought he would come through. Sigh….
If Perreault was the kind of guy that could bring out the best in Semin, I have a feeling he would not have a problem sticking in the line-up on a consistent basis.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 7:51 AM EST up reply actions
Could you explain how “lazy” and “trying” can peacefully coexist? I’m not trying to be a prick this time.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 10:54 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, you can say lazy as in not skating but trying as in not giving up on the play. But that’s more a middle ground on a sliding scale than it is coexistence.
(And even then it’s not laziness that’s Semin’s problem, it’s judgement).
Yeah, this…
After I typed “lazy” and “trying” I realized I was using the wrong words…
Your description is much better. I guess to me, last night, it seemed like he had great some shifts, and on some shifts he didn’t give that extra something that we know he’s capable of when “trying”.
Having never played, I must say, hockey is a hard sport to observe and digest.
It is so quick, and unless you have watched a ton of games, you have to anticipate the play in order to make sense of the actions on the ice. I am still learning, so I know I miss way more than I can accurately process. That is why I come to this site.
Sometimes his play seems effortless (in a good way),
other times it appears to be without effort and it’s tough to tell the difference.
It's not that I hate people, I just seem to feel better when they're not around - Hank Chinaski
I actually thought Semin was pretty good last night.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I was about to say this. The whole game through, he looked dedicated and was playing pretty decent D too.
"He leaves every ounce of energy that he has on the ice and works very hard at it, and he wants to be the best and he wants to win, If you don’t follow that, you’ve got something wrong with you."
My favorite Semin play last night was that gorgeous pass out to…..Alzner. I love that Semin has the vision and passing ability to set up a blueliner for a great chance to pinch in but I think you need to know that Alzner ain’t quite Green, Wideman, Carlson or Orlov.
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 favorite Semin play last night (fun game!) was when he counter-hit a dude, won a quick board battle with him, then feathered a nice touch pass to Perreault, who toe-dragged around Brewer (shock) and had a good scoring chance.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Mine was when the Caps had struggled for a loooooong time to clear the zone, finally did, and 28 was between the blue and red line with the puck and a trio of Bolts closing in. It looked like a turnover and a quick transition into zone pressure again.
28 pirouetted, dodged a forechecker, and skated into open ice while the rest of the team changed.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I’m just busting his chops — that was one of his best non-scoring games he’s had in awhile. He was along the boards, got roughed up a bit but kept his cool and had the puck on a string despite the ice being something like you’d see at the Verizon Center.
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
Sounds like Semin was Trending Sasha last night, although there were more pluses than minuses for him.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
So the refs were kinda rusty last night too.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:52 AM EST reply actions
I hate to venture towards hyperbole, but this is the worst call in the history of hockey. Ever.
Doens’t watch many Penguins games, does he?
/yes, that’s a tinfoil hat I’m wearing. ;)
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
I would argue that the Vinny Triple Threat of being offsides, kicking out Hamr’s skate and interfering with another guy during St. Louis’ goal was a lot worse than that call.
Hell, they only missed one there. On that one they missed THREE.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:56 AM EST up reply actions
Completely agreed, which is why I was looking for more than just that one blown call in that post.
Can’t necessarily blame the loss on that goal, as MP85 was sort of gifted one back, but you can’t ever know what would have happened if the correct call(s) had been made.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
___
This is about as bad as a missed offsides gets:
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 8:00 AM EST up reply actions 10 recs
And the fucking linesman is RIGHT THERE. Holy mother.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 8:01 AM EST up reply actions
Is he really in position though? Shouldn’t he be straddling the blue line?
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
It’s a little tough to know which blue line you need to straddle when you’re piss drunk.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 8:09 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Clearly, Vinnie’s right foot was on the line.
/snark
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Cap is standing on blue line…
Lighning player is in contact with Capital
Therefore, Lightning is in contact with blue line.
QED
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Feb 1, 2012 8:03 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
000
OVER THE LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone should have marked it zero.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 8:12 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Well not that this is the case, but there is a possibility that in between when that screen shot was taken and when the puck enters the zone Vinny is able to get his foot back on to the blue line. Need a clear shot of where his feet were when the puck crossed the blue line.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 1, 2012 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
That’s true. But that’s not what happened – VL4’s momentum was taking him further into the zone.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Despite that it’s from Philly, this is pretty awesome.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
Soooo, anyone think instant replay for calls such as this would be a good idea? Team gets one challenge per game to review non-subjective calls. Offsides, puck over the glass, too many men, etc.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
I’m actually fine without it. It was a blown call. It happens. I don’t need the game slowed down any more, and a missed offsides, while certainly a contributor, is never going to be the proximate cause of a goal-against.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Considering the speed of the game and the number of sticks and skates out there on the ice, the linesmen do a pretty damn good job of calling offsides.
But in this case, the whistle should have blown and therefore no goal. The object is to get it right if at all possible. I don’t think giving each team one challenge slows the game down anymore than goal reviews. Not like it happens alot. I would say the replay could only be used when the play in question results in a goal or penalty.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
I could live with that. There certainly was conclusive video evidence to contradict the no-call on the ice.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Did you know....
That Canadians hate when we say “offsides”. “THIS IS NOT FOOTBALL” says my Canadian friend.
"He leaves every ounce of energy that he has on the ice and works very hard at it, and he wants to be the best and he wants to win, If you don’t follow that, you’ve got something wrong with you."
by nogoodtrying on Feb 1, 2012 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
To Canada…
Yeah, and football fields aren’t 110 yards long with 20 yard end zones, ya hoser. That’s soccer.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Feb 1, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’ll let John Cleese take it from here.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
by Bald Pollack on Feb 1, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Um, thanks for rebutting a rant from a comic?
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
by Bald Pollack on Feb 1, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry, I found the Cleese thing funny! I just wanted to look into it the etymology of the term football. Figured I’d share…
/OT
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Feb 1, 2012 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
Fair enough sir.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
usually against us
Be Utterly Facinating @ http://www.thirstdc.com
by TheFuryUnleashed on Feb 1, 2012 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
Easy to justify it on a scoring play though. Goals don’t happen that often, reviewing a goal (and using it as a TV timeout, say, to cut down on the time lost) in questionable instances would be a breath of fresh air.
How close would it have to be to a scoring play? What if St. Loo is stopped on the shot and someone scores on the rebound? Or if they have possession in the zone for 10 seconds then score (but obviously never would have had the zone if not for the blown call)?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You could make it anything up to a whistle as counting (and only if the coach challenges it), and you still wouldn’t see it very often.
Presumably the longer the play between the questionable spot and the whistle, too, the longer they’d have to cue up the video review (or be reviewing during the play). Then again, that would require them to be proactive about missed calls, which the league simply isn’t.
If you did that, you’d certainly have to limit the number of challenges a coach could have. I’d be fine with one (and maybe “you lose your timeout if you’re wrong”).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I feel like if it’s as close as it was last night it should be automatic. The league should the ones that really care about getting it right.
But yeah, you would have to put something into place to keep coaches from challenging anything and everything just in case.
I feel like if it’s as close as it was last night it should be automatic.
On actual goals, I’d think it’d be easy for the League to quickly review it during the celebrations and call down if there’s an issue – that’s what the NFL does on all touchdowns now, right?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yep.
You could require another official on the ice to confirm the call before going to review or something (as in they 100% know it was the right call) in order to cut down on superfluous reviews. Then penalize them severely if they’re wrong (100% certainty… whoops). But then that opens up issues with their union I’m sure.
This NFL season was pretty terrible… it already took 5+ minutes between a touchdown and the first offensive play for the other team… and now it takes even longer.
The major problems with the NFL system include the fact that they don’t have a third party doing the reviews. They could have a group of officials for each game that are unrelated to the field staff that are constantly reviewing plays while the game is in progress to speed this up.
The fact that they expect the on field official to overrule himself is also hard to fathom. As much as I think they want the game to be called properly, there’s also a certain pride that comes with making the right call the first time through.
What if you didn’t limit how many challenges, but every unsuccessful challenge results in a delay of game minor? Kind of like when you challenge if a stick’s curve is legal.
That’s tough. I like it as a disincentive to bogging down the game with reviews, but that might be extreme.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
At least that is a decision the coaches can make, though. The penalty for being wrong should be at least the penalty for unintentional, defensive zone PoG.
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
And that does make sense, because, after all, forcing the review and being wrong is literally delaying the game (and that’s why I’d charge a timeout for being wrong – coaches will use it to buy time for tired PKers, guys stuck out on icings, etc.).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I’d say on a play like this one, if MSL had missed and the puck was cleared out of the zone and TB subsequently gained the zone again and scored. No review. If the puck stays in the zone and a goal is scored, subject to review.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Feb 1, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
The game is hardly slow. They could do things to make the reviews go quicker:
They take the ball out of the on ice officials hands and make a call from Toronto. If the on ice ref missed a blatant call like that they shouldn’t have the responsibility to call themselves out on it, 90% of the time they won’t. If the booth is reviewing the play while it’s in progress without waiting for the ref to tell them what to look for, they could have the goal-no-goal call from Toronto before the celebration has finished.
Sure, it wasn’t a direct cause of a goal against, but a proper call by the linesman could have lead to, at best, an tripping call, at worst, offsides, both cases removing any possibility of a goal.
Further, take some of the objectivity out of the ref’s hands. There was a play in the Leaf’s Pens game where Michelek backed into Fleury on his own momentum, the Leaf’s scored a goal and it was waved off due to incidental contact. Some of the plays you have to watch in real time to see, if the ref had vantage and the capability of paying attention to the entire play he would have seen that he made a bad call in waving it off. A review would have shown conclusive evidence that this “judgement call” was nothing but an assumption by someone who shouldn’t be expected to watch both the point and the goal at the same time. This call could have also been made by the time the ref settled things down and formed the players for the face off.
I’m not buying the slowing the game down excuse.
And on the other hand the refs and Toronto seem pretty likely to fuck up the call even on replay.
Please, call me F&B.
There was an article a while back describing the process for the reviews.
The ref has to tell Toronto specifically what the call they made is that they want confirmed and Toronto will only rule based on that call. It ties the hands of the reviewer in that if they see something else wrong with the play they can’t call it.
I’m thinking of the SJS OT goal that was called off earlier in the year, specifically.
Please, call me F&B.
I was thinking of the Bozak no-goal from last night, although that was called off based on a goalie interference call.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
I should point out that the link in my post above is an article from the Toronto Sun on the specific issue of more video review in the NHL.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
The big problem that I have with video review discussions is that people against video review always argue against the status quo, rather than thinking the system can be improved.
Based on the pace of an NFL game, if you had as many refs in the booths as you do on the field all with access to different vantages, they could probably “review” every play and the game would finish quicker than it currently does.
The same probably can’t be said for NHL because of the pacing of it, but they can take steps to put all the control into toronto’s hands on a few key plays and the quality of officiating will improve.
Alternatively they could add a couple more refs, but that would probably make things pretty messy.
I’m surprised the Caps player (Hendricks?) wasn’t called for interference for not letting Vinny tag up.
by Twenty Seven Ninety on Feb 1, 2012 9:46 AM EST up reply actions
Oh I know, just playing the “refs are against us” angle.
by Twenty Seven Ninety on Feb 1, 2012 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
For the intensely curious, Vokoun’s save made the ESPN Top 10…at # 10. Hendricks’ goal was 7. Both were behind a Mites shootout attempt and high school basketball half-court shot.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
I don’t even think it got called out by Wyshynski. Jonas Gustavsson’s did though.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:57 AM EST up reply actions
As did Cory Schneider’s save on our ol’ pal Brendan Morrison.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 7:59 AM EST up reply actions
Perhaps my eyes were playing tricks, but on the Vokoun save on Lecavalier, did Carlson get a piece of that puck with his stick to cause it to tumble?
If you've read this far...seek help.
Looked like it, though to be fair I bailed on OT (Justified doesn’t watch itself) and only caught the replay on CSN afterwards.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
The fact that either one made Top 10 is impressive. That BOTH did – let me check out the window to see if pigs are flying.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Let me guess…the other eight highlights were dunks from the Golden State/Sacramento NBA game.
If you've read this far...seek help.
That’s not right. … it was the New York-Detroit game.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 8:07 AM EST up reply actions
All NBA games look the same.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Feb 1, 2012 8:32 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
All NBA games should start tied 110-110 with two minutes on the clock and both teams in the bonus. That’s what every game boils down to anyway.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
Except for Wizards’ games……
It's all wrong, but it's all right.
by OldPhil on Feb 1, 2012 9:14 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I love to Racism bro!
Self-Appointed "Bring the Winter Classic to Camden Yards" Delegate
Check out a new social network, Hockey Connect, a place for coaches, players, family and fans to share strategies and experiences.
Yep!
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 10:06 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
E.S.P.N… ha ha, charade you are.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 10:11 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I did not watch the game live last night (although I was present for an epic Wild collapse against the Preds here in Minnesota).
I’m choosing (shocker!) to go with Becca’s final words in her recap last night:
But there’s something to say for the odd “good” loss (especially when accompanied by the bonus point for making it to extra time), and this was one of them. The Caps were incredibly depleted against a team that boasted all of their big guns and yet came out and attacked early, erased a two-goal deficit late and earned a crucial point in the standings. Obviously a win would have been better – but we’ll take it.
The Caps have a chance to take five points out of six tonight without Ovechkin, when I suspect most of us would have taken three points and run.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
Not only that, they out-chanced the Bolts. And got 29 shots on goal. A decent amount of positive to be taken from that one, besides the point.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
un-doomed!
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
by NGreenberg on Feb 1, 2012 8:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Can I quote you on that? Can the NGreenberg glass possibly be half-full, at least for the moment?
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
Finally outchancing an opponent, sans Ovechkin and Backstrom, was def a good sign. I am not ready to jump on board the “They will def make the playoffs” bandwagon yet tho.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
I don’t expect you to get on the bandwagon after one game. Even I’m not that blindly irrational.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
I think that the win over Bos without Ovi and Backstrom was a massive confidence boost for this team. They showed up again last night to the point I thought “wow they have a better forecheck without their 1RW and 1C”. Now the question becomes do the guys continue to play this way once Ovi comes back and then when Backstrom comes back.
All pessimists have moments of being an uptimist.
Nice to see the Caps out chance for a change though.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 8:28 AM EST up reply actions
And everything about statistics says that they will always perform in such a manner moving forward.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 8:26 AM EST up reply actions
Point being? Positives are only positive when they occur a certain number of times in a row?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I don’t need to win the Powerball twice in a row for that to be a positive.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
Can’t win the stanley cup in one game
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 9:10 AM EST up reply actions
Do you not remember the great Pekka Rinne debate of 2011?
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 8:39 AM EST up reply actions
Ha. I didn’t read it.
All I’m saying is that the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. You can’t turn 180 degrees without turning one degree first. Etc. I’m by no means convinced that any ship has been righted or any corners turned.
(My CLICHES/60 is awesome…)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
All you needed was “you don’t change a horse mid-race” and “every dog has his day”.
And I agree, the increased shots and out-chancing is a good sign. But I’m waiting to see the, do it against a better D and with more consistency. They showed more attempts at dirty goals last night, which is very good, because that’s something that can be done regardless of D out there. In past games they seem to have been looking for that perfect beautiful play.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 1, 2012 8:52 AM EST up reply actions
___
My preferred version of the former is “you don’t change pants mid-shit,” btw.
Agreed on all counts. But, frankly, it’s been a while since we’ve seen a Fenwick Timeline like this:
And to do it without their three best players, to boot.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 9:11 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Or maybe, because the three best players were out, and so everyone else quit standing around and watching them?
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
Certainly there’s that, too. Keeping up the effort when they get 8 (and hopefully more pieces) back will be hugely important (duh).
Related: who’s leading by example in 8’s absence, and why don’t they do it more when 8 is present? I’m looking at you, forwards with numbers in the 20’s…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Clearly me sounding the Doom Alarm™ was the anti-jinx this team needed.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
by NGreenberg on Feb 1, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I think Eric Brewer and company were the anti-jinx the team needed last night…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
So pretty! I want to see more of this tonight.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
No no. I prefer blue for the Caps, please. THEN it’ll be pretty.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
Heh. Good point.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
__________
You can’t turn 180 degrees without turning one degree first.
Wrong:
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 9:13 AM EST up reply actions 14 recs
should we be expecting a Robert Patrick call-up? It wouldn’t be as unexpected as the last 2…
I’m just in it for the Schadenfreude. -D'ohboy
by Alz in the family on Feb 1, 2012 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
The guy’s made of metal, which would certainly up the use of PHYSICALWORDUSAGE/60 in Hunter’s pressers.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
"A Path to the Top Eight" by Peerless
Back in late December, Peerless made the following predictions about the month of January and out of fun I tracked the actuals against the prediction. The following is a comparison:
- NYR-BUF-COL – Prediction: 1-2-0, Actual: 3-0-0 – WRONG (in a good way)
- CAL – Prediction: 1-0-0, Actual: 1-0-0 – RIGHT!
- SJS-LAK – Prediction: 1-1-0, Actual: 0-2-0 – WRONG
- PIT-TBL-CAR-NYI – Prediction: 3-1-0, Actual: 3-1-0 – RIGHT!
- MON-CAR-PIT – Prediction: 1-1-1, Actual: 1-1-1 – RIGHT!
- BOS-TBL – Prediction: 1-1-0, Actual: 1-0-1 – WRONG (in a good way)
Predicted record after January: 25-21-3
Actual record: 26-19-4
10 out of 15 on the money with 3 more better than expected. Not bad. Now let us see if the Caps can maintain or improve on the February predictions…
by BBinLP on Feb 1, 2012 8:14 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
They don’t call him “The Peerless Prognosticator” for nuthin’.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The unknown is whether he’s “peerless,” as in “nobody as good” or “peerless,” as in “nobody as bad.”
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
Or as in “has no friends”. ;)
"He leaves every ounce of energy that he has on the ice and works very hard at it, and he wants to be the best and he wants to win, If you don’t follow that, you’ve got something wrong with you."
by nogoodtrying on Feb 1, 2012 8:54 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Just kiddin’.
"He leaves every ounce of energy that he has on the ice and works very hard at it, and he wants to be the best and he wants to win, If you don’t follow that, you’ve got something wrong with you."
by nogoodtrying on Feb 1, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
Pretty snazzy entrance here. Nice work.
I am going to hate loving loser points going down the stretch. So 2008.
Cross check and all call.
Nah, you’ll still hate them because everyone’s going to be racking them up.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It’s almost as if the League has set up a system of awarding standings points that actually incentivizes teams to play for overtime rather than trying to win in regulation…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You’ve figured out our strategy for finally making the playoffs since Clinton was President!
Best wishes,
D. Tallon
Fla. Panthers
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 10:11 AM EST up reply actions
love those WRONG (in a good way) notations.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$1210.35!
Well damn, David Backes might have just got me pregnant.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
David Backes is an amazing person. It’s really a shame he’s not on the Caps. He leads, he scores, he checks, he fights, he saves puppies; he does it all.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
Its almost like he’s a superhero or maybe a…a… “guardian”
Gosh, maybe the NHL should have more of those
If you've read this far...seek help.
Stop. Just... stop.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
“Fastest member of the Guardian Air Force.”
Jet-like, really.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 9 recs
Brilliant!
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
“The Consummate Southern Gentleman”?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
Tin-foil hat time…
Hey Stan, give the Atlanta Guardian character an air force theme. Why? No reason at all. Er, a Thrasher’s a bird, right? At least I think so. And they fly. And so do Jets — I mean airplanes, airplanes, I didn’t say anything about Jets just now. We certainly don’t have anything planned around that franchise…
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 10:53 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
BUT HE HURT SEMIN!
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 11:17 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
He also punched a lot of Canadians in the face.
AMERICA!
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
Absolutely my favorite story from last Olympics.
"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame" -Denis Lemieux
I’m so damned giddy over USA’s chances in ’14
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
Ryan Whitney fulfilling his destiny as the “next Larry Robinson”.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The continuously declining state of Canadian goaltending is an interesting thing to watch come Sochi.
They’ll have good enough goaltending. They’ll still be the favorite.
The story line that interests me the most is whether Russia will embarrass themselves on home ice.
Please, call me F&B.
They will, but I don’t see Sweden recovering from the loss of Lidstrom, Ohlund and Alfredsson which would make Russia, by default, in the top 3.
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
Maybe, Sweden has a ton of young talent and they’ll still have two beast lines around the Sedins, Loui, and Baxter. Sweden will also be inexperienced but (obviously depending on how MoJo’s draft and the subsequent couple drafts develop) should have a wealth of talent to choose from.
Please, call me F&B.
I see them as needing a herculean effort from Lundqvist to challenge Canada, but even against Russia and their inevitable KHL defenders there may still be too much talent for Sweden’s D to overcome. I did forget about Karlsson though, who will probably be a beast by the time the Olympics roll around….
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
Everyone is going to need a herculean effort to challenge Canada, that’s just how it is.
Please, call me F&B.
True, but $20 says Canadian reporters are going to find a way to make Canada the “underdogs”. On Russian turf! Underdogs.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
Parise-Backes-Kessel
Ryan-Kesler-Kane
Callahan-Pavelski-Brown
Pominville-Stastny-Oshie
EX: Stepan, Pacioretty
Yandle-Suter
McDonagh-Byfuglien
Carlson-Shattenkirk
EX: Orpik
Quick
Thomas
Howard
You don’t think that is an upgraded team?
Plus, the inevitable Yandle/Suter pairing should be banned in the lower 48. Luckily the game will be in Russia and any such law won’t apply.
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
Can probably scratch Thomas off that list. He’ll be just about 40 then.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
Hopefully one of them is still around and playing well. Quick and Howard don’t inspire confidence from me.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
Cory. Schneider.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
That blueline will give up as many as they score.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
Carlson should be on there unless for some reason Tinordi or someone particularly truculent enough comes along and wows Burke.
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
no doubt but Carlson is going to reprogress to the mean sooner rather than later, or at least in 2 years time.
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
Carlson wasn’t even in the top 2 in relation to my comment.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
I think one of those guys would be good, but not both.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
I think one of those guys would be good, but not both.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
As would posting that comment twice.
Hell, you could actually have both if you wanted to. Just throw Buff on a wing somewhere.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
Best of both worlds. I think Buff is totally wasted on the Jets — surround him with some talent and even with his lack of conditioning he’s something of either a literal or metaphorical wrecking ball. At least if he isn’t on the blue line it will prevent him from being a massive liability.
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
And he’s a certified Bobby Lu killer if Canada goes that route again.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 1:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
No, Buff and Yandle. Shatty would have been 3rd assuming Carlson rebounds, which I expect him to.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
I wouldn’t call it hate. He just hasn’t progressed defensively.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
Not sure I agree with that, but it’s not an important debate right now.
Also, Cam Fowler will be higher on the depth chart than Tinordi. If there is a young USA D to watch I’d pick Faulk. Merrill has some big character questionmarks or he would probably also be a guy to watch. Trouba is probably too young but I love him already (until a team I hate inevitably drafts him).
Please, call me F&B.
yeah i was just trolling. carlson will obviously be in the mix. maybe they should just rank by pdo and ride the hot ponies.
Clutterbuck and Martin will suddenly be American citizens
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
Which Martin?
And if they could bring Alzner into that fold we might get the good Carlson.
Please, call me F&B.
So…Sauer?
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Feb 1, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
I’d rather see Erik Johnson and Jake Gardiner on that list. Don’t count out Justin Faulk either.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
No kidding.
some other USA D options:
E Johnson, J Johnson, Goligoski, Carle, McDonagh, Faulk, Leddy, Gardiner, Greene, Martin
Some help in that department more than others.
I won’t be surprised at all if Jack Effing Johnson makes the team. I’m almost expecting it.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
As much as I’m not a fan of JJ NHL wise, the guy becomes a different player when he puts on the red, white, and blue. There are worse choices than choosing him.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
Gleason as well (if only getting consideration as an incumbent), and if Ballard ever finds his game again he might warrant consideration.
If there are any pair of guys that are worth saving a few keystrokes on, it’s those two, so I don’t blame you.
You have a take yet on the Gleason signing? Seemed like a lot of money to throw at him, and quite a few years.
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
Last year’s Carlson or this year’s Carlson?
I think Team USA is deeper, but they are deeper in fringe guys, not impact guys. There are more names that “will be in the discussion” but I don’t see more real impact players on that list. At best, Yandle for Rafalski is a wash and there are some serious defensive questions with Buff, Carlson, and Shatty right now. How many PP QBs can one team have? Orpik is going to be on the team (which doesn’t necessarily take any other guy off since they can carry 7D), and I there will be other players to emerge over the next few years. But it’s still very young and not very experienced.
Please, call me F&B.
Just when I thought I had seen everything…
This is what I love about sports. It’s such a damned chaotic system. And Hockey is the most chaotic of all the sports. You think you get a handle on what is going to happen, on what needs to happen. On how to break the 1-3-1, on how to set up an effective power play. And then something like this happens, and you remember that there’s really no way to predict what’s going to happen. Just enjoy the ride.
Damn, that gave me a big grin. Hilarious.
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 9:37 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
z
Friedman was talking on 30 thoughts yesterday about the Habs possibly clearing house, and most notably, the USS Hal Gill and Travis Moen. I’m not interested in the former, but plenty intrigued by the latter. Thoughts?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 9:45 AM EST reply actions
Moen’s hurt, and I thought I read he could be out for a good while.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Is he really? Good heavens. Did that happen last night?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
No. I read it during the break.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Actually, yesterday.
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/31/injured-moen-could-be-out-longer-than-expected/
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Yep
Feb 1 LW Travis Moen is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered in the Jan. 21 game in Toronto. He has missed two games. Coach Randy Cunneyworth said more tests are scheduled to determine the exact nature of the injury. The Canadiens would like to get some return for Moen, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July, but there won’t be a market for him if he’s injured.
So much for that. Bleh.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 9:56 AM EST up reply actions
In terms of what this team needs, why do people view Travis Moen (and his 1.5M cap hit) as an appealing trade target? (I know about his success on the ’07 Ducks.)
Also, he’s older, but what do people think about Adrian Aucoin (2M cap hit)? I haven’t watched many Coyotes games this year so not sure how he has looked this season.
Depth for Ye Olde Back Six always helps. And at worst, he’ll at least knock Joel Ward out of the lineup.
And IIRC, didn’t he play on Halpern’s line in Montreal?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
And his cap hit is no matter. He’s a UFA after the season.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
Oakie is still solid. He is starting to slow down (no surprise given his age), but he did a great job mentoring Oliver Ekman-Larrson earlier this season. Similar to Schultz there is a part of the Yotes fanbase who dislikes likes him do to his lack of wheels.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
And it would give Joe B. another “no relation”, except he is related to Keith, right?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
I’m unaware of any relation. Not saying there isn’t I just don’t know of one. Keith is a American and Adrian is a Canadian for whatever that is worth.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Feb 1, 2012 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
Hmm.
One thing is for sure. He’s a blogger.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
Listed as Day-to-Day with an upper body on Yahoo!.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
Walton tweet:
Back to school: I’ll have the call for Boston College/Vermont college hockey game next Friday, February 10 on @NBCSN #fridaynightice
as an added bonus, for Caps fans watching, Caps prospect Patrick Wey plays for BC
Walton quickly becoming (not that he wasn’t already) one of the harder workers in the biz, it would seem.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Nice to see it also (hopefully?) serve as a de facto audition at the Net, Strader may want to keep his head on a swivel.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
Gotta think the Caps wouldn’t be willing to let him go this quickly. Wonder if he’s on a “year-to-year” contract?
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
If NBCSN had interest I’d have a hard time believing he wouldn’t jump, but him getting the exposure sure helps.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
by Bald Pollack on Feb 1, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
Joe B. has more to worry about than Strades.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
I quite enjoyed “The Game, On Ice” and will probably be tuning in to this one. Hopefully he’s not paired with Milbury again.
eh, Milbury wasn’t too terrible. For Milbury.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$1210.35!
Dater’s back on the hate Varly wagon (via PHT)
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
If Varlamov can make a routine save on Hemsky in the third, the Avs probably get at least a point tonight. But he didn’t, so they get nothing. Do you not wonder if there’s a slightly panicky feeling right now among the Avalanche top brass at having given up so much for Varly? I do.
Young fool…only now, at the end, do you understand.
Cross check and all call.
by bigonetimer on Feb 1, 2012 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 10 recs
Ha, actually though, the reason Caps fans said it was an overpayment was because Varly couldn’t stay healthy. Now he’s healthy… and not playing well.
Please, call me F&B.
Varly’s discovered that holding onto that no. 1 spot is a lot harder than he thought.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
Per Em's suggestion...
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 12 recs
Who does number 2 work for?
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Nice (and apparently still the Caps).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Also goes with what he’s been playing like lately.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
You lay that shark sandwich entirely on the front office for not getting him a goaltending coach. Healthy Varlamov and Neuvirth is close to a coin flip — there’s no excuse whatsoever for how poorly Varlamov is playing. The Avs bought a Bugatti and parked it under a tree full of birds and now they’re wondering why it’s so shitty.
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
Eh, the “no goaltending coach” thing matters to an extent, but I think it absolves the player of too much responsibility for his crappy play.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I still can’t see why he went from a .910-.915 goaltender to a, well, AHL goaltender in the course of a year.
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 betting he’s still within the range of what we’d be 95% sure is his “true talent” level.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Larger sample size? Not as good a team in front of him? Just a bad year? Maybe trying to play through an injury?
These guys spend most of their lives without dedicated full-time goalie coaches. They manage to become extremely successful. It’s not like Varly isn’t getting any coaching at all. Could he get more? Sure, probably. But that doesn’t make the entire issue one of coaching. He’s not playing well, I don’t think he needs a coach to say “make the easy saves and stop kicking pucks into the slot.” And it’s not like he was ever a goalie that had the signs of being “well coached.” He always relied on athleticism rather than things like positioning or technique so I don’t know why coaching would be the only thing you’d look at.
Please, call me F&B.
Goalie coaching is huge. It’s the reason Elliot went from being a punch line to being an all star (even moreso than Hitch’s system).
Goalie coaching can be huge. If a guy corrects a flaw or makes some other drastic change, sure, it can help. But I can’t see the lack of a dedicated coach being solely responsible for a good goalie turning into a lousy one.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Given how big a part focus plays in their game, I can see it pretty easily. I imagine it helps tremendously to be rigorously instructed of certain things on a regular basis, from someone who is watching your form like a hawk.
Saying “give up fewer rebounds” does nothing, but pointing out that his rebound control is a result of poor posture (or whatever) is what these guys are paid for, and something a non-vet probably needs all the time.
and to be able to dissect what happened when you gave up a goal helps, too. Look at the Goalie Guild twitter account — that’s the sort of stuff that Varlamov is missing. Given that goalies tend to be ruled by emotion/self-confidence, having a bad stretch or bad year can certainly put you into a negative feedback loop.
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
To me, goaltending is a job where you are constantly teetering on the brink of insanity. Having a coach to constantly keep you focused is something that should be indispensable.
And it’s crazy that the Avs aren’t giving him more support (even if the problems are ultimately his own), given how much they gave up to get him.
All due respect, there’s a lot of narrative-driven stuff here and assumptions about the actual tutelage he is or isn’t receiving. Ultimately, a player is responsible for his performance. If it was as easy as “get him a goalie coach!” don’t you think that the Colorado Avalanche – a team that clearly has a history of knowing how to win hockey games – would get him a goalie coach?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
has there been a change in ownership or management since the Avs glory days? They’ve not quite been an elite team since the lockout. Just imo, of course.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$1210.35!
http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=32596
Kroenke still owns the team. I’ve seen rumors about the family wanting to sell the Avs and possibly the Nuggets; some related to NFL ownership rules, etc.
Management, yes. Pierre Lacroix is still involved with the team, but not the GM anymore, since a year after the lockout. Sherman is the GM now with Sakic an advisor.
Plenty of question marks around Sacco and the coaching staff.
And then there’s the current players vs the players from the glory days…
yeah, that pesky salary cap does make it very difficult to just buy up all the good players out there.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$1210.35!
Kroenke technically still owns the team, but the Avs are the redheaded stepchild to the Nuggets. They’re a long, long ways from the days when the team had a $60m+ payroll. They’re scraping the cap floor this year and everything about the organization has gone from “first class” to “economy.”
Put another way, it wouldn’t shock me at all if the team decided to save XXX$ by not hiring a goaltending coach.
Unleash the Apathy.
Yeah, well Vin Diesel makes a lot of money, and I doubt he knows much about goaltending. That kind of move makes sense.
Please, call me F&B.
Beyond the Avs being a cheap organization, Sacco said recently that he doesn’t want a full time goalie coach because he thinks it is overbearing. Very strange in my opinion, the right coach wouldn’t be overbearing.
Apparently McLean is with the Avs about two weeks out of the month.
Goalie Guild wrote a very informative article about the importance of a full time goalie coach for Varly.
Because he’s in unknown territory, he absolutely needs guidance managing his game at this level. By "his game" I don’t just mean the technical side, I mean the emotional and mental side as well.
Goalie coaches are less like head coaches and more like really good buddies that know what you’re going through. They are stabilizing forces that help an emotional athlete (all goalies are emotional, whether they show it or not) stay even-keeled and focused. They radiate positive energy, they are Merlins to King Arthurs, and it is very obvious to me that only having one around on a part-time basis is not nearly as advantageous as having someone full-time.
Every NHL team has a full-time goalie coach, while 11 teams even have a two-coach system. I can’t comment on how much those coaches are with their teams (every goalie coach handles their workload and schedule differently), but I can tell you no other NHL team is more "behind the times" in terms of goalie coaching than the Avalanche.
It’s amazing how much confidence can be instilled in a young NHL goaltender when there are open face-to-face discussions (phone conversations are not the same) on motivations, mindsets and momentum-swinging moments. Goalie coaches are like mirrors, in the sense that a goalie like Varlamov will see the reflection of his own game in a dynamic and influential manner. It’s like constant video analysis, something I’m pretty sure Avalanche goaltenders are not doing much of, especially compared to some other teams that have full-time goalie coaches.
A goaltender sees the game from their own eyes, and projects everything they accomplish by having a mindset that strives to prove they are always doing an awesome job. What I mean is that, sometimes, our minds as goaltenders will trick us into believing we are not making many mistakes, that we are actually making all the right decisions, or that certain goals aren’t our "fault" when they actually might be. I can’t see myself move in the net, I need video replays or a goalie coach providing verbal feedback. The more feedback I get, the more I see, the more I understand, the more I learn.
I may not need it every day, but I want it more often than not, and especially when I’m struggling.
This is even more crucial for a prized raw talent, or any 23-year-old goalie with no experience being a starter. Without a full-time goalie coach, there may not be anyone there showing him certain mistakes, or explaining certain ways to execute his technique with more efficiency.
Young goalies need this alternate view of reality, otherwise they are prone to becoming complacent with their work ethic in terms of developing and getting better. This is fairly straightforward in my eyes, but hopefully the paragraphs above shed light on just how important it is for Varlamov.
Yes, Varlamov’s inconsistency is an indication of youth and inexperience. Those potentially negative elements can be limited and managed by a full-time goalie coach; they strive to disallow bad habits to creep into practices, off-ice workouts, etc. A goalie coach is a true eagle-eye. They watch from above, and through their wisdom and knowledge, make subtle but key adjustments that allow the goalie to focus their energy on specific areas of technique. The young goalie simply does not attune themselves to their game all alone. When they go through drills, they’re rarely thinking about one specific element of movement, they’re often just going through the motions, trying to battle hard, and trying to act like it’s a game situation.
But there are times in practices where a young goalie’s mindset needs to be centered on a certain game element; maybe it is recovering with more balance on the inside edges, maybe it is keeping an active stick sealed to the ice and leading with it on a more consistent basis, maybe it is keeping the glove hand out and open, not allowing it to drop and expose space. Unless you have a goalie coach on the ice watching your movements, you are not going to be fully aware that certain areas of your game need to be reinforced, honed or further developed.
Goalie coaches create certain drills in certain practices to work on these numerous elements. A goalie does not have the time to do these on their own, nor are they paid or expected to do so. A 23-year-old is not going to have the mature work ethic to have such strategic, comprehensive practice habits. It takes years to develop those things, and it is limited by the personality of that goalie; some goalies have stronger work ethics in practices than others.
One of the best things I’ve learned about the effectiveness of a full-time goalie coach is the importance of their balanced presence. There are times they need to let the goalies figure things out for themselves. There are other times where they really need to lead their pupils along a certain predetermined path, and guide them with more focus and intensity than usual.
Goalie coaching at the NHL level is managing personalities, egos and attitudes. Time spent with each goalie, how you hang out around the rink, the type of discussions you have, it all matters! It’s a total balancing act, and it takes a very keen goalie coach to know when to be totally "hands on" with a goalie, and when to step back and just let them manage their own game for a while.
But unless that goalie coach is around to see how a goalie practices from day-to-day, it’s that much tougher to know when to step in and say something, or get more involved. It’s like me when I miss a week of NHL action…I have to watch games again for another week before I can really comment on how a goalie is playing again. Every day missed is crucial, because so much happens to a goalie every time they step on the ice.
by vtcapsfan99 on Feb 1, 2012 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Good stuff. Thanks.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 5:52 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think it’s fair to say that Varly isn’t getting what Goalie Guild is providing over Twitter. For starters, we don’t have any clue what kind of coaching Varly is getting from any of the staff. And if GG had the silver bullet anyone of the Avs’ coaching staff or Varly has access to it.
And yes, confidence is huge, which is why I mentioned all the other things that can cause the Sv% drop. But there’s a big step to connect the confidence to a full time goalie coach.
Please, call me F&B.
Is it? We’re just now learning Crosby had significant neck trauma that apparently went completely undiagnosed by a team that is the face of the league.
Just because Colorado has a history of winning doesn’t mean they’re providing everything they can for their players.
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 sure I see how your point responds to mine. I’m not saying the Avs are doing everything possible for Varly. I’m saying that the causal connection between lack of a full-time goalie coach and the drop in Varly’s confidence hasn’t been established.
Please, call me F&B.
I think SBN moved my screen and I hit reply on yours instead of JP’s
To yours, I’m just saying there’s a world of information that Varlamov is likely not receiving due to a lack of goalie coach.
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
You’re right, but that’s not stuff that needs day-to-day micromanaging. You can watch a goalie and tell him to keep something in mind, but you don’t tell him every single practice. You say "work on keeping your glove up and your stick centered and then you try to reinforce the message, but you don’t need to be in on every practice to do that.
Please, call me F&B.
I would think coaching would matter more in the early years (Varly, Neuvy) than with an established goalie.
Point out and correct flaws; improve strengths; learn betters ways to prep, perform, read plays, and recover from bad plays. Work with them before they are (too) set in their ways and while they are still adjusting to the pros. Work with them often enough so that the changes become habit. Establish the right discipline.
Goalie coaching seems like an afterthought at most levels of hockey.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
I’m not sure you can make that conclusion. Elliott also went from a mediocre-to-bad defensive team to one of the best in the league.
Please, call me F&B.
But he made noticeable mechanical changes that have produced those results. He was doing well even under Payne.
How much does that help SV% though? Elliott went from a borderline NHL goalie to looking like he belongs. Jury’s still out since the sample size is atrocious but a goalie coach may have played into it as well.
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
“May have played into it” is not the statement that I took issue with. I would never disagree with “may have played into it.”
It’s also one year. I don’t think we need to list the number of goalies that have had one good year and then dropped off. Is that all coaching?
Please, call me F&B.
I specifically pointed out the sample size. I think, however, going from a career .900’er to .938 is beyond that of what defensive changes make. Unless you’re willing (or was that you?) to cede that a defensive system has a massive impact on reducing high quality shots such that you can bump up a goalie’s SV% numbers. That’s shaving a goal plus a fraction of a goal each and every game, assuming each goalie is seeing 30 shots per.
Assuming Elliott has turned a corner, that’s more than just Hitchcock’s defensive scheme.
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
And .938 makes him one of the best goalies ever if he keeps it up. Like, better than Pekka Rinne.
And if he turns the corner good on him, but will it all just be because he got a full-time goalie coach?
And I actually believe that defensive systems can increase Sv%, FTR.
Please, call me F&B.
I couldn’t remember who it was — it was a ways back when BB really started running the trap. I hated that argument because just limiting odd-man rushes reduces a goal every few games which bumps SV% up noticeably.
He won’t sustain .938, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hang around .920 next season.
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 didn’t exactly happen overnight, either. Quick and dirty, his CTD SV%:
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Average goaltender with above-average athleticism has up-and-down SV%? Color me amazed. You could plot out anyone who was more flash than sound play and it’d look the same as they age and the body starts falling apart.
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
Yeah, Hasek sucked as he got older.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Wrote a couple of weeks ago about free-agent contracts and noticed how few goalies strike it rich as a UFA. One agent sent along some interesting research: Only 28 times has a goalie above the age of 30 turned in a save percentage of at least .920 while playing 50 games. And, only five of them ever did it more than once. Can you guess the five?
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
Point being, what, that Hasek’s an outlier? Thomas too? Sure. But Varly’s years and years away from “old,” and his body seems to be holding up.
So let’s see:
a) No goalie coach
b) Athleticism = inconsistency
Any other excuses for why Varly’s performance before we get to “he just hasn’t been good enough?”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The air is really thin up there.
He’s really a Coke guy at heart.
He was promised the number 1 job but then the team inexplicably let JSG start some games, and more games as the season went along.
American girls are fat.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 8 recs
I thought John Kordic was a Coke guy at heart?
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
by Bald Pollack on Feb 1, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeowch.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
Wow, 101 PIM in 7 games as a Cap? Makes Rechlicz look like a girl scout.
by Twenty Seven Ninety on Feb 1, 2012 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
He wasn’t a hockey player as much as he was a hockey player themed Batman villain.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
I have to admit, I thought he’d be good if healthy. I did not anticipate healthy but bad. Assuming he is healthy, of course.
Hopefully he keeps it up.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Two lotto picks would be nice. Sadly, I don’t think either the Avs or the Caps are going to be bad enough for a Top 5 pick.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Fleury a 1, Malkin 2, Crosby 1, Staal 2.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Feb 1, 2012 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
You forgot something about how he misses having Russian teammates to get beer with. Also, the language barrier? Ever think about that?
Varly is also the one on the hot seat now. He was insulated by Theo, who took the criticism.
The Avs pay him good money and gave up a fair amount for the trade for him to be the starter, and he has not lived up to expectations.
Goalie coach or not, I think a large part of his problem is mental.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
A goalie who’s a headcase? Nah, that can’t be the problem.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
It’s why I love the position. Crazy—all of them.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions
I love reading the clips everyday and I don’t comment often, but today I felt the need….
Goalies need a goalie coach…at some point at every stage of their “careers” they have a goalie coach … from mites to the NHL…someone to teach them the basics or tweak a minor movement. I see the youth hockey clubs have a goalie coach at every level’s practice once a week. It’s a complicated position, one that most head coaches at any level cannot instruct on. You see coaches working with their skaters…that’s what most of them know…that’s who coaches forwards and D’s and they get that every day they play and practice. So why would a goalie be any different? Varly and Neuvy had Arturs Irbe every day for the past 2 years and Pryor before that. This monitoring kept Varly in check (not Czech…haha) He’s an athletic goalie who needed to add better positioning to his game…something he has worked on. You can’t totally change a goalie’s style, but you can add to it and improve it. As someone mentioned above…Neuvy was without Pryor for a while earlier this season…and boy was he happy when Pryor returned. I’m sure there are many reasons for Varly’s decline, but the lack of a coach for a young goalie plays a big part. And…btw…from experience…goalies aren’t crazy…just a little different :-D
Colorado has a goaltending consultant. Kirk McLean. Based on some reports, he doesn’t spend as much time with the NHL goaltenders as some consultants and coaches, but there is a consultant.
FTR I meant “crazy” in the loving way. I’m on board with “different.”
I agree with you that coaching is an important part of helping goalies in all aspects, including the mental aspect. On the most recent PreCap with Olie he talked about how Saby down at Hershey was depressed because he hadn’t been playing much and that he had a talk with him about how to deal with his emotions and not let it affect his play or the team. And then Saby was in a better mental state afterwards.
I believe that Varly’s erratic play has a lot to do with the pressure of expectations. He’s never had to be that guy before. And clearly a good goalie coach, in the Prior now Kolzig mode, could help Varly’s mental game. I actually still believe in Varly’s potential.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
Pryor not Prior. Stupid auto correct.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 8:47 PM EST up reply actions
No offense taken… I agree with you about Varly and the pressure of expectations. With goalies it’s 50% mental and 50%….mental !!!
A good coach that is present would help settle him down
Great. Because I didn’t want to be misunderstood. I love goalies. At first because of my son, who decided he liked that position when he started out as a mite. He’s not fazed by pucks (or baseballs when he plays the catcher position) flying right at him. It definitely takes someone with a different attitude not to flinch. Me—I’d be ducking right and left.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
He’s a Pee Wee now and most assuredly still a goalie. He lives and breathes that position.
How old is your goalie son(s)?
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 1, 2012 8:46 PM EST up reply actions
So you’re saying shooters have figured him out?
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
I’d love to see that against years — the 2nd bump from .910 to .915 is probably around the time the book to shoot glove high on him no longer worked.
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
The low point there was the 7-0 loss to NYR.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
But Zidlicky complained that many of his shifts come with the third and fourth lines, so, “if you spend most [of the] time in our zone, you can’t do anything.” He said he has twice offered Yeo personnel and schematic opinions regarding the Wild’s 23rd-ranked power play. [Emphasis mine.]
Yowza.
Way to endear yourself to the coach. And your sucky 3rd and 4th line teammates, too.
Yeo said Zidlicky never offered schematic ideas and he told him to worry about his own play, not others.
He was pulled after being minus-5 in losses at Philadelphia and Toronto. Prior to Tuesday, the Wild was 12-3 in the past 15 games Zidlicky didn’t play, 2-10-4 in the past 16 games he played.
Presented without comment.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Don’t want that guy. It’s one thing to be bad, but throwing teammates under the bus is well-nigh unforgivable, as is being asinine enough to tell the coach what you think he’s doing wrong.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
In fairness, Yeo has a pretty solid track record of disarming power plays wherever he goes. If he was still playing he’d be up for the Selke in the same way Joe Flacco should win Defensive Player of the Year.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
IIRC, it was pretty terrible in Pittsburgh. But it smacks of hubris to be the guy to tell an authority figure what he’s doing wrong and how you think he should fix it, especially in this case since it involves personnel.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
Not that those discussions are not warranted in some situations. I recall that Knuble, a little ways into his first season here, told BB that the line jumbling has to stop. Players need consistent time with each other. After that, BB kept Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Knuble together for a while and we saw some pretty damned fine results, for a while at least.
Of course, this was a very different situation, what with new coach-wiley vet.
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
I think there’s a difference between axing for an opinion, and someone just “giving” one (and it doesn’t look like from the quote above MZ’s opinion was sought out). In Knuble’s case, he just said the line jumbling needed to stop, but in this case, I just see Zidlicky saying “this guy needs to be out here and this guy and this guy, not this guy”.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
I think you may be reading too much into it. Discussions about plays happen pretty regularly whether it’s in film study or on-ice practice. There could very well have been a tactful way for Zidlicky to suggest it, we can’t know for sure which route he took.
Please, call me F&B.
Either way, going to a reporter and trashing the coach and the guys you’ve played with isn’t good.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Another reporter I might question the angle, but I trust Russo implicitly. I don’t think he’d mischaracterize something like that to get page views.
Please, call me F&B.
I don’t think it’s good, but I don’t think it’s overly bad.
It came off to me as “I want to play, or be traded.”
He did say playing with 3rd and 4th liners isn’t good for an offensive defenseman, which is fair. He didn’t call anyone out by name, and 3rd and 4th lines are by definition, worse than 1 and 2.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
It’s much worse in the entire article than the BQ above.
“If he got bad power play, he’s the head coach. I respect that.”
Yes, that statement smacks of respect.
Zids would be a horrible fit on this team.
I don’t even really disagree with anything Yeo says in the article, but I still want him to fail.
Please, call me F&B.
Not even Schultz for Zids, straight up?
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
It would be totally worth it just to hear Locker try to pronounce “Zidlicky” on a cosistent basis.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
But sadly its on CSN+. I can’t get that channel.
by RossingtonCollins on Feb 1, 2012 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
But it comes with a free frogurt!
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 1, 2012 10:11 AM EST up reply actions
That’s good!
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Feb 1, 2012 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
but the frogurt is poisoned.
"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
That’s what you get when you use poison frogs
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Feb 1, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The Wizards are on the main network because they start at 7 and not 8. CSN also has their nightly program that starts at 10. Moving the Caps is something they do if there is another game scheduled. I suspect if the NBA was still locked out, the Caps would be on CSN.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
They did that for 2 games during the lockout, if I recall correctly. I’m just skeptical that this year’s Wizards get better ratings than the Caps for games that start at the same time.
It’s strictly the start time. The die-hard fans always watch. What CSN doesn’t want is a casual fan leaving their 6:30 PM sportscenter show and clicking over to ESPN or something else to watch what’s there for an hour and hope they come back. If they have the game right away at 7, they have you.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions
Vokoun
He made some great saves last night, but is there anyone else that thinks that if he’s on his game, he stops at least one of Tampa’s second or third goals? Five hole was definitely leaking last night.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
I can’t blame him for any of them, really. Defensive breakdowns.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
I’m not blaming him, per se. Rather, I’m just wondering if the result tonight is what we can expect when the goaltending is “good” instead of “phenomenal.”
I know Neil and JP among others have been vocally concerned recently about what happens to the team if the stellar save percentage of the last month or so drops even a little bit, so that is the lens through which I’m viewing last night’s game.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
Ironically, the Caps had more “margin for error” in goal last night, since they weren’t outchanced or badly outshot.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That was definitely something positive to take away from the game last night. First time they’d sniffed 30 shots in a while.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
From my chair, because Tampa really doesn’t have an especially mobile defense to block shots. The Caps had 29 shots on 51 total attempts (57 percent). Last week in two games, that was 43 percent.
If you've read this far...seek help.
True, but it still seems like an improvement over the 15-17 shots per game they were generating for a stretch there.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
MSL in the slot on a breakaway is a bad situation for any goalie. Could he have made the stop? Sure, but it’s tough to expect him to do it. He did stop Stamkos on a breakaway early in the OT, so that’s something right there.
The third goal was a bang-bang play from behind the net and into the slot. Not sure you can expect a save their either. They happen but they’re a bonus when they do.
So, no, I don’t fault Vokoun on either of those goals.
I think the Caps took a mental break and started thinking about the shootout once they secured the point in regulation, if you want my narrative-driven analysis. Several defensive lapses in OT, and one finally bit them in the ass.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Not a soft goal allowed and he stopped some that most goalies would have let in. He played very well last night.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
Scouts attend games; that’s part of what they are paid to do….last night, Caps scout seen at Blackhawks Hurricanes game.
ice_chip Chip Alexander
Caps, Blackhawks scouting game tonight.
(tweeted last night)
Read a tweet by someone last night that had McPhee at the VAN-CHI game.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
by Bald Pollack on Feb 1, 2012 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
Meh. He was just looking for Lorne Molleken.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Dug up this article on McPhee/Molleken, which included this unfortunate tidbit:
Expect 19-year-old Red Wings rookie Jiri Fischer to be an impact player in a couple of years. The 6’5", 210-pound defenseman has impressed coach Scotty Bowman with his crisp outlet passes and a booming shot from the point that’s usually on target. Bowman has the luxury of bringing Fischer along slowly because the Wings are so deep on the back line since the tandem of Mathieu Dandenault and Aaron Ward has meshed so well.
Oof.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
In between that and Neil’s walk down memory lane on Chimera/Ward (on Twitter), yeesh.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.
by Bald Pollack on Feb 1, 2012 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
Now all we need to know is if Dmitri Khristich will sign!
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
what a shame about Fischer
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$1210.35!
That’s the best thing that came from that… he survived. Some folks who have that happen to them don’t…
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
Saw the same, forgot though so thanks for the reminder. Possible McPhee may be on way to Kelowna for prospects game.
Trade deadline Feb 27th at 3pm eastern time. Caps still have 13 games before the deadline.
WED 2/1 at FLA
SAT 2/4 at MTL
SUN 2/5 vs BOS
TUE 2/7 vs FLA
THU 2/9, vs WPG
SUN 2/12 at NYR
MON 2/13 vs SJS
FRI 2/17 at FLA
SAT 2/18 at TBL
MON 2/20 at CAR
WED 2/22 at OTT
FRI 2/24 vs MTL
SAT 2/25 at TOR
trade deadline
TUE 2/28 vs NYI
Based on Walton tweet, sounds like Theo still isn’t going to get a chance to face the Caps. Unless he doesn’t take morning skate on days he’s playing.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
unless he’s changed his habits, he likes a brief-ish morning skate if he starts.
Bummer. I wanted to see him and Vokes have a showdown tonight. Guess I’ll have to wait until next Tuesday. (although Neuvy-Theo showdown is intriguing as well)
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$1210.35!
update: not just an option, he’s hurt.
OnFrozenPond George Richards
Theo knee hurts Foster on way up #FlaPanthers #Caps
bummer.
also, Upshall out because of sports hernia surgery.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$1210.35!
I think I’ve now seen/read everything.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
From the Caps’ press release for Red Line:
This season Professor Bloomfield will have some help from new professors at Kettler.
It’s going to be hard to live up to Professor Bradley.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Good ol' Brads
"How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? The man can't even trust his own pants."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Feb 1, 2012 12:05 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
From that angle, it looks like Brads is holding some sort of um…“personal massager”.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:10 PM EST up reply actions
Terry or Ryan?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
Regarding Cal O'Reilly salary-wise ...from Dreger
O’Reilly’s salary $1.05 mil. Penguins pay half of what remains on the CAP # aprox $375,000…so Pitt is on the hook for half of that.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 1, 2012 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
Put cash money down on him scoring a big goal against the Caps now.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
It would have to be in the playoffs.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
In OT. On a Sergei Gonchar turnover.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
Did not see any of this coming.
kcarrera Katie Carrera
Michal Neuvirth gets the nod in net tonight for #Caps. Jeff Schultz also in the lineup while John Erskine is out.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
by gfcaps fan on Feb 1, 2012 12:30 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Neuvy part doesn’t surprise as Vokes started last night, but Sarge being freed from the doghouse was totally unexpected and GLORIOUS!
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
There was a lot of chatter that Vokes might get both games, so it’s a small surprise.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Two back-to-backs in a row, makes sense to split at least one of them. And it gives Vokes time with his family (they stayed down there, right?)
"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
Under. Third pairing isn’t playing much, is it?
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Which is great because what Carlson needs is more time on the ice.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
They just have to post a video blog that is 9 hrs and 16 minutes (9.259 hrs = 555.56 minutes = 33333.33 seconds = 1,000,000 frames = 1,000,000,000 words).
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Feb 1, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions
Wow… I guess Neuvy has seen more shots from Flash, Brads and Sturm…
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
Is Sturmie back from his injury?
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
He’s close, if not already back.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
by MikeL-Pivonka on Feb 1, 2012 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
I expect a tweet from Katie soon saying “Oops I thought April Fool’s Day was Feb 1.”
by Rather Bengt on Feb 1, 2012 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
000
Jeff Schultz also in the lineup
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Glad I’m not the only one who thinks so.
"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame" -Denis Lemieux
I doubt anyone doesn’t think so or at least think its part of the reason for him getting the call up from the press box.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
Is there a GM in the league that has a tendency to snap up tall players? If only the Caps could find a way to get 55 on the ice when a GM with a history of Size Queenery was watching. Damn, where will they find such a GM…
Please, call me F&B.
Maybe next season, upstairs in Columbus, Montreal, or Colorado? Maybe even New Jersey.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Feb 1, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions
Like it’s gonna be any different…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
If only they could get their proverbial weagle talons on a guy like that.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
They might need to scour the league like a ‘Hawk but I’m sure they’ll find a guy.
Please, call me F&B.
They’ll look over hill and dale, I’m sure.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That’s a tallacy.
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Feb 1, 2012 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
Dude, don’t know why we didn’t think of it sooner, but Dale Tallon could fit the bill.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yep – because I’m ugly as a mud fence.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
0000
What a hitter!
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
Newt Gingrich?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
I don’t doubt that plays a part, but isn’t it a little late in the game to be trying to salvage any value for “a guy who’s behind Tomas Kundratek on the depth chart”?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It’s never too late. see Eminger; oh ok, yes it is iikely too late given I expect minimal minutes and a player lacking in confidence.
Very true – slap him in for a playoff round, turn him into a first-round pick.
Obviously it’s never too late, just expressing my frustration with how 55’s been handled, as it a) has sunk his trade value and b) rendered him rusty, etc. for when they do use him.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
And c) it’s become apparent that no matter his deficiencies, he’s an upgrade on at least one D they’ve had in the lineup every night.
Please, call me F&B.
Here’s the Rechlicz upside – let’s them more willingly sit Erskine for Schultz. Huzzah, Recker!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Not true. Matty P leaked a little last night.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
That’s OK. A little squirt into the jock strap never hurt anything. Chemically it’s not different from sweat.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
With Ovechkin’s suspension over after tonight’s game, someone has to get sent down or put on IR to stay compliant with a 23 player active roster.
Worth nothing, since some people were discussing that they might keep Rechlicz around for the MTL/BOS games.
He’s the obvious guy to send back… but would they have really signed him to play two games? I tend to doubt it, but they’ve done a lot of things that don’t make a lot of sense to me lately, so I’ll wait and see, I suppose.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
We don’t really know what the roster status looks like but both Green and Backstrom could be put on LTIR.
Please, call me F&B.
But IR/LTIR, they’re already not counting among the 23 guys on the roster.
13 Fs: Semin, Johansson, Perreault, Laich, Hendricks, Brouwer, Chimera, Halpern, Knuble, Beagle, Eakin, Ward, Rechlicz
7 Ds: Carlson, Alzner, Wideman, Hamrlik, Orlov, Schultz, Erskine
2 Gs: Vokoun, Neuvirth
That’s 22… who am I missing?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Ha. I assumed you were right and I was missing someone obvious. Read over it again and again and again…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The value might simply be taking the contract off the Caps’ hands. It crazy that it got to this point, but the Caps’ have made their bed.
Then again, McPhee did pull off a good deal for Varlamov, whom, by all accounts, the team would have lost anyway.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
That’s not value. There’s no value in that.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
No value in having another $2.75M available next year and the year after that? That’s at least something.
Yes, I’m grasping, but that might help, for example, offset some of Jeff Carter.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
But you also have to then replace an NHL-caliber D.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You’re assuming the current coach thinks he’d be getting rid of an NHL-caliber D.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
The current coach doesn’t get rid of anyone.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I know, just trying to be a little snarky. Also, you don’t think the coach gets any input at all? Not snarky, a real question. Granted, the coach isn’t managing the roster/salary cap, but he’s certainly evaluating the talent.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
I’m sure he gets some input. But at the moment, if I had to place money on “who will be in Washington longest, Schultz, Hunter or McPhee”… I’m not sure who I’d bet on.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
ngreenberg Neil Greenberg
@
@SeanWinter No no. I don’t think Hunter (or his system) is here past this season.
16 hours ago
Fwiw.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
So everyone has said that Hunter was McPhee’s last hire. So is he gone at the end of the season, too?
We’re calling Niecy Nash?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
I think that’s the clear subtext. And I agree with the sentiment. If Hunter fails, McPhee ought to follow him out the door.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I don’t know how you avoid that from a pure marketing standpoint. There are those in this organization that proclaimed far and wide that this team was built to make the playoffs for 10 or 12 years. If they miss this year, five years after the last time they missed, with a team that – on paper, at least – is among the top ten in the league, what do you go to your fans with? What’s your hook to sell tickets, “we still have Ovechkin?”
They let guys like Bradley and Flieschmann to (might have been the right moves, but they were moves nonetheless), they’ve tweaked assistants, they fired their head coach. Who is left to be “accountable” for this performance?
If you've read this far...seek help.
I’d be in it. But I can read a win-loss column and a calendar. The Caps haven’t had many games scheduled in May the last 15 years.
If you've read this far...seek help.
And, look, the guy has had 15 seasons here. This isn’t like he’d be let go after not having time to show what he could do or bring in a system or whatever.
I’d be willing to grant some slack for the 2002-2007 period, since that was as much ownership buying assets and then going all in on a rebuild. But this team hasn’t really moved the needle much comparing 2008 to this season (although there was that spike for the President’s Trophy, as badly as that year ended), and this team looks really stale.
If you've read this far...seek help.
But he’s not playing. And, if he’s not going to play, then he has no value.
Of course, he is playing tonight. There’s that.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
But he’s not playing. And, if he’s not going to play, then he has no value.
Does Mike Green have value? Braden Holtby? Evgeny Kuznetsov? Colorado’s first round pick?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
How about this:
But he’s not playing and may not be in the team’s future plans, thus, any return in a trade is value.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
I guess we define value differently. If the Caps trade an asset for which they certainly will literally never have any value other than in the trade that sends him out and they get something in return that can help the team (however minimally), then sure, trading him for something that can help the team is a good move.
But I don’t think that could ever be the case with a legitimate NHL-caliber defenseman on a manageable contract, which is what Schultz is. Dale might hate him. George might hate him. But I think even if he hates him, George realizes the value in terms of depth and as a commodity. “Any return” isn’t worth it for this asset, and it’d be lousy asset management if he was treated that way.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
And when you consider how many journalists have talked about the strong desire for defensive depth it makes no sense to move 55 unless someone is really offering up something that actually makes the team better, something that has true value (now or in the future).
Please, call me F&B.
And just to pile on, GMGM is on record as always preferring a roster player over a pick or prospect.
"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame" -Denis Lemieux
Is there value in not having value where there’s no value?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
Unfortunately, I think he’s destined to due to his lack of speed in a man-to-man system.
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Feb 1, 2012 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
This probably should go OT, but it’s Caps-relevant.
A friend of mine sent me a scan of a magazine article about Halpern. I’d love to upload it somewhere so others can read it, but don’t really know what to do with it.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
The USA Hockey discussion above reminded me that I should post this info. as it may interest some of the posters here:
“The Brian Fishman Internship, one of the most prestigious internships in amateur athletics, will be awarded to a recent college graduate who is pursuing a career in athletic communications. Successful candidates will have gained substantial experience working in their college or university sports information office. Preference also will be given to those candidates who have earned an undergraduate degree in journalism, English, communications, sports management or a related field….”
http://www.usahockey.com/fishman/
deadline for applications is 3/23/12
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 1, 2012 1:17 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I can’t watch video from this location; should have made that clear when I asked. I looked on twitter and everything is just providing links to video clips.
Gotcha. Don’t know the answer (I, too, am sans video capability).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
And just in case the video gets shut down on YouTube, imagine someone speaking in a VERY high pitched voice, and that is how Ray Ferraro sounds in his imitation. He basically goes (paraphrasing here) "Hey did you guys hear Phaneuf at the bench? He goes ‘Somebody f***** gooooooo’." Cuthbert asks him to repeat what he said and Ferraro goes to the imitation again "Somebody f***** goooooo……his voice is so high. Hahah that’s funny."
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Cuthbert asks him to repeat what he said and Ferraro goes to the imitation again "Somebody f***** goooooo……
What was she doing in the booth?
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
Anyone think we could/should wrangle Lubomir Visnovsky from Anaheim if they’re out of it at the deadline? Saw he’s only due $3MM next year, but then capgeek shows it’s a $5.6MM hit with $3MM real money. Do not like.
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Feb 1, 2012 2:36 PM EST reply actions
I think you answered your own question.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Dude’s also 35 years old, and would be another bad contract (if only for a year) on a team that has acquired quite a few of those lately.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
Dude’s also 35 years old, and would be another bad contract (if only for a year) on a team that hasacquiredgiven out quite a few of those lately.
Yeah I probably should have said “accrued” there. That’s what I meant.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 2:45 PM EST up reply actions
Let me play HFBoards/Bill Simmons for a second here.
Say you’re the Vancouver Canucks, and you’ve got a spare goaltender like a Cory Schneider that a lot of teams covet. He’s cheap and he’s going to be an RFA. You’ve also got a guy in the system who’s young and pretty good in Eddie Lack. You’ve got a history with the Florida Panthers, so why not swing Schneider there for someone like Erik Gudbranson? He’s not playing much for the Cats right now (as evidenced by his TOI at E/s), and he’s probably not going to help them very much. In a place like Vancouver he could get protected minutes (like Orlov!) and he can kinda be eased into a role there as guys like Sami Salo get older. Seems like win/win for both sides, no?
If they don’t make this deal they’re stupid! No one denies this! /Simmons’d
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 2:54 PM EST reply actions
Your Bill Simmons impression broke down the minute you mentioned hockey without complete condescension.
I doubt FLA would move Gudbranson, but maybe they would. I think it’d depend on how much the contract thing soured them, but I don’t get the impression it’s a huge deal. They’re clearly very high on him and think he has a big future in the league. He’s still so young that you can’t knock his TOI too much, after all the Cats are fighting for the division.
I also question whether VAN would move Schneider if they were going to move a goalie.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 1, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I wouldn’t cut bait with Gudbranson just yet if I were FLA.
I’d also like to think Markstrom is at least the backup next year and the starter of the future, so I’d rather do another stopgap FA for a year or two while Markstrom ferments, if necessary.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Theo is signed in FLA for next year, so they don’t need a stopgap.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
I look at it as Gudbranson or Markstrom can’t really “help” them this year as much as Schneider can. I think it boils down to the question of whether you want to sell a big piece of the future if you think you can make a run this year (and the Cats aren’t a young team). It’s something that we would look at in 5 or 10 years as being a “what in the world were they thinking?!” ala the Red Sox trading Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen, but at the time, it makes sense.
And it wouldn’t be like they were making a huge commitment to CS. They could always flip him (or Markstrom) again at the Draft.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions
If only the Red Sox could have foreseen Bagwell’s love affair with Winstrol and the power he would develop as a result. /OT
Back to the Cats, hopefully they’re smart enough to figure out that they overperformed in the first half of the year and don’t need to be doing anything to “win now” because they won’t.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Well, the Sox needed an arm in the bull pen really badly, and Andersen killed it for them down the stretch. They ended up winning the Division only to get wiped out by the A’s in the ALCS (who then went on to get poleaxed by the Lou Pinella-led Cincinnati Reds).
Anything they do in trading wouldn’t shock me. But they really need to make the playoffs. Badly.
Now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
We don't have an outhouse
.....My tool shed!!!
Now Dropping Bombs at Capitals Outsider
Twitter
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 1, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
Sk or Emily can prob. provide much more insight on this:
What does it say that of the 6 highest cap hits non-roster players for the Caps on the books at the beginning of the season;
3 have quit and taken their marbles back to Sweden and Russia
1 was traded for another AHL minor leaguer
1 was loaned to another ECHL team as SC wanted him out for some interesting reasons
After Orlov (900,000) the list is:
Sjogren (900)
Kugs (875)
Baby Gus (845)
Bouchard (770)
Paquette (685)
I wouldn’t label Sjogren a bust just yet. He’s playing well in Sweden now, just named to the national team and is listed as a candidate for player of the year in SEL.
He gave an interview after going back to Sweden saying his plan had been to give it 20 games in the AHL then go back to Sweden if things weren’t going well. He felt like his confidence was suffering in Hershey so he wanted to go back to Sweden and work on that and as well as the things he had learned that he needed to improve to make the NHL. It seems like he wants another shot at the NHL, maybe he’ll come back next season and give it another go. I wasn’t really clear why McPhee trashed him so badly, yes it wasn’t ideal that he left, but why burn the bridge if the player still has potential value?
I don’t think their NHL cap hit has much to do with anything in terms of what happened to them this season or before the season started. The cap hit was due to when they were drafted (year, round – 1st and 2nd rounders except for Paquette and Sjogren) plus negotiations. All of them, except Bouchard, were playing on their NHL entry level contracts and making less in the AHL.
Sjogren was a FA and signed a contract with the highest cap hit, before performance bonuses, possible in his situation. He expected more NHL playing time and didn’t get it. His contract allowed him to go back to Sweden. Without knowing more, I’d say a good bit of his situation was the fault of his agents/advisors in terms of expectations and what team he signed with after meetings and advice.
Paquette wasn’t signed by the Capitals; acquired via trade. I’m not surprised by how that situation has turned out so far.
Bouchard was on a two-way after being qualified. He had a disappointing season last year; enough so that some people made the argument for why the Caps shouldn’t qualify him. Once he was qualified he didn’t have a ton of options. Good luck to him with a new organization, but I’m not surprised he wanted a new start somewhere else.
As far as the drafting and development of Gustafsson and Kugryshev, disappointing. They both stood out for the wrong reasons during development/training camps in terms of conditioning. I assume Kugryshev could see he was going to spend time in SC or being a scratch again and had another option. It’s not surprising to me when a player from another country goes home or closer to home to play if the opportunity they hoped for doesn’t present itself in N.A.
Guess I was jumping to a conclusion purely on the optics side of the house, understanding that each was obtained in their various ways. Thanks for the additional info.
In terms of those optics, keep in mind on an ELC you don’t make much money, relatively speaking, while playing in the minors. Also, one could say a first or second round draft pick might have higher expectations to not spend as much time in the minors. As to my last point, combine the money and unmet expectations and I don’t find it surprising that some players go back closer to home to play.
Note, if you look at almost any team’s roster for the minors, the ELC guys will have the highest NHL cap hits based on how contracts are structured on an ELC. Sure there are exceptions and the crazy NHL salary exceptions like Redden and Avery. Once players are off their ELC if they aren’t established NHLrs they typically sign their QO if they are qualified or negotiate a lower NHL cap hit/NHL salary for a little more money on the AHL side of the contract.
I recall how Kugy was not exactly one of the best conditioned people in the Development and training camps for the Caps and kept getting out of breath all the time. Last I heard (perhaps from Sk8), Kugy has now been send down to a Russian Development League.
As for Angus, it seemed that he had the absolute worst luck for getting injured. I believe he got concussed at his first D camp which really set him back and some other injuries at the other D camps and training camps he’s attended. I think his last year of D camp was probably his best in terms of health.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Japers' Rink
Related FanShots on Japers' Rink
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
The Vault
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Who are the Non-Smythe candidates for the Devils, Kings?
- End is near for Rick Nash, Blue Jackets as trade discussions set to resume
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Driven DeBoer delivers Devils back to NHL's elite
- Driven DeBoer, fired by Panthers, delivers Devils back to the land of elite in just one year
- Bruins acquire son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque
- Bruins add a Bourque: Chris Bourque, son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, acquired from Capitals
- Shinnimin named CHL's Player of the Year
