Wednesday Caps Clips: Trade Deadline Fast Approaching
by J.P. on Feb 15, 2012 6:38 AM EST
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Your savory breakfast links:
- Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday out at Kettler:
- In general. [Caps365 video (Rinkside Update, Hunter, Vokoun), WashTimes]
- Dale Hunter and Michal Neuvirth on the Czech netminders somewhat surprising Monday night benching. [WaPo, WashTimes, SB Nation DC, CSNW, KOL]
- "I haven’t felt like this for a long time." Mike Green on his recovery from injury or Air Supply lyric? [WashTimes (and in blog form), WaPo, DCEx, CSNW]
- It's back to Hershey for Keith Aucoin, Braden Holtby and Joel Rechlicz. [WashTimes]
- George McPhee is apparently doing his job rather rigorously these days, and probably will be pretty busy over the next two weeks. Just a hunch. [NHL.com, WashTimes, WaPo, PHT, RMNB, Bar South]
- Mike Knuble just wants to play... somewhere. [WashTimes, WaPo, NHL.com, CSNW]
- Are the Caps shooting themselves in the foot with some of their lineup decisions? [Dump 'n Chase]
- Wyshynski and Marek talk about how to fix the Caps. [Fan590 (audio, about 1/3 of the way through)]
- Alan May chats Caps on the Sports Reporters. [ESPN980 (audio)]
- Regarding that Rechlicz misconduct the other night. [D.C. Sports Bog, SB Nation DC]
- If you're Alexander Semin, the good news is that your peers consider you to be "All-Star-caliber;" the bad news is... well, click through. [Puck Daddy]
- I can buy "1a and 1b," but Alex Ovechkin "a distant fourth" behind Ilya Kovalchuk (last night notwithstanding)? C'mon. [ESPN]
- "Perhaps the best solution would be to stop trying to change their offensive thoroughbreds into defensive plow horses and turn them loose to do what they do best." (Turn whom loose, exactly? That the Caps got defensive and then the goals dried up, rather than the other way around, is one of the great misconceptions in and around Capsland over the past couple of seasons.) [THN]
- Practice? We're talkin' 'bout practice? [RtR]
- The Caps have become unwatchable (but I'm guessing you're still watching). [StC]
- Really interesting read about a fighter and a fight from up in Hershey. [Patriot-News, with more from Bears practice here]
- Evgeny Kuznetsov knows that that to get a garbage goal, you go to the trash can. Oh, and he also apparently knows how to pop his shoulder back into its socket. Multiple times. [SovSport via Alex Ovetjkin]
- "Washington vs. Hershey" in the same building in which The Beatles played their first U.S. concert. Mind = Blown.[Ghosts of DC]
- Good on the Caps (and you all) for raising more than $350k (that's two-thirds of a Mathieu Perreault!) for charity at Casino Night. [CSNW]
- Finally, happy 38th birthday to Martin Gendron, and it's also Jaromir Jagr's 40th birthday today.
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And we’re off?
@DarrenDreger Early morning news, Marek Zidlicky has agreed to waive no-trade to go to New Jersey. Doesn’t mean deal is done. Still some work to do.
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He’s been in the doghouse in Minny, hasn’t he?
That'll make your weagle wink!
"You're the boss, apple sauce" - @GreenLife52
“He doesn’t like what I’m doing,” Zidlicky said. “If I’m an offensive player, I’m supposed to play with the top guys. He should show me, ‘You are that guy, and you will be out there the last minute when we need to score.’ There was a lot of times when I just laid on the bench and just wait for my chance. We had a couple meetings about that after 10, 15 games in the season, and I can’t change my style. That’s what I know. That’s for sure. He wants to play easy hockey. I tried everything what he wants, but apparently it doesn’t work.”
Zidlicky, who turns 35 Friday, said of Yeo’s system: “It wasn’t me. It wasn’t my style. I tried to explain it to him couple times, but he wants something different. I don’t think I can change something when you are like 34 years old.”
"Now fair's fair Henry. If I nail Hotlips and punch Hawkeye, can I go home too?
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 7:32 AM EST up reply actions
"It wasn’t me. It wasn’t my style. I tried to explain it to him couple times, but he wants something different.
…is it bad that the first thing I thought of reading that was, “Filly don’t do rebounds?”
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
They’re welcome to him .
But, yes, I would say this is the opening salvo. Or at least I hope so. Trade deadline is fun stuff.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Sure is. Even if nothing happens, I’m riveted by the 10 hour-trade deadline show every year.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:31 AM EST up reply actions
That is an entire day lost at work for me. I really should just take the day off.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
I’ve bitten the bullet and just take the day off. Works nice getting two three-day weekends in a row with President’s Day on the 20th.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:38 AM EST up reply actions
I do both. Come to the office but do nothing beyond answer the phone and tend to emails. Complete waste of time, but I get transifxed by the deals and subsequent analysis.
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I am lucky enough for the 3rd year in 4 that the boss will not be in the office that day.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 9:19 AM EST up reply actions
Same. I took July 1 off this year (turns out that was a smart move, lots of posting to be done that day) but next year I really just need to take them both off. I’ve somehow managed to make it through the last three trade deadlines at this job without getting fired but I’ve been lucky…
The definition of being a Caps fan is watching the same team over and over and expecting different results.
Only because I’m very forgiving of sub-par performance.
Oh, you mean at your real job.
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by J.P. on Feb 15, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
/high five
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
You’re enjoying yourself today, aren’t you?
The definition of being a Caps fan is watching the same team over and over and expecting different results.
So Minnesota’s GM, not surprisingly, is saying nothing is done/not even definite he will be traded before the summer.
From a different perspective, interesting reporting by Gulitti from the NJ side today as Patrik Elias and Zidlicky are friends. Curious how often these types of texts are traded between the friends.
Tom Gulitti @TGfireandice
Elias on texts with Zidlicky:"He just asked how we played and I said, ‘We won.’ He said, ‘All right. Good. Keep it going.’ And that was it."
“Elias said the first of he heard of Zidlicky/Devils was this morning when he read about it like everyone else.”
So now I’m feeling the narrative has shifted from “what’s wrong with the Caps?” to “blame/trade/take the C off of Ovi”. Got it.
And I understand he’s the face of the franchise and the Captain. But as un-Ovi like as he’s been this year, he’s way down on the list of problems this team has.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 7:27 AM EST reply actions
With the salary, the “C,” and the celebrity, it comes with the territory. Expecting any nuance from national media types is probably unrealistic (case in point, all the “Just let ’em run-and-gun” pleas).
But just for the exact opposite of fun…
he’s way down on the list of problems this team has
What’s your (anyone) top-ten?
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Personally, I think systemic issues have been number one. They don’t forecheck, and it looks like they’re almost trying to play rope a dope every single game, because their Corsi and Fenwick numbers are atrocious. You can’t win when the other team is pretty much doubling your shot attempts every single game. They don’t cycle well enough to keep attempting their cycle, and when they do, it invariably leads to a turnover in the offensive zone. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen one Capital surrounded in the offensive zone by three defending players. They’re just not aggressive enough at anything they do to be successful. This team goes down 2-0, and you might as well check in tomorrow. They force their goaltenders to be perfect every single night (giving up goals from center ice certainly isn’t helping either), and you just can’t win cosistently that way.
I would also rank injuries up there too. Their best defenseman has only played 10 games, and they lost their number one center. Ovi’s not going to be able to do much when he’s being centered by Mathieu Perreault and Marcus Johansson. Combine that with a regression in the play of John Carlson and Karl Alzner, who get pretty big minutes, and you’ve got problems.
Bottom line, when your MVP is probably Jason Chimera or Brooks Laich, that’s not a good thing at all. This team was flawed from the start (especially as paper-thin as it was down the middle), but it didn’t need that much. Now? I have no clue.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 7:54 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And, going back to systemic issues, I’ve mentioned this before, and Jeff Marek did yesterday too, but this team has been jerked around so much with so many different systems and styles and buzzwords in such a short time that it has to be difficult to process what’s going on. What kind of team is this? What does it do well? Does it want to be firewagon? Does it want to be a trappitty trap trap team? It’s trying to do everything at the same time and doing none of it well.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 7:59 AM EST up reply actions
I think that’s a bit overly narrative-driven.
They were run-and-gun.
Then, December 13, 2010, they weren’t.
Then, November 27, 2011, they really weren’t.
They haven’t been “firewagon” in agest and should have long since shed any signs of it. They’ve had more than enough time to adjust.
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I don’t see why now AO needs to have a center. He didn’t need to have a great center or an offensive system under Hanlon. But now he’s getting paid like a bear with the energy of two bears, but he’s producing like some sort of lesser-bear. Maybe a Panda or something.
As much as it’s true that Semin isn’t worth 6.7 if he “needs” a true scoring line C, it’s also true for AO and his ~9.5.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 15, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Well, yes, but he’s not that guy any more.
Is he worth is contract? Not even close.
But to make the best of a bad situation, he’s going to need some help along the way.
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If he’s not that guy anymore then I certainly think he deserves to be on the list of problems, given his salary.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 15, 2012 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
Not suggesting that you disagree, just bringing the point back home.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 15, 2012 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t see why now AO needs to have a center.
He shouldn’t. Your whole organization is predicated on him being able to anchor (in a good way) a line all by himself.
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This is it. Which is why GMGM is under the pressure that Friedeman noted yesterday.
The sellouts, the Rock the Red, the Building America’s Hockey Capital, the trades of the last couple years, the FA acquisitions….the whole thing is based on two things: the team and AO are lashed together as tightly as can be, and the assumption that the team will ride AO’s goal-scoring to the top of the standings on a yearly basis.
Crisis time when the basic assumption crumbles.
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by fat_daddyo on Feb 15, 2012 9:32 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
He shouldn’t. Your whole organization is predicated on him being able to anchor (in a good way) a line all by himself.
Not that I disagree, but are there examples of supposedly top-10 (or whatever) players anchoring an elite line all by themselves? I don’t know enough recent hockey history to point to examples one way or another.
But it seems to me all the “great lines” of the past few years had a least a couple stars* on them.
*ie. not MP or MarJo
"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Well, AO is supposed to be top-2, and you have Crosby, Zetterberg, Malkin, Datsyuk, Thornton to name a few.
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by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
Malkin, Datsyuk, Thornton to name a few.
Aren’t those guys playing with noticably more talent than MP/MarJo/Brouwer/etc etc?
"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Ovi wasn’t playing particularly well with Backstrom healthy, was he?
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And hasn’t been Pittsburgh trying since Hossa to find a winger to play with Crosby (Malkin now)?
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
James Neal! (who stole Evander Holyfield’s nickname).
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
And I suppose in all fairness not very many people are going to describe Neal as ‘elite’, even though he’s challenging for the Richard this season.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
That Neal/Malkin/Kunitz line has been absolutely bonkers, and I can’t explain it, other than that EM has been beastly this year. Reminds me of what Fleischmann/Versteeg/Weiss were/are doing in Florida.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
That’s what easy competition, easy zone starts, and close to 40 (!!!) shots/60 will do to you.
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by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that one scoring line teams rarely win Cups.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions
I hope so. One of their scouts IS Don Waddell, so we got that going for us.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
Bit of a tangent and more related to the discussion below re: Ovi, but his OZone starts over the last five years:
2007-08: 58.1
2008-09: 58.3
2009-10: 55.6
2010-11: 51.6
2011-12: 52.5
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And what would you guess to be the impact in terms of raw numbers on a per game basis? If I set the O/U at 1.5 FOs per game what’d you take?
Please, call me F&B.
Between, say, 58% and 52%? Under.
For the ease of the numbers, say AO’s on for 20 non-neutral zone ES draws per game. In that case, one draw = 5%, right? If he’s on for 11, he’s at 55%, 10 would be 50%, etc.
AO’s not on for 20 non-neutral zone ES draws per game. Not even close. In fact, he’s been on for roughly 8.6 non-neutral draws per game (can that be?).
So way under on 1.5 per game.
Put another way, AO’s at 52.5 OZone starts right now. To get up to 58%, he’d have to have either added 60 OZone draws (~1 per game), not been on for 43 DZone draws (~1 per game), or taken 25 more OZone draws and 25 fewer DZone draws (~1 per game).
Obviously there are other combinations, but you get the point – the difference between 52.5 and 58 here is around one faceoff per game.
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More like 20 offensive zone possessions per season.
Take the 25/25 split above to get him to 58% OZone draws. Say the Caps have a 52% FO guy centering him (sorry, MJ90 and MP85). That’s 13 FO wins. In 53 games. Or one every four games. Or twenty won FOs per season.
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The stats community says that 1 OZ draw is worth a .8 Corsi boost, FWIW. I think there’s a significant selection bias issue and that number measures correlation more than causation, but that’s the figure that I’ve seen used. I’m sure RAL can and will correct me if that number has changed.
Please, call me F&B.
JaredL took a look at using individual players’ Corsi rates in each zone to adjust for zone starts here and here finds it nearly identical to using league averages.
Although he’s making a different adjustment, he’s still at the end of the day using league averages, and they seem to work fine in the context of a season.
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by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 3:27 PM EST up reply actions
Well, Z at one point was playing with Filppula and Cleary, Datsyuk with Holmstrom and Franzen (that’s with all those guys healthy, and Holmstrom and Franzen struggle a little there), and Thornton hasn’t always played with Marleau. Yeah, more talent, but not always much more, and much, much better performance on both ends of the ice, I’d say.
Also, I feel the whole winger deal with Pittsburgh is media-driven, a way to rationalize I-don’t-even-know-what. Crosby scores no matter who plays on his wing.
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by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
Babcock breaks up Zetters and Dats to make the Wings harder to beat. if those two are playing on separate lines (and usually productive lines), it makes it harder for the opposition. Sure you can throw your shutdown pair out there against Datsyuk, but now who is going to shut down Zetterberg? This was the same problem facing teams against the Caps in 2009-2010 when Ovechkin and Semin seemed to be scoring at will.
I’d also say that, this season, Filppula, Cleary, Holmstrom, and Franzen are more talented that the 4 guys playing with Ovechkin and Semin. Backstrom’s better than the 4 I listed, but I’m talking aggregate. And with Backstrom being out, it’s absolutely no contest.
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Further to the point, if he THINKS he needs a strong C to be successful that isn’t good either. Per his quote on twitter, something about missing Backstrom. I probably read too much into that, but that comment coupled with the fact that he actually does play better with Backs on the ice…can’t help but think it’s partially a mental thing for AO as well.
"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 15, 2012 9:44 AM EST up reply actions
I think that’s reading a bit too much into it, yeah. Every team is going to miss an elite center (to varying degrees), and given the Caps’ depth at the position, of course he misses him.
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And they seem to have a pretty tight relationship off-ice. I think it’s a pretty generic statement.
Please, call me F&B.
Yesterday on the Marek Wysh podcast they had a little throwaway line that there was some tension between 8 and 19 and that they were no longer BFF’s.
Huh. I missed that. First I’ve heard.
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that might be the most ridiculous thing ever.
besides, everyone knows 19’s BFF is 52.
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That rumor has been floating since the beginning of the season.
From what I can tell Ovie and Nicky haven’t been in each other’s pocket like they were during their first few years. 1) Nicky got his own house he became more of a host and less of a visitor. 2) Marjo arrived last year and Nicky spent more time helping him settle in. 3) Nicky and Greenie have become closer and still hangout together a lot. Add to that, Nicky flew to Calgary over the summer to participate in Greenie’s golfing event. 4) Nicky has minimized the time he spends around the team since his concussion. 5) We don’t hear about them doing as many activities together as in the past.
All this seems to have created the narrative that Ovie and Nicky are not BFFs and that they might have had a falling out.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
From an interview published on October 8 last year (my translation):
When we talked to you during your rookie season in Washington, you told us that you spend a lot of your time with Ovechkin outside of the rink. Is that still the case?
Not at all in the same way as we used to. For that part we don’t socialize at all. We see each other every day at the rink so we do have a lot of contact with each other.
They have fought in the past and I’m sure they will fight again and frankly that doesn’t really bother me at all. Teammates disagree on things all the time, line mates even more because it’s part of the job to challenge one another to constantly be better.
As for the thing that really matters, their relationship on ice, I think there has been a significant change in that during the season. I think the change took place before the coaching change occured.
In short, Nicklas has stopped being Ovi’s bitch.
Nicklas has stopped covering for Ovi in the defensive zone. This season when Ovi just stands still waiting for a pass instead of taking care of his guy and the part of the ice he is responsible for, Nicklas doesn’t step in and do the work for him like he has done in years past. It has probably cost the team some goals against and maybe even some wins, but in the long run I think it will benefit the team, and it’s a shame that it didn’t happen earlier.
Well, I don’t view their dynamic so harshly. What seems to have happened is, factoring in their ages when Nicky joined the team and their personalities, Nicky has come into his own on the ice and has probably matured faster than Ovie off the ice. Nicky has grown up and is carving out a role for himself in the community.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
I’m afraid you have lost me. What part of my comment are you referring to?
The first part was a quote from Nicklas. I guess you can question my ability to translate it correctly. But surely Nicklas himself must know better then you and me what his relationship with Ovi is like.
The second part about fighting I got from a source I trust.
So I guess it has to be something I say in the third part but for the life of me I can’t figure out how my observation about what’s happening on the ice have to to with Nicky growing up and carving out a role for himself in the community".
I can’t speak for oldemystik but I found this statement harsh: “In short, Nicklas has stopped being Ovi’s bitch.”
Relationships are complex and nuanced, and although I never thought Nicky and Ovi were BBF I definitely thought they had a close and supportive working relationship. One that can and should include arguments or intense discussions. I also concur with you that Nicky has come into his own as a leader and has taken on a much more visible role.
Ovechkin on how he can help the team: "Score MOAR goals."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 15, 2012 6:47 PM EST up reply actions
It was never my intention to try to say something deeper about their relationship when I said: In short, Nicklas has stopped being Ovi’s bitch". It was just a metaphor to describe a change that I think have happened on the ice this season.
I also concur with you that Nicky has come into his own as a leader and has taken on a much more visible role.It’s nice when people agrees with you but I don’t actually feel that way. Where exactly do I say that?
I conflated your statement with oldmystix who made that observation about Nicky. Apologies. I was reading quickly yesterday.
In short I had no disagreement overall with your post, but the phrasing of being someone’s bitch was off-putting. It came across to me as harsh. It may be a language issue, but that’s an extremely negative way to describe a relationship between two people. I am, however, mulling over your larger point that Nicky is no longer picking up Ovi’s defensive lapses. That part is interesting.
Ovechkin on how he can help the team: "Score MOAR goals."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 16, 2012 8:56 AM EST up reply actions
I used the “being someones bitch” metaphor to describe one aspect of their on-ice relationship. It was never intended to be a description of their overall relationship.
Doesn’t matter if you are just referring to one aspect of their on ice relationship. For me that metaphor suggests that Nicky was a total doormat, a completely subservient player that didn’t have his own style of play but was completely dominated by Ovi’s. That he was a powerless passenger on that line. And I don’t believe that’s what you meant either.
That’s the kind of negative power that resonates in that phrase. And an interpretation that I disagreed with strongly, which is why I responded. I don’t believe that Nicky was dominated by Ovi on the ice—I think they have had an vibrant on ice relationship that grew as Nicky developed, and one that was gorgeously effective when it was in pitch-perfect harmony. They are partners IMO. And as such should fight like hell to get back to that synergy once Nicky recovers from his concussion.
Ironically, I believe you, Oldmystix, and I are in agreement about Nicky, his importance to the team and to Ovi’s game, as well as his overall growth as a player.
The bitch metaphor just doesn’t work for me.
Ovechkin on how he can help the team: "Score MOAR goals."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 16, 2012 5:47 PM EST up reply actions
What are you trying to achieve here? I have explained repeatedly what I meant. As long as I don’t break any rules I have the right to use whatever metaphor I want too. If you feel I have broken any rules I suggest you tell me which one or if you don’t feel comfortable with that to get in touch with one of the moderators. You are of course free to disagree with me about things but I don’t think it’s fair that you hold me responsible for thing I have never said. I have told you numerous times that I was only talking about one aspect of their on-ice relationship in the defensive zone. You are mixing my original comment, with things you associate from the phrase you don’t like, things I have never said.
And then you continue on to tell me what I feel about things that is not even part of the original discussion.
Ironically, I believe you, Oldmystix, and I are in agreement about Nicky, his importance to the team and to Ovi’s game, as well as his overall growth as a player.
I think you would have a hard time to find a person that don’t believe Nicklas is very important to this team. But I actually think Nicklas overall play have taken a step back this year compared to his play last year.
But I definitely buy the idea that Nicky was a much more vocal and visible leader this season, telling guys on the team what he expects them to do when on the ice, including Ovi.
I don’t agree with those things, and I already told you that the first time you tried to pin that opinion on me. Just a few comments up in this thread. Here is that comment again:
I also concur with you that Nicky has come into his own as a leader and has taken on a much more visible role.
Again I don’t agree with this.
Re-reading the beginning of the thread I see that you are trying to note a change that occurred this season. The metaphor is still all wrong to me. But I think you are trying to say with it that Nicky decided this season to leave Ovi exposed during his defensive lapses whereas in previous years he may have picked up the defensive coverage for him. Doesn’t make him Ovi’s bitch, but rather his enabler.
Interesting idea but still one that I’m mulling. Seems to me that both BB and Hunter would often split them up onto separate lines. Don’t know if the sample size is large enough to draw that kind of conclusion about Nicky leaving Ovi exposed during individual plays in an effort to get him to be more defensively responsible.
But I definitely buy the idea that Nicky was a much more vocal and visible leader this season, telling guys on the team what he expects them to do when on the ice, including Ovi.
Ovechkin on how he can help the team: "Score MOAR goals."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 16, 2012 6:08 PM EST up reply actions
Im hearing the same thing from a source I trust.
You never truly know anyone until you get a look at their hard drive.
by ChrisAm on Feb 15, 2012 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Back in the ol’ days…AO didn’t get the attention he gets now from the other team. You say he shouldn’t need a center, but then you and others will bitch because AO is “carrying the puck too much”.
I think you’re confusing “being acceptably productive” with “being maximally productive.” Not to mention that even without Backstrom, he can use MoJo/Perreault/whomever – no one means he literally doesn’t need teammates.
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I agree with your point that AO isn’t the same guy he was a couple hundred of games ago, but at the same time, I fault him a lot less for his contract than I do GMGM and ownership. Nobody (presumably) had a gun to their head forcing them to offer that many years with that much money.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
Obviously it’s not his fault for signing. It’s just a reality that you need to spend the money wisely in a capped system, and every passing day that contract looks less wise.
Please, call me F&B.
Right, it just seems that a lot of the ire here is directed at Ovi, and rightly so if it’s based off his production on the ice, but the ire about the contract should be directed at GMGM et al.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
Of course. It’s similar to Rechlicz – don’t blame the player for getting the deal he got, blame the team for giving it to him.
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At the same time though, how many of us went “Are you fucking kidding me? That’s ridiculous for a guy who’s currently the best player in the world.”
I seem to remember most of us were rather ecstatic that the best player in hockey was going to be ours for his entire career. Everyone expected he’d cool down at the end of the contract, but nobody thought it would happen this hard, this fast/\.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
The excitement was huge, and it was a wonderful way to throw it in the face of all the other fans/media that were pumping the “trade Ovechkin” crap.
My thinking was always that his production decline would be counteracted by a raise in the cap. That his 10 mil per years would come when the best players in the game could be commanding 12 or 13. That was before dummy years at the end became really popular though.
I think most people knew that the cap would have to rise substantially for the out years to not look terrible, but I agree that people didn’t realize he’d come crashing before 28.
Please, call me F&B.
Although this thread is quite correctly focusing on Ovi’s ‘production’ as the most serious issue, I would like to add that in addition to that drop-off, I am also disappointed in what I suggest is a drop-off in his ‘captain’ obligations. Of course, we don’t know what he does in the locker room and off the ice, but it seems to me that his on-again, off-again attitude on shifts plus what appears to me to be pouting are not great examples of leadership. In other words, we need 100% of Ovi’s energy and leadership on every shift, regardless of whether he scores.
by Wilderthing on Feb 15, 2012 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
I agree, but I think part of it is that in past years he’d spend more of his shifts in the offensive zone (tons of shots for, not too many against). He’s always been standing around in the defensive zone. This year, he’s getting hemmed in so much that we see that standing around much more frequently than we’re used to.
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by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
one thing that rolls around the back of my mind on this… that that money— let’s say it was necessary to keep him here (were others going to compete at that level?)— was well spent— in that it brought legitimacy and popularity to hockey in DC. OV singlehandedly (the cult of OV, world-best status, MVP, powerhouse fun run-n-gun hockey, whether legit or not, etc) made DC care about a sport that had all the appeal of badmitten in 07. Backstrom and Semin alone would not have, and Laich and Green would have drifted into the same historic irrelevance as Bondra and Gartner before them.
Now we are in the age of Red sellouts, people know who Alan May is, and actually listen when he’s on a radio show (imagine that in 06), and yes, Japers as one of the most popular blogs in hockey. Verizon ranking as a top NHL arena experience? ridiculous considering the wasteland that is this franchise’s heritage.
Jagr was the world’s best when we brought him— he couldn’t do it (even before he was detestable). Bondra couldn’t. Kolzig, Gartner, Langway, no one. OV did— and hockey exploded, youth hockey, and that old friend or office guy who could care less about hockey is all in. kids know the full roster like we knew the 80’s Redskins— that is absolutely insane to someone who lived through the rest of it.
100 mil was the bill, seems like Ted makes his $ back on that, and I like the sea change it bought
by Tommy Williams on Feb 15, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs
Yeah. I think that’s the number one reason that drafting Malkin would not have been the better move, even in hindsight. There’s no way Malkin would have done for DC what Ovie did.
Course, I guess that begs the question: Would we rather have “hockeytown” status, or a Stanley Cup?
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
Do you think Ted lets them spend remotely close to the cap (and hence gets them close enough to go for a Cup) if they don’t hit that wave of popularity?
Who knows… He certainly had the money to, whether he would have or not is a totally different question. My question was more if you had to choose one or the other, which would you pick?
Of course there’s no guarantee Malkin would have brought us a Cup either.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
But to hear most re-tell the story of the contract, it sounded as if they had a six-year deal worked out and then said, “Fuck it, let’s go ten.”
In retrospect, I don’t think you would’ve lost any of the benefits you listed had they not added those out-years, and the team would be in a better position at present.
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if that’s the case, then I think you’d have to be correct. but when he does go, we’ll feel some air being let out, and I think we’ll feel a little sadness too at the end of an exceptional high. I think the Caps experience has been lifted for good to some degree, but it’ll slip a couple notches too whenever he’s gone.
Still just amazed at the transformation whenever I think about it. I remember seeing someone float an old pic of OV in black scoring in a Flyers game at home, maybe here. Probably rookie year. Ice-level shot, and you could see a full LL section of empty seats in the background. Flyers game.
I had a couple wknd package seats down low then— 10 of us would go down, others scalping $10 uppers on the street, we’d slide everyone down and take over my row. That changed in 08.
by Tommy Williams on Feb 15, 2012 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Tommy…superb post. Having watched the Caps for over a couple of decades, the Ovi phenomenon was – and has been – absolutely wonderful. You are right that we should not forget this aspect of Ovi. Clearly that is one of the reason why we hate to ‘criticize’ him because of what he has brought to the franchise.
I don’t necessarily disagree with what you’re saying, but I can’t help but ask:
What’s more important, building America’s hockey capital or building a Stanley Cup champion? If you sell out the latter for the former, is that a good move?
Please, call me F&B.
For ownership, or for the fans?
I would argue that the latter would go a long way towards building the former, regardless of who’s in your lineup.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed. And as a fan who has already appreciated the game for a long time and loved the Caps, I’d much rather a Cup than America’s hockey capital. I don’t get caught up in discussions about who has the best/most legit fanbase. Winning creates that kind of fanbase anyway.
Please, call me F&B.
I never thought about it as a Cup versus hockey capital, but now that you brought it up…. Of course we want a cup ASAP but, on other hand, as a lover of hockey I certainly want kids to beginning associating with it as much as they do football, for example. And the only way to do that is to make sure DC/environs is thought of as a hocky ‘town’ where media and educators begin to think of it as a program for kids. That, to me, requires a long term strategy that began with Ovimania. A cup would certainly help but a continuous quality hockey presence with interesting personalities should not be sacrificed for a ‘win now’ attitude only.
The other thing to bear in mind on the OV contract is the very strong possibility, given the history, of, in its place, another decade of outcome-less Oates/Juneau/Jagr patchwork trades and picks that don’t do it, where we’re at 2017 with still shit to show for DC hockey. All part of a ‘87-’97-‘07-’17 shit DC hockey continuum. Maybe the miracle combinations come along instead of OV, but maybe not, and we’d still have shit to show, and DC is asleep on hockey for another decade.
by Tommy Williams on Feb 15, 2012 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
Of course we have to go for the Cup. And I personally think the hockey capital thing is cheesy. But I’ll take long-term hockey legitimacy and public appreciation over an ignored Cup win— which is what 97 would have been. I honestly think, if we had (insanely) lucked our way into taking that, DC still would have yawned, like we did at United championships. All of us who were there remember it was more than half Detroit fans— for fucking Stanley Cup games, beaten out by people who had to drive 10 hrs.
We’re now where we’d like to be. Thanks due OV. What has to be done next is what you guys talk about here.
by Tommy Williams on Feb 15, 2012 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
Busses lined up outside MCI center, like the old Cap Centre days with Philly and NY… I saw them all pack in. What happened I think is ticket agents in DET (who had already clinched) had their hands on the phone to jump on whatever East team won (Buffalo or us— of course Buffalo would have largely shut them out). this before the days where Ted blocked area codes (or owned).
Susan O’Malley was just happy to get the sellout.
by Tommy Williams on Feb 15, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
J.P. is going to be half chub now that someone finally mentioned Susan O’Malley (only a couple weeks late…).
Please, call me F&B.
I hated Susan O’Malley.
I went to see the Caps play the Wings in, I think, the final Jagr year. The Caps lost something like 7-4.
My comment to a friend of mine after the game: it was like being in the politburo, what with the sea of red around us. That would have been the Wings jerseys, I note.
They started an OOOOOOOOOOOO-LLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE chant and everything. It was sorta like being at an away game. It was brutal.
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1998. 1997 the Flyers played victim to the Red Wings Stanley Cup Machine.
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Which led to a memorable ECW promo given by The Dudley Boyz and Joel Gertner.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
Except that wasn’t Gertner and the Dudleyz, it was Shane Douglas. Bah!
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
Bottom line, when your MVP is probably Jason Chimera or Brooks Laich, that’s not a good thing at all. This team was flawed from the start
But this team wasn’t built for Chimera or Laich to be the MVP. They were built for AO to be the MVP. The fact that a couple of 3rd liners are the top candidates for MVP means that there are big problems with AO, no?
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 15, 2012 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
1. Defensive struggles in their own end
2. Bad passing
3. Power play ineffective
4. PK inconsistent
5. Failure to get the puck into the offensive zone
6. Failure to KEEP the puck in the offensive zone
7. Not enough screens
8. Ovechkin not scoring
9. Semin not scoring
10. Injuries
"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 15, 2012 7:54 AM EST up reply actions
1) Backstrom’s absence
2) Green’s absence
3) No viable 2C
4) Inconsistent goaltending (especially early this season)
5) Effort/Work-level
6) Bad Fundamentals (Passing, Cycling)
7) Generating Shots
8) Can’t win on the road
9) Special teams sputtering
10) Trending Sasha
by Gin and Tonic on Feb 15, 2012 7:56 AM EST up reply actions
I can only think of 8 right now
1 NY Rangers
2 Boston
3 Florida
4 Philadelphia
5 Pittsburgh
6 New Jersey
7 Ottawa
8 Toronto
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Feb 15, 2012 8:02 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Expecting any nuance from national media types is probably unrealistic (case in point, all the "Just let ’em run-and-gun" pleas).
It is amazing how much less I respect much of the media than just a few years ago. Knowing what actually goes on for the Caps (change to defence after offense dried up, not the other way around) vs the media narrative makes me question most of what I hear. Thank god for the few all-stars, like Friedman and McKenzie.
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Thank god for the few all-stars, like Friedman and McKenzie.
Even those guys are pretty bad when the delve into analyzing the play of particular teams or individuals. Their strengths are league-level reporting and having lots of sources.
What examples are you thinking of in terms of analyzing the play of a particular team?
Please, call me F&B.
Defensive zone play – The man-to-man constant pressure system does appear to work to reduce goals against (or at least quality shots against) but it means that breakouts suffer
Break outs – too many times in the last few games I’ve seen a “controlled breakout” by dumping the puck around the boards from behind our own net
Neutral zone play
Forecheck style – I’m not sure what having all three forwards below the goal line is supposed to accomplish other than easy breakouts and odd man rushes for the defending team
Commenter #1 here doesn’t thinks Ovi’s made of Teflon, apparently.
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Sonofabitch… strike “doesn’t.”
Coffee time!
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Interesting tidbit from the Casino Night story
While Chef Spike will lead the lesson, Hamrlik and Vokoun will also be able to offer helpful pointers as both have graduated from culinary school.
So that’s what bored Czech hockey players do during the summer?
Also, just saw CSN’s story on the dad’s trip. While they were watching the game Monday night, one of that dads yelled “SHOOT!” And you thought only fans do that. :)
"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."
He prolly also said “Darn” and “Heck” alot.
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Feb 15, 2012 7:39 AM EST up reply actions
I can buy “1a and 1b,” but Alex Ovechkin “a distant fourth” behind Ilya Kovalchuk (last night notwithstanding)? C’mon.
It’s amazing how quickly everyone forgets that Kovalchuk put up 61 points last year in 81 games, for which Ovechkin is about on pace. The difference is that Ovechkin will probably at least crack 250 shots this year (he’s at 200 now) which Kovalchuk didn’t do last year.
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And Kovalchuk also killed a coach last year as the team struggled with injuries to key players.
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He also killed a franchise :(
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 7:56 AM EST up reply actions
In fairness, that franchise was dead long before Kovalchuk. He just kicked it while it was down.
"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 15, 2012 7:56 AM EST up reply actions
It’s not his fault they were willing to bankrupt themselves to get him.
"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 know. I was matching Emily’s snark in regards to coach-killing.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:06 AM EST up reply actions
Maclean, right? How did he kill himself?
Not challenging, just interested in hearing the theory.
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He was just a horrible coach. Their underlying numbers with him were brutal, when he got fired the numbers turned around and looked respectable-to-good. That’s not all Kovalchuk trying to kill his coach. MacLean just seems like he was over-matched in the NHL.
Please, call me F&B.
Mentally substituting “Hunter” for “MacLean”. Hmm.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
? Shooting and sv% was brutal, possession decent (IIRC 51% or so). Of course, when Lemaire can coax some of the best numbers in the league out of largely the same roster, even sans Parise, you question if Maclean knew what the hell he was doing. So I guess we can all happily come to the same conclusion this time.
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by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
He survived Hans Gruber, at least.
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by Scott in Shaw on Feb 15, 2012 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
People are very “what have you done for me lately”.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 15, 2012 7:56 AM EST up reply actions
How is that anything but the truth?! If we’re going to include last season’s performance in the rankings of players for right now, we might as well include Russians from 10 years ago. The simple truth is, we don’t know when the hell Ovie’s going to come back to form, if ever. It’s been almost a full 2 years since he’s been “himself” and to even put him in the top 4 right now is a stretch. This team needs its leader, and while I would love to believe that 100% of the teams struggles are based on wanting to get hot late in the year, if that was the plan from the outset, Bruce would still be here.
Simply, the team is awful right now. Top to bottom. Ovie’s been producing more under Hunter, but he’s still way below where this team needs him to be right now. He’s nowhere near the value to his team right now that Dayts, Malkin or Kovy are to theirs.
I don’t disagree with that, for the most part, but I don’t think there’s “distance” between Kovalchuk and Ovechkin as players, in isolation.
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Exactly. If anything, there’s a sizable distance between 2 and 3, not 3 and 4.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 15, 2012 8:42 AM EST up reply actions
Physical skill, I still take Ovie over Kovy right now. Infact, I think if you swap the players, you’d probably see a swap in their production also as NJD is a healthier team right now, and there’s no denying that a return to form for Parise and Elias are large contributors to Kovy’s increased production…
But does a healthy 19 and 52 put Ovie back over a point-per-game pace? I sure as hell hope so…but I’m not very optimistic.
I’m the type of guy who believes that you move talent around to better your team and get the most value. I wanted Varly traded after the NYR/PIT year, as he was at his peak value. I’m shocked we were still able to get a 1st for him.
With Ovie, he brings so much more to this team, but we have to be honest with ourselves… He’s getting paid to be a 100pt/year guy. I could stomach an 80pt/year pace if that’s all the team needs to win night in and night out. But right now, the team needs their 80pt player, and is getting much less than that. What’s closer to reality moving forward? Ovie at 60pts/year, or Ovie at 80pts/year? If it’s 60, he’s got to go.
And the thing about Stamkos getting better…people forget about growth curves
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by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 8:49 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
Dude just turned 22 last week. These SHOULD be his “peak” years.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:52 AM EST up reply actions
I thought his growth curve from playing Uncle Jesse on Full House to playing the drums for the Beach Boys in “Kokomo” was interesting though I am not sure it showed an upswing….
Oh you said Stamkos. Never mind.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Not that points is the only measure of whether a forward is good or not, but there are also only 4 Russians in the top 80 in points. And Ovi’s the distant 4th…
by OvechkinGR8 on Feb 15, 2012 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
Kuz: Young Guns II
At first I wanted to score a lot of goals. Then I wanted to become the best in the region, to get to the farm club, to get to the Tractor’s lineup. To receive an invitation to the national team. All the mundane stuff. And when you are mundane, then the stardom won’t happen to you.
Love this kid’s sightlines. The shoulder, not so much.
Cross check and all call.
His shoulder is fine.
"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 15, 2012 7:58 AM EST up reply actions
Lets hope so. I’d hate to see Eric Fehr Round 2. We have enough Fehr problems on this board as it.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
Now there is a comparison I never thought I’d see. Kuz—>Fehr.
"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 15, 2012 8:11 AM EST up reply actions
Fehr, drafted 18th overall
Kuz, drafted 26th overall
Both dirty frrners coming to steal our jerbs. Seem the same to me.
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by Bman21212 on Feb 15, 2012 8:16 AM EST up reply actions 7 recs
LOL well played. Rec’d.
"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 15, 2012 8:23 AM EST up reply actions
If you havin’ Fehr problems, I feel bad for you, son.
I got 99 problems, but Eric Fehr ain’t one.
Reporter: "What’s your Mom’s birthday?"
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by Wheeler on Feb 15, 2012 8:31 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
The year is 2012, our best center’s on the shelf,
and it ain’t like my team’s the picture of health.
Do I use LTIR and free up some cap space
or sell off assets, get out of the playoff chase. Hmm.
Now I ain’t of a mind to get myself canned,
So I know exactly where my priorities stand.
So I’m workin’ the phones, squeezin’ blood out of stones,
I hear “I ain’t got nothin’ that can help you, George.”
‘Cause of some old scrap that we had in the past?
Or instructions coming down from your team’s brass?
Or is it just ‘cause your team’s not in dead last?
“No, it’s because you handed Greg Sherman his ass.
A first and a second for a goalie made of glass?
And now you’re trying to pull another quick one past?”
I ain’t backin’ down a notch. Gonna call up Scott.
“Jeff Carter’s gonna cost you a hell of a lot.”
But I know he wants out and the Jackets do suck,
and he hasn’t really made that cannon fire much.
“Well aren’t you sharp as a tack. You some type of lawyer or something?
Someone important or something?”
Yeah, I’ve passed a bar, yeah, I’m GMGM
and I didn’t just make this call on a whim.
“Well, your prospect pipeline’s dryer than a record scratch.”
I got 99 problems, but Eric Fehr ain’t one. HIT ME.
Reporter: "What’s your Mom’s birthday?"
Tortorella: "I have no idea."
by Wheeler on Feb 15, 2012 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 37 recs
We might have Fehr problems this summer that would make a shoulder injury or two feel like a walk in the park…
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by J.P. on Feb 15, 2012 8:35 AM EST up reply actions 9 recs
How do you feel about the negotiations this summer? Do you think the lockout is imminent?
"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 15, 2012 8:46 AM EST up reply actions
No relation.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
by cainoo7x on Feb 15, 2012 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
The silver lining last night was shined a bit by our friends in Uniondale and Calgary.
The Leafs remain one point ahead of the Capitals after losing to the Flames last night. However, the Leafs have played one more game than the Capital and head to Edmonton as part of the Alberta two-step tonight. Fortunately (?) they head to Vancouver Saturday night.
The Jets remain three points behind the Caps after their loss to NYI, but the Jets have now played two more games. The Jets will play at the Wild on Thursday night, leaving the Caps with three games in hand before the Caps play Friday. BTW – the Jets then have to play the B’s at home on Friday night.
At the same time, tonights Sens-Cats game screams “THREE POINTS!!!!” as loud as possible. I can see it coming.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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That’s the remarkable thing. As crappy as the Caps have been, they’re still only one point out of 8th.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:07 AM EST up reply actions
Didn’t the Flyers get to the finals the year that they beat the Rangers in the SO in the last game of the season to get to the playoffs? Then they made it to game 6 before losing.
That’s why you never know.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
Fancy statisticians will quickly remind you that, yes, yes you do sometimes know.
"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 15, 2012 8:10 AM EST up reply actions
But if I do know, then the glass becomes half empty. I don’t like half empty glasses.
I prefer to think of them as half full so that they can tip over and smash, leaving me soaking wet and bloodied.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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Agreed. I prefer them half-full so I can chug them.
"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 15, 2012 8:14 AM EST up reply actions
Half-full, Half-empty. I don’t care as long as the glass is half-whiskey.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 15, 2012 8:16 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Yep. All they gotta do is make it in. The rest? Who knows.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:14 AM EST up reply actions
8th gets us the Rags in the 1st round. The only team we can beat in the playoffs…maybe we need the reverse 1/8 voodoo.
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by Davethecapsfan on Feb 15, 2012 1:35 PM EST up reply actions
I realize the intent of what you’re trying to say, but I have no friends in Uniondale, they can die in a fire, starting with Kelly Hrudey.
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 15, 2012 8:08 AM EST up reply actions
I’d throw Potvin and Billy Smith in there every day of the week. But, I do have some respect for some of the old guard like Trottier, Morrow and Bossy.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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Bossy’s the most underrated player of all-time, but like BP I have zero love for the Isles, nor for anyone else from the Patrick.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:15 AM EST up reply actions
Aye (to a degree). Trottier was good but he played on two personally insufferable clubs. He’s kind of like my hockey version of Pink Floyd. Respect the legacy even if I couldn’t get into it.
Bossy? Boy if his back held up, would have been Top 5 in goals I think.
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 15, 2012 8:20 AM EST up reply actions
No love for Nystrom, Gilles or Goring? Yeah, me neither.
Although, Nystrom’s OT goal against the Flyers in the semis in 1977 (?) is one of my earlier hockey memories.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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Do you mean the OT goal that got them their first Cup?
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:24 AM EST up reply actions
Yes. 1977 or 1980? Semis or Finals? It’s early.
I really did think that was earlier than 1980, but that makes sense, because Morrow left Lake Placid to go play for a Cup winner. What a flipping run that boy had.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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1980 Cup Finals. First of the Isles 4 straight.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:27 AM EST up reply actions
I came into watching near the end of their era so I didn’t (couldn’t?) appreciate them as much. Then after most of those guys left LaFontaine came in and just kept the fires stoked.
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 15, 2012 8:28 AM EST up reply actions
His numbers are 80s-fied, but they’re insane. He only had one season where he scored fewer than 50 goals and 90 points, and that was his last season where he played 63 games. And he still dropped 38/37/75.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:23 AM EST up reply actions
You know, Bossy is a perennial 50 goal scorer. If people are so worked up about Knuble being benched, why aren’t the Isles taking more heat for not playing a dude who scored 50 goals almost every season he skated?
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 15, 2012 9:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, Uniondale is kinda shitty, so it makes sense you wouldn’t have friends there. But drive a couple miles and it’s not so bad.
Please, call me F&B.
Extends to Hoboken. Oh shit…
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 15, 2012 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
When we got to the hotel, one of the first things the clerk said to us was “there’s plenty of cops between there and RBA, so you should be OK.”
/OT
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 15, 2012 9:37 AM EST up reply actions
Gotta have Ottawa win that game. Easier to catch FLA (and it’s more important to avoid NYR in the first round), especially since we’re playing them Friday.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:35 AM EST up reply actions
Avoid NYR? Shiiiiiiiiiit [Sen. Davis], that’s the only team the Caps can beat four times in April.
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by J.P. on Feb 15, 2012 8:39 AM EST up reply actions 8 recs
Not so sure about this year. They look pretty dynamite. But then again, so have many, many other teams in the regular season that blew up in the playoffs.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:42 AM EST up reply actions
If something happens to Henrik, everything could go sideways real fast.
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That’s potential cataclysm #1.
The other, and this is really narrative-driven for which I apologize, is that this looks like a golden season for the Rags, where everything that can go right very obligingly does go right. I’ve watched a decent number of their games, say 15 or so, and it always seeems like they’ve got the other team reacting to them rather than the other way around.
If the good times end, and they always do, they will have some serious adjusting to do. It’s just a question of whether they can keep it going deep into the spring.
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it always seeems like they’ve got the other team reacting to them rather than the other way around.
I think a lot of that is because they’re better, plain and simple. Their D are good at getting the puck out of the zone (well, at least, better than in previous years), they have some hard zone start forwards that move the puck up the ice well, and some incredibly fast players as well.
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I believe in next year.
by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 11:21 AM EST up reply actions
I can’t think of any. Got any examples with which I might be familiar?
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Yep, hard to imagine a number 1 seed in the East losing to a barely make the playoffs 8 seed. Never happen.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Feb 15, 2012 8:46 AM EST up reply actions
Certainly not to a team who has ancient Roman Hammrlik as a top 4 dman.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Feb 15, 2012 8:47 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah it’s unheard of to have a veteran Dman and get a Stanley Cup.
And today is opposite day.
"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 15, 2012 8:50 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe this will fill your optimism glass more or maybe you will see it as a jinx, but regarding the Leafs:
1/ Their three game road trips to the Western Canadian teams in the last few years have been awful. Last night’s result was no surprise.
2/ Edmonton have been red hot at home lately. With the Leafs playing a back to back and the Oilers rested since Saturday, it will be no walk in the park for the Buds.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 9:30 AM EST up reply actions
It’s been said many times before, but it’s worth repeating – I’m really glad that the Capitals are the kind of organization that keeps Mike Vogel in house and gives him the space to write what he wants to write (within certain fair limits). Good article by Vogel today.
Hey, atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Feb 15, 2012 8:48 AM EST reply actions 5 recs
Hear hear. He certainly took some of the recent decision-making to task in that piece.
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Vogel
While it’s great that the organization gives Vogs the freedom to voice an opinion, it’s only helpful if Hunter reads it…if Hunter can read that is…
Pretty stupid comment on at least two levels.
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Yeah, I don’t think Ontario Farmer is a picture book.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Feb 15, 2012 9:08 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Over the course of his fifteen-year (and counting) NHL career, Mike Knuble has made a name for himself as a guy who works hard and excels alongside some of the League’s best, whether it was Joe Thornton in Boston or Simon Gagne in Philadelphia or Alex Ovechkin right here in Washington. His game is simple but effective, and not for the faint of heart – go to the net, take the punishment, and get the dirty goals. Over the last eight seasons he’s scored at least twenty goals playing exactly this way, regardless of team and in spite of the fact that he’s nearing forty-years-old.
That streak, however, is in jeopardy – and it’s because he’s no longer being used the right way
I’m not sure I disagree with any of that (other than the streak being in jeopardy – it’s fully cooked).
I took issue with the Hunter dig.
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Wasn’t meant to be a dig on intellect…but a dig (for lack of a better word) at his stubborness. (I know, this is what makes/made Hunter Hunter…)
Well, I for one thought it was also stupid to think that Vogs is only helpful/successful if Hunter reads his opinion pieces. I don’t think that’s Vogs’ role, or responsibility, whatsoever.
"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 15, 2012 9:47 AM EST up reply actions
That was the second level I was alluding to. But whatevs.
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I mean, don’t get me wrong, just like everyone else I often times wish that Vogs, May, NGreenberg, and even our fine hosts JP and the rest of the Rink were serving that purpose. Do you think the organization ever does read these columns/posts/etc and take it to heart?
"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 15, 2012 9:59 AM EST up reply actions
Sure – they’re consumers of information just like the rest of us.
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Do you think the organization ever does read these columns/posts/etc and take it to heart?
I can say with 100% certainty Jason Chimera does.
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What’s the story behind that? I think I’m too new to know it, but you reference it a bit and your Twitter info does too. I know it’s sort of OT, but I’m curious.
"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 15, 2012 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
Let’s just say he wasn’t a fan of one of my WaPo articles.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
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LOL I remember that article. No way! He actually called you out on it??
"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 15, 2012 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
… the long-term solution for the top line looks to be Eric Fehr. With Fehr seeing top-line minutes, Washington sees the highest percentage of chances go in its favor and a robust 18.8 percent of those chances convert – all while playing against the toughest competition opponents have to offer. It’s a shame his injury has kept him from continuing his successful audition on the top line.
Get well soon, Eric — Ovechkin and Backstrom need you.
Heh – there was a time when that actually made sense…
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Well if Eric heeded a certain call,
when the team, would come together as one.
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 15, 2012 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
Was there?
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 15, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Did he send you a valentine yesterday?
That'll make your weagle wink!
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by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
That’s stupid.
"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 15, 2012 8:57 AM EST up reply actions
Stupid!
"Now fair's fair Henry. If I nail Hotlips and punch Hawkeye, can I go home too?
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
I agree with him wholeheartedly on the Holtby/Neuvirth thing. That decision smacks of panic and it was a poor one for a number of reasons.
Regarding Knuble, I absolutely disagree that Knuble has anything more than a theoretical edge on Aucoin when it comes to potential goal-scoring ability.
As to the PK, I’m not sure whether I’m buying in there or not. The results on the PK have been brutal, there’s no getting around it. Does Knuble help there, or is he a passenger? I don’t know.
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I loved the Vogs piece for him openly questioning the organization, but as I’ve said elsewhere, Knuble vs. Beagle vs. Rechlicz has a real “deck chairs on the Titanic” feel to it.
The goalies… I’m not as worked up about it, but I can see the point.
As for penalty killing, he’s been arguably the team’s best PKing forward – best GAON/60.
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Some, but it’s still five skill dudes to your four. QualComp matters less to me on the PK.
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As for penalty killing, he’s been arguably the team’s best PKing forward – best GAON/60.
That’s a little misleading. PK On-ice Sv% is .926. His PK SA/60 is 41.3, about avg
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
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by NGreenberg on Feb 15, 2012 9:21 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
That’s why I said “arguably” and not “inarguably”!
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by J.P. on Feb 15, 2012 9:54 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I think sometimes it’s okay when coaches call out their players in the media as a means of motivaiton (as long as it’s respectful. Players should have the mental strength to just get over that and do better) but I do think his reasoning, that if Neuvy had been standing on his head, Holtby wouldn’t have played, is flawed. Neuvy has 11 starts under Hunter (and has won 4). That’s a 11 opportunities, yes, but not nearly enough to fairly say that he hasn’t been playing well enough to deserve a start. Everyone has poor games. Vokoun has definitely had more than 11 bad games – he’s just had many, many more starts to make up for them. You can’t do better if you aren’t being given the opportunity.
Very fair, of course, but the problem is they don’t currently have the luxury of giving a guy the chance to play himself out of a slump.
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According to my friend who is a Panthers fan, Ovechkin sucks. I think we should trade this “Ovechkin” guy.
The old “well Marco Sturm scored more points for us in 18 games than he has for you in 28” gets tired after awhile.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 9:51 AM EST up reply actions
nah uh
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I just harass him about Clinton being in office last time the cats made the playoffs. I ain’t worried :)
His buddy hopped on and started bitching about Malkin being better than Ovi. Not as easy to argue against that one.
My main argument is that Malkin may have gotten the conn smythe but they never would have made it that far without Crosby on the team, as backed-up by their last year’s playoffs run
At this point I want the Caps to win not just because I want the Caps to win, but just so I can harass all the haters out there
Saw GMGM working the phone last night at TGIH
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Funny, I thought I saw him working the phones 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."
by nogoodtrying on Feb 15, 2012 9:51 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Warning: clicking on the WaPo link in the George McPhee link may upset sensitive reeders. (Not that the article is too objectionable, except the references to other Washington sports teams in a hockey article which seems mandatory for all WaPo columnists)
In any case, it seems to me that the answer to the question, “Will the Capitals be buyers or sellers that trade deadline?” is “Yes.”
A quick observation...
Everyone is really getting down on Ovechkin for having a horrible season… they’re saying he’s done for, he’ll never ever be the great 8 again, yadda-yadda… sell high(ish).
Let’s take a look at Maurice Richard, after whom the goal-scoring trophy (as we all well know) is named.
After scoring 50 goals in 50 games in 1944-45, Richard’s production never again saw that level. In fact, in 1947-48 (53 games) and 1948-49 (59 games), it could be argued that The Rocket was a shadow of his former self, scoring 28 and 20 goals those two seasons, in more games than the 50 he played in 1944-45… then in 1949-50, he came back and scored 43 goals, admittedly in 70 games, but that’s still better than the 28 goals in 53 games he scored two years before.
I just don’t think Ovechkin is as “done” as people seem to think he is. I can’t do fancystats, but if Maurice Richard can do it in his era, Ovi can come back and do it here and now. It’s speculation, of course, and completely baseless, and all that, but ghawd, I shudder to think what Richard would have thought if there’d been an Internet to climb down his throat from 1947-49 while he was having a couple of “off years.”
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Maybe it’s me, but citing a 60+-year old rebound that was aided by a half-dozen Hall-of-Fame teammates doesn’t exactly encourage me a ton.
Of course it’s possible that there are a couple of big seasons left in Ovi’s future. But would you be willing to bet on it?
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by J.P. on Feb 15, 2012 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I think he has found his game a bit….would we be having this convo if we had a healthy GreenLife52 and NB19 all season
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Whenever I consider how AO will turn it around, I envision a montage scene from an 80s action film wherein AO is confronted by an old, near death Russian hockey coach who tells him he’s let fame and money take precedence over what used to be important: his heart for the game. He then dies, and AO is left with only his thoughts about what the man said to him. Cut to montage with Ovi doing some less traditional forms of training, ways his old coach passed down to him. See Ovi wrestling a giant bear, climbing the highest tower in the Kremlin, drinking a concoction that partly consists of vodka but mostly consists of strange herbs found deep beneath the icy tundra of Siberia.
Maybe this is the only way AO will get it back…maybe I’ve just seen too many movies.
"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 15, 2012 10:57 AM EST up reply actions 10 recs
We need a montage!
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by J.P. on Feb 15, 2012 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Genius.
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The guy I usually cite in saying that Ovie can bounce back is Teemu Selanne, who is certainly a more recent example. Hopefully we won’t have to wait that long, however.
Reporter: "What’s your Mom’s birthday?"
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Selanne also had knee issues that held him back and he had his bounce back after the surgery to repair the problems.
Please, call me F&B.
He also bounced back in the first post-lockout years (where PPs flowed like the mighty Mississip) and has sustained his productivity in a largely secondary role.
I don’t think many would doubt an Ovechkin resurgence of sorts if the League went back to strict enforcement of obstruction and whatnot and he played out the string thereafter without facing opponents’ top checkers.
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He also bounced back in the first post-lockout years (where PPs flowed like the mighty Mississip)
Further to that point, the 2005-06 Caps – the woeful, pathetic, no-possession-having 2005-06 Caps – had 490 PP opps. That’s six per game.
This year’s Caps are averaging 3.2. Ovi has 10 PPGs in the team’s 178 PP opps.
If the Caps were drawing six PPGs per game, they’d have had 336 opportunities and if Ovi was scoring on the same percentage of them as he has this year, he’d have ~19 PPGs.
That’s quick and dirty, but pretty clear that there’s a huge, huge impact there.
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OBSTRUCTION!
It’s back, and it directly effects Ovechkin’s north-south game.
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Feb 15, 2012 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
And just to hammer home that point, with 19 PPGs right now and the same ES production, Ovi would have 32 goals in 53 games, a 49.5-goal 82-game pace.
Fin
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So… hate the game not the player.
The NHL really does need to start cracking down on obstruction again, I can not imagine there is anyone who wants to go back to the pre-lockout style of play.
Perhaps it’s just theoreticaly, but aren’t they only going to adapt if they have to, i.e. if strict-enforcement is the standard?
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Not sure what you mean. I meant that I wish the player were adapting to the “less PP, more obstruction” NHL and still finding ways to score. As you see new names surge up the goal-scoring list (some strange, some not-so-strange) you realize there are many ways to get it done.
If Ovi is still, physically, capable of being roughly the same Ovi he used to be then I would like him to adapt to the way the game is played/called now. Would be nice, at least, but then it’s a lot easier said than done.
Oh, I thought you meant players adapting and obstructing less. My bad.
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My quip should be in no way seen as absolving Ovechkin of his duty to play in the environment presented to him, but more a paean to the immediate post lockout days of free flowing hockey.
I think that was a little extreme (Caps’ first three games out of the lockout average 19 PPs per!), but the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction, for sure.
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Well, that is interesting. Very interesting. The return of obstruction, particularly on dump ins, has been quite noticeable.
If past experience is any guide, the playoffs are going to be even more obstructionist than the regular season, which will be brutal to watch.
Bummer.
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I thought it was just me, wondering why interference wasn’t being called.
"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 Caps have been doing it too, but yeah, after the dump in the D basically pin the F on the boards for a bit and allow someone else to retrieve the puck.
Perhaps the hullabaloo about concussions and unimpeded zone entry and the corresponding speed has something to do with it. But no doubt things that would have drawn a whistle even two years ago are passing muster these days.
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That’s six per game.
jesus
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For perspective, the Caps have had six in a game… three times this year (and once since Game 6 of the season).
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all the obstruction is bad enough, and now Blysma has some brilliant idea that the NHL should bring back the red line.
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I just don’t think Ovechkin is as "done" as people seem to think he is.
Putting aside the era differences, define “done.”
Chances he scores 50 again is virtually nil. A 40-goal season is within reach but A LOT has to go right.
With his shots on goal down and PP Ops down league-wide, it is just not an environment where he will be the “old Ovi.”
Everyone is really getting down on Ovechkin for having a horrible season
You mean two disappointing seasons, yea? I don’t think you can call these past two seasons “horrible.” Underwhelming, yes, Not horrible.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
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Well, how is the expectation for his production reconciled with the reality that the league is reverting to pre-lockout? 40 goals would be pretty damn respectable then, no?
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
If you’re talking about the way the league changes, then instead of setting a goal total for your expectation, just compare it to the rest of the league. He was paid because he was the best goal scorer in the game, so where does he need to rank in that metric to continue to be respectable?
I know that that’s a great deal more nebulous in terms of “how is he helping the team” than a solid goal total is, but it’s probably more fair for evaluating his price.
A lot would have to go right for 40? He’s got 23 in 53 games played which works out to 35.5 goal pace over 82 games. I don’t know if I would consider a 4.5 goal margin as needed a LOT to go right.
When you consider his rough start (something like 10 goals in his first 30 games) versus his 13 goals in his last 23 games (I think), the potential is still there. He may never hit 50 again in his career though.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 15, 2012 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
13 in 23 gets 47 in 82. That’s pretty close.
by Gin and Tonic on Feb 15, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
Right, but considering that may be his best output over a quarter of a season (roughly) in 2 years, I think it’s silly to think he can maintain that pace over 82 still. But somewhere in the middle with some bursts and dips? I think it’s still plausible.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 15, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions
Look at when Richard put up his biggest numbers- World War Two.
Wasn’t so easy to pot 50 in 50 when the boys all came back home.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
28 in 53 is a ~43 goal pace. If Ovie could get back to that, I’d be ecstatic.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
The Corvo rant on the ESPN link is gold.
Hi Pierre, As a die-hard Bruins fan, it’s been quite a year watching my boys defend the Cup. However, there is one thing that drives me up the wall more than Tim Thomas’ politics and Tyler Seguin’s best disappearing act, and that is Joe Corvo…
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Feb 15, 2012 11:05 AM EST reply actions
Lost me at “Hi Pierre”.
"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 15, 2012 11:08 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
What do you think it would take to get Dubinsky? I’ve heard his name discussed as part of deals with other teams, but it seems to me like he could be a good long-term answer at 2C, and add size and grit.
I can’t imagine the Rangers trading him to a team they could potentially see in the first round (optimism!).
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Columbus.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
That looks a bit more like an NHL lineup. via @bmcnally14
One day after saying veteran forward Mike Knuble would get back in the lineup "eventually", Caps coach Dale Hunter had the 39-year-old wearing third-line green at Wednesday morning’s practice. All 21 active players were back on the ice with a few tweaks to the lines.
Ovechkin-Johansson-Brouwer
Chimera-Perreault-Semin
Hendricks-Laich-Knuble
Beagle-Halpern-Ward
All eight defensemen were on the ice, including Mike Green (sports hernia surgery), who continues to make progress in his rehabilitation.
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Swap mojo and Laich. Mojo has looked lost for long stretches this year. Who sits when Green gets back, Sarge? I like sarge, he’s got size and reach. Not a big fan of Wides.
What say you, hockey gods???
If he’s not dealt ;)
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
Sitting Wideman would be asinine. I can’t wait to see how teams defend against Wideman and Green on separate lines actually moving the puck into the offensive zone. The PP will be interesting to watch, 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."
by nogoodtrying on Feb 15, 2012 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
Wideman and Green do the same things, but we need more of those things.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 12:06 PM EST up reply actions
Wideman is not nearly as good carrying the puck. He can pass and shoot but he isn’t anywhere near the same caliber puck carrier.
Please, call me F&B.
Agreed. However, who else on the D can move it? Not Carlson, that’s for sure. Orlov’s getting there, but Wideman’s still more skilled, no? I’m most confident with Wideman moving the puck into the offensive zone right now. Doesn’t hurt to have two Dmen doing that, does it?
"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 15, 2012 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
I meant in terms of how they’re both offensive minded Dmen.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
how many guys are the same caliber as Mike Green when it comes to puck carrying?
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Brian Campbell for one.
"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 15, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
You could argue Doughty, Campbell, probably Keith, Boyle. Maybe Fowler and MDZ someday.
Please, call me F&B.
What about Kris Letang? He did revolutionize the position after all.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Hopefully, Orlov one day.
"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 15, 2012 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
Good to see you’re not overlooking step 1 anymore.
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by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Out in Anaheim, Boudreau has made Cam Fowler’s development as a top offensive D-man one of his top priorities. (per an article I don’t have the link to right now. In the article he also said “there aren’t too many Mike Greens out there.”)
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Not sure if Wides is as good in his own end as Green, Wides is a nightmare in the Dzone, IMO.
What say you, hockey gods???
I wouldn’t say nightmare – just unreliable.
Plays well most of the time, then has bad breakdowns.
Kind of like Hammrlik
"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Both good examples of players who, when not asked to do TOO much, are effective and not too scary. I think the cracks in Wideman’s game get more exposed when he’s asked to take on a top-D role and all that goes with it (high minutes, loads of PP/SH time, etc.).
He’s not Mike Green. He’s not even Mike Green lite. He’s Wideman attempting to be Mike Green/lite – the sooner he gets back to filling his own role, the better off the team will be. I hope.
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per Kerstein
#Caps Green says they’ll make a decision tomorrow on if he’ll go on the trip
If he’s that close, with a four game roadie, that means he’s going. Doesn’t have to play in the first one or two to justify the trip.
"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."
Excuse me while I happy dance.
That'll make your weagle wink!
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Mind if I join you?
:: happy dance ::
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As long as Green doesn’t happy-dance himself to a groin strain, it’s all fine.
by brs03 on Feb 15, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
I feel like there should be some sort of Maypole-type celebration.
That'll make your weagle wink!
"You're the boss, apple sauce" - @GreenLife52
That’s for when he actually plays. I’m content for him to go along as a good-luck charm and continue to heal and get stronger. Plus he can hold seats at the restaurant an’ stuff.
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0000
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 8 recs
Shouldn’t the Mike Green recipe be: wait until he’s ready, then wait four more games, just to be really, really, really sure?
It isn’t even anger-inducing. It does not seem to be worth that kind of emotional investment. It might not even be disappointing any more. It is expected.
-Peerless 5.6.2011
I just hope if he goes, he doesn’t come back early. Again.
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 15, 2012 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
Yep. Come back when you’re fine, Mike, not when you’re “fine”.
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by EmilyB on Feb 15, 2012 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not Caps-related, but...
Am I the only one that finds this disgusting?
Seriously, fuck the union. If they think for one second that that commercial wasn’t the highlight of those players’ hockey careers (and possibly their lives), they’re insane. I’d be in that commercial for free. Smacks of greedy suits pissed off they didn’t get a cut.
Honestly, Anheuser Busch doing something sketchy to market a shoddy product really isn’t news.
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by Bald Pollack on Feb 15, 2012 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
This could delve into OT territory very, very quickly, but I stand behind the union. It’s their jobs to prevent their members from being exploited.
And conversely, fuck Budweiser for being too cheap to pay people in their commercials. They can put out 500 different brands of the same shitty beer, but they can’t pay anyone to be in them.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
Jesus that second sentence. Should read "They can buy shelf space and put out commercials for 500 different brands of the same shitty beer, but they can’t pay anyone to be in them.
"Now fair's fair Henry. If I nail Hotlips and punch Hawkeye, can I go home too?
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
And oh, do I love this explanation
In a release, Labatt claimed that striking a union agreement ahead of time would have eliminated the surprise. “As anyone who has seen Budweiser’s ‘Flash Fans’ commercial will know, it is much more the filming of a spontaneous event rather than a traditional, scripted television advertisement,” said the brewer.
HA.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
I mean I sort of buy that though… They basically just grabbed random people and brought them to a hockey game, and then filmed it. I view it more as them just doing something cool for the beer league teams playing. There was no script, no real acting, nobody involved were professionals, and for the union to insinuate that the teams should have had a “the protection qualified professional stunt coordinator” to play their hockey game is ridiculous.
To me it was one of those cool “this could happen to you” kind of amazing event that could theoretically happen to anyone and any beer league-er would love to be a part of, and now they’re trying to ruin it with a cash crab.
Yeah, it would have been nice if they’d have paid them, but I still have no doubt in my mind I’d have played for free and loved it, even without the invitation to a VIP superbowl party.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
well……….I’ve done extra work (you may have seen this little commercial I did and lucked out getting prominently featured in the end). I expect to get paid for doing it. I’m working, and someone is looking to make a buck off my likeness.
I can’t speak to the union/non-union rules in Canada (I work as non-union; I don’t do enough work to make it worth my while, but that does mean I’m ineligible for some work). But the union exists to protect people from exploitation. You can’t tell me Budweiser and their ad partners weren’t a little bit happy that they weren’t having to shell out, by my rough calculation, around $100,000 to guys who are at the centerpiece of their Super Bowl ad.
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Is that you jumping and holding the sign?
"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 15, 2012 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
yes :) my hair’s different now. 99% of the time, I end up on the cutting room floor.
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Neat!!
"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 15, 2012 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
thanks! now that I’m back to working full-time, I do very little work. I did do another NHL Gamecenter/Caps/Verizon ad, but I’ve not seen it air yet. So keep an eye out for it. Should be somewhat in the same vein as the Game center ad featuring the Flyers, with the guy under the ice (which creeps me out!) that is airing currently.
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I hate that one too. And not just because its the Flyers. :)
"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 15, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
Sure, but that game was getting played either way; those guys didn’t have to do any actual work, or anything above and beyond what they were going to do that night anyway. To me, the experience would be compensation enough.
I guess I’m in the minority here, but for god sakes, why can’t we just do shit for fun without worrying about whether we’re getting paid anymore?
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
Budweiser is exploiting their likeness for profit. I have no doubt they all signed releases allowing Bud to do so. But I’m also guessing that there was no one there to tell those guys, “Hey, by the way……”
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by RedBirdie on Feb 15, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
And they got to film it in the first place by saying they were shooting a documentary. I bet a lot more questions would have been asked, if they were told up front it was going to be a commercial.
And I doubt the director, producer, camera people, lighting, sound, or other crew worked for free.
by Gin and Tonic on Feb 15, 2012 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
I did not know they were less-than-upfront about what they were doing. That raises a whole lot of additional questions.
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Meh. I give up I guess. Wouldn’t feel like exploitation to me, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity would be compensation enough. But whatevs.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 1:15 PM EST up reply actions
The Union’s not trying to protect the players, but members who are professional actors. I am with you that, were I one of the players in the ad, I would be more than happy with just being in the commercial (and whatever else they got). If I was a professional actor in the area, I would be pissed that a company (a signatory to the union contract no less) got around offering fair and agreed-upon compensation for professional work just because they filmed amateurs and didn’t let them know they were in a professional commercial.
I understand that, for the concept to work, they couldn’t hire professionals or tell the “performers” ahead of time, but they should have then made them professionals by paying them the union wage. It sounds like they didn’t even pay the “flash mob” a union wage, meaning full well they knew they had a loophole around a contract they agreed to in the first place. Every member of that union (past, present, and potential) got robbed (all be it just a little).
by aaronk21214 on Feb 15, 2012 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not sure if there's a Taft-Hartly like act in Canada but,
They could have easily got them in the Union retroactively (and that’s what they’re trying to do now I guess)
The term Taft-Hartley has a special meaning in the entertainment industry. Specifically, for film and television actors, an actor not in the union who becomes a "principal performer" (says a line) is immediately eligible to join the Screen Actors Guild and is covered under the SAG contract with the production company for 30 days, at which point he or she must either join SAG or cease working on any union productions. Once joining the union, the actor may not work on any non-union production, per the terms of the bylaws. This allows SAG to get around the rules forbidding closed shops by providing a mechanism for new members to join the union.
It's not that I hate people, I just seem to feel better when they're not around - Hank Chinaski
They did something stupid and got caught. They could have easily arranged payment and union credentials after the fact. As a Union worker myself I think it sucks that a company with so much profit tries to penny pinch by circumventing the union. Pathetic. Was this a Visa moment for these folks…absolutely…but this priceless moment can set a precedence that can harm the livelihood of many more people.
by Goaliemama on Feb 15, 2012 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
from Hockey Prospectus/Insider “Trade Deadline Fixes” column:
Washington Capitals
The problem: Injuries to Mike Green and Tom Poti, combined with a tough year for players like John Carlson and Jeff Schultz, have left the Capitals a little exposed on the back end. Despite those issues, Washington could still win the Southeast Division, and find themselves in a favorable first round series. Barring a lot of struggling players turning things around immediately, some help on the blue line could go a long way towards helping the team first make the playoffs and then make a splash in them.
The fix: The Ducks’ Toni Lydman has been playing tough defensive minutes for years, is signed to a reasonable contract that extends into next season, and seems to have fallen out of favor in Anaheim of late. Prior to 2011-12, he hadn’t been a minus player in seven seasons, despite his defensive assignments, and he should give Dale Hunter one more option to ease the pressure on some of Washington’s younger defenders. Lydman was a top-pairing defenseman with Lubomir Visnovsky in Anaheim last year and could be a fit long-term with Mike Green when he returns from injured reserve.
I don’t agree with this assessment at all. Everyone knows the Caps need a new winger.
/rimshot
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by nogoodtrying on Feb 15, 2012 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
0000
Or a new Zinger.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
34 years old with a Cap Hit of $3 mil next year.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
Would Anaheim do a straight up swap of Lydman for Schultz? Schultz has a cap hit of 2.75 for the next 2 years so the hits are similar, which brings up a couple of things. First, does it make sense for the Caps to trade a younger, cheaper, defenseman who is under contract for a year longer? Second, would Lydman fit Hunter and Johnson’s defensive scheme that much better where he would have a good chance at living up to his cap hit? If he’s someone that is being looked at, he needs to be getting Top 4 minutes, IMO.
I think the whole idea of acquiring players to fit Hunter’s system/style doesn’t make sense considering it hasn’t been decided if he’ll even be the coach next season.
Anaheim would do that.
The Caps would be stupid to do that.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
Here are Lydman’s strenghts and weaknesses from a SBN Scouting Report
Assets Looks after his own zone first and foremost, but also possesses some puck-moving ability. Rarely gets caught out of position and is an outstanding skater.
Flaws Doesn’t produce enough points for his skill level and, at this point in his career, probably never will. He’s also not as physical as he could be
Like Schultz, he shies away from the physical game. But he is a good skater and puck mover. I have liked Lydman and I think he is quiet yet dependable. Much like Sarge. Whether he would fit into the present Caps defensive scheme, I can’t say. Hamr is an NHL vet who has for the most part, adapted well to it as compared to his troubles under BB.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t like his age or his cap number. Certainly, with Schultz’ age and reasonable contract, if you’re only getting Toni Lydman for him, that’s a failure on GMGM’s part.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
Here’s an interesting question.
If Selanne waived his NTC to come to DC, you think GMGM cringes? “I HATE Finns, but it’s Selanne!”
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
Ha, I would cringe at the thought Selanne not playing for the Caps because of GMGM not wanting to acquire a Finn. Then again, I much rather wanted Saku Koivu playing for the Caps rather than Brendan Morrison or Eric Belanger.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
Why does George hate Finns? I’m not familiar with this story.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t really think he does. It just seems to be a running meme.
Or maybe he has never forgiven Esa Tikkanen for the 1998 SCF missed empty-netter.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
Nor has most anyone who went through it.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
Was Tik on the team the following year? I know Bellows was for one more year, but don’t remember if Tikkanen was too.
by kingbonehead on Feb 15, 2012 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
never mind. This is what google is for, yeah?
by kingbonehead on Feb 15, 2012 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
Rangers for 32 games in 1998-99 then out of the NHL and played in Finland and Germany for the two seasons after. His German league team was the Essen Mosquitoes.
by Rather Bengt on Feb 15, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions
someone posted an analysis of his draft history of not taking finns, and it grew into a meme about him not liking them.
Well, he did draft Osala and Lepisto, but those two didn’t work out too well.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
I agree that Schultz should be worth more than an aging defenseman, but if the coaching staff and front office feel he won’t fit the current system going forward, then what is the point in hanging onto him? You and I differ in opinion on how we view Schultz’s contract. While it isn’t expensive as a dollar figure alone, the way he is being used, and the expectations for Jeff Schultz say that he isn’t worth his contract. He has been playing well recently, but what happens when Green is back? I’d be willing to bet they put Schultz in the press box. Then all of a sudden you have a d-man making just under 3 million a year not even contributing to the on-ice product in a key stretch run. Sure, injuries are definitely going to happen, but if he can be swapped for someone like Lydman, or another player that would be in the starting lineup every night, why wouldn’t you want to make that trade?
I’d make the trade. Just not for Lydman.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
Yup, that injury to Tom Poti is just now causing issues for the Caps. Just popped up all of a sudden.
The definition of being a Caps fan is watching the same team over and over and expecting different results.
Out of nowhere.
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I’m hearing it’s day-to-day.
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by EmilyB on Feb 15, 2012 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
day-to-day-to-day-to-day-to-day-to-day-to-day….
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
Goalie wars!
SkyKersteinSky Kerstein
#Caps Kolzig is very high on Grubauer, says if it wasn’t for numbers he should be in the AHL
"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."
FWIW, I don’t think that’s news to many here (including you,) although it is nice to hear an updated set of Kolzig comments on Grubauer.
Based on the same Kolzig interview, I think the tweets from Whyno and Kerstein with Kolzig’s comments on #8 are interesting given who is making the comments.
Stephen Whyno
Kolzig on Ovechkin: “He just has to get back to being the way he was in his younger days …”
More Kolzig: “and maybe not get wrapped up too much in the rock star status that comes with being Alex Ovechkin.”
Kolzig has spent some time around the team this year, but from my following, he has spent more time in Hershey and SC then in DC. Curious how much of this is based on observation, people talking, assumption?
He can watch TV and read reports like the rest of us, I suppose. We all have opinions, and we’re not around the team every day. Doesn’t make them right, of course.
"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."
Oh I agree, but I think it’s interesting that he spoke the way he did today; sounds to me like it’s primarily about on-ice, perhaps intended to motivate a certain individual?
Have to watch the Kolzig interview later as I see it’s been made available. I’m curious about the context and whether the comment is about Ovechkin, both on and off-ice or about on-ice actions. The ‘rock star’ words imply both but the write-up of the comments made it sound like he was mostly talking about the player while in uniform, interesting.
Yeah, I don’t follow SC like you do, but I follow the reports, and it’s been clear almost from day one that the only reason he’s there is because Hershey really wouldn’t have wanted him as Holtby’s backup. Not even saying it was the wrong call. But he was coming off mono, as well; who knew how he’d be?
Agree on the quotes. Can’t wait for the video/audio. I hope caps.com posts the entire interview.
Olie’s a great one to sit down with Ovi for a few. Yeah, Halpern was here for the first year, but Olie was here for longer, long enough to see the changes in progress.
"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."
What does he mean by “numbers”? If he means the amount of goalie prospects the Caps have, agree. If he means sv%-wise, disagree.
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I believe in next year.
by red army line on Feb 15, 2012 1:00 PM EST up reply actions
Hunter on Holtby after Friday’s game:
’If he was standing on his head every night, would Philipp be playing?
I tell you what, if Grubauer gives up one from center, they should call a priest.
"Now fair's fair Henry. If I nail Hotlips and punch Hawkeye, can I go home too?
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
If Grubauer is wearing a Caps uniform this season, they’re gonna need more than a priest.
"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."
Jesus, between yesterday’s Neuvy/Knuble stuff and today’s Kolzig/Ovi comments, this team’s really turning into a soap opera.
"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
Turning?
"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 thought Benchgate was the start of all that.
by Gin and Tonic on Feb 15, 2012 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
Drama has always exsisted but the difference now is the “daily” aspect of soap operas, with a new plot twist (that the media jumps on) every day.
Will Dale and.Knoobs ever get back together? Is Olie right that Alex is distracted by the Rock Star status he gets? Or could it be his jealousy of Nicky and Greenie’s relationship that’s tearing this team apart? Tune in tomorrow for another edition of “As The Caps Turn”
"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 15, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 7 recs
IS OVI FAT?!
"Now fair's fair Henry. If I nail Hotlips and punch Hawkeye, can I go home too?
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Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
The night is darkest just before the dawn?
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 15, 2012 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
That’s what I keep telling myself anyway.
"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, and you... feel shame" -Denis Lemieux
Still hoping that in the frenzy for Nash, we can quietly swoop in for Carter and Pahlsson. But that’s just me.
by Gin and Tonic on Feb 15, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions
Carter is a massive, massive gamble. It’s an improvement on paper, but the reality of it could be something nightmarish.
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
Meh, fuck it. How much more messed up can we really get? Best-case scenario, we have a core of two stud centers and one stud winger for the next ten years. Worst-case, we collapse and don’t make the playoffs. Oh wait.
Of course I’m oversimplifying, but the more I think about it, the more I think we need to go for it. It’s a reasonable cap hit for a center of his caliber, and they’re not available for pennies on the dollar very often.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
Aside from the fact that Carter’s what, 6 years younger I think?
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 6:11 PM EST up reply actions
Carter has history of injurys already. With his off ice issues, the terms of the contract,the situation with columbus rigth now and the NTC that kicks in after this season, he is almost untradeble, if he doesn´t produce like he suppose to.
It´s just to big of a risk for any team to take him, especially if you have to pay a high price to get him.
I don’t think the NTC carries over.
by Gin and Tonic on Feb 15, 2012 8:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You sure? It doesn’t really cite why, but supposedly his NMC got left in Philadelphia.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 11:43 PM EST up reply actions
Every time I’ve ever seen this topic come up the consensus has been that the player has to waive the NTC for every trade. And Carter never waived it in PHI because it hadn’t kicked in yet, so the theory would have to be that trading him before the NTC vested cleared the NTC from the contract.
For practical purposes, the NTC is gone because Carter won’t have a problem waiving it to get out of CBJ.
Please, call me F&B.
This is what sk84fun_dc had to say about this issue in the Carter trade fan post:
The way I understand the rules, if traded before the extension with the clause goes into effect, the new team has a choice. Recent reports about Carter and Columbus confirm this and note Columbus did not agree to the NTC. See Aportzllne’s twitter as one source.
Here’s a quick edit of something I wrote recently before the confirmation when I was discussing with someone; hope it’s not too confusing and repetitive:
See 11.8 (a) in the CBA.
Using 2 cases, Vokoun from Nashville to Florida and Carter from Philly to Columbus, these cases are not the same as when a clause is in effect and a player is traded.
When Vokoun was traded from Nashville to Florida it was after he had signed a contract extension, but before the extension went into effect since he was traded pre July 1; the contract extension included an NMC. Same thing happened with Jeff Carter when he was traded from Philadelphia to Columbus this past summer; the contract included an NTC (varied by time in the contract how extensive an NTC, IIRC).
In the case where a player waives an already in effect NMC or NTC in order for a trade to go through, the NMC or NTC carries with the player to the new team. Nothing changes. For example, Dan Boyle after his trade from TBL to SJS.
However, that is not what happens when a player is traded in a situation like Vokoun or Carter. In those cases, which is what we are discussing, the acquiring team has to make a decision about whether to honor the NTC or NMC and notify the league and other parties involved because the extension including the clause had not kicked in at the time of the trade.
Also, here’s one article citing Howson about Carter’s NTC around the time of the trade.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2011/06/25/silent-carter-angry-at-flyers-agent-says.html
Ovechkin on how he can help the team: "Score MOAR goals."
by capsyoungguns on Feb 16, 2012 9:00 AM EST up reply actions
He doesn’t have a history of injuries. I don’t know where that misconception came from, but prior to this season, he’s never played less than 60 games. In the last 4 seasons, he’s played 80, 74, 82, and 82 games. In ‘06-’07, he played 62, and in ‘05-’06 he played 81. That’s pretty much the exact opposite of a ‘history of injuries’. He’s had some tough luck this year, but the dude is by no means made of glass.
And yes, as I understand it, the NTC won’t carry over if he’s traded before it kicks in. His term is a risk, but his cap hit is reasonable throughout and it’s front-loaded, so the last few years wouldn’t be too hard to buy out if we had to.
Bottom line: He’s a bona-fide, proven second-line center, which is a need this team has had for years. He’s made it pretty clear he doesn’t want to be in Columbus, so they pretty much have to move him. He’ll cost, but I don’t expect it’ll take a ransom to get him.
by Murshawursha on Feb 15, 2012 8:22 PM EST up reply actions
I’d take him in a heartbeat but I would like to note that he has a hidden shoulder surgery in those GP numbers.
Please, call me F&B.
Yeah, he’s had some injury issues in the playoffs (followed by the offseason surgery you mention) that don’t affect the regular season numbers.
In the 2010 playoffs he played in 12 games. The Flyers went to the Finals that year, playing 23 games. 2011 he played 6 playoff games, the Flyers played 11. That’s two straight years where he has played roughly half of his teams playoff games. That’s worrisome regardless of his regular season GP.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Feb 15, 2012 11:45 PM EST up reply actions
What was it that Elliot Friedman said yesterday? This team faces “Canadian media” levels of scrutiny.
Reporter: "What’s your Mom’s birthday?"
Tortorella: "I have no idea."
It’s the topic du jour in the lig. Everyone sees something wrong, everyone has an idea on how to fix it.
"Now fair's fair Henry. If I nail Hotlips and punch Hawkeye, can I go home too?
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Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 15, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
This is a little late in the day ... but I think this reaches most of us out here ....
http://www.break.com/index/flash-mob-hockey-game-2300563
Be Utterly Facinating @ http://www.thirstdc.com
by TheFuryUnleashed on Feb 15, 2012 4:09 PM EST reply actions
Adam Vingan @Adam_KOL
Ovechkin on missing Green, Backstrom: "Everybody knows how good we are, but without those guys this team is not that good." Alright then.
Thanks for the encouragement, Cap’n.
“good we are” assuming with those players…and “not that good” meaning not as good as we are with them? I can buy that I guess.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 15, 2012 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said he sat [Teemu Selanne] down because he thought the winger was ineffective.
"It was just my call,"
"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
Well, at least he’s irrelevant here.
Dammit, Jagr! Burn in Philly!
by Penguin Hunter on Feb 15, 2012 6:01 PM EST up reply actions
I hope it was him rather than GMGM. Especially if a Finn is the answer to all our problems.
Letting in bouncy 80-footers since about last week.
by Penguin Hunter on Feb 15, 2012 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
Bears chirping Bears: from Garrett Mitchell
@pwellar33 bald eagle don’t you have anything better to do then stalk my tweets??! #Kakaaaaa #Kakaaaaa
That'll make your weagle wink!
"You're the boss, apple sauce" - @GreenLife52
Strange but true (assuming my quick glance at the numbers was right), Caps have 9th most non shootout wins in the NHL.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
Interesting…8th I think.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20112012&sort=regulationPlusOvertimeWins&type=LEA
Good call
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Feb 15, 2012 11:17 PM EST up reply actions
holtby
So yesterday on my twitter feed this came up from Holtby
@hotls170 Happy Valentines day to my beautiful girl @bbodnar miss you and love you lots
Curious, I clicked on his girlfriend’s twitter feed and found some surprising information:
@bbodnar cheering for daddy from the couch. love ya babe @Holts170 #goodluck #missingyou
and
@bbodnar baby @Holts170 wont stop squirming around in mommy’s tummy. Goaltender in the making :)
Sooo, is Holtby having a kid?
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