Your savory breakfast links:
- The end of the all-too-brief playoff run for the Caps has many typing away about a few growing trends in Washington – losing too soon and making excuses for it. [WaPo, FanPost]
- Nicklas Backstrom isn’t making excuses for his early season doldrums, however, despite suffering an injury to end his KHL run in Moscow. [RMNB]
- A look ahead at some key roster decisions facing the Caps next season:
- The Caps have said they want Mike Ribeiro back, and Ribeiro has said he wants to stay… but does he fit into the team’s plans going forward? [CSNW]
- Another guy who wants to return is impending UFA – and beloved wagon – Matt Hendricks, who his teammates say is irreplaceable. Darn right. [CSNW]
- But he’ll face a challenge from the youngster in the wings, as Tom Wilson got a taste of the NHL at the end of the Rangers series… and liked it. [WaPo]
- In general the team might want to look to upgrade the blue line… [Spector]
- …especially with veteran Tom Poti hitting the open market this summer. [WaPo]
- Down on the farm:
- The big news out of Chocolatetown was the departure of head coach Mark French, who leaves after four seasons, 180 wins and a Calder Cup victory behind the Hershey bench. [Pennlive (and again), LDNews (generous contributor to today’s title), SHOE]
- Looking back at French’s top ten moments as the Bears’ head coach. Guessing #1 goes back to sometime around June 2010… [Pennlive]
- No decisions have been made on French’s replacement, but current assistant coach Troy Mann is in the running for the job. [Pennlive]
- Meanwhile the Reading Royals prepare to play for the Kelly Cup against a somewhat unexpected opponent. [Reading Eagle]
- Everything you ever wanted to know about injuries (or at least everything they’re telling us):
- More on Alex Ovechkin‘s wonky foot, as the team doctor tells all and Ovechkin himself tweets all. [PHT, Bog]
- The Caps – and the NHL in general – are notoriously cagey about injuries. But when does the right to know trump the right to privacy? (Hint: when gambling on hockey becomes a big deal.) [WaPo]
- How’s this for hilarity: Brooks Laich, noted Blue Jays fan, is scheduled to throw out the first pitch Tuesday night as the Orioles take on another AL East rival, the Yankees. #TeamMeteor, right Brooks? [CSNW]
- And speaking of hilarity…check out some old school pics of Smokin’ Al Koken. There may be some words in there, too, but they are less important than the Greatest. Pictures. Ever. [Bog]
- Flying from Kuwait City to DC just to watch the Caps isn’t just proof of true fan dedication – it’s also proof that Caps fans are completely batpoop crazy. And wonderful. [Bog]
- Great, great work once again by the Caps organization – with some help from SKYDEX Technologies – as they raised over $100,000 for TAPS through this year’s Courage Caps campaign. [Ft Mill Times]
- Adam Oates. John Tortorella. Grudge match to end all grudge matches. Make it happen. [Bog]
- Finally, happy 54th birthday to Errol Rausse.