As the Caps look to jockey for playoff position, (or not) points are all that matters. But for those of us who dont like the free point in OT, and devalue winning a skills competition to climb the standings....

Here is the true indicator of hockey success thus far. Wins and OT Wins

1)NYR - 30

2)Philly - 29

3) Boston - 28

4) Washington 27

5) Toronto 25

6) Jets 23

7) Pittsburgh 22

8) Ottawa 22

9) Devils - 22

The point is, shootouts must be won to get into good playoff position...but does it really matter come playoff time?

This is my first Fan Post so try and be gentle. :)

The "Problem":

It has been discussed repeatedly over the past 2-3 years that the Caps need a legit 2nd line center. This role has been stop-gapped with the likes of Brooks Laich, Marcus Johansson, Mattieu Perrault, Jason Arnott, and Eric Belanger to name but a few. The problem is none of these guys are legitimate 2nd line centers.

While it can be argued that Marcus Johansson is the Caps 2nd line center "of the future", he's not ready for this duty yet.

The Solution:

Jeff Carter.

Jeff Carter is a big, borderline elite natural center. Drafted in 2003 as the 11th overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers, in his first six years with the Flyers he amassed 181 goals and 162 assists in 461 games. He played in 82 games two years, 81 in one year, 80 in another year, 74, and 62 games. He had a positive +/- rating in 5 of the 6 years he was with Philadelphia.

Carter was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets and has had injuries this season, limiting him to 31 games, where he has 11 goals and 7 assists on a very bad CBJ team.

Columbus is sitting in last place in the Western Conference and all rumors point to them being sellers with Jeff Carter on the trade block.

The Capitals should make a play for Carter as he will solve the 2nd line center problem the Caps have for years to come. The only problem with Carter is his contract. Carter makes $5,272,727 annually against the salary cap, and will continue to do so until 2022. So the Capitals would have to move a contract or two in order to free up salary cap space needed for Carter's contract. This shouldn't be a huge problem, however, as simply trading Semin for picks would free up $6.7 million.

Columbus gave up Voracek, a first round pick, and a second round pick to get Carter and it should take less than this to get Carter. As they are rebuilding, they would likely want picks/prospects in return for Carter. The Caps have picks in this years draft they could use in a trade with Columbus for Carter and a lot of prospects that could be potential trade bait.

Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch speculates ($) that if Nash goes on the market [NOTE: highly unlikely], the cost would be a "top young player, a prospect and a first-round pick." If it would take a top young player, a prospect, and a first-round pick to get Nash, it would certainly take less than that to land Carter (perhaps a prospect, a 2nd and 3rd).

As noted, the Capitals would have to move a contract or two on the current roster in order to free up salary cap space for Carter's contract. Simply trading Semin ($6.7 million) for picks (which could be sent to Columbus) to another team would free up the space needed for Carter's contract and would leave about $1.5 million that could be used to resign one of the Caps RFA/UFA contracts and Carter's production would likely come close to replacing Semin's production. They are many other scenarios that could be imagined so I don't think Carter's cap hit would be a huge problem to overcome provided the Caps are willing to give up one player (Semin) or multiple players for picks.

Carter Trade Upsides:

Big, borderline elite natural center

Productive (30-40 goal scorer)

Not a defensive liability

Shouldn't have to give up a lot to get him

Would likely have to trade Semin for picks to make room for Carter's contract*

Carter Trade Downside:

Contract length

Health (?)

Would likely have to trade Semin for picks to make room for Carter's contract*

Landing Carter would give the Caps three long-term contracts totaling about $22 million

*yes, this could be taken as a upside or downside

Possibly Trade Scenario:

1) Trade Semin to another contender looking for a top-6 forward for picks/prospects (Kings?)

2) Trade picks + prospect to Columbus for Carter

End result: we get SOME value for Semin before he enters UFA at the end of the season and remove his $6.7 million cap hit. We lose some combination of picks/prospect(s) for Carter. As long as we don't acquire any other roster players in these moves, we end up with $1.5 million LESS cap hit (which can be used to either acquire someone else or in re-signing a current roster player), no net change in roster contracts, and acquire a borderline elite, 30-40 goal scoring natural center.

Conclusion:

Despite the potential downsides, the biggest being adding another long-term contract, trading for Carter is something the Caps can (in terms of having the picks/prospects needed) and should do because a legitimate second line center is a need the Caps cannot continue to avoid addressing. Carter would fill this need admirably and in my opinion, the upsides to making this move outweigh the downsides. And as an added bonus, until Backstrom is healthy, Carter would be a better first line center replacement than Perrault or Johansson.

Making this trade happen likely comes down to one question: Which is a better investment/more valuable to your long-term success as a team?

A) a $6.7 million, inconsistent and enigmatic 30-40 goal scoring winger, who is an UFA at the end of the season, and likely won't sign a multi-year deal

or

B) a $5.27 million, 30-40 goal scoring center on a long-term contract?

For the Caps, I would argue that B) is a better investment and more valuable to their long-term success.

I wouldn't normally post something like this, but this is really important to me and to our organization. Defending the Blue Line (a group that your very own Matt Hendricks supports) is up for an award directly from the President of the United States, and we need votes from the people... we need votes from you. The contest was going very smoothly, until this morning. One of our competitors has made a huge push today, and is threatening to take our lead.

We don't want that to happen.

So here I am, asking for your help. The process is very simple. Go to the Joining Forces Community Challenge DTBL page and click "vote." You will need to register, but that process takes less than a minute. Once confirmed, your vote will be counted, and you will be given the chance to share your vote on Facebook or Twitter.

We would appreciate any support we can get, especially from our friends in the DC area. Would you do us the honor of casting your vote to help us out?

For your reference, you can visit Defending the Blue Line's website HERE, should you need more information.

Now, I don't know how the legality of this works, if it's the players union who should pursue action, Ovechkin or WSH, but looking at the CBA Shanahan's ruling definitely violated the CBA. Ironically, it's the video he released that's the evidence of this violation.

Of course, I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not talking about whether he should or shouldn't have been suspended, but rather, that Shanahan and the NHL actually violated the CBA. So for that purpose I ask that you try to put aside your predispositions for a moment and try not to focus on whether he should, or shouldn't have been suspended. This is more about the rights of the players and the adherence to the CBA.

Continue reading this post »

So, now that punishment for Alexander Ovechkin's hit on Zbynek Michalek has been dispensed, the calendar shows his next game as being on February 4 at Montreal. While that seems like an eternity away, I think we can all agree that the Washington Capitals' captain is in need of some battery recharging from time to time. So behold, some things that Ovechkin may be able to do during this league-imposed exile:

Continue reading this post »

It's way to early to call, and even though I'm usually a pessimist, I am optimistic that we'll take the 3 seed by seasons end. Of course, the standings right now may not look anything like they do after 82, but as it goes, this is how the playoffs are looking in the East after the halfway mark:

1. Rangers

2. Bruins

3. Caps

4. Flyers

5. Sens

6. Devils

7. Pens

8. Panthers

If the same 5 teams finish as non-division winners, maybe the Leafs sneak in, who do you hope to see fall in the 6th seed as the Caps first opponent? Many may take the "hope we get the paper tiger" route, others may want to show their brawn. What's everyone feeling? It's obvious the Caps are no juggernaut this season, but we as fans are still waiting for that run. As Montreal so painfully showed us 2 years ago, anyone can beat anyone once they're seeded.

Now first this is for the kind of hit like the one tonight in SJ. Ones that are a penalty but not something like a sucker punch or slew foot or anything like that but just a charge that the ref sees and is going to call. If we let the ref do his job we go on the PP, one that had already scored that night, down one with a chance to tie the game. Instead we are playing 4 on 4 with our best player in the box. The Caps give up a goal on the 4 on 4 and instead of a possible tie game we are down 2 and pretty much done for the night. To me all that does is encourage guys like Brad Winchester to take runs at guys. If you are SJ you take Brad Winchester for Ovechkin every time all the time. Not only that but I have been watching hockey all my life and I have never seen a guy like Brad Winchester stop taking runs at guys because someone jumped him after. Does anyone think that Matt Cooke or Steve Ott has stopped taking runs at guys because someone fought them? I don't think so. I have always been a guy who says "beat them on the scoreboard." Now if we were losing by 4 and the game was over fine show teams you won't let guys roll over you then yes go get them, but in a game like tonight when the ref had the call all you are doing is hurting the team. It is just like fighting, you don't fight when your team has all of the momentum and allow their team to get some of it back, you don't retaliate for a hit when you need the PP to try to win the game.

Results of the top 8 (as of 1/6/12) Eastern teams in away games versus the Western Conference.

Each Eastern Conference team plays 18 games versus the West: nine home, nine away. There are 15 Western cities, so 12 games are one shot only and three are played home and home, on a rotating basis.

Winnipeg is also included, although technically not yet in the West. Southeast teams will travel there 3 times, all other Eastern conference teams twice.

*** Indicates games to be played.

Updated 1/25/12

Next Up: Flyers at Redwings 12 Feb

Caps are getting badly outshot in the last 40 minutes, and opposing goalie save percentages are far below the league's worst mark...

Continue reading this post »

I've had a little bit of down time over the holidays, so just for fun I decided to create a fusion of two of the Rink's favorite things: the Washington Capitals and the classic HBO show The Wire. I decided to match up Caps players with characters from The Wire (with some consulting assistance from F&B) based on personalities, roles, etc. In addition, I provided some quotes from the characters that I think particularly highlights the comparisons.

This list doesn't cover every player on the Caps, and it certainly doesn't cover every character from The Wire, so if you have any other additions (or think I'm off on any of my comparisons) I'd love to hear what you have to say in the comments.

Warning: This list may include some spoilers for those who haven't seen the show. So if you are not familiar with The Wire go out and watch it. Then come back and read this list after the jump.

Continue reading this post »