Your savory Labor Day breakfast links:
- Rookie Camp begins today with the kids on the ice at 10:30 out at Kettler. Rosters and schedules (for rookie and training camps) here.
- You may have noticed on that roster that Joe Finley is listed as a forward. He’s taking the shift in stride, and will “continue working at it and doing whatever what is asked of [him].” [Capitals Insider]
- John Carlson may be an “impact rookie,” and Karl Alzner and Eric Fehr sleepers for 2009-10. [NHL.com]
- Speaking of which, the Caps’ blueline is young. Maybe too young. We couldn’t agree more. [Capitals]
- One of the top prospects who won’t be at camp this week is Dmitri Orlov, but here’s a quick interview with him to get a sense of what he’s up to. [Russian Prospects h/t TJ]
- Mixed in with plenty of, um, non-hockey content (did we need to know that he has a couple of issues of Playboy in his bathroom?) is the potentially significant news that Mike Green “did experience some hip tightness and a slight groin pull” at Canada’s Olympic camp. Gulp. [Capitals Insider]
- Five things to know about the Caps, including “Getting Ovechkin first overall in the 2004 draft was like hitting the lottery for the Capitals.” Feel free to skip this link. [CBSSports.com]
- Brandon Sugden will be at camp and is still chasing the dream. [Toronto Sun]
- Did you know that Alex Ovechkin “had the most assists among non-centers in the NHL in 2008-09?” Of course you did, but it’s still nice to see it shared with the rest of the world. [The Hockey News]
- In other AO news, he’s been awarded the title of “Honored Master of Sports” in Russia, which is the most prestigious honor the country hands out to athletes. [Alex Ovetjkin]
- Rob Blake ducks the “Sid or AO?” question. [The Beckett Blog]
- Perhaps the most creative take on Ovechkin’s tramp stamp yet. [Twitpic via @pensblog]
- More “AO over Malkin” advice for you fantasy (and reality) pucksters. [NHL.com]
- Peerless is doing what he does best – prognosticating. So far, he’s previewed Karl Alzner, John Erskine, Mike Green, Milan Jurcina and Shaone Morrisonn. Must-reads. [Peerless]
- Steve Pinizzotto is a “former RIT great,” and the school’s still plenty proud of him (and rightly so). [R.I.T. Athletics]
- The Caps chose not to sign 2007 draftee Justin Taylor, but the Canucks are giving the London Knights veteran a look. [London Free Press]
- Steve Eminger signed a two-year deal worth $2.25 million (and $1.5m in the second year) because he “brings a physical presence” and is very capable offensively.” Okay… [TSN.ca]
- Ugly stuff from former Cap Richard Zednik‘s divorce proceedings, which, at a higher level, raise some interesting questions about what is and isn’t blog-worthy. [Litter Box Cats]
- Speaking of off-ice woes for former Caps, Sergei Fedorov‘s financial drama is far from over. [Detroit Free Press]
- Good on the Penguins for making a charitable pit-stop when they’re in town later this week. [NHL.com]
- Finally, happy 24th birthday to Fehr and happy 31st to Matt Cooke.