Wednesday Caps Clips: Are We There Yet? Not Quite

Your savory breakfast links:

• Catch up on the Clips you've been missing while ringing in the New Year here.
• The latest labor-related news, non-news and assorted whatnot:
  • The sides... they're actually... negotiating. [National Post, Globe and Mail, Puck Daddy, USA Today, Sporting News]
  • That said, disclaimer is still an option... for another few hours, at least. (Can we get Seacrest to count it down?) [CBC, ESPN]
  • Karl Alzner sounds (or at least sounded) optimistic. [Calgary Herald]
  • More potentially-dated optimism. [Toronto Star]
  • Welcome back, boys? [CSNW]
  • A look at the lockout... so far. [Puck Daddy, National Post]
  • "If there's one thing the NHL needs, it's to further marginalize the regular season by adding more playoff spots," said no one. [Puck Daddy]
• Nicklas Backstrom: week-to-week? No es bueno. [RMNB]
• Ranking those on the roster (always a good discussion starter). [THW]
• The Caps should resolve to play their best players more. Duh. [CBS]
• Buy or sell the prediction that Alex Ovechkin returns to form? [Puck Daddy]
• Matt Hendricks chats about his humbling overseas experience... which has little to do with hockey. [KARE11 (h/t PR)]
• Paul Devorski can't wait to get back to screwing the Caps calling NHL games. [Patriot-News (with other Bears notes)]
• Spotlight on Riley Barber. [USA Hockey]
• "Go to sleep, there's no hockey on today." No kidding. [Alex Ovetjkin]
• Finally, happy 44th birthday to Rick Tabaracci.