The Nation's Capitals

My Favorite Kolzig Moment

2009-09-23T23:18:00.001-04:00

It would be a disservice not to mention and reminisce on the great career Olie Kolzig had as an NHLer, but more importantly as a Washington Capital. Kolzig was the face of this franchise for upwards of 15 years. Drafted in 1989, Kolzig played in 719 NHL games and racked up 3o3 wins. Even though Kolzig's exit from DC wasn't on the greatest of terms, Kolzig will go down as one of the all-time great Capitals players. There is no question in my mind that the number 37 will soon have it's place in the rafters. I'm not at all surprised that a poll by Capitals beat writer Tarik El-Bashir had overwhelming support for retiring Kolzig's number. HERE is a link to the poll if you wish to vote or simply see the results.
I don't expect Kolzig to take part in any Brett Favre or Roger Clemens shenanigans, so I suspect we won't be seeing Kolzig on the ice again. So it is this announcement that got me thinking about my favorite Kolzig moments. My favorite moment is unconventional to say the least. The obvious choice would be the spring of 1998 when Kolzig lead the Capitals to the Stanley Cup finals against the Red Wings. Perhaps if the Caps weren't smothered by the Wings to the tune of a four game sweep my favorite moment would be different. Who can forget the Vezina Trophy Kolzig won that same year. A crowning achievement envied by most goalies who taste life between the pipes in the NHL. Kolzig was also an Olympian competing for his native Germany. I could imagine some die hard fans feeling pride about their goalie representing his country. But none of these moments, in my opinion, come close to what happened November 21, 1998.
It was your typical regular season game. It was only a month into the season so the games didn't have the same meaning as they did later on, say......after Christmas. The Capitals were playing the Bruins and losing to the count of 2-0. If you remember that '98 team, the Caps were by no means short on enforcers. Dale Hunter, Craig Berube, and Mark "taunting" Tinordi had no trouble keeping the peace. It all started with tough guys Craig Berube and Don Sweeney throwing the gloves down and proceeding with a typical fight that was basically an assumed occurance. It took all of 30 seconds before it to turn into an all out melee.
Anybody who followed Dale Hunter's career knows what kind of hockey player he was. He's been described as dirty and cheap. He was a premier instigator and agitator in his day. So it was to nobody's real surprise that he gave Byron Dafoe a little love tap which started a chain of events that lead to an extremely rare occurance in hockey. That would be two goalies throwing hay-makers.......at each other! This went on for more than 5 minutes.
The thing that made this so great was that Kolzig, and Bruins netminder, Byron Dafoe were and still are best friends. They were the best men in each others weddings. When was the last time you saw an NHL fight in which the participants were grinning and laughing. This only happens when two best friends drop the gloves with each other. I can even imagine Kolzing and Dafoe drawing this up as a joke while drinking a few beers at a local bar. I'm not suggesting this was planned, but it was almost to good to be spur of the moment. Perhaps we'll never know. Sure friends fight, but two NHL goaltenders, who are best friend no less, is something I doubt we'll ever see again. Here is the You Tube clip of the fight. It's a classic and endlessly entertaining.
I know I know, perhaps I'll get some flack for not picking a moment that truly celebrates Kolzig's career. I whole heartedly appreciate him as the face of this franchise and for his accomplishments, but the fight with his best friend, Byron Dafoe, has to be my single favorite moment.

Now Presenting Hockey Indpendent

2009-09-16T22:17:00.002-04:00

Just a quick plug for the new website I will now be blogging on. The site is hockeyindependent.com. I will be concentrating on the Washington Capitals and will be posting 2-3 times a week, hopefully.

Hockey Independent will have representation for all 30 NHL teams. The writing staff includes fully credentialed writers, up and coming writers, seasoned NHL bloggers, and die hard hockey fans. All will be providing a voice not only for their teams, but for hockey as a whole. I strongly urge you all to visit the site and read as many articles as you can. If you want to focus on the Caps, you can read my post of those of Steve Hindle. But don't limit yourself. This site is full of great opinions that encourage debate and conversation.

I hope you enjoy.

Day 1: News and Notes

2009-09-13T20:08:00.002-04:00

Just a few notes on the opening day of camp today at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

1. Fleishmann out with a diagnosed blood clot in his leg. This reportedly occured during a flight to his native Czech Republic earlier this summer. Fleishmann is out until the beginning of October. Who may take his spot opening night if Flash cannot return?

2. Perfect lead into my second note. Skating in place of Flash on the second line with Brendan Morrison and Alex Semin was Hersey Bear sniper Alexandre Giroux. Giroux's goal totals a year ago totaled over 70! This included regular and post season games. Giroux saw time with the Caps last season but is yet to be paired with high skilled players. Most of the time Giroux is placed on the 4th line checking line. I think Giroux could really be an impact player is placed with impact players. i.e. Alex Semin. Alex Ovechkin didn't score 70 goals.

3. Michael Nylander is still a Capital. Reports are there are negotiations happening between the Caps and numerous KHL teams. All this and Nylander "wants to be a Cap". If GMGM has his way, Nyls will be playing in Europe next season. An interesting note, Nylander's family didn't make the trip from Sweden. Perhaps he has a gut feeling his time here is Washington is coming to and end. Time will tell.

Next Season's Most Intriguing Games

2009-09-10T20:12:00.002-04:00

Next season's schedule has been out for a few weeks now. I took a few minutes the other day to browse through the various match ups and was particularly drawn to the following five games. I initially created a list of 10 games but have since then boiled it down to five. Here they are.

Oct. 6 Capitals v. Flyers
The Caps will be flying right out of the gate.....pun intended. It is a rare occurence to see the Caps take on the Flyers this early in a season. This budding rivalry will take on a very different look this year. Flyers made a big time addition in Chris Pronger which was without question a move to hamper the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin. Afterall, if the Flyers hope to make a run to the finals they will most likely have to meet one or two of those players in a playoff series. This game also marks the return of Mike Knuble to Philadelphia. He was loved by the Philly fans but we all know that Philly fans have memories of about 5 minutes. What have you done for me lately?

Nov. 17 Capitals v. Rangers
Not to much difficulty is making this pick. This will also be the second meeting between these two teams, but the first in the big apple. Still fresh in the minds of Rangers fans is last year's playoff series in which the Rangers squandered a 3-1 series lead. This team is vastly improved in my opinion from last year. Plenty of player movement included acquiring oft-injured sniper Marion Gaborik, Ales Kotilik, Chris Higgins, and now former Cap Donald Brashear. Leaving the Rangers was Scott Gomez who was traded to Montreal. Scoring should be improved for the Rangers and they have the best goalie in the world; Henkrik Lundqvist

Jan. 21 Capitals v. Penguins
It would be an understatement to say that the Capitals are still bitter about how last season ended. No excuse losing a game 7 at home, but that is exactly what happened. Oh yeah, and it was in blowout fashion. This game will be the first of four between this bitter rivalry. Ovechkin v. Crosby is always a marquee match up. Now that Crosby has a Cup, the stakes are even higher for Ovechkin to perform. Make no qualms about it, Ovechkin wants to be the best player in the world, and perhaps he is, but greatness is measured by the number of rings you have. I think we are only seeing the beginning of this rivalry which seemed to have taken a few years off prior to Crosby and OV entering the league. We will be treated to four match ups in the last half of the season. Should be exciting.

Mar. 25 Capitals v. Hurricanes
Never lacking entertainment are match ups between the Hurricanes and Capitals. This is especially true when a possible division championship is at stake. The Caps will not have a cake walk to the division title this year. Coming off a trip to the conference finals, Carolina will pose quite a challenge this year for the Caps. Eric Staal will continue to put up 40 goals and 80-90 points. Roles players like Chad LaRose, Tuomo Ruutu, and Joe Corvo seem to give the Caps fits on a regular basis. Their goalie Cam Ward is possibly the most underrated goalie in the NHL. Carolina always plays well in big games, and since this is the last meeting of the season with division title implications, it should be a dandy.

Apr. 11 Bruins v. Capitals
The last game of the season. Ideally both teams will be resting their star players in preparation for the playoffs. But if your a hockey fan and not partial to either team, you are hoping these two teams are tied for the conference lead with home ice advantage on the line. This is a definite possibility. The Bruins are coming off a season in which they strolled into the playoffs with home ice advantage with relative ease last year. This team is loaded with dynamic forwards, gritty defenseman, and an all-star in net. Zdeno Chara is sure to give OV fits in this match up which may give the Bruins an advantage. This will be fan appreciation day at the phone booth so I expect a win for the Caps in this game. If a conference title is on the line, this very well could be the best game all year.

These are my picks for top 5 games this season. Tell me what you think. What games are you looking forward to?

Go Caps!

Camp Questions In Need of Answers

2009-09-07T17:50:00.003-04:00

With the 2009-2010 season just 4 weeks away, there are some questions facing this Caps team as camp is just about ready to begin. In my opinion there are two big question marks. Here they are:

--The goaltending situation. Is Theodore the number 1? Varlamov or Neuvirth?
--How will the defense improve? Who are the sixth and seventh defensemen?

First things first. This team goes nowhere without solid goaltending, as is the case with most teams. But this isn't just any team, this is a team with Stanley Cup aspirations and we all know that unless you have solid goaltending no team comes close to sipping champagne from Lord Stanley's Cup. Saying Theodore has had a tumuluous 5 months is an understatement. First he loses his starting job to Varlamov during last year's playoffs, then he loses his 2 month old son who was born prematurely. Gabby has publically stated that Theo is the starting goalie entering camp, but will Theo be ready to undertake this challenge considering all he's had to endure since the tragedy 1 month ago? Should we even expect him to be ready? I have absolute confidence that he will be ready to when camp starts next week.
I think being pulled from last year's playoffs was a wake-up call for Theo. Just because your the highest paid goalie on the team does not mean your invicible. If you aren't making the saves, somebody else is going to be given the opportunity to make the saves, and Varly took full advantage. I expect Varly to make a run at the number job but but ultimately Theo starts the season as the number one goaltender, but his leash will not be very long. Especially if Varly has a good camp. Ultimately, Neuvirth will be the odd man out, but he's only 20 years old. His time will come.

I don't take much comfort is the fact that the two biggest questions facing the Caps this year are the two must-have's if hoping to win the Cup. I've discussed the goaltending. What about the defense?
Last year's playoffs was a wake up call to the Caps blueline. It proved rather pourous and the Penguins exploited it with relative ease. Still unable to land the piece this team needs most this offseason, a big bruising defenseman. There is still nobody to cause opposing players to think twice about crashing the net. Nobody to clear the crease. I expect this to plague the Caps all year unless a trade can be made. Unfortunately the salary cap situation negated our efforts in landing a big time defenseman. A plethora of defenseman hit the free agent market this offseason; Komisarek, Exelby, Beauchemin, just to name a few. But with money tied up in the long-term contracts of Theodore and Nylander, our ability to make offers for these players was heavily restricted.
So the responsibility lands on the remaining defensemen from last season. Here are my top six D-men for the season opener.

Green--Morrisonn
Poti--Jurcina
Erskine--Pothier

The Caps will most likely carry a seventh defenseman. This should really be an interesting battle during camp. In my opinion it comes down to three players; Schultz, Alzner, and Carlson. Schultz has the most to prove because of his benching during last year's playoffs. Report was he was injured but seriously, come on. Schultz was routinely undressed by opposing forwards, out battled in the corners, and out muscled in the crease. Schultz, who only has one more year on his contract really has to impress during camp.

The answer is Alzner. In 30 games with the Caps last year, Alzner recorded 5 points and was a only a -1. Pretty good for a 21 year old rookie. More importantly though, he was physical and seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. He won the physical battles along the boards. He has a great hockey sense and now has valuable experience gained in the Calder Cup winning campaign last year. With a solid camp, I see no reason why he won't be the seventh man.

Recap: No team wins the Stanley Cup without with solid goaltending and team defense. In my opinion these are the two biggest question marks for the Caps. That leaves me very worried. Nobody can stay with this team offensively but offense never wins championships. I believe the pieces are already in place to drastically improve in these areas. I would gladly trade 5 or 6 of Mike Green's goals for him improve his defense just that much. Yes, he was injured during the playoffs, but his play in his own must improve. Green will be playing for a spot on Team Canada so motivation in his own zone shouldn't be an issue.
We know Theo can make the big saves. But how often? Consistency is the issue with Theo. Will he be consistent? Varly has proven he can make the big saves when called upon. He's proven that on the biggest stage in professional hockey; the NHL playoffs.

Let's go Caps!

Sightings

2009-09-03T20:24:00.003-04:00

We have player sightings!!

Washington Capitals personnel are slowing trickling into the DC area in anticipation of the upcoming season. Among the players seen at Kettler Ice Complex taking part in pre-camp practices

--Mike Knuble
--Brian Pothier
--Brooks Laich
--Semyon Varlamov
--Matt Bradley

Oddly enough also taking part in pre-camp skating sessions in former goalie Brent Johnson. To make matters even more bizarre, he was wearing his new Pittsburgh Penguins themed goalie pads. Also seen with the team, former Cap captain Jeff Halpern. Jeff still spends his offseasons in his hometown, Potomac Maryland, so this makes some sense. Things are definitely looking up for Halpern down in Tampa Bay, where in case you didn't read my prior post, should be playoff bound.

The trickling in of players only means the season is right around the corner. Less than a month to be exact.

Let's go Caps!!

2010 NHL Predictions

2009-08-31T18:35:00.002-04:00

Lots of movement this offseason is sure to shake things up next season. With only 5 weeks remaining until the start of the season, its time for my predictions. I will start with my regular season standings, and will continue with the playoffs in a few days. Here it goes!

East

1. Boston
2. Washington
3. Philadelphia
4. Pittsburgh
5. Carolina
6. New Jersey
7. Tampa Bay
8. Montreal
9. New York Rangers
10. Ottawa
11. Buffalo
12. Toronto
13. Florida
14. Atlanta
15. New York Islanders

Tampa Bay? Yup, Tampa Bay

West

1. San Jose
2. Chicago
3. Vancouver
4. Detroit
5. St. Louis
6. Calgary
7. Columbus
8. Minnesota
9. Nashville
10. Anaheim
11. Los Angeles
12. Edmonton
13. Phoenix
14. Colorado

My Pick For Captain of Team Canada: Jerome Iginla

2009-08-26T21:41:00.002-04:00

Settle down Crosby fans. I'm not just another Caps fan hating on Crosby, and I'm not saying Crosby isn't qualified to be Captain or wouldn't be a good Captain, but my pick is Jerome Iginla. I suppose there are some other potential nominees for this coveted job-- Scott Niedermayer and Joe Thornton could be tossed into the conversation. It's probably safe to say Patrick Marleau won't be in the mix after last week's events in San Jose.(Marleau was stripped of his "C") All of these players would be great picks to lead Canada into probably the most important tournament it's ever played. The Canadian press has already sent out a warning telling no players to show their faces in their home towns if they don't win gold. And I thought the New York press was tough. Surely this is sarcasm, but there has to be some truth to that. Jerome Iginla is the man Canada needs to lead them to Olympic gold.

Two things really pop out at your when thinking of Jerome Iginla. The first is leadership. Iginla is already an NHL captain so he knows the role of being a captain. Captains must motivate, lead, and set an example for others. Iginla is one of the most respected players in the NHL. Not only is he an elite goal scorer, but he always ranks high in player surveys as one of the best Captains in the NHL. He isn't afraid to drop the gloves as well, almost always in defense of a teammate. These are some of the intangibles that make a great Captain.

The next is experience. Iginla has been part of a gold medal winning team in 2002 and a team that finished in a disastrous 7th place in 2006. This will be his third Olympiad. Some of you may argue that Crosby has the same leadership ability. I most likely would not argue against that, but this will be Crosby's first Olympic experience. Playing for your country is a different beast than playing for your club team. This team will have the pressure of an entire nation on their backs. It's no question that Crosby will be the Captain in years to come, but Crosby needs to be mentored at the Olympic level just as he was when he broke into the NHL. This role was played by Mario Lemieux. I believe this is the role Jerome Iginla can play. Reports are that they may be on the same line so that provides the perfect scenario for Crosby to learn from a player who has all the intangibles of a great Captain, plus has the experience to guide Crosby.

This is my two cents. There is one rather large assumption I've made in this whole thing. I'm assuming Iginla makes the Canadian team. Barring catastrophic circumstances, he'll be there.

USA Goes Retro

2009-08-24T22:09:00.005-04:00

You gotta love the new USA Olympic hockey jerseys set to debut next February in Vancouver. Team USA is hoping these retro jersey's, similar to those worn in 1980 during the Lake Placid games, can provide some good karma into what is going to be a very difficult tournament. We have the familiar blue jersey, a white jersey, and debuting for the first time; a third jersey, also white. I must say I prefer the blue because the white jersey's remind me to much of the Broadway Blue Shirts, a.k.a--the Rangers. (Yes I know the Rags where blue, but for some reason the white screams New York Rangers.) This tournament will be loaded with NHL superstars and talents from each team's homelands. It is sure to be an uphill climb for team USA. Perhaps these jerseys, circa 1980 will provide the same miraculous result. I think USA will need a miracle to win this tournament. So much for optimism.

Click here to see the new jerseys. Let me know what you think of them.

Thoughts and Condolences

2009-08-20T20:15:00.002-04:00

Heavy hearts today in DC upon hearing the news the Jose Theodore's infant son passed away. Theodore's son was reportedly born prematurely two months ago, but was unable to overcome the circumstances. One thing I know for sure; children are not supposed to die before their parents. That is every parent's worst fear. Thoughts and prayers with the Theodore and Cloutier families.

Trade Proposal?

2009-08-18T20:07:00.002-04:00

Rumor has it that a trade proposal was made today by the Colorado Avalanche in an effort to land Michael Nylander. Colorado allegedly offered Scott Hannan for Caps' center Michael Nylander. In case you haven't been following, Nylander is currently a major liability to the Capitals salary cap number. Nylander has voiced displeasure in his current role with the team, yet will not relinquish his no movement clause. It is not yet known whether Nylander put the stops to the deal, but it does make one think about reasons why the Caps would've turned this deal down. It is no secret that the Caps are trying to dump Nylander's salary. Nylander will be making over $5 million next year. Scott Hannan is a gritty defenseman who I feel would fit in well with the Caps. The reason I think this deal did not go through is because it would have been a lateral move in terms of salary. Hannan is due $4.5 million next year, not much less than Nylander. Plus, he is under contract until the 2011 season thus being on the books til then.

We will continue to wait and see how this situation unfolds.

Theodore Entering Camp As Number One

2009-08-14T20:00:00.002-04:00

That is according to bench boss Bruce Boudreau. Boudreau is sticking up for last year's number one goaltender after speculation that Semyon Varlamov would be taking over the starting goal tending spot due to his shining performance in last year's playoffs. I will most likely be in the minority in saying that I am in complete agreement with Gabby. Is Theodore overpaid? Probably. Is Theodore the MVP he was back in 2002? Most likely not. But Theodore was one of the main reason for the Capitals' success last year. Theodore had very respectable numbers last year with 32 wins, and 2.87 GAA, and .900 save percentage. Theodore however was haunted by untimely goals at inopportune times. The so called "soft goal" was a sight to often seen by Caps fans last season. I don't think this is the picture of Theodore we should paint.

Theodore has proven to the league that he is a legitimate NHL goaltender. He is a former MVP and Vezina trophy winner. Most importantly in my mind is the fact that he won 32 games for us last season. The problem is his inconsistency at times and the amount of green he is going to make next year. Theodore is set to make upwards of $5 million next season which as we now has handcuffed management.

Don't get me wrong, one of the most exciting aspects about the Caps organization is that by no means are they short on goal tending. Three absolute studs are preparing to make huge impacts for the Caps in the coming years. Varlamov and Neuvirth have already seen time in the NHL, and have performed admirably. But are either of them ready for the grinds of an 82 game NHL season? Only time will tell. My question is if we have a 30 gamer winner ready to handle the grind of an NHL season coupled with the fact that he will be earning $5 million, let's use him. I would hate to see Varlamov or Neuvirth thrown into playing 60+ games if they aren't ready. They show to much promise for us to risk anything. If Theodore falters, we know that Varlamov is fully capable of being a dependable backup. Don't get me wrong, Varlamov was amazing last year, but I think he still needs to be nurtured into full time starter. And lastly, I believe Theodore deserves the opportunity to re-gain his starting job (if he ever lost it). If things don't go his way, we know we have able goaltenders to fill his spot.

Having three capable goaltenders is a great problem to have.

So what's your take? Who should be the starter?

Countdown to Olympic Hockey

2009-08-12T20:27:00.003-04:00

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics start 6 months from tomorrow. It is unbelievable how fast time flies. It seems like yesterday Sweden was upsetting Finland for Olympic gold. Next February's tournament returns to the Great White North for the first time since 1988 when it was held Calgary. With Canada being the world's hockey mecca, anticipation and expectation are growing exponentially. Coming off a disappointing tournament in Torino, Canada is expecting nothing less than gold. However it would not be wise to assume gold for Canada, not that I'm assuming anybody is. Okay, somebody in Red Deer is, but the majority are not. There are number is impressive teams being put together.

I suppose on paper any number of teams will provide a challenge to the tournament heavyweights. But in my opinion it comes down to two teams, Russia and Sweden. Think of a team that carries the ammunition and fire power of Ovechkin, Malkin, and Semin. Now think of a team in which those three players are on the same line. Yikes! And wait, there is more. Add to that Datsyuk, Kovalchuk, and Kovalev on the second line. Now it just isn't fair. A blueline with the likes of Gonchar, Markov, and Tyutin isn't to shabby either.

Let's not diss the defending champs, they demand respect because well....they're the defending champs. Sweden has all sorts of firepower as well and most importantly the best goalie in the world. King Lundqvist will be between the pipes and is the wildcard. We already almost saw him dismantle two-thirds of Russia's potential top line during last years playoffs during the Rangers/Capitals series. More often then not elite goaltending will stifle elite offense and come out on top, but remember international rinks are bigger than NHL rinks. The last thing any goalie wants is more space for Ovechkin, Crosby, and Malkin to roam around finding seams in between defenders. All the more reason why Lundqvist will be the most important player for Sweden. This isn't to suggest Sweden lacks at other positions. This team is loaded with talent, but what Olympic team isn't? Any team in this tournament is capable up netting 4 or 5 goals. The question is which goalie is going to stand on his head. My answer is Lundqvist. I promise the home nation will have it's hands full with Russian and Sweden. I can't wait to see how it plays out.

Six months is still a long way away but with pre-Olympic camps starting at the end of August, things are starting to heat up. Once the rosters are set, I'll have my predictions.

An Expensive 20 Cents

2009-08-10T20:26:00.002-04:00

For those who have not heard, Patrick Kane was arrested yesterday after robbing and assaulting the driver of a taxi he and his cousin were riding in.......allegedly. According to the story, Kane and his cousin were expecting some change after paying a cab fare, change the driver apparently did not have. How much change? 20 cents. Now there have been claims that the cab driver is fabricating the story. There is even a claim out there that the cab driver locked the doors anticipating that Kane would skip out on the tab. Let's assume the cab driver did do that, in no way shape or form does that justify Kane throwing haymakers. That being said, I will let the justice system takes its course. The point of this is that those 20 cents may be an expensive 20 cents for Kane.

Consider the following:

--How will this affect Kane's standing with the already mediocre team USA hockey team? USA hockey's pre-Olympic camp starts this month. Kane's court date is scheduled during camp. Does a conviction of any kind keep Kane off the team?

--Kane is the cover boy and was paid big time bucks (terms not disclosed) by EA to appear on this year's NHL video game. Interestingly enough, John Tavares, having not yet played an NHL game, was also signed on but was not placed on the cover. Does Tavares replace Kane? We have seen players set to be on the cover replaced in the past. Back in 2004, Joe Thornton was signed on to be on the cover, but a slight brush with the law prevented that. Thornton was charged with assault. Ironically enough, Thornton's replacement was supposed to be Dany Heatley, but he too was booted from the cover due to the drunk driving tragedy that claimed the life of teammate Dan Snyder.

--Kane is turning into a marketing dynamo for the NHL. Kane has been the cornerstone of the rebuilding process in Chicago. After a 13 year playoff drought, Kane has turned the Blackhawks into perennial contenders. This team is going to be around for awhile and the NHL is jumping all over this opportunity. The NHL will waste no opportunity to market an origional 6 team. How will this affect his marketability?

The long term implications of this will be the same as the majority of other athletes who have encountered brushes with the law. There won't be any long term implications. Short term implications could be far more grave. A spot on the Olympic team, missing out on a personal dream of being on the cover of a video game, and potential big time money, all for 20 cents? That's an expensive 20 cents.

Clearing Cap Space For Zherdev?

2009-08-06T18:50:00.003-04:00

It has now been three days since the New York Rangers decided to walk on Nikolai Zherdev, who was awarded a 1-year $3.9 million contract via an arbitration hearing. I think most people agree that this was a good move. Zherdev didn't exactly wow the crowds of MSG as he did in Columbus the season before. To make matters worse, the slick skating winger scored a grand total of 0 goals during last year's postseason. To make matters even worse, he didn't register a single point and was a -13. So your probably expecting me to give a big thumbs down to this rumor. I am not ready to do that just yet.

Zherdev is an incredibly dynamic player and has shown signs of brilliance in his young NHL career. The question behind Zherdev is his heart. Is his head in the game as it should be? Zherdev looked a bit overwhelmed in my opinion playing on broadway. Let's face it, there is a big difference between Columbus and New York. Chris Drury, Wade Redden, and Scott Gomez can attest to this. All three of these players saw significant drop offs in their productivity once landing in broadway. The bottom line is that New York is a difficult city to play in and I am not ready to write a player off based on one bad season in NYC. Others have questioned Zherdev's ability to adjust to life in North America. I suppose this notion could be considered, however where were these questioners when Zherdev was in Columbus?

So what do the Caps have to do to land Zherdev? Simple, clear cap space. The obvious contract to get off the books would be Michael Nylander. Nylander is signed through 2011 with a cap hit of $4.8 million per year. Nylander's play has dropped of tremedously since Boudreau took the helm last year. Boudreau's style is run and gun. Nylander thrives in a puck possession style game. He just doesn't fit the style now being used in Washington. Nylander could be an asset to many NHL teams, but at the current price he will be tough to move.

The other bulbous contract on the books right now is our potential backup goaltender, Jose Theodore. Theodore will collect $4.5 million next year after which he will become a free agent. With the rise of Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth, one can expect Theodore's tenure in DC will come to an end after next season.

The Caps are currently over the cap by $1.7 million so clearing cap space is a premium obligation for GMGM. Assuming enough cap space is cleared to bring in Zherdev, would it be in the organization's best interest? The only worry I have is the implications this would cause next year when both Backstrom and Semin are restricted free agents. It is priority number one to have them locked up for the long term.

Zherdev is yet to prove that he was the worth the first round pick he was, but just imagine a second line consisting of Alex Semin, Brendan Morrison, and Nik Zherdev? That is frightening for just about any opposition.

Ovechkin 2, Crosby 0

2009-08-04T19:28:00.011-04:00

Of course I would rather this be the score in terms of numbers of Stanley Cups, but at this point it is not. This is the score on the number of video game covers by Ovechkin and Crosby. That's right, Ovechkin 2, Crosby 0. I am not ready to dismiss that Canadian bias, but hey, at this point I'll take what I can get. In case some of you haven't seen the new cover to NHL 2K10, here it is.
Not only is the Great 8 on the cover, as he was on the EA version back in 2007, but two of Ovechkin's most notorious on ice moments are also captured in this game. Nobody will ever forget "the goal" scored by Ovechkin during his rookie campaign against the Coyotes. And in one of Ovechkin's more controversial moments, NHL2K10 has captured the infamous "hot hot stick" 50th goal celebration last season scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This is video game genius in my opinion and I can't wait to pick it up. To view the trailer, click here

The Nation's Capitals Now on Twitter

2009-08-03T20:10:00.003-04:00

Let's be honest. We all knew it was just a matter of time before The Nation's Capitals would be live on Twitter. I will be tweeting at a rapid pace. I hope you can keep up. To view my twitter updates you can do two things; 1) look at my recent tweets on the right hand column or 2) click here.

The State of Redskins Nation

2009-07-30T20:52:00.011-04:00

If you have been reading any of my previous posts, first of all thank you, secondly you have probably noticed a trend. I have tried to focus my first few blogs on the growth of hockey in the DC metro area. DC has always had its hockey fans but the standard set by great sports towns is the attraction of the casual fan to its sports teams, no matter the sport. What you will not find me doing is suggesting that the Capitals will overtake the hearts of DC's own and replace the Redskins. I can say with fair certainty that the Redskins will always be the number love of DC sports fans. But things haven't been so sunny in Ashburn as of say.....the last 18 years. In fact, despite being either the most valuable or second most valuable NFL franchise, the Redskins have been mediocre at best. Believe me, I'm not the only one noticing this. I was reading one of my favorite hockey blogs today and came across this write-up on the state of Redskin nation and the growth of Capitals nation. I highly suggest taking a look. Here.

A Heartbreaking Reminder

2009-07-28T20:53:00.006-04:00

Take a look at this picture. This is heartbreaking reminder of what all Caps fans had to endure two months ago. A culmination of a decade of dominance by a rival unmatched by any other, at least in the eyes of Caps fans. A co-worker of mine, a Pittsburgh native, decided to have some fun at my expense and give me what looks to be a harmless, fluffy, cute little stuffed animal. It's not just any animal though, it is a penguin. And if your super diligent in eyeing this creature up and down you will see a special message across the front of his shirt. That's right, it is not just any penguin, it's a Pittsburgh Penguin. Although I regard this little joke as simply.....a joke, it propelled my thoughts into the past and forced me to reminisce on a season that was. It was a season full of promise and potential. It was a season that put the Capitals on almost every headline on any hockey publication. It was a rebirth of hockey in Washington. And it was because of this potential and promise that the game 7 loss last May was even more heartbreaking. Never have I watched a game of any kind in such silence. Watching a sporting event with my brother always consists of us trading stats and facts about our favorite teams or players, providing analysis as to how our team can perform better, or sarcastic remarks about which coaches should be fired. This was different though. This was our favorite team playing our most hated team in its most important game in a decade, and losing. It was like a punch to the stomach. An incredibly empty feeling. But the great thing about sports is there is always next year. Next year is something all fans have to look forward to.

So it is with next season that I hope to be given an opportunity. An opportunity to show my generous gift giving side that my co-worker showed me, but this time it will be an Eagle.

Go Caps!

Most Underrated Signing of 2009

2009-07-25T19:21:00.005-04:00

NHL.com is currently running a story outlining the most underrated signings of the 2009 free agency period. In other words, these are the signings that nobody is talking about but may have the most impact for their respective teams. The Capitals' signing of Mike Knuble tops this list. You can see the full list here http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=451159&navid=DLNHLHome. The Caps were in dire need of a net-presence to wreak havoc in the crease and score the ugly goals that are oh so important. Look, Alex Ovechkin isn't going to dazzle us every night with highlight reel goals, and Mike Green just may not connect on a bomb from the point. What the Caps needed was a player who isn't scared to park himself in the high traffic areas in front of the net. Mike Knuble is the perfect prescription to fix this problem. He has proven himself to be reliable and effective. Knuble has played all 82 games in three of his last 4 seasons and has scored more than 20 goals in seven of his last eight seasons.

You can expect to see Knuble on the top with Ovechkin and Backstrom. He will be the perfect compliment. This line will have dazzling scoring power from Ovechkin, the play making finesse of Backstrom, and a 6'3" 230lb winger to clog up the middle and score the ugly goals. One thing we know for sure; with Ovechkin almost guaranteeing 500 shots on a goal, there will be no shortage of rebounds for Knuble to scoop up. It is not my intent to diminish Knuble's goal scoring abilities by suggesting he only scores the ugly goals. He has a lethal wrist shot and will also find some time on the power play. The Caps have been on the wrong end of many Knuble strikes. Thankfully we'll be on the right side for the next two years.

Rumor: Kovalchuk Getting an Extention

2009-07-22T20:04:00.003-04:00

I promised "All Things Hockey", so here it goes:

I have not heard confirmation yet, but word has it that Ilya Kovalchuk is about to sign a monster deal to remain with the Atlanta Thrashers. I am hearing $11.3 million per year. Kovalchuk is slated to become an unrestricted free agent after the '09-'10 season. This is bad news for the rest of the Southeast Division, but great news for Atlanta. I feel the NHL will reap the benefits because a top 10 player in the world will remain the anchor of a young developing team in a less than stellar hockey market. Let's face it, Atlanta isn't exactly a hockey hot bed. Did the signing of Nik Antropov have anything to do with this? It wouldn't surprise me one bit. Antropov provides a huge body in the middle and has proved he can be a very effective scorer in the NHL. He plays the power play as well. Atlanta also needed some depth at the Center position. So things are looking up the Atlanta.

Brent Johnson Headed to Steeltown

2009-07-21T20:53:00.015-04:00

Brent Johnson signed a 1-year contract with the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins today. This comes after talks with the Caps stalled; or did they even start? The latter is the most likely. Injuries hampered Johnson for most of the second half of the '08-'09 season. And thus the combination of a future goal tending stud and a 30+ game winner a season ago practically guaranteed Johnson a new sweater next year.

There were times last season when Johnson arguably was the number one goaltender for the Caps. With the inconsistency of Jose Theodore, Johnson provided us fans with a sense of confidence knowing that if Theo faltered, a solid back up was ready to man the pipes. And it is because of this that I am disappointed to see Johnson go. How can I blame him though? The future has suddenly become the present as Semyon Varlamov appears ready (or close to ready) to put this team on his shoulders. The rise of Varlamov during last year's playoffs proved to be a blessing in disguise. If not for Johnson's injuries we probably wouldn't be talking about Varlamov for another year or two. The trade winds seemed ready to blow with regard to Theodore, whose hefty contract and inconsistent play left doubts as to whether he would return. What team wants to add $4.5 million to their books? Not many. So with two goalies in place, Johnson was the odd man out. He gave 110% on the ice every time he got a chance. The players loved him. I am sure I can speak for the whole Caps organization and say that I am very sad to see him go. But of all teams, the Penguins......?!?!? I'll leave that alone and simply wish him the best.

Capitals Looking to Solidify Blueline

2009-07-20T20:07:00.003-04:00

With still two months until the Caps drop the puck on the '09-'10 season, there are questions in need of answers. It is clear what this team does best, score goals. But it is also clear that scoring goals does not get you to the promised land; at least not in the post lockout NHL. Many of us were witness to this last spring as the Caps fell short in devastating fashion to the arch rival Penguins. The Caps were met head on by a team that matched us goal for goal, in six of the seven games. One should never rely on offense to trump offense. Expecting a team to put up four or five goals a game is not realistic. I think the defense was good enough to win, but there is definite room for improvement on the backline.

As I see it right now, six of the seven defensive spots for the '09 team are filled. A few of these are obvious. We know the first defensman to score 30 goals in over a decade will be patrolling the back end for the Caps. Mike Green not only put his best season as an NHL blue-liner, he put up one of the best seasons of any NHL blue-liner since the days of Paul Coffey. Shaone Morrisonn proved to be a good stay-at-home partner for the puck moving Green.

Mike Green scored a career high 31 goals last season.

Masterton Trophy nominee, Brian Pothier, overcame a year long absence from the game due to a devastating concussion and provided both puck moving abilities as well as solid play in his own zone. Finally, John Erskine and Milan Jurcina provided the much need grit that the Caps sorely lacked during the rebuilding years. I haven't forgotten Jeff Shultz. More on him in a bit. How convenient of me to mention Milan Jurcina.

Jurcina is an resticted free agent and has yet to sign a qualifying offer from the Caps. Both Morrisonn and Shultz have accepted qualifying offers from GMGM (GM George McPhee). So is Jurcina the odd man out? I'll be the first to admit skepticism in the play of Jurcina, but I felt his performance in last year's penguins series was noble to say the least. Let's face it, facing one of the two or three best players in the word every shift out is no easy task. I thought Jurcina earned at least another year with this team. But play on the ice isn't everything. Hockey is a business as well and money plays a part in every team's personnel decisions. Its no secret that the Caps are closing in tight on the salary cap. Next summer should be even more fun when qualifying offers will have to made to both Nick Backstrom and Alex Semin. I imagine both players will be looking for long term deals in the $4 million per year range. And that's the starting point. So at this point, there is one (maybe two) spot to be filled on the backline (assuming Jurcina does not return). Who will it be?

Luckily for the Caps, there are options on the table in the form of a few Bears from Hersey. Karl Alzner, John Carlson, and Joe Finley. Alzner did get some time at the NHL level last season due to stretch of injuries the Caps faced in the first half of the year. Alzner proved to be a physical positioning savy player who made few mistakes. The surprise so far this summer was the play of John Carlson during the Caps development camp which took place last week. Word is Carlson really turned heads and is well on his way to earning a full time spot in the NHL. It is just a matter of when. Joe Finley is the third option facing Boudreau and the boys. Finley is an absolute monster. Tipping the scales at 6'7" 230lbs, Finley is exactly what the Caps need. He is bruising stay at home defenseman with puck moving abilities. His puck moving ability is so good that he actually played the wing as well during developmental camp last week. A 6'7" winger? Wow! Imagine being a defensmen with a forecheck of that size screaming down the wing. But I think Finley will make his money on the back end. Maybe not next year, but in two years for sure (Morisonn and Shultz only signed one year contracts).

The defense is still a major question right now for the Caps. Who will be the 6th or 7th man? How will Schultz rebound from his "injury" during the playoffs? Will Green's play in the defensive zone, which was well below par during the playoffs, unfold. He must improve. Many fans expected a big splash by GMGM prior to the trade deadline last year, but nothing unfolded. Many felt free agency would bring an upgrade to the back end. Nothing yet and nothing appears imminent. I feel that Caps management have decided that they will put their faith in their draft picks. I've put my faith in them so my fingers are crossed.

The Nation's Capitals

2009-07-19T21:06:00.004-04:00

The play on words should be fairly obvious, if you are a hockey fan at least. This site is nothing more than a fan's perspective on the Washington Capitals and all things hockey from guess where.....the nation's capital. Yes, believe it or not there are hockey fans in Washington. The hockey resurgence in Washington is no secret to anyone. (FYI, DC will always be a football town). We can thank a certain Russian for that. But after years of mediocrity, the Caps have rebuilt and now have team that is destined for greatness. Dammit, I just jinxed it.

So why did I all of the sudden decide to blog about the Caps and all things hockey? The reason is that there aren't many things I love more. The next reason is that DC finally has a team worth talking about. I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying that DC is the worst sports town in America. Does this surprise me? No. The mediocrity of DC sports is the product of lousy owners (how are things at Six Flags these days?) and a population that turnsover every election year (did I miss any other reasons?). But things seem to be taking a turn for the better. DC is a city with every professional sport you can think of and yet hockey, yes....hockey is the sport that is taking over. The Caps have taken over the city. Never did I expect that to happen. Even the 1998 Cup Finals team didn't create the stir this team has created. The Caps were good that year, but I don't think anybody expected greatness out of that team. Running head on into a 1998 version of the red army Soviet team didn't help. Fedorov, Konstantinov, blahblahblahov, and two other -ovs swept us away handily.

This team is different. Years of greatness are expected so hopefully years of good blogging is to come. The number one reason why I've decided to start sharing my thoughts and opinions is to create conversation. In fact, if you read my post I actually hope you disagree. Leave comments and tell me why you disagree. I am going to post my favorite comments for everybody to see. The purpose of this is debate and conversation. The Caps will not always be the topic. I enjoy everything hockey. So if it has to do with hockey, you'll find it here. Let the fun begin.