On Frozen Blog

Highlights from this afternoon’s GMGM presser at Kettler-Capitals:

• Eric Fehr’s seen “all the specialists” and doesn’t require surgery, just rehab. Mega-sigh of relief.
• Trade activity: “Can’t gauge it yet.” Is talking to teams this week, will be next as well.
• Roster needs: “more veteran presence . . . we played with kids the last couple of years.”
• On the record numbers of Americans being drafted, and up high: “better development,” “players coming from all over [U.S.], from everywhere.” Credits, too, the breadth of hockey in markets across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, college hockey, and the USHL. “More exposure” to the game here than ever before.
• Positional strength of this draft: doesn’t know yet; will know more this time next week.
• Overall quality of ’07 draft: a “decent draft through a couple of rounds” . . . a clear elite class of five at the top.
• No urgency to trade up. “We liked 5 guys last year and drafted fourth; we like 5 guys this year and are drafting 5th.”
• Caps’ draft strategy: Team tries to stick with its strategy — “We don’t try to improvise” — as “crazy things can happen in the absence of a plan.” And: “Our best drafts [were when] we stuck with our plan. There’s lots of work involved, and we have a pretty sophisticated approach.”