Wondering if the collective bargaining agreement is proving to be a good move fiscally for the players? Today TSN reports that the NHL will have a $50.3 million salary cap for next season — an increase of more than $6 million from last season.
The Caps, today below $30 million in committed salary for next season, have quite a bit of improving space.
CNN broadcaster Lou Dobbs appeared as keynote speaker at a National Press Club luncheon on Tuesday, where he was introduced as an “advocacy journalist.” It’s an identity, I learned, that he relishes. Formerly the host of CNN’s “MoneyLine,” he’s now ruffling mainstream media feathers as a border sheriff broadcaster for “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” where nightly he eviscerates the Bush administration and the federal government for their unfathomable asleep-at-all-checkpoints approach to America’s border sovereignty.
This Dobbs fella, he’s a real gadfly, a fly in the BigMedia punchbowl. He reports the news, but when the news is really alarming — and in the case of America’s borders being massively breached, uninterrupted, for decades — he has the temerity to detail it, loudly, and perform what he’d term his civic obligation to get you, along with him, really ticked off by it.
For doing this, Dobbs is an “advocacy journalist,” and definitely a media novelty.
Some hours passed after Tuesday’s luncheon, and Dobbs’ role and its context within the rapidly transforming New Media market began to ripen in my thoughts. Specifically, I began to think, in the context of On Frozen Blog, what exactly am I? I wondered, could a blogger be an advocacy journalist? Or, is he or she necessarily one?
Then I began to trace some commonalities of motivations between what Dobbs does and what we at OFB pursue. At some point, in our respective news consumption, we recognized that something was rotten in the media state of Denmark, and we took up arms. We sought to convey accounts we felt were being conspicuously and even derisively ignored. Both of us are unwilling to sacrifice accountability and credibility for our respective journalistic products, and both of us desperately want to shake up the establishment . . . in OFB’s efforts, admittedly in a very, very modest manner.
I settled on the notion that it takes a barren media wasteland of sorts, a climate of conspicuously undeserved news coverage, to breed advocacy journalists. Hockey bloggers — not just any bloggers, but hockey ones in particular — are in many instances advocacy journalists. The crown seems to fit.
I sit in press row, I try and ask intelligent questions of the athletes I observe, and I try and develop original and fresh storylines, but not for a single minute do I pretend that I’m “one of the pack,” and that the subject I’m covering is merely one among a crowded sports landscape to be accorded 12 or 16 column inches placed indiscriminately.
I’m an advocate. I’m trying to remedy, in my own obviously very modest fashion, a malignancy perpetrated by ignoramus and ideology-driven editors. The beauty of it is that it’s a labor of love, it’s fun, and I couldn’t possibly pursue this endeavor in a more hospitable market: an underappreciated sport and hockey organization largely shunned for decades by an unaccountable DC press pack.
On Monday night Comcast’s Russ Thaler hosted ‘Washington Post Live’ adorned in a new Caps’ sweater. I watched for a few minutes with no small bemusement. Admittedly I’m biased, but I think hockey times in Washington are a changing. The progress is modest and tortoise-paced, but I believe a new and wider appreciation for our game and the pro tenant in town is taking hold. It’s a splashy Washington Times sports section front. It’s more than 2,000 people crammed into an ice rink on a spectacular summer Friday night to celebrate hockey. It’s a big newspaper beat reporter making unexpected appearances in Hershey, Pa., and Columbus, Ohio, this spring, to cover hockey. Far from content with these gains, I renew my pledge to redouble my advocacy for our great game. The great news is that we’re far from an army of one.
Today’s my birthday . . . off to the Canadian Embassy for their Canada Day celebration this afternoon, then an evening of revelry at Dr. Dremo’s. No work for me!
Since I’m told it’s better to give than to receive, I found a fun little gift for you. For some time-wasting fun, try your hand at this Flash-based Air Hockey game. Just don’t blame me if your boss asks why you’re late with that TPS Report.
Friday night the Capitals hosted their Draft Day Party / Uniform Unveiling at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. For the “play-by-play” details of the event, check out the Caps’ official site. Here, I’ll share my own perspective (and photos: some pretty cool, one very cute, and a few kind of painful) of this thoroughly enjoyable evening.
My fiancee Adrienne and I popped into the locker room area for a quick look. I posted a few locker room photos from my visit in April, but the “card wall” is something I’d missed photographing on that first trip. The glass wall separating the player’s lounge from a hallway is covered in slightly-enlarged reproductions of classic Capitals hockey cards on both sides. Click the photo below for a larger version and pick out your favorites.
The team wisely paid homage to its past by introducing some big-name former Capitals. Yvon Labre, Rod Langway, Mike Gartner (his first appearance in DC since he left the team), Kelly Miller, and Sylvain Cote are in the photo below, left to right. Cote, attired in cargo shorts and sandals, goofed around a bit and struck a surfer dude pose just before this photo, much to the delight of the fans and former players.
Now for the video from the big screens prior to the unveiling. Some great Capitals moments in here, including the Juneau goal that sent the Caps to the Stanley Cup Finals. Adrienne (whom I’m gradually ushering into hockey fandom) observed regarding the old-school footage, “It’s so strange seeing them play without helmets!” I grew up watching Ron Duguay and Guy LaFleur, so I have a slightly different perspective on helmets, but I see her point.
The last minute or so of the video was looped as they cranked up the smoke machines; then the curtain dropped, revealing the new unis to enthusiastic applause from the 2,000-plus Capitals fans in attendance.
The Most Hard-Core Fan Award for the night clearly goes to Caps’ fan Jim Greene and his friend, who got permanent tattoos of the new logo Friday night.
[They] each received on-site tattoos of the Capitals new logo, something that served as entertainment to some and excitement to the pair who have been long-time Caps supporters. Greene, who cut a deal with Leonsis that if the team ever changed their logo, he would get a tattoo of it, was thrilled for the opportunity to take the Caps chairman and majority owner up on his word. Thankfully, the logo was something that he really enjoyed. [1]
Ink Junkeez Body Piercing & Tattoos of White Plains, Maryland, were there to do the honors. Ted Leonsis even came over to review his (indirect) handiwork. Here are some photos of – to repurpose a Neil Young song – the needle and the damage done:
(click Continued for more)
All of us had travel commitments last Friday and missed hard copies of the day’s newspapers. A copy of Friday’s Washington Times, however, remained for pucksandbooks in his office on Monday, and Friday’s sports section front from it knocked him out of his chair. Take a gander at the hockey love dramatically illustrated by the Times’ editors for Corey Masisak’s fabulous feature on the lofty state of American hockey these days:
That’s not a blowup of the story, that’s its actual layout. Allegedly there are two other stories on C1 from the Times on Friday — you just can’t find them! Patrick Kane’s hometown paper, the Buffalo News, can’t match this hockey journalism feast.
But beyond the sheer size and splendor of the piece, Corey Masisak delivered a grade A overview of the rocket rise of American hockey development today. “Massive gains” American hockey is enjoying, Masisak wrote. We hockey fans in Washington gained massively from his paper and him on Entry Draft Friday.
I really hate it when BigMedia takes a terrific story idea and dilutes its fun with needless and distracting ideology/social commentary. Most of us patronize sports to escape the shortcomings of the real world, after all. Jim Caple of ESPN’s Page 2 today took a fun and fascinating topic — 101 of sports’ fans must-see sporting events – and gave it what I call the ESPN treatment: a decent amount of thought and persuasiveness, some cleverness, but also that outlet’s characteristic politically correct/social re-engineering/insufferable, haughty, elitist and condescending lecture-posturing. What should have been a wholly fun and largely frivolous, debate-provoking summer read lapses at times into an unintended parody of MSM values . . . the ones which are seldom shared by an important constituency – its readers/viewers.
Well, at least Caple got out of the starting gate in OK fashion. His top 5 must-see sporting events is as follows:
Confession: no. 5, the college “Subregional,” I have no idea what that is. But the others, well, they bear the force of mass popularity behind them. You can have the World Cup, as for me soccer is chess played out on grass and patronized all too frequently by hooligans. (Rioting over 2 hours of scorelessness is understandable, but not for the reasons the Europeans and Third-Worlders do.) I was actually surprised at the high ranking for the Winter Olympics, seeing as how little “diversity” there is among its athletes. Caple snuck one past his editor.
Caple then has the Masters in his top 10 (no. 8, which is fine); Wimbledon’s (9) ok too, so long as you’re seated at Centre Court and Maria Sharapova’s playing. His first really big error is with Michigan-Ohio State, at no. 17. I’m sorry, but that’s American Icon, almost certainly the biggest event each year in the Midwest (that explains BigMedia’s devalue-ing it). A top 10-er for sure.
Hockey makes its initial appearance in Caple’s list at no. 20: The Stanley Cup playoffs. OK. You and I would have it higher, of course, but remember, this is the same outlet that ditched the NHL, and its postseason, in favor of televised poker. And high school cheerleading competitions. Continue reading ›
In today’s Globe and Mail, William Houston continues a discussion started when the NCAA expelled a blogger from a college baseball game this spring. In the piece he mentions the New York Islanders’ Blog Box but fails to discuss the unprecedented access granted by the Washington Capitals and their blogger-owner Ted Leonsis. He does feed us this little nugget:
“This summer, the NHL and National Basketball Association plan to formulate their own policies for bloggers.
“Frank Brown, the vice-president of media relations for the NHL, said the league wants to set boundaries without inhibiting coverage.
“‘We are incredibly respectful of the voraciousness with which the digital consumers participate in NHL dialogue,’ he said. At the same time, we have to be equally protective of entities that are entitled to protection. You have to serve several masters.’”
Leonsis has frequently commented on the positive impact bloggers have on expanding coverage of the Capitals. He also believes that bloggers can fill in the cavernous void commonly created by mainstream media’s indifference/hostility to, and superficial coverage of, hockey in general. This sentiment comes from the team with a blogger policy already in place and a blogger presence established in the press box.
The most troubling part of the article?
“Some speculate that blogging rights will eventually become revenue sources for the league.”
Having already junked hockey sweaters in favor of a more expensive “Uniform System,” is Commissioner Bettman poised to try and profit from a free press as well? Is a “Blog System” on the horizon?
A tap of the stick to Paul Kukla for the assist.
Athletes generally get off easy when they break the law — well, easier than the general public at least. Whether it’s the money or the fame, most athletes receive lighter (or no) sentences for their transgressions when compared the same crime committed by you or me; they get second and third chances the average citizen does not.
Since I doubt her story will get much, if any, media coverage, OFB is here to let you know that former hockey player Paris Hilton will be released from jail today after serving only 23 days of her 45-day sentence — another example of athletes getting preferential treatment from the United States’ justice system.
What’s that you say? Am I smoking the crack again? Paris Hilton, a hockey player? Well it’s true; here are the photos to prove it. Of her time on the Canterbury School team, Paris said, “I would always move around, I wasn’t just one position.”
Alrighty then. “Paging Ron Jeremy. Ron Jeremy, you’re needed on the set.”
Bonus coverage: While writing this post, I came across a hockey-related Photoshopped image of Ms. Hilton that you may enjoy, courtesy of the blog With Leather (and yes, it’s safe for work).
Another step in the off-season’s activities is tendering qualifying offers (QO’s) to Restricted Free Agents (RFA’s) to keep their rights (rights). QO’s were due today, and the Caps qualified the following players: Steve Eminger, John Erskine, Tomas Fleischmann, Jamie Hunt, Milan Jurcina, Jakub Klepis, Brooks Laich, Dave Steckel and Brian Sutherby.
The Caps declined to offer a QA to Kris Beech, Trevor Byrne, Maxime Daigneault, Jonas Johansson, Jiri Novotny, Louis Robitaille, Matt Stefanishion and Joey Tenute, who all become free agents. This doesn’t affect the Caps a great deal, but does clear room in Hershey for players such as Andrew Gordon, Andrew Joudrey, Sami Lepisto, and Travis Morin to get more ice time. It also opens a goaltending spot behind Frederic Cassivi, perhaps paving the way for Daren Machesny to spend the full season in Hershey.
Names like Beech and Johansson were expected to not be qualified, though it’s a slight surprise to see Joey Tenute or Louis Robitaille, both hard workers for the Bears, to be let go. Jiri Novotny is the only real NHL level skater set free, though his skill set as a checking line center is something the Caps have in abundance.
So, no real shocks, and hockey’s circle of life continues — 8 players on the way out, their spots to be taken up by younger players being given the opportunity to prove themselves.
In the days immediately following the 2006 Entry Draft the Caps commonly earned exceptionally high evaluations for their work in Vancouver. The grade range generally ran from ‘A+’ to ‘A.’ The success of their 2007 draft, however, is inextricably linked to 2008’s, in light of George McPhee’s preference to defer selecting at times Friday night and Saturday in favor of acquiring picks for next June.
There were compelling reasons for the Caps to acquire additional picks for the 2008 draft. For one, it’s light-years better in terms of high-end quality and overall depth. But just as importantly, there’s a bit of a glut of strong prospects crowding the Caps’ organization these days. Since 2002, the Caps have drafted 12 players in the first round. Twelve. They’ve added eight second-rounders in that time, too. This morning, it’s difficult to point to a single one of these 20 high-enders and pronounce him “bust.”
That’s the good news. But beginning this very weekend Caps’ management has some difficult decisions to make in terms of committing next season to the likes of Jacub Klepis and Tomas Fleischmann. Qualifying offers come due then, and as they impact 2002 picks, it’s that portion of prom when the band strikes up the slow song. To dance or not to dance?
Or you could call it the 5-year itch.
Some of these high-enders will make the Caps this fall. The rest need a place in the organization to play. (Only a couple, you’d think, could and would be packaged in a trade or two.)
The past couple of years, I’ve thought about how many European prospects the Caps have who’ve yet to make a commitment to playing in North America. (There are some good ones over there, too.) But even that’s changing; early in this offseason the Caps inked Josef Boumedienne and Sami Lepisto.
With training camps in 2005 and 2006 the Caps brought in a conspicuous number of tier II and III free agents to address the organization’s lack of quality depth. But this September, there will be a far more organic quality to the 60 or 70 skaters at Kettler Capitals, the likes of which Caps’ fans have never seen.
We may well see all 20 of those first- and second-rounders from the past five drafts then. We will likely see all of the collegiate free agents the Caps have inked the past couple of springs. We will see some fresh faces from Europe. And most exciting, from my vantage, will be the appearance of late-round draft gems like Andrew Gordon, Travis Morin, Viktor Dovgan, Mathieu Perreault, and Andrew Joudrey, all of whom possess viable pro hockey aspirations.
A preview of this our-guys-on-the-ice aura arrives in two weeks’ time at Kettler, with the Caps’ July Rookie Development Camp. Fans understandably are preoccupied with the end-game results from early October through April, but the foundation for a durable rebuild requires reliably successful drafting and development. The drafting work appears to be working well; the development aspect is more in question, as the Caps, beginning this fall, need to see some Hershey Bears graduate and make a positive impact on the parent roster — guys like Dave Steckel, Mike Green, Klepis and or Flash.
The Caps left Columbus with more high-value assets — three from the first two rounds. One, though (Alzner), may step into the big league soon, and another (Ted Ruth) can be stashed on a university campus, if need be, for four years. It was a savvy and sage handling of his organization’s development blueprint by George McPhee.
General Manager George McPhee met with the media briefly at the end of the draft, and the Caps are ‘very happy’ with how the draft turned out. They were able to get the guys they wanted and add picks, a change in strategy from some earlier years where the Caps wouldn’t try and deal and just take their guy at their pick. Developing a bit of savvy as far as trading down, still getting the guy they want, and adding assets was effective for the club.
The 2008 draft is considered exceptional, and the team now has extra picks that carry more value than similar picks this year.
The word-of-mouth going around concerning the Caps wanting to take Cherepanov worked in the Caps’ favor — they simply played it close to the vest, and everybody assumed they’d take the Russian, enabling them to sit back and take the guy they really wanted.
The Caps tried to target grit in the later rounds of the draft, and were pleasantly surprised when Ruth was still available at their pick. They liked Ruth, but in trading back they were able to get him and extra picks.
Godfrey was injured last year which may have affected the fact that he wasn’t drafted in 06. He has a bomb of a shot.
The USHL has become a good developmental league, and it’s appealing to draft players that will be going to college where they can get four years of development before the team has to make a decision on them.
And that’s it from the Nationwide Arena. I’ll have a wrap-up in the next few days, and thanks for reading.
By unofficial count, the Caps have added 2 2nd round picks in 08 and a 4th in 08 to make up for the pick they sent to Boston for a certain Milan Jurcina.
Lunch: Turkey and provo. Not bad.
Didn’t that sound like Peter King?
Caps pick next at 108. Will they trade for a 7th rounder in 08? Nope.
They select Brett Bruneteau, a center from Omaha. Red Line has him at 138: “Not real big or fast, but has instinct at offensive end”. Will attend North Dakota next season. You can read a bit about him here.
The Caps pick at 125 is coming up. I’d guess there won’t be many more takers as far as deal-making goes.
And the Caps select Brett Leffler, listed as a LW/R by Red Line. He’s 6′1″, 197. After poking around, it looks like no one has any real info on him other than his name is Brett Leffler and he plays hockey. We’ll try and get more.
Ah, there we are. Listed as a high-energy agitator. Read more here.
At 154, the Caps select Dan Dunn, a big goalie from Wellington. Red Line has him at 166, and 6′5″ and 210: “Simply enormous — just stand there, it’ll hit you”
There are two Caps fans in old-school red sweaters still in attendance.
You can read a bit more on Dunn here in the January 17th entry.
Carolina asks for a time out, and gets booed. Torquato’s fall is a big topic of discussion in the press area.
Of note is that no NHLers have been swapped since the draft started. It’s been reported that the Caps had a deal in the works, only to have the other team back out right at the 27th pick.
There’s a lot more schmoozing going on the floor, now, with the draft slowly drawing to the close. A lot more interviews being given to the press, and a lot more chatting.
Ross Mahoney is announcing the picks for the Caps, btw.
Atlanta selects John Albert — and the relieved youngster’s family gives a loud shout. Hugs all around. Good to see — it’s tough watching a young guy just sit up there without being Brady Quinn.
Detroit finally picks Zack Torquato. It looks like he’s not in attendance, or if he was, he went home.
Caps pick Justin Taylor at 180, a center from the London Knights. Red Line has him at 297 and lists him at 6′, 192. At 185, the Caps pick Nick Larson, a 6′1″, 180 pound forward from Apple Valley. Larson’s off to Minnesota next season.
We have a trade, as the Ducks send twice-drafted Tim Brent to Pittsburgh for Stephen Dixon.
Florida asks for time. Gets booed.
And with their last pick the Caps take Andrew Glass. ranked 259 by Red line, he’s listed as a 5′11″, 180 lbs left wing. He’s set to go to Boston University next season.
The Caps clearly like next year’s draft better than this year’s, which follows conventional wisdom.
Caps are up next — and they are taking their time. Another trade?
Nope, they pick Ted Ruth, a defenseman form the USDP. Called a stay-at-home guy. Red Line’s one-line summary: “Has the tools and the leadership, but development stalled.”
Red Line has him at 121. CSS says he “plays the body hard and hits with authority”
Ruth felt like he had a good interview with the Caps and felt like they were interested. he describes himself as a defensive defenseman who likes to play physical and with grit. He’s also a strong skater.
Bit of a breather now as the next Caps’ pick is in 20 slots or so.
The Caps have turned the 28th pick into 2 picks in a better draft next year, picked up a few players they clearly liked more than some other clubs, and gained a 3rd this year. That’s good asset management, as the chances of anybody this year helping the NHL club are remote, to be charitable. The value of the picks as far as bringing back an NHL player is debatable. Certainly not a flashy draft so far.
Darryl Sutter prowls around, looks like he’s talking to somebody from the Detroit table.
Toronto’s first pick of draft weekend is met with cheers and boos. The Maple Leafs never fail to polarize.
Brian Burke and Sutter are talking, now.
The Caps pick Phil DeSimone, a center playing in Sioux City, originally from New York. Headed for New Hampshire, and apparently not in attendance today. DeSimone was named USHL player and forward of the year for the 06-07 season.
The Caps are taking their time making the pick, then trade it for #154 this year and 4th round in 2008 draft. Is it too strong to say the Caps loathe this draft?
BTW, one of the scariest things in all of media is about to happen — sports writers are about to go get their free lunches. Not for the faint of heart, nor the slow of foot.
Worked on his overall game this year after not being drafted last year. Describes himself as an offensive defenseman, and says he’s hit 99+ mph on the radar gun with his shot. He knew the Caps were interested, but didn’t think he’d go that high. He’s a bit quiet in his interview, but everybody seems that way after Alzner’s interview.
The one where Turbo breaks his leg.
Sorry, some weak humor to start things off this morning.
Much smaller crowd today, both in the stands and in press row, though it’s still early. The front offices, however, are in full force, and the schmoozing is in full effect.
As more media begins showing up, it’s clear that they are not so different from us - they plug in, log on, then it’s immediately off to Spector’s, TSN, the Sun and the Globe to check out the latest.
Knock on wood, but internet seems better today. Let’s hope that holds.
Considering how (relatively) quick the 1st round went, we can hope today goes fast. Again, the Caps have picks 34, 41 and 46 in this round.
Bob McKenzie presses the flesh a bit.
Leafs nation is filming an interview in front of me.
Not much in the way of buzz so far, at least on the riser.
2 minutes until the start, front office being asked to sit now
Caps are up, things are moving along this morning at a rapid pace.
The Caps select Josh Godfrey, defenseman from Sault Ste Marie. Red Line Report’s one-line summary of him: “Best PP point shot/triggerman in the draft, bar none.” Red Line had him ranked at 122.
Godfrey is also #11 on Red Line’s most underrated list: “So underrated he was completely overlooked last year. May have the best PP shot in the draft.”
Caps trade the pick to Philadelphia for the 84th pick in the 2007 draft and a second round pick in the 2008 draft.
Just a few quick photos for now… more to come later this weekend. For now, enjoy continuing OFB coverage of the draft courtesy of Empty Maybe!
The crowd is beginning to thin out, and the boos are earnest but fainter. That may change with Detroit with the next pick.
Yep.
After a hearty chant of “Red Wings suck”, the Caps are now on the clock.
McPhee and a few others converse to Bettman’s right. Trade, maybe?
McPhee goes back to the team’s draft table.
Trade.
#28 to San Jose for #41 and 2nd rounder in 2008. Nice deal by the Caps to get a 2nd rounder in a much better draft.
Update: and that little bit concludes our coverage of the 1st round of the draft. I’m off for the hotel for wrap things up and have a Newcastle or two.
Tomorrow will be going a lot faster and the Caps have the 34th, 41st and 46th picks in the second round, so there should be plenty of things going on. Hope to see you then.
Carolina takes Sutter. Montreal’s been rumored to want Esposito, we’ll see. No floor buzz that I can tell right now.
Montreal picks Ryan McDonagh.
St. Louis picks Lars Eller. In a change from previous drafts, Bob McKenzie’s list isn’t holding too close to form, though that’s just in order, and not in the players selected.
Had a quick talk with George McPhee: The Caps liked both Gagner and Alzner.
Alzner’s strong down low, well-rounded, and you feel relieved when the puck is on his stick, because he’s going to do the right thing with it.
The Caps made it known their picks are available, but didn’t come close to making a deal.
There’s still a lot going on (trade-talk-wise)
St. Louis makes a move to get a Red Line favorite, Ian Cole. Ian has a bunch of people here with him, it turns out, and they are all happy.
While the talk is going on the floor, apparently, it’s much quieter on press row, as people begin filling their articles for tomorrow.
OFB fave Logan MacMillian gets taken by the Ducks, who trade up to get him.
Lots of Penguins fans in attendance, and they and the Blue Jacket fans get into a chant-off.
Pens pick Esposito, fans are happy. The Cherepanov and Espositio, two highly-talented players with some question marks, have been the biggest fallers tonight.
Blum goes to Nashville, and the current highest-ranked player is Nick Petrecki at #14.
Calgary takes Backlund.
Just left the press conference with Karl Alzner in the ready-room.
He seemed very happy, but not overwhelmed. He answered each question with a lot of personality. He’d love to play for the Caps next year “if they want to keep me around” and lists making a good first pass out of the zone as an asset. Everybody talks about what a great interview he is. That won’t win many hockey games, of course, but it’s an interesting aspect from a writing point of view.
Red Line Report lists Alzner as having the second-best hockey sense this draft class: “Controls the flow and the pace of the game and sees plays develop like he’s watching them in slow-motion replay. Has such an instinctive feel for different game situations.” The service compares him to Wade Redden and had him listed at #5 overall.
The white sweaters look pretty darn good up close, I’ll admit.
Trade!
Doug Wilson makes his annual move to get who he wants - Logan Coutoure
Lots of talk regarding the 1st overall pick and Phoenix. Bob McK apparently puts the kibosh on it, and says the ‘Hawks may take Kane.
Word that the Preds are no longer for sale makes it’s way around the building. No buzz, per se, but there’s a bit of surprise.
Hawks pick Kane.
Flyers booed massively. They pick James van Riemsdyk and the two Philly fans to my off-right stand and clap after looking a bit perplexed. The group of Philly fans in section 116 begin chanting his name. van Riemsdyk is the tallest person on the stage.
And the Coyotes are booed. Eric wonders to me if every team is going to get booed.
A Caps fan in a sombrero and a Cicarelli sweater mugs for the camera. The Caps are mildly, but not personally, booed.
Wayne gets a Wayne-like ovation.
Dogs pick Turris.
I find out that Ted isn’t here, and I’m seeing things, I guess. Wouldn’t be the first time.
The draft is scooting along. It seems each team isn’t getting more than, say 5 minutes to pick. A refreshing move, to say the least.
Voracek, Alzner, Gagner and Cherepanov are out there.
Rick Dudley is giving interviews in front of us. Dave Nonis paces, he’s talking to someody, but I can’t tell who, or if it’s a member of his own staff. I’m guessing so.
Kings provide the first surprise by selecting Thomas Hickey. The crowd buzzes, and now the Caps have all four of the earlier group still on the board.
Caps get booed, but I don’t think it’s personal. There are some cheers as well.
McPhee’s in conversation with someone not on his team, possibly Edmonton. (judging by the table the person returned to)
Still no movement from the Caps.
Lowe and McPhee talking agian. They stop.
Caps will make the pick.
Caps pick Karl Alzner, and I like the pick. It’s definitely not unanimous.
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