But there’s more**. Dmitry Chesnokov has chimed in with a great subtext to this spot. Alexander Semin is somewhat conspicuous in his absence in the commercial; turns out, he was a part of principal photography but left out in final editing. Dmitry offered his Twitter followers today an image of Semin’s role in driving a “getaway golf cart” for the ESPN espionage caper.

** Yes, we know Dmitry was kidding with his tweet. Obviously that picture wasn’t even taken in the US, much less Bristol. But it would have been funny, no?

Last night I made my first appearance on 106.7 the Fan, again to chat about the new hockey season. That station has expressed interest in having OFB on every week during the season, likely on Wednesdays. And our blogger colleague JP is a notable contributor to the Fan as well. Immediately prior to my segment last night, 106.7 had the impressive hoops blog Bullets Forever on to chat about the upcoming season on the hardwood. There is such passion and commitment in so many of the local blogs covering our teams, and it’s exciting to see local Big Media recognize this and invite their participation. It’s a small sacrifice for me to stop in the studio on my commute home, or chat with radio hosts for 10 minutes in the evening from the comfort of home. It just seems like a terrifically healthy and fun engagement and synergy.

I don’t want to leave out the Washington Post, which will be including the preview views of some local hockey bloggers in its season kickoff section. It wasn’t all that long ago that bloggers generally were viewed with suspicion and even resentment in these parts by traditional media. No longer, clearly. Somebody should share our story with the PR folks out in Edmonton and up in New York, perhaps.

One other fun development to share. It had been custom with our visits to Comcast to tape our TV segment and repair to makeup and remove our madeup faces (I sit in that chair getting worked over longer than anyone). Tonight, however, Thaler stopped us in mid-wipe facial swipe and ordered us into another studio to record two separate segments for the outlet’s digital enterprise. So now a single visit to Comcast is almost certain to generate multiple products that include bloggers, for both traditional television and digital broadcast. And all of these products we’ll be able to share with our readers.

“If George McPhee’s rep for mining gems from the deep substrata of the first isn’t already set, it could be soon. The Caps’ GM, who already hit it big with Mike Green (29th overall, 2004) and John Carlson (27th, 2008), looks like he could have added another jewel to his system with Evgeny Kuznetsov at 26. The 18-year-old winger isn’t big (6-0, 172), but he possesses an offensive explosiveness similar to current Cap Alexander Semin. If not for the Russian passport, his skill level likely would have led someone to call his name sooner. “That could be a real value pick,” a Western Conference scout told SI.com. “They’ve got the people in place there [Alex Ovechkin, Semin and others] that should help with [his] transition and a system that he should be comfortable with. [McPhee's scouting staff] have done a good job loading up that system.” The Caps also may have found value in third-rounder Stanislav Galiev (86th), a skilled right winger from the Saint John Sea Dogs who some experts predicted could go in the first round, and Phil Grubauer (112th), the German-born goaltender who led the Windsor Spitfires to the Memorial Cup last month. A scout noted that neither player projects as a sure thing, but both have elements that make you think “there might be something special there.” “These are both talented kids,” he said. “There’s no rush on either of them. They’ve got time and that may be all they need.”

Muir left Jeff Schultz off his list.

* * * * *

At last summer’s Capitals Convention I had a chance to ask Ted Leonsis about a goodwill tour to Russia his team might undertake to showcase its holdings of high-end Russian talent. This is an idea that’s been brokered by the NHL with Russia’s hockey leaders but hung up, to some degree, over the absence of a player transfer agreement between the governing bodies. The owner demurred at my reference to it, assigning such a tour the designation ”distraction” for another day, something to think about after the team had won a Stanley Cup. Maybe, but what if that day doesn’t arrive? It’d still be very wise for the Caps to embark on such a goodwill tour of exhibition games against KHL clubs, for instance; you need spend only 5 minutes in Dmitry Chenokov’s company talking about the Capitals’ popularity in Russia to understand what such a trup would mean to global hockey. I have to think this is a trip the team would very much like to make, in the not-too-distanct future. Obviously, it’s something the captain would savor. And you’d think the Caps would want to pursue it while Ovi is in his playing prime.

I thought about this trip again this past weekend as the Caps selected two more highly skilled Russians in Los Angeles, adding to their aura of being Moscow West. As I noted Saturday, in two years time the Capitals’ second line could feature Alexander Semin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Dmitry Kugryshev. Semyon Varlamov may well be cemented as the team’s no. 1 in net, and Dmitri Orlov could be patrolling the team’s blueline then. And of course they’d be captained by the world’s greatest player, a native of Moscow. As an offseason event such a trip would be a media gold mine for the club.

* * * * *

Over the weekend various bloggers for Southeast teams received an invite from well-respected blogger and Cycle Like the Sedins founder James O’Brien to contribute reactions to a fresh reconsideration of the Southeast division, what with all the recent front office changes (Florida, Tampa, Atlanta) and a glut of high-end picks heading to Southeast teams this past weekend. The Panthers had, what, five of the first 36 selections in the 2010?

I didn’t respond to O’Brien’s invitation, for from my vantage, no chair moving or sweater changing can fundamentally alter my outlook on the Bettman abomination that is the SouthLeast. Like Rosemary’s Baby, it was ill-conceived.

The division claimed two Stanley Cup victories within its first 10 years of existence. No matter. Its DNA is in NASCAR and the SEC. Fans can’t travel to away games, except on trust funds. Consequently, there are no significant rivalries that have been birthed. There aren’t even insignificant rivalries. There are no rivalries. And look at the way four of the division’s five teams have drafted for most of the past 10 years. Even when bluechippers are secured, they (Boumeester, Luongo, Jack Johnson, Nathan Horton) can’t get out of Dodge fast enough. Other than Washington, what Southeast destination today would you decsribe as one that free agents can’t wait to sign with?

It needs to be blown up.

“This is the game that most, if not everybody, has been looking forward to. Most Canadians agree with me. A lot of people in the 11 time zones in Russia are expected to either miss work today, come in or leave early to see it.

“Both teams are coming into this game with a couple of concerns.  For Canada playing an extra game, especially the day before the big one, was at least a nuisance. Even when you’re playing against Germany you still have to give it some effort. Even though fatigue may not be the best word to describe it, at least some of it is there.  Also, for some strange reason, goaltending may be an issue.

“For the Russians loosing Sergei Zinoviev may prove to be the turning point. Russia will have to double shift someone at center. Or, better for them, limit the fourth line’s time. Russia will also have to readjust their plans of playing 5 man units. However, the firepower of the Russians is still there. Ilya Kovalchuk is due for his breakout game this Olympics.

“I am not going to make predictions for this one. I can only say that we should be in for the greatest hockey of the Games.”

nateewell Who will be the first ice-level TV guy to jump out and help his home team? I got $ on Bob Errey.

dcsportschick What’s funnier, that the Caps are up 7-1 or that Crosby is resting his groin?

JohnMKeeley Department of Homeland Security needed in Philly: #Caps going Al Qaeda on Flyers

cmasisak22 Oh my god — a referee just got hit in the face with the puck and this place erupted in cheers. Pathetic.

brettleonhardt Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Not Dec. 5th 2009

kaaaali I bet my neighbors wonder what is going on in my apartment when I’m clapping and screaming “Yesssss!” or ”Noooo!” during a #Caps game. #NHL

JapersRink Semin’s biggest defenders like to martyr themselves and think everyone’s out to get their guy. It’s simply not true and not that simplistic.

jwaltonhockey Bears win 5-4, Chris Bourque number one star of the game with two goals and an assist. http://bit.ly/8y8uYN

VogsCaps Anyone remember a rash of “Gordie Howe must change” or “Mark Messier must change stories back in the day? Yeah, me neither. Grab a tissue.

dcsportsbog GMGM on Ovechkin: “I’m glad he’s not pulling back. He’ll learn to pick his spots a little bit…but I’m glad he’s defiant.”

brettleonhardt Shout out to @akeesee820 for being my 80th follower. If @akeesee820 can tell why 80 is so important you got two tickets to an upcoming game.

nateewell Don’t look now, but @GreenLife52 has 25% more points than any other Canadian d-man

timleone Caps just announced they reclaimed Chris Bourque and assigned him to Hershey.

DanaWalker_chat Will Joe B. & Locker FINALLY discuss food and/or their moms tonight? I think so… #caps

dchesnokov Bengt-Åke Gustafsson is considering coaching a KHL club if he doesn’t carry on coaching Team Sweden. A few KHL clubs show interest.

bmcnally14 Matt Bradley in 81 games last year: 5 goals. Matt Bradley in 28 games this year: 5 goals.

cmasisak22 Crosby: “You can’t judge guys on one hit. Some guys see suspensions as something they learn from. Other guys brush it off and do it again.”

dchesnokov A rare sighting. Too rare. RT @SlavaKM I just saw M.Nylander practice alone at Rockville rink wearing full NYR gear and Jagr jersey.

nateewell All lies. This interview is making him look even more deceitful, dishonest, biased and wrong.

nateewell I think I might have lost a Dick Dillman vote today.

HockeyWashington, alighted in vigil, needing good news about a Russian knee

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