In Glacialis Blog

• Is eram a venatus pro captus primo of tertius period. One team took is; ceterus took nocens poena. iterum  
• Septumdecim venatus in 2007-08 season is est a Caps’ team vacuus an identity.
• A res of beauty The: Caps’ primoris calx, when Mike Viridis’ lubricus stickhandling and even magis infigo patella ut Ovechkin rightfully brought Quin Center fans ex suum discounted sessio. Tamen dynamic Mike Viridis has an novus quod subolesco-challenged muto ego, quod nos saw about 5 minutes laxus ut is senselessly went virga swinging in Kolzigs’ crease.  

Donatus Sarcalogos Bourques’ emineo modicus minutes, unus admiratio quis’ voluntas of suus repeto.

Illic does videor futurus nonnullus obscoena mico captus habitum in Tomas Fleischmanns’ venatus. Is eram palmarium in Ottawa, quod is iterum videor magis indubitanter in puck tonight.

• Weve’ vigilo Bellicus St. Louis eviscerate Caps pro prope a decade iam, quod nos servo admiratio quare nemo can iacio a gravis ledo in him. umquam Suus’ unus of minimus ineo super quod plurimus underrated vultus of suus obscoena venatus; nox noctis he manages ut servo sui ex harms way’ quod yet himself down mugio inter periculosus in mactabilis formo.    
• Videlicet illic’ quispiam distinctively atrocious super Quin Center glacies. Weve’ auditus quod lego questus super is vere utpote oris nox noctis, quod Imbuo nox noctis incidence of cado universitas- ordo skaters terminus on the burlesque. Nos television visum erant edoctus ut a matinee basketball venatus eram nimirum partim reprehendo. Tamen ut doesnt’ persolvo miserabilis superficies in preeo weeknights, vel multi- utor of alius pulvis vacuus comparable stumblings in suum hockey venatus.   

Audrius Zubrus left suus positus ut Senex Tellus Venditio Procurator pro Caput, tamen non pro opus unus permaneo venatus poema poematis Levitas quod a stipes venatus abiego procul RNR Talea & Lounge. Unus coniecto ut qua abyssus’ exsisto opus tunc.

Acadie Bathurst Titan center Mathieu Perreault, Caps’ sedecim- rotundus lectio in 2006 draft, has surged ut valde caput capitis of QMJHL ustulo plumbum odio lascivio fewer venatus quam fere totus of suus incomparabilis. Is eram nomen Qs’ Ludio ludius of Week pro week of November 5, quod in suus permaneo three venatus hes’ posteri 6 calx quod 5 succurro. Permaneo season, Perreault procerus 41 calx quod 78 succurro in 67 venatus pro Titan. Hes’ in passus ut caput capitis 140 cuspis in Q is season.

2007 secundus rotundus draft pick Ted Ruth, a vegetus blueliner procul Notre Dame, est a +10 in 10 venatus pro Bellator Irenses. Is skated a +2 Friday nox noctis in Notre Dames’ 2-1 turbo in via of haud. 1 ordo Miami, quod sit mereo minutes ut a caput capitis iugum tutor per senex Brock Tondeo. USC eram situs is weekend.

A guy vultus ut infigo a puella in balanus nox noctis would operor puteus recolo Imbuo nox noctis in Chinatown. Is could prodigo minor quam $ centum in duos magnificabiliter sessio pro Tampa cras nox noctis. Nos quisnam velico altus sumptus of pro hockey quoque dico sicco suus valde paciscor, quod is est a valde proveho per Lavatio Caput: 40$ pro summitto campester sessio.

Quis would a manus manus of hockey bloggers careo divinatio pro novus NHL season?

Nos dont’ vindicatum potior aut crystallus ball vel spys’ eyes inside palaestra castra of 29 alius stipes, tamen nos sententia is vires exsisto benevolens ut nostrum lector ut congero a album of offseason ( quod tardus permaneo season) ludio ludius tractus, in a concisus lima, quod have aliquantulus fun vitualamen sursum nullus- quoque-accountable “ pollex Sursum” vel “ pollex Down” forecasts pro totus 30 teams.

Basically, a team meritus a “ pollex sursum” si nos sententia suus manuevering quod maturation innutum ut itd’ amplio super suus 2006-07 cuspis numerus. Stipes ut “ subsisto pat” vel engineered boneheaded volo quod/ vel inedicabilis, altus- terminus solvo procurator farewells erant awarded “ pollex down.”

Sic weve’ dummodo panton “primer” a puckhead could postulo hic.

Praeter beer.

Team	Comings	Iens	Juvenis est Servo	Verdict
	Mathieu Schneider	Selanne quod Neidermeyer ( pro iam?), Pulvis Penner	Bobby Ryan
	Eric Perrin, Ken Klee, Todd Niveus	Scott Mellanby, Crur Hnidy, Glen Metropolit, Keith Tkachuk, Denis Harniis, Eric Belanger,	Bryan Parum(?)
	Glen Metropolit, Aaron Pupillus pupilla, Peter Schaefer	Crur Donovan	Res Ferito (?)
	Jocelyn Thibault	Fere sulum	Dan Paille, Drew Baculus
	Adrian Aucoin, David Vigoratus, Cory Sarich, Owen Nolan	Tony Inter, Jeff Amicus, Romanorum Hamrlik, Brad Stuart, Andrei Zyuzin	Eric Nystrom (?)
	Res Runco	Jack Johnson, Anson Currus, David Tanabe	Nullus	Hmm . . .
	Brent Spoel, Robert Lingua, Sergei Samsanov, Andrei Zyuzin, Yanic Perreault	Michal Manus manus, Adrian Aucoin, Peter Vinculum, Jason Cullimore	Jonathon Toews, Pium Kane, Jack Solers
	Scott Hannan, Ryan Smyth,	Ken Klee, Pierre Turgeon, Ossi Vaananen, Pium Brisebois	Nullus
	Michael Peca, Jiri Novotny	Vepres Boucher, Bryan Berard	Gilbert Brule, Insulto Orichalcum (?)	Hmm . . .
	Todd Fedoruk	Res Barnaby, Jon Klemm, Eric Lindros, Ladislav Nagy, Pium Stefan, Darryl Sydor	Niklas Grossman
	Vepres Rafalski, Dallas Drake	Robert Lingua, Todd Bertuzzi, Kyle Calder, Danny Vestigium, Mathieu Schneider	Igor Grigorenko
	Crusta Acidus, Joni Pitkanen, Pulvis Penner, Denis Grebeshkov, Dick Tarnstrom	Ryan Smyth, Joffrey Lupul, Petr Sykora, Jason Smith	Sam Gagner, Ryan OMarra’ (?)	Hmm . . .
	Uber Zednik, Radek Dvorak, Tomas Vokoun	Ed Belfour, Alex Auld, Bellicus Gelinas, Sarcalogos Memor, Todd Bertuzzi	Nullus
	Brad Stuart, Tom Preissing, Kyle Calder, Michal Manus manus, Ladislav Nagy	Mathieu Garon, Jamie Heward, Tom Kostopoulos, Jamie Lundmark, Aaron Miller	Jonathon Bernier, Jack Johnson
	Eric Belanger, Sean Tumulosus,	Ratio Fernandez, Todd Niveus	Benoit Fomentum (?)	Hmm . . .
	Romanorum Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, Tom Kostopoulos	Crusta Acidus, Radek Bonk, Sergei Samsanov, Mike Johnson	Tutela Pretium, Kyle Chipchura, Andrei Kostitsyn
	Bellicus Gelinas, Radek Bonk	Fere sulum	Villa Koistinen, Kevin Klein (?)
	Fastidiosus Zubrus, Vitali Vishnevski, Kevin Weekes, Karel Rachunek	Scott Gomez, Vepres Rafalski	Nicklas Bergfors (?)
	Bill Guerin, Mike Socius, Ruslan Fedotenko	Fere sulum	Sean Bergenheim (?)
	Scott Gomez, Sarcalogos Drury	Michael Nylander, Karel Rachunek, Res Runco, Kevin Weekes, Brad Isbister	Proficiscor Staal, Ryan Callahan (?)
	Tondeo Donovan, Luke Richardson, Denis Harniis	Mike Socius, Tom Preissing, Peter Schaefer, Oleg Saprykin	Nick Foligno, Vepres Lee
	Daniel Concisus, Joffrey Lupul, Jason Smith, Bellicus Biron, Scott Upshall, Kimo Timonen	Peter Forsberg, Joni Pitkanen, Kyle Calder, Robert Esche, Todd Fedoruk, Mike York	Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parentis
	Alex Auld, Radim Vrbata, Niko Kapanen, Mike York	Owen Nolan, Jeremy Roenick, Velum Joseph, Mike Ricci	Peter Mueller
	Darryl Sydor, Gary Roberts, Petr Sykora	Eric Cairns, Joel Kwiatkowski, Jocelyn Thibault, Michel Ouellet, Nils Ekman, Josef Melichar	Kristopher Letang
	Craig Flumen, Jeremy Roenick	Scott Hannan, Bill Guerin, Vesa Toskala	Nullus	Hmm . . .
	Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk	Radek Dvorek, Dallas Drake, Glen Metropolit, Jamie Flumen	Erik Johnson
	Michel Ouellet, Sarcalogos Memor, Jan Hlavac	Cory Sarich, Ruslan Fedotenko, Eric Perrin	Karri Ramo (?)
	Jason Blake, Vestigium Campana, Vesa Toskala	Jeff ONeill’, Michael Peca, Yanic Perreault, J.S. Aubin	Jiri Tlusty (?)
	Brad Isbister, Ryan Crur	Bryan Smolinski, Brent Sopel, Jan Bulis, Rory Fitzpatrick,	Luc Bourdon (?)
	Michael Nylander, Viktor Kozlov, Tom Venenum	Fastidiosus Zubrus, Kris Beech, Bryan Muir, Jiri Novotny	Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Viridis, Tomas Flesichmann

Iocus’ Rink permissum Caput’ angustus season ticket contemplatio ex pera ut quondam iterum broached thema of “ glacies Puella”. Neither OrderedChaos neque nec EGO suscipio season ticket contemplatio, sic nos dont’ teneo si is comprehendo praeter quinque questions memoratus per Iocus’.

Tametsi nos have penso informatio of Lavatio Caput’ Glacies Puella, nos dont’ teneo si is est a perfectus paciscor necne. Potissimum ceterus teams have iam held suum tryouts. Est Lavatio secundum curvo, sic oro? Vel have eximius specialis auditions iam been held quod glacies puella es promptus pello pepulli pulsum glacies in September 8th?

In ullus theca, nos erant curiosus ut ut quot alius teams have talis squads. refero may admiratio vos.

• Anaheim Ducks Vox Ludio ludius
• Atlanta Thrashers Puteulanus Crew
• Boston Frendo Glacies Puella ( link ut Glacies Puella pelagus page eram lost secundum profugus ut NHL servo)
• Calgary Flamma Glacies Crew
• Carolina Turbo Tempestas Squad
• Pullus Blackhawks Glacies Crew
• Columbus Puteulanus Jackets (quisnam vere have 2 humus) - Vox Patronus & Glacies Crew
• Dallas Astrum Glacies Puella
• Florida Pardus Glacies Presul
• Nashville Predators (quisnam quoque have 2 humus)
• Calx Puella
• Presul
• NY Insula Glacies Puella
• Ottawa Orchestra Vox Patronus (magis of a phasmatis humus quinymo quam glacies puella/cheerleaders)
• Philadelphia Flyers Glacies Team
• Phoenix Coyotes Sarcina
• Pitsburgh Penguins Pens Patronus (magis of a phasmatis humus quinymo quam glacies puella/cheerleaders)
• Tampa Sinus Levitas Puella
• Vancouver Canucks Glacies Team

update[: Dan Steinberg est procul Kettler quod has non seen ullus “ glacies- substructio letifico alio”]
update[ 2: Dan Steinberg suscipio confirmation ex Nate Ewell, Presul of Interventus Consanguinei, ut illic erohaud glacies- substructio letifico alio roaming Phone Tabernus is season.]

Nos es iam plenus in in per of terminus of offseasons’ offseason ( misericordaliter, AMC permaneo nox noctis dedi sursum an 800: airing of ‘Slapshot,’ forsitan ut aliquantulus of a kickoff ut NHLs’ off- glacies factum is mensis). Illa EGO vilis ut ullus moment iam nos could animadverto crux crucis transfero prothoplastus of quis typically est a ligamen of professio stipes planto ut ineo suum offseason rebuilding. Is June pre-draft paciscor susurro isnt’ per quis is eram permaneo, tamen Ive’ seen quoque plures Draft-Eve seasons scio melior. Prothoplastus shoe mos eventually occumbo, quod off puteus’ exsisto. Quod dissimilis permaneo June, ut Caps erant iustus ex prothoplastus verto in suus redivivus natio nationis, is estas procuratio has spondeo futurus an strenuus ludio ludius pro novus ludio ludius.

Amo nos moris’ animadverto a blockbuster amo permaneo Junes’ Pardus’ paciscor of Roberto Luongo ( pro junk; quod nos may non animadverto talis lopsidedness iterum huic saeculorum). Tunc iterum, nos may animadvertoPium Mara commotus. venatus intus venatus captus locus iam per tunc Friday nox noctis involves leagues GMs genus per suum UFA quod RFA album, comparing permaneo seasons’ payroll per ‘07-’08s’ exertus solio, quod Carnotense a tractus pro rectus quod lenimentus. Pro nonnullus stipes, payroll ero subseco quod nonnullus prime ludio ludius commotus. Pro alius ( Caps), payroll mos proventus, contraho added. A mediocris frenum illae rectus mos exsisto super tractus of tunc 10 dies.

Ultra res eximius submerged subter supter salary solio ( per amo intentus of millions of pupa), is estas Caps have convenienter quod palam spondeo alloquor suum roster rememdium per “ professio” Ipsa graduations, quodpotentially UFA venalicium. In totus of suum publicus editio super offseason upgrades, totus of procuratio has convenienter IDed paciscor ut a intentio ars, quod pulsatus mihi ut eneus in suus fiducia. Notabilis, efficens paciscor postulo voluntarius tripudio consortio. Duos ut tango. In medium-April, quam could Caps’ procuratio have been certe certo of lemma adveho medium-June?

refero may non exsisto quicumque specialis vel admiratio. Propter teams’ plethora of draft picks dating tergum ut 2002, quod iugo per Ipsa Gero’ fabulous prosperitas preteritus duos seasons, GM George McPhee has validus pecto in suus paciscor manus manus. Sit, nam, oneratus procul left pennae. Quod secundum permaneo Junes’ opus per suus explorator in Vancouver, norma repente videor profundus in net. Sit forsitan tantum a annus vel sic a res enviably profundus in blueline. Quod iterum per is Viscus Draft, is has multiple picks sursum altus ( duos picks sulum in rotundus unus quod duos). Adaugeo illis officina teams’ unrivaled solio tractus, quod Caps videlicet es a vox ludio ludius in phones tunc 10 dies. (persevero)

• Colo colui cultum nos incrementabiliter infigo per utriusque Poema poematis quod NBC. Poema poematis has a voluptuosus habitus - dress of impendo suus occulto per “ in progressio” transitions ut tardus- nox noctis venatus. Magis puck pro vestri buck. Quod suus’ adveho sic, eatenus ex suus primitive bulla sets quod infecundus analysis illic orbis autumn 2005. Nos etiam reputo Bill Clement melior procul colo colui cultum opus quam bulla obnoxius. Mike Emerick? Simplex optimus lascivio- per- lascivio guys in totus of lusum hodie. Quod Peter McNab! Suus glacies- campester analysis eram sic chock plenus of libramen quod excolo quod perspicax insight ut NBC magis vel minor converted him ut alter colo colui cultum guy in tabernus. Suus opus nam dedecus ut of glacies- campester puck Hunnam of repens annus . . . Erin Andrews ( qua has is absentis??) libero . . . pro aesthetic causa . . . nimirum.
• Sean Mediocris per luckiest/ fatum of totus calx . . . off a rabidus reus ex a dump in Imbuo. Fortunate is wasnt’ Rags’ venatus victor. Ut professio mortifer acquisition est velox verto sicco futurus unus of melior ones.
• Denique. . . denique . . . nonnullus decens utor of “Micd’ sursum” quod “ sanus of Venatus” Weve’ exspecto super duos seasons pro is. Dum a scrum eram infractus sursum per refs Imbuo in Atlanta, Thrasher Brad Larsen said ut Novus Yorks’ Thomas Sinus “Dont’ fossor vestri . . . itll’ exsisto terminus of period vobis. . . vos dont’ volo ut!” Quod Sidney Crux crucis vere famen nonnullus insightful reflections pro NBC Imbuo.
• Britones Hull queror Ottawa fans’ “ pius booing” of Crux crucis. quare Est suus memoria ut brevis? Caltha got is pulchellus bonus in via in Pium Divortium postseason in suus dies.
• denique minute in Mullet plaga tardus Imbuo meridianus eram altus octane incredibilis pressure per Ottawa, lascivio puck procul suus ordinatio vicis plurimus dramatic. Ut eram unus fabulous venatus pro 80 sentio of U.S. ut suscipio.
• Imbuo nox noctis: Suus’ HNIC quod haud Canadian teams es lascivio, etiamnunc they aired universa sono of U.S. Populus Anthem. Illic eram a vicis ut U.S. broadcasters did idem eadem idem. Nos requiro illud dies.
• Non Northmanni mane venatus HNIC renuntio in Imbuo — they must have pelagus guys pro mane Orchestra’ venatus. Quod quoque opes haud ‘ cogo’ Angulus’ Est is quare nos havent’ seen Grapes in NBC etiamnunc?
• Narro of NBC, utriusque Saturdays’ Voluntas/Pens’ quod Sundays’ Pennae/ Flamma’ venatus videor futurus aliquantulus atrum quod crocus. Saturdays’ broadcast of Rags/Thrash, vero, eram perspicuus. Est lux lucis in Philips Pulvis ut ultum melior, vel est is alius?
• Scott Gomez can dramatically efflectum modicus numerus ex suus malum- vomica ordinarius season per a prosper postseason. Lets’ spes is does, quod ut is serio meditatus institutio in ut rutilus, niveus quod niger pro rutilus, niveus, quod puteulanus.
• Suus’ unus venatus, tamen in Plaga Imbuo nox noctis is eram Rick DiPietro Ostendo, squashing sermo of a SlugSweep, quod ut veteran Caps’ fans, weve’ seen satis Isles’ postseason vir in net pro quattuor saeculorum.
• Testis St.Louis per a iuguolo unus- vicis ex a acer Angli — parum guy usquequaque adveho sursum per amplus calx.
• Daniel Alfredsson can vultus uninvolved quod marginalized pro amplus portions of a venatus tunc, ut in Sunday in Pittsburgh, in a mico solvo a laser offa ex visio orbis ut acidus phasmatis of Ferrum Urbs-swilling fidelis.
• Astrum iterum es in an mane postseason foramen, tamen does quisquam volo ut scapegoat Testis Turco? margin inter victoria quod evinco huic serius, in totus three venatus, has been ovis agon pro Astrum’ fans — is could valde facile exsisto a 3-0 plumbum in venatus pro Dallas is oriens.

A geminus- ora mucro pro hockey fans permaneo nox noctis: totus quattuor lascivio venatus coepi inter 700: quod 800: p.m. EST. In unus manus manus, is dat vicis pro planto- sursum somnus secundum marathon of Oris Nox noctis. In ceterus, is eram ferreus ut servo an oculus in totus quattuor venatus simul, quod ut they erant illac, eram haud Occasus Coast venatus ut vigilo pro dementis lascivio geminus- caput capitis factum.

• Atlanta no a mental erroris tardus obviam Rangers. Per Thrashers’ calx traho, Rangers’ Thomas Sinus eram accersitus parumper tenura virga poena. Instead of statim giving puck ut Rangers ut maximize vicis they would have a 6 in 4 vox lascivio, Thrashers toodled inter pro 15 magis secundus vel sic. Suus’ difficile dictu si is would have changed via ceterus of venatus went down, tamen is eram an vicis ut Thrash obduco sursum.
• Goaltending did sumptus Levitas obviam Diabolus, tamen non obvius youd’ reputo. Holmqvists’ penuriosus sententia ludo puck tardus signum venatus pro Novus Jersey, populatio an praeclarus nixus ex Vinny LeCavalier, quisnam may exsisto optimus ludio ludius in hockey vox iam.
• Narro of bonus ludio ludius, Parise infigo mihi sulum venatus EGO vigilo him.
• Hockey scriptor undique ire peto Interfixus Datsyuk pro prosterno nonnullus nostri optimus stipes-season iocus.
• Calgarys’ via woes persevero. Suus’ difficilis mihi loquor quantus of Rutilus Pennae’ lucror eram Detroit lascivio puteus poema poematis Calgary jugis suus ineptitude in saluto glacies.
• Nusquam admiratio in Insula/Sabres conflictus ( comprehendo seeing Brendan Witt in poena arca archa parumper carus pupillus poena), quod UFA- ut- exsisto center Sarcalogos Drury persevero suus stipes-season mores per duos ustulo. Insula vultus sicco- compositus, tamen vox est Ricky DiPietro ero ratio pipio in venatus 2. Couldnt’ vulnero, procul is cuspis.
• EGO utor Ken Hitchcocks’ saluto ut Poema poematis paro. Misericordaliter solvo of bombast quod bluster, is stuck ut quis is does optimus — docui hockey. Nullus of insights erant revolutionary, tamen suus’ usquequaque nice video vidi visum Xs’ quod Os’ of hockey res confero.

Duos intentus venatus ut went tenus denique pauci minutes, quod a iugo of lautus. Fere ut grueling ut nox noctis praevius, tamen nonnullus bonus factum nonetheless.

An interesting tidbit from Boston.com writer Kevin Paul Dupont about Milan Jurcina. Seems like there’s some serious regret about Jurcina’s departure in Boston . . . I, for one, hope to see Jurcina in a Caps jersey for many years:

Last Sunday in D.C., the lowly Capitals slapped a 7-1 loss on the lofty Lightning, a thumping that left Bolts star Vincent Lecavalier without a point and a minus-2 for his 22:17 of ice time.

“Vinny came away from that one talking about how impressed he was with [Milan] Jurcina,” said a veteran scout with close ties to Tampa’s franchise center. “I guess Jurcina was out there every time Vinny was, and he said he’s one of the toughest defensemen he’s had to play against.”

[tap of the stick to OFB regular reader Odessa Steps for the link]

We in Washington know well what restlessness within an American Hockey League franchise can spawn when a parent club poorly feeds the farm. In 2005, the Hershey Bears had had enough of the meager support provided by the Colorado Avalanche, and fresh from missing the AHL postseason in unheard-of consecutive seasons, they welcomed George McPhee’s affiliation idea that spring. Today the reigning Calder Cup champs, whose lineup the past two seasons has been a marvelous blend of AHL vets and Caps’ high draft picks, are poised for another lengthy post-season run.

One of the Bears’ main rivals, the Norfolk Admirals, most certainly did not want to see their seven-year affiliation with the Chicago Blackhawks end. But it does, at the conclusion of this season. This week the Blackhawks announced the termination of their tenure in Tidewater. Beginning next season, they’ll affiliate with the new Rockford Icehogs (Ice . . . Hogs?), who’ll compete just 60 miles from the Windy City.

While the Hawks have been futile on the ice in recent seasons, the Entry Draft compensation for it has been substantial: a litany of talented draft picks, among them Cam Barker, Brent Seabrook, Jonathon Toews, Jack Skille, Jake Dowell, Dave Bolland, and 2007 Hobey Baker finalist Nathan Davis. In fact, the Hawks announced Thursday afternoon the signings of WCHA standouts Skille and Dowell and their immediate assignment to Norfolk. The Hawks have drafted very well in recent years, and most league observers see the club — not unlike the Caps — benefitting soon from it.

For Admirals’ fans, however, the stunning and jarring affiliation news this week is a very rude eviction notice: from prospect penthouse to outhouse, as their parent club beginning next season is virtually certain to be the seriously draft-challenged Tampa Bay Lightning. Hockeysfuture recently updated its NHL organizational rankings for prospects, and the Bolts delivered little beyond static electricity coming in at no. 27. Among Hockeysfuture’s list of top 50 prospects, the Bolts scored only one, goaltender Riku Helenius, at no. 41.

Recently, too, OFB shared with our readers the Hockey News‘ Future Watch rankings for NHL clubs. Tampa came in dead last at no. 30.

That’s two leading independent arbiters of young hockey talent surveying central Florida recently and telling folks to avert their eyes of youngBolts. Norfolk is very much a military town, and our brave and selfless servicemen and women deserve far better in their R&R options.

During their affiliation with Chicago, the Admirals won two division titles and made the playoffs every year. Tampa’s AHL affiliation the past three seasons? The current last-place Springfield Falcons. They’ve never qualified for the AHL postseason with Tampa’s talent. Yikes.

This bit of candor about the plight of the Tampa farm I found on a web page devoted to the team’s prospects:

“From the Springfield press to the fans — it seems like people are by and large unhappy with the Lightning organization.”

I asked Bears’ beat reporter Tim Leone of the Patriot News about this affiliation shakeup, and he noted that years back Tampa actually enjoyed success with its minor pro affiliate in Atlanta. “Tampa Bay obviously hasn’t had much success in the AHL, but it’s not for lack of trying,” he told me. “Jay Feaster has made seemingly decent offseason moves, but they just haven’t panned out.”

“I’ve got to think they’ll put a good foot forward in Norfolk. Funny, when the ‘Ning started out, they always had powerhouse teams in Atlanta [of the International Hockey league].”

Beginning next season, it will be a lot easier for Caps’ fans to monitor the prospect assets of division rival Tampa with manageable drives north and south. And gloat afterward.

Okay, raise your hand if you saw this one coming. No fibbing.

The Caps pasted a Tampa team that is the midst of a dogfight for playoff positioning, Tomas Fleischmann served notice that he’d really, really like to stay with the big club, and Alexander Semin scored a natural hat-trick in a game that was a pleasant as it was surprising.

• Though his driving the net got him a goal late in the game, Giroux digging early to get back on defense will make as bing an impression in the coaching staff’s eye, I’ll bet.
• Speaking of Giroux’ goal, while it went unassisted in the books, Pothier made a fantastic head-man pass to spring the forward. Great read, and Pothier was also sporting an ‘A’ for the contest. At one point Pothier had a chance to step up and try and intercept a Lightning pass into the Caps’ zone, a high-risk, high-reward play, but instead chose to give up the line, ensuring better positioning against Lecavalier. It stuck out to me due to its conservative nature, as that opportunity has been too good to pass up in the past. It’s a small thing, but it’s the kind of thing the ‘bad’ Caps get burned by.
• Tortorella didn’t seem particularly happy with his goalie play yesterday, going from Holmqvist to Denis to Holmqvist again, though it didn’t seem to make much difference.
• The man in the Caps’ net certainly seems to make a difference for his team, however. Washington seems to play with much more confidence in front of Olie, and the work-rate has been very high the past few games.
• I give O’Brien the decision in his fight with Bradley. He’s a guy that will certainly stir trouble up in the division for a while, and he and Bradley were woofing at each other as they were escorted to the locker rooms.
• Tomas Fleischmann was impressive, and while his goals were noteworthy, his centering feed to Boyd Gordon for the last goal of the game was probably my favorite play of his. Interesting to note that most of the game he was playing his natural left wing spot, with Semin on the right side.
• Alexander Semin. Lovely stick-handling on the second goal, and the third goal of the hat-trick was surreal — shooting one-footed, off the wrong foot, all of the heat on that shot was generated from wrist-strength. Not a lot of guys can make that shot.
• Alex Ovechkin had a strange game. Several times on cycling shifts I saw him pass up centering opportunities to hold onto the puck himself. Not sure what to make of it.
• Mike Green looked to respond to his benching, with a nice poke check early, and some decent physical play.
• Schultz was up-and-down, at one point completely eliminating St. Louis, and throwing a good hit behind the net, but after a run-in with Craig Ryan it looked like he got a bit wound up and followed Ryan out to the perimeter by the far boards. Pothier had to yell at Schultz and point out who he should be covering, and luckily no damage was done.
• Milan Jurcina had another physical game, including a mashing of Prospal against the glass. The hit of the night, however, was Ovechkin clocking one Tampa player into another, knocking both down.

Another fun and surprising game, with the puck bouncing the Caps’ way all game. It’s nice to see the team play with some pride, and win a game that most would have predicted they wouldn’t. In a season that has had more lows than highs, it a nice change.

The latest issue of The Hockey News has ranked all 30 NHL team’s prospect systems. They have defined prospects as players under 22 years of age as of January 31, 2007. This ranking does not take into account any movement of players at the trade deadline. Note that three of the Caps’ Southeast Division rivals bring up the bottom-5 rear.

1. Pittsburgh [Last Year’s Ranking 1]
2. Washington [7]
3. Nashville [6]
4. Los Angeles [10]
5. Chicago [8]
6. Boston [12]
7. Anaheim [2]
8. St. Louis [28]
9. Montreal [17]
10. N.Y. Rangers [19] (Continued)

Mrs. Gustafsson just returned from Las Vegas and brought me the Bellagio’s Odds to Win the 2007 Stanley Cup. I’ve combined that sheet with the one I picked up in November.