In Glacialis Blog

Seputus in Wednesdays’ novus of three- venatus domus victor virga, Joe Motzkos’ obscoena explosion, quod Mike Viridis’ deprehendo victor eram isgemma of a nugget:

Autumn Sudo – Donatus choice ut reverto ut usura idem eadem idem fabric ut eram adsuesco assuesco in hockey sudo prior ut is season quinymo quam ultra-hyped “uniform systems” ut erant induco league- prolixus prior ut is season, sulum singulus member of Caps went per permaneo year’s fabric. Wednesday nox noctis venalicium prothoplastus vicis novus ( vetus) sudo fabric eram no available, quod sulum member of Caps had novus forma sudo per vetus fabric pensilis in suus obfirmo prior ut venatus.

An article in Novus & Video has ostendo sum ut a numerus of Turbo, comprehendo Glen Wesley, have switched suum sudo, tamen non suum teams. Secundum auditurus esse questus ex quattuor angulus of NHL Terra, Reebok est iam vitualamen alternate versions of Rbk Ora.

Turbo switched duos venatus abhinc ut modified jerseys, quod pluma a puter opportunus in telum, magis aer-knit fabric quod minor of “bead- absentis” unda repellency technology touted per Reebok.

“ego reputo illic erant satis questus league- prolixus ut obviously illic eram a noticeable distinctus” Wesley said Tuesday. “eatenus, suus’ been a bonus change.”

Touting vexillum versus, praesieo of Reeboks’ Lusum Licentia Divortium David Baxter civitas ut “ ratio” questus have non been unanimous.

“plures NHL ludio ludius es contentus per current Rbk Ora jersey, tamen utpote satus of season, nonnullus have effor sollicitudo super jerseys’ mador procuratio quod stabilitas”

Is may exsisto ferreus ut dico quisnam has no switch ut necklines es idem eadem idem per idem eadem idem super incidere.

“ego reputo sulum amo novus ones multus melior” Carolina center Res Runco said. “is eram iustus funny redeo ut vetus materia, quod is sentio melior”

Iam nos teneo ut Runco quod Wesley ero alicubi inter unus quod novem sentio tardus. Peius’ caveo alius skating tardus in Imbuo nox noctis.
Gratiae utKuklas’ Korner pro succurro.

Does quislibet teneo res pro Pullus taedium niveus similitudo ratio domi obviam Columbus tonight? EGO hadnt’ seen alius stipes operor ut is season. Illis eyes suus’ a refoveo quod exspectata reverto ut quis videor Northmanni.

EGO eram aliquantulus tener ut repeto Chinese unda cruciatus- amo progressio no per interventus obviam Nixon administration per Watergate, tamen Redford quod Hoffman in ‘ totus Praesieo’ Men’ innutum a painstakingly patiens propinquo ut aedificium edificium Stipes’ testimonium- substructio vindicatum obviam Nixons’ henchmen. North American unda cruciatus vires exsisto an apt genus of quis plures NHLers es diutinus illa dies indutus in Reeboks’ paratus- prosterno similitudo ratio. Quod amo Watergate, is may exsisto plures, plures mensis pro justicia est utlimately servo. Is exyesterdays’ Globe quod Mail:

“iustus weeks secundum induco suus ultum-vaunted, pinguesco novus NHL similitudo, Reebok est condita modifications experior ut mollify a growing numerus of ludio ludius quisnam have criminor super discomfort theyre’ usus ex scientifically- intentio fabric.”

Nonnullus quisnam es coming porro ut press per damno testimonium ( in atrum garages?) es requiro suum identities exsisto tutis:

“Obviously, similitudo dont’ eradico sudo” said unus U.S. hockey paratus pensator quisnam has been auditurus esse questus ex ludio ludius quod instructus. “is iustus goes vox down in gloves, pardus, crus pads quod skates.”

Quod:

“industria radix narro vexillum did non operor satis testis sub venatus valetudo.

“ materia ipsum est non tractare via they exemplar intentio” unus industria insider said. “illic eram non satis due diligentia tractare in is materia prior ut putting illa similitudo in universus league.”

Utriusque Reebok quod NHL is week praemitto PR apologists experior quod stem conscendo detrimentum: “utriusque league quod Reebok insist novus jerseys es hic ut subsisto” Globe quod Mail vindicatum Hockey fans trans jugis have got scio ut leagues’ administrator quod corpus consortio es non pandus.

Globe persevero “super redundo sudo, alius questus have focused in res they videor ut rip magis facile. Quod nonnullus ludio ludius dont’ amo adstringo opportunus, quod they reperio magis restrictive.”

Caput’ porro in proprius videor termino in suum surculus motus.

Quondam super a vicis, pectus pectoris of similitudo ratio rabies-fiasco commissio per Reebok eram absentis in secui of fabrica of ullus voluntas ut hockey, per suus sudo, had usquequaque had a novus iunctio inter ludio ludius quod fan. Illa EGO vilis, illud colo colui cultum ordinatus in a proprius penicullus, quod domus in an Everymans’ levamentum, erant a novitas in totus of lusum, quod alo per generations of North Americans. Quisquis pendo brought super per vexillum’ formo re-engineering — quod ut’ serio sub velitatio illa dies — Reebok aptly probo ut is nunquam pensus vota quod famulatus of hockey fan. Reebok iustus doesnt’ tutela.

Tamen hodie sermo est recedentia magis serius quam fan preferences vel purgamentum a significant institutio. novus jerseys es attero gloves. novus socks es attero skates. Alius ut, Reeboks’ similitudo ratio est iustus dandy. Permaneo week nos innotesco sepulchrum dissatisfaction per lemma in secui of Boston Frendo. An effectus per Edmonton Oilers magis vel minor told a journalist in urbs ut is wouldnt’ permissum ullus parvulus of suus exsisto caught mortuus in Oilers’ novus vultus. Quod permaneo weekend, Dmitry Chesnokov of Sovetsky Lusum quod EGO ambio sententia in novus unis of Caps’ trio of Russians — Ovechkin, Kozlov, quod Semin.

Quis they told nos wasnt’ omnino admiratio, ut perfusus testimonium conscendo trans league. Etiam, ut indictments vado, suum eram siccus, Francisca, quod unsparing.

“etiam, EGO have a forsit per meus gloves,” Ovechkin told nos. “They fio valde madidus. EGO vado per duos iugum of gloves per period.”

Chesnokov, quisnam est opinio in is res pro suus Russian newspaper quod tribuo nos obvius ut ludio ludius’ reflections, had sciscitor Ovechkin iterum si is vere vilis duos iugum per period. “etiam, duos iugum per period,” is respondeo.

Unus of causa hockey instructus peto valde tractus impetro apparatus siccus quam primum est prohibeo ludio ludius aegrotatio. Alius est prohibeo contagio. Fingers in madidus gloves es proprie susceptible ut contagio, quod nisi tracto prompte, serius, vel vita-threatening complications can exsisto existo.

Chesnokov tunc percunctor of Viktor Kozlov. “quam primum EGO persolvo ut Boston Frendo erant non gauisus per suum similitudo quod volo ut forsitan reverto ut vetus similitudo” Chesnokov told mihi. ‘’ego asked Kozlov utrum Caps quod is in proprius had ullus problems per similitudo. Kozlov said: “ego dont’ teneo, nemo told nos quisquam. Tamen quis operor vos vilis ‘problems’ ?” EGO coepi interpretor is ut him: “mador est kept in somes quod lacrimo tenus. . . ” Procul is cuspis is rumpo mihi quod said “ ut skates!” Vere EGO volo loquor gloves, tamen Viktor videor habeo problems per unda in suus skates.”

“Yeah! Yeah, EGO reputo EGO have idem eadem idem forsit!” Kozlov told Chesnokov. “vere, EGO have been animadverto multus of unda in meus skates. Tamen EGO had haud informatio quare! Maybe is est causa! Is planto voluntas si alius ludio ludius have idem eadem idem problem.”

Chesnokov tunc gratias ago him pro spatium, quod Kozlov said, “ haud, gratias agovos pro illustrator mihi! Is totus planto voluntas now.”

Is would videor ut Reebok est res minor quam forthcoming per leagues’ ludio ludius super paratus valetudo ut have sedatus in in leagues’ oris mensis. Vel, nonnullus certainly pulvis’ questus vox of ullus acknowledgment.

Per permaneo weekend Semin hadnt’ skated in three plenus venatus per Caps is season, quod is didnt’ effor sollicitudo per paratus. “ego iustus focus in playing,” is said, tamen is did agnosco ut ludio ludius didnt’ criminor super “ vetus” apparatus. Volvit sicco ut permaneo weekend is quoque had alius in suus mens — a novus pactum per Caps.

“ego amo is hic quoniam totus of meus amicitia es hic” is told nos. “ego sum non quidam quaedam quedam quidam alio quisnam amo admoveo diversus locus. EGO amo meus teammates, procuratio, quod quod nos es a tener team.”

headline est a laudo ex Edmonton Oilers praesieo Cal Angulus in an article inyesterdays’ Edmonton Sol solis. Lusum columnist Atrox Jones devoveo suus Sunday vitualamen ut “ numerus eo of Edmonton Oilers ‘pyjamas‘,” via niveus in proprius.
Hic’ magis ex team praesieo:

“ego have futurus curiosus hic. Reebok pensus multus of viaticus” [ angulus] said of exertus addo novus similitudo ut teams inter league quod obvious NHL monumentum ut everybody in venatus ut they totus must diligo lemma.

EGO told Angulus EGO eram stilus super awful novus Oilers silks.

“ego reputo ut would exsisto a bonus article ut write,” is said. “tamen iustus loco mihi down pro sententia EGO amo nostrum vetus similitudo. EGO dont’ volo ut sanus amo an vetus virga- in-- limus quisnam cant’ vado contemporary.”

Vos can exsisto certus Oilers’ fidelis es aliquantulus praeter underwhelmed. In suus column, Jones innutum ut lector should Google “Oilers” quod “ similitudo” qua youll’ reperio ineo talis ut

“Glacies Idoneus awful!“

“EGO amo institutio horizontal virga procul solum of vetus jersey.“

“Quare nuntius per institutio?“

“Butt turpis. Is vultus amo quispiam quisnam contemno Oilers intentio is unus.“

Promptus, illic eram a ratio ut rabies.

“nos volo change. Multus of res motivated nos aspicio change. Nos have a novus obfirmo cella. A novus team. Nos saw is ut rejuvenation. A spiritus of vegetus air,” said [Oilers’ CEO Pium] LaForge.

“is eram vilis futurus quasi a Baltimore Ravens vultus” is said.

Sic quam operor vos adepto vestri virga tergum?

“nos can operor it,” says LaForge. “tamen non insquequo 2009-2010.”

A tap of virga in glacies utKuklas’ Korner pro primary succurro.

A opinio in Boston Herald est tantum partially rectus. Globe quod Mail ran sequens editio per Reebok, quod in secui lego:

Secundum opus per NHL ludio ludius, teams, quod paratus procurator lego feedback in Rbk Ora similitudo ratio, Reebok has certus ut suggero an alternative jersey ut ludio ludius quisnam prex is.

Plures NHL ludio ludius es contentus per current Rbk Ora jersey, tamen utpote satus of season nos have suscipio ludio ludius feedback super jersey’s mador procuratio quod stabilitas. Substructio in is feedback, Reebok mos suggero ludio ludius per bene ut gero a poema poematis per tenuis sizing quod fabrication adjustments.

In alternate poema poematis, unus fabric has been restituo per an aer-knit fabric quod bead- absentis unda repellency technology has been semotus. Utriusque jerseys mos persevero prebeo usque quattuor effectus materia, comprehendo Reeboks’ Lascivio mador- scelestus technology quod a tendo mesh pro proventus range of motus quod ventilation.

Illic ero haud visual distinctus inter jerseys. nuper intentio levamentum necklines, jersey incidere versus, anatomical opportunus quod team intentio mos subsisto identical. Retail versions of jersey quoque mos subsisto incommutabilis.

A tip of hat ut Mr. Eric McErlain, is of Off Pennae Sententia, quisnam iustus fervidus vado in meus muneris ut inform mihi ut Boston Frendo have reverto universus of suum similitudo ratio ut Reebok, quoniam Bs’ ludio ludius es drowning quod patientia estus plaga in lemma, quod Reebok est conveniens ut restituo universus of similitudo, no. . . of vetus materia.

(Eric quod EGO vere vir-hugged super novus)

Eu, Mandatum Melior, eu vero. Ut experiment certus permaneo diu. NHL Mandatum dont’ per adepto libraries amo U.S. Praesieo operor, tamen Melior postulo an Area 51- typus suspendo in quod can exsisto repono ustulo of Glo-pucks quod iam Reebok similitudo ratio.

Frendo, amicitia, ero skating nunc in illud bonus vetus formator, venustus puter hockey sudo. Bank in is.

novus infractus seputus in a fabula in yesterdays’ Boston Herald. Take a vultus:

“secundum radix in B’s vestio cella, Reebok has been unable ut rectus problems per novus jerseys induco is season trans NHL quod mos restituo lemma procul company’s sumptus per novus similitudo no of vetus materia.

“ludio ludius have criminor utpote palaestra castra ut novus jerseys, quod es volo ut exsisto relevo quod sino sudo ut evaporate sicco per shirts, have instead irretitus unda inside quod gotten graviter. . . “

Iam tunc. Frendo plurimus certe certo mos non exsisto solus team recidivus suus ludio ludius consolo. Tamen quis mos Reebok operor pro replacement similitudo pro teams — talis ut Caps — quisnam tractare tutus redesigns predicated in Reebok similitudo ratio utique condita is ut Sanctio? Vos may have animadverto: Caps’ novus iugum quod nameplates es amplitudo pro minor, adstringo sudo. Is est iens impetro verus interesting.

Ut est Reeboks’ tunc shareholders’ placitum.

Update: Secundum tonights’ venatus EGO had a chance ut audio in in sententia of three valde prominent Lavatio Caput super valetudo theyre’ diutinus propter Reeboks’ similitudo ratio. Vos mos reperio lemma interesting, EGO spondeo. Ero divulgatio lemma laxus is weekend.

bonus folks proculHockeyWidgets.com have novus RBK Ora sudo pro totus 30 teams, utriusque domus quod absentis, sursum pro rating quod sententia. Pro comparisons’ sake, they have a minor poema poematis of “ vetus ratio”

Caput es effectus valde puteus eatenus. In a quinque- astrum lanx, Caps es unus of septem teams ut rate quattuor astrum. Nemo has quinque.

Vado rate lemmahic.

An rudimentum ut suggero a voluntas of aer EGO congressus in quod super Quin Center orsa tardus Imbuo meridianus:

445: p.m.: Nos operor non have quisquam appositus hockey tempestas. Verum, pedes down 6th St. sub a aestuo sol solis, Im’ incommoditas in mereo bluejeans quod a res shirt. Tamen Im’ melior off quam six fans EGO obduco quisnam es outfitted in novus rutilus Reebok Caps’ sudo; they es collapsed quod obduco sicco obviam Quin Center moenia, sudo fluo off suum templum. Plaga Excolo recro lemma per amotio novus sudo quod restituo lemma per vetus CCMs. Fere instantly fans revoco.

Serio, EGO saw a mediocris numerus of fans in illa rib-huggers sicco in estus, quod nullus of lemma videor ut exsisto moving 9 sentio ocius quam mihi.

Caps have a numerus of tener, venustas baculus scurrying super 6th quod RESURRECTIO Vicus in Segways dispensatio sinus schedules.

505:: Ille Forma’ Caps’ quod Veneficus’ apparatus repono, quod nemo videor scio est nomen quis iam, facile has 60 vel 70 shoppers in is duos hora pro venatus. Suus’ vere per difficilis moveo inter in, suus’ sic congested. Illic est torqueo secundum torqueo of novus colo colui cultum quod logo caps, quod they es evanidus velox. versus procul duos subcriptio es convenienter six vel septem populus profundus. teams’ novus vultus has been fabrica in a vulgus array of formo huic shop, quod suus’ videlicet populus per fans in oris nox noctis domi.

Tergum foris en iter itineris ut press porta, EGO occupo super an prodigiosus os: a manus manus of super 25 vel 30 men quod women — plerumque men — congregated in 7th St. taedium fervens rutilus wigs, rutilusindutus, quod rutilus athletic shoes. Is est haud vulgaris oris nox noctis of hockey domi, EGO reputo.

520:: Predictably, suus’ novitas- nox noctis turba in press lounge. Comcast inter alius broadcast exitus est effectus a longinquus foris rink, tractus multus of interventus alio whod’ secus exsisto in lounge. EGO supervenio in lounge per a absentis lustro varius interventus pro their respective slottings of the Caps in the East this season. Here’s what I achieve:

Mike Vogel: 3rd (obviously, he has the Caps winning the Southeast)

Ron Weber: 10th (ouch!)

Eric McErlain: 7th

Corey Masisak: 7th

Dmitry Chesnokov: 6th

6:00: In the press box I’m seated between Eric McErlain and Dmitry Chesnokov. Meaning, my hockey education will be advanced tonight, and I’ll also have the immediate company of good friends. To the right of Eric is a Voice of America reporter originally from the Czech Republic. A couple of reporters in our row mention that the Caps have preserved a press box working space — all season long — for the departed Dave Fay. I mention to the VOA guy that my recollection was that Mr. Leonsis established that policy within a day or two Dave’s leaving us. Incidentally, the bottom of page 1 of the Caps’ 2007 Media Guide carries a dedication to Fay.

6:15: I’m in the refreshment area of the press box, which is partially glassed in, and seeking quiet there because Tim Lemke of the Washington Times is interviewing me about blogging and its impact on the Caps. He emailed me a week or so ago and informed me that he’d already spoken with Eric McErlain (good idea, that) and Jon Press.

The interview lasts longer than I thought it would simply because Tim and I have a real interesting and easy exchange, and he asks good questions. Also, because I love talking about this topic. Lemke mentions his impression that the four of us put a lot of work into OFB. I don’t quite know how to respond; objectively you could posit that we devote a healthy number of hours each week to the site, but even when I’m writing at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning, knowing I’ll be dragging in the office the next day by early afternoon, I never view the endeavor as labor.

Full disclosure (sort of): three times I ask Lemke to turn off his recorder so that we can chat off the record. I want to provide him as full a sense as possible of what has happened to us over the past year, and various members of the hockey community have shared with me, with a good deal of candor, what they perceive the state of things media in D.C. to be. Mike Vogel once told me that 80 percent of what he hears in his hockey travels necessarily has to end up on the cutting room floor. “It’s a good way to preserve friendships,” he told me. (Continued)

“When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen.“

Sidney Crosby may have never heard that famous catch phrase since E.F. Hutton’s last commercials were right around the time of his birth. However, Sidney Crosby is talking, and Reebok is listening. Crosby is talking about the complaints of waterlogged equipment the new RBK Edge “uniform system” has caused. From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Reebok officials have tweaked the jerseys of their new Edge uniforms being used across the NHL this season, in part because Penguins captain Sidney Crosby spoke with company officials and expressed some concerns.

Crosby, who has endorsement deals with Reebok, conveyed his and his teammates’ problem with the water-resistant material, which traps perspiration and forces it to run down and pool in players’ gloves and skates.

Apparently, the two plus years Reebok had the “system” in development was not enough. Perhaps there was too much wind tunnel testing and not enough on ice game testing?

Darren Dreger at TSN is reporting that Reebok has developed a treatment to allow sweat to escape the “system” while keeping them reasonably dry. Well, that was quick. Were the Reebok engineers the same guys that fixed the air scrubbers on Apollo 13 some thirty-seven years ago?

It seems to us at OFB that Reebok and the league has 87 days or so to fix the problem. In 87 days, #87 will playing at an outdoor game in Buffalo where waterlogged gloves and skates in average temperatures of 24 degrees could lead to a serious case of pneumonia. Two teams unable to compete due to illness? New York/Toronto, we have a problem.

Thanks to Sean at PopJocks.com for the assist.

Paul Lukas of Uni Watch posted an article today that focuses on the NHL’s new uniforms. It’s a good read—particularly this excerpt regarding the “apron-like” piping down the sides of some new jerseys (including the Capitals’):

Worst thing to happen to hockey since Gary Bettman became commissioner. In fact, since this happened on his watch and seems to sum up everything that’s gone wrong during his tenure, Uni Watch will henceforth refer to the piping as Bettman stripes.

NHL players and equipment managers might have tolerated their new unforms being unsightly relative to their predecessors, but what if they not only don’t work as marketed (repelling moisture, making players more comfortable) but actually make player performance worse? That would appear to be precisely the case. Last week’s Pittsburgh Post Gazette alerted its readers to the disconcerting development that some Penguins have nearly drowned while dressed in Reebok’s new threads.

“They do what they were designed to do, as far as repelling the water,” defenseman Mark Eaton said. “But we’ve found, the last three or four days of wearing them, that, when the water’s repelled, it has nowhere to go but into your skates and gloves.”

Water that is repelled has to go somewhere. Apparently it’s all going from uniform tops into players gloves, and from the form-fitting socks directly down into players’ boots. “By the end of the second [period] or the start of the third, your skates are sloshing around and you have to change your gloves because they’re [soaked],” Eaton added.

Here’s Gary Roberts’ take:

“My hands are soaked, my feet are soaked,” he said. “I feel like it’s May, in the playoffs, I’m sweating so much. That seems to be a complaint with a lot of guys.”

Mark Recchi also isn’t being quiet about the new mess. He noted that the remarkable amount of moisture now inundating players’ skates is likely to lead to their breaking down sooner, requiring replacement. Elite boots commonly worn by NHLers cost more than $500 a pair.

“Recchi suggested that, although some complications caused by the new sweaters will be evident immediately — like how some players will have to alter their in-game routines to deal with unduly wet equipment — others might not be apparent for a while.

“My gloves never got soaked like [they do now],” he said. “They’re literally drenched by the end of an hour[-long] practice.

“I’m going to have to have two pairs of gloves ready [for games]. I’ve never done that. I’ve always used one pair a game. Some guys are used to that, but that’s going to be different. Maybe I’ll have to change my socks between periods, which I don’t like doing. You start sloshing.

“I think you’ll see skates break down quicker because of it; they’ll absorb more [perspiration], because it’s all going down into your skate and your socks.”

Back in the good ‘ole days of tradition, hockey equipment managers had heavy lifting to do at games’ end each night loading and hauling wet gear from arena to bus to airport back to arenas in new cities — in the middle of the night. So from the sounds of things this fall, Reebok has actually managed to make the jobs of some of the hardest working men in hockey harder. If Mark Recchi’s right, equipment guys could soon be faced with a doubling of their gear packing gigs each night. Additionally, the increase in moisture about gear and rooms is an increased health risk to the players, especially in winter.

It’s a day of rest not only for Washington Capitals’ players and coaches — well, the players at least — but for the team’s frenzied communications staff as well. Being out at Kettler as much as I have been the past 10 days, I gained a deep appreciation for the commitment of Nate Ewell, Julie Petri, Paul Rovnak, and Mike Vogel, among others. Their days during camp begin early and end late, and at this time of year they’re not only facilitating one of the heavier media flows following camp in years but also putting together the in-season communications products, such as the Media Guide. It’s forecast to be a stunning late September Sunday today, and I hope they’re all out having fun in the fun and recharging their batteries.

The pause in on-ice action is a good time to take stock of what the Caps have achieved thus far in what I believe is the most important training camp in the organization’s history. I made a point during my visits to survey the hockey-savvy heads also taking in the daily doings at Kettler, from print and broadcast reporters to fellow bloggers to fans in the stands, and herewith I’m blending their leading storylines of camp to date with my own.

• Proud Papa. I’ve regularly seen Owner Leonsis as training camp spectator during the past 10 days, and while it’s true he’s no longer involved with the day-to-day operations of AOL, he remains a busy communications man. I think what’s happened with his training camp interest level mirrors that of the rest of us: the quality and depth of the organization on display is so impressive you are fairly compelled to make the trip out there and simply revel in the turned corner of the team’s competitiveness.

• Nylander to line 2. Two years ago Michael Nylander left Washington as a very good hockey player. This fall he’s returned but done so appearing to be more a star. He’s a dynamic playmaker, in supreme condition. And while almost everyone in hockey this summer forecasted an Ovechkin-Nylander top-line pairing, way back in July Head Coach Glen Hanlon very publicly stated his intention of experimenting with top-6 forward combinations, and thus far in camp, the conspicuous chemistry appears to have melded among Alexander Semin, Michael Nylander, and Nicklas Backstrom as Hanlon’s second unit.

• Slick Swede Part II. Speaking of Backstrom, he is irrefutably gaining comfort on the North American-sized sheet of ice — making progress “on a daily basis,” to quote my friend Mike Vogel. At the World Championships in Moscow in May, former Cap and Swedish National Team Head Coach Bengt Gustafsson told us that Backstrom would make that transition successfully and reasonably swiftly, and he was right. Tim Leone up in Hershey thinks it in Backstrom’s, and the Caps’, best interest for him to have a cup of coffee with the Bears this season. Ain’t happening.

• It’s my puck, and I’m keeping it. The Caps don’t (yet) have a dominant shut-down defenseman, so Glen Hanlon’s strategy for improved defensive play this season rests with his club maintaining possession of the puck more often than in the past two seasons, when often they chased it around the rink in futile fashion. If you have the puck more often than your opposition, your goalie isn’t get apt to face 40 or 50 shots each night, and surrender five or six goals most nights. So far, this strategy appears to be taking hold. In training camp’s scrimmages and through the Caps’ first three preseason games, you can see more puck possession and fewer netminders collapsing from fatigue.

• Captain, My Captain/Son of Kono-Dahlen-Halpern. I’ve changed my views on cloning, because of Chris Clark. Meaning no disrespect to Dale and his retired sweater, but should Clark captain the Caps to a Stanley Cup title in one of the next three seasons, he will have to be regarded as the best and most important captain in team history, having guided the team from the barrens of an unprecedented bottoming out to the promised land. And sitting here in September 2007, I wouldn’t stand in line to wager against it. (See Carolina ‘05-06, Tampa ‘03-04.)

It is Chris Clark’s team-first, two-way versatility that has Glen Hanlon fantasizing about a two-way, impact third line along the lines of the great Steve Konowalchuk, Jeff Halpern, Ulf Dahlen trio of a few years ago. That line, you’ll recall, was so dominant that Ron Wilson opened just about every game with it. It was also one that was a lynchpin to the Caps’ postseason participation. The coach has told the media that he’s looking for 60 goals from his third line this season, and given the defensive acumen of Clark and Boyd Gordon, and Matt Pettinger’s offensive pop, it’s natural to invoke the KDH comparison.

I’m also not wagering on Clark’s offensive production diminishing, dramatically, by virtue of his dropping down to line 3. As he noted himself on Media Day, he’s spent the past two seasons taking shifts against the likes of Zdeno Chara and top defensive pairings. Less so, it would appear, beginning this season.

• Deep Depth. The Caps this weekend have 35 players battling for spots on the opening night roster. It’s reasonably easy to forecast another five cuts, but the leap from about 30 to 23 is another matter. To put it charitably, the Caps’ are in uncharted territory, post-lockout, in terms of the skater quality they’ll be showcasing out at Kettler in week two of camp. This is the most basic and encouraging sign of the overall success of the rebuild.

• Three games, three leads. Through three exhibition games, the Caps have only once fielded a fairly veteran lineup — last Thursday night in Ottawa. They opened in Carolina, against a comparatively veteran Hurricanes’ lineup, dressing only John Erskine and Mike Green on the blueline as guys with significant NHL experience from last season (and with BJ in net). In all three games the Caps have played significant stretches with a lead (twice with two-goal leads). There remain mistakes (penalties) and concerns (penalties) aplenty, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that Coach Hanlon’s strategy of playing a more puck possession game is abundantly evident. In order to win more often, a team must first establish competitiveness, then achieve leads in games. The Caps have accomplished both early in this preseason.

The next step is to close the deal once you have the lead.

• When did Toronto’s print media come to work in Washington? For the first time in my hockey life, I wake each day knowing that with my morning coffee I need to visit the web sites for both of Washington’s big newspapers in order to follow coverage there of Caps’ training camp. There are files there basically every day. And good ones. Additionally, blog files there. This is as it should be, but to our print guys — and most especially the Times’ Corey Masisak, who’s only taking on the beat of a departed legend — good on you.

• Sharp-dressed men. It’s not anywhere near as important as the talent upgrade, but in this the autumn of uniform mischief, the Caps have showcased the best-looking new threads in the entire league. And it’s not even close. I’ll be particularly grateful when those snazzy white uniform system tops are rightfully returned to wearing on home ice.

Between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. Friday the Kettler Capitals pro shop sold $8,000 worth of merchandise.

Wilson Blvd. entrants to Ballston Common Mall this August are immediately greeted by an enormous new sweater banner for the Caps. It has to be 30 feet high. It’s two-sided and it looks awesome.

Early returns on the Caps’ new look look quite good: a 228-percent increase in sales figures for the club over a year ago. Only Buffalo and Nashville experienced higher increases, the NHL informed clubs today.

The Caps had two of the top 10 selling items in July: a red Alexander Ovechkin t-shirt (no. 6 overall) bearing the new look and the team’s 2007 NHL Draft Flex Hat (no. 10 overall). Ovechkin also ranks in the top 10 of new uniform system tops (formerly known as sweaters) sold.

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:

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