On Frozen Blog » Matt Pettinger

Oh Yes, It's Ladies Night

The OFB Team — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:02:37 +0000

You knew this was coming: it’s the inevitable Hockey ‘N Heels recap! I asked Mrs. OrderedChaos about last week’s sold-out event, since her hockey-loving husband bought her a ticket. (I wanted to go, but I knew I’d be staring longingly at the specialty drinks at Clyde’s afterwards and didn’t want to torture myself.) Not only did Mrs. OC answer my questions, but she took some photos. Here we go:

Can you describe how the evening was structured?

We all arrived between 5:30 and 6:15. Slap Shot greeted us as we came in the door; he was passing out snacks and water. As I checked in we were broken into 4 groups. They provided color-coded group bracelets, and told me my first stop would be Wives Q&A. I went to wait in the bleachers and watch the “Caps Cribs” and other video goodies. They had one about who is the biggest ladies’ man. Brooks Laich!
Each group spent 25 minutes at each stop. My stops were 1. Wives, 2. Hockey stick session on the ice, 3. Locker/Equipment room 4. Chalk Talk with Coach Boudreau.
At the end of our last session we were escorted to Clyde’s. Chili Amar [Mix 107.3] was announcing the players in attendance as I came up the stairs. But there were a lot of people, so I couldn’t see anything.

Which session was your favorite?

I’m surprised to say this, but it’s hard to decide which event I liked best. I truly enjoyed all the sessions because I learned something in each. But I think I enjoyed the on-ice demo and using the hockey stick — Sami Lepisto would pass each of us the puck, then we’d pass it back, then he’d pass it again, and then we’d shoot at the net. I also really enjoyed the time with Coach Boudreau. I was impressed by his demeanor and how articulate he is. He was also pretty funny.

How would you characterize the other women- hockey novices or dedicated fans, or a mix of both?

There were lots of hockey moms and lots of fans. I’d say about three-quarters of attendees were serious fans. In my group, approximately half of the participants had season tickets, and everyone had been to a game. It seemed like most were conversant with the rules and asked “Why don’t they (the players) just go up the center and shoot?” They showed some frustration with the team in the questions they asked Coach Boudreau, but the coach handled it all well and with good humor.

Was the event geared more towards novices or experts?

I think it was geared toward novices, but was good for experts too because they could ask specific questions. The “experts” seemed to be there more to see the facilities, see the locker room and equipment room, and ogle the players. During the bar event I was surprised that almost every time when I asked the person in front of me, “Who is that player?”, they always knew their name and position they played.

Did you learn anything new? If so, what?

I learned a lot about the equipment, they travel with 6 sticks! And there is only 1 set of goalie gear. I still cannot understand icing, so I asked the coach “I don’t understand icing, how do I look for it?” He explained that a lot of the times he doesn’t know whether it’s going to be called or not. So I STILL don’t get it?¢‚Ç¨¬¶

How was Clyde’s afterwards? Were you able to meet any of the players? Which players were there?

Clyde’s was crowded, but it was fun. The food was delicious–I had a lamb chop, shrimp, crab dip. They had an open bar, including specialty drinks like the “Ovechkin” (a blue concoction I didn’t try) and “Slapshot” (which was sweet but tasty).¬†I met and took photos with Matt Pettinger, Milan Jurcina, Brooks Laich, Jeff Schultz, and Nicklas Backstrom. Eric Fehr was also there. I was really shocked to see the players in regular clothes. I know it sounds stupid, but they are so much thinner than they look on the ice (since the padding makes them look bigger). They were all very nice and approachable. I felt like I should have had something more to say other than, “Thanks for coming” and “How do you like Washington?” If I were to go again I’d want to be able to ask them real questions. I was impressed that the players are so accessible and give their time.

Would you go again next year?

I think I would do it again, but it would be more fun with a friend.

What were your overall impressions?

Women really like hockey. I married into hockey and I enjoy it, but a lot of these women love it and it was nice to see a public outlet for their passion. Oh, and this event is really cool, I know my husband would have liked to stand on the Verizon Center ice and pass the puck with an NHLer. And I got to do it! I think the Caps should consider something like this for men. Sticks, Pucks, and Cocks (just kidding)! This event also really made me appreciate the players a lot more. They work really hard and have a lot of ups and downs (as do their wives and families).

I think she’s onto something with her suggestion for a men’s event. Anyway, by all accounts it was a successful event; the Caps sold 250 tickets in eight days. Not bad. Take note, NHL- women love hockey too!
A special thanks to Mrs. OrderedChaos for providing her perspective.

In-Game Knee-Jerks & Notes: Caps-Isles, 2/20

The OFB Team — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:14:01 +0000

I’m not one to traffic much in the off-ice affairs of star athletes, at least not in published fashion, but with local media’s over-the-top coverage today of Alex’s overseas ingenue, there was for me a slight sense of light and welcome distraction from the day-in, day-out drain of the team’s postseason pursuit. Another positive spin on the matter: when was the last time you saw the Washington Post take inches worth of interest in the romantic runnings of a Caps’ player?
With a victory tonight the Caps will ~~equal~~ exceed the total number of wins for 2006-07. They can also go three games over .500 for the first time since . . . the season’s opening three games.
With big rugged bodies Andy Sutton and Brendan Witt out of the Isles’ lineup tonight, it’s going to be interesting to see what manner of net-crashing Bruce Boudreau asks his players to undertake. The predatory nature of NHL teams is perhaps best illustrated in a situation such as tonight’s between the Caps and Isles. Earlier today the Caps returned two young and inexperienced players to Hershey, Eric Fehr and Sami Lepisto. With tonight’s being the team’s only game of the week before Saturday, Boudreau appears to want to exploit the Isles’ backline vulnerability with a more veteran lineup.
Thirty minutes before faceoff, the Isles’ blueline tonight apparently will consist of: Radek Martinek – Freddie Meyer; Marc-Andre Bergeron – Bryan Berard; and Aaron Johnson – Drew Fata (Rico relation, yes). Those very inexperienced final two may be partnered with more veteran blueliners, or Coach Ted Nolan may up to seriously limit their minutes and try and go with just two defense pairings as long as possible.
We’re within a week of the NHL trade deadline. To deal or not to deal, if you’re GMGM? It’s a question I’ll try and place before a few scribes up high during the intermissions.
Nolan’s opening D pairing: Martinek and Meyer.
2:17 in: Sniping Semin lights lamp on a breakaway, off a fine head-man feed from Matt Pettinger. 1-0 home team.
Milan Jurcina’s struggles this season — he’s been wildly inconsistent from week to week, offering physically dominating performances one night and inexplicably mistake-prone ones following — I think need to be corrected if the team is to do anything more than make a ceremonial postseason performance.
13:37: Brooks Laich it appears to earn a tip-in power play tally off a Mike Green point wrister. Olie is announced with a secondary assist! 2-0 Caps, and while the shots are 7-6 in favor of the Isles, in all other respects this appears to be a game that the caps ought to win comfortably. This blogger can’t remember the last game the Caps won comfortably.
2-0 Caps after one.

Way back in the preseason, when there seemed a number of difficult opening night roster decisions for Glen Hanlon and George McPhee to make, I was discussing Brooks Laich with Mike Vogel. Brooks, it didn’t appear to me, was having a particularly strong training camp. I told Mike that I thought Brooks might have a tough time of it amid all the young third line talent in camp. On the right side, the Caps had signed Viktor Kozlov, Chris Clark was coming off a 30-goal campaign, Matt Bradley was in his prime, and Tomas Fleischmann was having a great camp. In the middle, the Caps acquired Michael Nylander, Nicklas Backstrom was a roster given, and then you had fierce competiton among Boyd Gordon, Dave Steckel, and Laich. But Vogel possesses an uncanny eye for seeing the full value of a player’s toolbox, and seeing him slotted just where he ought to be when cut times come, and he wagered me an O’douls that Laich would emerge a roster spot winner and play an important role for the Caps this season.
It’s strange now to see the juxtaposition between Laich and Matt Pettinger this season as it’s unfolded. Pettinger had a first-period assist, but the season’s been an unmitigated disaster for the one-time 20-goal scorer (and on a weak Caps’ club), and his future here (beyond next Tuesday?) is difficult to imagine. Not so much with Laich.
Ted Nolan played his six defensemen rather equally in the first. Martinek and meyer were over seven minutes each, but Aaron Johnson was just a hair under six, and Fata was over six.
Kolzig made a superb stop on Bill Guerin, only to see the power winger make a nifty mid-air grab of the rebound and swiftly center it to Miro Satan for a discouraging lead-halving tally. 2-1 Caps.
An injury-riddled Isles outfit is in period two cycling the puck with little resistance in the Caps’ end. The Caps are flat in this middle frame. Ted Nolan with the decision over Bruce Boudreau in the inspiring effects of intermission oratory.
Predicted intermission text message from AO to sweetie: “We need to step it up, Coach BB yelling loudly.”
2-1 Caps after two.
It’s ’98 Cup run Reunion tonight in the press box. Joining Joe Reekie here are Peter Bondra and Chris Simon. I emailed Kevin Kaminski to tell him about the gathering of a few of his old buddies and he replied, “tell Bonzai I said hello and that I will still protect his *#@.” He also wanted me to ask Bondra about a Slovak on his Youngstown Steelhounds, a Milan Maslonka, who tips the scales at 6 ’7, 245!
The Islanders have played, to quote the proverbial, the perfect road game. Undermanned, under appreciated, and for all the past two seasons, underrated. I watched them erase a 2-0, third period deficit against the Sharks on Monday afternoon. They’ve done it again tonight. Yes having DiPietro helps, but Ted Nolan also gets effort from all four of his lines. Tonight the Caps’ best line was their fourth. That’s generally not a prescription for success. I can’t confidently say that the Caps would have earned a point tonight without Quintin Laing in the lineup.
Remember that ‘it-oughta-be-an-easy W tonight’ I penned earlier? Promise I won’t utter those words again this season.
We’re three minutes away from shootout lineups being announced. Will Bruce Boudreau choose Viktor Kozlov — so effective in an Isles’ sweater in that exhibition last season — if it comes to it?
Ovechkin clanks another post, virtually willing his team to victory while carrying end-of-shift fatigue and an Islander on his hip.
I’m waiting on the announced shootout lineups.
The Caps will shoot first. Kozlov goes first.
And misses on the backhander.
Richard Park misfired for the Isles.
AO: thwarted by the goalpost — fitting, tonight.
Satan shoots next.
Another poster job!
Semin . . . snuffed!
Five shooters, five goose-eggs.
Comrie . . . goes 5-hole.
3-2 visitors.
A costly point lost.

Opening Night Roster

pucksandbooks — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:19:26 +0000


2007 WASHINGTON CAPITALS OPENING NIGHT ROSTER
FORWARDS
#	Player	Ht.	Wt.	Shoots	Born	Birthplace	2006-07 Club(s)	League(s)
19	BACKSTROM, Nicklas	6-0	183	Left	11/23/87	Gavle, Sweden	Brynas	SEL
10	BRADLEY, Matt	6-3	205	Right	6/13/78	Stittsville, Ontario	Capitals	NHL
87	BRASHEAR, Donald	6-2	235	Left	1/7/72	Bedford, Indiana	Capitals	NHL
17	CLARK, Chris	6-0	200	Right	3/8/76	South Windsor, Connecticut	Capitals	NHL
14	FEHR, Eric #	6-4	204	Right	9/7/85	Winkler, Manitoba	Capitals/Hershey	NHL/AHL
43	FLEISCHMANN, Tomas	6-1	188	Left	5/16/84	Koprivinice, Czech Republic	Capitals/Hershey	NHL/AHL
15	GORDON, Boyd	6-1	201	Right	10/19/83	Unity, Saskatchewan	Capitals	NHL
25	KOZLOV, Viktor	6-4	232	Right	2/14/75	Togliatti, Russia	NY Islanders	NHL
21	LAICH, Brooks	6-2	208	Left	6/23/83	Wawota, Saskatchewan	Capitals	NHL
92	NYLANDER, Michael	6-1	195	Left	10/3/72	Stockholm, Sweden	NY Rangers	NHL
8	OVECHKIN, Alex	6-2	216	Right	9/17/85	Moscow, Russia	Capitals	NHL
18	PETTINGER, Matt	6-1	210	Left	10/22/80	Edmonton, Alberta	Capitals	NHL
28	SEMIN, Alexander	6-0	181	Left	3/3/84	Krasjonarsk, Russia	Capitals	NHL
39	STECKEL, David	6-5	215	Left	3/15/82	Westbend, Wisconsin	Capitals/Hershey	NHL/AHL
16	SUTHERBY, Brian	6-3	205	Left	3/1/82	Edmonton, Alberta	Capitals	NHL
DEFENSEMEN
44	EMINGER, Steve *	6-2	217	Right	10/31/83	Woodbridge, Ontario	Capitals	NHL
4	ERSKINE, John	6-4	216	Left	6/26/80	Kingston, Ontario	Capitals/Hershey	NHL/AHL
52	GREEN, Mike	6-1	200	Right	10/12/85	Calgary, Alberta	Capitals/Hershey	NHL/AHL
23	JURCINA, Milan	6-4	233	Right	6/7/83	Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia	Boston/Capitals	NHL/NHL
26	MORRISONN, Shaone	6-4	210	Left	12/23/82	Vancouver, British Columbia	Capitals	NHL
2	POTHIER, Brian	6-0	200	Right	4/15/77	New Bedford, Massachusetts	Capitals	NHL
3	POTI, Tom	6-3	210	Left	3/22/77	Worcester, Massachusetts	NY Islanders	NHL
55	SCHULTZ, Jeff	6-6	215	Left	2/25/86	Calgary, Alberta	Capitals/Hershey	NHL/AHL
GOALTENDERS
1	JOHNSON, Brent	6-3	196	Left	3/12/77	Farmington, Michigan	Capitals	NHL
37	KOLZIG, Olie	6-3	225	Left	4/6/70	Johannesburg, South Africa	Capitals	NHL
†
Roster as of 2 October, 2007.
* Injured reserve
# Non-roster injured player
†

It's All Good (but for the playing of the games)

pucksandbooks — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:28:46 +0000

What did the Washington Capitals accomplish with their preseason this September? A good bit, I think. First and foremost, they accomplished the most important task: they avoided serious injury — we’ve no indication that Alexander Semin’s ankle sprain is serious. The second most significant accomplishment, in my opinion, was seeing a healthy number of fresh faces perform at a high level and well integrate with the returning Caps’ core. Tomas Fleischmann, it appears, has won first line right wing duty. He’ll be centered, at least initially, by Viktor Kozlov. So two-thirds of Washington’s top line is new this season. It looks more playoff worthy than either of its previous incarnations the past two seasons.
Speaking of looking playoff worthy, the Caps break camp boasting one of the most intriguing second lines in all of hockey — assuming Alexander Semin’s ankle is merely a day-to-day ailment. Nicklas Backstrom’s poise and production from his very first exhibition game on exceeded I think even management’s rosiest forecast. Look for him to improve month by month as his freshman season progresses, and for him to be lodged on everybody’s short list of Calder candidates come spring. Like the Caps’ top line, the second, centered by Michael Nylander, is 66 percent new this autumn.
Line three will have a new look as well. Boyd Gordon will center it, and Matt Pettinger will flank him on the left. But another Hershey Bear, Dave Steckel, made real loud noise (especially in the faceoff circle) this training camp. He may best draw man in the entire organization, he plays a smart game, and he partners exceedingly well with Gordon. (Caps’ fans can only hope Gordon and Steckel replicate in Washington their two-way work from Hershey’s postseason run to Calder glory in 2006.) Captain Chris Clark appears to be a bit of the utility infielder for the first three lines — he’s likely to see duty on all three this season. At times he should skate on Gordon’s right, at others — perhaps as with this week, when a teammate up top is injured — he’ll skate in the top 6.
That Caps’ fourth line, just 30 hours before opening night rosters must be submitted to the league, may still have five bodies vying for assignment: Donald Brashear, Matt Bradley, Brian Sutherby, Brooks Laich, and Ben Clymer. In recent seasons the Caps’ roster has had the look and feel of too much muck and grit too high up front. This autumn, a lot of it has been pushed downward, and a logjam has emerged. It’s been at least five years since the Caps could credibly claim three lines capable of producing points with any reliability. They’ll be able to in 2007-08.
There’s considerably less turnover and churn on the blueline: only Tom Poti arrives from outside in the top 6. Caps’ management is looking for its blueline corps to mature and blossom organically, and this September, there were encouraging signs of marked improvement from within. Milan Jurcina returned to Washington brimming with bulging biceps; his teammates coined for him the nickname “Juice.” He doled out dozens of bruising hits last season after arriving from Boston, and 2007-08 could see him stake a legitimate claim as an impact, top-2 physical force.
When the Caps sent Mike Green back to Hershey last spring they instructed him to go offensive. He did. That burst of production from the blueline continued this preseason, when for much of it Green led the Caps in scoring. He was on nobody’s radar for power play point duty three weeks ago; now he may be part of the unit’s second pairing.
Last season Brian Pothier, out of necessity, was forced into roles and minutes he wasn’t accustomed and suited to. Look for him to flourish in a more stable — and within an overall more talented — defensive unit. But he is also capable of performing at a high level — anyone who saw him skate for Mike Sullivan and the United States at last spring’s World Championships would agree.
There were no questions about the Caps in net heading into camp. There are none departing it.
There is health. There is the league-wide sense that while the rest of the Southeast stood pat, the Caps upgraded. There is buzz. There is optimism. All is good. Now, it’s time to drop the puck.

Reflections on Training Camp's Opening Week

The OFB Team — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:02:42 +0000

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.

Late-Summer Intrigue Among the Forward Flanks

pucksandbooks — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:48:07 +0000

On Wednesday’s CapsReport, a listener asked Mike Vogel to forecast the Caps’ forward line combinations for 2007-’08. That’s always a fun offseason exercise. As you might expect, there were no surprises among Vogel’s top 6. But when he got to the third line MV offered up some intrigue:

Pettinger-Gordon-Steckel.

Matt Pettinger is an established talent in the big league. Boyd Gordon had what certainly appeared to be a breakout year in his professional career last season, admittedly in its infancy. But Dave Steckel? An L.A. Kings’ castoff two seasons ago, earning regular and important minutes on a playoff aspiring club?
You bet.
Steckel earned a richly deserved callup by the Caps late last season after piling up career offensive numbers for the Hershey Bears, and in a game in Atlanta on April 4, sharing a sheet of ice with the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, and Alexander Ovechkin, Steckel stood out as the best player on the ice in all three zones. This is what I wrote about his performance for OFB the following morning:

“The Dave Steckel I watched in Atlanta last night looked identical to the one I followed up in New Hampshire and Maine last month — a force in two ends of the rink, but with one key distinction: he occasionally left the ice in his Bears’ sweater for line changes. But last night for Coach Hanlon, I’m not sure I saw him leave the ice in the third period.
“It was only one game, but in the season within a season, the one where many guys are making statements to management about jobs for the autumn, Dave Steckel last night announced rather loudly that he’s likely to make a serious run at a roster spot with the parent club come training camp.”

Approximately six weeks later, I was seated in the Giant Center press box next to Joe Reekie during the Bears’ postseason run. Once again, Steckel was a standout on the sheet below. With Vogs to my right, it was a press row chock full of Steckel boosters, but Reekie’s reflections on the Bears’ leader really caught my attention: “He should have been a [Caps'] regular last season,” Reekie told me.
Steckel had a lot of folks in D.C. rubbing their eyes wondering if they’d read what they’d actually read in more than a few game accounts last season. He scored five shorthanded goals for the Bears in the regular season, including one against Albany on April 18 while killing a 5-on-3 River Rats power play.
Another thing Vogel may have had in mind Wednesday afternoon was Steckel’s being Boyd Gordon’s linemate during the Bears’ postseason march to the Calder Cup in 2006. They were two of Hershey’s best players then, utilized liberally by Bruce Boudreau in all game situations.
Beyond a real big pro physique and two straight seasons of significant development, Steckel will bring to Caps’ training camp in two weeks’ time a reputation for being one of the best thinkers of the game when he’s out on the ice. He is also fantastic on draws. Vogel may or may not have had that in mind yesterday in his line formations; if he’s right, when Boyd Gordon gets chased out of the faceoff circle this season, he could be replaced by his equal at draws. So two-thirds of the Caps’ third line would be renowned for its strategtic thinking, defensive awareness, faceoff acumen, and trustworthiness in every zone of the ice. And be joined by the significantly talented Pettinger.
In his third full season behind the Caps’ bench Glen Hanlon is going to have as many line combination options as he’s ever had. The most impressive may follow the big guns in the top 6 and join a rich legacy of two-way tormentors that play a huge role in leading the Caps back to league-wide respectability.

Summer State of the Team – The Forwards

pucksandbooks — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:32:21 +0000

As Training Camp slowly (so slowly) approaches, we decided to take a quick look at some of the new faces, returnees, hopefuls and last-chancers that will be vying for a spot in the Caps’ forward corps. Battles at many slots are expected, and this may be one of the most competitive camp in Caps’ history.
First, we’ll examine the forwards, a group that received an infusion of talent down the middle and added a veteran scoring winger:
Nicklas Backstrom — The youngster is seemingly a lock for the big squad. A slick-passing center with hockey sense and puck-control, the most impressive thing about his game at this point may be his attention to the other end of the ice. His awareness and positioning without the puck, coupled with his creativity and vision should be a boon to either of the Caps’ elite left wingers. Foot speed is a concern, and while he won’t arrive in North America to the same fanfare that Alex Ovechkin did, the “Next Great Swede” will have all the eyes of his country upon him.

Matt Bradley — Largely considered to be a spare winger in the upcoming season, his physicality and willingness to do the little things ensure he’ll have a veteran’s chance at training camp. Good speed, a team-first attitude and a bit of an edge to his game keep him in play for the big club, if only in a press box role.
Donald Brashear – His first season riding shotgun for the Caps was a solid one, with Brashear leading the team in PIMs and tied at 9th in the league with 14 majors (and a game misconduct and a match penalty thrown in for good measure). The big winger brought pretty much what he was advertised to bring, resulting in a contract extension for the 07-08 season, and will be expected to continue his role as the Caps’ cop and be a physical presence on the ice.
Chris Clark — The captain of the club may fill any of the top 3 right wing spots. Obsessive work ethic on and off the ice, he willingly goes into corners to dig out pucks, forechecks with enthusiasm, and may not be physically capable of putting in an effort of less than 100%. 110%? Hey, he’s human, but he also will play with no teeth and some kind of horrific dental damage, so I think we can all agree the guy is tough, works his butt off, and is a complete pain to play against. Jumping to 20 goals from his previous current high upon his first season with the Caps, the gritty winger hit 30 last year, and signed the rare player and team friendly extension this off-season. He’s the slide guy as far as the right wing position goes — Coach Hanlon can deploy him with Ovechkin or Semin’s line to do the hard work, or can join up on Boyd Gordon’s right to form two-thirds of a formidable checking line.
Ben Clymer — 06-07 was largely forgettable for Clymer, with a failed experiment putting him back on the blue-line early in the season, and fighting lingering injury for the full 82 games. The winger didn’t seem to have his usual jump, which much of his game is based on. Often kind of an afterthought for the upcoming season, much like Bradley, the thought here is a healthy Clymer will likely get regular minutes on either the 3rd or 4th lines, and have a bounce-back season.
Eric Fehr — So far the lanky sniper hasn’t been overwhelming in his 25 NHL games (2 goals, 1 assist, +1, 35 shots), but has shown signs of what the Caps liked in him, including paying some attention to the opposition when he doesn’t have the puck. What could be an interesting training camp for the youngster from Winkler has something of a spin on it, as he is recovering from a hip injury that only recently has begun to heal up. A healthy Fehr could challenge for a spot on the big club, but if not fully recovered, a spot in Hershey to shake the rust off and get back into game shape seems likely.
Tomas Fleischmann — Another young winger who may contend for a spot on the Caps, though his finish to last season doesn’t provide a lot of momentum (pointless in his last nine games). Fleischmann did have some nice offensive moments, including an impressive 4 point game against some shaky Tampa goaltending, and he is now subject to waivers, which adds some import for both the player and the club to find a spot for him on the big squad. Possibly a make-or-break season for the talented Czech.
Boyd Gordon — Maybe the breakout player of the 06-07 campaign, Gordon took over the 3rd line center slot and it doesn’t look like he’ll relinquish it anytime soon. Good in the faceoff dot (52%), ever-vigilant in the defensive aspects of the game, he also chipped in 29 points and anchored the penalty kill. We can probably pencil Gordon in at checking line center for the foreseeable future.
Jakub Klepis — Another candidate for a make-or-break camp, the skilled Klepis spent half of the NHL season with the parent club, and didn’t exactly set the world on fire (3 goals, 7 assists). While he occasionally showed glimpses of his considerable talents, and he is a solid point-producer at the AHL level, he hasn’t seemed to be able to put it together in the NHL. Time may be running out for Klepis, as he’s no longer waiver-exempt, and the top two center spots look to be filled by Nylander and Backstrom. Klepis may very well be an odd-man out this season, or potential trade bait, though it’s unlikely that he would bring a bounty back in trade by himself.
Viktor Kozlov — A new face for the 07-08 season, Kozlov is a versatile forward who can play both center and wing, though he is stronger at the wing. Not physical but a big body, Kozlov has some past chemistry with Alex Ovechkin, is solid defensively, and is coming off a career high in goals. With the good comes the bad, however, and Kozlov has been criticized for a lack of consistency and effort level, though he played well under Ted Nolan, a guy who doesn’t put up with a lot of loafing. There were times last season when the Islanders’ faithful were less than thrilled with Kozlov’s sometimes hot, sometimes cold play.
Brooks Laich — The freshly-arbitrated center now has a one-way deal that should keep him in the mix in D.C. Solid defensively with good size, and occasionally displaying some offensive acumen, Laich is a forward in the mix for the bottom six spots — a crowded field. There has been some thought that the upcoming season could be the time when Laich’s game takes off, and it may have to in order to get regular ice time.
Jason Morgan — A solid AHL performer, he figures to get at least a quick look at camp, though it is more than likely that he has been brought in for duty in Hershey.
Joe Motzko — Another probable Hershey signing, Motzko has only had a brief taste of the bigs (11 games), but fits the role of a veteran scoring presence for the Bears.
Michael Nylander — The guess here is that a certain Russian left winger who goes by “Ovie” smiled when he found out the Caps had brought in the veteran Swedish pivot. A gifted playmaker who has excelled with star flankers, Nylander also is an excellent stickhandler, and should be able to gain the offensive zone unaided, freeing Ovechkin up to get into position in the slot and get his stick cocked and ready to convert some clever feeds. Also providing a boost to the power play, Nylander gives the Caps a skilled offensive center, and it seems a given that he will be presented every opportunity to develop a solid working relationship with Ovechkin. The fact that Nylander should be able to help his younger countryman Backstrom along is a bonus.
Alex Ovechkin — 06-07 was an interesting season for the phenom, coming into camp admittedly out of shape, and not really looking like himself until later in the campaign. With defenses keying their game-plans on stopping #8, he had less space to work with, and even had some fans expressing unhappiness with his play. All that said, he put up 46 goals and 92 points in what some considered his sophomore slump, and figures to put up more impressive totals with the addition of some skilled forwards, and a more effective power play. Ovechkin has vowed to come into camp in shape, and hopefully he’ll be primed for a big season.
Matt Pettinger — The follow-up to his break-out season followed a similar pattern: a few games missed to injury, some strong defensive play at even-strength and while a man down, and a few goal-scorer’s goals. Pettinger’s all-around game coupled with a strong work ethic and a shoot-first mentality make for a strong checking-line player who can chip in some offense, and it will be a surprise if he isn’t dressed on Opening Night.
Alexander Semin — The Other Alexander returned to the NHL in 06-07 and showed that Ovechkin isn’t the only Russian on the squad with jaw-dropping skills. Showcasing some impressive puck-handling, as well as one of the best wrist-shots in the game, Semin gave the Caps a bona-fide offensive threat outside of Ovechkin. Of course, with Semin, you get some frustration as well — late in the season he seemed to lose all faith in his line-mates and tried to do everything himself. Hopefully, the addition of a skilled centerman will bring out the playmaking elements of his game.
Dave Steckel — A terrific all-around player for Hershey, Steckel managed to put up numbers despite being assigned the other team’s top line and given heavy penalty kill minutes. This is an important season for the big center, as he seems have hit his ceiling in the AHL — the NHL is the next step. Another part of the group vying for spots on the bottom 6, Steckel’s impressive wingspan and man-down acumen may give him a bit of an advantage over the other contenders, as the club is looking to upgrade both pk units. Definitely a player to watch in camp.
Brian Sutherby — Another player who may be entering a pivotal season, as his claim to the checking line center role has gone to fellow WHL alum Gordon. Sutherby has been and will be dogged by a groin injury that has cost him a bit of his skating, but his competitiveness, leadership, and willingness to play with some edge are commodities that clubs value. His offensive production took a bit of a dip last year, though he’ll never be counted on for necessary offense, and there has been speculation of Sutherby maybe switching to wing, where he can use his size and strength to more of an advantage.
Kyle Wilson — recently signed by the Caps after his solid season in Hershey, Wilson’s smart game and development intrigued the big club. Likely in Hershey the bulk of the season, he’ll help shore up the club’s middle.
Other players who may get a look on in D.C. but may spend the majority of their time in Chocolatetown are Andrew Gordon, Travis Morin, Andrew Joudrey, Chris Bourque and Steve Werner.
Much like the defense, the battle for the 12+ spots in Washington should be a spirited affair. It’s conceivable that up to 5 forward spots on Opening Night’s starting line-up could be up for grabs, so the onus will be on each player to come in to camp in shape and ready to play from the word ‘go’.

Washington Capitals Depth Chart, Summer 2007

pucksandbooks — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 23:30:06 +0000

Herewith, our attempt to devise a depth chart for the Caps to coincide with the recent completion of the team’s annual Rookie Development Camp. It’s important to note that with it we are not forecasting specific line combos but rather attempting to slot players by position according to their professional production and most recent performances in evaluative settings. It’s also important to note that a number of forwards in the Caps’ system play more than one position up front. The Russian elites and Matt Pettinger appear locks on the left side for well into the next decade, whereas the right side seems to carry many more question marks.

We’ve envisioned this as a file hopefully sparking spirited reaction and respectful challenge. We welcome your proposed modifications.

Matt Pettinger, Hypothetical NHL Commissioner

pucksandbooks — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 20:19:02 +0000

“I’d have free public skates at every NHL arena in the U.S. If people saw how hard it was to do the things we do at full speed with the puck while on skates, they’d gain a new appreciation for the NHL.”

Pettinger, quoted in the June 18 issue of ESPN the Magazine