Mitchell destroys Toews

We’ve all heard the laments simmering not only on this site but all over the NHL’s mediascape persuading George McPhee to swoop for a rock-solid rear guard. The word on the street, if you didn’t know already, is that if the Caps pick up a shutdown defenseman they would be true title contenders, if not odds-on Stanley Cup favorites. The problem is the man in charge has left that pan on the backburner despite going into the playoffs last season with an overstock of useless (in the literal sense of the word) trade-deadline acquisitions (even though I was on board), plus millions in cap room, minus a player like Willie Mitchell.

Last summer I was desperate for the Capitals to lure Matthias Ohlund from free agency land, but through his misguided approach he sailed on to beautiful Tampa Bay to the tune of $3.5 million per year long term. You’ll remember the Canucks were also his last team as was Mitchell’s. Vancouver has been quite successful in picking up fantastic defensemen either through draft (Bieksa, 2001 and Edler, 2004), free agency (Mitchell, 2006 and Hamhuis, 2010) and trade (Erhoff, 2009 and Ballard, 2010). Those six players in the same pot steams success, but Mitchell is not guaranteed to be an ingredient despite his recognition as the team’s top defenseman in 2008 and 2009. Vancouver breeds seriously good d-men and it would have been an error had this meeting never occurred.

Mitchell is perfectly suited to play top four minutes for the Capitals and George McPhee is the perfect suitor for a player with Mitchell’s ability. He’s the kind of guy McPhee has been unable to sign in his long stint as Caps headhunter. Mitchell’s ability to handle a superstar like a ragdoll, his size and stamina and his desire to rebound from a concussion sustained in the early part of this year could really add the Fuhgeddaboudit attitude to the Caps defense that has been absent for a long time.

But is he worth it? Mitchell’s last contract was a four-year $14 million deal with Vancouver. While the Caps have room to accommodate a similar contract, GMGM is not going to give him more than two years and it would be wise if it was for half the money he made in Vancouver. We are all aware how precious cap room is in terms of personnel mobility, so non-core, long term deals like Martin’s, Hamhuis’ and Michalek’s must be avoided.

Following the demolition of Chicago’s roster and Vancouver’s relatively recent playoff experience, it is likely the Canucks have the most formidable blueline this year, more so than the Windy City and Toronto, whose reconstruction from goal out is now concentrated on a top six forward. Adding a blueline spike strip to DC’s roster puts the Caps in the same class as those teams that have added grit to their blueline this summer like New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Vancouver. If the Caps can land a defensive product of the Canucks named Willie Mitchell, that tingling sensation I mentioned… yeah that can last a lot longer.

Fleeting elation?

The Stanley Cup has been hoisted by the Chicago Blackhawks, the NHL has doled out its awards, a fresh set of 18-year-olds has been welcomed, and free agency is in full swing. Despite all the time that has passed, many Washington Capitals fans are still left yearning and badly bruised from the far too early first-round exit from this year’s playoffs. They are left thinking to themselves that could have been us, we do have a lot of the same qualities as the Blackhawks, and yet we didn’t go all the way. And yet, after what the Hawks have had to do in the last few weeks, do Caps fans really wish they were in the same boat as Chicago?

Washington has four top offensive producers in Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green, and Alexander Semin, who share many of the same qualities as Chicago’s Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Jonathan Toews. In fact, Washington’s big four may even be better than Chicago’s. Both teams have some of the best young d-men in the league. Chicago haa a blueline anchored by Keith and Brent Seabrook, and talented but inconsistent Brian Campbell. The Caps counter with the up and coming John Carlson, Karl Alzner, and Mike Green. In fact, both teams even share similarities in net. Semyon Varlamov exploded on to the NHL scene in 2009 with a stellar playoffs and followed up with a great encore performance this year. To some extent Anti Niemi could be thought of as the Western Conference equivalent of Varly. He had a great regular season, supplanting Cristobal Huet, and the Hawks road him to the Cup finals.

Here, however, is where the similarities end.

The Caps have some great role players in Brooks Laich, Mike Knuble and Matt Bradley, but Chicago’s were just better, deeper. When Chicago’s first line struggled at the start of the Cup finals, offensive contributions came elsewhere. Role players are the glue that holds a team together. In hockey we know that superstars alone cannot win championships; there has to be a combination of talent, speed, goaltending, grit and above all chemsitry, commitment, and luck. Without a solid set of above average guys who can bang the puck home on the doorstep or sacrifice their bodies in their own end Stanley Cup aspirations are futile. Call this a blue collar ethos surrounding the skilled stars.

 The Caps perhaps could have had a few more of those guys last offseason if they had gotten creative with their salary cap and signed guys like Ovi and Semin to long deals that resulted in small cap hits during their first season or two of the new contracts. Instead, they decided to be fiscally responsible and sign players to deals that made sense in the long term. Chicago on the other hand did not.

Due to their shortsightedness and fiscal ineptitude Chicago now has to essentially sell off a large part of the soul of their team. First it was the auctioning of Dustin Byfuglien, who is now an Atlanta Thrasher. Then it was young standout Kris Versteeg, who was sent to the Toronto Maple Leaf’s for the equivalent of nothing. The final trade in the first round of cuts was a deal that sent another younger winger in Andrew Ladd to the Thrashers. Brent Sopel and Ben Eager have also been jettisoned. Suddenly the glue that held Chicago together was softening.

Soon the Hawks will begin praying someone comes calling for Cristobal Huet. The franchise is barely $6 million dollars under the salary cap and still has to sign Niemi as well as fill out the roster, which will be a task in itself. In reality, Chicago is going to have to take the players that completed their team and virtually give them away. All of this is the result of the Blackhawks management mortgaging the future to win now.

Is that a hockey franchise Caps fans want to cheer for? In the grand scheme of things, is one Stanley Cup followed by years of fighting of mediocarity — or futility — worth it to Caps fans? There is really no way to swing this as a good way to manage a team. Of course, the Hawks do have that Cup that’s ever eluded the Caps.

Next season will roll around and, while most often defending champs are regularly picked to contend, objectively it will be difficult to do so with the Hawks. The reality is that Chicago will again likely return to being the little brother of Detroit while much of the rest of the Western Conference upgrades. Meanwhile, Washington will again be a lead favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Sure, there will be questions, apprehensions, but most teams have those at the beginning of the season. Wouldn’t fans much rather be in the Caps’ current predicament of having to decide whether Semin or Green is worth keeping in a year’s time instead of having to watch both of them leave? And more.

The short and sweet of it is, Washington should want nothing to do with Chicago’s managerial style. While ominous clouds circle over the Hawks’ Cup defense the Caps will keep building, winning, and gaining experience, working towards the goal of a championship. Key pieces are needed, yes, but just as importantly kep pieces don’t have to be offloaded like a summer yard sale.

Accounting for just those players’ salaries on the team’s books for 2008-09, NHLnumbers has the Caps committed to forty one and a half million dollars for next season. Alexander Ovechkin’s salary accounts nearly a quarter of that. Moreover, consider that the ranks of the unsigned for next season include a no.1 netminder; Mike Green; Sergei Fedorov; Brooks Laich; Matt Cooke; Matt Bradley; Shaone Morrisonn; Steve Eminger; Boyd Gordon; Eric Fehr; and Quintin Laing.
Oh, and Karl Alzner.
Now Brian Pothier’s $2.5 million is included in that $41 million-plus figure, and his future is quite uncertain. But even if the Caps were to gain cap relief for Pothier, the signing of just Green, Alzner and a goalie, you have to figure, is going to push the payroll fairly close to $50 million. Conceiveably, that might leave the Caps with less than $5 or $6 million of cap space to sign seven or eight name bodies familiar to Caps’ fans. And of course, no NHL team wants to be pressed hard against the cap.
To state the obvious, it will be George McPhee’s most challenging offseason in terms of player contract negotiations and cap management.

“What can I say? Good for Crosby! It is easier for any player to come out and play when he knows that his future is secure. I think Pittsburgh wasted no time offering Crosby the deal because of what Edmonton did trying to sign a restricted free agent. Any Canadian team (and not only Canadian) could have offered great terms to Crosby in the future. And who knows if the Penguins could have matched it. But now Sindey is staying in Pittsburgh, and will stay there beyond 2013, in my opinion.”

When asked about his contract, Ovechkin said:

“I will negotiate with the Capitals myself. To be precise, I will wait for their offer. If I like it, I will sign the contract. If I don’t, then I will get myself an agent (I don’t have one right now) to represent me in talks with the Capitals.”

“GM Darcy Regier said he contacted Kevin Lowe last night and tried to persuade him not to make the offer, that they were always going to match whatever offer the Oilers might make.† Larry Quinn’s statement: “We were never not going to match an offer on Thomas.”

I’m in Empty HQ with a mix of Sierra Nevada, Anchorsteam, and Newcastle puck sodas, and am joined by Crash Dog, who would prefer that I pet him.
Joe Thornton gets a 3-year, $7.2 million per extension. Expensive to be sure, though he’s one of the top centers in the game. Hard to wrap my head around the $$$ at this point. There’s some excellent speculation that the cost of Thornton’s extension may limit the amount of money any of the big-name FA centers may get, comparatively.
TSN is discussing what the Oilers needs are, and they sound a lot like the Caps’: a power-play QBing defenseman, and a top six forward (though not a center). Makes you wonder if the Caps and Oil will be bidding against each other today.
Doug MacLean isn’t Brett Hull’s biggest fan, apparently.
An hour in and no signings. It’s too early to call, of course, but there may be some merit to the idea that the UFAs are making sure to get every offer.
Montreal apparently offers Briere a 6-year $7 million per contract. Oof. At that price, I’d hope the Caps pass. Drury’s in LA meeting with the Kings, which makes it seem like there’s serious interest there. THN reports Iginla’s going to sign a 4-year extension. Ryan Smyth has received offers from 9 teams. It’s picking up.
(Later) Or it’s not. Lots of talk, no UFA signings, leading the TSN crew to collectively roll their eyes at the title of their program. Apparently NASCAR is coming up at the 2 o’clock hour, nearly ensuring the program will close without an actual signing.
Wait, we have a signing. Todd White, formerly of the Wild, signs with the Thrashers.†Four years at $2.3 per. A useful player. Is he $2.3/year useful? Mebbe.
And the TSN feed shuts down after three total hours, two of them during the Free Agent ‘Frenzy’, and Todd White has his moment to shine. It’s a beautiful thing.
BTW, James Mirtle, hockey journalist par excellence and friend of OFB offered this last night:

(The Capitals’ brass told me personally this off-season that they’ll be in the mix for one top-notch forward and defenseman, so take that for what it’s worth.)

Here’s hoping, right? Thanks to IDidItLangway over at HF for pointing it out.
**UPDATE** Rumors are going around that Tom Poti has signed with the Caps, at 4 years for $14 million total. I’ll investigate.
Confirmed†– the Caps have signed defenseman Tom Poti. Poti’s a pure offensive defenseman who should help the power play, has good size and mobility. Drawbacks include a less than stellar defensive game, an irregular willingness to use his size, and being booed out of Edmonton. Not sure how I feel about this one. It has obvious power play upside, but can Poti handle big even-strength minutes?
More on Poti†– he was 11th in the league in TOI for defensemen at 25:42 a game and was 11th in the league in defenseman PP scoring (6, 26, 32). It’s my hope that Dave Draper recommended this.
3:51 PM†– Sorry for the delay, OFBers. To the action: Anaheim’s defensive corps gets better, or compensates for Neidermayer’s possible retirement, by giving Matheiu Schnedier a†2-year deal for $5.626 total. Aggresive, but he can help any team’s PP. Briere is apparently headed to Philly, so Caps fans still get to dislike him. Zednik to Florida means all the Cap’s left defenders don’t have to play the pass but need to watch out for the down-low moves.
4:11†– The Wings sign Brian Rafalski for 5 years at 6 million a year. Schneider didn’t just get replaced on the power play, he got upgraded.
4:46†– adroit and astute friend of OFB and keeper of Caps’ Corner (your place for Caps contract info) Drake1588 points out this from our pals at the Fourth Period:

4:19pm - The Devils appear to be interested in Sheldon Souray, now that Rafalski has signed with Detroit . . .†Washington is pursuing Michael Nylander.

A Swedish play-making center who has worked well with top-line (if somewhat moody) talent might make sense in DC. The stories of Nylander firing his agent to get a better deal have vacillated as far as truth goes, but he might not be a bad addition to the Caps’ top line. Thoughts?
Cory Sarich allegedly signs with the Calgary Flames for 5 years and $18 million. Silly season.
Rumors persist of Gomez signing with the New York Rangers.
Looks like the Caps are asking about Yashin. Uh . . . discuss.
Drake reports that EJ Hradek has Gomer to the Rangers, money TBA, thought I’m guessing it is not, say, less than Briere got.
Looks like Blake signs with the Leafs, and an interesting trade†– Pitkanen and Sanderson to the Oil for Lupul and Smith. Frankly, nice move by Philly.
Now there are rumors going around that the Rangers have signed Chris Drury. Seems a bit far-fetched considering the cap hit involed, but a coup if it’s on the level.
TSN says Drury has signed with the Rangers . . . not sure what to make of it. No word on the money involved, but they pick up two talented players. What’s the cost, though?
** UPDATE **†Rumor is the Caps signed Viktor Kozlov. TSN reports a 2-year deal at $5 million total. Hope he’s not playing center. More on Kozlov is here. He’s a big boy, and that’s two players who have spent time under Ted Nolan’s return to the NHL. Is that a good or bad sign? Nolan is known for demanding the best from his players and is no slouch when it comes to discipline†– are the Caps banking on that?
Thanks to the Godfather, Eric McElrain, who let us know that Scott Hannan is an Av for a 4-year, $18 total deal. Jay McKee is jealous.
Thanks to Spector’s the news that surprised me the most today is Scott Niedermayer is apparently about to announce his retirement. Neids doesn’t have anything left to prove, true, but at age 33 you can figure he would have at least 4 solid years of hockey left. He’s a noted family man and has gained most accolades a person in his position can, but I guess he’s done what he feels like he’s needed to do. Like his long-time Jersey blue-liner, congrats, and thanks for the hockey you’ve given us, boys.
Update†– Not a wrap-up, per se, the OFB staff will have their ideas on the movement of today soon, but I’m going to have to go off-line now. Thanks for reading, and, more importantly, thanks for your feedback. Please keep it coming with your news and notes of any signings, trades, etc., and for those that asked, we are working on a better format for our live blogging in the hopes it’s not as confusing in the future.
9:42pm (Gustafsson at the helm)†– Niedermayer NOT officially retired.
NESN is airing a “Bruins Classic”.†One minute left in the first, Bruins 0 / Kings 3 (per the DirecTV guide; the game is from 18 October, 2003 where the Bruins obviously win) . . .†Why can’t ComcastSportsNet do something similar? Since HTS became ComcastSportsNet . . .†there should be plenty from which to choose.