хотел быть там, то будет специально. I’m not sure I thought I’d ever see that happen.

Of course, in identifying Ovechkin as architect and engineer of our awesome new atmosphere I’m conflating his on-ice heroics with the clever atmosphere actions of the team’s marketing pros. And AO alone among Caps’ players shouldn’t be exclusively credited for 07-08’s home rink euphoria. But he is, for lack of a better description, our banner boy — certainly the face of the franchise. He is the Pied Piper of Pucks in this town.

It’s amusing to think that perhaps AO foreshadowed the Caps’ special spring scene at home back in July 2007, when the first installments of the team’s new colors and look made their way to Russia.

Those who participated in the Red Outs, as well as those Caps’ fans watching on television at home, likely are of one mind when it comes to rolling out the Red again: it ought not to be a commonplace occurrence, it ought never to be trite and trifling. It ought to be summoned only for truly special occasions. It’s like a team’s special occasion jerseys or sweaters, in a sense — you always want them to remain special.

Good news on that front. Tim McDermott, the Caps’ Senior VP, Chief Marketing Officer, this morning told me, “Red will be our brand campaign/theme again this year . . . we will select a few high profile games for a Rock the Red/Red Out theme.”

And note that the Red Rally Cry still has to be tested against Pennsylvania’s other team. Hmm . . . should we Red-Out all games against the two Keystone Staters? And by extension, should we avoid the fashion-passion statement against all Southeast division foes, further damning an already depressing division alliance? Or, the Caps and HockeyWashington might opt to Red Out the Phone Booth on November 10, against Tampa, and welcome back Barry Melrose to the NHL in spirited fashion.

And welcome back a certain netminder, too.

Going forward, should the team, on its website, make the selection of Red Out nights an interactive force, and poll the impassioned on their fashion in advance of select regular season games? Should season ticket holders have a special say? For certain there should be specially priced Killian’s Red at the concession stands.

There was a marvelous viral quality to the rollout of the Red last spring. It was a beautiful infection, anything but unhealthy. Long may it afflict us.

Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Cristobal Huet, Morning cup-a-joe, Olaf Kolzig, Puck Sodas, Verizon Center, Washington Capitals, Washington the Hockey Town| Permalink| Comments (15)

Digital Ovechkin’s Still Got the Moves

By OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)
Friday, August 15, 2008

In the interest of equal time to EA Sports and 2K Sports, here’s a clip from the upcoming NHL 09 that features the Washington Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin, Mike Green, and even John Erskine. And yes, you see Cristobal Huet in there as well:

Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Cristobal Huet, John Erskine, Mike Green| Permalink| Comments (2)

Another Ref in NCAA Division I Hockey

By OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)
Monday, August 11, 2008

The Frozen Four in Washington, D.C., will feature two days of thrilling competition . . . as well as two referees on the ice.

While the NCAA’s decision is hardly breaking news — it was announced in June that they would implement the system for all games this season — it is interesting to see former assistant coach for the Washington Capitals and current Providence College head coach Tim Army firmly in favor of adding a referee. After all, Army was with the Capitals in 1998 when the two-referee system debuted in the NHL so he’s had ample experience with it. Per the Friartown Free Press:

“This system will allow for a stricter enforcement of the rules, thus enhancing the overall speed of our game,” [Army] said this week. “The emphasis on speed will create more open lanes that can be exploited with quick puck movement. Speed and possession will produce better transitional and cycling play which will increase offensive activity in the scoring areas resulting in greater goal production.”

Army clearly feels that, after working out some initial kinks (e.g., a significant spike in penalties called), the two-referee system has helped the game more than it has hindered play.

The extra body on the ice does create more traffic . . . something that switching to an international-sized rink would remedy, of course, but that change will likely never happen due to the expense of changing arenas and the lost revenue from having fewer 100-level seats. Yet if the referee pair works well together and calls games consistently (granted, a big “if”), away-from-the-puck infractions are more often caught due to the extra man with the orange armband.

Regardless, the additional ref has certainly doubled the opportunity for clever referee taunts.

Filed in College Hockey, Former Coaches & Players, Frozen Four, National Hockey League, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (0)

More Draft Analysis, and a Killer Is on the Loose Down South

By pucksandbooks
Monday, August 4, 2008

The July issue of Center Ice Magazine, which covers amateur and pro hockey in the Southern U.S., offers some additional assessments from veteran scouts of the Caps’ two first-round picks this year.

“[Gustafsson], 18, was the fifth-rated European skater in the draft, according to NHL Central Scouting, and has spent two seasons with the Frolunda junior team in Sweden. He recorded 15 goals and 17 assists (32 points) in 33 games of an injury-shortened season in 2007-08. “Anton is a highly skilled player with strong puckhandling skills and playmaking ability,” NHL director of European scouting Goran Stubb said. “He is an effective passer through traffic who also has a good selection of shots. He’s a tall, strong and talented two-way center with good vision and a fine understanding of the game. He plays a mature game even when playing against opponents who were two or three years older.”

Carlson is a 6-foot-2, 212-pound 18-year-old who was born in Natick, Mass., and resides in Colonia, N.J. A rookie in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Indiana Ice in 2007-08, Carlson finished second among league defensemen in scoring with 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists) in 59 games. He played in the 2008 USHL All-Star Game and was an assistant captain on the U.S. team at the 2007 Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Carlson was the 17th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.

“John Carlson is a big, burly defensemen. He is a real good skater and a strong skater,” said Jack Barzee of NHL Central Scouting. “He runs the power-play from the top of the umbrella and he has a very heavy shot. He’s a very self-assured kid and rightfully so — he’s a boy, yet in a man’s body and very physically strong . . . I knew when I first saw him that he was a first-round pick. He was a guy I had seen before as an under-ager. He had all the tools — size, skill, physical presence and charisma.”

The Capitals acquired the 21st selection, used to take Gustafsson, from New Jersey in exchange for the Capitals’ first-round pick in 2008 (23rd overall) and second-round pick in 2008 (54th overall). Washington acquired the 27th selection, used to take Carlson, from Philadelphia in exchange for defenseman Steve Eminger and the Capitals’ third-round pick in 2008 (84th overall). Washington has now made 15 first-round picks in the last seven years, four more than any other NHL team.”

The issue also details the demise of the Youngstown Steelhounds — coached the past two seasons by ex-Cap Kevin Kaminski. Earlier this summer the Central League issued a press release which stated that the Steelhounds “are no longer participating in the league.” The team and the CHL have been in a legal dispute over assessments and fees and other financial issues, according to the magazine. Another reason the league may not have been viewing Youngstown as a long-term venture: the ‘Hounds were the eastern-most CHL franchise, and more than 750 miles away from their closest competitor. Kaminski, however, has latched on elsewhere, taking over behind the bench of the Mississippi RiverKings.

At his introductory press conference before Mississippi’s hockey media last month, Killer said, “We’re going to be a team that’ll battle for every inch of ice for sixty minutes. With today’s rules and style of play, you need skilled players to compete. But, we will also provide an exciting, hard-nosed brand of hockey with a team that our fans will enjoy watching.”

Filed in Anton Gustafsson, Central Hockey League, Internet, John Carlson, Kevin Kaminski, Media, Print, Prospects, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (4)

From Thrifty to Opulent in Three Seasons

By The OFB Team
Monday, July 28, 2008

Here’s how cheap owner Ted Leonsis is right now: He’s got a $60 million hockey team here in town. The salary cap for next season has been set at $56 million, but there’s no penalty for being over the cap by 10 percent in the summer so long as a team is under it a week before the start of the season. The Caps most definitely are over the cap right now.

At least they are saving money in net; after the Caps acquired Cristobal Huet from Montreal this past February they had nearly $10 million worth of backstoppers on the payroll — it’ll be a little over $5 million this season.

Nine defensemen are on the books right now, but Brian Pothier’s $2.5 million is almost certain to come off, and General Manager George McPhee this summer has indicated that he won’t carry more than seven defenders. So two salaries are being lopped off from the blueline. And if Bruce Boudreau opts to keep 13 forwards out of camp, another salary would be sheared off from among the forward ranks.

The Caps bought ought Ben Clymer this summer, but that means they take a modest salary hit for him this season and next.

In the weeks ahead, McPhee must decide between two courses of action in plotting to get under the cap: (1) shear off enough to just get to $56 million, or (2) move bodies, or salaries, enough to afford himself some maneuverability during the season to address injuries that may arrive. Really the only way to achieve the second strategy is to move a large salary.

Forwards
Alexander Ovechkin 9,538,462
Michael Nylander 4,875,000
Alexander Semin 4,600,000
Sergei Fedorov 4,000,000
Chris Clark 2,633,333
Viktor Kozlov 2,500,000
Nicklas Backstrom 2,400,000
Brooks Laich 2,066,667
Donald Brashear 1,200,000
Matt Bradley 1,000,000
Eric Fehr 735,000
Boyd Gordon 725,000
Tomas Fleischmann 725,000
David Steckel 512,500
Ben Clymer 250,000
Total 37,760,962
Defensemen
Mike Green 5,250,000
Tom Poti 3,500,000
Brian Pothier 2,500,000
Shaone Morrisonn 1,975,000
Karl Alzner 1,675,000
Milan Jurcina 881,250
Jeff Shultz 750,000
Sami Lepisto 700,000
John Erskine 537,500
Total 17,768,750
Goaltenders
Jose Theodore 4,500,000
Brent Johnson 812,500
Total 5,312,500
Team Total 60,842,212

How would you rate McPhee’s roster and salary management this summer? He had a large number of new contracts to negotiate, and he had unexpected breakout seasons from the likes of Mike Green and Brooks Laich driving up his payroll. He also may not have anticipated Sergei Fedorov making the impact he did in just a couple of months’ time, making a new deal for him a wise idea. Lastly, he endured player agent mischief from Cristobal Huet’s representative. When all was said and done, he managed to ink every player he wanted from last season, save Huet, and do so before August 1. How many GMs can make that claim?

Filed in Brooks Laich, Cristobal Huet, Front Office, George McPhee, Mike Vogel, Players, Sergei Fedorov, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (15)

Toronto Adds Hunter, Zettler as Assistant Coaches

By OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

No, not Dale Hunter . . . Tim Hunter and Rob Zettler have been sucked into The Great Toronto Void, a.k.a. Leafs Nation, as assistant coaches. Zettler patrolled the Washington blue line from 1999-2002 (with a couple stints in Portland). Hunter was the Capitals’ assistant coach for 5 years, including the team’s run to the Stanley Cup in 1998.

Filed in Former Coaches & Players, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (1)

‘08-’09 Season Opener Details

By The OFB Team
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Well, that was fast. Capitals fans won’t have to wait long to see Huet again. Just announced from Caps’ PR:

The Washington Capitals will face the Chicago Blackhawks in their home opener at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Verizon Center, one day after opening the season at Atlanta, the NHL announced today. The league also announced the Capitals will play two games each against Western Conference opponents Columbus, Los Angeles and Nashville during the season.

The Capitals will raise their 2007-08 Southeast Division championship banner prior to the home opener.

This is the second time in club history that Washington will host Chicago for its home opener, as the Blackhawks made the trip to D.C. on Oct. 5, 1996, and won 5-2. The Capitals are 17-14-2-0 in home openers. Washington is 33-38-11-1 all-time against Chicago, but owns a 20-15-5-1 record at home against the Blackhawks.

The three finalists for the 2008 Calder Trophy should be on the ice for the matchup and the goaltending pairings could provide some interesting storylines as well. Chicago’s Patrick Kane edged Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom last year for rookie of the year honors, as Kane’s teammate Jonathan Toews finished third.

Both teams could introduce new goaltenders during the game. Washington signed former Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy winner Jose Theodore during the off-season, and Chicago signed Cristobal Huet, who will return to Verizon Center after helping backstop the Capitals to a Southeast Division title last season.

The NHL tweaked the overall schedule this year so teams would play their divisional rivals only six times instead of eight, which had been customary the past three seasons. In doing so, every team in the league will play one another this year and teams will also play three non-conference opponents at home and on the road. Washington’s three non-conference opponents that they will play twice are Columbus, Los Angeles and Nashville.

The Capitals’ entire 2008-09 schedule will be released tomorrow, July 16.

Filed in Chicago Blackhawks, Cristobal Huet, Former Coaches & Players, Jose Theodore, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (14)

Jaromir, We Hardly Knew Ya, and I’m Not Sure We’ll Miss You

By pucksandbooks
Sunday, July 6, 2008

There was, seemingly, a continent-wide silence over the weekend associated with Jaromir Jagr’s departure from the NHL. Indeed, the latest flareup between Oilers GM Kevin Lowe and Ducks’ GM Brian Burke seems to have made a larger impression on the hockey world this weekend than has Jagr’s departure.

It seems oddly fitting that on Independence weekend the Capitals and the NHL would finally be liberated from the seemingly interminable and onerous payoffs to Jaromir Jagr, one of the sport’s ultimate mercenaries.

Back in January 2004, the Caps dealt the underachieving, isolated, and insufferable Jagr to the New York Rangers for Anson Carter and a promise to pay off $20 million of the $44 million remaining on his godawful contract. The deal of course occurred pre-lockout, and at the time Jagr was earning $11 million annually; meaning, that Ted Leonsis was on the hook for a tidy $5 million each season in payments to the Rangers for the duration of the deal. The new CBA that ended the lockout in 2005 included a 24-percent rollback in player salaries, so that payoff sum got sheared off a bit, but both practically speaking and especially symbolically, the Capitals were still tethered to the misanthropic mercenary, through the 2007-08 season, and that association stung.

Word arrived this weekend that Jagr had in essence ended his NHL career, in signing with Avangard Omsk of the new Russian elite pro hockey league. The terms — apparently two years and $7 million per season, tax free — mean that Jagr is back up to the equivalent of $11 million in annual salary. He spent this decade as a temperamental gun for hire, so this new agreement is fitting. Puck daddy’s overview on Jagr’s career, in which daddy terms #68’s tenure in D.C. “the near career suicide,” includes a generous helping of reader comments that seem to capture all of the at-arm’s-length regard Jagr engendered in his NHL career. Including, especially, this sentiment: “Good riddance.”

It’s remarkable that the NHL’s ninth all-time scorer could amass as massive a movement of malignant sentiments as he did, but he did.

Jagr’s was an NHL career of two careers: his years in Pittsburgh, where he brilliantly partnered with Mario Lemieux, catapulting the Penguins to two Stanley Cups, and where he won four consecutive Art Ross trophies; and those that followed, in Washington and New York, where he showed flashes of his dominant past but most often earned reviews that he was slowing down and grossly overpaid. This was especially true of his aborted stay in D.C.

Even in Pittsburgh Jagr has no shortage of detractors. Near the end of his run there he made no secret of his wish to play in the NHL’s largest market. Pittsburghers become particularly parochial over such sentiments. Jagr never seemed vested in the Penguins, emotionally or otherwise — certainly not like Mario Lemieux always has been. It’s distinctly possible that in about 7 or 8 years’ time Jagr will be regarded there as merely the fourth best forward to play in Pittsburgh — a stunning possibility, when you consider his scoring standing in the league’s history. Jagr is one of only 16 players to score 600 goals; only the 12th player to surpass 1,500 points; and only Mike Gartner is a rival to Jagr’s tally of 15 consecutive seasons with 30 or more goals. He is the only player to score goals in 53 different NHL arenas.

But for all of his red lamp lighting, he possessed an uncanny ability to leave you cold. Hockey is in many respects the ultimate team sport, in which a goal scorer typically celebrates lavishly in the arms of his teammates. Jagr seemed to celebrate many of the goals he scored with the detachment of a hitman.

It is true that the Washington Capitals today would not have Alexander Ovechkin were it not for the ruinous run of Jagr in D.C. It is therefore fitting that hockey fans here have in Ovechkin the outsized personality, a total team-first dynamo, one who is also disarmingly modest and an irrationally exuberant scoring celebrator. He is the antidote to Jaromir Jagr, our tonic from those two-and-a-half seasons of tumult.

In so many ways Jagr was an extraordinary paradox. He accumulated 1,599 points in his NHL career; that he is a mortal lock for the Hall of Fame is beyond dispute. And yet, he departs the NHL and it’s news on hockey pages for all of 12 hours, before the next free agent signing bumps it. He had fans by the thousands who wore sweaters bearing his name, but he seldom had spirited defenders. Serious hockey fans never ragged on his skill set, but even at the height of his brilliance he seemed to engender a detachment from fans. Most often you got the sense that if there was such a thing as hockey player really in it mostly for the money, Jaromir Jagr was that hockey player.

Now near 37, he’s crossing an ocean, and turning his back on the planet’s best league, for more of it.

Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Former Coaches & Players, Hockey Hall of Fame, Jaromir Jagr, Morning cup-a-joe, National Hockey League, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (6)

Should Olaf Kolzig’s Number Be Retired By The Capitals?

By The OFB Team
Friday, July 4, 2008

View Results
Filed in Olaf Kolzig| Permalink| Comments (23)

Ovechkin vs. Huet

By Gustafsson
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Perhaps newly signed Chicago Blackhawk Cristobal Huet would like to forget this night as netminder for the Montreal Canadians. Alexander Ovechkin victimized him for 3 goals in regulation and the game winner in overtime. When all was said and done, Ovechkin had 5 points, 4 goals, stitches in his lip, and a broken nose in a 5 - 4 OT win.

“Today was a special day,” Ovechkin said with a smile. “I broke my nose, have stitches [and] score four goals. Everything [went] to my face.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysyu3aOVVHQ

Do you think Ovechkin is hoping Huet is in net when the Caps face the Hawks?

Thanks to Sean Leahy from Going Five Hole for posting the video.

Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Chicago Blackhawks, Cristobal Huet, Montreal Canadiens, Video Clips| Permalink| Comments (2)

“Washington Got an Elite Goaltender”

By The OFB Team
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The Russian reaction to Capitals’ goaltender moves from Sovetsky Sport, including Alex Ovechkin’s take on things (translation courtesy of Dmitry Chesnokov):

The Caps management did everything right. The club saved about $1 million. The club also got an experienced goaltender. And now they will start to develop Varlamov and bring him closer to the first team, even though he will most likely start the season in the AHL. Considering the fact that Theodore’s contract is only for two years, the plan is to have Varlamov as the number 1 starter by the start of the 2010-2011 season.

Alex Ovechkin thinks this is the case. He confirmed his opinion in a conversation he had with Pavel Lysenkov:

“I think there is a possibility for Varlamov to debut in the NHL this season. At least Semion will compete for the number 2 role with Brent Johnson.”

What do you think about Theodore’s arrival in Washington?

“We needed a good goaltender because we were losing Huet. And our management made a thought-out move. I have only played once against Theodore in my career. It was last season; we played Colorado at home and won 2:1. Although, I didn’t score.

It is a shame that Huet didn’t stay [with Washington]. He was a great goaltender. But our future now lies with Theodore, and I am sure he won’t let us down.”

Filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Cristobal Huet, George McPhee, Michal Neuvirth, Simeon Varlamov, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (3)

Washington’s New View in Net, Take 2

By OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

As Pucksandbooks pointed out in his recent post, his assessment of the Capitals’ goaltender situation was his own. Now I don’t dispute Pucks’ facts, nor are his conclusions irrational — but from my perspective they seem a bit dire and premature mere hours after the signing. So, as a counterpoint, here’s my take on the situation which, while hardly sunny, is a more optimistic outlook.

Let’s start with the bad: There’s no doubt that a combination of bad planning and bad luck has left the organization with a goaltender dilemma — one that has been hanging over the team, Sword of Damocles-like, for years now. Olie Kolzig’s career naturally progressed from stellar to solid to adequate as he aged; a successor needed to be a top team priority before Kolzig’s ability to carry a starter’s workload was in doubt. As Pucks pointed out, the organization made such an attempt by bringing in Maxime Oulett from Philly; sadly, Maximus turned out to be more of a minimus.

Varlamov and Neuvirth are top prospects and progressing quickly; it is certainly feasible to see one if not both in Caps’ uniforms come 2010-11. Yet, really, a top-tier netminder was needed five years ago to avoid the team’s recent stop-gap measures. Easier said than done, to be sure . . . building and maintaining a team is tough. But if it were an easy job then it wouldn’t pay well, and GMGM couldn’t afford all those snazzy suits.

While the team’s need for a “bridge” goaltender, and its difficulty in addressing that need earlier, led to their shaky netminder situation this offseason, the team could do little to change the past on July 1, 2008.

So let me say this: the organization made the right call with Huet. The information slowly revealing itself indicates that, while the Capitals tried to lowball Huet initially, they were more than flexible in eventually giving him exactly what he asked for . . . only to have Huet reject the contract like James T. Kirk scoffed at alien STDs.

Once Huet made the business decision to squeeze a bit extra from another team, the Caps immediately snagged the best guy still available: Jose Theodore. General consensus saw Huet and Theodore as the two best ‘tenders in this year’s admittedly goalie-light free agent pool. Some would say they were equal; some feel Huet was #1 and Theodore #2 or #1A.

Regardless, once Huet made it clear that he wanted more money and a four-year deal, the Caps acted quickly to get the remaining free agent with the best potential as a starting netminder.

Huet returning for 3 years at a reasonable price would have likely been the best outcome for the Caps. But Theodore is no slouch; their styles are different, yet in many ways Huet and Theodore have similar pasts, similar potential, and similar stats. Remember, too, that expectations for Huet would have been intense based on his 20 games in a Capitals sweater . . . a mercenary like Huet may be one of those archetypal contract-year wonders who slip back to normalcy once they get their big deal. Tying up $22 million for four years of average play is not what the Capitals need — particularly not with a pricey Alexander Semin contract just a year or two away.

Has the loss of Huet impacted the Capitals’ chances of a deep post-season run in the next two or three years? Perhaps a bit — but mostly due to the team adjusting to their third starting goalie in less than a year, and the impact that may have on defensive strategies and cohesiveness, than a significant drop-off in goaltender skill.

Change is scary; changing a goaltender doubly so. But with a well rounded roster, stars like Ovechkin and Green, and top-notch coaches and staff (notably in Theodore’s case, superstar goalie coach Dave Prior), the 2008-09 Capitals hardly project to be bottom-feeders.

Let’s see Theodore don his new Capitals’ sweater and get a few games under his belt before deeming his signing a failure or a success.

Filed in Colorado Avalanche, Cristobal Huet, George McPhee, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (20)

Goalie Shopping 2008: Skydiving with a Suspect Parachute

By pucksandbooks
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Well, I suppose it’s worse to be in Cleveland, where their star hoopster apparently is making love-eyes at the Big Apple. We know for sure where Alex Ovechkin will be in 2012. And 2018. Then again, one more goalie to play in front of like Jose Theodore, and the Gr8 may rethink the merits of that new pro hockey league in Russia. Could you blame him? When you’re a hockey town in training and you’re looking down on Cleveland, things ain’t so swell.

It’s almost criminally cruel to have seen vanquished what we did yesterday in mere hours’ time. Namely: the Capitals’ Stanley Cup aspirations for the next two years. Or perhaps — and here I’ll channel my inner Puck Daddy — you think a journeyman netminder is somehow guiding the Caps to glory between now and 2010? Please, pass me a little of the crystal meth you’re consuming. Or perhaps you believe Capitals’ GM George McPhee, who’d have you believe there’s precious little difference between Cristobal Huet and Jose Theodore, despite the fact that the Caps offered their new no. 1 netminder — in the 31-year-old prime of his career — the lavish term of two years. And if not sub.-no.1 money, mediocre no. 1 dough. That term is code for: Simeon, get your game on, fast, in Hershey.

The point isn’t that Theodore and Huet are about the same age and have won the same number of Stanley Cups (zero). Or that their respective numbers aren’t all that different. It’s that Theodore has been in the league a lot longer, has been booted out of cities for his play, has broken a lot of hearts, and requires an oppressive trap to try and hide his inconsistency. Which the Caps won’t be playing.

It’s that one has been an All Star lately. It’s that one would have made a real run at the Vezina had he arrived in D.C. earlier this past season. Huet got UFA-to-be dealt out of town by the Eastern conference’s no.1 team, donned a strange sweater and played behind stranger defenders in a crisis-every-night environment, for a rookie coach recently promoted from the ‘A,’ and . . . dominated the league.

Forgive me for wanting to sign up for a few more years of that. And while the Caps made a spirited attempt to do it, the cold hard reality is that there was no safety net for failure. More on that in a moment.

In Gabby’s get-up-and-go system, netminders get tested all right. It’s wise to have a talented and consistent netminder facing the necessary barrage when it arrives. Of Theodore, it can be said that he possesses talent.

Theodore’s claim to fame was winning the Vezina and the Hart in the same season, a while ago, in 2001-02. The next season his goals-against average ballooned up by almost a goal a game. Almost a goal a game. He was allowed to wear pads that season. Then in 2003-04 his goals-against plunged back down into elite status. Then, post lockout, it skyrocketed back up — well over a goal-a-game up, this time — to the point where a second Montreal Riot was fomenting before he was shipped out. The sigh-inducing numbers litany can be found here.

Let’s put it this way: news of the signing was about 45 minutes old yesterday when an MSM reporter who shall not be named emailed me and said, “We’ll take in an Ovechkin 5-goal game next season — in a 6-5 loss.”

I have a rule for playing the Because-he’s-now-wearing-our-sweater-unprecedented-consistency-and-elite-performance-will-miraculously-emerge game: with your wager go instead with the 10 years’ performance pattern you know, hedging on its hard lessons.

It is positively true that Cristobal Huet treated the Capitals’ organization shabbily during the prelude to and opening of summer free agency. It is also likely that the Capitals were in no position to match or beat the term and largesse Huet agreed to in Chicago. Be all that as it may, it’s nonetheless hard to deny the profound sense of something great and magical irrevocably being lost in yesterday’s stunning reversal of city-enveloping puck fortune — really the first such in the Bruce Boudreau Era.

It’s also hard to avoid recognizing this increasingly disturbing trendline: the planet’s greatest hockey talent really has yet to be accorded a netminding talent, in durable fashion, commensurate with his status. Gretzky had Fuhr. The Flower had Dryden. Lemieux had Barrasso. Bourque at the end had Roy. Ovie gets a geezing Olie, a smattering of backup BJ, a cup of coffee with Huet, and now JT the Propecia spokesman in pads. The hope inside the organization is that perhaps in two years’ time — after Ovie’s labored some five NHL seasons — one of Michael Neuvirth or Simeon Varlamov is ready.

Yesterday was the culmination of years of failure by the Capitals’ organization to adequately address an heir for an aging Kolzig. You cannot blame management for not trying — they obtained, for aging Adam Oates, what they reasonably thought would be a worthy successor (first-round prospect Maxime Ouellet). By 2006 and Ouellet’s clear failure, they went into desperation mode, selecting two goalies among the first 34 players drafted in 2006. It appears as if those were strong selections. It also appears as if they occurred about four or five years too late. The rebuild, in front of the net, is over.

Late yesterday afternoon George McPhee attempted to equate the replacement of Huet with Theodore akin to that of Dainius Zubrus with Viktor Kozlov. But second- and third-line wingers are absolutely replaceable, every summer, every week of the calendar year. No. 1 netminders, not so much. Get it wrong in goal and every other move you make is academic.

Something truly magical happened to the Capitals late this past February when Cristobal Huet arrived here. In their negotiations with him, the Capitals clearly believed that. But in those they weren’t ready for business failure.

At least, not Rock the Red ready.

Get ready for firewagon — and abbreviated postseason — hockey.

Filed in Cristobal Huet, Front Office, George McPhee, Michal Neuvirth, Morning cup-a-joe, Prospects, Simeon Varlamov, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (48)

A Day of Dastardly Dichotomy

By The OFB Team
Tuesday, July 1, 2008

On this the opening day of ‘08-09 NHL free agency Washington Capitals’ fans confronted the opposing twins of personnel movement outcome: morning elation with Mike Green’s signing and afternoon agony in the club’s failure to come to terms with season-salvaging, starting netminder Cristobal Huet. The Capitals this afternoon, having reached an impasse with Huet and his agent, signed Colorado’s Jose Theodore to a two-year deal.

An absolute bulwark of the Caps’ stunning late-season surge to a Southeast division crown, Huet’s heroics won’t be returning, the fallout of which is this sobering question: have the Caps’ Cup contention plans necessarily taken a step back? It’s a demoralizing outcome, most particularly in light of widespread reports, from reliable organization sources, that Huet’s return was largely a fait accompli.

It would be difficult to imagine a netminder better auditioning for the role of go-to guy, of in-his-prime, no. 1 stud, than Huet’s with the Caps this past spring. He went 11-2 in his 13 regular season starts with the Caps, posting two shutouts, a stunning .936 save percentage, and a microscopic 1.63 goals against. Those numbers weren’t as impressive in the playoffs against Philadelphia, but after the Caps fell behind three games to one in the series, Huet was rock solid and at times spectacular in net in nearly leading the Caps to a dramatic series comeback.

As for Theodore, this from the Caps’ press release:

Theodore, who will turn 32 on Sept. 13, won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in 2001-02. The 5’11”, 182-pound native of Laval, Quebec, is a 12-year professional who spent the last two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. He was 28-21-3 with three shutouts, a 2.44 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in 2007-08, including a 21-13-2 record, a 2.24 GAA and a .919 save percentage in his last 37 starts.

2007-08 was indeed a rebound year for Theodore, but that’s also cause for concern for Caps’ fans. His has not been a career of model consistency, to put it charitably (he was run out of Montreal). In his previous two seasons, with Montreal and Colorado, Theodore put up sub-.900 save percentages and above 3.00 goals-against numbers. Perhaps more troubling is this: Avalanche Head Coach Joel Quenneville collapsed a trap around him this past season, almost certainly boosting his numbers.  

Disappointment over Huet’s departure should not necessarily draw savage criticism of General Manager George McPhee, who was poised today with a viable Plan B. According to the Washington Post’s Tarik El Bashir, the Caps met Huet’s demands of three years and $5 million per only to learn of his wish to test the proverbial waters, apparently with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Tonight a stunned HockeyWashington, still in mid-summer swoon over so spectacular a 2007-08 season, has seen the sport’s best momentum here in 30-plus years come to a screeching halt.     

Today in D.C. there’s palpable disappointment surrounding the personnel outcome for the most important position on the ice. A beautiful bride has run off; left behind is her ok-looking bridesmaid.

Filed in Colorado Avalanche, Cristobal Huet, Free Agents, George McPhee, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (42)

Mullets Are Not Us: The Free Agent Race Out of Pittsburgh

By The OFB Team
Monday, June 30, 2008

What do you conclude from the decisions made by all four of Pittsburgh's name free agents -- Marian Hossa, Brooks Orpik, Ryan Malone, and Gary Roberts -- to take their playing services elsewhere for 2008-09? Contrast that with the reactions to playing in D.C. articulated this spring by new, free agent arrivals Sergei Fedorov and Cristobal Huet.
View Results

Filed in Atlantic Division, Cristobal Huet, Eastern Conference, Free Agents, OFB Polls, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sergei Fedorov, Sidney Crosby| Permalink| Comments (13)

Eminger Signed - by Philadelphia

By OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)
Sunday, June 29, 2008

Steve Eminger will be wearing black and orange next season after signing a one-year deal today.

Unless he manages to find the Flyers’ doghouse as he did in Washington, I’m betting he gets more ice time in Philly this year than he did in D.C. — UFA Jason Smith is likely departing, Mike Rathje is in questionable health, and traffic cone Derian Hatcher (how appropriate that he wears orange) is of dubious value at his age even when healthy, and with an injured knee and broken leg last season he’s slower than ever.

“I’m happy to get the deal worked out and excited about being part of the organization,” Eminger said. “I can’t wait for the start of the season to get things going.”

Here’s wishing Eminger well . . . just not when the Capitals are his opponent.

Filed in Philadelphia Flyers, Steve Eminger| Permalink| Comments (0)

We Could Use a Few Signings, Couldn’t We?

By pucksandbooks
Friday, June 27, 2008

These are salad days for salaries in the NHL. Yesterday came word that the salary cap for 2008-09 would rise to $56.7 million, with a salary floor ($40.7 million) higher than the league’s cap just back three seasons ago, in the first post-lockout regular season.  Stunning. As the salary cap is directly linked to the league’s revenues, which are directly linked to its gate receipts, it’s seems clear that a few folks other than Tiger Woods and Tony Kornheiser are interested in hockey.  

Meanwhile, there remain outstanding — unsigned — some necessarily expensive parts to 2008-09 for the Washington Capitals. The tally: Christobal Huet, Brooks Laich, Shaone Morrisonn, and Mike Green. Boyd Gordon and Eric Fehr need new deals, too, but I don’t imagine those will be that expensive. Right now both Matt Cooke and Sergei Fedorov look like salary cap casualties, luxuries likely unaffordable in ‘08. Since I last wrote about matters financial Capitals’ GM George McPhee has managed to sheer off about $2 million in payroll for next season by dealing Steve Eminger to Philadelphia and buying out Ben Clymer. (Ray Shero’s fruitless negotiations with Marian Hossa this month apparently have sheared off $7-8 million from the Penguins’ payroll for next season.)

However, it’s beginning to look like McPhee will need that $2 million to pay Mike Green just in the autumn portion of the calandar next season.

Ah yes, Mike Green. For the congenitally white-knuckled of Caps’ fans, his breakout season in 2007-08, combined with apparently every name New York Ranger leaving Broadway, portends his departure and the swift end of hockey’s renaissance in Washington. But count me among those who think it far from a certainty that Green’s gonna attract a bevy of offer sheets next Tuesday.

For one thing, as great as his game looks, Green’s had only one big-number season, and the price in first-round draft picks for signing him would be exorbitant (as many as five). Additionally, both the owner and the general manager are on record stating that the club will match whatever offer comes Green’s way. For another, offer sheets for restricted free agents (see Tomas Vanek) are in a very real sense one GM’s performing labor for a colleague. Lastly, Green, though a young and inexperienced great talent just as Dustin Penner was last summer, is a primary building block for a contending Caps’ club. Penner wasn’t last summer, nor is he today, one of the 50 best forwards in the NHL. Penner’s was a stupid contract conceived by a stupid GM. Brian Burke allowed stupidity to reign supreme for a moment, but his Ducks won’t soon be looking up at the Oil in the standings.

In Green the Caps know what they’ve got – an already impressive no. 1 rearguard whom they were awfully lucky to nab with a 29th pick in the ‘04 draft, one who has a great deal of progression and maturity ahead of him. Likely, too, Mike Green also knows what he’s got in D.C., and specifically in Bruce Boudreau’s system: the green light to pile up points for a really big deal around the time he’s in his prime. 

Mike Green will get signed alright. But it won’t come cheap. In fact, Team Green may be pointing to Alexander Semin’s 2009-10 salary ($5 million) and understandably if myopically bargaining that Green’s of greater value to the team than Semin. In an ideal world, Team Green would acknowledge the client’s youth and inexperience and appreciable development still ahead and ask to be made the team’s highest paid defenseman . . . but not like say Anaheim’s best defenseman.

Few however imagine ideal worlds with attorneys and player agents in them.  

Speaking of interesting contracts, remember that “home team discount” deal Sidney Crosby signed? It will pay him $7.5 million in 2013. The thinking here is that Sidney will be a pretty good hockey player in 2013, when he’s still not yet 30 years old. Do you know how many NHLers will be earning more than $7.5 million then? (Mike Green might well be one.) One of them will be Vinny Lecavalier, according to ESPN. Indeed, as early as 2009-10, Crosby may not even be the highest paid Penguin. The intrigue with the Penguins never ends.  

Given the number and prominence of Capitals’ restricted free agents, this wasn’t supposed to be an easy summer of negotiating for GMGM. It was made tougher by the breakout seasons by Laich and Green, as well as Morrisonn’s emergence as a top-pairing performer. And while last weekend was filled with the promise of securing hockey’s future, this one is about placating the present. It’s messy but necessary business.

It’s a time to be anxious but not a time to be pessimistic. 

Filed in Alexander Semin, Boyd Gordon, Brooks Laich, Cristobal Huet, Eric Fehr, Evgeni Malkin, Free Agents, Front Office, George McPhee, Matt Cooke, Mike Green, National Hockey League, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sergei Fedorov, Shaone Morrisonn, Sidney Crosby, Steve Eminger, Ted Leonsis, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (35)

Numbers Game

By The OFB Team
Wednesday, June 25, 2008

In a couple of years' time, should Washington Capitals' forward Anton Gustafsson select his father's number 16 for his sweater?
View Results

Filed in Bengt Gustafsson, Sweaters, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (13)

A Look Back at Bengt

By Gustafsson
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The Capitals’ first-round pick of Anton Gustafsson has given everyone a chance to take a look back at the career of his father, Bengt (or Bengt-Åke as he is better known outside of the NHL). Dan Steinberg spent some time digging through the Post archives and unearthed a few gems.

Here are a few samples:

Dec., 1979:“There is much dirty stuff,” said Washington rookie Bengt Gustafsson. “I guess they think if they hit me one time, I won’t come back the next time. “You have to accept it. That’s the way they play here.”

“Take a look at Gussy’s forearms and shoulders and you’ll see where he’s been hit constantly by sticks,” [Washington Coach] Green said. “That’s how too many Canadian players have geared themselves, because of the embarrassment the Swedes have caused them. They can’t catch them, so they lay the lumber on them.”

Image from HockeyWidgets.comJan., 1984: After Bengt Gustafsson scored five goals Sunday night in the Washington Capitals’ 7-1 rout of the Flyers in Philadelphia, he submitted to a television interview, returned to the locker room and tossed his jersey to clubhouse attendant Bob Garner for the laundry pile.

“Do you think we should wash it?” Garner asked.

“I don’t know,” Gustafsson replied….

Dec. 1988: Once on a radio call-in show [Gustafsson] was asked about the mauling Swedes take in the NHL and described it matter-of-factly with a four-letter word that shocked some listeners.

Shortly after Gustafsson arrived here, he shocked the Capitals’ coach, Danny Belisle, by stickhandling through the entire Toronto team to put a shot on goal. Belisle advised Gustafsson that if he persisted in showing up rival players, they no doubt would chop him down in retaliation.

Still, it is hard for Gustafsson, with his powerful arms, remarkable reflexes and strong skating, not to make opponents look silly. In practice, he is so adept at playing keepaway that teammates frequently fall in frustration. He often does it in games, too, and sometimes finds a stick headed his way in response.

“Gus can fake out three guys while he’s standing still,” [Dave] Christian has said of his favorite linemate. “

Check out the rest from the Post archives at Dan’s D.C. Sports Bog.

Filed in Bengt Gustafsson, Dan Steinberg, Washington Post| Permalink| Comments (7)

Morning After Draft Reflections

By pucksandbooks
Saturday, June 21, 2008

In a draft heavy on talented rearguards, four of the first five selections were on the blueline, and 12 went among the top 30 overall. I’m at pains to identify a real reach anywhere in round one. Certainly there were no Blake Wheeler brain-dead picks. A lot of teams helped their systems last night.

Although . . . not so much in Pittsburgh.

There were more than a dozen trades during round one last night, which added serious spice to the evening drama. Olli Jokinen moved out of the Southeast (for a song). The Flames moved Alex Tanguay and his 18 goals and $5 million contract to Montreal for the Habs’ first rounder. The Kings shipped Mike Cammallerie to Calgary for a first. And of course the Caps parted ways with Steve Eminger.   

It’s a metaphysical certitude that a fair and sober and accurate evaluation of any draft requires 3-5 years’ time as picks mature from teenage prospects into young men mentored by NHL organizations, and so necessarily it’s important to weigh in — with vigorous and unyielding certainty – on who won and who lost last night, less than 12 hours after the 30th pick was made.

My winners: Chicago, Phoenix (highway robbery of Florida), Nashville, the Rangers, LA, Tampa, and the Caps.

Losers: the New York Islanders (there’s a stunner).

The Isles’ behavior last night can only be described as bizarre. They have a roster craving impact players, and perched at no. 5, they were poised to land one. Filatov, for instance, was on the board. So was Schenn. So what does the Snow-Wang braintrust do? They trade down. Not once, but twice! Where at no. 9 they land non-impact prospect Josh Bailey.

“The consensus is that [Bailey] won’t be a big offensive producer in the NHL,” THN wrote in its Entry Draft preview issue. Just what the Isles needed. I think the Blue Jackets stunned Snow with their selection of Filatov at no. 6, meaning, necessarily, that the Isles weren’t well prepared for the moment. There’s something new.       

Keep an eye on Nashville’s selection at 18, goaltender Chet Pickard. Mike Vogel chatted up a scouting source in Ottawa who suggested that Pickard is more impressive now than was Carey Price in his draft year. Wow.

Consensus seems to be that the Rangers got great value in selecting Michael Del Zotto at 20.

If there was one moderate reach in round one it might have been the Bs choosing Joe Colborne at no. 16. Colborne played Jr. A the past two seasons. He’s a tantalizing package of a big frame, strong skating, and soft hands, but NHL scouts commonly show restraint with prospects who aren’t competing at the highest level among their peers. Colborne will skate next season with Denver of the WCHA, so he’ll get as good a test of his abilities there as he could anywhere.

Earlier this week, via the CapsReport, I put to draft guru Kyle Woodlief a question about an American prospect surge late this spring, noting that whereas throughout much of the hockey season most scouting services had just two or three Americans going in round one, finals lists commonly had 4-6 Yanks there. He poo-poo-ed the notion, suggesting that about three Americans remained likelys for the first. Well, six Americans went among the first 30 players drafted, further bolstering the claims of a renaissance in U.S. hockey development.

I just have this hunch that Hawks’ fans will come to love Dale Tallon’s pick of Kyle Beach at no. 11. He’s a big-bodied, piss-n-vinegar prospect.

For Caps’ fans, leaving a strong draft with two first-round picks has to be considered both a pleasant surprise and a real boon to an already strong stable of youth. If I’m a hockey fan in Hershey this morning I’m calling the ticket office and inquiring about season tickets for the next couple of seasons. In the Washington hockey bloggers’ real-time chat I joined last night I observed to the room how cool it will be to see the name Gustafsson on the back of red, white, and blue Caps’ sweaters, and not out of nostalgia.   

I want to commend the Friday night puck party sensibilities of the well over 500 puckheads who joined JP, Eric, Peerless, and OFB in our consolidated live blog forum for more than four hours last night. Apparently, in late June, Washington isn’t much of a hockey town.

It was, from my vantage, everything that new media can offer as a rewarding experience in being connected with like-minded lovers of hockey on a big night. It didn’t hurt that we were gathered on a Friday night. Kudos to JP for bringing forward the idea late in the day yesterday, and to Eric for carrying off the last-minute technology so smoothly. By evening’s end a whole lot of us were united in the belief that we have to do it again. We were also united in the belief that JP needs help with his refrigerator’s selection of puck sodas.   

Filed in Bengt Gustafsson, Blogs, DraftGeek, Entry Draft, Internet, Media, Mike Vogel, Morning cup-a-joe, Prospects, Steve Eminger, Washington Capitals, Washington the Hockey Town| Permalink| Comments (7)

A Family Affair in ‘08 First Round

By pucksandbooks
Saturday, June 21, 2008

In his very first interaction with Washington media, Anton Gustafsson Friday night was asked to compare his game with that of his father’s.

“I think I’m better,” he said. “I’m a better skater, I have a better shot.”

Capitals’ fans can only dream that the son is right, and if he is they’re in for an extraordinary joy ride. Anton’s father Bengt was merely one of the most gifted talents ever to don a Caps’ sweater. He was big, and a powerful skater.  He possessed hockey sense in spades, and he regularly directed cross-ice passes to teammates on the tape at full speed. He was lethal on draws, and he was a shut-down defensive gem. He remains perhaps the most complete hockey player in Capitals’ history.  

He once scored 5 goals in a game against Philadelphia — on 5 shots. (Think Ovechkin will accomplish that?) Number 16 ranks fifth all-time in Caps’ scoring with 555 points in 629 games from 1979-89.  

The NHL Network interviewed a very proud papa about Anton late Friday night, and it wasn’t just anybody asking the questions. Bengt’s coach as a Cap, Gary Green, asked father to compare son’s game with his own.

“He looks a little like dad [on the ice],” the ex-Cap great responded. “He has a little more skill, he shoots better.”

“He has a big future in front of him.” 

The Capitals traded with New Jersey on Friday night to select Gustafsson, surrendering the 54th pick to the Devils and leap-frogging Edmonton to do so. And that’s what’s drawn our attention to this selection in particular. You’ll recall that just last summer there was what might be termed “bad blood” between the Washington and Edmonton organizations over the pusuit of unrestricted free agent Michael Nylander. Edmonton believed that they’d had an agreement with the unrestricted free agent pivot, only to see him land in D.C.

Back in 1978, the Caps drafted the elder Gustafsson in the fourth round. He subsequently played a season of pro hockey in Sweden and then signed with Edmonton of the World Hockey Association. But in ‘79-80 Edmonton was one of four WHA clubs to merge with the NHL, and the Caps, having already drafted Gustafsson, claimed his rights. A dispute ensued; the Caps prevailed; the rest is history.

So imagine with that backfile the circumstances on the draft floor in Ottawa Friday night. The Caps obviously had Anton Gustafsson higher on their draft board than no.23, and ahead of them, as Gustafsson remained un-selected as the Caps’ pick neared, were the Oilers.

The guess here is that General Manager George McPhee won’t be receiving a Christmas card from Kevin Lowe’s family this December.   

On Friday night the Caps also acquired Natick, Massachusetts, native John Carlson, a big-bodied defenseman, in the first round. They dealt Steve Eminger and the 84th pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for the 27th pick in the first round, which they used to select Carlson. The 6 ‘2, 215-pound blueliner played with Indiana of the USHL in 2007-08.

Filed in Bengt Gustafsson, Entry Draft, Former Coaches & Players, Washington Capitals| Permalink| Comments (3)
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