In Glacialis Blog

Lavatio Caput cogo Glen Hanlon eram a hospes in Vox Lascivio per Jim Pannosa quod Gary Viridis (in XM 204). In quinque-minute spatium Hanlon confero key pestifer, presencia illud pestifer have had in versus iunctura quod calx ustulo, Alex Ovechkins’ defensabiliter lenimentus, quod alius tidbits. Reprehendo sicco celebratio hic.

Quis pulsatus mihi plurimus super spatium est ut Hanlons’ versus iunctura intentio videor paro puteus in provectus obex ullus unforseen chemistry proventus. Hanlon admits ut pestifer es secui of venatus. . . yet is videor ut the lines had haud verus tergum intentio in locus alloquor inevitiable pestifer sulum team must visio.

Losing a caput capitis ustulo amo Alexander Semin, vel a ferreus-nosed rector amo Sarcalogos Expedio, has haud securus redintegro. Tamen unus spera ut castra, preseason, quod meditor innutum alius potentially prosperitas versus iunctura ut could exsisto socors in locus ut malum bug hit—rather quam “random versus juggling dum transitus ones’ fingers” ut videor in locus iam. Admittedly suus’ a concisus spatium quod sic thema ut repleo- in-- vestis syndrome, tamen infigo of a penuria of contingency planning eram aliquantulus abicio ut is auditor.

In alius Caput/XM novus, is tunc progressio videor amo must- audite radio. Procul 1100: PM is Monday, November 19, Olie Kolzig ero featured inHockey Specialis. Ex NHL Domus Glacies:

Hockey Specialis: Olaf Kolzig

Mon, 11/19 | 11PM ET

NHL Domus Glacies XM 204 audaciter dictataHockey Specialis per Lavatio Caput goaltender Olaf Kolzig. SuoHockey Is Oriens populus Scott Rideo risi risum ut is goes stipes ut stipes per Olie Calx, pro nostrum agoHockey Specialis bulla celebratio. Is est an hora of pia insight ex unus of NHLs’ maioribus orator, a verus astrum of venatus, quod a tireless opus pro Athletes Pro Autism.

Encores:
Tue, 11/20 8PM | Tue, 11/20 8PM  Wed|, 11/21 7PM  Fri|, 11/23 3PM | Sat, 11/24 9AM | Sol solis, 11/25 2AM, 3AM, 5PM

[Update: Animadverto ineo pro magis notitia super Kolzig XM ostendo ex a Caps’ press solvo]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alexander Semin has subcribo a 2- annus, $9.2 ASTUS pactum tractus per Lavatio Caput. 23- annus- vetus snipers’ novus paciscor est praeclarus novus pro team quod fans pariter; suus absentis ex versus videlicet impacted teams’ versus iunctura, proprie in vox lascivio.

Reprehendo sicco Mike Vogels’ blog pro retineo of pactum. Magis notitia insequor. . .

Unus Alex subcribo, unus praecessi!

Primoris res’ primoris: Caput Sarcalogos Expedio, quisnam took a ferinus, undeflected Alexander Ovechkin slapshot directus ut suus caput capitis in tertius period Friday nox noctis, est in rationabiliter bonus vultus. Secundum team, is sino haud infractus bones, haud concussion, quod suscipio vieo ut suus auris (dont’ teneo quot). Dont’ teneo suus statua pro cras nox noctis in St. Louis, tamen gnarus is guy, abyssus’ reperio a via infirmo sicco cobwebs, confuto poena, quod plumbum suus copiae copie obviam Puteulanus.

• Nunquam a bonus informatio ut talea unus of plagiarius’ teres goaltenders ut an mane plumbum, singulariter ut is has 9-0 MoJo obviam vos iens pro him ut is est. Caps socius secundum mane, a iugo of fluky reus succurro ‘Nucks ut suum primoris duos calx, quod Caps erant lascivio reprehendo- sursum totus nox noctis.

• Non ut pitch deputo obviam a parietis, tamen venatus pes ex is unus moris’ exsisto summitto ut leagues’ Muneris of Officiating quod IDd’ ut “ puer did boys in virga dico a stellar unus hic” Faux poena, parum instances of tribuo hockey ludio ludius ( utrimque) sanctio pro unsportsmanlike, quod altus virga galore vicis “Refs vos sck*” chants ex domus fidelis. Ovechkin in proprius had suus chicklets seemingly ordine labefactum ex Canuck virga vesica wielded altus.

• Per super six minutes left in alter period, Olie Kolzig kept suus team in venatus per iugum of cuspis- vestis, fanny- erigo- in-- sto servo in Henrik Seditio.

• Aliquantulus laxus in alter, Viktor Kozlov, puck sub imperium in suus virga quod parum pressure in him altus in suus own terminus, requiro seeing a prolixus- patefacio-down-- medius Alexander Semin pro would would have been a certus tersus breakaway. Ut would have been a tracto video vidi visum, duos of venatus’ premiere talentum in a unus- in- unus showdown.

• Is eram a slapshot surculus peruro pro Alexander Semin, notus recedentia magis pro suus universitas- ordo wrister; is flatus utique three procul Roberto Luongo. Suus ratio unus cuspis in vox lascivio had quispiam efficio per ut.

• Narro of vox lascivio, is went 2- pro-5 tonight, per Cogo Hanlon intentio an totus porro iunctum of quinque (Alex O quod Alex S, Expedio, Nylander, quod Kozlov) in prothoplastus iunctum. Mos is subsisto intact in St. Louis? Ferreus ut oro per a 40 sentio prosperitas rate — quod obviam Luongo, quoque — poema poematis quis preeo is.

• Suus’ decens aliquantulus of a infractus record, tamen iterum Ovechkin ledo panton inimicus ut commotus, sepius thunderously. Im’ non certus EGO saw Vestigium Nuntius in suus prime take somes ut convenienter quod ut truculenter — quod forensis — ut AO est is season.

• EGO instituo Caps’ blueline corpus quinymo underwhelming in suus imperator effectiveness in venatus’ primoris dimidium tamen venalicium melior in alter. Kolzig mereo mereor melior suscipio quam quis is got ex lemma in prothoplastus period.

• Vancouvers’ reprehendo versus EGO sententia did a verus efficens officium obviam Ovechkin versus totus nox noctis porro. Procul vel vires is ingenero minimal sustineo pressure.

• ‘Nuck Kevin Bieska eram a convenienter vis of retardo obviam Caps’ porro down mugio totus nox noctis. Nonnullus of is eram of forensis varietas, nonnullus of is, a lascivio, eram non. Tamen is eram an efficens nuissance.

EGO had a chance ut chat per a Caps’ persona quisnam eram tendo procul utriusque Draft Certamen in Toronto quod Viscus Draft ipsum in Columbus. Tener Pat Kane, prothoplastus pick of draft per Hawks, est liberatio sui quinymo puteus ut an 18- annus- vetus in Chicagos’ caput capitis 6, torqueo sursum 13 cuspis in iustus 10 venatus eatenus. EGO volo scio si procul ullus cuspis permaneo ver Caps’ orichalcum had flirted per informatio of institutio sursum ex haud. 5 macula per an oculus in grabbing Kane. brevis refero est haud. Caps did spatium Kane, quod team eram valde infigo per him. “is told nos ut is eram positus ut is eram iens ludo in NHL, is annus, quod planto an labefactum” persona told mihi. Vox in utriusque duco.

Secundum tonights’ venatus in St. Louis, team mos no in Toronto pro Monday nox noctis’ venatus obviam Folium. team moris’ skate in Sunday quod instead mos rudimentum perceptum a beneficium Tornacense of Hockey Aula of Laus. Quasi VIP Tornacense. Gotta reputo quispiam amo ut would planto per an infigo in aliquid amo Nicklas Backstrom. Si proprius saluto takes locus, requiro Mike Vogel ut chronicle is in vivid retineo mane tunc week.

Greg Wyshynski, Lavatio cohaereo pro Quartus Period, est unus of plurrimi enjoyable quod insightful folks in urbs quicum sumo in a hockey venatus. Permaneo week EGO had iucunditas of suus vexillum procul Insula’ venatus, quod in medius of alius deficio Caps’ vox lascivio is asked mihi si EGO sententia ut Alexander Semins’ absentis ex versus eram certus detrimentum ut Caps’ vir commodum. “Semin,” EGO told Greg, “ est distinctus inter is vox lascivio ordo 25th vel 12th in league.”

EGO may have leviter overstated Semins’ labefactum, quod permaneo nox noctis’ 0- pro-4 ostendo dum a vir sursum obviam Tampa in Caps’ 5-3 victoria doesnt’ videor prebeo prima facie testimonium of a potent vox lascivio per Semin tergum in is. Tamen dont’ exsisto fossor. Is certus vultus diversus, didnt’ is?

Statua Caps’ vox lascivio iunctum ingressus a validus pumpkin in a Sanctio pumpkin carving conflictus. Pro preteritus three weeks, Caps’ pumpkin has sat uncarved quod unilluminated in a crusta, suus innutum visio vestigium sicco in niger venalicium ut jovial ut econtra ut eminor. Pro voluntas illae conflictus, populus per Wes Craven, Caps’ iunctum peto facio a eminor jack-o- lumen. Tom Venenum carves sicco caput capitis. Michael Nylander vires chisel sicco a paro of territo eyes. Alexander Ovechkin would insisto per a creepy- scelestus os. Alexander Semin addo peractio lux lucis intus. Is dedi a occatio rutilus subluceo.

A potent vox lascivio primoris postulo a playmaking catalyst. Caps have had ut is season in Michael Nylander. Is postulo peractio solers pariter. Alexander Ovechkin certainly addo ut. Is must quoque have contendo procul cuspis. jurys’ etiam sicco hic, tamen Tom Venenum quod Mike Viridis quod alius in Caps’ blueline es putting sursum a sanus procerus of cuspis in quinque- in- quinque lascivio, quod Venenum’ tutela has magis sepius quam non brought sanus vox lascivio uber. arsenal in Viridis’ venatus nam innutum is can succurro ingenero uber in an efficens vox lascivio iunctum. Eatenus is season, Caps have requiro a complimentary perfectus adversus AO. Suus’ been a unus- pars-of-- glacies threat. Ut’ cognatus securus defendo.

Valde vel utique rationabiliter efficens vox lascivio iunctum jactito ustulo threats utrimque of obscoena plaga. Semin obviously addo ut compliment ut suus paganus Ovechkin. Tamen Glen Hanlon has quoque deployed Semin in vox lascivio cuspis. Caps havent’ had him in aut persona ultum illae season ut balanus. Nonnullus in hockey (Craig Rideo risi risum adveho ut mens) contemplor Semin ut usus hockeys’ plurimus mactabilis wrist offa down mugio. Iam reputo tergum ut 5- in-3 vir commodum Caps have had eatenus, totus of lemma vacuus Semin. Reputo ut scelestus wrister vires have succurro sicco illic?

Hic es quinque species ut Caps’ vox lascivio ut, ex meus vantage, Semin succurro facilitate:

• addition of a universitas- ordo perfectus quisnam postulo precious parum vicis quod tractus exhibeo exibeo in mactabilis formo;
• adventum of articulus, crux crucis- glacies quod sepius partum obduco inter Ovechkin quod him, inter alius, consummatio a horizontal threat ut tentatio;
• Depth in species alio procul cuspis;
• Per Semin quod Ovechkin opus dimidium tabula, partum of magis patefacio lanes pro cuspis alio, ut PK iunctum understandably es duco summitto in arca archa experior quod reprehendo superstars;
• An omnino diversus regnum of fiducia in universus iunctum.

A vix- bonus vox lascivio est intus is teams’ potential per suus current alio, EGO beneficium. Suus’ a nice vicis of annus precipio suus adventum.

A non- sic-funny res venio obvius ut Caps vestio a uber quod serio puck- usus caput capitis 6 paro of porro is season. Nonnullus of apparatus secui have cado off. A cranky ankle has crusta sublimis sniper Alexander Semin pro totus tamen unus venatus eatenus. Peior, unus tertius of caput capitis versus has imploded. Has umquam a tener caput capitis- versus volatilis’ sors acidus ut celeriter quod ut penitus ut have Tomas Flesichmanns’ mane is autumn? A lux lucis switch seemingly shut down Mico’ fission. boys sursum frons es aliquantulus turbo vox iam.

Ut vox pars of Caput’ porro ordo has ut unnerve procuratio quod Cogo Hanlon. In addition ut flickering ex Mico illic est Eric Fehrs’ jugiter incertus statua. Hes’ non vel skating illa dies. Joe Motzko, us in offseason per Ipsa Gero in mens, has repente captus a verto in caput capitis vox latuseris. Qua est frons- versus vox pennae huic norma is October? refero est, is may nusquam esse — magis si Viktor Kozlov fio vallum ut AOs’ cardo.

Semin mos eventually vigoratus, tamen can Caps speciosus vie pro postseason vacuus muneris of a ustulo pennae adversus Alex? EGO admiratio.

In meus caligo moments, EGO fret super a novus positus effluo ver — huic theca, vox pennae — iustus ut blueline celeriter quoniam vetus quod immobile primo illae decade.

Usquam, Caps es negotium per gutting is sicco pro foreseeable posterus.

decor of hockey est ut a beleaguered versus can adepto suus contraho nose immunda quod rapio cuspis vel ex ultum belle stipes ut suum pectus pectoris tumesco pro opus.

Monday brought super a duos- hora meditor. Ut’ porro per NHL vexillum. Ut a rut est coegi per mugio offa quod calx numerus, plurrimi vulgaris prescription est ferreus opus. Is est a hockey stipes that for a few years now has been characterized by its hard work.

Not all is gloom and doom this mid-October. It appears that in net, the most important position on the ice, the Caps will regularly get quality, even game-stealing efforts from its tandem. The larger perspective up to the present is this: three weeks ago, knowing that the Caps faced four of the first five on the road, and all of the road games without Semin, had you been offered a record of 3-2 through them, you’d have grabbed it.

More good news: Pittsburgh is losing plenty.

At a news conference yesterday, Washington Capitals chairman and majority owner Ted Leonsis spoke of how professional athletes are often lauded for their courage. He noted that courage can take many forms, from the heroism of our military and first responders to our children battling disease. To find a way that their whole organization and fans could show their support, they created Courage Caps.

The Courage Caps are team-issued and branded hats which will be sold, starting October 26th, for $20 at the community relations table at Capitals home games and online at WashingtonCaps.com and NHL.com. “When our fans wear these hats”, Leonsis continued, “they show their support for the courageous people throughout our community.”

Whereas, the wearing of the Courage Caps hats shows support, the sale provides financial support. 100% of the sale price will go benefit the CureSearch National Childhood Caner Foundation. CureSearch is a Bethesda-based nonprofit “and an NHL charitable partner that focuses on raising funds for the Children’s Oncology Group, the world’s largest cooperative cancer research organization that treats 90% of children with cancer.”

The team chose an old friend to help debut this new program, for the press conference took place during the team’s annual visit to the Children’s National Medical Center. The entire team, Leonsis and partner Raul Fernandez were at the hospital for the press conference.

For years I have heard of the team’s visit to Children’s National Medical Center, but this was the first time that I was on hand to watch the players and the children interact. As a father of a four-year-old with a second on the way, the visit was heartwarming and tear-jerking. The players — all of them — sat down at tables and colored with the children that were well enough to leave their beds and be exposed to unmasked visitors and untold germs. It broke my heart to see these children, some in wheelchairs, others with numerous IV tubes and bandages, and wonder what sort of hell they and their parents are living. But then you see the smiles on their faces when Chris Clark autographs a hat for them, or Brent Johnson asks what color he should color the hockey player’s helmet, or when a little girl runs over to Olie Kolzig as he says “Hi there pigtails, how are you?” There is also a simple joy of seeing these larger-than-life hockey players sitting down with their favorite Crayola hue and trying to stay in the lines.

I was speaking with the hospital’s manager of public relations, Emily Dammeyer, who told me that this is the hospital’s favorite event of the year. “They really spend time with the children, not just make an appearance, especially upstairs where the cameras are off.”

Which made me think of Olie, who not only has been coming to Children’s National Medical Center more than anyone else in the organization, but is also a father. I asked him how this experience has changed from before he was a dad to after.

“I’ve always had a fondness for kids, and been a big believer that being a kid and being sick shouldn’t go hand in hand … then you become a father and then you realize how vital it is to have a facility like this.”

The only thing missing from yesterday’s event was the media. Press releases announcing the event and photo op were sent out by the Capitals and the Children’s National Medical Center. Perhaps I missed some faces and names, but I believe only I, a Comcast SportsNet TV Cameraman, and two photographers attended. How such tremendous works by an organization and its players can go unnoticed or with little interest is repugnant.

My thanks go out to the Capitals and everyone at Children’s National Medical Center, especially Emily Dammeyer and Mark Miller, for affording me the privilege to witness this annual event of kindness and caring.

A few more pictures of the event can be seen after the break.

(Continued)

I awoke at 4:30 this morning, two hours earlier than my alarm. I’m awake at the same time as Elliot Segal, and like Elliot today, my head is crammed full of thoughts about a new hockey season in Washington.

I’m thinking about the visitors’ locker at Philips Arena just now, how in darkness just like my bedroom’s those snazzy looking new Caps’ threads — admittedly poorly engineered, and likely to be the death of about 70 NHLers this season — were already hanging in place, set out by the dutiful Capitals’ equipment staff. I thought about how different the Washington players might feel as they first entered the room early this evening and seized upon the new uniform systems. I do think it likely they’ll feel more attachment to them tonight than they did while wearing them during the exhibition season (if for no other reason than a fair number of players had the fight ’til Sunday night to win them). In no small way they’re emblematic of a changed hockey culture in Washington this season.

I’m thinking about those 22 points the boys more or less need to make up to vie for the eighth spot in the East this season. It’s a tall peak to surmount, but I think it likely. For one thing, I don’t see those points in terms of 11 additional regulation-time victories. Last season the Caps authored what will stand the passage of time as the worst set of shootout performances in hockey. In hockey history. If they’d altered nothing about their shootout lineup this summer they couldn’t have gone one-for-eleven again. (Could they?) But GMGM brought in two of the league’s best shootout marksmen (Nylander and Kozlov). It isn’t irrational to imagine the team meeting something like .500 in shootouts this season, and if they do, that 22-point challenge has been reduced to about 17. I’m almost looking forward to shootouts this season. Almost.

It’s very quiet in suburban Maryland at 4:50 in the morning, but it won’t be inside Verizon Center during hockey games this season, thanks to a $25 million investment hanging high at center ice and encircling the lower rings of the seating tier. We’ll be exposed to an atmosphere, I wager, the likes of which we in D.C. never have before, and how fitting that it debuts alongside a buzz-generating hockey team. You’ll agree with me, I think, that Ivan Majesky in enlarged hi-def is still Ivan the Terrible. This morning in my dark quiet I’m thinking about a winter Friday or Saturday night with a marquee visitor in town, the Caps on a three- or four-game win-streak, the house full or close to it, the Alexes scoring on binges, and all that noise.

Still before 7:00 and still dark, I learn I’m not alone in my puck thoughts: I receive an instant message from the Caps’ Spike Parker. He’s working already and I’m blogging: it’s just like we’re back in Moscow together again, except the women in my neighborhood don’t look quite as fit and alluring. We wish each other a Happy Opening Day.

I’m thinking about the novelty all of the media on the Caps I’ve consumed this week. We may look back on this week as perhaps the most significant for media for this team in its history, when a perfect storm of blogging, new and renewed print and broadcast zeal, and some re-engineering by old media combined to deliver a feast for hockey fans in this region. Somebody tell Tony and Mike.

I’m thinking about the bloggers’ season kickoff soirée scheduled for this evening downtown at the Grand Hyatt, and how eager I am to reconnect with so many friends I made last season and didn’t get to see over the summer. (Vogs, I’ll have one for you.)

Hockey’s here again, in my hometown. Even in the dark, I can look out and see the correct alignment of the planets.

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.

What most caught my attention during last night’s 2-1 exhibition loss to the Flyers while listening to the ‘Net call of Kolbe and Vogel was word that despite an off-day the following day, superstar forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin hopped in a car earlier in the day and journeyed up to Philly to watch their camp-mates compete in the evening. There are precious few off days during camp, and more than enough rink time for these two in the seven-plus months ahead. Vogel was impressed by the act. So was I.

This display of conspicuous camaraderie occurs within a larger context worth reviewing. Back in mid-summer, as management moved and shook the roster up for the better, we first learned of guys being eager to get back in their gear and out on the ice together at Kettler Capitals. And it actually happened, in impressive numbers, weeks ahead of the official start of training camp. Guys wanted to skate here, together.

At camp’s kickoff, on Media Day, captain Chris Clark shared a bit of his outreach efforts to his teammates spanned across the globe. He wanted them back in town early, to put the distractions of moving and settling behind them so that their collective focus could be on the important new season immediately in front of them. It was, it appears, an easy sell.

Now captains of course lead by example, and with regard to Clark, his leadership this summer extended beyond the norm. He re-signed with the Caps, at compensation and contract length irrefutably more modest than what he’d have fetched on the open market next summer. In a conference call to discuss the deal, he referenced his wanting to be a part of what the Caps were building. “I wanted to be a part of it, [of] where we’re headed,” he said. There is no guarantee of on-ice success in this season or of those ahead, of course, and yet Clark, his body memorably battered within the rebuild, wanted to lead the effort.

“We’ve got a great room” is truly a common refrain in this sport and especially this league, but there has been something distinctive about the Caps’ claim of one. Going back fully three seasons, back all the way to the early hours of the dispiriting selloff and roster overhaul, we first heard claims from some of the building blocks and even some of the roster placeholders about the caliber of the Caps’ room. That quality was certainly forged to no small degree by Olie Kolzig. But it also has to have been enhanced by a handful of recent draft classes, many of the members of which acclimated themselves to the world of pro hockey together, in recent years, in Portland, Maine, and Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Even more remarkably, the chemistry has been enhanced by free agent acquisitions conspicuous for their team-first ethos: Matt Bradley, Ben Clymer, Brian Pothier, and now, it appears, the entirety of the 2007 free agent class. Free agents in the modern era of pro sports typically arrive carrying high price tags and big egos and rarely meld seamlessly into their new environs. We aren’t hearing any of that in D.C. these days. In fact, as the Caps mature from basement dweller to contender, the growth carries some personnel anguish: some of the glue of the past couple of seasons will be cast aside, to make room for greater talents. This training camp, we are learning too how this reality is affecting the affected.

The chemist is named George McPhee. Ultimately the verdict on his tenture in town will be rendered on wins versus losses, sooner rather than later. But as GM he’s succeeded on a vitally important if under-reported upon front: assembling smiling faces and committed collectivism in shared car rides and summer shinny.

There’s an irony to the chemistry found in NHL locker rooms: no other U.S. sport knows the global diversity of the NHL’s athletes gathered on a single team, and yet no other sport knows its I’ve-got-your-back-at-all-times ethos, first through fourth lines, from Flin Flon-ner to Finn. It’s a criterion never acknowledged in fantasy leagues (reminding us of their superficiality), and yet nothing is more important to a team.

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.

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While we enjoy our summer cookouts and fun in the sun, Alexander Ovechkin is hard at work training for the 2007-08 NHL season.

Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport recently spoke with Ovechkin during his hockey training regimen. Below is a translation of the article “Washington Forward Alex Ovechkin: We Live Here Like It’s a Pioneer Camp!” for your reading pleasure.

Alexander Ovechkin returned to St. Petersburg from Saransk, where he took part in the national Shumbrat, Finno-Ugria festival. Alex arrived back at the gym fresh and upbeat, even though he was coming straight from the airport.

Alex, what took you to Saransk?

I was invited to go there. My mom also came, as did Alexei Nemov [Olympic gymnastics champion]. We loved it! I gave a “master class” to kids, showed them a few hockey tricks. Two teams battled for a prize — my hockey stick. A new arena was built there; hockey in the republic [of Mordovia] is on the rise.

Do you follow the news from the NHL? Your friend Dainius Zubrus signed a contract with New Jersey not long ago.

Yes, I spoke with Zubie three days ago. It’s a shame that he was traded from Washington. But at the end of the day, Dainius got what he wanted. I am very happy for him.

What do you think about Yashin returning to the Superleague?

I don’t know all the details, although Yashin probably won’t lose anything in this situation. I think NHL clubs will still be interested in him. Alexei himself can play in Russia at [Alexei] Morozov’s level. Remember how great he played in the Superleague during the lockout.

This is the last year of your contract with Washington. Do you realize that you have to have an exceptional season to raise your earnings?

If I think only about money, nothing good will come of it . . . But I changed my preseason training schedule. I started [training] in the beginning of July, just like other guys from the Superleague. That’s about a month earlier than last season. My training [last year] did not go well. I went to Canada to train with my personal fitness trainer. The training load was OK but not “physical”, just weight lifting for various parts of the body. Most of the time not [focused on the body parts] that a hockey player needs. That’s why during last season sometimes I felt like I didn’t have enough strength.

But here in St Petersburg it is great! We all train together, help each other. We are hanging out like it’s a pioneers camp [like Boy Scouts]. Dmitry [their trainer] the coach is our team leader. Sergey Gonchar kept saying how well he trained here before the start of last season. He suggested I come here too. And I don’t regret it!

I was told that in the beginning Gonchar could hardly handle the new training system . . .

And I didn’t even finish my cross-country run the first time! My pulse was 210, but now it is 176. The progress is evident.

Do you run listening to music?

Yes, everybody has a player. I play Eminem. Because of it running is especially rhythmic.

Why did you decide to stay at the trainer’s house in St Petersburg?

There are always parties at his house. There are always a lot of beautiful girls, a dance floor. And in the bedroom there is a huge disco ball and a pole to all the way to the ceiling… [Ovechkin says it with a straight face, but then can’t hold it any longer and bursts out laughing.]

Our Canadian colleagues [from CBC traveling with Sovetsky Sport] were amazed: if Sydney Crosby went to an ordinary city gym in the States he would be torn apart for souvenirs. You just come here and train with regular people.

That doesn’t bother me. Yes, I do see that people recognize me. But this is the difference in Russia that no one throws themselves at me and don’t disturb my personal space.

Crosby has already signed his extension with Pittsburgh. How are your negotiations with Washington going?

I don’t want to talk about it. The fact that Crosby signed his new contract and I have not doesn’t make my pulse rush.

Translation courtesy of Dmitry Chesnokov. Original article (untranslated) is available online at Sovetsky Sport.

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.

Mike Vogel today has the lowdown on the news that broke yesterday regarding Alexander Semin’s dismissal from the Russian National Team for the upcoming World Championships. The gist: Semin was to report to the Russian team yesterday at 4:00 p.m. local time, for a tournament whose preliminary play begins April 27. His flight delivered him to Russia approximately three hours later.

Vogel notes: “. . . it’s somewhat odd that the Russians would be required to report so far ahead of all the other teams, but the team has its reasons for doing so.” Semin alerted the Russian coaching staff to his plane’s landing in Russia at 7:30 p.m. Monday. That wasn’t good enough for the coaches. So he’s done.

Necessarily there will be high volumes of e-hand wringing among Semin’s critics over this (Code Red for Dave Fay’s reporting the remainder of the month), and while there’s clearly fault with Semin for not meeting the expectations the rest of his national team teammates apparently were able to, we’re not convinced of this incident’s adverse impact on Semin’s career with the Caps. If anything, it might aid the young man’s professional development going forward. It can’t be dismissed that Russia imposed reporting requirements for its players no other team in the tournament did. Semin did just complete a full season with the Caps incident-free, relative to his maturity-challenged past. Her