In Glacialis Blog

1145: a.m.: In medius is week EGO admiratio super videor of prodigo is proprius weekend in Ipsa, coincidental ut Gero’ domus patefacio. Suus’ nunquam a nocens informatio sumo in a Imbuo nox noctis hockey venatus procul Giant Center, quod magis in Hersheys’ domus Oris Nox noctis. Tamen EGO sententia mitis tumulosus of meridianus central Pennsylvania amo in promontorium autumn colo colui cultum, quod duos plenus nox noctis intus lemma perficio subterlabor ex hustle quod tumultus of D.C. Tardus is oriens, coegi Oriens per Lebanon Valley en iter itineris ut Adamstown quodVigoratus’ brew pub, nonnullus 30 minutes Oriens of Ipsa, EGO animadverto Id’ no a splendens eo sententia is weekend.

central tellus iustus north of Maryland Hasnonium’ tolero quisquam amo estas quod mane cado sitis of summitto Midatlantic, quod ut EGO drove sub splendens sunshine is oriens viridis ager scamnum sicco ut novus ut meus eyes, lush inter exuro orange, frons, quod maroon coma supremus quod, intermittently, vibrant orange pumpkins stacked quod respergo super porches, yards, quod vegrandis- urbs merchants’ repono porta.

Vigoratus’, dum non near Ipsa, est mihi a must- saluto in sulum saluto. beer est brewed quod solum gelu, voluntas ut parumper viator amo mihi EGO can repono is in meus Jeep quod sino is foveo pro gelu is iterum vacuus minimus vulnero. Vigoratus’ Pils, Stilus, quod seasonals supervenio in beer diligo’ lingua amo nectar ex an unearthly regnum. Illic’ a quirky lex ut postulo Vigoratus’ patronus emo beer pro take- sicco ut transport tantum 12- sarcina procul a vicis ut suus car. EGO had a shopping album probus non tantum pro myself tamen quoque pro meus professor in totus beers of plagiarius amicus Michael, quisnam ago tergum domus in Caput Tumulosus. Is nisus reddo dies’ exerceo. Hodie in airs’ crispness quod tumulosus’ panoramic colo colui cultum EGO thymbra universus of 40-mile coegi. brewery patefacio procul noon. EGO eram illic procul 1211:.

1245: p.m.: EGO volito tergum ut Ipsa ex shopping gratia opportunus a propitius invitation ex Pium Novus’Tim Leone, pello pepulli pulsum opinio pro Gero, quisnam invited mihi ut suus domus ut vigilo a dimidium meridianus’ dignitas of contraho football pro caput capitis super Giant Center una. USC eram lascivio Notre Dame Imbuo. Tim est a USC grad, quod, EGO amo ut kid Tim, Im’ a “ pium” sic is eram a showdown slate nobis. Tim has a basset hound nomen Audacia quisnam waddles in prosapia yard exemplum ut es melior castrensis quod ocius quam ullus of Bellator Irenses’ prolixus suscipio. EGO reputo Audacia vires run clausus melior quam ullus ND versus pariter.

515: p.m.: Tim quod EGO caput capitis super ut rink. Suus’ Chamber of Ineo ingurgito sicco. Si EGO didnt’ have a venatus tectum, Id’ have haud forsit sipping pauci Vigoratus’ in meus hotel cella’ veranda quod iustus astrum procul sol solis occasus super horizons’ tumulosus. Ipsa est lascivio alter plurimus repono suffragium in American League tonight, Rochester Americans. Suus’ a novus compositus, Leone informs mihi, ut saluto reddo Rochesters’ primoris ut Giant Center in fere duos annus. Rochester has a dual affiliation per Plaga quod Florida.

EGO dont’ teneo identities of vir quod mulier baculus credentials traba in porta aula of press ianua procul Giant Center, tamen ut EGO inform ut ut Im’ per OnFrozenBlog, era dico mihi “Oh vestri’ per glacialis blog. Vos guys es effectus a magnificabiliter job.” Illic est usquequaque nonnullus ratio of tepidus exspectata EGO usus in sulum saluto sursum hic, in nonnullus restuarant vel procul nonnullus muneris constituo vel procul rink, quod is ordo inter optimus of lemma totus mihi.

Gero es 0-3 in novus season, in basement of AHLs’ Oriens Divortium. Is est valde unfamiliar tractus, proprie pro Bruce Boudreau quod suus baculus.

655: p.m.: In pre- venatus obscurum quod oris nox noctis lasers, a res- consentaneus Eric Fehr est induco ut domus turba. Im’ sic defessus of seeing Eric in a res interpellatio. Sami Lepisto est quoque a scratch, quoque quoniam sit vulnero. A Gero’ baculus informs Leone quod mihi ut Boudreau mos vestio iustus quinque tutaminis tonight. EGO reperio ut interesting in lux lucis of quod Gero’ bus got domus ex Iunctio in medius nox noctis.

Fatum vultus: Ben Clymer est indutus pro Gero. EGO sum sollicitus video vidi visum Sasha Pokulok, cuius’ utor quispiam of a renaissance in suus hockey tutela in permaneo three mensis. Is led Gero in ustulo per preseason.

domus est super quartus- diapente plenus.

715: p.m.: Utriusque in paper quod in mane iens tonight EGO animadverto minor mico ut Gero’ versus cognatus ut preteritus duos seasons. Unus bonus causa illo est graduation of Tomas Fleischmann. Tamen Dave Steckel, quoque, loco sursum magnus numerus quod ludio ludius an enormous persona pro Bruce Boudreau preteritus seasons in Ipsa. In medius estas EGO asked Leone si is sententia is would exsisto a “rebuilding” season in Ipsa. Is vere sententia theyd’ impleo pro Oriens divortium titulus iterum, quod is said is iterum ut mihi hodie in suus domus. (persevero)

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 ut parumper pauci annus iam has been characterized per suus ferreus opus.

Non totus est senium quod fatum is medium-October. Is videor ut in net, plurrimi maximus positus in glacies, Caps mos ordine adepto species, vel venatus- rapio incursus ex suus tandem. amplus perspective usque tendo est is: three weeks abhinc, gnarus ut Caps visio quattuor of primoris quinque in via, quod totus of via venatus vacuus Semin, had vos been dedi a record of 3-2 per lemma, youd’ have carpo is.

Magis bonus novus: Pittsburgh est losing ubertas.

Gustafsson quod EGO famulor Tuesdays’ 2007 Caput Interventus Dies procul Quin Center. Secundum oris ingens per erus Ted Leonsis, an patefacio session secuutus. Hic es pauci highlights:

Bacca of Sapientia ex Ron Weber

EGO pulsatus sursum a sermo per Caput radio valde Ron Weber. Nos erant utriusque gazing sicco procul cassus glacies superficies ut capitale super hockey history parumper, talis ut quod unus team, Montreal Canadiens, adsuesco assuesco have puteulanus versus per solum of tabula quinymo quam vexillum crocus. Is quoque ( vacuus meus promptus) ineo in penuria of sicco-of- urbs scoreboards quod verus- vicis clock; nos erant utriusque spes ut tela- pallium ends of summitto ribbon propono ero unveiled ut scoreboards in oris nox noctis.

Plurrimi interesting tidbit is partis me eram in vultus of a question. “animadverto rutilus versus?” is asked. “operor vos teneo quare suus’ non a firmus versus, tamen has illud niveus tractus per versus?” EGO profiteor ut EGO did non. “puteus” is persolvo, “ tergum ut they coepi broadcasting hockey venatus, they couldnt’ dico in propinquus- sursum venit offa utrum ludio ludius eram skating super puteulanus versus vel rutilus versus. . . quoniam in niger- quod- niveus televisions they vultus idem eadem idem. Sic NHL no a sceptrum ut rutilus versus had habeo illud niveus vestigium, sic visum could dico distinctus inter versus. Non ut quisquam est vigilo in a niger- quod- niveus TV hodie, tamen theyve’ etiam kept is ut way.”

Anhelo Profundus DC Aer

Inter plures interventus folks procul vicis eramComcast SportsNet’s prodigialiter familiarisLisa Tumulosus. Ted Leonsis, Tumulosus, Gustafsson quod EGO erant capitale super upcoming season secundum Leonsis quod Tumulosus candela an spatium pro Comcast. Leonsis apologized pro suus scabrosus vox vocis. “suus’ mold,” is persolvo — quod EGO sympathized, ut pauci dies abhinc EGO awoke per quis EGO sententia eram a nocens gelu tamen eram verum a vomica per causa per incredibilis altus duco of mold allergens in aer. Tumulosus ingens in tersus Northern aer, “ nos nunquam had ut fatigo super mold in Ottawa!” Exspectata ut DC, Ms. Tumulosus, quod bonus fortuna in humilitas, capitagium-ridden, debilito- stomachata- suffoco DC aer is ver. Addo Expedio!

Procul vox, a photo of Lisa Tumulosus quod Dave Steckel. Steckels’ infigo castra quod preseason have meritus him a macula in Caput’ oris nox noctis roster.

Q & A per Tomas Fleischmann

OFB: Vos had a curtus season quam potissimum Caps per vestri Calder Vas lascivio run permaneo annus. Vultus tergum, could vos statua tunc ut quattuor mensis laxus youd’ non tantum planto team, tamen exsisto skating per Alex Ovechkin?

Fleischmann: Vos nunquam teneo, is est hockey! EGO didnt’ reputo super is, EGO iustus went ut estas workouts quod opus ferreus in palaestra castra facio caput capitis duos versus . . . Vos have laboro cotidie, exsisto melior cotidie. Im’ iustus fervidus quod cant’ exspecto nostrum primoris venatus.

OFB: Quam erant illud Calder Vas runs, quod quam operor vos reputo ut mos instruo vos pro an 82- venatus schedule in NHL, quod hopefully playoffs?

Fleischmann: Ut eram a valde usus. . . prothoplastus res vos have efficio in playoffs est have a bonus humus of guys quisnam volo ut lucror, quod lascivio pro Vas. Sulum has efficio suus officium, quod ut’ quis capit. Quod si panton officina amo ut, is officina sulum vicis in glacies.

OFB: Quod vos sentio ut’ quis Caput have is annus?

Fleischmann: Oh, exigo, ut’ via EGO sentio.

Ut operor nos, Tomas, ut operor nos.

Is vultus amo oris nox noctis roster pro Lavatio Caput mos comprehendo porro Tomas Fleischmann. Caput have iustus renuntio they have subcribo Fleischmann.

“Fleischmann, 23, est a quartus- annus professio quisnam has ludio ludius 43 venatus per Caput per permaneo duos seasons, recording quattuor calx quod six succurro (10 cuspis). Is has quoque been a sto pro Ipsa Gero of American Hockey League (AHL) in ut vicis, succurro Gero pervenio Calder Vas denique utriusque annus quod lucror Calder Vas in 2006. Fleischmann has led Ipsa in lascivio ustulo quod led AHL in lascivio succurro preteritus duos seasons. Is has 114 cuspis (52 calx, 62 succurro) in 102 ordinarius-season AHL venatus in duos annus per Gero”

“A 6’1”, 192- talentum paternus of Koprivnice, Czech Res publica, Fleischmann ludio ludius totus septem venatus pro Caput in preseason, peractio diapente in team per quattuor cuspis ( unus calx, three succurro). Is posteri a +1 rating quod 13 offa in calx”

In servo per stipes excolo, terms of paciscor erant non promptum.

Update: John Walton est opinio ut Mico subcribo a duos- via tracto stipes. Haud profero of pupa vel tractus.

Update: Tarik El- Vercundus estopinio ut paciscor est pro $495,000.

Quis did Lavatio Caput proficio per suum preseason is September? A bonus frenum, EGO reputo. Primoris quod primoris, they artificiosus plurrimi maximus negotium: they parco serius malum — weve’ haud testimonium ut Alexander Semins’ ankle sprain est serius. Alter plurimus significant factum, in meus sententia, eram seeing a sanus numerus of vegetus visio tractare procul a altus campester quod puteus integrate per recidivus Caps’ core. Tomas Fleischmann, is videor, has won primoris versus vox pennae officium. Abyssus’ exsisto centered, utique coepi, per Viktor Kozlov. Sic duos- tertius of Washingtons’ caput capitis versus est novus is season. Is vultus magis lascivio dignus quam aut of suus praevius incarnations preteritus duos seasons.

Narro of vultus lascivio dignus, Caps effrego castra iactantia unus of plurrimi intriguing secundus versus in totus of hockey — vindicatum Alexander Semins’ ankle est mereo a dies- ut- dies ailment. Nicklas Backstroms’ libramen quod uber ex suus valde primoris pre se ferre venatus in validus EGO reputo vel procuratio’ rosiest forecast. Requiro him ut amplio mensis per mensis ut suus vegetus season progressio, quod pro him ut exsisto lodged in everybodys’ brevis album of Calder candidates adveho ver. Amo Caps’ caput capitis versus, alter, centered per Michael Nylander, est 66 sentio novus is autumn.

Versus three mos have a novus vultus pariter. Boyd Gordon mos center is, quod Res Pettinger mos latuseris him in left. Tamen alius Ipsa Gero, Dave Steckel, no verus loud sonitus ( singulariter in visio orbis) is palaestra castra. Is may optimus duco vir in universus norma, is lascivio a smart venatus, quod is consortio maxime puteus per Gordon. (Caps’ fans can tantum spes Gordon quod Steckel replicate in Lavatio suum duos- via opus ex Hersheys’ postseason run ut Calder glorior 2006.) Caput Sarcalogos Expedio videor futurus aliquantulus of utilitas infielder pro prothoplastus three versus — hes’ amo video vidi visum officium in totus three is season. Interdum is should skate in Gordons’ vox, procul alius — forsitan ut per is week, ut a teammate sursum caput capitis est vulnero — abyssus’ skate in caput capitis 6.

Ut Caps’ quartus versus, iustus 30 hora pro oris nox noctis rosters must exsisto summitto ut league, may etiam have quinque bodies vying pro assignment: Datum Procax, Res Bradley, Vepres Sutherby, Revolvo Laich, quod Ben Clymer. In repens seasons Caps’ roster has had vultus quod sentio of nimium muck quod grit quoque altus sursum frons. Is autumn, multus of is has been pulsus pessum, quod a logjam has emerged. Suus’ been utique quinquennis utpote Caps could probabilis vindicatum three versus idoneus of exhibitio cuspis per ullus reliability. Theyll’ polleo ut in 2007-08.

Illic’ aliquanto minor turnover quod templum in blueline: tantum Tom Venenum supervenio foris in caput capitis 6. Caps’ procuratio est vultus pro suus blueline somes ut subolesco quod blossom organically, quod is September, illic erant foveo subcribo of venalicium lenimentus e. Milan Jurcina reverto ut Lavatio brimming per bulging biceps; suus teammates lamnia lammina lamna pro him cognomen “Juice.” Is flebilis sicco dozens of frendo hits permaneo season secundum adventum ex Boston, quod 2007-08 could animadverto him talea a legitiums vindicatum ut an labefactum, caput capitis-2 physical vis.

Ut Caps sent Mike Viridis tergum ut Ipsa permaneo ver they instructed him ut vado obscoena. Is did. Ut burst of uber ex blueline persevero is preseason, ut pro ultum of is Viridis led Caps in ustulo. Is eram in nemo’ radar pro vox lascivio cuspis officium three weeks abhinc; iam is may exsisto secui of iunctum’ 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No Ovy or Captain Clark on the ice today at Kettler. They were given the day off. The team, Nate Ewell told me, got back in town from Ottawa near 2:00 this morning.

Also, Tarik has word that Flash will be John Hancock-ing his name to a new, two-way deal any moment now.

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.

(Continued)

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.

Another step in the off-season’s activities is tendering qualifying offers (QO’s) to Restricted Free Agents (RFA’s) to keep their rights (rights). QO’s were due today, and the Caps qualified the following players: Steve Eminger, John Erskine, Tomas Fleischmann, Jamie Hunt, Milan Jurcina, Jakub Klepis, Brooks Laich, Dave Steckel and Brian Sutherby.

The Caps declined to offer a QA to Kris Beech, Trevor Byrne, Maxime Daigneault, Jonas Johansson, Jiri Novotny, Louis Robitaille, Matt Stefanishion and Joey Tenute, who all become free agents. This doesn’t affect the Caps a great deal, but does clear room in Hershey for players such as Andrew Gordon, Andrew Joudrey, Sami Lepisto, and Travis Morin to get more ice time. It also opens a goaltending spot behind Frederic Cassivi, perhaps paving the way for Daren Machesny to spend the full season in Hershey.

Names like Beech and Johansson were expected to not be qualified, though it’s a slight surprise to see Joey Tenute or Louis Robitaille, both hard workers for the Bears, to be let go. Jiri Novotny is the only real NHL level skater set free, though his skill set as a checking line center is something the Caps have in abundance.

So, no real shocks, and hockey’s circle of life continues — 8 players on the way out, their spots to be taken up by younger players being given the opportunity to prove themselves.

We are now full on in the throes of the end of the offseason’s offseason (mercifully, AMC last night offered up an 8:00 airing of ‘Slapshot,’ perhaps as a bit of a kickoff to the NHL’s off-ice action this month). By that I mean that any moment now we could see cross the transom the first of what typically is a string of trades clubs make to commence their offseason rebuilding. This June the pre-draft dealing buzz isn’t quite what it was last, but I’ve seen too many Draft-Eve seasons to know better. The first shoe will eventually drop, and off we’ll be. And unlike last June, when the Caps were just out of the first turn in its rebuild race, this summer management has pledged to be an active player for new players.

Likely we won’t see a blockbuster like last June’s Panthers’ dealing of Roberto Luongo (for junk; and we may not see such lopsidedness again in this lifetime). Then again, we may see Patrick Marleau moved. The game within the game taking place now through next Friday night involves the leagues GMs sorting through their UFA and RFA lists, comparing last season’s payroll with ‘07-’08’s projected cap, and charting a course for correction and improvement. For some clubs, payroll will be pared and some prime players moved. For others (the Caps), payroll will increase, assets added. A fair bit of this correction will take place over the course of the next 10 days.

Beyond being super submerged below the salary cap (by like tens of millions of dollars), this summer the Caps have consistently and publicly pledged to address their roster remedies through “trades,” Hershey graduations, and potentially the UFA market. In all of their public statements about offseason upgrades, all of management has consistently IDed dealing as a planned strategem, which struck me as brazen in its confidence. Notable, effective deals require willing dance partners. Two to tango. In mid-April, how could Caps’ management have been assured of them come mid-June?

The answer may not be all that secret or surprising. Because of the team’s plethora of draft picks dating back to 2002, and coupled with the Hershey Bears’ fabulous success the past two seasons, GM George McPhee has strong cards in his dealing hand. He is, for instance, loaded at left wing. And after last June’s work by his scouts in Vancouver, the organization suddenly seems deep in net. He is perhaps only a year or so away from being enviably deep on the blueline. And again with this Entry Draft, he has multiple picks up high (two picks each in rounds one and two). Add to these factors the team’s unrivaled cap space, and the Caps clearly are a power player on the phones the next 10 days. (Continued)

How ironic it is to suggest that the 2007 Calder Cup Finals pit the farm clubs for the Caps and Canadiens with history being represented by Washington. Tonight at Giant Center the Hershey Bears, AHL members since 1938, will make their 20th appearance in the Calder Cup Finals, an American Hockey League Record, and face the Habs’-affiliated Hamilton Bulldogs, competing in just their 11th season in the ‘A.’ The Bears, the reigning Calder Cup champions, will try to become the first team to repeat since the 1991 Springfield Indians. 

The Bears will seek to reverse an eye-opening trend carried off by Hamilton this spring: in all three of their playoff series the Bulldogs have bested higher-seeded teams. They have prevailed the past five weeks with crunch-time courage — Hamilton has won a lot of close hockey games this postseason — and stellar netminding from blue-chip prospect Carey Price.

In the American League’s Eastern Conference Finals, Hershey had little trouble besting Manchester’s Jason LaBarbera, voted the best goalie in the league this season. But Carey Price, youthful though he is (the 5th pick overall by Montreal in the 2005 Entry Draft), is no journeyman talent. This postseason he is 11-5 with a 2.13 goals-against and a .929 save percentage.

Hamilton likely will not overwhelm Hershey’s blueline with waves of offensive pressure. During the regular season, there wasn’t a single Bulldog ranked in the American League’s top 40 scorers (Duncan Milroy was 43rd, with 25 goals and 33 asists in 64 games). There is balance up front: four Bulldogs tallied 50-plus points (Milroy, Corey Locke, Mikhail Grabovski, and Andrei Kostitsyn).

And in the postseason, this modest offensive output has held true to form: a lot of Hamilton’s wins have been of the 3-2, 2-1, even 1-0 variety. Kyle Chipchura, another Habs’ first-rounder, leads Hamilton in scoring this postseason, but he ranks just 19th overall. Keep in mind that Hamilton has played 17 playoff games, three more than the Bears. The Bears, meanwhile, fairly litter the league’s list of top postseason scorers: Scott Barney is 3rd, Flash is 5th, Kyle Wilson is 8th. Mike Green is outscoring all of Hamilton’s skaters.    

Caps’ fans will also recognize a familiar face from the 2005-06 NHL season in a Hamilton sweater tonight: Mathieu Biron. He had a very solid season for Hamilton, finishing 6th on the team in scoring. (Continued)

Through the first three games of the American Hockey League’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Hershey Bears have potted 14 goals past the league’s netminder of the year, Jason LaBarbera. Tomas Fleischmann continued his torrid pace tonight — a goal and two assists.

Look for the Bears to close out this series Saturday night.