Here's the first bit of Michael Nylander related fallout.
Chris Bourque was not the future of the organization but the kid busted his ass to make the club only to be put on waivers because of the salary room eaten up by $5M center who seems unlikely to play this season. Chris Bourque - and the guys he played with - deserve better.
This isn't over yet.
Wednesday, September 30
Tuesday, September 29
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Power Play - The power play unit that scored 85 goals at a 25.2% rate last season should only get better this year with the addition of Mike Knuble. Most power plays see Ovechkin and Green manning the points for at least a minute thirty and the Caps may bring more raw scoring and puck control skill to the table than any other team in the league. So much so that the first unit virtually never does the hard-around dump - electing to gain the blue line with possession. As with many skilled PP units riding a wave of success, there is a tendency to get overly cute - looking for the perfect pass instead of bombing the net with rubber.
The Penalty Kill - For a team that takes way too many penalties the PK has to get better. The good news is that they should have the necessary tools to improve. The PK requires gutsy guys willing to play smart, sacrifice the body and communicate. If the no one on the current coaching staff can improve this facet of the game they need to find someone who can. Pre-season results indicate some level of improvement - we'll have to see if that holds up into the regular season as opposing PP units find their rhythm.
The Ugly - Too many penalties; 414 minor penalties had them well into the League's bottom third. It has to stop and it has to stop now. If BB can't engage the necessary level of discipline to solve this problem there is not much hope for a serious run at the cup. I understand that most of these guys grew up playing the game under a different set of rules (or, at least, interpretations) but its been several years since the league began enforcing the new interpretations. Out of position players have to keep their stick on the ice and move their feet. Call me naive but its really that simple. Putting your stick into someone's mid-section is very close to an automatic call - doing it after you've been beat makes it laughably easy. When taken in the neutral and offensive zones these penalties are just lazy; when taken in the defensive zone its just dumb. We constantly heard how bad penalties were the main topic of discussion during last season's playoff drive but rarely saw offenders held accountable. Get serious about this topic from game 1 and you'll have results soon enough.
The Penalty Kill - For a team that takes way too many penalties the PK has to get better. The good news is that they should have the necessary tools to improve. The PK requires gutsy guys willing to play smart, sacrifice the body and communicate. If the no one on the current coaching staff can improve this facet of the game they need to find someone who can. Pre-season results indicate some level of improvement - we'll have to see if that holds up into the regular season as opposing PP units find their rhythm.
The Ugly - Too many penalties; 414 minor penalties had them well into the League's bottom third. It has to stop and it has to stop now. If BB can't engage the necessary level of discipline to solve this problem there is not much hope for a serious run at the cup. I understand that most of these guys grew up playing the game under a different set of rules (or, at least, interpretations) but its been several years since the league began enforcing the new interpretations. Out of position players have to keep their stick on the ice and move their feet. Call me naive but its really that simple. Putting your stick into someone's mid-section is very close to an automatic call - doing it after you've been beat makes it laughably easy. When taken in the neutral and offensive zones these penalties are just lazy; when taken in the defensive zone its just dumb. We constantly heard how bad penalties were the main topic of discussion during last season's playoff drive but rarely saw offenders held accountable. Get serious about this topic from game 1 and you'll have results soon enough.
Friday, September 25
The Forwards
In what was quiet off-season for the Caps most of the change that did occur was on the front line. Departing were Kozlov, Federov, and The Donald, while new arrivals include Brendan Morrison and Mike Knuble. I won't miss either of the Russians. To my way of thinking Kozlov was a consistent underperformer and at times just seemed invisible. You'd think someone with his size and skills and skating most of his shifts with OV would score 10 or 12 goals just by accident.
By the end of last year Federov was routinely pissing me off with bad penalties and mediocre play. I'll have to take everyone's word on the "positive effect in the locker room" argument.
Brashear's departure is a wash for me - for every time you were glad you had him, there were two other times you'd roll your eyes over some mis-deed. I still remember that game in Boston two seasons ago where he almost single-handedly took the Caps out of the playoff drive with a triple-minor in the closing minutes that turned a seeming 2-1 victory into a loss.
Like Federov, who's spot he will presumably be taking, Morrison is a seasoned veteran with an ability to score points. Formerly a bit of an iron man, he is coming off a couple of injury riddled seasons and is eager to prove that his career is not over. This acquisition was a low risk move for the Caps that has way more up-side potential than down. At worst, Morrison should provide the same value as Federov.
The biggest move of the off-season - and a bit of a surprise - was the Mike Knuble pickup. I give Philly credit - they went out and made the big name defensive acquisition I've been begging the Caps to make for the last couple of seasons. (Remember when in a short run of seasons we had Rod Langway, Scott Stevens, Kevin Hatcher and Larry Murphy - and hooted Murphy out of town because he wasn't good enough? Good times.) But if the cost of Bob Probert is giving up Knuble for salary cap room ... I'm not so sure. My sources in Philly tell me we're going to be quite pleased with Knuble - in any event, he seems to be exactly what the Caps need - a gritty productive winger with a nose for the net. He figures to spend much of the season skating with OV so do the math: OV takes about 510 shots on goal per season (and those are just the ones "on goal") and only(!) scores on 60 or 70 of those. That's a lot of loose rubber laying around.
So here's a line by line breakdown. Based on last year's playoffs and pre-season combinations these should be the more-or-less standard line combinations.
Ovethckin-Backstrom-Knuble
This line could be a truly fearsome combination. Backstrom is one of the best passer/playmakers in the league and having Knuble skating across from OV should give him even more room. Expect to see BB shift gears and put Semin in Knuble's spot when the situation warrants - when those three guys can get clicking it can get sick out there. Either way this could be one of the best lines in the NHL.
Fleischmann-Morrison-Semin
There's a lot of open questions on this one. Finding the right combination to support Semin - a potential 50 goal scorer - and give the Caps a true one-two punch will be high on BB's to-do list in the early season. Fleischmann started out last season displaying the goal-scoring touch management has been promising but then went ice-cold after December. Additionally, he's not been cleared for contact through training camp due to the blood thinners he's been taking as a result of his bout with DVT. See the discussion on Brendan Morrison above - we know what he's been capable of in the past - its hard to know whether he can once again be productive. The good news is that the Caps are strong at center (hell - they've got a $5.4M center who can't even get ice time). The bad news is that they are lacking true left wingers and if Flash can't get it going there may not be too many options that would result in a first-rate second line.
Fehr-Gordon-Clark
Again, there are open questions here - and one of the reasons Giroux is getting a good long look-see in camp. Fehr is coming off surgery on *both* shoulders this Summer and has not yet been cleared for contact. Clark is coming off two full season's worth of injuries and it remains to be seen if he can get back to his former level of play. In a worst-case scenario, this line fades into irrelevance. Expect to see either Giroux or Laing start the season on this line.
Laich-Steckel-Bradley
This line was assembled in last years playoff run and were a tough, productive lunchpail line that any coach would be pleased to have. The challenge will be keeping them together. Given the current lack of depth on the left side Laich will probably see ample time on the second and third lines.
Oh, and can we all agree that Nylander is finished as a Capital?
By the end of last year Federov was routinely pissing me off with bad penalties and mediocre play. I'll have to take everyone's word on the "positive effect in the locker room" argument.
Brashear's departure is a wash for me - for every time you were glad you had him, there were two other times you'd roll your eyes over some mis-deed. I still remember that game in Boston two seasons ago where he almost single-handedly took the Caps out of the playoff drive with a triple-minor in the closing minutes that turned a seeming 2-1 victory into a loss.
Like Federov, who's spot he will presumably be taking, Morrison is a seasoned veteran with an ability to score points. Formerly a bit of an iron man, he is coming off a couple of injury riddled seasons and is eager to prove that his career is not over. This acquisition was a low risk move for the Caps that has way more up-side potential than down. At worst, Morrison should provide the same value as Federov.
The biggest move of the off-season - and a bit of a surprise - was the Mike Knuble pickup. I give Philly credit - they went out and made the big name defensive acquisition I've been begging the Caps to make for the last couple of seasons. (Remember when in a short run of seasons we had Rod Langway, Scott Stevens, Kevin Hatcher and Larry Murphy - and hooted Murphy out of town because he wasn't good enough? Good times.) But if the cost of Bob Probert is giving up Knuble for salary cap room ... I'm not so sure. My sources in Philly tell me we're going to be quite pleased with Knuble - in any event, he seems to be exactly what the Caps need - a gritty productive winger with a nose for the net. He figures to spend much of the season skating with OV so do the math: OV takes about 510 shots on goal per season (and those are just the ones "on goal") and only(!) scores on 60 or 70 of those. That's a lot of loose rubber laying around.
So here's a line by line breakdown. Based on last year's playoffs and pre-season combinations these should be the more-or-less standard line combinations.
Ovethckin-Backstrom-Knuble
This line could be a truly fearsome combination. Backstrom is one of the best passer/playmakers in the league and having Knuble skating across from OV should give him even more room. Expect to see BB shift gears and put Semin in Knuble's spot when the situation warrants - when those three guys can get clicking it can get sick out there. Either way this could be one of the best lines in the NHL.
Fleischmann-Morrison-Semin
There's a lot of open questions on this one. Finding the right combination to support Semin - a potential 50 goal scorer - and give the Caps a true one-two punch will be high on BB's to-do list in the early season. Fleischmann started out last season displaying the goal-scoring touch management has been promising but then went ice-cold after December. Additionally, he's not been cleared for contact through training camp due to the blood thinners he's been taking as a result of his bout with DVT. See the discussion on Brendan Morrison above - we know what he's been capable of in the past - its hard to know whether he can once again be productive. The good news is that the Caps are strong at center (hell - they've got a $5.4M center who can't even get ice time). The bad news is that they are lacking true left wingers and if Flash can't get it going there may not be too many options that would result in a first-rate second line.
Fehr-Gordon-Clark
Again, there are open questions here - and one of the reasons Giroux is getting a good long look-see in camp. Fehr is coming off surgery on *both* shoulders this Summer and has not yet been cleared for contact. Clark is coming off two full season's worth of injuries and it remains to be seen if he can get back to his former level of play. In a worst-case scenario, this line fades into irrelevance. Expect to see either Giroux or Laing start the season on this line.
Laich-Steckel-Bradley
This line was assembled in last years playoff run and were a tough, productive lunchpail line that any coach would be pleased to have. The challenge will be keeping them together. Given the current lack of depth on the left side Laich will probably see ample time on the second and third lines.
Oh, and can we all agree that Nylander is finished as a Capital?
Thursday, September 24
The Future
Probably the most significant personnel question the Caps must address this season is to identify their goaltender of the future.
Coach BB has paid the proper respect to Jose Theodor by naming him the #1 goaltender coming into training camp but here's the thing - there's no way he should start any more than 40 games unless both of the rookies completely tank and they need wins to make the playoffs.
In other words - the future is now.
Both Neuvirth and Varlamov have demonstrated that they warrant full consideration for the job. Varly got all the headlines and accolades for his playoff performance last year - but Neuvirth led the Bears to a Calder Cup. I'd like to see each of them play at least twenty games - or thirty or more games for a clear favorite should he emerge. I expect Theodore to compete and demonstrate why he's the starting goaltender, but he has to understand that he is not the future of the organization and he can't expect ice time to be commensurate with performance. Coming into next year's training camp the Capitals should have a clear idea of who their starting goaltender is and that means the rookies need to play at the NHL level as much as possible.
Coach BB has paid the proper respect to Jose Theodor by naming him the #1 goaltender coming into training camp but here's the thing - there's no way he should start any more than 40 games unless both of the rookies completely tank and they need wins to make the playoffs.
In other words - the future is now.
Both Neuvirth and Varlamov have demonstrated that they warrant full consideration for the job. Varly got all the headlines and accolades for his playoff performance last year - but Neuvirth led the Bears to a Calder Cup. I'd like to see each of them play at least twenty games - or thirty or more games for a clear favorite should he emerge. I expect Theodore to compete and demonstrate why he's the starting goaltender, but he has to understand that he is not the future of the organization and he can't expect ice time to be commensurate with performance. Coming into next year's training camp the Capitals should have a clear idea of who their starting goaltender is and that means the rookies need to play at the NHL level as much as possible.
Wednesday, September 23
The Defense
The Capitals cannot be expected to make a serious run at the Cup without substantially upgrading their defense. Coach BB plays a vertical system that stretches the ice with the intent of obtaining offensive zone possession in the shortest possible order. While he freely admits that this system will challenge his defense by exposing them to odd man rushes, it also leaves them susceptible to forechecking pressure - especially the kind encountered in playoff hockey. I don't think that the Great 8 has an intimate familiarity with all of the nuances of the breakout play - if you catch my drift.
This group was not up to the challenge last Spring - leading to the departure of Jay Leach in the off-season - and, since there were no upgrades this summer, it seems doubtful that they possess the skill set needed to get the job done this year. This system and these personnel may be effective enough to win games and clinch divisions in the regular season but under the pressure of playoff hockey the players were simply unable to consistently move the puck out of the zone. And for my money they did not play physically enough. Okay, so you're 6 foot 5 / 240 lbs, don't have a lot of speed, posses average hands and adequate vision - so hurt somebody! I'm looking at you Jeff Schultz. Is Milan Jurcina in the room? These guys just plain have to get meaner. Where are you Ed Van Impe?
The biggest question is whether new defensive coach and Calder Cup winner Bob Woods can coach 'em up to be effective in the current system - let's not forget that we're less than two season's removed from the Glen Hanlon era and his 'build a wall around the goaltender' approach to the game. Woods has proven that he can adapt to BB's unorthodox style style at Hershey - maybe he can bring it to the phone booth as well. My opinion is that they are still one elite taking-care-of-business player away from having a complete defensive squad.
This group was not up to the challenge last Spring - leading to the departure of Jay Leach in the off-season - and, since there were no upgrades this summer, it seems doubtful that they possess the skill set needed to get the job done this year. This system and these personnel may be effective enough to win games and clinch divisions in the regular season but under the pressure of playoff hockey the players were simply unable to consistently move the puck out of the zone. And for my money they did not play physically enough. Okay, so you're 6 foot 5 / 240 lbs, don't have a lot of speed, posses average hands and adequate vision - so hurt somebody! I'm looking at you Jeff Schultz. Is Milan Jurcina in the room? These guys just plain have to get meaner. Where are you Ed Van Impe?
The biggest question is whether new defensive coach and Calder Cup winner Bob Woods can coach 'em up to be effective in the current system - let's not forget that we're less than two season's removed from the Glen Hanlon era and his 'build a wall around the goaltender' approach to the game. Woods has proven that he can adapt to BB's unorthodox style style at Hershey - maybe he can bring it to the phone booth as well. My opinion is that they are still one elite taking-care-of-business player away from having a complete defensive squad.
Tuesday, September 22
The Elephant in the Room
It's only a matter of time before this one blows up in everbody's face.
The rift between Michael Nylander and Caps management grows deeper by the day. After watching his ice time dwindle over the season Nylander became practically invisible over the final and into the playoffs - finally having to suffer the indignity of watching Hershey ranch hand Jay Beagle get the call when injuries depleted the ranks during the playoffs.
Word is that matters went from frosty to frigid last Spring when Nyls refused to waive his no movement clause when there was a deal to send him to Phoenix. Now the Caps seem determined to humiliate him into retirement. Nylander seems equally determined to ride out the abuse and collect his $5M for being on the practice squad.
There's no way that having a dead man walking in the locker room doesn't affect morale. Management needs to resolve this problem sooner rather than later and recover as much salary cap space as they can. Before the elephant in the room becomes a stinking carcass.
The rift between Michael Nylander and Caps management grows deeper by the day. After watching his ice time dwindle over the season Nylander became practically invisible over the final and into the playoffs - finally having to suffer the indignity of watching Hershey ranch hand Jay Beagle get the call when injuries depleted the ranks during the playoffs.
Word is that matters went from frosty to frigid last Spring when Nyls refused to waive his no movement clause when there was a deal to send him to Phoenix. Now the Caps seem determined to humiliate him into retirement. Nylander seems equally determined to ride out the abuse and collect his $5M for being on the practice squad.
There's no way that having a dead man walking in the locker room doesn't affect morale. Management needs to resolve this problem sooner rather than later and recover as much salary cap space as they can. Before the elephant in the room becomes a stinking carcass.
It ended ugly
Well its a new season, most of the rookies are back in Hershey and three pre-season games are behind us. It ended ugly last year as the Caps had no serious challenges over the last 30 days of the regular season and got pushed to the limit by the Rangers (an inferior but improved and motivated team) and, most painfully of all, let the Penguins back into the second round after getting them down 2-0. They now have to answer to the rest of the league about giving NHL poster boy Cindy Crosby the opportunity to hoist the cup.
Like we all couldn't get enough of that nonsense.
Like we all couldn't get enough of that nonsense.
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