How bout them Caps?

[CaptainHenreh]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDjJ2GJSGXY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDjJ2GJSGXY</a><!-- m -->

[Apoc]

Monumental collapse.

[John]

Where are the epic failure pics? They should have just given up the last game - defense was awful then, and even worse today.

[Evan]

unleash the fail

losing in overtime in game 6 at least would have let them keep their dignity.

[CaptainHenreh]

Season Opener.

I'll just leave this here:

[DavidL]

Great start! PP looked strong- perfect way to open the season!

[DavidM]

+Juan! Also, Brooks Laich on pace for 164 goals!

[damnit458]

+Juan! Also, Brooks Laich on pace for 164 goals!

Don't forget Backstrom's 246 assist

Realistically, it was nice to see Jose come out and start the season with a great performance, especially after how rough the offseason was for him.

[Maengelito]

It turns out that if you don't do anything to shore up your defense in the offseason, your defense makes the same god damn mistakes the next year. These high scoring games are exciting but its not gonna work against the top teams, ie: in the playoffs.

[CaptainHenreh]

It turns out that if you don't do anything to shore up your defense in the offseason, your defense makes the same god damn mistakes the next year. These high scoring games are exciting but its not gonna work against the top teams, ie: in the playoffs.

+1

Varly's a good tender (if young) but he's gotta have some backup. One on one the goaltender is going to lose most of the time. He needs good defenders, and we have zippydoodle.

[damnit458]

The thing is, until they move Nylander (which I don't think is going to happen) they don't have the cap space to do anything about their dmen. Hell, they don't even have the space to bring up Alzner without trading away somebody or waiving somebody (which Mcphee seems to be hesitant to do).

While I agree that our dmen are for the most part suspect, they've shown in the past that if they all actually work hard they can do well defensively (see the Boston game to start this season, or the Vancouver game last season, etc). It's just that games like those require both the forwards and dmen to all work hard for 60 minutes, which we just generally don't see from this team.

I do find it a little bit comical that on other forums I'm already seeing some fans calling for Boudreau's head. :dunno:

[CaptainHenreh]

Well the caps are on a streak but, as always, they need to learn to shut down teams in the third period. I mean, when you're playing Atlanta and you've got 'em shut out until the third period, there's no excuse for letting them rally. (Although the Thrashers REALLY came alive in the third period. Those fuckers were skating like their lives depended on it.)

In other news, The Toronto Star says that HDTV will be the biggest thing to happen to hockey since Ice. and I think they're right. Standard def hockey blows, it's way too hard to follow the action, but watching it on Comcast in HD is pretty freakin sweet.

Anyway, I'm going to the game tonight, and I don't even know why I'm still at work, because it's all I can think about.

[damnit458]

Boy, looking down on 29 other teams sure is a nice feeling :thumbup:

All sorts of secondary scoring, sound defense, and Varly has been red-hot as of late.

Sure is a good time to be a Caps fan

[Evan]

what do you guys think of the trade?

I dont know hockey well enough to judge, all I know is I liked Chris Clarke and Jurcina fucked up a lot in the playoffs last year.

[CaptainHenreh]

what do you guys think of the trade?

I dont know hockey well enough to judge, all I know is I liked Chris Clarke and Jurcina fucked up a lot in the playoffs last year.

Skillwise, I sort of get it. Jurcina was a "gimme" since his contract was almost up, and he would have wanted mo' money (and he wasn't worth it). We cleared out some cap, and got some talent to boot.

What's alot harder to judge is the lockerroom leadership that Clark was able to offer. He wasn't very good on the ice, but the people loved Cap'n Clark. This is what people are upset about, and it was VERY clear that the team was upset about it immediately after. Their performance in the next game was godawful and every one knew it. With the caps latest win they might be over but honestly the game against the 'Canes was terrible. They were bent over in the first period.

So, I dunno. I think long term it was a good trade. We have some money to buy a new young defenseman, and maybe find someone who knows how to fight. My Boy Bradley, as much as I love him, can't fight worth a damn.

[CaptainHenreh]

Also, <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgl-nyg4Obg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgl-nyg4Obg</a><!-- m -->

[damnit458]

Skillwise, I sort of get it. Jurcina was a "gimme" since his contract was almost up, and he would have wanted mo' money (and he wasn't worth it). We cleared out some cap, and got some talent to boot.

What's alot harder to judge is the lockerroom leadership that Clark was able to offer. He wasn't very good on the ice, but the people loved Cap'n Clark. This is what people are upset about, and it was VERY clear that the team was upset about it immediately after. Their performance in the next game was godawful and every one knew it. With the caps latest win they might be over but honestly the game against the 'Canes was terrible. They were bent over in the first period.

So, I dunno. I think long term it was a good trade. We have some money to buy a new young defenseman, and maybe find someone who knows how to fight. My Boy Bradley, as much as I love him, can't fight worth a damn.

IMO moving Jurcina was less about getting his salary off the books and more about clearing out a dman. Washington/Hershey are full of NHL caliber dmen, and thats not even count John Carlson who is tearing up the AHL and most recently the World Junior Championships. Now, they have more flexibility with who they want to play.

If the caps do decide to bring in a Dman, it wont be a young one. With Alzner, Carlson, and Orlov in waiting they're fine at that position. If they bring in a Dman it will most likely be a vet stay at home defender for the playoff run. Someone along the lines of a Pronger, although I'm not sure if they want to pay the steep cost that would come along with that.

Bradley sure does know how to get bloodied :lol:

I wouldn't read to much into the Carolina loss at home either. Teams just hit ruts sometimes. I'm sure Clark's departure had a little to do with it, but they were due for something like that anyway. Hell, Carolina's ONLY other road win was against the defending champion Penguins, so it just happens sometimes.

[CaptainHenreh]

Uh, if our D is so good why does it suck so bad?

[damnit458]

Uh, if our D is so good why does it suck so bad?

When I said NHL caliber Dmen I meant Dmen who could fill in on the 3rd (erskine, pothier, morrison, sloan) and possibly 2nd pairing (schultz, poti). What they're lacking is a true, top pairing, stay at home defensive dman who can play along side Green.

Bringing in another young D does nothing to alleviate that problem. It just adds another person the group mentioned above. If they were going to bring someone in to play D it would be someone like a vet like Niedermayer, Kubina, etc, who might be available come the trading dead line. The only issue is usually that costs an arm and a leg (look at what Philly gave up for Pronger in the off season).

If it were as simple as bringing in a young d the caps could call up Carlson or Alzner, but neither of them are ready for that top pairing.

[Maengelito]

Uh, if our D is so good why does it suck so bad?

When I said NHL caliber Dmen I meant Dmen who could fill in on the 3rd (erskine, pothier, morrison, sloan) and possibly 2nd pairing (schultz, poti). What they're lacking is a true, top pairing, stay at home defensive dman who can play along side Green.

Bringing in another young D does nothing to alleviate that problem. It just adds another person the group mentioned above. If they were going to bring someone in to play D it would be someone like a vet like Niedermayer, Kubina, etc, who might be available come the trading dead line. The only issue is usually that costs an arm and a leg (look at what Philly gave up for Pronger in the off season).

If it were as simple as bringing in a young d the caps could call up Carlson or Alzner, but neither of them are ready for that top pairing.

+1, we're extremely deep at the "third defensive pair" position and the Caps play an extremely aggressive style which is exciting to watch both for good and bad reasons. If we were to sign a veteran Dman at the trade deadline they would definitely have to be someone that could buy into this system but could still mentor the young guys we already have.

Getting rid of Nylander (just under $5mil/yr) Jurcina and Clark (just over $2mil/yr combined) makes room for a veteran unrestricted free agent that has playoff experience and has won a cup like Scott Neidermayer (~$6-7mil this season, I think) just before the March deadline