tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701918113042958232.post909452367445622615..comments2023-10-26T04:02:40.819-04:00Comments on Mark's Musings: What's Next for Caps Fans?Mark Bonatuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028759195766716450noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701918113042958232.post-90115816492036262292008-07-06T09:27:00.000-04:002008-07-06T09:27:00.000-04:00Paul: Thanks! GMGM indicated that the Caps will...Paul:<BR/><BR/> Thanks! GMGM indicated that the Caps will not resign Cooke in his most recent phone interview with Tarik El-Bashir of the Post so yes I agree he's out of the picture. If the Caps don't need to pay Laich muct at all over $2M and can get away with paying ShaMo under $2M then they might have enough available to pay Federov $2.5M - $3M for each of the next two seasons - I think that's what it'll take to get him, else he probably takes the money to play at home in Russia.<BR/><BR/>I agree he won't be "all about the money" like I think Jagr and Huet were but everyone has limits. Also in Federov's case he is Russian so I'd suspect staying home and helping build interest in the KHL has a different flavor for him.<BR/><BR/>LETS GO CAPS See you at the phone booth next season.Mark Bonatuccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04028759195766716450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701918113042958232.post-90976866201843296892008-07-05T13:16:00.000-04:002008-07-05T13:16:00.000-04:00Hi Mark,Nice article! I pretty much follow only t...Hi Mark,<BR/><BR/>Nice article! I pretty much follow only the Capitals so I don't know much about other teams and their ownership, but from what I read some of these teams have self-imposed salary caps. Not all of them will spend to the league maximum. Also, I think Cooke is out of the picture for the Caps, and I don't think Fedorov will be going anywhere. I could be totally delusioned (or delusional) but all indications are he wants to play in Washington or go back to Russia. I think he will give the Caps a huge home town discount, but not extend that generosity to anyone else. I could be wrong. As for our other RFAs, they should be signed soon. I don't see any team offering Laich or anyone else a contract that GMGM won't match.<BR/><BR/>I agree with your conclusion that the Caps are moving in a good direction and look solid for at least a couple of years (with fingers crossed for the goaltending). And I also can't wait for the season to start. 3 months? A long time, but I think we can look forward to a very, very entertaining 2008-2009.<BR/><BR/>Paul RPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726786250914759682noreply@blogger.com