Last night I got a email from my buddy Gary, a Flyers fan and USMMA Classmate. He just wanted to let me know he now knew how we Caps fans probably felt after Game 7. For those not following the Flyers - Canadeans series, last night the Habs beat the reincarnated Broad Street Bullies 4-3 in overtime. It seems that at 18:51 in the third period, Mike Richards, got what Gary (a swimmer, sailor, and avid Penn State football fan in other words a man wholly unqualified to be a surrogate NHL official) feels was an unwarranted 2 minute minor for "kneeing" when Richards' knee didn't make contact with anything other than air. The Canadeans' Alex Kovalev scored the tying goal at 19:31 forcing the game into overtime. Then early in the OT period at 00:48 Tom Kostopoulos, scored the game winner for Montreal.
This may make some other Caps fans feel good and garner some "poetic justice" however, for me, I've now moved on and am rooting for a Flyers - Sharks Stanley Cup Finals. For those wondering the Flyers are now down by 1 game to the Canadeans and tonight the Sharks open their semifinals series against the Dallas Stars in the San Jose "Shark Tank". I'll be watching Versus looking for my friend Pat and his son (Shark Season Ticket Holders) during the breaks in the action. In my heart I'll still be thinking about next year though - LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Caps Free Agency Facts & Figures
Well here goes the first of my forward looking posts on the Caps for the 2008 -2009 season. Taking stock of what the current team status is. Here's a list of current Washington Capitals that are eligible for free agency (first the Unrestricted Free Agents and then the Restricted Free Agents) as well as their salary against the Cap for the 2007-2008 season and then my estimate of their likely resigning amount.
Caps Rostered Unrestricted Free Agents:
1. Sergei Federov; Center; 2007-08 Salary: 6, 080,000; Estimated 2008-2009 Salary Range: 2, 500,000 - 4, 250, 000 if he chooses not to retire, he is 39 years old.
2. Olaf Kolzig; Goalie; 2007-08 Salary: 5, 450,000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary Range:1, 500, 000 - 2, 000, 000 if he chooses not to retire, he is 38 years old. Probably won't be back based on how he cleaned his locker out today.
3. Christobel Huet; Goalie; 2007-08 Salary: 2, 750,000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary Range: 3, 250, 000 - 4, 250, 000
4. Matt Cooke; Left Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 1, 525, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 250, 000 - 1, 750, 000. With Clark back and healthy is Cooke a luxury the Caps don't need or is Matt Bradley the redundant guy in this mix? Your guess is likely as good as any at this time, but you can't argue that Cooke didn't earn his pay since joining the Caps.
5. Matt Bradley; Right Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 700, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 700,000 - 800, 000. Cooke or Bradley? Is a choice really necessary?
Caps Rostered Restricted Free Agents:
1. Mike Green; Defense; 2007-2008 Salary: 850, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 4, 500, 000 - 5, 750, 000. No doubt that along with Poti the foundation of the Caps defence - he'll be resigned unless something truly bizzare occurs in the interim.
2. Steve Emminger; Defense; 2007-08 Salary: 1, 000, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 000, 000 - 2, 000, 000. This is a toss up but Emminger's play against the Flyers means one way or the other he's on a NHL rooster at the start of next season.
3. Shoane Morrisonn; Defense; 2007-08 Salary: 900, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 500, 000 - 2, 500, 000. No doubt will be resigned, again unless something crazy happens.
4. Eric Fehr; Right Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 800, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 850, 000 - 1, 300, 000. Will he be back? Probably but you never really know until you know.
5. Brooks Laich; Center; 2007-08 Salary: 725, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 500, 000 - 2, 750, 000. After his breakout season this past year, Brooks Laich will be back next season.
6. Boyd Gordon; Right Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 650, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 000, 000 - 1, 650, 000. Gordon will again be back as an accomplished grinder.
Hershey Bears who become UFA in July:
1. Josef Boumedienne; Defense; 2007-08 Salary: 500,000; Forecast for 2008- Will be resigned by Capitals and compete for roster slot in camp.
2. Fredric Cassivi; Goalie; 2007-08 Salary: 500, 000; Forecast for 2008 - Will Not be resigned by Capitals but will likely get picked up by somebody and may even become an NHL backup next season somewhere - 32 years old.
3. Jason Morgan; Center; 2007 - 08 Salary: 500, 000; Forecast for 2008 - Possible resigning but just as possibly not - 31 years old.
4. Dean Arsene; Defense; 2007 - 08 Salary: 475, 000; Forecast for 2008 - Possible resigning but possibly not - 27 years old.
Hersey Bears who become RFA in July:
1. Stephen Warner; Right Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 615, 000; Forecast for 2008 -
2. Jamie Hunt, Defense; 2007-08 Salary: 605, 000; Forecast for 2008 - will be resigned.
Caps Rostered Unrestricted Free Agents:
1. Sergei Federov; Center; 2007-08 Salary: 6, 080,000; Estimated 2008-2009 Salary Range: 2, 500,000 - 4, 250, 000 if he chooses not to retire, he is 39 years old.
2. Olaf Kolzig; Goalie; 2007-08 Salary: 5, 450,000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary Range:1, 500, 000 - 2, 000, 000 if he chooses not to retire, he is 38 years old. Probably won't be back based on how he cleaned his locker out today.
3. Christobel Huet; Goalie; 2007-08 Salary: 2, 750,000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary Range: 3, 250, 000 - 4, 250, 000
4. Matt Cooke; Left Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 1, 525, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 250, 000 - 1, 750, 000. With Clark back and healthy is Cooke a luxury the Caps don't need or is Matt Bradley the redundant guy in this mix? Your guess is likely as good as any at this time, but you can't argue that Cooke didn't earn his pay since joining the Caps.
5. Matt Bradley; Right Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 700, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 700,000 - 800, 000. Cooke or Bradley? Is a choice really necessary?
Caps Rostered Restricted Free Agents:
1. Mike Green; Defense; 2007-2008 Salary: 850, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 4, 500, 000 - 5, 750, 000. No doubt that along with Poti the foundation of the Caps defence - he'll be resigned unless something truly bizzare occurs in the interim.
2. Steve Emminger; Defense; 2007-08 Salary: 1, 000, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 000, 000 - 2, 000, 000. This is a toss up but Emminger's play against the Flyers means one way or the other he's on a NHL rooster at the start of next season.
3. Shoane Morrisonn; Defense; 2007-08 Salary: 900, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 500, 000 - 2, 500, 000. No doubt will be resigned, again unless something crazy happens.
4. Eric Fehr; Right Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 800, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 850, 000 - 1, 300, 000. Will he be back? Probably but you never really know until you know.
5. Brooks Laich; Center; 2007-08 Salary: 725, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 500, 000 - 2, 750, 000. After his breakout season this past year, Brooks Laich will be back next season.
6. Boyd Gordon; Right Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 650, 000; Estimated 2008 - 09 Salary: 1, 000, 000 - 1, 650, 000. Gordon will again be back as an accomplished grinder.
Hershey Bears who become UFA in July:
1. Josef Boumedienne; Defense; 2007-08 Salary: 500,000; Forecast for 2008- Will be resigned by Capitals and compete for roster slot in camp.
2. Fredric Cassivi; Goalie; 2007-08 Salary: 500, 000; Forecast for 2008 - Will Not be resigned by Capitals but will likely get picked up by somebody and may even become an NHL backup next season somewhere - 32 years old.
3. Jason Morgan; Center; 2007 - 08 Salary: 500, 000; Forecast for 2008 - Possible resigning but just as possibly not - 31 years old.
4. Dean Arsene; Defense; 2007 - 08 Salary: 475, 000; Forecast for 2008 - Possible resigning but possibly not - 27 years old.
Hersey Bears who become RFA in July:
1. Stephen Warner; Right Wing; 2007-08 Salary: 615, 000; Forecast for 2008 -
2. Jamie Hunt, Defense; 2007-08 Salary: 605, 000; Forecast for 2008 - will be resigned.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Thanks For a "Great Ride" this Year Caps!
Disappointed? Heartbroken? Yes I am. Thankful to the Caps - all of them - heralded and unheralded for a great, fun to watch season (since Thanksgiving) - absolutely. Tonight, everyone will point to one call (or lack thereof) as the reason the Caps lost. I agree the second Flyers goal probably shouldn't have counted but that's not why the Flyers won. Martin Brion's play in the third period is why the Flyers won. Brooks Laich handled his post game interview right on - that's exactly why the Caps will go even further next season, perhaps all the way - no excuses, taking responsibility for their actions and the results of them.
Now on to next season, today I got a partner for my seats next year. This is great news since my son is off to college (USMMA) in July and I have less reason to use them. Nothing but my own selfish love of going to games, which probably wouldn't have resulted in me buying the full season. Since I now have a partner for half the games, I'll gladly keep my seats. I know it's hard to look that far forward this soon after such an emotional loss for most fans but I'm already excited since the Caps have shown so much talent, promise and drive for the past 4 1/2 months. Looking to the return of Pothier, Clark, and Nylander - all of whom are signed and will be healthy, along with the great depth and play of the rest of the lineup is really energizing.
Now on to next season, today I got a partner for my seats next year. This is great news since my son is off to college (USMMA) in July and I have less reason to use them. Nothing but my own selfish love of going to games, which probably wouldn't have resulted in me buying the full season. Since I now have a partner for half the games, I'll gladly keep my seats. I know it's hard to look that far forward this soon after such an emotional loss for most fans but I'm already excited since the Caps have shown so much talent, promise and drive for the past 4 1/2 months. Looking to the return of Pothier, Clark, and Nylander - all of whom are signed and will be healthy, along with the great depth and play of the rest of the lineup is really energizing.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Bruce Garrioch Gets It Wrong Again - Big Surprise
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge Ray Emery fan - I'm for keeping either Kolzig or Huet before picking up Ray Emery.
That said how can you blame a guy who didn't play since the trade deadline for the Senator's "first to worst" slide and brief, four (4) game series against the Penguins? We're talking about a team of well paid, driven, professional athletes; can the then second string goaltender really be such a big distraction that he's the cause of all the Senators' woes over the last two thirds of the season? The issues Garrioch takes with Heatley and Spezza's play and the reverence for Alfreddson, in addition to the wasted venom for Emery, also seem a "little" misplaced to me. The Senators need some major changes this off season. Thankfully for those of us who are fans of teams that regularly compete with them, broad change doesn't appear to be the sentiment of Ottawa's management or main stream media. So once again, surprise, Bruce Garrioch gets it wrong - now this column is a bit presumptive - "doncha think so too?"
Tonight - Caps at Flyers - Game 6 - Win or Go Home for The Caps. Hey Garrioch take a look at the crowds in Washington's Verizon Center - still think DC isn't a hockey city deserving of Alexander Ovechkin? Well, as you can imagine Mr. Garrioch, those of us, who consider ourselves Hockey Fans in that other capital city in North America, really don't care all that much how you answer the question. Two more wins and the Caps will definitely not be playing golf before May, while your revered Ottawa Senators, will likely have well established 2008 Handicaps before "Alexander the Great" and his mates hit the celebrity golf circuit this summer. LETS GO CAPS!!!
That said how can you blame a guy who didn't play since the trade deadline for the Senator's "first to worst" slide and brief, four (4) game series against the Penguins? We're talking about a team of well paid, driven, professional athletes; can the then second string goaltender really be such a big distraction that he's the cause of all the Senators' woes over the last two thirds of the season? The issues Garrioch takes with Heatley and Spezza's play and the reverence for Alfreddson, in addition to the wasted venom for Emery, also seem a "little" misplaced to me. The Senators need some major changes this off season. Thankfully for those of us who are fans of teams that regularly compete with them, broad change doesn't appear to be the sentiment of Ottawa's management or main stream media. So once again, surprise, Bruce Garrioch gets it wrong - now this column is a bit presumptive - "doncha think so too?"
Tonight - Caps at Flyers - Game 6 - Win or Go Home for The Caps. Hey Garrioch take a look at the crowds in Washington's Verizon Center - still think DC isn't a hockey city deserving of Alexander Ovechkin? Well, as you can imagine Mr. Garrioch, those of us, who consider ourselves Hockey Fans in that other capital city in North America, really don't care all that much how you answer the question. Two more wins and the Caps will definitely not be playing golf before May, while your revered Ottawa Senators, will likely have well established 2008 Handicaps before "Alexander the Great" and his mates hit the celebrity golf circuit this summer. LETS GO CAPS!!!
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