How About This Whole Coyotes Mess Now?

So I don't know about you all but I'm pretty torn about this stuff with the Coyotes - Jim Balsille-Jerry Reinsdorf mess. First as a hockey fan, when I put myself into a Phoenix fans shoes I find myself rooting for the fans which means rooting for Reinsdorf which means rooting for - Gary Bettmann - and that is something I just can't do, at all.

Then I read an article/post about the business deal aspect of the whole staying in Glendale thing, with the likely concessions and or the concessions the Reinsdorf bid wants. Now for me it's clear I can't support it. First it screws the creditors, not at all the intent of US Bankruptcy Laws and the process, second it screws a super set of folks that likely includes some of the same Coyotes fans that don't want to see the team moved - the taxpayers of Glendale (see this post at From The Rink.) Whatever happens I just can't be for any outcome that so compromises the rights of the real victims of this mess the Coyotes creditors - and its more and more clear that Bankruptcy was indeed the only right thing to do to stop the bleeding.

Finally as more and more comes out about the Reinsdorfs, their bid, and the other business dealings of Reinsdorfs etc. I find it harder and harder to understand the stiff necked, resolute opposition of the other owners to Jim Balsillie. I don't dispute that like a bunch of affluent owners of Co-Ops in a pricey, exclusive building in NYC, the members of the Co-Op board have rights and can pick their neighbors or at least exercises some control and due process when one of them wants to or has to sell their shares/unit. My wonderment is grounded in their opposition to Balsillie in such overwhelming fave to a group of buyers who have at least as many issues as the Blackberry Billionaire from Southern Ontario.

Now to be sure Balsillie has done nothing this time around but rub the other NHL owners "faces in it". Clearly a stupid way to start out with folks who you want to be neighbors with. Comparing Balsillie with Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders just isn't at all right. Davis was one of the pioneers of the AFL and had been a long time owner and peer of the his NFL Colleagues when he decided not to go along with them. Balsillie isn't in the club yet. Even Billionaires understand that the key is to do what it takes to get into the club and then once you're in then you can act like Al Davis, or any other of "the boys." To me, now that he's won the right to put in a bid, it's time for Balsillie to go out of his way to make some amends with the other NHL owners and even Gary Buttmann. The first step and a smart one all around would be to say openly and in his bid that this season, if he wins and buys the Coyotes they will stay and play in Glendale, but they will move next season to their upgraded arena in Hamilton. That move will help salve some wounds and will help his bid given with his court win, it's likely other bids that move the team out of Phoenix will also come forth and be considered. He should also offer some compensation to the Maple Leafs and the Sabres, but nothing on the order of the crazy stuff the Nationals Ownership had to concede to Peter Angelos.

Finally to sweeten the bid to the folks in the jurisdiction that the Bankruptcy Court will hear this case, he should put some offers on the table to the City of Glendale for breaking the lease...

This still might not win it for the Blackberry Billionaire but it'll certainly raise the ante should anyone else want to come to the table and I think it'll send Reinsdorf on his way.

Besides I want to see Gary Buttmann with a sour puss face meeting with Jim Balsillie to give him the keys. Maybe then he won't have time to think about the next dumb rule change he wants to put in place to try and ruin the NHL by assuming it's hard core fans are like and want what NBA fans want.

Obviously there was no significant Washington Capitals related news to muse about today... I can't wait till Camp opens.

LETS GO CAPS!!!

OV - So Cool and Brutally Honest It's Scary....

By no most if not all the folks who read my blog have to have watched the just under 10 minute interview OV recently did with RT (Russia Today). The guy is just so candid it's totally refreshing. I' sure most folks like the answer about how sex both before and after a game helps him play hockey better. My reaction was come on the kid's just under 24 years old and in top physical condition that one is kind of a no brainer isn't it? The only surprise is the candor with which he choose to answer. The most sincere and thoughtful answer was no doubt the one about how besides victory the think most likely to make him cry - "probably the birth of my future child".

I also thought his insistence at emphasizing he hasn't won EVERY possible award in Hockey yet is telling as to what he's thinking about for goals this season. But my all time favorite answer - the one I thought the funniest? Keep in mind, I have a son, our only child, who is a great kid and one I don't think I have to worry about this coming true anymore than Ovie's parents have to worry about it, though my kid is a long way off from making $9M/year... SS/RT: "If you weren't playing hockey, what would you probably be doing?" AO: "Uhh, I don't know...probably scrounging off my parents like a lot of people my age..." BEST Interview Answer From An Early 20's Sports Start EVER!!!!

Can't Wait Till Camp Opens...LETS GO CAPS!!!!

Well....

I can't wait for hockey to get rolling again, anything, even the opening of training camp will be news, the blogs everywhere - there's just not much hockey news. Watching OV & Semin party in Moscow has lost what little appeal it might have had. If this keeps up, I'll just have to focus on work for the next three weeks until we go to the beach for a week's vacation.

So what is there to talk about for Caps fans? Well Milan Jurcina's arbitration hearing is settled and the Caps now have at least 8 NHL quality defensemen under contract.

Here's my thoughts on the Caps current D-Men and their order on the depth chart: 1) Mike Green, 2) Tom Poti, 3) Brian Pothier, 4)Shoane Morrisonn, 5) Milan Jurcina, 6) Jeff Schultz, 7) John Erskine, 8) Karl Alzner, 9) Tyler Sloan, 10) John Carlson. Now many folks will argue with my placement of "Juice" at 5 and even Sha-Mo at 4 - I just think there is a comfort facto with them out there in the "defensively focused d-man role." It's clear 1, 2, and 3 are supposed to be the offensively minded blueliners when they are out there and not paired with each other though and it's also clear that Green is more at ease with either Sha-Mo or Schultz then Jurcina. However it's also clear from hits, etc. in the statistics the physicality that Jurcina brings to the Caps lineup is needed and desirable. Also, while it didn't seem like Alzner shied away from the physical side of the game, the only guys on the blueline last year who seemed to enjoy laying on a good body check more then a neat poke check or making a nifty outlet pass were "Juice" and John Erskine. So that's why I put both on the current depth chart above Alzner and Jurcina ahead of Schultz. Readers no doubt will have differing opinions and I'm sure there's lots of reasons to have and support them.

The bottom line here though is given Pothier is still really a question mark after being sidelined most of the past two seasons; and that you have to look at and talk more about Jurcina, Schultz, Alzner and Carlson in terms of potential and what they might do in the future; and you probably have to feel that both Morrisonn and Erskine are currently playing to their potential where they are on the Caps depth chart - the only two clear top four defensemen on the Caps roster right now are Green and Poti. What's that say or mean? Well let's start with this statement and fact - another season like last year and Mike Green will be the second Washington Capital who is a legitimate, acknowledged NHL superstar. The derision of Green's defensive play and lapses are, in my view, greatly exaggerated and misplaced. The only reason people talk about them so much is because it's so clear that he has tremendous talents and that's what you usually notice when he's on the ice. Tom Poti - like or hate him, you have to admit when you look at his stats he's a top tier defensemen, especially when you look around the SE Division. All that side what it means at the bottom line is at least two of the other eight guys on this list have to step it up and play all season long and through the playoffs like guys who are top four defensemen. If Pothier can come back fully from his injury and play all season long without any issues, he can do it, he's proven that. Of the others at least five of the other seven have the talent and innate skills to do it but they are all relatively young and untested. The obvious choice as most likely to do it this coming season - Shoane Morrisson - let's hope that Sha-Mo shows he deserves his relatively large paycheck. If Morrisson and Pothier and Green and Poti play like we know they can, then maybe the Caps can have the season and playoffs all of us Caps fans are rooting for.

Personally, I can't wait to find out if they can/do.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!!

So...

I've been looking over this coming NHL season's home game schedule for the Washington Caps here on a month by month basis is how things look.

The caps open the season with a bang and a lot of good hockey seems to be on tap for Caps fans during the first month of the season. The Caps will play 6 road games and 7 home games in October. Eight of the 13 games will be against playoff teams. During October the Caps play three games against Western Conference opponents and eight against Eastern Conference foes; the only Southeastern Division team the Caps face in October is Atlanta who they play twice - both games against the Thrashers are away at Philips Center. The other team the Caps play twice in October is the Philadelphia Flyers once on the road and once at home. The Caps Home opener is on Saturday October 3rd at 7pm against the Toronto Maple Leafs. During October the Caps play seven (7) home games. Three are weekend games - Saturday, October 3rd at 7PM against the Maple Leafs; Saturday, October 17th vs. Nashville at 7PM; and Friday, October 30th against the Islanders. They have four other home games on weeknights during the first month of the season. They play the Rangers at Verizon on Thursday October 8th in a game that will no doubt be loud with a lot of Rockin' the Red going on. The week of October 12 through 17th features a three game home stand - they play the NJ Devils at the Phone Booth on Monday the 12th, the San Jose Sharks on Thursday the 15th and then the Saturday game against the Predators. Tuesday October 27th sees the Caps take on the Flyers. The October schedule means the Caps need to start the season ready to play top quality hockey and it should get everyone back into a hockey mood pretty quickly.

The November schedule brings Caps fans a 14 game menu - 6 home games and 8 road games. Perhaps more interesting is the combos and match ups in November. The Caps traditional Thanksgiving home game is apparently, at least for now, a thing of the past, though the Caps will host the Sabres at VC on the evening of Wednesday November 25th. The November schedule starts at home on Sunday November 1st against Rick Nash and the Columbus Blue Jackets; the Caps next play the Devils at "the Rock" on Wed 11/4, then they travel to Sunrise Florida for the first of a home and home on back to back nights against the Florida Panthers on Friday 11/6, the other bookend of that match up occurs on Saturday evening 11/7 at Verizon. The 11/7 game is the first of a three day home-stand that also includes the Islanders on Wed 11/11 before it's capped off on Friday 11/13 against the Minnesota Wild. Then it's off to a game the next night against Martin Brodeur and the Devils in Newark the very next night Saturday 11/14 followed by a Tuesday match up on 11/17 against the Rangers at MSG. The Caps then get a two day break before they play back to back games against Montreal and Toronto - they take on the Habs at home on Friday 11/20 then travel to Toronto to play the Maple Leafs on HNIC (Hockey Night In Canada) on 11/21. After that the Thanksgiving week schedule looks interesting as well: @ Ottawa on Monday 11/23, @ home against the Sabres on Wed 11/25, @ Montreal on Saturday 11/28 (Will that be the game they play in the Olympic Arena? --- uh, no...apparently n ot going to happen at least not this season.) The Caps wrap up November in Raleigh, NC when they face the Division Rival Carolina Hurricanes for the first time of the season. All told, November isn't any easier than October. The Caps have two instance when they play on back to back nights, their longest break is a four day stretch from November 7th (2nd of a home and home at home against the Panthers) until November 11th (road game against the Islanders). Also even though only 5 of the 14 games are against teams that made the playoffs last season, only three are against SE Division foes and the only two games against Western COnference foes are against two pretty good teams Columbus and Minnesota.

December brings the Holiday season as well as a 13 game lineup for Caps fans. Of the 13 games scheduled, only 5 are home games and there is a four game road trip from 12/12 to 12/19 that takes the Caps on their first West Coast swing of the season. The second West coast swing bridges the end of the month and starts with a 12/30 game against San Jose followed by the first Caps game of 2010 in Los Angeles against the Kings on January 2nd. During the 13 games in December the Caps play 4 different Western Conference foes once a piece, they also play 4 games against Southeast Division rivals - Carolina twice (both games at home for the Caps), Florida once (home game) and Tampa Bay once (away in Saint Petersburg on Pearl Harbor Day). December's home ice schedule starts again Thursday, December 3rd but then the Caps don't have another home game until Friday, December 11th when they face Carolina. After the Carolina game on 11/11, Caps fans won't get to Rock the Red again at VC until the Caps kick off a three game home-stand on Wednesday 12/23 against the Buffalo Sabres, then it's the New Jersey Devils on Saturday 12/26 followed by a home game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday 12/28. Before the Caps travel out west to take on the Sharks and Kings. As you look at it and think about it, if you're a season ticket holder it just feels weird - December is "feast" or "famine" for watching Hockey live in the District. It got me thinking what's the Hershey Bears Schedule look like during the Caps West Coast swing from 12/12 to 12/23. However, as far as I could quickly tell the AHL schedule hasn't been fully set or released yet, but it's a thought.

By the end of December the Caps will have played 40 games and the Season will be almost 1/2 over, and despite having played 20 games against teams that made the 2009 playoffs, they will not have yet played a game against (either home or away) the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. During the first six weeks of 2010, the period between New years day and the NHL's two week season break for the 2010 Olympics, that situation changes. During those six weeks the Caps play 22 games - 11 home games and 11 away games, one of the away games - Thursday, January 21st is in Pittsburgh and the home game on Sunday February 7th is an afternoon game against the Penguins. Other highlights for the six weeks between New Years and the Olympics include a three game home-stand against Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Florida on January 9th, 12th and 13th; and Stanley Cup finalists week when the Caps host Detroit on Tuesday January 19th and then travel to Pittsburgh on January 21st. It'll also be interesting to see if the whole Phoenix ownership thing is something folks are still talking about when the 'yotes get to Verizon on Saturday January 23rd for their game. Of the 22 games during that six weeks only 7 are against 2009 playoff teams, 5 are against Western Conference foes and 6 are against other Southeast Division opponents.

The Caps return to post - Olympic action on the road in Buffalo on Monday, March 3rd. During the six final weeks of the season (March 3rd to April ) the Caps play 20 games, 8 on the road and 12 at home. Additionally since 4 of the road games come in a single road stretch from March 14th through March 20th, there's a lot of hockey being play at Verizon Center during March and April. The Caps have a 5 game home-stand - their longest of the season between March 4th and March 12th; and a 3 game home-stand between March 28th and April 1st. The Caps end their season at home this season, their final two games of the regular season are at home - Atlanta, Friday April 9th and Boston, Sunday, April 11th. Other highlight games of that six weeks are likely to be: Pittsburgh at Verizon on Wednesday, March 24th and in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, April 6th; @ Chicago, Sunday, March 14th; Calgary @ Verizon on Sunday, March 28th; and @ Columbus on Saturday, March 3rd. In fact the March 3rd game against the Blue jackets might make for a fun road trip. In any case during those 20 games that the Caps play the final six weeks of the season, they play 7 games against Southeaster Division foes; 12 games against 2009 playoff teams; and 4 games against Western Conference teams - 2 home and 2 away.

So it's a pretty cool schedule and other than the 2 weeks when we'll all want to be consumed by the Olympics, it provides a nice steady diet for Caps fans to feast on. I can't wait till October 3rd after looking it over for an hour.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!