SB Nation - Joe Finley

Pick 'Em: Best Capitals Draft Pick of the Decade

David M. Getz — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:00:27 -0000

by Nick Wass - AP

Readers who venture outside the friendly internet confines of the the Rink may have noticed that, in anticipation of ~~the end of the decade~~ 2010, Puck Daddy has been compiling the best and worst of the last decade, including the ten biggest goon moments, the best and worst contracts, and NHL's best and worst decisions. Yesterday saw Ryan Lambert of The Two Line Pass take a look at the five best and five worst draft picks of the last ten years.

Being a Capitals blog we figured it would make for some interesting discussion to ~~pilfer the idea~~ alter their framework every so slightly to suit our favorite team and take a look at some of studs and duds of recent Washington draft classes. To make things a little more interesting, we decided to eliminate lottery picks, which in essence means no Alex Ovechkin, no Nicklas Backstrom, and no Karl Alzner.

To start things off, let's take a look at the five worst:

5. Jakub Cutta (Defense, 2nd round, 61st overall, 2000)

Cutta was billed as a guy with an ideal frame, but a project nonetheless. At the time of his draft people knew there were questions about his skating, his ability to move the puck out of the zone at the next level, and whether he would ever use his 6'3'', 214 frame as effectively as possible. The problem was, nothing ever really panned out. The skating never became NHL caliber, there wasn't any offense to speak of as a pro, and while Cutta laid out a big hit every once in a while, he was far from an intimidating physical force. All told Cutta saw action in eight games over the course of three seasons with the Caps, earning himself a minus-5 rating. By 2006 Cutta would be back in his native Czech Republic, and he's been splitting time between his homeland and Russia for the past few years. It's not always fair to look back and evaluate a pick using 20/20 hindsight, but the fact that Paul Martin was taken with the 62nd pick certainly doesn't make this one any easier to swallow.

4. Josh Godfrey (Defense, 2nd round, 34th overall, 2007)

Yeah, it's still early, but thing don't look very good for Godfrey, who's now in his second season with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays. Part of us wants to say that the blue line is stacked at Hershey, that Godfrey's still young, and that he was drafted as an offensive defenseman who would have to spend a lot of time working out the kinks in his own end before he had a chance at the NHL. Another part of us says that guys who spend more than one season in the ECHL don't usually do much at the NHL level - and that's not enough for someone picked 34th overall. The fact that, other than Kings prospects Wayne Simmonds and Oscar Moller, no one picked after Godfrey has seen much NHL playing time helps keep him from rising on this list - for now.

3. Keith Seabrook (Defense, 2nd round, 52nd overall, 2006)

Also an offensive defenseman, the Capitals were hoping Seabrook would one day be a powerplay quarterback, or at least an offensive threat from the blue line. However, Seabrook underwhelmed offensively, first by scoring 13 points (two goals) in 37 games at the University of Denver and then by scoring 17 (four goals) in 59 games with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen - all while failing to make marked progress in his own end. In 2008-09 Seabrook finally became the offensive force people thought he was capable of being by registering 55 points (fifteen goals) for the Hitmen, but questions persisted about whether it was because he was growing in to his talent or because he was an overage player. Currently in the Calgary Flames organization, Seabrook still has a chance to become an NHL player, but never came close to getting a contract, let alone a game, with the Caps.

2. Joe Finley (Defense, 1st round, 27th overall, 2005)

The Caps would eventually sign Finley in the summer of 2009, but his future seems to be up in the air. After playing as a forward in camp, Finley's back on the blue line with South Carolina this season. If Finley ever makes it to the NHL, it's almost certainly going to be in a limited role as an enforcer...and you don't aim to draft a part-time enforcer in the first round. 36 of the first 45 players taken in the 2005 draft have played in the NHL, and has four of the five and seven of the ten taken after Finley. The issue at this point wasn't the talent pool. It was the selection.

1. Sasha Pokulok (Defense, 1st round, 14th overall, 2005)

How could it be anyone else? There's no way the Caps should have been picking 14th in 2005, but they sure didn't do themselves any favors in picking Pokulok. Billed as a physical specimen with skating ability and offensive upside, Pokulok was beset by concussion problems each of his three years in the Capitals organization. In the end, Pokulok wasn't able to stick in Hershey, let alone Washington, earning himself the dubious (and unfortunate) title of "Worst Capitals Pick of the Decade".

Honorable Mentions: Steve Eminger, Ted Ruth, Maxime Daigneault, Boyd Gordon

Now that that's over, let's take a look at the five best:

5. John Carlson (Defense, 1st round, 27th overall, 2008)

He's played just three games at the NHL level thus far, but is there any reason to think Carlson won't be a very, very good NHL defender? With size, skill, and smarts he's bested every challenge thrown his way since the draft, finishing second in the OHL in scoring among defensemen and second among rookies last year, and registering 18 points in 24 games for the Bears this year. Carlson may very well be a top pairing guy in the very near future, and in a league that prizes two way defensemen as highly as the NHL does that's a heck of a return on the 27th pick.

4. Johnny Oduya (Defense, 7th round, 221st overall, 2001)

Hey, we said these guys were going to be Capitals draftees, we never said anything about whether the team signed him. With only one point and an minus-1 rating, Oduya's slumping this year but he's nonetheless a legitimate top-four guy defenseman in the NHL, something that can only be said for a handful of the 200 players taken before him.

3. Alexander Semin (Left Wing/Right Wing, 13th overall, 2002)

At September's Capitals Convention members of the team's scouting staff were insistent they'd been lucky with Semin, who has grown three inches and added thirty-five pounds since the time he was drafted. Even if there was some luck involved, Semin is a elite offensive player who may just be the most naturally talented guy in the NHL. Picking thirteenth overall you expect to get an NHL caliber player - but getting a guy with Semin's ability in that spot is a steal. He might not have the career top 2002 pick Rich Nash will, be there's no doubt Semin was the most talented player available at the this spot - and your GM picking that guy is all you can ask for.

2. Semyon Varlamov (Goalie, 23rd overall, 2006)

We'd be lying if we said there wasn't a part of us that was still scared Semyon Varlamov was going to burn out (insert obligatory Jim Carey reference here), but what he's doing at his age, well, that just doesn't happen very often. The Capitals get credit here for being willing to use their first round pick to take a netminder in what was regarded as a weak draft between the pipes. The next time you want to criticize George McPhee for going off the board, remember that sometimes the risk pays off.

1. Mike Green (Defense, 29th overall, 2004)

Twenty-ninth overall isn't exactly scraping the bottom of the barrel, but no one expected this. Fifty-one goals and 159 points in his last 180 games, a historically great season, a Norris Trophy nomination at age 23, and comparisons to Paul Coffey would make Green a great pick just about anywhere, but at the end of the first round it's practically criminal. Thank the Lord the Stars saw something they liked in Mark Fistric.

Honorable Mentions: Mathieu Perreault, Oskar Osala, Braden Holtby

While the issue of the worst draft pick seems pretty cut-and-dry (seriously, if anyone thinks it's someone other than Pokulok, we'd love to hear why), the best pick is up for debate - and we want to know what you think. Vote in the poll, and let us know who you picked in the comments section.

Poll

So, who's the best Capitals draft pick of the decade?

November Prospects Update: Forwards

David M. Getz — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:05:03 -0000

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Yesterday we took a look at the Capitals' goaltending and defense prospects, and today we turn our eyes to the organization's young forwards, a group whose strength is based more in the quantity than quality. That's not to say the Caps don't have some pretty skilled youngsters in the forward ranks, because they do. But while the blue line has guys like Karl Alzner and John Carlson and the future in goal looks to be either Semyon Varlamov or Michal Neuvirth, the forward corps lacks guys with high ceilings at the NHL level and doesn't have any blue-chips. Despite the uncertainty, there's not necessarily reason to be worried because while it's doubtful all of the Capitals forwards prospects (even the good ones) will become successful NHL players, it's also unlikely that at least a couple won't.

The prospects and their early season numbers, after the jump.

Jay Beagle (Center/Right Wing) - Much like last season, Beagle's plugging along and contributing in a checking role for the Bears. Beagle's NHL potential probably tops out at about a 13th or 14th forward, and the Caps won't be rushing him to the NHL any time soon, but he could get in a couple games if injuries necessitate a recall.

Jay Beagle	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Hershey	AHL	24	12	1	3	4	-4	6	0	0	-	18	5.6

Francois Bouchard (Left Wing/Right Wing) - After a solid first professional season in 2008-09 (35 points; 15 goals in 64 games with the Bears), Bouchard's running at a point-per-game pace so far this season thanks to a late-October surge. Even more impressive is the fact that only one of Bouchard's point (an assist) has come with the man advantage. On the flip side, a large part of his production is due to his 27.8% shooting percentage - don't expect that to last.

Francois Bouchard	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Hershey	AHL	21	11	5	6	11	4	4	0	0	-	18	27.8

Trevor Bruess (Left Wing) - He's getting playing time in Hershey, but aside of a fight with Binghamton's Paul Baier he hasn't done a whole lot.

Trevor Bruess	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Hershey	AHL	23	8	0	0	0	1	11	-	-	-	8	0.0

Joel Broda (Center) - Obviously you can only discern so much about a guy who's still playing in juniors, but it's hard not to be encouraged by Broda's numbers. In 2008 the Capitals picked him in the fifth round, after a season where he recorded 31 goals and 53 points in 73 games with the Tri-City Americans and Moose Jaw Warriors; in the 2008-09 season Broda recorded 53 goals and 87 points in 67 games while splitting time between Moose Jaw and the Calgary Hitmen. While he's not scoring at the prodigious pace he was last season, Broda's again producing at better than a point-per-game.

Joel Broda	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Calgary	WHL	19	16	8	9	17	2	23	5	0	-	-	-

Greg Burke (Left Wing) - Having his 2008-09 season cut short by a shoulder injury and playing in just eight games for the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, doesn't seem to have slowed Burke down too much: he's played in all seven of the University of New Hampshire's games this season.

Greg Burke	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
University of New Hampshire	HE	19	7	0	2	2	-2	2	0	0	0	9	0.0

Stefan Della Rovere (Left Wing) - Everybody's favorite NHL-pest-to-be is picking up right where he left off last season, dropping the gloves, adding some offense, and captaining one of the OHL's best teams - and that's all good news for a Capitals team that needs some more sandpaper in the lineup. Della Rovere's also been named to the OHL's Subway Super Series team, Canada's most prestigious sandwich-themed junior hockey tournament.

Stefan Della Rovere	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Barrie	OHL	19	16	5	7	12	5	31	2	0	-	-	-

Phil DeSimone (Center) - An offensive force when he was drafted out of the USHL, DeSimone is still looking to fulfill his potential at the collegiate level, although he did increase his point total from 13 to 18 and his goal total from three to seven from his freshman to sophomore year.

Phil DeSimone	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
University of New Hampshire	HE	22	7	0	2	2	-6	10	0	0	0	8	0.0

Cody Eakin (Center) - Eakin's not a big guy (though he's a pretty tough one), but he is a terrific skater with good offensive instincts who also receives accolades for his two way play. Eakin's progressed nicely for the Swift Current Broncos in his WHL career, going from 17 points in 2007-08, to 48 points in 2008-09, to 23 through his team's first nineteen games of this season. Those might not sound like world-beating numbers, but consider this: 18 of Eakin's 2009-10 points are goals, a total that has him tied for the WHL lead. It's also telling that the Capitals have already inked Eakin to a professional contract, and there's a good chance he'll get a game or two in Hershey at the end of this season.

Cody Eakin	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Swift Current	WHL	18	19	18	5	23	-1	27	9	3	-	-	-

Joe Finley (Left Wing/Defense) - He's been playing defense in South Carolina (who list him as a defenseman), but the Capitals still list him as a forward, so we will too. At 22, Finley's a bit old for someone with NHL hopes to be plying his trade in the East Coast League, especially given that the experiment with moving him to wing appears to be on the back burner.

Joe Finley	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
South Carolina	ECHL	22	7	1	1	2	3	20	0	0	-	7	14.3

Andrew Gordon (Right Wing) - just two years ago the Capitals, unhappy with Gordon's performance in the AHL, briefly demoted him to South Carolina. Last year Gordon became an important piece of Hershey's Calder Cup team and got in a game in with the big club. This year Gordon's ascent has continued: he's averaging over a point a game, sports a plus-5 rating, and has only taken one penalty: a fight against Brian Lee. Gordon's probably never going to be a top six forward at the NHL level, but we'd sure like to see what he could do on a Caps energy line - the sooner, the better.

Andrew Gordon	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Hershey	AHL	23	12	7	9	16	5	5	5	0	-	36	19.4

Anton Gustafsson (Center) - The Capitals couldn't find room for him to get playing time in Hershey and it didn't look like he'd be getting playing time in Sweden's highest league either, and a a result, the Caps wound up lending Gustafsson to Borås HC, a team in Sweden's second division. Gus is getting playing time there, and has picked up four assists and nine shots in four games, although is winning only 47% of his faceoffs.

Anton Gustafsson	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Borås HC	Allsvenskan	19	4	0	4	4	0	2	0	0	0	9	0.0

Jake Hauswirth (Center/Right Wing) - one of the biggest surprises of 2008's prospects camp earned himself a contract this past summer. His transition to the pro game is going well and, although a call-up to the Capitals is in no way in the near future, Hauswirth could work his way up the ladder to Hershey later this season or in 2010-11.

Jake Hauswirth	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
South Carolina	ECHL	21	7	1	3	4	2	0	0	0	-	6	16.7

Dmitri Kugryshev (Left Wing ) - In large part thanks to a shooting percentage that's only half of what it was last year, Kugryshev isn't scoring at the same rate he did in 2008-09, when he was Qubec's leading rookie scorer, and a 34 goal, 74 points campaign earned him the QMJHL Rookie of the Year award. That doesn't mean he's not putting up points, though, and the goals should come in time.

Dmitri Kugryshev	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Quebec	QMJHL	19	18	4	13	17	5	18	0	0	1	52	7.7

Marcus Johansson (Center/Left Wing) - this past summer's first round draft pick is playing for Farjestads, currently one of Sweden's best teams. Even better, he's leading the team in goals and scoring (which isn't too much of a surprise considering some of the moves he has), though a lot of that has to do with an undoubtedly temporarily high shooting percentage. He's playing center right now, but there's been talk that Johansson might move the wing when he comes to North American, something his -1 rating and 40% faceoff win rate are advocating.

Marcus Johansson	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Farjestads	SEL	19	10	6	4	10	-1	10	2	0	1	20	30.0

Oskar Osala (Left Wing)- It took him until the seventh game of the season to record his first point, but since then Osala's come on strong, with five points in his last six games. You can never have too many big bodies up front (Osala goes 6'4'', 220) who can contribute on the score sheet, so here's hoping Osala keeps piling up the points and earns himself another trip to D.C..

Oskar Osala	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Hershey	AHL	21	12	3	2	5	-3	15	0	0	-	39	7.7

Mathieu Perreault (Center) - Like Osala, he started off slow (no point in his first five games for Hershey), before coming on strong. Unlike Osala, Perreault's size (allegedly 5'10'', 174) will always be a concern. But if he plays with smarts, skill, and determination he did on Wednesday, something tells me the Caps will be able to live with it.

Mathieu Perreault	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Hershey	AHL	21	12	1	3	4	-4	6	0	0	-	18	5.6
Washington	NHL	21	1	0	2	2	2	0	0	0	0	2	0.0

Kyle Wilson (Center) - after two solid offensive seasons in Hershey (a total of 58 goals and 61 assists), but no chance to come up and show what he can do in the NHL we're starting to wonder if and when he's going to get that opportunity.

Kyle Wilson	Lge	Age	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Hershey	AHL	24	12	2	5	7	-1	2	1	0	-	30	6.7

Monday Caps Clips: The 'Alex Ovechkin Hat Trick'

J.P. — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:27:44 -0000

via the shoebox next to my desk

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Your savory breakfast links:

It's now or never for Eric Fehr. [Washington Times]
No matter your thoughts on Saturday night's hat-throwing salute to Alex Ovechkin's third time putting a puck past Dan Ellis in the same game (and The Boss seemed to like it), it wasn't, as Bruce Boudreau noted post-game, "a Washington original" - check around the 1:40 mark here, for example (h/t redlineblue).
Speaking of Saturday night hat tricks, Dmitry Chesnokov chatted with Ovechkin, Semyon Varlamov and Shea Weber. Our chapeaus are off to you, comrade. [Examiner, Examiner and Examiner]
On Braden Holtby's wild ride the past week. [John Walton Hockey]
One game, one fight (and a helper) for Joe Finley in South Carolina. [John Walton Hockey]
A former Cap believes that an there's an "anti-francophone virus" plaguing the NHL. Better get your shots. [National Post]
A couple of good "hockey stats" discussions here (responded to here) and here.
Finally, happy 26th birthday to Boyd Gordon.

Saturday Caps Clips: Leafs @ Caps Gameday

J.P. — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:15:21 -0000

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Your savory breakfast links:

Previews of tonight's game from Vogs, the AP, TheStar (and again), Peerless and CapsChick, and keep up with all the SBN game coverage here.
The Caps have won seven straight home openers and Alex Ovechkin has seven goals in the four he's played. [@capsmedia]
On tonight's minimal pre-game festivities, Bruce Boudreau offered this: "Boston just introduced the players. They didn't show any banners, did they? Their goals are bigger than division championships. I think ours are bigger than division championships. We raised the banner last year. There's no sense in raising it again." Still, the mere site of the 2008-09 Southeast Division Champions banner may be a bit much for Assistant Coach Woods. [Capitals Insider]
Leafs bench boss Ron Wilson's super-secret cheat sheet made it on the air the other night (Spoiler Alert! The Habs are small). The Caps had best be ready for "Big Blue Pride" tonight. [Orland Kurtenblog]
If you're inclined to do so, our pal Dmitry Chesnokov will be chatting during the game on Comcast Sportsnet. [CSN]
If you find you can never get enough Brooks Laich profiles, here's another one. [Washington Post]
Versus got their best opening night ratings in their five-year run on Thursday. Of course, if it was Flyers/Bruins, it would have gotten even better ratings, right, NBC? [NHL.com]
John Buccigross previews the Caps by referencing some band I've never heard of, pumping AO's tires and then placing the Caps behind the Pens in the East. Sounds about right. [ESPN]
Homer McFanboy profiles Mike Knuble and chats up David Steckel. Good stuff.
In case you missed it, it looked as if Joe Finley got Bourqued by the Bears. [FanPost]
Adam Oates has a new gig as assistant coach in Tampa Bay. [CBC]
Finally (and speaking of slick passing former Caps pivots), happy 37th birthday to Michael Nylander. Wonder what he'll wish for when he blows out the candles...
Update (late links): Viktor Dovgan is no longer Caps' property; the Caps power play has the potential to be quite good; Loverro on Leonsis; Wise on Leonsis.

Friday Caps Clips: Opening Night Win

J.P. — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:48:01 -0000

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

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Your savory breakfast links:

Recaps of last night's win over the B's from Tarik (blog, article), Corey (blog, article), Joe B., Peerless, CapsChick, OFB, Cap Centre, Ed Frankovic's Blog, CK, Puckhead, SS, and Barry Melrose (video) and from the B's side at the BGlobe (here, here and here), New England Hockey Journal, SCoC and Boards and Blades.
Brooks Laich was Puck Daddy's No. 2 star on the night. [Puck Daddy]
"Youth" is no longer an excuse for the Caps (and here I was unaware that it ever was). [ESPN]
If you're not going to cover the Caps, be prepared to be called out. Fear of this drove me to blogging - you could be next. [D.C. Sports Bog]
I'm going to link to this for the Google juice I'll probably get for "Vegas darlings." [D.C. Sports Bog]
Speaking of Vegas, all sorts of Caps-related prop bets are out there, including Mike Green at 10:1 for the Norris. [Puck Daddy]
And you can vote on how many goals Alex Ovechkin will score, if that's your thing. [NBCSports]
A strained tennis analogy in which Evgeni Malkin must be Andy Murray. [TTT Hockey]
GMGM on Powerplay. [XM204]
Catching up with Brendan Morrison. [Homer McFanboy]
"Greeny, Golic play the game world capital or Washington Capital." Um, ok. [ESPN (video)]
Michael Russo hands out his post-season hardware pre-season. [StarTribune]
The team at IC makes their predictions. [Illegal Curve]
As we mentioned yesterday, the Caps' have a new pro-nuke advertising partner, and it seems that the hippies are none too pleased about it. Perhaps this will provide extra incentive for Matt Bradley to crush someone into the boards where the ad is running. [CP]
John Walton and Tim Leone talk Bears... [John Walton Hockey]
... and new Hershey bench boss Mark French talks about, well, the Bears. [John Walton Hockey]
Joe Finley pleads guilty to disorderly conduct and giving false information to an officer. [Grand Forks Herald]

Wednesday Caps Clips: 'Hawks @ Caps Gameday

J.P. — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:40:42 -0000

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Expect Varly in net tonight opposite Cory Crawford.
A little perspective on the upcoming final cuts from the guy who does "perspective" better than anyone. [Dump and Chase]
Speaking of perspective, why John Carlson's cut isn't surprising at all. [VFtCS]
Picking up your family and moving to a new town ain't easy (but I'm sure most of us would do it for seven figures per year). [Washington Times]
It's now or never for Alexandre Giroux. [Washington Post]
If there's an easier way to get page views than putting together a mildly controversial list and watching the incoming links pile up, ~~it's posting the Erin Andrews video~~ I'm not aware of it. So I'm a sucker for linking to Mike Brophy's Top 50 Players (spoiler alert: Caps place second, 29th, 33rd and 35th), and you're a sucker for clicking through. [Sportsnet.ca]
Oh, and the rationale for why Alex Ovechkin is second on that list is garbage. [Hockey or Die!]
Understatement of the Year nominee: "Finding a way to fit veteran center Michael Nylander into the Washington Capitals lineup might be a problem for coach Bruce Boudreau and GM George McPhee this season." [The Hockey News]
They asked some questions, we gave some answers. [DC Pro Sports Report]
Steve Yzerman acknowledged that having Mike Babcock behind the Team Canada bench helps puck-moving defensemen trying to make the team. "We want to be a fast team, we want to be able to move the puck up the ice, and having mobile, skilled defencemen is very important to how we want to play." Mike Green... trending up. [CBC.ca]
Speaking of the Olympics, Puck Daddy details the nuclear option for Russian players who want to play in front of their countryman in 2014, while a Canadian writer tells us why these players deserve no sympathy (a position I'm sure he'd hold if NHLers weren't allowed to play in Vancouver next year and Canada's best and brightest stars were willing to risk suspension to participate). [Puck Daddy, Cult of Hockey]
Video from Day Two of Bears training camp, including a chat with Joe Finley (3:54 mark). [John Walton Hockey]
Bad news out of Pittsburgh - the one Penguin you might care about got hurt last night. [Sportsnet.ca]
Finally, happy 58th birthday to Milan Novy, probably the greatest player in NHL history to wear the number 66.

Friday Caps Clips: Quintin Laing Is Tougher Than You Are

J.P. — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:45:17 -0000

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Your savory breakfast links:

Video of the goals from last night's win. [YouTube]
Here's Corey's game file and recaps from In the Room, Capitals Insider, Ed Frankovic's Blog, Cap Centre, Puckhead's Thoughts.
Post game video from Bruce Boudreau, Brian Pothier and Mike Knuble. [Caps365 (video)]
"If I'm healthy, I'm going to try to play. That's what I do: I play hockey." Quintin Laing is so money. [Washington Post]
Laing is definitely "on the radar." [In The Room]
He gets the pucksandbooks treatment today as well. [OFB]
There are plenty of candidates for the Caps' vacant "A"... [In The Room]
... including jack-of-all-trades Brooks Laich... [Washington Times]
... even if the Caps have the fewest current and former "C's" in the NHL. [Empty Netters]
CapsChick narrows her pick for that assistant captaincy to two. [VFtCS]
Adam Proteau picks the Caps to win the East. [The Hockey News]
NHL2K10's ad campaign is quite Cap-py (not surprising, given their cover boy). [First Cuts]
Some great shots of the guys that were left behind to practice in Arlington yesterday. [Caps In Pictures]
Bruce Boudreau hates cheese so much he won't even eat in a restuarant named "Cheddars." This might explain why Daren Machesney is no longer with the organization. [NBC4]
Brett Leonhardt now has a mask that's nearly as cool as his story... but not quite. [Bog]
Is the real battle in goal not between Jose Theodore and Semyon Varlamov but Varly and Michal Neuvirth? [Stack the Pads]
The Boss on the goaltending situation. [Ted's Take]
When Sergei Fedorov was done in D.C., he was done in the NHL. [Examiner]
Vote for Alex Ovechkin as one of the top 49 most influential men of 2009. Or don't. [Ask Men]
Steinz on AO's birthday (with a little nugget, perhaps - sounds like Alex won't be playing Saturday night in Chitown). [Bog]
Comcastic pieces on Mike Green and an appearance by Tarik on WaPo Live. [Welcome to the Show]
Trevor Bruess and Joe Finley talk pond hockey. [OFB]
Sid vs. Geno vs. Alex. Again. Yawn. [The Hockey News]
The Bears have released their training camp schedule. [Patriot News]
Finally, happy 43rd birthday to Cap-for-17-games Tom Chorske.

Going Forward With Finley Up Front

David M. Getz — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:09:50 -0000

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The Capitals July development camp provided the usual storylines: undrafted rookies trying to make their mark on the team, returning players taking the ice with another year of experience under their belts, and top prospects looking NHL ready or having disappointingly stagnated. But there was one noticeably atypical note from camp: the team's decision to play Joe Finley at forward.

Ostensibly the move was made to keep roster balance when Anton Gustafsson went down with an injury. But the fact that Finley is listed as a forward on the team's rookie camp roster, has worked out as a forward this week (when he's been on the ice), and was told by Bruce Boudreau to try and get some work in as a forward over the summer indicates that the organization now feels it is in their (and Finley's) best interest for the former first round draft pick to play as a wing. The bad news for Capitals fans is that the decision says more about how the team feels about Finley's potential as a defenseman than his potential as a wing.

Simply put there's nothing in Finley's skill set or amateur production that suggest he can be effective as a scorer. In 154 games at the University of North Dakota he tallied 35 only points and seven goals. Scouting reports don't indicate Finley's shot as particularly quick or accurate, his passing is regarded as merely adequate, and any praise of his skating ability is followed with a caveat along the lines of 'for a player his size' or 'for a big man'. Could there be something there that the Capitals scouts and coaching staff see but has escaped everyone else? It's possible, but unlikely.

In reality the role the Capitals are envisioning for Finley at this point can probably be deduced not only from his size and on-ice temperament but from the history of other NHL defensemen-turned-wingers, guys like Paul Bissonnette, Patrick Kaleta, Wade Brookbank, Wade Belak, and Eric Godard, players who have combined for 1,006 NHL games and 26 goals -- and 2,295 penalty minutes. Finley seems more like to follow in the paths of these players than in that of, say, Dustin Byfuglien, the NHL's premier former-defenseman-winger. Though Finley, at 6'7'', 245 pounds, has a frame comparable to Byfuglien's 6'3'', 247 pounds, Byfuglien was a productive offensive blueliner before converting to the wing, scoring 38 goals over his last two seasons in juniors and 16 in the AHL the year before he cemented an NHL roster spot. In short, Finley looks lot more likely to become an enforcer than a productive power forward at the NHL level.

Put aside the argument as to whether or not enforcers are even necessary for the sake of simplicity and Finley's career prospects still look dubious. Yes, he's big. Yes, he's strong. Yes, he's ornery. But he has also been playing an amateur league that asseses a game misconduct for a fighting major for the past four seasons. As a result Finley's fought exactly once since 2005, an AHL fight against the aforementioned Bissonnette that, um, didn't end all that well:

Of course, this doesn't mean Finley can't or won't be an effective professional fighter - he did have 11 USHL fights back in 2004-05. But it does mean he still has yet to prove he can be.

In the end what we're left with is a former defenseman who's being asked to become a forward though he hasn't shown much in the way of offense ability, and asked to become an enforcer though he hasn't shown much in the way acumen in the fisticuffs department. It appears the Capitals plan for Joe Finley is built entirely on hope: they're hoping he can develop into an effective deterrent, hoping he can find some measure of productivity as a forward, and hoping he can figure out how to do it at the NHL level. At this point Finley has become a salvage project for an organization that looks to have lost all faith he can be a productive professional defenseman.

The 2005 draft just keeps on giving, doesn't it?

Thursday Caps Clips: Ovechkin Takes Manhattan

J.P. — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:41:24 -0000

via the shoebox next to my desk

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Your savory breakfast links:

Rookie Camp, Day Three is in the books:
- Karl Alzner and Chris Bourque look to be proactive as they try to make the team next starting next week. [Capitals Insider]
- Joe Finley was back on the ice yesterday, but isn't sure if he'll play Friday. Dude, it's the Flyers - you're playing. [In The Room]
- Corey on Josh Godfrey. [Washington Times]
- Arturs Irbe on Semyon Varlamov and the goaltending situation... [Examiner]
- ... which is perhaps the premier positional battle in the NHL this fall. [The Hockey News]
- Varly's gear has been a topic of discussion for goalie geeks here and up in Chocolatetown.
- Pictures! [TTT Hockey and Caps In Pictures (and again)]
In case you hadn't heard, Alex Ovechkin was in New York City yesterday, and took the town by storm. Steinz was Tweeting like a mad man (and wrapped up the day fabulously), Carrie Milbank was lovely as always, @nateewell kept up his string of consecutive days killing it, NHL guys got into the act, and Puck Daddy took the opportunity to remind us of AO's history behind the wheel(s).
Ovie also made news yesterday by saying he's playing in the 2014 Olympics, with or without the NHL's blessing. I'm surprised no one in the mainstream media is knocking his brazen assumption that he'll make the team. [ESPN.com]
AO is the League's seventh-best hitter (one wonders what Brian Pothier thinks of the guy in the top spot). [The Hockey Writers]
It's "Alex Ovechkin Night" for the Mystics on Saturday. I wonder if AO knows that doesn't mean what he thinks it means. [MysticsTix.com]
Eric Fehr (who's back in town) isn't quite ready for body contact, but his "shooting and skating feel excellent," and he's aiming to be ready for Opening Night. [John Walton Hockey]
I think this is my favorite Caps plate yet. [Simply Sensational]
Finally, happy 27th birthday to Staffan Kronwall (thanks for those three games) and happy 49th to former assistant coach Tim Hunter.

Tuesday Caps Clips: Rookie Camp, Day One

J.P. — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:42:21 -0000

Caps goaltending coach Arturs Irbe and Semyon Varlamov rehearse the zombie dance from "Thriller." (photo: Japers' Rink)

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Your savory breakfast links:

Rookie Camp opened yesterday, and here are some highlights of the coverage:
- The news of the day was that Joe Finley left with a lower-body injury (Herbie-itis?) and Stefan Della Rovere was held off the ice after getting his bell rung in a game last week. Also, Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth will alternate days skating with the rookies opposite Braden Holtby (yesterday was Varly's turn).
- Vogs, Corey, Tarik (times two), Tim Leone and Ed Frankovic give their impressions of Monday's session.
- Video of Bruce Boudreau and Anton Gustafsson, post-practice.
- Notes and photos of the day from Peerless and OFB andpics from TTT Hockey, Caps in Pictures (times two) and sk84fun_dc.
- Corey on John Carlson. [The Washington Times]
- Trevor Bruess thinks his game is a better fit for the NHL or AHL than the NCAA, where apparently you're not allowed to hit anyone. [The Patriot News]
Boudreau will be writing a weekly column for the Caps' site, and it debuted yesterday with a passage that touched on some of the things we saw in one of our "Gabby" excerpts (you have bought the book, right?). [Capitals]
The eagle has landed. [@nateewell]
Contrary to most of the coverage we've seen since, say, May, there are still some far reaches of the hockey world where being compared to Mike Green is still a good thing. Here's one of them. [Canucks Hockey Blog]
Some notable Caps alums are participating in a couple of benefit games in Prague. [Dump and Chase]
Yet another Caps plate. [Simply Sensational]