(Note: Players are listed in alphabetical order by last name when shown in list form)

UFAs: 10 Played/dressed for at least one game for the 2011-12 Washington Capitals

Forwards: Aucoin, Halpern, King, Knuble, Rechlicz, Semin

Defensemen: Collins, Wideman

Goalies: Sabourin, Vokoun

Other UFAs (5)

Bourque (F), Greentree (F), Hanson (Group 6 UFA, F), Micflikier (F), Miskovic (D)

Players under contract and RFAs shown in table below the jump:

Continue reading this post »

Stanley Cup Final

Referees

Dan O'Halloran, Dan O'Rourke, Chris Rooney and Brad Watson

Linesmen

Derek Amell, Jean Morin, Jonny Murray and Pierre Racicot

ROUND 3

Referees

Kevin Pollock, Brad Watson: LAK PHX G1, NJD NYR G3, LAK PHX G5, NJD NYR G6

Dan O’Halloran, Wes McCauley: NJD NYR G1, LAK PHX G3, NJD NYR G5 (pair in second round, too)

Dan O’Rourke, Chris Rooney: LAK PHX G2, NJD NYR G4 (pair in second round, too)

Kelly Sutherland, Chris Lee: NJD NYR G2, LAK PHX G4 (pair in second round, too)

Linesmen

Jay Sharrers, Shane Heyer: LAK PHX G1, NJD NYR G3, LAK PHX G5 (pair in second round, too)

Steve Barton, Pierre Racicot: NJD NYR G1, LAK PHX G3, NJD NYR G5

Jean Morin, Brian Murphy: LAK PHX G2, NJD NYR G4

Derek Amell, Jonny Murray: NJD NYR G2, LAK PHX G4, NJD NYR G6

ROUND 2

Referees

Kevin Pollock, Steve Kozari: WSH NYR G1, LAK STL G3, NJD PHI G4

Stephen Walkom, Eric Furlatt: LAK STL G1, WSH NYR G2, NSH PHX G3, NJD PHI G5 (also pair for Rd 1: WSH BOS G7)

Dan O’Rourke, Chris Rooney: LAK STL G2, WSH NYR G3, NSH PHX G5, WSH NYR G7

Marc Joannette, Brad Watson: NSH PHX G2, NJD PHI G3, WSH NYR G4

Kelly Sutherland, Chris Lee: NSH PHX G1, NJD PHI G2, WSH NYR G5

Dan O’Halloran, Wes McCauley: NJD PHI G1, NSH PHX G4, LAK STL G4, WSH NYR G6

Linesmen

Scott Driscoll, Pierre Racicot: WSH NYR G1, NSH PHX G4, LAK STL G4, WSH NYR G6

Brian Murphy, Jonny Murray: LAK STL G1, WSH NYR G2, NSH PHX G3, WSH NYR G7 (also pair for Rd 1: NJD FLA G5)

Brad Kovachik, Steve Miller: LAK STL G2, WSH NYR G3, NJD PHI G5

Steve Barton, Jean Morin: NJD PHI G1, NJD PHI G2, WSH NYR G4, NSH PHX G5

Derek Amell, Greg Devorski: NSH PHX G2, NJD PHI G3, WSH NYR G5

Jay Sharrers, Shane Heyer: NSH PHX G1, LAK STL G3, NJD PHI G4

ROUND 1

Referees

Stephen Walkom, Ian Walsh: WSH BOS G1, OTT NYR G2, PHX CHI G3, NJD FLA G4

Dan O’Halloran, Tom Kowal: OTT NYR G1, WSH BOS G2, VAN LAK G4, SJS STL G5

Chris Lee, Wes McCauley: VAN LAK G2, WSH BOS G3, PHI PIT G4, NJD FLA G5, PHX CHI G6

Marc Joannette, Brian Pochmara: PHX CHI G1, SJS STL G2, WSH BOS G4, OTT NYR G5, NJD FLA G6

Tim Peel, Steve Kozari: PHI PIT G2, NSH DET G3, NJD FLA G3, WSH BOS G5, OTT NYR G6

Paul Devorski, Dan O’Rourke: VAN LAK G1, PHX CHI G2, SJS STL G3, PHI PIT G5, WSH BOS G6

Stephen Walkom, Eric Furlatt, WSH BOS G7

Chris Rooney, Brad Meier: NSH DET G1, NJD FLA G2, SJS STL G4, VAN LAK G5

Eric Furlatt, Francois StLaurent: NJD FLA G1, PHI PIT G3, OTT NYR G4, NSH DET G5

Kelly Sutherland, Kevin Pollock: SJS STL G1, VAN LAK G3, NSH DET G4, PHX CHI G4, PHI PIT G6

Brad Watson, Mike Leggo: PHI PIT G1, NSH DET G2, OTT NYR G3, PHX CHI G5

Brad Watson, Dan O’Halloran: OTT NYR G7

Chris Rooney, Dan O’Rourke: NJD FLA G7

Linesmen

Jean Morin, Derek Nansen: WSH BOS G1, SJS STL G2, SJS STL G3, PHI PIT G5

Steve Miller, David Brisebois: OTT NYR G1, WSH BOS G2, NJD FLA G3, SJS STL G5, PHX CHI G6

Brian Murphy, Tony Sericolo: PHI PIT G1, OTT NYR G2, WSH BOS G3

Brad Lazarowich, Jonny Murray: PHI PIT G2, PHX CHI G3, NSH DET G3, WSH BOS G4

Shane Heyer, Lonnie Cameron: PHX CHI G1, PHX CHI G2, NJD FLA G4, WSH BOS G5, OTT NYR G6

Steve Barton, Greg Devorski: NJD FLA G1, NJD FLA G2, PHI PIT G4, NSH DET G5, WSH BOS G6, WSH BOS G7

Derek Amell, Scott Cherrey: VAN LAK G1, VAN LAK G2, NSH DET G4, PHX CHI G4, PHI PIT G6

Jay Sharrers, Mark Wheler: VAN LAK G3, VAN LAK G4, SJS STL G4, PHX CHI G5

Scott Driscoll, Brad Kovachik: NSH DET G1, NSH DET G2, PHI PIT G3, OTT NYR G5, NJD FLA G6

Tim Nowak, Pierre Racicot: SJS STL G1, OTT NYR G3, OTT NYR G4, VAN LAK G5

Brian Murphy, Jonny Murray: NJD FLA G5

Jean Morin, Brad Kovachik: OTT NYR G7

Steve Miller, Pierre Racicot: NJD FLA G7

Caveats: These are my notes pulled from the NHL boxscores. Please note, I might have a game out of order, but I think this is the info. about the pairings to date. The match-up for a series always reads the same, I did not invert to show the home team. I will try to update, at least while the Caps are still playing. If there is another blog or source which provides this info. please let me know and I won't spend the time. Thanks for reading.

A fan's attempt to provide an overview of the organizational goalie situation.

Washington Capitals/NHL:

Six goalies under NHL contract - Vokoun, Neuvirth, Holtby, Sabourin, Grubauer, & Anderson

Tomas Vokoun – Groin injury (reported as groin injury)
Michal Neuvirth – Lower body injury (many assume left knee, heard some say hip, others say ankle; wait and see)
Philipp Grubauer – Season ending hand (wrist) surgery

Braden Holtby
Dany Sabourin

Brandon Anderson (under contract; assigned to WHL)

Steffen Soberg (on reserve list; at this time, I can't think of another goalie who would be listed on the reserve list)

After Holtby (already on recall to Washington,) Dany Sabourin is the only healthy goalie playing pro hockey and under contract to Washington at this time. If Vokoun and Neuvirth are unavailable, the tandem for the next Washington Capitals game on Saturday is expected to be Holtby and Sabourin. After that, as Tim Leone noted last night on twitter, "Imagine. #Caps could be in playoffs ... with the two guys who were supposed to be Hershey's goalie tandem."

The only other healthy goalie right now under contract with the Capitals is Brandon Anderson. Anderson is a 19yo goalie, currently the back-up goalie for the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Wheat Kings are playing in the second round of the WHL playoffs. As has happened in the past, a player under contract to an NHL team and assigned to a CHL team can be recalled under emergency conditions when there is no other option under contract in the NHL organization. Anderson has not had a good season on the ice and recently took personal leave and left the Wheat Kings for a time, returning for the playoffs. He has not played in a WHL game since 2/21. Best source for news & breaking news about Brandon Wheat Kings is Bruce Luebke. link to his blog

Even after the trade deadline and for the playoffs, players on the reserve list for an NHL team can be signed to an NHL contract and join the team (see the recent reports regarding the NYR and Chris Kreider.) In addition, note, that there is the waiver rule for players who played in Europe after the NHL season started. (One more thing, a late addition to the write-up:) Being on the reserve list is key for signing and playing in the playoffs (NYR/Kreider, as one example, if he signs,) as we have seen (e.g., Boston/Turco, NYI/Grahame,) a team can sign a player not on the team's reserve list after the trade deadline, but those players are only eligible for the regular season.

If, and only if, it got to the point where all of these options were exhausted and specifically, for the playoffs, I do not know the detail of the rules, but one assumes, there is an option for bringing in an emergency goalie. Based on what has happened during the regular season, it is likely that the goalie would have to be someone without pro hockey experience if brought in under emergency conditions.

Obviously, this is a lot of typing for no reason if one of Vokoun or Neuvirth is healthy enough to be available to the Washington Capitals.

Hershey Bears/AHL

Daren Machesney – Hershey AHL contract
Matt Tendler – ATO
Billy Sauer – Possible PTO
Other – ATO/PTO

Daren Machesney is under contract to Hershey. He was not on Hershey’s CDR (AHL clear day roster) or on the Hershey 'in residence' list because he was in the ECHL and was injured at the time, as well. He recently returned from missing time due to a groin injury and with Grubauer out due to injury/surgery, Machesney has been the starter in SC's first 2 ECHL playoff games.

The way the AHL CDR rules are written and given Machesney is under contract with Hershey, my understanding is that he is an option for recall to Hershey.

Also, in terms of having two goalies available for the playoffs or before, Hershey has the option of signing a different junior or NCAA goalie (if their season has ended) to an ATO or a different ECHL (or other non AHL contract) goalie to a PTO (professional tryout agreement.)

South Carolina Stingrays/ECHL
Daren Machesney
Billy Sauer
Emergency goalie

If Machesney is recalled by Hershey, Sauer becomes the SC starter in the first-round playoff series.

With SC playing playoff games (1-1 in a best of 5 series with G3 tonight and G4 Sunday afternoon; G5 if needed is scheduled for Monday night,) instead of recalling Machesney, Hershey has Tendler on ATO as the back-up. Now, it may not be possible for Hershey to leave Machesney in the ECHL any longer.

More on Hershey/SC: My understanding is that Hershey has been riding Sabourin and holding out with Tendler, ATO, as the back-up since SC is in the playoffs and Hershey has qualified for the playoffs. Although some positioning still to be determined in terms of seeding (home ice adv., etc.), signs point to Hershey playing WBS in the first round. Hershey has a 3 in 3 this weekend and next weekend (6 games regular season games total) remaining in the regular season.

Also, if WHL Brandon gets eliminated from the playoffs, Anderson would be available to be assigned to Hershey as an extra goalie or as a back-up for Hershey.

Trade Deadline: 3pm (eastern) on February 27, 2012

Working Contract Count: out of a maximum of 50 contracts

The Washington Capitals have 49 players under contract; however, Galiev and Anderson qualify for the contract slide due to their age and being assigned to juniors, so really working with 47 contracts.

(Note, Grubauer’s contract will slide, too, unless he plays in 10 NHL games this season.)

Washington Capitals Draft Pick Information

2012 draft picks

1st WAS

1st COL (from Varlamov trade)

2nd (see notes below)

3rd WAS

4th WAS

4th WPG (from Fehr trade)

5th WAS

6th WAS

7th WAS

Notes

- Add either Boston's 2nd in 2012 or Colorado's 2nd in 2013 (Washington's option) from Varlamov trade

- 2nd WAS: Traded to NJD in Arnott trade

2013 draft picks

- Rounds 1-6: WAS pick

- 7th: Depends on if they have or have not released Taylor Stefishen’s name from the reserve list; Conditionally traded to Nashville if Caps sign Taylor Stefishen by June 1, 2012 deadline

Capitals Cap Space

With 22 players (out of 23 allowed) on the active roster as of the time of this post, Backstrom on IR, plus Poti and Green on LTIR, the Caps have slightly more than $5.5M in cap space. If Green is removed from LTIR and counting Aucoin on the active roster, the cap space remaining using Poti LTIR cap space is approximately $344,000. My understanding is that there has been no cap space banked this season since Poti has been on LTIR the entire season to date.

As of now Backstrom is on IR not on LTIR. If Backstrom is put on LTIR, any trades (and call-ups) made which use some of that LTIR cap space will limit ability for Backstrom to return during the regular season. Given current lack of updates, assume it is possible they will use his LTIR space, but possible they don’t if they need to leave the room for #19 to return during the regular season. If Backstrom is put on LTIR, his cap hit of $6.7M will provide additional cap space room.

Post Trade Deadline

During the regular season, even post trade deadline, the cap maximum is still in effect. There is no cap restriction during the playoffs.

Post trade deadline, there is no active roster maximum; as long as a team stays within cap maximum rules, a team can carry more than 23 players on the active roster. There is a restriction on the number of recalls post trade deadline. Four allowed with exceptions for emergency recalls and after the AHL affiliate’s season is over.

Trade Deadline Coverage

Obviously twitter and other online coverage.

On TV on Monday, February 27, 8am-6pm eastern time (and more continuing into the evening): In Canada, TSN; In US, NHL Network showing TSN coverage from 8-6; for others, I assume online is your best source. For more information on the US NHLN coverage, puckthemedia blog entry

Links

TSN's TradeCentre page and TSN Trade List

Games will be played in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta

Washington Capitals - Prospect(s) to Watch

Evgeny Kuznetsov, Caps 2010 1st round draft pick, named Captain for Team Russia, is the only returning member from last year’s gold medal team.

Five Caps prospects played in last year’s tournament with four bringing home medals (Kuznetsov and Orlov, Russia, Gold; Eakin, Canada, Silver; Wey, USA, Bronze; plus Grubauer, Germany). This year Kuznetsov is the lone Washington Capitals’ draft pick playing in the 2012 WJCs.

Stanislav Galiev was the other eligible Caps draft pick with a chance to play in this tournament, but unfortunately, he’s been out with a wrist injury since early October.

In addition to drafted players, there are 2012 and 2013 NHL entry-draft eligible prospects playing in the tournament to keep an eye on. Eligible players for this tournament are born 1992 and later (1991 born are no longer eligible for the U20 WJCs.)

The Tournament Schedule and How to Watch

I recognize not everyone reading this lives in the US (which is great), but if you live in the US and want to watch the tournament games, coverage will be provided on NHL.com and NHL Network. All Team USA games, all medal-round games and five additional preliminary-round match-ups will be shown.

Unfortunately, at this time, no Team Russia preliminary round games are scheduled to be shown on NHL Network in the US, likely because Team Russia is not in Team USA’s group for the preliminary games. It’s possible some could be picked up and shown on the NHL Network via the Canadian broadcast since all 4 Team Russia games are being broadcast on TSN2 and some, if not all, games may be streamed online.

Link to complete US television schedule

Team USA Games (times shown are eastern time)

Preliminary Round

12/26 USA vs Denmark 8pm

12/28 Finland vs USA 3:30pm

12/30 Czech Republic vs USA 3:30pm

12/31 USA vs Canada 8pm

Quarterfinals/Semifinals/Medal Games

Jan 2 Quarterfinals

Jan 3 Semifinals

Jan 5 Medal games

Other Tournament Information and Links

- Link to the IIHF WJC site including schedules, rosters, format, articles. Note, at this time, some of the rosters are still preliminary.

- Hockey Canada website for the tournament.

- USA Hockey tournament site and Team USA Blog

- TSN Tournament Site

- Article on Team Russia and the Lokomotiv plane crash (RIP) and some pictures from last year's gold medal game and celebration on the ice in Buffalo.

- WJC Story (sounds like more are coming, Svitov perhaps...) from a former Capital, Brian Sutherby

and

- A twitter list I pulled together to follow tournament information.

2011-12 Washington Capitals and the U20 WJCs

Link to U20 WJC Medalists - History

Karl Alzner, Canada, ’07, ’08 (Gold/Gold)

Nicklas Backstrom, Sweden, ’06, ’07

John Carlson, USA, ’10 (Gold)

Jason Chimera, Canada, ’99 (Silver)

Cody Eakin, Canada, '11 (Silver)

Roman Hamrlik, Cz., ’92

Marcus Johansson, Sweden, ’09, ’10 (Silver/Bronze)

Brooks Laich, Canada, ’03 (Silver)

Michal Neuvirth, Czech Rep., ’08

Dmitri Orlov, Russia, ’10, ’11 (/Gold)

Alexander Ovechkin, Russia, ’03, ’04, ’05 (Gold/ /Silver)

Tom Poti, USA, ’96, ’97 (/Silver)

Alexander Semin, Russia, ’04

Tomas Vokoun, Czech Rep., ’96

Information on invitees, attendees and the schedule will be updated as the information is released.

Schedule:

Sunday, July 10 Players arrive

Monday, July 11 Group A on ice at 9:45am; Group B on ice at 2pm

Tuesday, July 12 Group B on ice at 9:30am; Group A on ice at 11:45am

Wednesday, July 13 Group A on ice at 9:00am; Group B on ice at 10:20am; scrimmage at 3pm

Thursday, July 14 scrimmage at 9:00am

Friday, July 15 Group A on ice at 9:30am; Group B on ice at 11:15am

Saturday, July 16 scrimmage at 10 am / Caps FanFest information; Equipment Sale is open to the public at noon

 The on-ice workouts, which will include multiple scrimmages, are open to the public and media. The off-ice workouts are closed.

Additional Information:

Washington Capitals 2011 Development Guide

Location: Kettler Capitals IcePlex, Arlington, VA at Ballston Common Mall

- All 4 2011 draft picks are on the 19 player roster released by the Capitals.

- Of the 19 prospects on the roster: Eight (8) are signed to NHL ELCs (contracts): Eakin, Flemming, Grubauer, Mitchell, Orlov, Sjogren, Stevenson, and Anderson (expected to return to juniors)

- Not on roster: As far as I know the Caps still retain Nick Larson's rights, but as an NCAA prospect (pay own way) he has yet to attend a Capitals camp. Kuznetsov is the only other unsigned prospect not on the roster, but he wasn't expected to attend camp this summer. I'm not including DeSimone and Dunn, Capitals have their rights until August 15, but no indication at this time that either will be with the organization.

Tim Leone: Benefits of development camp to the organization/Hershey...link to article

Tim Leone: Development camp first step...link to article

FA Invites: Capitals typically do not identify the Free Agent Invites in their press releases about development camp...these have been identified via articles, blogs and twitter (all subject to change):

- Hershey Bears AHL Contract Prospects Expected to Attend: David de Kastrozza (Source: Tim Leone)

note: players are listed in alphabetical order by position: F-D-G

- Games start on December 26, 2010 and the medal games will be played on January 5, 2011-

Capitals Prospects on 2011 WJC U20 Rosters/Tryout Camp Rosters- 5 Players on WJC Teams (tied for most prospects for an NHL team in this year's tourney)

Note - A player with 1991 or later birthyear is eligible for 2011 U20 WJCs. 

Some Useful Links

WJC Buffalo World Juniors Tournament website

Hockey Canada WJC website

USA Hockey WJC website

IIHF WJC U20 website

Twitter:

      - Official tournament:  /2011IIHFWorldJr

      - Canada:  /HC_TeamCanada

      - USA:  /USAHockey and  /USA_AlexClark

Television

Television Information for NHL Network in US

and

more TV information including TSN/TSN2 in Canada and other TV listings and coverage

and the US/Canada TV schedule after the jump...

Continue reading this post »