Storming the Crease

A Change of Scenery

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:26:00 +0000

After much success, Storming the Crease is shutting its doors. But this does not mean that you can't still read my work.

You can find my NHL posts at the Fanspeak NHL Blog and you can find my coverage of other sports -- as well as the excellent posts of many others -- throughout Fanspeak.com, where you can also join to interact with other sports fans, win prizes and so much more.

And, in case you're interested, STC will be around for a bit longer if you'd like to peruse some of the old content.

Thanks for almost four years of awesome hockey discussions -- and many more of Caps and NHL fandom. I hope to see you over at Fanspeak.

Where Does This Leave Us?

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:38:00 +0000

It's been almost a week since GM George McPhee decided to stay pat at the trading deadline. Since then, the Washington Capitals barely beat the New York Islanders and were crushed by the New Jersey Devils. Hardly a ringing endorsement that this team is built for the playoffs.

But there could be mitigating factors here. McPhee recently stated that he's not going to negotiate with Alex Semin or Dennis Wideman until after the season -- pretty much ensuring that the entire season will transpire for the first time in recent memory without any trades, signings or extensions. This could be an indication that owner Ted Leonsis has told McPhee to stay the course or could mean that McPhee's stay with the organization is about to end.

In the meantime, the more games that transpire, the more uncertainty seems to develop. There is no steady conviction from the team, and the call-ups from Hershey seem to increase by the week.

With less than 20 games to go, the Caps are out of playoff position and will be fighting until the bitter end to qualify for the postseason -- something that seemed to be a foregone conclusion when the season began.

In my season preview, I stated the team's worst-case scenario: "As in previous seasons, there's always the possibility that this group is a disaster, injuries hit like wildfire and the team falls apart -- leading to Boudreau's firing. Doubtful but possible."

It seems that this has become the truth, and going into the summer (one that might follow a non-playoff season), the questions will grow louder and the uncertainty more probable.

Grading GM George McPhee

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:28:00 +0000

With another trade deadline approaching, and Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee suddenly in the spotlight (or the cross-hairs), it's become obvious that there might be major changes this coming off-season. Before then, though, the Caps do still have a chance to make the playoffs. But to meet the season's original goals -- namely winning the Stanley Cup or at least making the Eastern Conference Finals -- the team would have to reverse McPhee's record as GM.

Named the fifth general manager in team history on June 9, 1997, McPhee engineered the club's only trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season (1997-98), albeit with a heavy dose of David Poile-picked players. Under McPhee, the team has claimed six Southeast Division titles (1999-2000, 2000-01, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11), seven 40-or-more win seasons (1997-98, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11) and set a club record for wins and points (2009-10). But they've missed the playoffs five times, including three in a row in the season before the lockout and the two after it.

McPhee has made 16 first-round draft picks over the last nine years, the most of any NHL team. Some draft highlights and low-lights (not including 2010 or 2011):

2009: Marcus Johansson and Dmitri Orlov are firmly ensconced on the team and Cody Eakin has made several appearances this year.
2008: While Anton Gustafsson never made it anywhere, John Carlson is going to be with the team for a long time and Braden Holtby (picked in the fourth round) seems to have a bright future.
2007: Karl Alzner, picked fifth overall, looks to be a great defenseman.
2006: Nicklas Backstrom is probably the best player on the team right now (sorry, Ovie), Semyon Varlamov has come and gone, and Michal Neuvirth is doing relatively well in goal. But the steal of this draft was Mathieu Perreault, picked in the sixth round and 177th overall.
2005: Nobody made it to the NHL
2004: In addition to Ovechkin, Jeff Schultz, Mike Green, Chris Bourque, and Sami Lepisto were all picked in this draft, as was Andrew Gordon (seventh round, 197th overall), who has done well for Hershey.
2003: Eric Fehr and nobody else.
2002: Steve Eminger, Alexander Semin, and Boyd Gordon were all picked in the first round.
2001: Nada.
2000: Matt Pettinger
1998 and 1999: Nothing worth mentioning.

In drafts, McPhee has been hit and miss, although 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2009 stand out as years when future stars were selected. In free agency, trades, and contract extensions, however, his results aren't as favorable:

Good Deals

Trading for and signing Troy Brouwer, June/July 2011
Signing Tomas Vokoun (for the most part), July 2011
Acquiring Dennis Wideman from Florida for Jake Hauswirth and a third-round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft, February 2011
Acquiring Jason Chimera from Columbus for Chris Clark and Milan Jurcina, December 2009
Acquiring Cristobal Huet from Montreal for a 2nd round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft, February 2008
Giving what essentially amounts to lifetime contracts to Ovechkin and Backstrom
Signing Brooks Laich to his current six-year deal
Trading Semyon Varlamov to the Colorado Avalanche for first- and second-round picks, July 2011

Bad Deals

Signing Joel Ward to a four-year deal, July 2011
Acquiring D.J. King from St. Louis for Stefan Della Rovere, July 2010
Acquiring Joe Corvo from Carolina for Brian Pothier, Oskar Osala and a 2nd round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft, March 2010
Signing Jose Theodore, July 2008
Signing John Erskine, September 2006 and all subsequent contract extensions
Signing Michael Nylander, July 2007
Giving Alex Semin a $6.7 million extension last January
Re-signing Mike Knuble for this season
Giving Tom Poti a two-year extension on which he's currently serving
Giving Jeff Schultz a four-year extension (he's got two years after this one)

From my view, any contract awarded to any kind of current or potential free agent is McPhee's weakness. He drafts pretty well and has a good eye for trades. But, overall, the one thing that has eluded McPhee (and many other GMs, to be fair) is building a winning program over an extended period of time.

Yes, the Caps have done well in the recent past, but that's been during the regular season. They're still not in the class of the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and a few other perennial contenders who seem to get better as the season progresses. The Caps always have question marks surrounding them, and that falls on McPhee.

Dale Hunter is the fifth Caps' coach under McPhee -- and maybe his last if 15 years of history isn't reversed between now and the end of the season.

Caps Are Now Unwatchable

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:36:00 +0000

In his genius parody of M.C. Hammer, Weird Al Yankovic describes the current state of the Washington Capitals:

My my my my TV makes me so bored
Makes me say, oh my lord
What is this garbage here? Wanna cover my eyes and plug my ears
It sucks, and that's no lie
It's about as much fun as watching paint dry
Lowers my IQ one notch
And that's the reason why, uh, I can't watch

And, yes, that's what the Caps have become: a circus act full of comedy, errors, injuries, and even jumping through fiery hoops. As Dave Nichols writes, the team's roster is currently full of "expiring contracts and ill-fitting parts," not to mention an overmatched coach and a GM who has lost his so-called magic touch.

First, the roster: Nobody, not even Alex Ovechkin, has performed up to par this season. Alex Semin is up to his old inconsistent tricks (15 goals, same as Troy Brouwer and Jason Chimera); Nicklas Backstrom, despite playing just 38 games, still is second on the team in points; and Mike Knuble has just 11 points.

But the bigger problem with the roster is that they haven't embraced their desperate situation or done anything differently under Coach Dale Hunter than they did under Bruce Boudreau.

Speaking of Hunter, he's beginning to show his inexperience. His biggest mistake occurred during last night's game (a 5-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks that wasn't even close): he not only started Braden Holtby ahead of Michal Neuvirth (who played Sunday afternoon in New York), but then insulted him along the way and forgot the fact that Holtby (who has played all of 14 NHL games before last night) had started on Sunday for the Hershey Bears.

"It's one of those things that if he was standing on his head every night, would Braden be playing? No," Hunter said. "It's always judged by how you play."

But he forgot the fact that Neuvirth played decently against the Rangers and lost because of faulty defense in front of him. Holtby was returned to Hershey today when regular starter Tomas Vokoun magically got over the "flu" in one day.

Finally, GM George McPhee still blames injuries for the team's current state, saying that missing Backstrom and the frequently injured Mike Green somehow has led to the team's sorry state:

"Of course we've only had that team on ice for eight games. We're 8-0 in those games," he said in today's edition of The Washington Post. "I still think if we get our guys back and if we can add something here in the next couple of weeks we're good enough to win the Stanley Cup."

Um, no, you're not. The Caps weren't good enough to win the Cup when they started the season 7-0 and weren't the last couple of seasons, either. Their defense is still spotty, scoring inconsistent and still don't know how to play a full 60-minute game.

Do you think the Pittsburgh Penguins are making any excuses? Sidney Crosby has played all of 49 games over the last two seasons, yet the Pens currently stand in fifth place in the East (eight points ahead of the Caps) and finished with 106 points last season (without Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for half the season).

The Pens just keep playing, getting better and focusing on defense -- something the Caps have been unable to do (even when healthy). This is a broken franchise with an unhealthy culture -- and that's been around for a while.

McPhee hasn't exactly been lighting up any billboards over the course of his career. Since he took over as the Caps' GM, the team made the Stanley Cup finals in his first season (with mostly leftovers from when David Poile was GM) and, since then, the team has won just two playoff series: both against the Rangers. That's not exactly a winning record.

With the team regressing this season, and too many problems to list in one place, it's time for owner Ted Leonsis to clean house -- and do things the right way for the team to have any realistic chance at winning a Stanley Cup. Until then, the team will be unwatchable -- again.

Caps Still Asking Same Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:13:00 +0000

At the all-star break, the "p" word is still haunting the Washington Capitals. Not playoffs; potential. It seems that the Caps never play as well as they should in every game. Yes, there are great wins and amazing efforts. But, even under Coach Dale Hunter's more balanced two-way system, that's still not the rule.

A lot of this has to do with the roster. Granted, it's much more balanced and built to play the right way than in years past, but there still are holes. Alex Semin of course is the biggest problem, he of making $6.7 million and registering just 28 points. But Alex Ovechkin (20 goals, 19 assists) is underachieving along with pretty much the entire roster.

Dennis Wideman -- the team's lone all star after Ovechkin decided to skip the contest -- is having a great season and deserves a contract extension. Nicklas Backstrom, before he got hurt, was having a good year too. But it's hard to really laud anybody else.

The team is in first place in the Southeast Division, only by virtue of a tiebreaker, and therefore in third place in the Eastern Conference. But there are five conference teams who have more standings points.

In other words, this season may just be the one that breaks the proverbial camel's back. Not only may Hunter not return but neither might GM George McPhee. Yes, it's very possible -- if not likely -- that the team will win the division. But is this team built to win the Stanley Cup? Nope.

There have been many times this year that the team's potential has teased its fans and others around the NHL. But, during an all-star break that is devoid of excitement, there is no doubt that the franchise isn't in the same optimistic state it was not too long ago.

Things Looking Up for Caps

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:39:00 +0000

The Washington Capitals may be Team Turmoil this season but, through 41 games (exactly halfway through the season), the Caps are just four points behind the Florida Panthers for the Southeast Division lead with a game in hand (both teams play tonight). And they're tied with the reeling Pittsburgh Penguins for the eighth and final playoff spot, three points behind the seventh-place Toronto Maple Leafs.

Watching the team lately, it's easy to see that bright times are ahead. They're playing great defensive hockey and winning home games. They're still a little rusty away from Verizon Center, but are in the second game of a four-game homestand. If things go well, they could be leading the division by the all-star break.

It's also important to remember that GM George McPhee hasn't made any trades yet, but it's apparent that Jeff Schultz isn't in the long-term plan after spending a lot of time as a healthy scratch this season. Schultz has two years left on his deal after this one. John Erskine hasn't played much either, and he's signed for next season as well. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next 45 days before the trading deadline and which players will be given an extension and who will be sent out of town.

Remember that there are several important players who aren't yet signed for next season, including Alex Semin, Mike Green, Dennis Wideman, Mike Knuble, Jeff Halpern, and John Carlson. (Green and Carlson are restricted free agents, the others are unrestricted.)

Speaking of Wideman, he and Alex Ovechkin will participate in the all-star game later this month. Ovechkin will be making his fifth-consecutive NHL all-star appearance, tying the Caps' club record held by Peter Bondra. Ovechkin leads the team in goals (17), shots (156) and power-play goals (six) and ranks second on the team in points (33) and hits (133).

Wideman will be making his first appearance at an NHL all-star game. He currently ranks fifth in the league among defensemen in points (29), tied for fourth in goals (eight), tied for fifth in assists (21) and leads the Caps in average ice time (24:08).

Finally, as you've probably heard by now, the NHL and NHLPA couldn't agree on the amazing realignment proposal set forth last month, so it appears everything will stay the same for next season.

RBC Center: A Fan-Friendly Hockey Environment

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:07:00 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to visit RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C., for the first time and I must say I was impressed. The Carolina Hurricanes do a great job of involving the fans at all points of the evening, especially during television timeouts. There were numerous quizzes, game-show type segments, giveaways and other methods to keep the action going while there wasn't any hockey being played.

That being said, the crowd enthusiasm wasn't very high. Most of the noise was arena-generated (much like an NBA game) and the only Horn Guy (unlike the one at Verizon Center) worked for the team as part of the Storm Squad, who even have a corporate sponsorship. Most of the banners belonged to N.C. State, who play their home basketball games there and their football games across the parking lot.

The seating arrangement was fan friendly too. From my seat in the fourth row behind the visitor's penalty box (which I got for a very reasonable price), I could see that most of the seats were in fact in the lower bowl. The club level and upper deck didn't appear that big, although its capacity is 18,176 -- slightly less than the 18,398 (without the standing-room spots) of Verizon Center.

By my count, I've now visited the following arenas: Verizon Center, St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., RBC Center, First Niagara Center in Buffalo, United Center in Chicago -- and two that aren't being used any more: Capital Centre and Brendan Byrne Arena in New Jersey.

This reinforced that Caps fans are lucky to have such a great place to watch a home game.

Wouldn't It Be Nice? (2011 Edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Some year-end wishes, inspired by Leonard Shapiro's Washington Post column and the venerable Beach Boys.

Wouldn't it be nice if:

* The Washington Capitals are able to fully embrace Coach Dale Hunter's playing system and thrive in 2012?

* The team played more consistently?

* The special teams continued to improve?

* Alex Ovechkin started scoring goals again on a more regular basis?

* Alex Semin finally is shipped out of town?

* Brooks Laich finally gets some recognition for all of his great play?

* The goalies take a stand?

* The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup?

* The Caps won the Stanley Cup?

Caps' Transition Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:28:00 +0000

It's been an average start to the beginning of the Dale Hunter Era, as the Washington Capitals (15-14-1, 33 points) are 4-5 since their onetime captain took over behind the bench.

Overall, the team is ninth in the league in goals per game (2.90), but 23rd in goals against (3.06). Some of that is expected, as the team has been asked (for the second straight season) to do a complete 180-degree turn in playing style midway through the campaign. However, with Hunter behind the bench now (as opposed to former Coach Bruce Boudreau leading the charge last winter), improvements are very slow to materialize.

The only advantage the Caps have right now is time: they've only played 31 games and are just two points behind the last playoff spot. The disconcerting stat is that their goal differential is minus-five (ninth in the East), whereas they were plus-27 last season. If they can buy what Hunter is selling -- and do it effectively -- then all of that will change.

But for a team that had high hopes coming into the season, it is quite painful to watch right now. They suffered through a 2-1 loss at Colorado last night and squeezed by the Jets in a 1-0 win at Winnipeg Thursday night. And let's not forget the embarrassing 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Verizon Center Tuesday night.

The team hosts the Nashville Predators Tuesday night before traveling to face the New Jersey Devils Friday night and Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

Realignment Hits Home Run

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:51:00 +0000

The Washington Capitals are going home, so to speak, after the NHL announced a realignment plan yesterday that essential reinvigorates the old Patrick Division. First, the new set of four conferences (no, that is not a typo):

* New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Washington and Carolina.

* Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, Florida and Tampa Bay.

* Detroit, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas and Winnipeg.

* Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Colorado.

The NHL has been discussing realignment for a while now, and there have been many proposals (including mine). The conferences above makes clear two things: one, there were sets of teams that the league weren't willing to separate, and two, they wanted to stress historic rivalries. Yes, the Caps could have ended up with Carolina, Florida and Tampa (along with most likely Pittsburgh and Philly), but the NHL was going for maximum impact and went back to the future.

By the way, the league also went back to the old playoff format: the top four teams in each conference make the playoffs and play each other in the first two rounds. Then, two conference champions (most likely mirroring something similar to Eastern and Western Conferences now) will face each other to determine the Stanley Cup finalists.

Putting the Caps with the Devils, Flyers, Penguins, Rangers, Islanders and Hurricanes not only gives the red, white and blue an easier travel schedule, but it makes their path to a ~~division~~ conference title much more difficult.

As for those sets of teams that the league created, here's how I see them:

* Caps and Carolina
* New York (x2) and New Jersey
* Philly and Pittsburgh
* Boston and Buffalo
* Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa
* Florida and Tampa
* Detroit and Chicago
* L.A., Anaheim, and San Jose
* Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton

It's going to be interesting to see if the Caps can clinch a fifth straight Southeast Division title this season -- and then how things will shape up next year when the realignment is instituted.

Patience, My Young Jedi

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:53:00 +0000

Coach Dale Hunter got the first win of his tenure behind the Washington Capitals' bench last night as the team still adjusts to his system. Yes, the team hasn't looked amazing yet, but then again, there is much precedent for switching coaches mid-season and going onto much success. There's also history for teams who were floundering, didn't make many changes and ended up doing well.

One example sat across from Hunter Thursday night: Pittsburgh Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma. He was hired in the middle of the 2009 season -- despite the fact that team had made it to the Stanley Cup finals the season before under another coach -- and lead the team to its first title since they repeated in 1991 and 1992. (There was a time when some folks weren't even sure if the Penguins would make the playoffs that season.)

Another case was the Detroit Red Wings, who have started many a season slowly only to turn it up in January and cruise to a division title and playoff success.

Let's not also forget the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, who didn't get into the playoffs until the last day of the regular season only to lose in the finals in six games.

Finally, there's Coach Bruce Boudreau's first season -- when the team famously went from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings to the first of four straight Southeast Division titles.

This year's team is 13-11-1 (27 points in 25 games), second in the Southeast Division and tied for either in the Eastern Conference. Yes, it's not the place the team probably thought it would be on Dec. 4, but certainly it's not as bad as many have painted the picture.

There are still 57 games left in the regular season -- plenty of time for the team to take on Hunter's personality and reach the lofty goals it has set for itself.

Hunter Replaces Boudreau as Head Coach

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:45:00 +0000

GM George McPhee has announced that Washington Capitals' great Dale Hunter has replaced Bruce Boudreau as the team's head coach. Hunter, whose No. 32 is retired by the team, is the 15th coach in franchise history.

Hunter brings one main thing to the Caps, which has been written about both in this space and in others. From the great Mike Vogel today:

"The Caps were known as a lunch-bucket bunch that prided itself on playing strong defensive hockey in those days, and they were rarely caught short in the work ethic department. A Dale Hunter-coached team is certain to be a hard-working team."

That is one characteristic that Boudreau couldn't coax out of the Caps on a consistent basis. And, if you look at teams that succeed -- especially in the playoffs -- they are hard-working and play for each other. As Vogel writes, the Caps with Hunter didn't have the best players, but they never took a night off or had any "passengers" -- two more knocks on Boudreau.

So not only does this mean the Caps are in for some hard work, but it means that certain players are going to be in for a bit of a culture shock. Fortunately, McPhee has compiled a mostly hard-working roster, so it's not like there will have to be a major personnel shift. But if Alex Semin (or Alex Ovechkin, for that matter) feels like being lazy or complacent, they're not going to get away with it.

Boudreau tried the disciplinary route a little too late. Hunter will start with it today. And, speaking of Ovechkin, if the current team captain needs a role model of how to behave as a leader, he will not need to go too far.

Hunter was perhaps the best captain in franchise history (although Rod Langway might be a close second). And, for the current Caps, these are things that were needed that, unfortunately, cost a very good coach his job.

But for the team to advance in the playoffs, this was a tough choice that needed to be made.

Extreme Makeover: Washington Capitals

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:11:00 +0000

Before you think the following is about who the Washington Capitals should trade, know that there is only one person that will fall into that category. For the most part, though, this is about what the Caps can or should do to break out of their funk and get back to playing winning hockey:

1. Trade Alex Semin: Let's get the most obvious out of the way first. Semin, who was a healthy scratch tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes, has been underachieving all season and is currently the second-highest paid player on the roster at $6.7 million. Also, it's increasingly unlikely that he'll be back because GM George McPhee is not willing to give him another pay raise and his spot on the team is becoming more tenuous.

Semin only has nine points (four goals, five assists) on the season, his ice time is decreasing and he's in yet another dormant period. In fact, he's scored just 18 goals in calendar year 2011 -- a total he matched in the final three months of 2010 alone. Yes, he scored 28 goals last season, but 12 of those tallies came in November. Finally, he took nine hooking and six tripping penalties last season -- and he's got four of each already this season. He's making Matt Bradley seem like a prophet.

2. Pick Another Captain: Alex Ovechkin is the face of the franchise and the most influential player on the Caps without question. However, since he was named captain on Jan. 5, 2010, Ovie has declined. In his first full season as the team's on-ice leader (2010-11), he experienced his worst season statistically since entering the NHL and watched as his team was swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning last spring.

It would be great if Gary Bettman handed the Stanley Cup to Ovechkin if and when the Caps win the championship. But, at this rate, the team isn't getting anywhere close to achieving that goal. By many accounts, Ovie and Coach Bruce Boudreau aren't seeing eye-to-eye and No. 8 is having trouble adjusting to a more balanced, two-way style of play. Dale Hunter wasn't the Caps' best player when he was captain, but he was the team's unquestioned leader. It might be time for Ovechkin to relinquish that responsibility and get back to concentrating on hockey -- something that needs a lot of improvement.

3. Listen to Boudreau: The coach knows what he's talking about. He's one win (entering tonight's contest) from capturing his 200th NHL win (in just about four seasons since taking over in November 2007). But, for some reason, the Caps don't seem inclined to follow orders and stick to the system.

"Sometimes I think we did maybe too good of a job of moving on [from a loss], we didn't learn from our mistakes from the game before," winger Troy Brouwer said in this morning's Washington Post. "You do need to learn and progress as a team. I think it's really hitting the guys right now that something needs to change, and it starts with our work ethic."

Boudreau's had some great quotes (and excuses) about this issue over the years, but the Caps are well beyond lip service. It's time for a team that's won its division four times in a row to take the next step. McPhee has done a good job of making moves at the right time -- and sending Semin out of town is the next logical step -- but, this season, most of the makeover needs to be made internally.

4. Play For Each Other: This is perhaps the most telling sign of a true Stanley Cup contender. It's a team that always talks about helping each other, and not about personal goals or accolades. This starts with the captain (see above) and stretches all the way to the last person on the bench -- or the first recall from the AHL. When McPhee traded for Jason Chimera and Scott Hannan the last two falls, he was trying to acquire players that made an impact in those areas. But in order for the 2011-12 season to truly complete the transformation, the team needs to approach everything differently.

"It's not the team with the best players that always wins, it's the team that plays best together," Brooks Laich said after the Caps lost, 7-1, to the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night. "At times tonight we were disconnected, we were on an island a little bit. When we're successful it's all about support, short passes and five-man units on the ice."

The Caps need to adopt that mantra every night, or things won't change. As Albert Einstein famously said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Old Ghosts Haunt Caps

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:39:00 +0000

Last night's Washington Capitals' loss (3-1 to the Nashville Predators) marks the team's sixth defeat in the past nine games and its fourth in the past five outings. This comes after a 7-0 start when the squad did so many things correctly. But during the current downswing, painful memories are coming back to haunt the team:

* Sloppy defense: the Caps have allowed 21 goals in regulation in seven November games, not a good sign for a team that supposedly has an improved, stingy defense. By comparison, the team allowed 23 goals in all of October (nine games), and seven of those came in a messy 7-4 loss in Vancouver. It's eerily reminiscent of last year at this time, when Coach Bruce Boudreau went to a modified trap that pretty much sucked the offense life out of the team.

* Inconsistent Special Teams: The Caps are in the middle of the league (83 percent) when it comes to the penalty kill, and at 20 percent (eighth) on the power play. By comparison, at the end of the seven-game winning streak, the Caps were 29.6 percent effective on the power play, while the penalty kill stood at 81.8 percent. So the penalty kill has only slightly improved and the power play has fallen off the wagon. This is part of ghost No. 2: the Caps either do really well on the penalty kill or the power play -- not both. Right now, the extra-man advantage is powerless and the penalty kill isn't doing that great either.

* No. 28 is Missing: The Enigmatic One, Alex Semin, has eight whole points (three goals, five assists) in 16 games, good for 170th in the league. He's only got two points this month and has looked pretty lost. In fact, Boudreau actually benched him for the third period against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 11, when Semin played just 8:25 in a 3-1 win. He hasn't exactly endeared himself to the "new" playing style this season.

For once, goaltending isn't haunting the Caps. Yes, there have been some hiccups for Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth, but overall, they've been pretty good in leading the Caps to a 2.75 goals against average. Most of the inflation, though, is due to the defensive play in front of the Czech (team)mates and not the goalies' performance.

So the Caps are back in a similar situation as previous years, despite many efforts to make things different. Granted, it's a long season and a lot can change. But the fact that a team with many of the same players are going through the same things as previous seasons is a bit troubling and could derail a lot of good in a hurry.

Caps Still Finding Form

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:40:00 +0000

Through 12 games, the Washington Capitals have shown mostly ups, but a few downs. Their most recent game, a 5-3 loss at the New York Islanders, most definitely falls into the latter category. The problem, it seems, is that the defense (2.75 goals allowed per game) isn't as solid and consistent as expected. The offense (3.92 goals per game), however, is stellar. In order for the team to contend, their defense will have to tighten up a bit -- without affecting the offense.

The other (somewhat) concern is Tomas Vokoun. He's got a 2.54 goals against average, but was torched for all five goals against the Islanders and four in one period earlier in the season against the Vancouver Canucks.

Nick Backstrom seemingly has found his offensive spark, while Alex Ovechkin has looked pedestrian at times. Alex "The Enigma" Semin has all of seven points in the first 12 games. Coach Bruce Boudreau has shown a willingness to punish players for a poor performance. Let's see if he'll make a player like Semin a healthy scratch -- or if GM George McPhee would actually consider sending No. 28 elsewhere.

Yes, it's early, but there's no time to waste this season. Not with expectations higher than ever, and the stakes possibly even more elevated.

Vokoun Leads Caps to Perfection

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:41:00 +0000

The Washington Capitals haven't wasted any time coming out of the gate strongly in the 2011-12 season. They're 7-0 (just the fifth team to do so, but neither of the previous four have won the Stanley Cup). Of course, it still matters more what they do in April, May (and maybe June) than October, but that shouldn't take away from the performance of new goalie Tomas Vokoun.

"He was great," Coach Bruce Boudreau said of the goalie's play in last night's 7-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. "He's been great ever since the 15-minute mark of the second game. He's been outstanding."

In six games so far, Vokoun is undefeated with a 1.80 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. Both would be career bests for the Czech goaltender.

"Vokoun made saves and gave their guys an opportunity and our guy [had] a tough time," Wings Coach Mike Babcock said last night.

How often has Boudreau come up with a quote similar to Babcock's during his tenure? The bottom line is that Vokoun gives the Caps a player who can steal a game, and that's something that's essentially to winning a Stanley Cup.

Meanwhile, the Caps' offense is leading the league with 4.14 goals per game and giving up just two (good for seventh). The power play is back on top of the league at 29.6 percent, while the penalty kill has been pedestrian at 81.8 (18th). This is certainly the balance Boudreau is seeking, although the PK needs some TLC -- and the power play will come back to earth.

All in all, the Caps are doing a lot right, but still have room for improvement. There still are lulls during games and their PK must improve. But, that being said, you can't ask more than winning ever game -- even if it's only October.

Two and Oh-So-Close

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:36:00 +0000

Although just two games have been played during the 2011-12 regular season, so far the Washington Capitals have made it seem that their run-and-gun ways are back -- or that their defense is way behind their offense in terms of development. A 6-5 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night followed a 4-3 overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on opening night.

Those two wins give the Caps 4.5 goals per game (second in the NHL), but also a 4.00 GAA (26th). The reality is that they'll probably finish somewhere in the middle of those two numbers. However, heading into their next two games -- Thursday at the Pittsburgh Penguins and Saturday at home against the Ottawa Senators -- the Caps need to start tightening up on offense.

Each goalie has started once and neither has looked overly impressive. New acquisition Tomas Vokoun gave up three soft goals against the Lightning, while Michal Neuvirth didn't dominate. That's nitpicking, yes, but with a small sample size that's the only available evidence so far.

No conclusions are drawn in October, so the basic goal remains the same: establish good habits and play the right way. All the rest should take care of itself.

This is the Caps' Year, Take III

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:08:00 +0000

The Washington Capitals, once again, went through a makeover during the off-season in the hopes of finding the right formula to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup. But this year's recruits -- Joel Ward, Troy Brouwer, Jeff Halpern (for his second stint with the team), Roman Hamrlik, and Tomas Vokoun -- have a different feel than previous additions.

For one, they're all going to play Coach Bruce Boudreau's system -- which indicates that GM George McPhee finally acknowledged that getting players to adhere to a system is easier than changing the ways of existing players. Secondly, only Brouwer has a Stanley Cup and, at age 26, is extremely hungry for more.

And, finally, bringing in Vokoun indicates that McPhee and Boudreau have officially acknowledged that the former starting tandem of Michael Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov wasn't enough to get them over the proverbial hump. (Neuvirth is still the Goalie of the Future -- for now -- while Varly's trade to Colorado yielded a first-round draft pick that could be a top-five selection come June.)

Keys to the Season

* Motivation: Although this should have been decided long ago, this team needs to show that it won't take a night off and will not play less than a full 60 minutes every game. This is the season to prove everybody wrong -- and one where how they play matters more than whether they win or lose.

* Playing for Each Other: This is perhaps the most important trait of a champion. Teams that win aren't selfish and don't care about any trophy except the Stanley Cup. It's time to put aside all of the "playoff style" comments and show that they're striving for excellence from day one. The new folks made the team deeper and more balanced, and now they've got to prove it on the ice.

* Tougher Competition: Like it or not, the Caps have a major target on their back. Not only have they won the Southeast Division four times in a row and the Eastern Conference twice, but they've got to improve to keep up with the competition. The defending champion Boston Bruins won their division but, seeded third, were somewhat quiet throughout the regular season before dominating in the playoffs. The Philadelphia Flyers are undergoing a chemistry experience that could end up being downright scary for their competition (or their locker room), while the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning are only getting better. It's time for the Caps to go deep into the playoffs and prove that they're for real.

Predictions

Best Case Scenario: As we've said for a while, the Caps' only ideal ending to the season is a Stanley Cup. They've got the roster to do it and GMGM always finds a way under the salary cap to make the right moves. It's up to the players to make history.

Worst Case Scenario: As in previous seasons, there's always the possibility that this group is a disaster, injuries hit like wildfire and the team falls apart -- leading to Boudreau's firing. Doubtful but possible.

What Should Happen: The team wins its fifth-straight division title, Vokoun has a career season and everything goes according to plan. I'm not saying they'll win the Cup, but a berth in the Eastern Conference finals should be a given unless the wheels fall off the wagon (as detailed above).

League-Wide Picks

Regular season division winners: Flyers (Atlantic), Bruins (Northeast), Caps (Southeast), Detroit Red Wings (Central), Vancouver Canucks (Northwest), and San Jose Sharks (Pacific).

Eastern Conference playoff teams (in no particular order): Flyers, Bruins, Caps, Penguins, Lightning, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Western Conference playoff teams (in no particular order): Red Wings, Canucks, Sharks, L.A. Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, and Dallas Stars.

Playoff conference champions: Flyers and Red Wings.

Your 2011-12 Stanley Cup champion: Flyers (as I first predicted in June).

Counting Down to the Regular Season

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:48:00 +0000

With just about two weeks left until the regular season, the Caps have all but finalized their roster. According to Capitals Insider, they're now down to 20 forwards, 12 defensemen (without Tom Poti, who might be out for the year) and three goaltenders.

Of those, the goalie position (with Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth) is set, and the top seven defensemen (John Carlson, Karl Alzner, Mike Green, Roman Hamrlik, Denis Wideman, John Erskine and Jeff Schultz) probably are too.

So that leaves the forwards. Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, Mike Knuble, Joel Ward, Alex Semin, Jason Chimera, Jeff Halpern, Matt Hendricks, Marcus Johansson, and Brooks Laich have definitely secured a spot. DJ King (unfortuantely) probably has too, which means the final spots will go to Jay Beagle, Christian Hanson, Mathieu Perreault, Mattias Sjogren and/or Cody Eakin.

Either way, this is a stronger team than Coach Bruce Boudreau has guided in the past. As with previous seasons, everything will evolve until the spring arrives. Until then, though, there will be a lot to watch. More on that as the regular season nears.

Summer Has Arrived

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:53:00 +0000

The Washington Capitals (and most of the NHL) are on summer break, so STC will join the party. If there's breaking news, we'll be sure to report it. Otherwise, see you in September!

Alzner Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:58:00 +0000

Defenseman Karl Alzner, the Washington Capitals' last remaining restricted free agent, signed a two-year deal today reportedly worth $2.57 million. That means the team is once again over the salary cap, meaning another transaction will be necessary.

It could mean a player like Eric Fehr, who was dealt to Winnipeg last week, will be traded or it could be the precursor to a long-awaited (at least by some) Alex Semin deal. That remains to be seen, but getting Alzner back is key.

Three Reasons to Trade Alex Semin

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:48:00 +0000

I've often said that you can find statistics to support any theory, and blogger Neil Greenberg follows that mantra with his recent post, "Statistical analysis: The importance of Alexander Semin." Well, my friend, here is a counter-argument:

Firstly, you don't address the playoffs. In 37 career playoff games, Semin has 12 goals -- and eight have come in two series against the New York Rangers. This past April, he had three goals and one assist against the Blueshirts and then one goal and one assist while being swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Against the Montreal Canadians last spring, he had two assists in the seven-game loss. In 2009, he had five goals and three assists against the Rangers, but no goals and six assists against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2008, he notched three goals and five assists against the Philadelphia Flyers.

So in his last two postseasons against the Lightning and Canadiens, he's got one goal and three assists. Take away the Rangers, and he's rather pedestrian in the postseason.

Secondly, Semin is incredibly inconsistent. Last season, Semin scored 28 goals, but they came in 20 games -- and he had a 17-game stretch where he didn't notch a goal. During the 2009-10 season, his 40 goals were scored in just 28 games, including just seven goals in November and December combined.

In 2008-09, his 34 goals were scored in -- you guessed it -- 28 games, including five goals in December and January. In 2007-08, his 26 goals were scored in 25 games, and he didn't score his 10th until mid-January.

Finally, Semin's playing style is the antithesis of the teams' approach. All of the players brought to the team, and for that matter many of the holdovers, have some grit with their skill and are mostly responsible in both ends of the ice. And while Semin is a decent penalty killer, he's hardly defensively responsible and has been known to disappear during the course of the game -- even in the offensive zone.

So while Semin's stats may support keeping him on the team, everything else says to trade him. For the upcoming season, trading the enigmatic winger would complete the transformation.

Caps Start Free Agency with a Bang

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:59:00 +0000

The Washington Capitals have continued their transformation to a hard-working, gritty, talented bunch through the signings of Joel Ward and Jeff Halpern. They also added veteran blueliner Roman Hamrlik and brought back Chris Bourque for some depth. Finally, they made a goaltending statement by sending Semyon Varlamov to Colorado and signing Tomas Vokoun. Other than Ward, nobody got more than a two-year deal (Hamrlik).

More and more, GM George McPhee is making it emphatically clear that the status quo is not acceptable and the players will need to be more accountable and adherent to Bruce Boudreau's system.

But there are still a few more questions. For example, who is going to be the second-line center? Will Alex Semin manage to stay with the club, despite the fact he looks more like an outsider every day? And, finally, how will the additions fit into the team's chemistry?

While many of these questions probably won't be answered until the fall, Semin's situation could be addressed sooner rather than later. With Karl Alzner and Troy Brouwer still needing contracts, and the team dangerously close to the salary cap, it seems that McPhee still has something up his sleeve.

My bet is that Semin is shown the door, clearing up $6.7 million in cap space that can be used for Alzner, Brouwer, and any trade-deadline additions. More than ever, the upcoming season is the team's best chance to make a deep playoff run.

The last two Stanley Cup champs, the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins, make it evident that grit is sometimes paramount to skill and teams that don't have accountability to each other won't succeed. The Caps are making great strides towards laying the groundwork for that this off-season, but the journey won't be an easy one.

Caps Sign Ward, Hamrlik

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:39:00 +0000

The Washington Capitals have added to their haul by inking defenseman Roman Hamrlik to a two-year deal and forward Joel Ward on a four-year pact.

Look for more later in the weekend.

Varlamov Traded to Colorado for Draft Picks

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:40:00 +0000

The Washington Capitals have announced that they have acquired a first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round pick in the 2012 or 2013 NHL Entry Draft from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Semyon Varlamov.

This is an interesting move on a number of fronts: One, it officially signifies that Michal Neuvirth is the organization's top goalie. However, it also could mean that Braden Holtby will go back to Hershey for another season if they can bring in a back-up goalie.

Finally, it could mean that the culture change has arrived and many more moves are on the way. Stay tuned.