2008 Washington Capitals thread

[hockeysc23 0]

Ovechkin always maxes out his abilities, so don't count on anything "extra from him".

Washington's two biggest jokers are Federov and Kozlov, if they decide to suddenly give it 110% this team could go as far as the eastern conference final.

Have you watched any games with Feds or Kozlov? Kozlov works well along the boards and is hard to push off the puck which creates space for Ovie. I don't have the stats on hand but he has played a pivital role with very high scoring wingers (see Bure).

Fed has won very key faceoffs for the Caps, provided veteran leadership, great on the PK including setting up several shg's, and teaching Semin how to play defensive hockey.

I think these 2 players are very important for the caps.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

This is an interview fedorov gave to sports-express, a russian paper.

Someone over on the caps boards translated the relevant parts, so here they are...

It appears that he likes it here in washington. And he was not a fan of Columbus...

You played a lot for good teams and as a result you couldn't help the national team a lot. Don't you think that it would be right to finish your career playing in the upcoming World Cup this spring?

Why not? Sure. The national team has difficult time to win championships now. However I am not sure about ending my career now.

...

To be honest, do you feel like it's the end of your career and it's time to finish it now?

Not yet. Especially that we got into the playoffs now. And then I'll think about it in the summer. I still enjoy playing and prepare myself for games like I used to. Especially here. After Columbus it's paradise here. They rely on me, I am trusted to play in the crucial episodes. And what counts the most: I still can play well. To be honest, I think that I can come back to playing on the same level how I used to play. Those three season in Columbus, you can say that, killed my hockey senses.

Do you like your role of a babysitter with the young players?

Actually I didn’t expect this role, but now I like it.

...

Is it more difficult to get up in the morning after the games?

It’s all right. (Laughs) Maybe after really hard games the body hurts a little here a little there. I am a human, but not a robot. But the last three weeks have changed my views on everything including my future.

Does that mean that you still want to play?

Yes

In the summer you become UFA. If Washington tells you: “Come back, Sergey. We cannot give you a lot of money, but we might get into playoffs again and you will play a lot?”

That’s why we have summer. I’ll think then. The most important things get decided now.

What do you feel at this point in your career? Have you made any discoveries or you look at it as business?

The biggest discovery is that I really like it here in Washington. Here I felt again that I like playing hockey. The coach uses me the way how I got used to in my long career. Actually in the last three seasons I played partially, I could say especially in my previous team.

What do you mean by this?

PP and PK. Face-offs in our zone and in critical episodes of the game.

And as a playmaker?

To some extent, but not fully. We have a lot of guys who are very talented and can play a lot of minutes. I am not the best thing in the world, but I have arole where I can help the team. In my previous team I didn’t have that role. The guys there are as talented as here, but the system there is more important than talented players. That’s how the management saw it.

... But here in Washington I feel fresh. Here the coach feels the hockey rhythm and the team doesn’t like just to throw the puck out of the zone. Here the guys love and can play with the puck in offensive and defensive zone.

“feels the hockey rhythm ", by this you mean the ice time distribution depending on the pace of a game?

Yes. I cannot say that I play here in Washington more than in Anaheim or Columbus. Let’s say that in one of our games I played just 18 and a half minutes. There were long intervals when I wasn’t on the ice. But! There was a key episode when I played every other shift or every third shift. Particularly I played on PK. That’s what I really like.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

New "first time" commercial, narrated by Ovey for the playoffs

http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=619&id=15946

[RadioGaGa 162]

New "first time" commercial, narrated by Ovey for the playoffs

http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=619&id=15946

His English has really improved.

[hockeysc23 0]

On another note:

1. I was wondering if anyone knew anywhere I could get a caps bandanna or fabric?

2. Is anyone going to the DC101 RAWK the HAWK promotion? If so anyway you can try and get me one of the t-shirts I'll gladly pay for it and make it worth it :) I want to go but I shaved my head a couple weeks ago so no hair for the hawk.

[Xi Retlah iX 0]

Anyone know if Nylander is coming back at all? all ive seen is hes out for the rest of the reg. season.

[UMWhockey 0]

I think it is safe to say that he will be out for the play-offs, but I guess you never know what will happen if the Caps make a deep run. Really I think you need to look any harder than at what Carolina did trying to bring back some of their injured players in the last couple games of the season. If a team is on a roll, I wouldn't want to tinker with the line-up too much

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

They talked about it in the Caps Report on Wednesday. The rumour is unfounded, and he will not be back before next season.

[Xi Retlah iX 0]

yea, i was kind of hoping they wouldnt rush him to return. Carolina magically had a few of their injured players come back for the final few games and i think it cost them.

[dangle 0]

Whats the news on Chris Clark? Will he be incorporated into the playoff lineup?

[hockeysc23 0]

Whats the news on Chris Clark? Will he be incorporated into the playoff lineup?

I think he is optimistic but I won't believe it. He has missed 50+ games to rush back now it would take awhile to build back up chemistry as well as get his legs back under him.

I'd love to see our Captain on the ice but I dont think this is the season.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Some news and notes to round out the caps season...

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitalsinsider/

*Bruce Boudreau recently signed a multi-year extension that will keep him as coach for a "long time", he said. He'll be house hunting in Maryland soon.

*Olie Kolzig came and went before most of the other players even arrived. He also skipped the mandatory team meeting. That doesn't seem to bode well for his future here. Kolzig told a team spokesman that he "just needed some time".

*General Manager George McPhee said he plans to extend a qualifying offer to defenseman Steve Eminger, despite the fact that Eminger played so sparingly. Eminger said he would he open to returning, but would obviously like more playing time.

*The Calder Trophy candidates were announced today. They are: Pat Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Nicklas Backstrom.

*McPhee acknowledged that defenseman Brian Pothier's career could be in jeopardy. Pothier has been out since January with a concussion.

*McPhee also acknowledged that the team is very "concerned" about captain Chris Clark's groin injury, which improved but never was good enough for him to return.

*Boudreau said that defenseman Shaone Morrisonn played the past two weeks with broken jaw, which made it tough for him to eat. He also said Mike Green was hampered with hip pointer (suffered in Game 6) and a foot injury last game, and that Boyd Gordon had a torn hamstring in the playoffs.

Boudreau also said Ovechkin was suffering from a nagging injury, which is why he didn't practice for the last month of the regular season. Everyone suspected that he was hurting a bit, but since he didn't miss any time or lose any effectiveness, it never became much of an issue. I asked Ovechkin if it was his groin, he said "no". He also refused to say what exactly was bothering him.

[hockeysc23 0]

Damn beat me too it smoke.

Glad coach BB is locked up. The Kolzig news concerns me as does the Chris Clark news.

[chippa13 1844]

Kolzig has had a nice run. I think with it obvious that the Caps will be hitching their wagon to Huet that Olie decided that he didn't want to go out as a backup.

[hockeysc23 0]

Kolzig has had a nice run. I think with it obvious that the Caps will be hitching their wagon to Huet that Olie decided that he didn't want to go out as a backup.

Very true. Wish Olie could've had a better last game then the 5-0 shelling that he was left out to dry for. Im curious to see what teams might make a play for him. Off the top of my mind:

Senators, Edmonton, Tampa Bay (maybe?), Detroit, Avs.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Kolzig has had a nice run. I think with it obvious that the Caps will be hitching their wagon to Huet that Olie decided that he didn't want to go out as a backup.

Very true. Wish Olie could've had a better last game then the 5-0 shelling that he was left out to dry for. Im curious to see what teams might make a play for him. Off the top of my mind:

Senators, Edmonton, Tampa Bay (maybe?), Detroit, Avs.

If he doesn't want to be a back up...I think that list shortens to Ottawa/Tampa doesn't it? I could see him ousting either of the current No 1's there...but Roloson & Osgood are Solid #1's and I would think that Col is interested in bringing back Theo after his re-birth of confidence.

[hockeysc23 0]

Kolzig has had a nice run. I think with it obvious that the Caps will be hitching their wagon to Huet that Olie decided that he didn't want to go out as a backup.

Very true. Wish Olie could've had a better last game then the 5-0 shelling that he was left out to dry for. Im curious to see what teams might make a play for him. Off the top of my mind:

Senators, Edmonton, Tampa Bay (maybe?), Detroit, Avs.

If he doesn't want to be a back up...I think that list shortens to Ottawa/Tampa doesn't it? I could see him ousting either of the current No 1's there...but Roloson & Osgood are Solid #1's and I would think that Col is interested in bringing back Theo after his re-birth of confidence.

No idea I was just throwing out teams I could think of that don't have a clear cut #1. Who knows whats going on in Olie's head. I mean Huet could not re-sign and the caps would be really screwed.

Caps have invested a lot in finding out how good Huet is ... lets hope this gamble pays off.

[D-MaN88 0]

No way as an Avs fan do I want Kolzig. Nothing against the man as he has had a nice run in his career but the Avs have no use for him. More than likely Billy Sauer will be in an Avs uniform next season so it will be what I'm thinking Theo in at #1 til he can't keep it anymore then Sauer to come in for the relief. The Avs are pretty much set on tendys for the time being, no need for Kolzig so I'm hoping to God they don't go after him.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

I think Huet is going to stick with the Caps. How can a person not be excited to play there with all those young guns, which I can think can draw the attention of some vets. Playing with youth can kinda bring back some youthfulness in a vet. As for Kolzig, I can see him sticking around in the Eastern Conference, with some of the lower teams like Tampa, or Atlanta who don't really have anything going for them. Like stated, I could see Ottawa going for him to just to have for a few years.

In the West, I could see LA making a drop for him, along with the possibility of Columbus, who I could see getting rid of Norrena for Olie to split time with Leclaire until he develops into a more consistent goalie.

Thats just my two cents but who knows what can happen. I just think Huet will sign with the Caps without to much hesitation, the team can show they can win and they aren't the same team that started off the season last year.

[chippa13 1844]

I'd say Atlanta is set with Lehtonen.

[hockeysc23 0]

I'd say Atlanta is set with Lehtonen.

Isn't Kari an UFA or RFA? I think he has said several times he doesn't like being left out to dry by Atlanta.

If they want to go an Olie for Kari swap I am all for it.

As for Olie to the Avs Im shocked to hear an Avs fan say that. It seems all good Cap vets make their trips through colorado (Hunter, Kono, and a few others whose names escape me at the moment).

[chippa13 1844]

If Hunter and Konowalchuk top your list of Caps veterans then I have to question your qualifications for all good Cap vets.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I'd say Atlanta is set with Lehtonen.

Isn't Kari an UFA or RFA? I think he has said several times he doesn't like being left out to dry by Atlanta.

If they want to go an Olie for Kari swap I am all for it.

As for Olie to the Avs Im shocked to hear an Avs fan say that. It seems all good Cap vets make their trips through colorado (Hunter, Kono, and a few others whose names escape me at the moment).

Didn't Nikolishin play there. I thought Kono wanted to be traded to them if possible after he was told by GMGM he wasn't in the long term plans, andbecause he was a professional about it, they obliged?

Or am I thinking of someone else?

[chippa13 1844]

Nikolishin stopped in Chicago on his way to west to Colorado.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Nikolishin stopped in Chicago on his way to west to Colorado.

But I think he was in Colorado when Kono was traded there.

He and Kono were buddies and he said how great a place it was.

I could be remembering wrong, but Niko's in my head for whatever reason