Jason Arnott UFA
This past season the 36 year old center was being paid $4.5 million, he was a great fit in DC up until the 2nd round series with Tampa Bay. The entire team struggled and Arnott was no exception. I think there is a chance that Arnott is back in a Cap uniform next season, but the numbers are going to be a lot different. If the Caps resign him I suspect it will be in the 2-2.5 million range.
Prediction: Gone
Marco Sturm UFA
Sturm was a good mid season addition when you consider they gave up nothing to get him. Sturm played well at times, and looked lost at other times. I would be very surprised to see him back next year.
Prediction: Gone
Brooks Laich UFA
When you think about the Caps paying 6.7 million dollars for Semin, it is not unreasonable to say he is being overpaid. Unfortunately, in the salary cap era a team can only afford to overpay for so many guys. The scenario I imagine unfolding around Laich is the Caps offer him a fair contract, but he holds on singing until after July 1, where another team will offer him a lot more money. As a result, Brooks is not in a Caps uniform next year. Having said that, so much has been made of Laich's character during his tenure in Washington that it would not surprise me if he took less money to stay.
Prediction: Gone
Matt Bradley UFA
A fan favorite and a great teammate Bradley is getting older and due to much depth at the 4th line wing position he is dispensable.
Prediction: Gone
Boyd Gordon UFA
Gordon has performed great in a PK role and as the fourth line center. Guys like Gordon are not easy to come by and I think McPhee will be very active in making sure Gordon is back in a Caps uniform next season.
Prediction: Back
Scott Hannan UFA
Hannan was a solid mid season addition, however, his play really sputtered in the playoffs. The lightning were really able to use their speed to make Hannan seem like an AHL quality defenseman. With 6 defenseman already under contract for next year it makes it seem unlikely the Caps will resign Hannan.
Prediction: Gone. The only way the Caps would resign him is if the numbers in terms of dollars were advantageous for the Caps. I can't foresee a scenario where another team is not willing to pay Hannan a substantial amount for his services.
Karl Alzner RFA
Most likely the Caps number one off season priority. Would be very surprised to see him anywhere but Washington next season.
Prediction: Back
Semyon Varlamov
Prediction: Gone. Two scenarios I can see happening. The first is that he goes to the KHL and he is no longer the Caps property, or problem. The second scenario is the Caps deal his rights at some point this summer.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
My Thoughts
Dear Washington Capitals,
You did it again. You were poised for greatness and now you are an afterthought of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Disappointed, chokers, and heartbroken represent a short list of the many words I have heard to describe the events of this Caps season.
While I am upset, my level of devastation has now dissipated and I am completely at peace with what transpired over the course of the last week. I am finding the people who seem to be most distraught by the Caps sudden eviction from the playoffs are the "bandwagon" fans. The people who are the newly minted "Rock the Red" era fans, the ones who can't stand to see another DC sports team become the punchline of the sporting world.
First and foremost, I do not have any problem with "bandwagon" fans. I love to see so many people showing an interest in the sport, and I harbor no bitterness towards them. When it really comes down to it, we are all, to some extent "bandwagon" fans. None of us came out of the womb with a Caps t-shirt on. Every single fan's level of passion was sparked by one singular event, for some that event occurred at an earlier place in time.
For me, my first Caps memory came when I was five years old. I went with my mom and uncle to see the Caps play the Flyers at USAir Arena. I have almost no recollection of the game, except for the score (3-0 Flyers), and Dale Hunter's disallowed goal. The ensuing sight and sound of the Caps goal siren will be forever etched into my memory, and my love for the team and the sport grew from there.
I have been a die hard supporter of the team for the majority of my life, and there is nothing in sports that would make me happier than to see the Caps win a Stanley Cup. However, them losing does not eat away at my soul like it does to many. I have read too many articles, tweets, and Facebook posts that would lead me to believe that there is a direct correlation to the Caps losing and an end of the world scenario.
I began to wonder why my level of frustration did not parallel that of many other fans. I knew the answer was not because I lacked the passion for the team, or that I did not care about the team. I was somewhat perplexed by the question, and then it hit me.
I love them unconditionally. In fact there are very few things I love in life more that hockey, and more than this team. My love, however, does not come from idolizing players, or because the Caps are trendy and hip. Instead, it comes from the profound impact the Washington Capitals have had on my life. Some of my greatest memories are a result of experiences I have had with this team.
I was there when Petr Nedved iced the Caps in the 4th Overtime. I felt like I had lost a friend when Jim Carey was traded. I was there when Peter Bondra got a hat trick on souvenir cup night at USAir Arena, and there were thousands of broken pieces of plastic on the ice from the cups being hurled in celebration. I remember Joe Juneau's goal that sent the Caps to their first Stanley Cup, and I was there for Game 4 of the ensuing sweep at the hands of the Red Wings. I even sat in the Garden and watched the Caps lose in a 16 round shootout to the Rangers.
I was at Verizon Center many nights when it was so empty that the noise level was comparable to that of a public library. I was there for the infamous "Fire Hanlon" game, and the next home game, which was coincidentally Bruce Boudreau's first.
I was there for Hunter, the Chief, Simon, Killer, Tinordi, Peat, Brashear, and the rest of the never ending list of pugilists. I've seen Bondra, Pivonka, Ridley, Langway, Johansson, Miller, and of course Ovechkin. The name Esa Tikkanen makes me cringe, but Segei Fedorov always can bring a smile out of me.
I sat through the good times and the bad, I was there for Jagr, the firesale, the rebuild, and the now. Abandoning the team was never an option, they have become way too much a part of my life. I have an infinite amount of great memories with them and no matter how much they disappoint me I will always support them.
I suppose it really is not about the wins or the losses, but instead its the feeling I get every time I walk into Verizon Center for a hockey game. Whether they are a last place team of NHL journeymen, or a first place team made of first rate superstars, the Caps are the Caps, and for that I will always love them.
For better or for worse, I have been there, and I will always be there. The wins are nice, but the memories are even better.
Sincerely,
A Fan for Life
You did it again. You were poised for greatness and now you are an afterthought of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Disappointed, chokers, and heartbroken represent a short list of the many words I have heard to describe the events of this Caps season.
While I am upset, my level of devastation has now dissipated and I am completely at peace with what transpired over the course of the last week. I am finding the people who seem to be most distraught by the Caps sudden eviction from the playoffs are the "bandwagon" fans. The people who are the newly minted "Rock the Red" era fans, the ones who can't stand to see another DC sports team become the punchline of the sporting world.
First and foremost, I do not have any problem with "bandwagon" fans. I love to see so many people showing an interest in the sport, and I harbor no bitterness towards them. When it really comes down to it, we are all, to some extent "bandwagon" fans. None of us came out of the womb with a Caps t-shirt on. Every single fan's level of passion was sparked by one singular event, for some that event occurred at an earlier place in time.
For me, my first Caps memory came when I was five years old. I went with my mom and uncle to see the Caps play the Flyers at USAir Arena. I have almost no recollection of the game, except for the score (3-0 Flyers), and Dale Hunter's disallowed goal. The ensuing sight and sound of the Caps goal siren will be forever etched into my memory, and my love for the team and the sport grew from there.
I have been a die hard supporter of the team for the majority of my life, and there is nothing in sports that would make me happier than to see the Caps win a Stanley Cup. However, them losing does not eat away at my soul like it does to many. I have read too many articles, tweets, and Facebook posts that would lead me to believe that there is a direct correlation to the Caps losing and an end of the world scenario.
I began to wonder why my level of frustration did not parallel that of many other fans. I knew the answer was not because I lacked the passion for the team, or that I did not care about the team. I was somewhat perplexed by the question, and then it hit me.
I love them unconditionally. In fact there are very few things I love in life more that hockey, and more than this team. My love, however, does not come from idolizing players, or because the Caps are trendy and hip. Instead, it comes from the profound impact the Washington Capitals have had on my life. Some of my greatest memories are a result of experiences I have had with this team.
I was there when Petr Nedved iced the Caps in the 4th Overtime. I felt like I had lost a friend when Jim Carey was traded. I was there when Peter Bondra got a hat trick on souvenir cup night at USAir Arena, and there were thousands of broken pieces of plastic on the ice from the cups being hurled in celebration. I remember Joe Juneau's goal that sent the Caps to their first Stanley Cup, and I was there for Game 4 of the ensuing sweep at the hands of the Red Wings. I even sat in the Garden and watched the Caps lose in a 16 round shootout to the Rangers.
I was at Verizon Center many nights when it was so empty that the noise level was comparable to that of a public library. I was there for the infamous "Fire Hanlon" game, and the next home game, which was coincidentally Bruce Boudreau's first.
I was there for Hunter, the Chief, Simon, Killer, Tinordi, Peat, Brashear, and the rest of the never ending list of pugilists. I've seen Bondra, Pivonka, Ridley, Langway, Johansson, Miller, and of course Ovechkin. The name Esa Tikkanen makes me cringe, but Segei Fedorov always can bring a smile out of me.
I sat through the good times and the bad, I was there for Jagr, the firesale, the rebuild, and the now. Abandoning the team was never an option, they have become way too much a part of my life. I have an infinite amount of great memories with them and no matter how much they disappoint me I will always support them.
I suppose it really is not about the wins or the losses, but instead its the feeling I get every time I walk into Verizon Center for a hockey game. Whether they are a last place team of NHL journeymen, or a first place team made of first rate superstars, the Caps are the Caps, and for that I will always love them.
For better or for worse, I have been there, and I will always be there. The wins are nice, but the memories are even better.
Sincerely,
A Fan for Life
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Whoever Wins Game 3
Whichever team wins tonight will win the series. That is my rather simplistic outlook on the Caps current situation. If they go down 3-0 they are then relegated to Death Row. Maybe you prolong the inevitable by winning Game's 4 and 5, but the overwhelming odds are stacked against you. Also being down 3-0 with game 4 less than 24 hours would only add to the myriad of obstacles that would be facing the Caps.
Conversely, a win tonight puts a lot of pressure on Tampa to take game 4 on home ice. When you couple that with a quick 24 hour layoff, the Caps should be sitting pretty come Wednesday night/early Thursday morning on their plane ride home with a tied series.
I guess we will know tonight who is going to win the series. No, that's not true. What I really mean is we will know tonight whether or not the Capitals have any chance at winning this series.
Conversely, a win tonight puts a lot of pressure on Tampa to take game 4 on home ice. When you couple that with a quick 24 hour layoff, the Caps should be sitting pretty come Wednesday night/early Thursday morning on their plane ride home with a tied series.
I guess we will know tonight who is going to win the series. No, that's not true. What I really mean is we will know tonight whether or not the Capitals have any chance at winning this series.
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