How bout them Caps?

damnit458 · 03-03-2010, 04:52 PM

Evan Wrote:giant massive fail everywhere.
adbannana:

IMO its not all that bad. Our team is definitely better on the PK and on D with Belanger/Corvo, and all we gave up was Pothier (in regards to roster spots). Our D now looks like

Green-Schultz
Poti-Corvo
Morrison-Jurcina-Erskine

All in all that's better than what we started the day with.

And honestly, you can't really pass judgement on all of these trades until the season is over.

Apoc · 03-03-2010, 07:06 PM

Probably the worst defense that's going to make the playoffs... and no, I'm not just hating. They're tied for 16th in GA and they didn't really do anything to improve defense. Shultz is horrible and Green is Gonchar, but scores less. The offense can score, but they'll need to constantly outscore their defense throughout the playoffs. The offense has a few off games and they'll be in trouble.

edit before the ninja edit

DavidM Wrote:I think people are hate on the Caps D a lot more than they should. Sure we give up a lot of goals but Pittsburgh, Ottawa, and Montreal have all given up at least as many.

The Caps problem ain't gonna be those guys, it's gonna be San Jose or Chicago.

DavidM · 03-03-2010, 07:17 PM

Apoc Wrote:Probably the worst defense that's going to make the playoffs... and no, I'm not just hating. They're tied for 16th in GA and they didn't really do anything to improve defense. Shultz is horrible and Green is Gonchar, but scores less. The offense can score, but they'll need to constantly outscore their defense throughout the playoffs. The offense has a few off games and they'll be in trouble.

While obviously it would have been nice to get a strong blueliner I think people are hate on the Caps D a lot more than they should. Sure we give up a lot of goals but Pittsburgh, Ottawa, and Montreal have all given up at least as many. On top of that the Caps +70 goal differential is almost 3 times as good as anyone in the east (and 4 times as good as NJ, Pitt or Buf). I know that hockey changes in the playoffs and run and gun doesn't work as well but lets not get too excited about it too fast.

The defense did improve somewhat, we added a good defensemen and a good two way center/PK guy, and were so good at even strength that improving our PK will significantly improve our GAA. You are hating a little, Schultz is the top Dman in +/- and while hes no Chara he does play pretty consistently. I dunno what you mean about Green, he's leading the league in every offensive category with 14/46/60 while having played a handful less games than the other guys.

Apoc · 03-03-2010, 07:19 PM

DavidM Wrote:You are hating a little, Schultz is the top Dman in +/- and while hes no Chara he does play pretty consistently. I dunno what you mean about Green, he's leading the league in every offensive category with 14/46/60 while having played a handful less games than the other guys.

Schultz: because who he has as wingers... not because of him. It looks like he skates in mud with cinderblock boots on.

Green: Only problem with that is, they don't need O from him... they need D. (I meant Gonchar in his heyday)

damnit458 · 03-03-2010, 08:05 PM

Apoc Wrote:Probably the worst defense that's going to make the playoffs... and no, I'm not just hating. They're tied for 16th in GA and they didn't really do anything to improve defense. Shultz is horrible and Green is Gonchar, but scores less. The offense can score, but they'll need to constantly outscore their defense throughout the playoffs. The offense has a few off games and they'll be in trouble.

edit before the ninja edit

DavidM Wrote:I think people are hate on the Caps D a lot more than they should. Sure we give up a lot of goals but Pittsburgh, Ottawa, and Montreal have all given up at least as many.

The Caps problem ain't gonna be those guys, it's gonna be San Jose or Chicago.

The Caps D is not the worst of the playoff contenders (if anything that goes to Pittsburgh) and yes, you're hating if you think schultz is horrible or Green is as you say. Green is the best offensive Dman the league has seen in the last few years, and if you think that a team that is built upon puck possession and BB's system doesn't need what he brings you clearly don't know what the hell you're talking about. Not to mention getting rid of sloan, and improving their PK clearly helps their defense.

And even if you are right, and their problem is one of the two teams you listed, I can live with them getting to the finals.

Apoc · 03-03-2010, 09:07 PM

Keep drinkin' the Kool Aid homer. Tongue

damnit458 · 03-03-2010, 09:33 PM

Apoc Wrote:Keep drinkin' the Kool Aid homer.

Just because the Flyers we're too hamstringed by terrible contracts to make a move doesn't mean you need to be bitter :wink:

Evan · 03-04-2010, 01:21 PM

damnit458 Wrote:
Evan Wrote:giant massive fail everywhere.
adbannana:

IMO its not all that bad. Our team is definitely better on the PK and on D with Belanger/Corvo, and all we gave up was Pothier (in regards to roster spots).

ok, so here is my take.

#1: No players are impact players. Maybe role players, but they are all mediocre and IMO dont add any significant depth or anything we really need for the playoffs which leads me to:

#2: All players are in their final contract year so will be free agents after the season. If we really liked them we could have signed them after the playoffs without giving anything up. Since they dont add much to the playoff run I dont see why they are worth anything in trade.

#3: The only significant needs the team has : first pairing defenseman and cup caliber goalie were not addressed.

Corvo: stats - only 12 points this season but more importantly negative 6 +/-
thats not so great for a "offensive" defenseman. (which we dont need anyway)
I dont know if he is a good defenseman but I thought Pothier was pretty solid too. Even Boudreau said last night that he is a 4th defender.
gave up a second round pick for him plus pothier plus a good winger prospect? fucking shit. worst trade of the decade.

walker is old and clearly close to the bottom of his career. 5 points all year. supposedly he is a "tough guy"
whatever. we have one of those already, who has 4 times as many points this season.

Belanger could be solid, 35 points so far this year and he is good at faceoffs and penalty kill. Sounds a lot like Steckel.
Of all the players I like him the best but I still dont think there is a need for him. still not worth a 2nd rounder.

so to rent these 3 donkeys for the rest of the season we give up 2 2nd round picks, a solid defenseman and a winger prospect who from what I have read sounds like he could be a great player pretty soon.

seems to me like another NOW NOW NOW trade attitude (which McPhee said he wouldnt do) giving up some more high picks, when this may not be the Caps year anyway (and these guys certainly wont make that change)

massive fail.

damnit458 · 03-04-2010, 07:45 PM

Evan Wrote:#1: No players are impact players. Maybe role players, but they are all mediocre and IMO dont add any significant depth or anything we really need for the playoffs which leads me to:

What impact players were traded? Hamhuis wasn't moved, Kubina wasn't moved, Kaberle wasn't moved. The only better Dman they could have gotten was Seidenberg or Visnovsky. What goalies were moved? Halak, and a few backups. Points are not all that players bring. Belanger is 57% in faceoffs, and kills penalties, something the caps have been woeful at this year and last. He also gives them depth at the center position, so they don't have to keep playing flash there.

Evan Wrote:#2: All players are in their final contract year so will be free agents after the season. If we really liked them we could have signed them after the playoffs without giving anything up. Since they dont add much to the playoff run I dont see why they are worth anything in trade.

Signing them after the playoffs does nothing for this year. Plus, in a league with a hard salary cap, UFA's are valuable. You forget the Caps have to resign Backstrom, Semin, Flash, Fehr, Varlamov in the next year year or two, which means they can't take on people who have expensive contracts past this year. That eliminates Visnovsky, Voukoun, etc.

Evan Wrote:#3: The only significant needs the team has : first pairing defenseman and cup caliber goalie were not addressed.

This I agree with. I think Corvo is an upgrade over Pothier, but as you say he isn't that first pairing Dman we've been lacking. I think Varlamov can be what we need in goal, but his health is an issue. I guess you could just say I think the East is weak enough this year that we'll make a deep run with what we have, and more importantly we keep the bluechip prospects that we have now (Carlson, Alzner).

Am I completely happy with how the deadline went? No. Do I think we improved our team without giving up our future? Yes

damnit458 · 03-04-2010, 08:03 PM

Nvm, my mistake

Evan · 03-04-2010, 11:36 PM

Hahah and here goes walker scoring 2 tonight to make me look like a jerk Tongue

damnit458 Wrote:What impact players were traded? .....Signing them after the playoffs does nothing for this year.

sure, I totally agree. I would just rather do nothing than throw away a couple of picks and a good young player on mediocre temporary players that dont really fill any huge gaps.
Two 2nds and a prospect probably isnt totally throwing away the future or anything, just not really worth it for the talent we got back IMO.

damnit458 · 03-05-2010, 12:42 AM

Any of you guys planning on going to any of the playoff games? I bit the bullet last year and made the drive up for the weekend to go to one, and didn't regret it one bit. Tickets can be a bit pricey, but outside of Death Valley that was the loudest and most electric sporting event I've ever been to. It didn't hurt that it was the Ovie/Crosby hat trick game as well :wink:

I'm leaning towards trying to do the same this year, although we'll see who they end up drawing in the first round.

Apoc · 03-05-2010, 07:29 PM

I'll be at a few, depending on who they play.

Jewels · 03-06-2010, 08:30 AM

damnit458 Wrote:Any of you guys planning on going to any of the playoff games? I bit the bullet last year and made the drive up for the weekend to go to one, and didn't regret it one bit. Tickets can be a bit pricey, but outside of Death Valley that was the loudest and most electric sporting event I've ever been to. It didn't hurt that it was the Ovie/Crosby hat trick game as well :wink:

I'm leaning towards trying to do the same this year, although we'll see who they end up drawing in the first round.

Rex may be at a few this year just like last. Depends on how kind is brother is with his tickets. Last year Rex went to 3 playoff games I think.

Evan · 03-14-2010, 08:19 PM

I sure picked the wrong game to turn off after the 2nd period.

Jewels · 03-15-2010, 06:34 AM

Evan Wrote:I sure picked the wrong game to turn off after the 2nd period.

Us too. We really thought it was over so we went and ran errands. Came back and checked the score and kicked ourselves.

CaptainHenreh · 03-15-2010, 09:31 AM

What do you guys thing of Ovie boarding Campbell? He clearly did, and the rules are pretty clear about what's boarding and what isn't (despite Bruce's "He hit him from the side BS") and Ovie definitely boarded him. Think he deserved a Major?

Evan · 03-15-2010, 10:59 AM

I was actually just talking with a coworker about this. The problem is that the NHL doesnt necessarily penalize the action as much as the result. ex: a high sticking is 'worse' if it draws blood. Which is an absolutely fucktarded way of enforcing rules. In every other sport its the action that is penalized, with more flagrant and severe actions being penalized worse, not what the action ends up doing (Which is largely chance)
On top of that you have complete inconsistencies of officiating such as Cookes hit on Savard and the NHL and its officials look like a bunch of clueless idiots who dont know what they are doing.

going with the assumption that it was boarding, it should have been a regular minor and gone on with the game. But because by chance the guy caught a skate wrong and hit the boards hard its penalized worse.

but really, it was a one handed shove to the guys shoulder. it was borderline "from the back" and no NHL caliber player should hit the ice that hard on a routine battle for the puck

Evan · 03-15-2010, 10:32 PM

2 games. After doing nothing about Cookes brutal head hit.
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/15/AR2010031503654.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/15/AR2010031503654.html</a>

What a coincidence Ovechkin's suspension means he will miss a game against the team Colin Campbell's (league disciplinarian) son plays for....

these donkeys are seriously taking the fun out of hockey

kcook · 03-16-2010, 12:47 AM

I just watched the highlights from sundays game vs the blackhawks. holy shit. I fell asleep after the 2nd period so I missed the entire 3rd + OT and didnt think to check the score when I woke up since I thought we wouldn't come back from 0-3. Great comeback by the caps even w/o OV

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