I'm going to tell you: we have a good team. And we might make the playoffs this year. Everyone thought that we would only have kids in our team this season, because they were numerous at training camp, but that won't happen. We'll have a good team when the season begins, with a good mix of experience and talent (some players have both) and I believe in our chances. Not for the Cup, of course, but for the playoffs.
I don't think GMGM will make other major moves after acquiring Friesen. Semin doesn't come... we get Friesen, period. If Sykora shows up (more and more unlikely every day), he's our second-line RW (I believe Willsie will stay with Ovechkin and Cassels). If he doesn't show up, Pettinger, or Clark, or Bradley, or Clymer, or even Zalesak, will be given a chance. Clark, Bradley and Pettinger are roughly 10-goal scorers at the NHL level, but most of the time they don't play second-line minutes, so they could score more. Clymer scored 14 goals for Tampa in 2001-2002, on a second line (with Prospal and Lecavalier, if I remember); that's not far from what we probably expect from our second-liners: 15-20 goals. Zalesak doesn't have much NHL experience, but he's a one-point-per-game guy at the AHL level, so he's probably not far either. Anyway, it's not a problem AT ALL. We have good lines, and good solutions in case of injuries.
Top line: the Ovechkin (20-year old) - Cassels (36) - Willsie (27) combination is already working, after only one game. Ovechkin: first pick overall in 2004, full of talent... I don't expect 40 goals from him, but he should score enough (25-30) and draw tons of penalties. He's a winner and wants to be a star as soon as this year. Vanek who? We have Ovechkin. We must not be jealous of any other NHL team. Cassels (17th overall in 1987): one of the best passers in the league, and it's not unreasonable to expect from him more goals than Oates in his last year here... 20 goals, for example. Willsie: 10 goals in 49 games with us in 2003-2004, that's 17 goals for a full season. Hopefully, he'll score 20. If he doesn't, there's still the guys I've mentioned above, plus Fehr that we can call up.
Second line: Friesen (29) - Zubrus (27) - Pettinger (24). A bad Friesen (drafted 11th overall in 1994) scores 17 goals; a good Friesen scores 31 goals. I'll be happy with 25. Zubrus (15th overall in 1996) had his best year with us in 2001-2002: 17 goals. Hopefully, he'll score as many this year. The RW spot will be taken by anyone showing the ability to score 20 goals.
Third line: it seems Clymer (27) - Halpern (29) - Clark (29) was their original idea. Of course, they could decide to move Halpern up (Friesen-Halpern-Zubrus), and he would be replaced with Sutherby or Gordon on the checking line, but in any case, we should have a solid third line with experience and scoring potential. Clymer was drafted 27th overall, Halpern 26th, and Clark 77th.
Fourth line: Sutherby (23) - Gordon (21) - Peat (25). There are fourth lines with less talent, you know... They were respectively drafted 26th, 17th and 32nd overall. And they can score the occasional goal. I thought Gordon would get sent down, and Aulin would stay... but it seems Gordon's ability as a penalty killer has played in his favor. We can expect a lot of hard work from them, and some goals too.
Scratches: Zalesak (25) and Bradley (27).
Age average: 26. No Jagr, no Bondra, no Lang, no Nylander... but we don't look ridiculous at all.
Defense: we still have eleven guys at training camp, so four of them will get sent down; if we don't trade Witt before opening day, that is. As I see it, are sure to play: Witt (30), Eminger (almost 22), and Heward (34), drafted respectively 11th, 12th and 16th overall, as well as Majesky (29), who's potentially our best defensive defenseman (hopefully, he'll be able to play soon). Why Eminger? Because GMGM seemed to want him to play here for good, and learn in the big league. Morrisonn (22), drafted 19th overall: I believe he could be sent down. Muir (32): they didn't play him much so far, so I won't be surprised if he doesn't stay, despite his experience. Nycholat (26): Hershey. Biron (25), drafted 21st overall: spent the entire 2003-2004 season in the NHL (missed games due to an injury), and should stay as a 6th or 7th defenseman. Green (19), drafted 29th overall: I think he's won a spot in all those preseason games. Cutta (23): I never believed in him, for some reason. Yonkman (24): if Morrisonn doesn't stay, there's a spot for him, I think; he'll have to win the job in the next preseason games... unless he injures himself at practice.
Possible pairings: Witt-Green, Majesky-Eminger, Heward-Yonkman, Biron. That's weak. If we want more experience: Witt-Eminger, Majesky-Biron/Morrisonn, Heward-Muir. Obviously, defense will be the main problem this year. It's probably why the cuts have yet to be made for that group.
Goaltending: Kolzig (35), drafted 19th overall, has shown that he's still our old Kolzig, and that's great news. Ouellet (24), 22nd overall: it's time for him to prove that he'll be the franchise goaltender that we expect. Kolzig could get traded to a contender at the trade deadline, so Ouellet doesn't have many years in front of him.
Disclaimer: I'm no expert, and I'm not well informed. I only say what I feel, and I would have given a different lineup yesterday... or even two hours ago.
Yonkman: "... unless he injures himself at practice." Or, injures another one of his teammates! Remember the Nylander incident? I hope Yonks has gotten all that injury bug out of his system and that he can play this year.
I agree with you, Marc. I don't think the team will be as bad as people expect, at least, offensively. There are a few guys that can put the puck in the net. Better than that, however, I think the team has character as a whole.
Defense will be a big concern, no matter which way you look at it. That's why I don't understand why they didn't bring back Doig. He may not have been the best around, but, he was generally solid (OK, he did make some mistakes, but everyone does), he was tough, and he wasn't afraid to drop the gloves when necessary. I think he would have been a good addition on a young team like that.
I also suspect (but hope it doesn't happen) that Olie will get traded at the deadline. As he said on a local radio show, he would like to end his career playing for one team. On the other hand, he is getting older and he'd like a chance at a Cup. He hopes to be able to do it sooner rather than later with the youngsters here. (Or maybe, with whomever comes calling come playoff time, eh?)
Anyway, for right now, your proposed lineups sound OK to me too. For being as far away as you are, you do a pretty good job of keeping up with things.
Apa: I expect 220 goals. 1st line: 70 goals (30+20+20), 2nd line: 60 (25+15+20), 3rd line: 50 (15+20+15), 4th line and other forwards: 20, defensemen: 20 (10 by Heward).
Half of the teams that made the playoffs last season had scored less than 220 goals, and two teams missed them with 220 and 221 goals scored.
So, you're right: defense should be everything. No team made the playoffs with more than 217 goals against. But defense is team effort and we have the guys for that: lots of two-way forwards, big defensemen, good goalies.
Hopefully, we'll be lucky in the shootouts, too. I don't think we'll get blown out all the time.
"My only place of disagreement is that I think MOrrison is a major leaguer at this point, unless GMGM wants to go older at D for now."
Agree. He's still on my projected lineup on WWS, by the way. But it's not because he would start in Hershey that we would not see him this season. I believe we'll try to start with experienced d-men, to see who among them is not reliable (Muir? Biron?)... then we'll replace the black sheep with the strongest guy in Hershey. Also: I don't think we'll have three unexperienced defensemen in our opening day lineup. Eminger (58 NHL games), Morrisonn (44) and Yonkman (12), even paired with older guys, that would be a recipe for disaster. Two should be a max. If I said that Morrisonn could end up in Hershey, it's because when we acquired him, he played 13 games for the Pirates and only 3 for the Caps.
So, if we only have two young defensemen in uniform, one should be Eminger, and the other one could be either Green or Morrisonn. Biron (201 NHL games) could be the 7th man.
Roland: Yes, I remember that, LOL! I had typed a longer joke, with Yonkman breaking the legs of a certain Russian winger , but I know that some people are superstitious, so I've shortened it.
Don't know about Doig. Perhaps smarter defensemen are more preferable in the "new" NHL.
Yes, Olie deserves to go to a contender. But we'll see later. If we don't suck too much, he'll see that we might be only a few years away from where we're trying to go, and could decide to stay. Some people on the official boards said that we've missed the opportunity to sign the best free agents in a decade (the same thing is said every year, anyway), but it's next year and the year after that Ted and GMGM intend to sign big names, actually. Perhaps in three years we'll be strong enough to go to the Finals again (and lose them, LOL!).
Misto: I love Bondra, but it's just a number. We won't forget Bondra like that. Friesen is the kind of player who can choose his number, and if 12 is available, and he wants it...
This message has been edited by marc_mehdi on Sep 29, 2005 7:57 PM This message has been edited by marc_mehdi on Sep 29, 2005 7:54 PM
Green May Get To Stick Caps Rookie Close To Earning a Spot
By Tarik El-Bashir
Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, September 30, 2005; Page E03
It's rare for players to leap directly from junior hockey to the NHL, and even more so for defensemen.
But Washington Capitals prospect Mike Green has proven himself to be an uncommon talent. And if the 19-year-old continues to impress over the next six days, he could find himself on the club's roster when the season opens Wednesday night.
"The possibility has crossed my mind," said Green, a smooth-skating offensive minded defenseman. "I'm just happy to be here right now. If the coaches feel [I'm ready], I'm more than happy. I think I'm ready to step up and fill a spot."
So does veteran defenseman Brendan Witt, who has been paired with the 2004 first-round draft pick occasionally during training camp. Green was also assigned a dressing room stall next to Witt, the team's most experienced player on the blue line.
"He's so calm, sometimes I wonder if he even has a pulse," Witt said. "We'll see if he makes it, if he keeps playing the way he is and doing the right things out there. He doesn't panic with the puck. He's got a lot of composure for a young guy. Against Carolina [Green's first NHL game], he never really panicked. That was impressive."
Green has survived two rounds of training camp cuts, and enters the preseason's final weekend as one of 10 defensemen competing for seven jobs. He'll get another chance to prove he deserves one of them tonight at MCI Center where the Capitals host Pittsburgh.
As well as Green has played, even he was somewhat stunned to see his jersey still hanging in his locker Tuesday, the day six other prospects, including Eric Fehr, Chris Bourque and Jared Aulin, were assigned to the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears.
Green has been among the Capitals' leaders in ice time and has one assist. His most remarkable statistic, however, is the number of obstruction penalties he's taken -- zero. Green, unlike veterans, doesn't have to unlearn old habits in order to comply with the NHL's crackdown on hooking, holding and interference -- a point of emphasis that has, at times, tripped up the Capitals.
"The old game was big, rough, throw them around, cross check," said Green, who is 6 feet 1, 198 pounds. "Now it's all about speed and positioning. So [being a rookie] helps."
Green, whose speed and deft stick-handling helped him lead all WHL defensemen in scoring last year with 14 goals and 52 assists, says the biggest adjustment hasn't been to the NHL's faster pace, it's the greater mental demands.
"It's the smarts," he said. "You have to be aware every second you are on the ice. In junior, you can get away with a lot of stuff. Here, everything happens so quick, you have to be on top of your game every second. It's a little faster, but it's being more aware, that's the biggest adjustment."
That's where Witt's tutelage has been invaluable.
"He's been a big help," Green said. "I've only been here two, three weeks and he's taught me more than ever. I want to thank him. The whole thing is overwhelming, this being my first NHL camp and still hanging in there. Hopefully things work out for me."
Capitals Notes: Jeff Friesen, the newly-acquired left wing, will make his debut tonight wearing No. 12 -- the number that had been worn in Washington by Peter Bondra for nearly 14 seasons. Friesen, a five-time 20-goal scorer, was acquired Monday from New Jersey in exchange for a draft pick. Center Dainius Zubrus will also make his preseason debut, playing between Alexander Ovechkin and Jeff Halpern, who will move to right wing. Zubrus had been out while recovering from minor knee surgery. Tonight's game will be broadcast beginning at 7 on Comcast SportsNet, marking the first time a Capitals' preseason contest has been televised locally. . . . Sidney Crosby, the Penguins' No. 1 overall draft pick in June, is not on the team's roster for tonight's game and is not expected to play. Pittsburgh enforcer Andre Roy, meantime, has been suspended for the first two games of the regular season for twice directing throat slashing gestures at Capitals prospect Robin Gomez during the teams' game in Hershey, Pa., on Sunday. Roy and Gomez fought twice during the second period. Roy forfeits $10,204.08 in salary.
Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, October 4, 2005; Page E03
Although Petr Sykora has been in the United States for only four days and still is jet-lagged, he could be the Washington Capitals' second-line right wing when the regular season begins tomorrow.
Sykora, a swift-skating goal scorer with a big shot, arrived from the Czech Republic on Friday evening and debuted in the Capitals' preseason finale Sunday in Pittsburgh, a 7-1 defeat.
"I want to try this league," said Sykora, who speaks limited English. "I feel good."
Sykora, who shares the same name as Anaheim's star player, skated alongside Jeff Friesen and Andrew Cassels. The line has the potential to be a potent one.
Friesen is a five-time 20-goal scorer, Cassels is among the league's top setup men and Sykora, although unproven in the NHL, possesses a hard slap shot and was at times dominant in the Czech Republic Extraleague, where he had 25 goals last season for Pardubice. Sykora also figures to see plenty of time on the power play.
"We know what he can do," Capitals Coach Glen Hanlon said. "We expect him to score."
Against the Penguins, Sykora ranked second among forwards in ice time, but managed just one shot in 16 minutes 23 seconds.
Hanlon said it's too early to assess Sykora's game, considering the 26-year-old is new to the Capitals' style of play and also must catch up to the six-hour time difference.
"This isn't an evaluation for him right now," Hanlon said. "For anyone who has traveled across the ocean and the time change . . . it's just a chance for him to get used to our systems. It wouldn't be fair to evaluate him."
Friesen, for one, said he saw plenty to like from Sykora, who will wear No. 20 and earn $525,000 on a one-year contract.
"Sykora's a very smart hockey player and was very poised for it being his first game," Friesen said. "He's got calmness and confidence about him. The biggest thing I noticed about him was his shot. He's got a bomb. We just have to get him the puck."
The Capitals acquired the rights to Sykora in 2002 from Nashville, where he made his only two NHL regular season appearances during the 1998-99 season. His arrival was delayed by nearly three years by a series of contract complications, the latest being his Czech team's refusal to release him to the Capitals, a transaction that still hasn't been completed to Pardubice's satisfaction. Sykora may have to repay the Czech team a portion of the salary he had already collected, he said.
Yonkman Could Stick
Anxiety was running high in the dressing room at Piney Orchard following yesterday's practice as several training camp hopefuls pondered their fate. The Capitals' roster must be trimmed to a maximum of 23 players by today's 3 p.m. deadline.
It's believed oft-injured prospect Nolan Yonkman will be one of the seven Capitals defensemen on the opening night roster, although there won't be an official announcement until this afternoon.
Yonkman (6 feet 6, 236 pounds) has overcome two reconstructive knee surgeries.
Odds and Ends
Chris Clark, who missed the last five preseason games with a nagging rib injury, said he hopes to be ready for tomorrow's opener against Columbus at MCI Center. The right wing has been practicing with the team; he is officially listed as day-to-day. . . .
Goaltender Maxime Ouellet, who is expected to back up Olaf Kolzig and start about 20 games, yielded 18 goals in less than four full preseason contests. Ouellet went 1-3-0 with a 4.93 goals against average and 0.835 save percentage. . . .
The Capitals will celebrate the game's return from the yearlong lockout tomorrow with a fan festival on F Street. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will feature interactive games and giveaways. Several Capitals alumni will also be on hand to sign autographs. Admission is free.
The Washington Capitals have assigned defensemen Jakub Cutta, Mike Green and Lawrence Nycholat and forward Miroslav Zalesak to their Hershey farm club in the AHL. Washington also claimed goaltender Brent Johnson off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks and placed right wing Chris Clark on injured reserve.
___________
Play hard, shake hands, drink beer.
"LA needs two hockey teams like Switzerland needs two navies" -- Norman Chad (from "My 10-Point Plan to Save Gary Bettman from Himself")
If you've read this far, you probably could use a hobby
"Brent Johnson? Doesn't this make trading Kolzig a little easier and give Max-O more games in the future?"
In my opinion, it only means that they think that Ouellet sucks, even as a backup. We have 16 back-to-back games this year, and it would be great if those games were not all 8-0 losses. If we don't suck as much as people think we will, those 16 games could decide if we make the playoffs or not. Jonhson has 163 NHL games behind him. I think Ouellet will get sent down. I expected us to get a new goalie, actually, but I thought that we would try to get one from the Sabres, who acquired today Mike Leighton from the Blackhawks and now have four good goalies.
Michael, if they say that Clark was placed on IR without mentioning Majesky, perhaps it means that Majesky is OK and will play.
Also, I think Willsie and Bradley could be switched in your lineup. From the top line to the fourth line in a few games, that's not fair for Willsie (I think he's a potential 20-goal scorer). On the other hand, the Pettinger-Sutherby-Willsie combo could be seen as a second checking line and a third scoring line at the same time, and it could see as much time of ice as the third line. That could be interesting.
Tarik El-Bashir says the same thing today about our goalies:
"Ouellet remains on the Capitals' roster and will likely be on the bench during tonight's season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets at MCI Center. But Johnson, 28, will be Kolzig's full-time backup and could get as many as 20 starts."
If we have three goalies, is Majesky also on the IR?
Other interesting details:
"Zalesak's contract allows him to return to Europe if he does not play in the NHL, but he indicated to the Capitals yesterday that he would report to Hershey. Zalesak, Nycholat and Cutta cleared waivers yesterday."
Remember the Nylander incident? I hope Yonks has gotten all that injury bug out of his system and that he can play this year.
