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Fleischmann to Stay Put and Other Preseason Notes

by SloweVechkin

on 09/09/2010 - 09:49

Fleischman’s Status and Other Caps Notes
By Scott Lowe

You can put an end to the Tomas Fleischmann trade rumors, at least according to Washington Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau.

The offensively gifted young winger, who may find himself shifted to center and battling for a spot as the second-line pivot, has been rumored to be on the trading block since a sub-par playoff performance against Montreal that ended up with an unceremonious Game 7 benching.

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Caps in Enviable Position Despite Lack of Moves

by SloweVechkin

on 09/04/2010 - 10:18

By Scott Lowe

Followers of the Washington Capitals probably didn’t think that as training camp approached they’d be talking about offseason acquisitions such as D.J. King, Brian Willsie and Danny Sabourin.

Instead the talk after a premature postseason exit, as it always seems to be, focused on solidifying the defensive corps with a top-four d-man such as a Volchenkov, Mitchell, Hamhuis or Martin and bringing in a true second-line center such as a Lombardi, Cullen, Koivu, Plekanec or even a Modano.

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Caps Free Agent Analysis: Fine Tuning for a Playoff Run

by SloweVechkin

on 06/30/2010 - 21:14

Washington Capitals Free Agent Analysis at a Glance
By Scott Lowe

Caps’ UFAs – Eric Belanger, Scott Walker, Joe Corvo, Milan Jurcina, Brendan Morrison, Shaone Morrisonn, Quintin Laing, Jose Theodore

Caps’ RFAs – Eric Fehr, Boyd Gordon, Tomas Fleischmann, Jeff Schultz

Caps’/Hershey RFAs – Jay Beagle, Chris Borque, Andrew Gordon, Alexandre Giroux

All RFAs have been extended qualifying offers.

Looking for a Shot: Giroux, Matthieu Perreault, Keith Aucoin, Boyd Kane, Marc

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Caps Ink Backstrom for 10 Years/$67 Million

by SloweVechkin

on 05/17/2010 - 10:52

The final piece in the puzzle to keep the core of the Washington Capitals talent base together for a long time was snapped into place today when Nicklas Backstrom was signed to a 10-year, $67 million contract. In addition the Caps announced that they signed Marcus Johansson, the 24th pick of the 2009 entry draft, to a three year entry-level deal.

Below is the story on Backstrom as it appears at www.washingtoncaps.com ...

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed center Nicklas Backstrom to a 10-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

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Playoff Upsets Provide Context for Evaluating Caps' Season and Future

by SloweVechkin

on 05/16/2010 - 22:00

Often in difficult, stressful times in which things don’t go exactly the way we had hoped or planned, many of us let our emotions get the best of us.

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Amazing Story About Brooks Laich

by SloweVechkin

on 04/29/2010 - 14:08

I know there are a lot of Caps bashers/haters out there. I guess in some ways that means that the team has at least arrived on the hockey landscape despite last night's devastating loss. People around the country don't really know what this team means to the community and why people have rallied around it with such fervor. Well, I hope that all of you take time to read this story.

Brooks Laich, on the way home after the most horrific loss of his career, stops to help a couple of Caps fans change a flat tire on a busy road.

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Game 7 Thoughts and Lineup Notes

by SloweVechkin

on 04/28/2010 - 14:13

By Scott Lowe

Tonight's Eastern Conference quarterfinal Game 7 between Washington and Montreal doesn't come down to anything more than playing harder and smarter than the other team. Goaltending obviously can have a huge impact, too, but the reality is that hard work and intelligent play can even defeat hot goaltending - but there has to be a commitment to playing the right style of hockey from all 20 players who are in the lineup.

Yes, Jaroslav Halak has stolen three games of this series from the Caps, and if he saves 45 out of 47 or 53 out of 54 shots again he will steal a fourth.

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Six Keys to Game 6

by SloweVechkin

on 04/26/2010 - 16:27

By Scott Lowe

While tonight’s Game 6 of the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals is not a must-win for the top-seeded Washington Capitals, a loss would definitely tilt the scale back in favor of Montreal in terms of the pressure quotient and leave a series that the Caps seemed to be in control of to an anything-can-happen Game 7 in front of a nervous Verizon Center crowd.

“The whole organization wants to win right now,” Alex Ovechkin said. “We don’t want to have to go back to play in Washington for a seventh game.

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No Time for Messing Around

by SloweVechkin

on 04/23/2010 - 15:08

Tonight should be interesting.

Everything can change in the blink of an eye. Everywhere you look the media has said that the Washington Capitals have a stranglehold on their NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against Montreal, but if the Canadiens can pull out Game 5 tonight at Verizon Center the mantra will change to, “The pressure’s on the Caps.”

So, for that and other reasons, from the Washington perspective at least, it makes sense for the Caps to do everything in their power to close out the series immediately.

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Game 4 Lineup Notes - Morrisonn a Game-Time Decision

by SloweVechkin

on 04/21/2010 - 13:18

Based on reports out of Montreal, it appears as though Washington Capitals' defenseman Shaone Morrisonn will be a game-time decision for tonight's NHL Eastern Conference Game 4 at the Bell Centre.

Morrisonn, who skipped yesterday's skate along with fellow blueliner Joe Corvo, participated in this morning's session. Media reports also indicate that the forward combinations will remain unchanged and that Corvo is expected to play.

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