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Av-merican
Un-Tenured Professor of Hockey
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 1673
Location: Denver
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 Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject: CAPITAL OFFENSE, 07-08 addition. |
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After a promising start, the Capitals have floundered all the way into the Southeast Division's basement at 6-10-1 and show little signs of getting out anytime soon. Enough excuses, even with injuries to players like Semin and Clark, this team should be better than it is.
Perhaps Leonsis has become gun-shy after his attempt to spend the Capitals to a Stanley Cup championship, and while he seems to accept more of the blame for that debacle than the GM, it's time he made a change he probably should have made years ago.
So here then is "Av's handy guide on how to fix the Caps..."
1. Fire George McPhee and Glen Hanlon
Enough, both have had their chances. Hanlon has been an interim head coach for years now and it's obvious he's grown desperate, changing lines from minute to minute at an agonizing rate to try and get anyone not named Ovechkin rolling. It's been nothing but counterproductive.
As for McPhee, he probably should have been fired following the whole Jagr debacle and for how badly the organization treated Peter Bondra during his tenure, he has made some nice moves, like acquiring Chris Clark from the Flames, finally getting Semin to return Stateside, and getting Milan Jurcina for next-to-nothing from the ever-impatient Bruins. But it's his recent string of staggeringly bad free agent signings that are nothing short of inexcusable. I don't know what scout he sent to evaluate Tom Poti, but to make him the highest-paid and longest-tenured defender on a very young blueline desperately in need of veteran presence is simply ridiculous. In light of this, overpaying for guys like Nylander, Kozlov, and Pothier doesn't seem so bad.
Incidentally, what're Rod Langway and Mike Gartner up to these days?
2. Get a goalie.
Playoff guarantee or not, Kolzig can't hack it anymore. He still has the poise and skillset to be an elite goaltender but he's too old and can't shoulder the load any longer (of course it doesn't help when you have Poti anchoring your blueline). Simeon Varlamov is years away from being able to contribute in net, and Brent Johnson is certainly not the answer. Get on the phone with Brian Burke, Bryan Murray, or Kevin Lowe and get a deal done already!
3. Sign Ovechkin NOW.
What are you waiting for? The Pens wisely signed Sidney Crosby and recent trends more than suggest someone will put an offer sheet out for #8. The sooner the better, the longer you wait, the more him and his agent (PLEASE tell me it's not Gandler) will want. In any event the Caps have a slew of RFA's to sign following this season, start with the most important one.
Okay that's it for now. I'll post appendices when I get more ideas.  |
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Bosc Ulrich II
OTP Resident Historian
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 2930
Location: Your own blue line!
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| Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: CAPITAL OFFENSE, 07-08 addition. |
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| Av-merican wrote: |
I don't know what scout he sent to evaluate Tom Poti, but to make him the highest-paid and longest-tenured defender on a very young blueline desperately in need of veteran presence is simply ridiculous.
2. Get a goalie.
Playoff guarantee or not, Kolzig can't hack it anymore. He still has the poise and skillset to be an elite goaltender but he's too old and can't shoulder the load any longer (of course it doesn't help when you have Poti anchoring your blueline). Simeon Varlamov is years away from being able to contribute in net, and Brent Johnson is certainly not the answer. Get on the phone with Brian Burke, Bryan Murray, or Kevin Lowe and get a deal done already!
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You're right about getting a goalie, but they need a decent backup/1a who can play 30 games and give Kolzig a rest. He can hack it, but the team plays so badly defensively in front of him, he gets worn down from so much work. He can still handle a good workload and it'd be much easier if this team was better in front of him. He's also one of the leaders of this team, important for the young defense. He's one of the veteran presences that the team so desperately needs, as you stated above.
Who the fuck would they get from Kevin Lowe?
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Av-merican
Un-Tenured Professor of Hockey
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 1673
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: CAPITAL OFFENSE, 07-08 addition. |
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| Bosc Ulrich II wrote: |
| Who the fuck would they get from Kevin Lowe? |
Rumors are abounding that Roloson is trade bait now with the callup of Drouin-Deslauriers, just figured I'd throw his hat in since Lowe has done kookier things in the past.
The wise thing to do would be to get someone like Bryzgalov who can capably spell Kolzig for times and would be the perfect interim measure between Kolzig's retirement and Varlamov's (hopeful) rise. Gerber would be the next best option, though more expensive. And hey they could always give Raycroft a chance, but Toronto doesn't seem to know right now which goaltender they want to keep right now. |
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Bosc Ulrich II
OTP Resident Historian
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 2930
Location: Your own blue line!
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| Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: CAPITAL OFFENSE, 07-08 addition. |
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| Av-merican wrote: |
| Bosc Ulrich II wrote: |
| Who the fuck would they get from Kevin Lowe? |
Rumors are abounding that Roloson is trade bait now with the callup of Drouin-Deslauriers, just figured I'd throw his hat in since Lowe has done kookier things in the past.
The wise thing to do would be to get someone like Bryzgalov who can capably spell Kolzig for times and would be the perfect interim measure between Kolzig's retirement and Varlamov's (hopeful) rise. Gerber would be the next best option, though more expensive. And hey they could always give Raycroft a chance, but Toronto doesn't seem to know right now which goaltender they want to keep right now. |
Kolzig>Roloson
I don't think Bryz is going anywhere if Niedermayer comes back. Hiller's cap hit is too large, and Bryzgalov is too good/cheap cap hit for Anaheim move based on what his trade value is considering he's a pending UFA and the kind of cheap guy they'd have to get to replace him. If he does end up being UFA this offseason and they let Kolzig go, I still don't know if he's the kind of presence a developing team needs back there. Their D is still young. Bryz will also have the opportunity for a starters deal where he won't want to play backup to Kolzig.
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Bosc Ulrich II
OTP Resident Historian
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 2930
Location: Your own blue line!
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| Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: CAPITAL OFFENSE, 07-08 addition. |
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| Bosc Ulrich II wrote: |
I don't think Bryz is going anywhere if Niedermayer comes back. Hiller's cap hit is too large, and Bryzgalov is too good/cheap cap hit for Anaheim move based on what his trade value is considering he's a pending UFA and the kind of cheap guy they'd have to get to replace him. |
Well, I certainly had that one wrong But I was basing that assumption on Hiller's entire cap hit counting against the cap, which was incorrect as Sask pointed out somewhere else. The bonuses only count at the beginning of the year. Apparently Bryz's trade value was extremely low
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