The Caps head to St Pete on the eve of the Flordia Republican Primary to take of the underachieving Tamp Bay Lightening on NBC Sports. This is an important two points for the Caps, as they all are these days, as they hope to build on their strong end to the unofficial 1st half. The Caps will again be without 3 of the 4 "Young Guns" and will again rely on strong defense and the likes of Brouwer, Laich, Semin, and the suddenly hot Perrault to provide the offense, Win or lose, Caps need to move on quick from this game as a match up with th co- Southeast leader Flordia Panthers looks large tomorrow night.
Some notes on the game tonight:
- Vokoun set to start in goal tonight. Not surprising. Matheiu Garon goes for Tampa.
- Call up Joel Rechlicz gets a jersey tonight. From the sounds of it, Hunter called himself up from Hershey. Self labeled enforcer. Will be interesting to see how that works, since the Capitals have not had a pure enforcer since Donald Brashear.
- Schultz and Beagle watch from the press box. Again, not surprising and provides another reminder of Jeff Schultz unceremonious fall from grace.
- Reports from Kettler yesterday had Joel Ward playing on the 4th line. McPhee better hope the Capitals make the playoffs and Ward performs like he did last year, or his contract is looking more and more crippling moving forward.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Cause for Concern
It started by simply missing a shift against the Calgary Flames. Its been 11 games since Nick Backstrom missed that shift and the prognosis is not good. It was believed that Backstrom would resume skating before the All Star break with the hopes if a return this week. That of course was before Dale Hunter revealed that neither Backstrom nor Green skated over the break and neither is set for an imminent return. With two games upcoming against the fading yet still very relevant Panthers, this news is concerning.
Concussions have become a major point of emphasis from the league this year, and with good reason. The list of superstars who have missed time due to concussion like symptoms could take on any team in the league and win convincingly; Sidney Crosby, Backstrom, Claude Giroux, Jeff Skinner, the list goes on. And that does not even include Chris Pronger who has missed the entire season and Marc Savard, whose injury three seasons ago began the increase in awareness.
It is clear that Backstrom’s injury is far worse than it initially seemed. There is no question that he should not return to the Capitals line up until he is 100% healthy. He is too young and too valuable to the franchise to risk a Crosby like situation. With that said though, I do not believe the Capitals can really make this season end how they want without a healthy Nick Backstrom. He is the only player in the line up who is impossible to replace. Those who could step up to fill his play-making skills role (MoJo and Perraeult) are simply not ready and could not handle the ice time. And despite his increased production coinciding with the injury to Backstrom, Ovechkin cannot be the threat he is capable of being without his main pivot.
So get well soon Nick.
The Caps are going to need you.
Concussions have become a major point of emphasis from the league this year, and with good reason. The list of superstars who have missed time due to concussion like symptoms could take on any team in the league and win convincingly; Sidney Crosby, Backstrom, Claude Giroux, Jeff Skinner, the list goes on. And that does not even include Chris Pronger who has missed the entire season and Marc Savard, whose injury three seasons ago began the increase in awareness.
It is clear that Backstrom’s injury is far worse than it initially seemed. There is no question that he should not return to the Capitals line up until he is 100% healthy. He is too young and too valuable to the franchise to risk a Crosby like situation. With that said though, I do not believe the Capitals can really make this season end how they want without a healthy Nick Backstrom. He is the only player in the line up who is impossible to replace. Those who could step up to fill his play-making skills role (MoJo and Perraeult) are simply not ready and could not handle the ice time. And despite his increased production coinciding with the injury to Backstrom, Ovechkin cannot be the threat he is capable of being without his main pivot.
So get well soon Nick.
The Caps are going to need you.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
A 6 Pack of Second Half Predictions
The second half of the 2011-2012 season wmuch ore compelling than usual for the Capitals as they fight for a playoff spot and the Southeast Division crown. With that in mind, here are some predictions for the 2nd half.
1) Ovechkin will score 40 goals and reach the 80 point plateau.
As has become the common saying, this use to be automatic for the Great 8. I think the second half of this half is when Ovechkin gets back to being himself. The Capitals are going to need Ovechkin more than usual this year and I feel he will rise to occasion as he often does in the playoffs. He has been hot of late and seems to be adapting to Hunters new system. I believe part of Ovechkin's slide was a result giving up on Boudreau's system. That does not speak well to Ovechkin's leadership, but it would support a return to form in the 2nd half.
2) Mike Green has played his last regular season game in a Capitals jersey
This one is least likely to come to fruition as he might return from injury, but Green's fall from grace as been striking. He simply cannot stay healthy and I can see the organization playing it safe and trying to get him healthy for the playoffs. Even if he does return for the playoffs, I do not see him returning to DC. It would be too risky to give him the money he would demand on the open market and frankly, the money would be better spent on Carlson and Wideman. The rise of Dmitri Orlov also makes Green expendable.
3) The Capitals will not make a drastic move at the deadline, but a surprising peice is moved.
While I have advocated trading Semin, it will not happen. McPhee has been insanely loyal to the core and I do not see that changing as he tries to give Hunter a chance to win with the current stars. I do see the Caps making a play for a center and depth defenseman. Tim Gleason would be a nice fit on the blue line or possibly trying to reunite Hamrlik with Hal Gill and I think Schultz could get both those deals done. At center, look for the Capitals to take advantage of two sinking ships to add a depth center, such as Sammy Pahlssom from Columbus or Paul Gaustad from Buffalo. If a current Capital is moved, I would expect it to be Matt Perrault who I think is expendable and would bring a decent return.
4) Troy Brouwer will be the Chimera of the 2nd half and Wideman continues to be Green. Semin will not top 25 goals and Knuble will not break 15.
Love his game that combines grit with a scoring touch that should thrive under Dale Hunter. He will top the 30 goal mark and will be fill the void that has been left by a snake bitten and suddenly old Mike Knuble. Wideman, as well as Carlson, will continue to thrive under their former Loundon Knight coach. Semin meanwhile will continue to struggle and leaves for Russia at the end of the season.
5) Michal Neuvirth will play a vital role down the stretch
Vokoun has been a workhorse, but his rebound control has been bad all year and he looks slow. When he is streaking it is hard to deny his talent, but Neuvy will prove more consistent for the stretch run.
6) The Capitals will win the Southeast and make the Eastern Conference finals.
The Caps will have to fight to get in, which will benefit them as they will play meaningful hockey until the end of the regular season. And if they get in, I believe they will finally be playing the defensively responsible and gritty game that is necessary to win in the postseason. They ultimately will fall short of the ultimate prize as the offensive woes return against another team that plays good playoff hockey.
1) Ovechkin will score 40 goals and reach the 80 point plateau.
As has become the common saying, this use to be automatic for the Great 8. I think the second half of this half is when Ovechkin gets back to being himself. The Capitals are going to need Ovechkin more than usual this year and I feel he will rise to occasion as he often does in the playoffs. He has been hot of late and seems to be adapting to Hunters new system. I believe part of Ovechkin's slide was a result giving up on Boudreau's system. That does not speak well to Ovechkin's leadership, but it would support a return to form in the 2nd half.
2) Mike Green has played his last regular season game in a Capitals jersey
This one is least likely to come to fruition as he might return from injury, but Green's fall from grace as been striking. He simply cannot stay healthy and I can see the organization playing it safe and trying to get him healthy for the playoffs. Even if he does return for the playoffs, I do not see him returning to DC. It would be too risky to give him the money he would demand on the open market and frankly, the money would be better spent on Carlson and Wideman. The rise of Dmitri Orlov also makes Green expendable.
3) The Capitals will not make a drastic move at the deadline, but a surprising peice is moved.
While I have advocated trading Semin, it will not happen. McPhee has been insanely loyal to the core and I do not see that changing as he tries to give Hunter a chance to win with the current stars. I do see the Caps making a play for a center and depth defenseman. Tim Gleason would be a nice fit on the blue line or possibly trying to reunite Hamrlik with Hal Gill and I think Schultz could get both those deals done. At center, look for the Capitals to take advantage of two sinking ships to add a depth center, such as Sammy Pahlssom from Columbus or Paul Gaustad from Buffalo. If a current Capital is moved, I would expect it to be Matt Perrault who I think is expendable and would bring a decent return.
4) Troy Brouwer will be the Chimera of the 2nd half and Wideman continues to be Green. Semin will not top 25 goals and Knuble will not break 15.
Love his game that combines grit with a scoring touch that should thrive under Dale Hunter. He will top the 30 goal mark and will be fill the void that has been left by a snake bitten and suddenly old Mike Knuble. Wideman, as well as Carlson, will continue to thrive under their former Loundon Knight coach. Semin meanwhile will continue to struggle and leaves for Russia at the end of the season.
5) Michal Neuvirth will play a vital role down the stretch
Vokoun has been a workhorse, but his rebound control has been bad all year and he looks slow. When he is streaking it is hard to deny his talent, but Neuvy will prove more consistent for the stretch run.
6) The Capitals will win the Southeast and make the Eastern Conference finals.
The Caps will have to fight to get in, which will benefit them as they will play meaningful hockey until the end of the regular season. And if they get in, I believe they will finally be playing the defensively responsible and gritty game that is necessary to win in the postseason. They ultimately will fall short of the ultimate prize as the offensive woes return against another team that plays good playoff hockey.
Friday, January 27, 2012
All Star Weekend
It is becoming very hard to get excited about All Star Weekend. As with all sports, the All Star Game reduces the game of hockey to a gimmick. And this year’s version of the Mid Season Classic is missing a great deal of star power with the likes of Ovechkin, Crosby, and Lidstrom at home. I do give the NHL some credit though for trying to make the event more exciting. Brendan Shanahan had a great idea with the Fantasy Draft idea, although I do not think it has worked out as planned. Last night’s draft had its moments, but for most of the time it was rather boring.
So what else can be done? Here are some ideas:
1) Pick Better Captains- Chara was incredibly dull, Lupul was too angered by the hostile Ottawa fans, and Lundqvist served no purpose. I understand why they selected the Captains they did (by a player vote), but if the Fantasy Draft is going to work, it needs to have better personalities at the microphone. In the future, they should go with the host team superstar and then league should choose the other Captain. I think Patrick Kane would have been great last night, and of course if he were there, Alex Ovechkin would have been hilarious.
2) Make it a Winter Classic Event- The whole point of having an All Star Game midseason is to showcase the league, but the Winter Classic has taken over that role. So why not put the All Star Game at the Winter Classic? It would be really cool if the Winter Classic were held on January 1st and pitted the host city (since it must be determined long in advance) against the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Then on January 3rd, have the All Star Game on the outdoor rink.
So what else can be done? Here are some ideas:
1) Pick Better Captains- Chara was incredibly dull, Lupul was too angered by the hostile Ottawa fans, and Lundqvist served no purpose. I understand why they selected the Captains they did (by a player vote), but if the Fantasy Draft is going to work, it needs to have better personalities at the microphone. In the future, they should go with the host team superstar and then league should choose the other Captain. I think Patrick Kane would have been great last night, and of course if he were there, Alex Ovechkin would have been hilarious.
2) Make it a Winter Classic Event- The whole point of having an All Star Game midseason is to showcase the league, but the Winter Classic has taken over that role. So why not put the All Star Game at the Winter Classic? It would be really cool if the Winter Classic were held on January 1st and pitted the host city (since it must be determined long in advance) against the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Then on January 3rd, have the All Star Game on the outdoor rink.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Top 20 Current NHL Players
Yesterday, John Buccigross of espn.com began a Top 100 players in the NHL list. Normally, ESPN cannot be counted on for stellar hockey insight and analysis, but Buccigross is the exception. In light of his list, DC Hockey Spot presents their Top 20 current NHL players, as well as some sleepers for the future.
Criteria: Numbers, Awards, Championships, Completeness of Game, and Intangibles (Leadership etc)
1. Jonathan Toews/ Center/ Chicago Blackhawks
A Stanley Cup Championship, a Gold Medal, and MVP of both tournaments is quite a resume. Toews is one of the best overall players in hockey, a sublime playmaker with a nose for the net who is responsible defensively (as his career +/- of 70 shows) and annually leads the league in face-offs won. He is not quite a point a game player yet, but the notorious slow starter already has 50 points this season, to go with 267 entering this season. He also possess two of the most important intangibles in sports- leadership and clutch performances. He is one of the youngest captains in the league, is a point per game player in the post season and rose from 13th forward to Best Forward award winner at the 2010 Olympics in his home nation of Canada.
2. Henrik Lundqvist/ Goaltender/ New York Rangers
Some may be more spectacular, but few are more consistent than Hank. In all but his rookie season, Lunduvist has started no less than 83% of the games for the Blueshirts and once played all but 9 games in a season. Couple his durability and workhorse status with a sparkling career GAA of 2.32 and S% of .918 and it is easy to see that while Miller, Luongo, and Thomas get all the press, Hank is number one in my book. And while an inconsistent offense has kept him from a Cup run in New York, he did win the Gold Medal with Sweden in 2006.
3. Sidney Crosby/ Center/ Pittsburgh Penguins
Without the health concerns, the Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins is an uncontested number one. In 412 career games he 572 points and before he was concussed at the Winter Classic in 2010 he was on pace for 132 points and 64 goals. He possess excellent vision, an incredible ability to possess the puck, and was developing his NHL goal scoring touch before the injury. Now the question remains whether he really can make a run at the record books or whether he is new Marc Savard or Eric Lindros.
4. Henrik and Daniel Sedin/ Center and Wing/ Vancouver Canucks
Not sure anyone really knew what a heist Brian Burke pulled off when he drafted the two talent Sedin twins with the 2nd and 3rd pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Henrik is the set up guy and Daniel is the goal scorer and you rarely see one score without the other getting a point. They have emerged as two of the best players in hockey over the last three seasons, but one should question whether they would be as great without each other. Separately, I think they move down into the 15-30 range.
5. Steven Stamkos/ Center/ Tampa Bay Lightening
Barry Melrose wakes up everyday with the realization that he played Steven Stamkos on the 4th line in his 2nd chance as an NHL head coach. Stamkos has become what Alex Ovechkin use to be, the most feared shooter in hockey. In the 3 years since his rookie year he has including this year 128 goals and is set to reach a new career high this year. He is lethal on the power play and has great chemistry with the underrated St Louie. He is the new top sniper of the NHL.
6. Shea Weber/ Defenseman/ Nashville Predators
Steady defender, rocket launcher for a shot, and is massive. Weber will be the next great NHL defender if he is not already. Weber and Ryan Suter make up one of the best shutdown pairings in hockey, and with Nashville unlikely to keep both at the end of the year, some team is getting much better this offseason.
7. Zdeno Chara/ Defenseman/ Boston Bruins
Monster of a man who now has a Stanley Cup Championship ring. Like Weber, Chara is the perfect dual threat shutdown defender and offensive threat. He can both neutralize the other teams best offensive talent and contribute on the scoresheet, particularly on the Powerplay. Weber got the nod over Chara purely based on age.
8. Evgeni Malkin/ Center/ Pittsburgh Penguins
When he is on, he might be the most talented player in hockey. In 352 career games entering this season he has a better than point per game total of 418 points. He is impossible to knock off the puck and has one of the best shots in hockey. When he 1st entered the league he was a top 3 talent, but injuries have slowed him in recent years and he has a tendency to play at his most elite level when Crosby is out. It is good to be able to step up, but consistency is important as well.
9. Pavel Datsyuk/ Center/ Detroit Red Wings
The most underrated player in hockey. Datsyuk is without a doubt the best defensive forward in the game, yet also is one of the most creative and talented playmakers in the business. His shootout moves are YouTube gold and his ability to create turnovers makes him a big reason why Hockeytown experiences so much success year in and year out.
10. Claude Giroux/ Center/ Philadelphia Flyers
Maybe Paul Holmgren was not as crazy as everyone thought when he death Jeff Carter and Mike Richarda. Claude Giroux has in a very sort time period gone from a promising prospect tononeof the more talented center men in hockey. He is currently second in the league in points and has made a very old Jagr look very goodin his return to the NHL. Ranking Him this high now might be premature, but the ultra talented Giroux is well on his way to a career year in the city of Brotherly Love and will only get better.
11. Rick Nash/ Wing/ Columbus Blue Jackets
Rick Nash is often the forgotten superstar. Columbus is not a hockey market and does not succeed with any regularity. But few experts would deny that Nash is the prototypical power forward. He has been a 30-40 goal scorer for much of his career and for being such a big guy is known for his incredible handles. Like a better Todd Bertuzzi from his Vancouver days. There is a reason when the Olympics came around last he was paired with Crosby on the top line for Canada.
12. Nick Lidstrom/ Defenseman/ Detroit Red Wings
Still going strong at 41 years young, Lidstom will likely retire as the greatest defenseman of all time. He has over 1000 career points and a staggering career +/- of 429 entering this season. He is a 4 time Stanley Cup Champion, 7 time Norris Trophy winner, and Olympic Gold Medalist. He has been the backbone of the model NHL franchise for two decades and this year has made Ian White second in the league in +/-.
13. Jonathan Quick/ Goaltender/ Los Angeles Kings
While Quick is still young, his numbers and consistency might soon read like Lundquvist's. He is a bonefided workhorse and sports a career 2.34 GAA and many nights is the reason the Kings win. This year the Goal starved Kings are only afloat because of the sub 2 GAA Quick puts on the ice every night.
14. Nicklas Backstrom/ Center/ Washington Capitals
Buccigross ranked Backstrom in the 90s. That is insane. From a playmaking perspective alone Nick Backstrom is the top of the class. He is an excellent skater and has really developed a goal scoring touch to go with his passing abilities. Because of who his line mate is, Backsom often is overshadowed in DC. That will not last much longer, especially since there is a good chance he long term will be the better of the two.
15. Alexander Ovechkin/ Wing/ Washington Capitals
There was a time when Ovechkin would top this list. And then there was a time when he was undisputed top 10. And then there is now. Alex Ovechkin is still one of the most dangerous players in the world when he has the puck and you cannot take the torrid start to his career (45+ goals and 2 MVPs in his first five seasons) away from him. He also is balanced offensively as he often is close in even goals to assist (and he has averaged 1.3 points per game over his career). But there is no question he is not what he once was, but a season and a half of decreased numbers is not worth writing him off either. He still plays an incredibly physical game that few stars can match and is surely still a major point of any coaches game plan to beat the Capitals since he is far from not being a goal scorer anymore. His playoff numbers are also much better than many would expect given the teams performance (37 games, 25 goals, 25 assists). In essence, when you were as high as he was, the fall becomes exaggerated.
16. Corey Perry/ Wing/ Anaheim Ducks
Everyone hates him, unless he is on your team. Corey Perry might be the toughest player in hockey to match up against because he is the rare goal scorer that thrives in the hard to score areas. The reigning MVP had a career year last year in terms of goals and got a slow start to this year. But anyone who is willing to go onto the trenches to score with his ability is a valuable commodity that will bounce back. Caps fans, think of it like Alex Semin skill but playing like Knuble.
17. Ryan Kesler/ Center/ Vancouver Canucks
First American forward on the list and again, its for his balance of offense and defense. Last year was a breakout goal scoring year, but has played in at least 80 games and collected at least 60 points in each of the last 3 seasons. His role as a checking goal scorer is invaluable to the Canucks behind the Sedin twins.
18. Duncan Keith/ Defenseman/ Chicago Blackhawks
There are a lot of defenseman that could fill this spot. Solid defensively but moves the puck well and plays a good offensive game. Is capable of being a one man breakout and runs the powerplay. Brian Campbell, Drew Doughty, and a healthy Mike Green could also fit here.
19. Marc-Andre Fluery/ Goaltender/ Pittsburgh Penguins
More of an acrobatic keeper who has put up good numbers during his career in Pittsburgh (2.50 and .910). Was spectacular in the 2009 Cup run for the Penguins.
20. Patrice Bergeron/ Center/ Boston Bruins
Solid two way player who contributes offensively and in the faceoff dot. Think of him like a poor mans Datsyuk.
The Next Wave- So who might make the Top 20 in the future? Watch for these seven rising stars.
John Taveres/Center/Islanders- Really putting together a solid campaign on Long Island and should be fun to watch as the Isle’s continue to improve.
Jamie Benn/Center/Stars- Very underrated center for the Dallas Stars that does everything pretty well. Look for him to continue what has already been a breakout year.
Jeff Skinner/Wing/Hurricanes- Last years ROY winner burst onto the scene with a 30 goal rookie campaign. He has a nose for the net that will keep him productive despite his size.
Tyler Seguin/Center/Bruins- Quickly seems to have gone from extra piece to central piece in Boston. Leads the team in points and +/- entering the All Star break.
Jordan Eberle/ Ryan Nugent Hopkins/ Taylor Hall/Top Line/Oilers- The Oiler trio will continue to grow and produce together, making the Oiler’s a scary team in the future.
Sleeper
Matt Moulson/Wing/Islanders- 30 goals in each of his 1st two full seasons on Long Island and is off to eclipse that this year. Look for him and Taveres to put the Islanders back on the map real soon.
Super Sleeper
Karl Alzner/Defenseman/Capitals- Will soon be considered an elite shutdown defender. Look for him to develop some offensive skills over the next few seasons. Solid positionally and makes the smart move most of the time. Defenders develop slowly, so watch out. You read it here 1st.
Agree or no? Let me know!
Criteria: Numbers, Awards, Championships, Completeness of Game, and Intangibles (Leadership etc)
1. Jonathan Toews/ Center/ Chicago Blackhawks
A Stanley Cup Championship, a Gold Medal, and MVP of both tournaments is quite a resume. Toews is one of the best overall players in hockey, a sublime playmaker with a nose for the net who is responsible defensively (as his career +/- of 70 shows) and annually leads the league in face-offs won. He is not quite a point a game player yet, but the notorious slow starter already has 50 points this season, to go with 267 entering this season. He also possess two of the most important intangibles in sports- leadership and clutch performances. He is one of the youngest captains in the league, is a point per game player in the post season and rose from 13th forward to Best Forward award winner at the 2010 Olympics in his home nation of Canada.
2. Henrik Lundqvist/ Goaltender/ New York Rangers
Some may be more spectacular, but few are more consistent than Hank. In all but his rookie season, Lunduvist has started no less than 83% of the games for the Blueshirts and once played all but 9 games in a season. Couple his durability and workhorse status with a sparkling career GAA of 2.32 and S% of .918 and it is easy to see that while Miller, Luongo, and Thomas get all the press, Hank is number one in my book. And while an inconsistent offense has kept him from a Cup run in New York, he did win the Gold Medal with Sweden in 2006.
3. Sidney Crosby/ Center/ Pittsburgh Penguins
Without the health concerns, the Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins is an uncontested number one. In 412 career games he 572 points and before he was concussed at the Winter Classic in 2010 he was on pace for 132 points and 64 goals. He possess excellent vision, an incredible ability to possess the puck, and was developing his NHL goal scoring touch before the injury. Now the question remains whether he really can make a run at the record books or whether he is new Marc Savard or Eric Lindros.
4. Henrik and Daniel Sedin/ Center and Wing/ Vancouver Canucks
Not sure anyone really knew what a heist Brian Burke pulled off when he drafted the two talent Sedin twins with the 2nd and 3rd pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Henrik is the set up guy and Daniel is the goal scorer and you rarely see one score without the other getting a point. They have emerged as two of the best players in hockey over the last three seasons, but one should question whether they would be as great without each other. Separately, I think they move down into the 15-30 range.
5. Steven Stamkos/ Center/ Tampa Bay Lightening
Barry Melrose wakes up everyday with the realization that he played Steven Stamkos on the 4th line in his 2nd chance as an NHL head coach. Stamkos has become what Alex Ovechkin use to be, the most feared shooter in hockey. In the 3 years since his rookie year he has including this year 128 goals and is set to reach a new career high this year. He is lethal on the power play and has great chemistry with the underrated St Louie. He is the new top sniper of the NHL.
6. Shea Weber/ Defenseman/ Nashville Predators
Steady defender, rocket launcher for a shot, and is massive. Weber will be the next great NHL defender if he is not already. Weber and Ryan Suter make up one of the best shutdown pairings in hockey, and with Nashville unlikely to keep both at the end of the year, some team is getting much better this offseason.
7. Zdeno Chara/ Defenseman/ Boston Bruins
Monster of a man who now has a Stanley Cup Championship ring. Like Weber, Chara is the perfect dual threat shutdown defender and offensive threat. He can both neutralize the other teams best offensive talent and contribute on the scoresheet, particularly on the Powerplay. Weber got the nod over Chara purely based on age.
8. Evgeni Malkin/ Center/ Pittsburgh Penguins
When he is on, he might be the most talented player in hockey. In 352 career games entering this season he has a better than point per game total of 418 points. He is impossible to knock off the puck and has one of the best shots in hockey. When he 1st entered the league he was a top 3 talent, but injuries have slowed him in recent years and he has a tendency to play at his most elite level when Crosby is out. It is good to be able to step up, but consistency is important as well.
9. Pavel Datsyuk/ Center/ Detroit Red Wings
The most underrated player in hockey. Datsyuk is without a doubt the best defensive forward in the game, yet also is one of the most creative and talented playmakers in the business. His shootout moves are YouTube gold and his ability to create turnovers makes him a big reason why Hockeytown experiences so much success year in and year out.
10. Claude Giroux/ Center/ Philadelphia Flyers
Maybe Paul Holmgren was not as crazy as everyone thought when he death Jeff Carter and Mike Richarda. Claude Giroux has in a very sort time period gone from a promising prospect tononeof the more talented center men in hockey. He is currently second in the league in points and has made a very old Jagr look very goodin his return to the NHL. Ranking Him this high now might be premature, but the ultra talented Giroux is well on his way to a career year in the city of Brotherly Love and will only get better.
11. Rick Nash/ Wing/ Columbus Blue Jackets
Rick Nash is often the forgotten superstar. Columbus is not a hockey market and does not succeed with any regularity. But few experts would deny that Nash is the prototypical power forward. He has been a 30-40 goal scorer for much of his career and for being such a big guy is known for his incredible handles. Like a better Todd Bertuzzi from his Vancouver days. There is a reason when the Olympics came around last he was paired with Crosby on the top line for Canada.
12. Nick Lidstrom/ Defenseman/ Detroit Red Wings
Still going strong at 41 years young, Lidstom will likely retire as the greatest defenseman of all time. He has over 1000 career points and a staggering career +/- of 429 entering this season. He is a 4 time Stanley Cup Champion, 7 time Norris Trophy winner, and Olympic Gold Medalist. He has been the backbone of the model NHL franchise for two decades and this year has made Ian White second in the league in +/-.
13. Jonathan Quick/ Goaltender/ Los Angeles Kings
While Quick is still young, his numbers and consistency might soon read like Lundquvist's. He is a bonefided workhorse and sports a career 2.34 GAA and many nights is the reason the Kings win. This year the Goal starved Kings are only afloat because of the sub 2 GAA Quick puts on the ice every night.
14. Nicklas Backstrom/ Center/ Washington Capitals
Buccigross ranked Backstrom in the 90s. That is insane. From a playmaking perspective alone Nick Backstrom is the top of the class. He is an excellent skater and has really developed a goal scoring touch to go with his passing abilities. Because of who his line mate is, Backsom often is overshadowed in DC. That will not last much longer, especially since there is a good chance he long term will be the better of the two.
15. Alexander Ovechkin/ Wing/ Washington Capitals
There was a time when Ovechkin would top this list. And then there was a time when he was undisputed top 10. And then there is now. Alex Ovechkin is still one of the most dangerous players in the world when he has the puck and you cannot take the torrid start to his career (45+ goals and 2 MVPs in his first five seasons) away from him. He also is balanced offensively as he often is close in even goals to assist (and he has averaged 1.3 points per game over his career). But there is no question he is not what he once was, but a season and a half of decreased numbers is not worth writing him off either. He still plays an incredibly physical game that few stars can match and is surely still a major point of any coaches game plan to beat the Capitals since he is far from not being a goal scorer anymore. His playoff numbers are also much better than many would expect given the teams performance (37 games, 25 goals, 25 assists). In essence, when you were as high as he was, the fall becomes exaggerated.
16. Corey Perry/ Wing/ Anaheim Ducks
Everyone hates him, unless he is on your team. Corey Perry might be the toughest player in hockey to match up against because he is the rare goal scorer that thrives in the hard to score areas. The reigning MVP had a career year last year in terms of goals and got a slow start to this year. But anyone who is willing to go onto the trenches to score with his ability is a valuable commodity that will bounce back. Caps fans, think of it like Alex Semin skill but playing like Knuble.
17. Ryan Kesler/ Center/ Vancouver Canucks
First American forward on the list and again, its for his balance of offense and defense. Last year was a breakout goal scoring year, but has played in at least 80 games and collected at least 60 points in each of the last 3 seasons. His role as a checking goal scorer is invaluable to the Canucks behind the Sedin twins.
18. Duncan Keith/ Defenseman/ Chicago Blackhawks
There are a lot of defenseman that could fill this spot. Solid defensively but moves the puck well and plays a good offensive game. Is capable of being a one man breakout and runs the powerplay. Brian Campbell, Drew Doughty, and a healthy Mike Green could also fit here.
19. Marc-Andre Fluery/ Goaltender/ Pittsburgh Penguins
More of an acrobatic keeper who has put up good numbers during his career in Pittsburgh (2.50 and .910). Was spectacular in the 2009 Cup run for the Penguins.
20. Patrice Bergeron/ Center/ Boston Bruins
Solid two way player who contributes offensively and in the faceoff dot. Think of him like a poor mans Datsyuk.
The Next Wave- So who might make the Top 20 in the future? Watch for these seven rising stars.
John Taveres/Center/Islanders- Really putting together a solid campaign on Long Island and should be fun to watch as the Isle’s continue to improve.
Jamie Benn/Center/Stars- Very underrated center for the Dallas Stars that does everything pretty well. Look for him to continue what has already been a breakout year.
Jeff Skinner/Wing/Hurricanes- Last years ROY winner burst onto the scene with a 30 goal rookie campaign. He has a nose for the net that will keep him productive despite his size.
Tyler Seguin/Center/Bruins- Quickly seems to have gone from extra piece to central piece in Boston. Leads the team in points and +/- entering the All Star break.
Jordan Eberle/ Ryan Nugent Hopkins/ Taylor Hall/Top Line/Oilers- The Oiler trio will continue to grow and produce together, making the Oiler’s a scary team in the future.
Sleeper
Matt Moulson/Wing/Islanders- 30 goals in each of his 1st two full seasons on Long Island and is off to eclipse that this year. Look for him and Taveres to put the Islanders back on the map real soon.
Super Sleeper
Karl Alzner/Defenseman/Capitals- Will soon be considered an elite shutdown defender. Look for him to develop some offensive skills over the next few seasons. Solid positionally and makes the smart move most of the time. Defenders develop slowly, so watch out. You read it here 1st.
Agree or no? Let me know!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
State of the Arena
While most of the Nation was focused on the House Chamber and President Obama last night, Capital fans were watching their DC hockey team put a bow on one of their most impressive wins of the season, a 5-3 win over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. In light of both the Presient's State of the Union and the unofficial halfway point of the NHL season, it seemed the opportune time examine where the Capitals current stand. Much like Obama last night, let's take a look at a few of the key issues of the 1st half, mainly where they currently stand, the Captain, and the Coach.
The Basics
The Capitals enter the break with a mark of 26-19-3, good for a tie for 1st in the Southeast. Their 18-6-1 mark at Verizon Center is tops in the East and their 136 goals scored are good for 6th in the conference. That's the good. The bad is that their 55 total points put them in a 4 way logjam and if the tie breakers broke differently, the Capitals would be on the outside looking in regarding the playoff picture. And while home ice has been good to the Capitals, the road has been nothing short of ugly, as their 8 road wins puts them in the bottom 3 in the East, which does not bode well for team that easily could be in the 8 playoff spot if the season's end was near. Couple that with the 137 goals allowed, good for a -1 goal differential, and despite what the standings current say, the Capitals are currently not a team fit to compete for the prize. But the good thing is, the end is not too near.
Ovechkin
For The foreseeable future, the success of the Washington Capitals is tied to the success of Alexander Ovechkin, who currently is mired in a slump that some would say has lasted 2 season. Gone are the days of 65 goals, but the Capitals still put one of the Top 10 offensive threats on the ice every night, which is never a bad thing. But threats are only good for as long as they are valid, and Ovechkin is flirting with that line. While he has come on of the late, Ovechkin does not strike the fear into opponents that he once did and does not deliver when the Capitals needs him the most as he once did. Everyone knows his moves and his slips and shanks seem to occur with more regularity than they once did. Combine all those things with a new system, a suspension that he reacted far too casual to, and his team on the cusp of the playoffs in what many see as an all in season and the next half a season might well be the most important of his career.
Dale Hunter
Bruce Boudreau was the scapegoat for the Capitals poor start, particularly on the road. Plain and simple. He lost the room, but that is more about the players and leadership than the coach. Enter Hunter, one of the most popular Capitals of all time and former coach of the incredibly successful London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Since his arrival the Capitals have taken on the personality of their sandpaper coach and have become a more defensive minded and tough team to play against. What Hunter now needs to do is figure out how to get the offensive back. That seems to be the fatal flaw with this team, they cannot do it all, something necessary to lift the Cup in June. The question moving forward will be how Hunter can fully implement his capitalize on mistakes offense or if that philosophy will even work at the NHL level. Because less than 20 shots a night will not get it done. The Capitals are now capable of playing the defense necessary to win in May under Hunter's new system. The question is whether the offenseive philosophy is fatally flawed.
What's Next?
Adversity is suppose to be the best teacher. That mantra is getting old in DC. Most believe the Capitals are going in the right direction under the new coaching regime and that the roster is built for a playoff run. With that said, something needs to change, and here are some ideas
1. Trade Alex Semin. It is time to pull the trigger. Semin does not fit the new philosophy. A smooth skating dangler does not fit with a defense cycle team that waits for turnovers. A deal out West for a hard working winger or a second line center would go a long way to improve this team in the short and long term, as Evgeny Kuznetsov is ready and waiting in Russia.
2. Force Fix 8. Ovechkin has proven he cannot come up with a new 1 on 1 move. So take that off the board. Run the offense to OV not through him. At least point Ovechkin's shot is his best asset. Get the goalie and defense moving and get the puck to him to shoot, rather than letting him streak down the left wing.
3. Alter the offensive philosophy. The defense will be fine as long as the goaltending becomes more consistent, which has seemed to be the case recently. Time to become a little more aggressive with the offensive. And the two biggest issues are puck possession and shots. Possessions are not long enough because the defense retreats too early and does not hold the blue line which takes away shots. There just simply are not enough mistakes in the NHL for the offense to be completely supported by the opprtunistic nature of the Hunter offense. That coupled with the momentary lapses that have plagued the Capitals early on the road make a more aggressive approach that much more important as teams that do not shoot and create enough offense cannot win on the road when they get behind.
Just my two sense. I am no expert. On to the second half!
The Blog is Back
After a year long hiatus, the DC Hockey Spot is back with all your Capitals and NHL news and analysis from the fan's perspective.
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