Sunday Morning Screenshots

When are things going to turn around for Boston? While they are still just two points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, they blew a two goal lead for the second straight game - first against Montreal and then again against Vancouver - losing both games 3-2 in a shootout. They are winless in ten, and have failed to register more than two goals in nine straight. Here's a funny stat for you - Phil Kessel has four more goals and five more points than any player on the Bruins. They don't miss him at all...

They've struggled to deal with injuries, have received average goaltending - doesn't get the job done when you can't score - and have lost 11 games which have gone beyond regulation.

The funniest part? They haven't won in ten and are still just two points out of the playoffs. What does that tell you about the Eastern Conference...

Young rookie forward Jamie Benn has been playing center lately out in Dallas. There are murmurs that Dallas is shopping injured center Mike Ribeiro for help on defense...Hmmm. Reason for the speculation or do these reports have some merit? We will find out within the next month, I suppose...

Henrik Lundqvist had a phenomenal outing last night, putting the Rangers on his back and leading them to a 3-1 victory over their cross-Hudson foe. Check out this save of the year candidate:



Nice to see Atlanta not only get their first victory of the Post-Ilya Kovalchuk Era, but to see Niclas Bergfors, the central piece in the return for Kovalchuk, net the winner. It was an all-around great day for the franchise, as they sold more game day tickets yesterday than for any other game this season, and had a reported attendance of 16,743. Weird, no? What a story it would be if Atlanta could qualify for the playoffs...

Jean-Sebastian Giguere is making his presence felt quickly in Toronto. Two games, two shutouts. At just 32, "Giggy" certainly isn't ready to ride off into the sunset, yet...

Speaking of Toronto, how about Colton Orr absolutely destroying Matt Carkner? Orr's my favorite NHL vigilante, because A) he's really freakin' good at it, and B) his technique is very entertaining. Forget protection, this guy is focused on going for the "W." Carkner is a great story, breaking into the NHL this season as a 29-year old. He's certainly become a favorite of mine - you can tell the guy's achieved his dream, and he'll do anything he can to stay up with the Senators. His fights usually don't end up like this:



The Red Wings really just aren't getting the breaks this year. Injury after injury, and it's not over, yet. In today's 4-3 loss to the Kings, not only did the Wings blow a 3-0 lead, but they also lost Tomas Holmstrom, Drew Miller, and Patrick Eaves to injury during the game. They were dominant in the final frame and hit two posts, only to see Michal Handzus put the game away late in the third. Well, at least Johan Franzen is about to come back.

The Phoenix Coyotes (lost 4-0 yesterday to the Dallas Stars) are tied for fourth in the NHL in points...fourth...in the entire NHL...on February 7th...wow. Hats off to Dave Tippett.

And don't forget - Penguins/Capitals Round Two today at noon - a great appetizer for the Superbowl.

Capital Gains: 10 Thoughts on the Washington Capitals

With the Washington Capitals 6-5 victory over the New York Rangers last night - extending their winning streak to 12 games - the Caps now command a 12 point lead over the second place team in the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Devils. They are one point ahead of San Jose for the overall points lead in the NHL, and all signs are pointing up for the Caps Franchise. Here are ten musings about the team from D.C.

1. When will Backstrom get his due?
With all the big names in Washington (Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Mike Green, Bruce Boudreau), many fans and members of the media find it easy to skim over 22-year old Nicklas Backstrom. They shouldn't. Backstrom is a superstar in his own right, and plays a game that is eerily similar to another Swedish sensation by the name of Peter Forsberg. Backstrom's hands, vision, and passing skills can all be characterized as "elite," and his cummulative numbers over the course of his first two and a half seasons are unbelievable. 60 goals, 166 assists, 226 points, and a +58 over his first 221 games. He also has 21 points in his first 21 playoff games. Even without Ovechkin, Backstrom - known as the best player in the world outside the NHL as a 19-year old - is a 90+ point talent.

2. Give the bottom-six forwards some props.
We all know the Caps' top-six forwards can score goals better than anyone (3.86 goals per game is .56 goals per game higher than the second place team - unbelievable). But their bottom-six isn't too shabby, either. Brooks Laich (17 goals) and Eric Fehr (14 goals) are both more than capable of being top-six forwards, and Matt Bradley, David Steckel (top faceoff guy in the league), Jason Chimera, and Boyd Gordon are all very solid two-way forwards that know how to play their role. They are all plus players. So, let's get this straight: what do you get when you have arguably the top-six in the NHL and every member of your bottom-six is a plus player? You do the math.

3. Who needs star power?
The Capitals are 6-1-1 with Ovechkin out of the lineup this season and 5-0-0 with Green out of the lineup. 'Nough said.

4. Success runs deep...really deep.
Their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, won the Calder Cup last season. Their ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays, won the Kelly Cup. This year, the Bears are atop the league with a 38-9-0-2 record. Likewise, the Stingrays are number one in the ECHL with a 30-13-4-4 record. Number one in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL - it's almost not fair.

5. Theodore at his best.
A big reason for their 12-game win streak is the play of Jose Theodore. He is on a personal win-streak of nine games, and has had a save percentage above .900% in all but one of those games. Theodore looks confident and composed in net, and his rebound control has really begun to come around. Remember - he's playing for a new contract, too.

6. Knuble - the perfect signing.
The 37-year old net presence has 20 goals in 45 games this season. He's a great leader, possesses a superior work ethic, and is the ideal fit on a line with Ovechkin and Backstrom. With 13 goals in his last 15 games, Knuble is proving to be well worth his $2.8 million cap for this season and the next. Every top line and successful power play needs a net presence, and there's not many better than Knuble.

7. Sorry Eastern Conference, they'll be back again next year.
Caps' General Manager George McPhee will need to re-sign Nicklas Backstrom, first and foremost, while Tomas Fleischmann, Brendan Morrison, Eric Fehr, Boyd Gordon, Brian Pothier, Shaone Morrison, Jeff Schultz, Jose Theodore, and Michal Neuvirth are due for RFA or UFA status. But, he does have approximately $20-$24 million in cap space to do so. Surely some of these players will be shown the door, but at the end of the day they'll lose very little. Don't forget the youthfulness of this team - most of the players are still getting better. They have plenty of NHL-ready talent on the farm (Karl Alzner, John Carlson), as well. The Caps should be successful for a long, long time - even in this new cap-era.

8. Concerns?
But, there are causes for concern. Will they continue to get the goaltending from Theodore? If not, will Semyon Varlamov be healthy and ready to play at a playoff level? Is their defense good enough? Pittsburgh still has the advantage in net, and arguably defensively, as well. New Jersey, now with Ilya Kovalchuk, will be a forced to be reckoned with, too. Will their up-tempo style prove to be successful in four consecutive tightly-checked series?

9. Green - overrated? Expendable?
In the five games Green has missed this year, not only are the Capitals undefeated, but they've also scored 26 goals in those games, an average of 5.20 goals per game. Green was downright brutal during last year's playoffs, and while he's undoubtedly very talented (leads NHL defensemen in points, yet again), there's little doubt in my mind that his numbers are inflated because of the team and situation that he finds himself in. It may sound ridiculous to many, but if the Capitals are forced to eventually trim some salary when Green's up for a new contract after the '10-'11 season, I think Green may be the guy to move out the door. There's no reason to break the bank on Green when this team will be able to score goals, no problem.

10. That dude named Ovechkin is really freakin' good.
38 goals and 80 points in 49 games? Yikes. His points per game of 1.63 is 0.24 higher than the NHL's next highest (Henrik Sedin). He's a hit machine at 6'2'' 233 lbs. The hockey world will be in for a treat watching Ovechkin play for his country in the Olympics, down the stretch, and into the playoffs. He finds himself on the perfect team, situated on the perfect line, and, man, has he made the most of it. The 24-year old winger just keeps impressing - I don't know what else I need to say.

Kovalchuk Trade Turns Devils into True Contender

Lou Lamoriello is one of the best in the biz for a reason.

By moving Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier, his '10 1st Rounder, and '10 2nd Rounder for Ilya Kovalchuk, Anssi Salmela, and Atlanta's '10 2nd Rounder, Lamoriello has successfully transformed the New Jersey Devils from a mediocre playoff team into one of the top Stanley Cup contenders in the Eastern Conference.

Martin Brodeur turns 38 in May. The Devils offense has been sputtering.

Lamoriello looked at the big picture, put two and two together, and made his move - a great move by a great GM.

Devils Outlook: Johnny Oduya is a solid top four defenseman, but with Devils number one defenseman Paul Martin coming back from injury I wouldn't expect his loss to matter much. Niclas Bergfors has a promising future and has all the tools to be a 55-65 point winger. While his loss may hurt in future years if Kovalchuk doesn't re-sign, I don't see Bergfors as the type of player that I would even bat an eye moving for a player of Kovalchuk's magnitude - even as a rental. Patrice Cormier is a sure-fire NHL prospect, and should be a solid checking line forward - but Lamoriello doesn't deal with guys with character flaws. Cormier is a downright dirty player, and his discarding from the Devils shouldn't come as a surprise. Kovalchuk will make the Devils' power play absolutely lethal (Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Patrik Elias, Andy Greene/Paul Martin), and will supply the Devils with two very impressive top lines. The Devils are right there with the Penguins and Capitals now.

Thrashers Outlook: Don Waddell got a so-so return for his superstar. Oduya brings them another solid puck-moving defenseman with two years left on his contract and should help them down the stretch, and Bergfors has decent upside as a top-six winger. Cormier will help them within the next two years in the checking line department, and the first rounder will allow them to add a solid prospect. The best thing about this deal is that Waddell adds some decent pieces without taking on any bad contracts, which he probably would've had to do if he dealt Kovalchuk elsewhere.

This trade really shakes things up in the East. The New Jersey Devils are for real.

I Fell for You, Don, I Feel for You...

First there was Dany Heatley. Then there was Marian Hossa. Now, Ilya Kovalchuk.

The Heatley situation was unique, and out of Don Waddell's hands. After the tragic car accident that took Dan Snyder's life, Heatley's desire to leave town made sense. It even worked out alright, with then-Ottawa Senator Marian Hossa coming to town - a trade that worked out well for both sides.

The Hossa move was tougher to swallow. Unable to sign the talented winger after a year of failed attempts to reach a deal, Waddell was essentially forced to move Hossa, or face the possibility of losing him in the summer for nothing. Waddell explained, "I've got to tell you, it was a long year. We did everything we could. You know it's hard to trade a star." The return - Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a 1st round pick which turned into Daultan Leveille - hasn't translated into much.

And now, Waddell is facing a similar fate with Kovalchuk. Despite Kovalchuk's persistence in expressing his desire to stay in Atlanta, it's clear that he desires just the opposite. The two main offers posed by Waddell - 12 years, $101 million and 7 years, $70 million (would be the highest cap hit in the league by a wide margin of $500,000) - are more than he could hope to make as an NHL UFA. As for the Kovalchuk camp stating that they want the maximum - don't be tricked, that's just his way of saying "I want out."

There are rumors that "Kovy" is happy in Atlanta, but is unsure about the stability of the franchise, and the chance of the team moving. This is certainly plausible, and Kovalchuk may certainly be of this train of thought.

Do I think Kovalchuk is "wrong," or greedy? No, but it is unfortunate that he didn't inform Waddell of these intentions sooner (before the season, maybe) as opposed to now. Kovalchuk could've fetched a monster return with a year still left on his contract. Then again, he had no obligation to do so.

Regardless, I feel sympathy for Don Waddell. It isn't easy luring players to sign in Atlanta, and the desperation Waddell has shown in his attempt to make the Thrashers into a legitimate playoff team and develop the fan base (remember the horrendous Alexei Zhitnik deal that cost him Braydon Coburn and a 1st rounder?) hasn't resulted in one single playoff victory (they were swept by the Rangers in '06-'07 in their only playoff appearance).

Here's hoping Waddell is able to get a nice return for his super-star Captain. The Thrashers have some great building blocks for the future in Zach Bogosian, Evander Kane, and Bryan Little.

With Kovalchuk out the door, will the Thrashers franchise be bound for Atlanta much longer?

Only time will tell.

Ken Hitchcock Gets the Axe

You may have remember my October entry concerning heavily-minded defensive coaches, with one of the main examples being now ex-Columbus Head Coach Ken Hitchcock.

I explained Hitchcock's affect as thus:

"Hitchcock is the consummate defensive-minded coach. He refuses to play young players big minutes until he feels that they are able to cope 100% with their defense responsibilities. 'Hitch' also has no problem playing guys better suited for third and fourth line roles on his top two lines, believing their defensive capabilities can off-set some of the defensive liability that his offensive players may present.

Last season, Hitchcock's defensive system elevated the Jackets from the doldrums of the Western Conference and into the playoffs, where they were swept in four games by the Red Wings.

I hope the Jackets are content with just making the playoffs. Because under Hitchcock, that is all they can hope to accomplish.

For the Jackets to be successful in the long-run, they will need to allow their young players to mature, learn the finer points of being NHL players, and then prosper."

Well, the time for the Jackets' young players to prosper starts now.

Hitchcock's fate was sealed this season for two reasons:

1. Goaltending - the Jackets haven't gotten in. To say Steve Mason has undergone the proverbial sophomore slump would be a gross understatement. He's been downright atrocious.

2. The stagnation of Columbus' young players. Nikita Filatov left for another continent after seeing eight minutes a game and healthy scratches. Jakub Voracek is riding a seven game pointless streak and is on pace for just a two point improvement from a season ago. Derick Brassard has fewer points now, in 57 games, than he did last year when he had 25 in 31.

Hitchcock's dismissal means a handful of things for Columbus:

1. Time to let the kids play. Voracek and Brassard should be staples in top-six roles, and I am very confident Filatov will come back from Russia from next season, now.

2. Rick Nash's numbers should rise - especially if the kids begin to mature as they should.

3. More goals.

4. But, more wins may take some time. There is little doubt brighter days are ahead in Columbus, but I'm not 100% sure they will be next season. It's hard to tell how quick Columbus' young guys will develop in a new system.

All in all, this move makes long-term sustainable success possible in Columbus.