March 9 is the trade deadline for the NHL. And if you have checked your calendars lately that means the deadline is just a week away. So I thought I would play General Manager for my team and picked the 3 players I would send away, and the 3 players I wouldn't dare part with on the Capitals roster.
To Trade:
1. Brendan Witt. Obviously, he has wanted a trade since they started this whole rebuilding process. Many Caps fans have already discounted him as trade fodder and cant wait to see the replacement they get for the 31 year old defensemen.
2. Jeff Friesen. Unable to add any spark or veteran steam to this growing team, Friesen has been more of a money taker than a money maker. It just didn't work well for him here in DC. We should get something solid in return for him.
3. Ivan Majesky. The Caps need to shed some size on the blue line for speed and puck handling ability. This Slovak is slow and would rather hit than contribute anything substantial.
On the bubble to trade: Nolan Yonkman, Brian Willsie and Mathieu Biron.
To Keep:
1. Alex Ovechkin. Okay, you would have to be insane to think we would ever give him up.
2. Mike Green. I know he is usually a call up from Hershey, but Green has shown some promise and looks to contribute greatly as his learning curve improves. His speed and offense savy will make him a staple of the position he plays on the Caps roster.
3. Matt Pettinger. Who can deny this guys speed and wrist shot? He has added a spark when he has been on the ice of late. Pettinger has a certain talent of keeping 3rd and 4th line defense off kilter and his speedy stick handling abilities can provide the goal support Ovechkin needs.
On the bubble to keep: Brent Johnson, Dainius Zubrus, Shaone Morrison.
Olaf Kolzig, Jamie Heward, Chris Clark and Bryan Muir have all signed extensions with the Capitals.
The Caps have a good core that is buying into Glen Hanlon's message, but the team is in desperate need of some depth. GM George McPhee should take anything he can get, forwards or defense in this seemingly sellers market. The Caps would do well to keep a core of intact lines and beef up the bench. As usual your thoughts are welcome.
Showing posts with label Friesen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friesen. Show all posts
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Trades Past,Present And Future
Caps make some moves that don’t include Brendan Witt or Olaf Kolzig. General Manager George McPhee made the change for forward Colin Forbes for Stephen Peat. Forbes will not report to the Capitals however, he will start his stint in Hershey.
This is Forbes second round with the Capitals after signing with the team as a free agent in 2002. Forbes last NHL points were with the Capitals in the ’01-’02 season. He has played 308 NHL games were he has posted a career 33 goals, 28 assists, and 211 PIMs.
McPhee did acknowledge on OLN that other GMs were interested in obtaining Kolzig. Whether any of those deals were too good to pass up, we will never know, but McPhee stood his ground on keeping the All-Star goaltender.
No word yet on the trade status of defensemen Witt, but closer to the playoffs teams may look to be interested in beefing up the blue line with a seasoned veteran.
A disappointment for the Capitals would have to be the healing process of Jeff Friesen. He has now been on Injury Reserve since November 11th. The last goal the veteran player has scored for the Capitals was October 26th versus Buffalo.
This is Forbes second round with the Capitals after signing with the team as a free agent in 2002. Forbes last NHL points were with the Capitals in the ’01-’02 season. He has played 308 NHL games were he has posted a career 33 goals, 28 assists, and 211 PIMs.
McPhee did acknowledge on OLN that other GMs were interested in obtaining Kolzig. Whether any of those deals were too good to pass up, we will never know, but McPhee stood his ground on keeping the All-Star goaltender.
No word yet on the trade status of defensemen Witt, but closer to the playoffs teams may look to be interested in beefing up the blue line with a seasoned veteran.
A disappointment for the Capitals would have to be the healing process of Jeff Friesen. He has now been on Injury Reserve since November 11th. The last goal the veteran player has scored for the Capitals was October 26th versus Buffalo.
Friday, December 02, 2005
The Bottom Feeders
Capitals 2, Panthers 3
It is hard to win games on the road in the NHL, even if their arena has less people than the phone booth. Brent Johnson was excellent in the net, and I do believe that Florida’s third goal was deflected with a high stick.
But what really sucked was the Capitals’ power play, which they were not able to do anything with the extra man. 1 for 7 and an opportunity with a 2 man advantage for 55 seconds, and the Caps couldn’t find the net with a flashlight and a map.
I am starting to see a lot of inconsistency in the Referees as the season wears on. Many soft holding calls against the Caps, while the others were so obvious that people getting a hot dog at the concessions stand could sense it, and no whistle. No wonder the players are confused. The Officiating has to be tighter, and much more consistent game to game.
Overall Grade: C
Caps are playing well, and making the right decisions, but someone has to start getting a nose for the net besides Alex Ovechkin. Even though the local ads say “One man, doing it all by himself” the Caps need to give him another threat to ease some of the pressure off the rookie.
Jeff Friesen is turning out to be a hell of a deal. He needs to be on the ice, or dealt. I don’t think the Caps have the opportunity to lose anymore players to injury. Dainius Zubrus looked a little rusty, but I expect him to be on pace in the next couple of games.
Wash Post of course it the source I go to. Bryan Muir actually couldn’t have said it better as he was quoted about not putting the game away. At least Muir gets it.
It is hard to win games on the road in the NHL, even if their arena has less people than the phone booth. Brent Johnson was excellent in the net, and I do believe that Florida’s third goal was deflected with a high stick.
But what really sucked was the Capitals’ power play, which they were not able to do anything with the extra man. 1 for 7 and an opportunity with a 2 man advantage for 55 seconds, and the Caps couldn’t find the net with a flashlight and a map.
I am starting to see a lot of inconsistency in the Referees as the season wears on. Many soft holding calls against the Caps, while the others were so obvious that people getting a hot dog at the concessions stand could sense it, and no whistle. No wonder the players are confused. The Officiating has to be tighter, and much more consistent game to game.
Overall Grade: C
Caps are playing well, and making the right decisions, but someone has to start getting a nose for the net besides Alex Ovechkin. Even though the local ads say “One man, doing it all by himself” the Caps need to give him another threat to ease some of the pressure off the rookie.
Jeff Friesen is turning out to be a hell of a deal. He needs to be on the ice, or dealt. I don’t think the Caps have the opportunity to lose anymore players to injury. Dainius Zubrus looked a little rusty, but I expect him to be on pace in the next couple of games.
Wash Post of course it the source I go to. Bryan Muir actually couldn’t have said it better as he was quoted about not putting the game away. At least Muir gets it.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Putting A Good Game Together
Capitals 3, Sabres 2
The Caps finally turned on some offensive pressure. If you can believe it, the Capitals out shot the Sabres in all three periods. I know! I had to take a double take on that stat as well. The Caps have been giving up about 40 shots a game until now.
I am extremely happy that Jeff Friesen and Petr Sykora got goals. Friesen's goal came just 22 seconds after Ales Kotalik power play goal for the Sabres. The Capitals seemed almost more relaxed and more confident. The Capitals finally used their speed and offense to keep the Sabres off kilter.
Brendan Witt was a healthy scratch for the game, and I didn't even miss him. Witt is still in S. Florida with his family after Hurricane Wilma ripped through the state. Without Witt, the only penalty against the Capitals was in the third period was Jeff Halpern's holding call early in the frame.
To be honest with you, I gave this game to Buffalo, and taped the game to watch later. My wife and I watched Martha Stewart's apprentice (not as good as the Trump) and I tried to push the game out of my head. When my phone messenger went off alerting the game had ended, I checked it twice.
It's the reason this post is a little late, because I had to watch the game. And I was giddy watching the game. Maybe I need to stop watching the games live.
Overall Grade: B+
The Caps put together a great game, and the grade would have been higher except the Caps need to be more consistent with their play. The grade should improve, if the Caps next game shows as much improvement as they did in this game. I would like to see Chris Clark and Andrew Cassels pick up their pace and get some goals. Jury is still out for bringing Brooks Laich up from Hersey.
Wash Post picks up the rest of the gorey details.
-- Other Notes --
The Caps finally turned on some offensive pressure. If you can believe it, the Capitals out shot the Sabres in all three periods. I know! I had to take a double take on that stat as well. The Caps have been giving up about 40 shots a game until now.
I am extremely happy that Jeff Friesen and Petr Sykora got goals. Friesen's goal came just 22 seconds after Ales Kotalik power play goal for the Sabres. The Capitals seemed almost more relaxed and more confident. The Capitals finally used their speed and offense to keep the Sabres off kilter.
Brendan Witt was a healthy scratch for the game, and I didn't even miss him. Witt is still in S. Florida with his family after Hurricane Wilma ripped through the state. Without Witt, the only penalty against the Capitals was in the third period was Jeff Halpern's holding call early in the frame.
To be honest with you, I gave this game to Buffalo, and taped the game to watch later. My wife and I watched Martha Stewart's apprentice (not as good as the Trump) and I tried to push the game out of my head. When my phone messenger went off alerting the game had ended, I checked it twice.
It's the reason this post is a little late, because I had to watch the game. And I was giddy watching the game. Maybe I need to stop watching the games live.
Overall Grade: B+
The Caps put together a great game, and the grade would have been higher except the Caps need to be more consistent with their play. The grade should improve, if the Caps next game shows as much improvement as they did in this game. I would like to see Chris Clark and Andrew Cassels pick up their pace and get some goals. Jury is still out for bringing Brooks Laich up from Hersey.
Wash Post picks up the rest of the gorey details.
-- Other Notes --
- Predators lose to the Blue Jackets. If I said that 2 years ago, it would mean very little, but the Blue Jackets finally hand Nashville their first loss of the season off a Overtime goal by Adam Foote.
- Was it just me or was that the most boring World Series ever?!! When one of my friends called me and told me the White Sox won, I actually yawned. I am not a big Baseball fan to begin with, but I could have done without 6 hour games.
- This just in, Penguins still suck! Sorry Pittsburgh fans. But the Steelers are still playing so I won't show too much sympathy. (10/28 Penguins win first game agianst Thrashers)
Next Caps game against the Lightening on Friday 10/28, 7:30 PM.
Monday, October 24, 2005
A Team Beaten
The cool thing about being a Washington Capitals fan is that we have an owner that is very fan friendly, which includes post game video of players in the locker room on www.washingtoncaps.com. For a person like me that has been in Sports Radio, there is nothing that tells the story more than the looks on the faces of the players after the game. Below are some of the interviews after the 4-0 shelling from the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night. Just take and look and you will see a beaten team. Even if you don't have audio, just watch the videos.
Olaf Kolzig can't look anyone in the eye while talking about the game.
Jeff Friesen almost looks depressed and saddened.
Steve Eminger takes it hard, voice low and searching for words.
Glen Hanlon is finally showing some signs of frustration, although very minor signs.
All of the Caps voices are low, and most of the conversations you hear in the background is mostly other reporters. The Caps took this one hard, you can tell by their manners and in how they are speaking. They are frustrated and perplexed and any other quizzical word you can come up with.
Most Caps fans knew coming into this season that we were going to be treated to one heck of a rollercoaster, but I see the competivness in the eyes of this team. They want to win. I expect a few harder practices and some steam let off over the next couple of days.
I had a coach once tell me, "It's okay to lose big sometimes, but only if you learn from your mistakes and apply that knowledge the next time you hit the ice to better yourself."
Wise words. So I may vent, I may yell and cry fowl. But I will be watching the next game to see if the Caps can learn from a big loss, and put together a better game.
Olaf Kolzig can't look anyone in the eye while talking about the game.
Jeff Friesen almost looks depressed and saddened.
Steve Eminger takes it hard, voice low and searching for words.
Glen Hanlon is finally showing some signs of frustration, although very minor signs.
All of the Caps voices are low, and most of the conversations you hear in the background is mostly other reporters. The Caps took this one hard, you can tell by their manners and in how they are speaking. They are frustrated and perplexed and any other quizzical word you can come up with.
Most Caps fans knew coming into this season that we were going to be treated to one heck of a rollercoaster, but I see the competivness in the eyes of this team. They want to win. I expect a few harder practices and some steam let off over the next couple of days.
I had a coach once tell me, "It's okay to lose big sometimes, but only if you learn from your mistakes and apply that knowledge the next time you hit the ice to better yourself."
Wise words. So I may vent, I may yell and cry fowl. But I will be watching the next game to see if the Caps can learn from a big loss, and put together a better game.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Jeff Friesen Comes to DC
The Washington Capitals have traded an '06 draft round pick to the New Jersey Devils in return for Left winger Jeff Friesen. Friesen is a proven veteran, with plenty of Stanley Cup experience. He will most likely take a leadership role within a team of young potentials. To find out more, check out my links on the Capitals News Page. The Caps welcome Friesen with open arms, but a question still remains, why is General Manager George McPhee trading for forwards, rather than getting more experience on the blue line. The Capitals defense is already soft and troublesome. Brendan Witt seems unable to get his head around the new rules, while the rest of the defensive core is young and inexperienced. It may be a rebuilding year, but more and more the Caps continue to make poor choices in developing a team that will be well rounded, with solid offense and defense. Now Head Coach Glen Hanlon has to make McPhee's latest additions work and show that this is a team that can grow and win. Sorry Caps fans, doesn't look like the Caps will even make the playoffs.
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