The Capitals have signed free agent right wing Graham Mink and free agent defenseman Tyler Sloan. Mostly a move to keep some talent in Hershey. It's a minor move, but keeps some depth for the Caps down the road if the injury bug hits.
Mink returns to the Capitals system playing only 5 NHL games (all with the Caps). Sloan returns the the Bears after two solid seasons in Hershey. Not really the news we were hoping for today, but at least some one is working over there at Kettler.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
The Morning After
There is a mix of feelings toward the Capitals' moves on free agent Tuesday. At first there was a lot of animosity headed in the Caps' management way when GM George McPhee seemed to have botched the Cris Huet deal and went with a less capable goaltender in Jose Theodore >>>. Then that flipped when it had been revealed that Huet was actually given what they had asked for and still went to the open market. McPhee afraid he would be with out a number one goaltender at all, made the move he thought he had to to get a number one goaltender.Huet dismissed the offer that they themselves told McPhee they would sign for and headed for open market. When all was said and done, Huet got a better contract with Chicago. Which already has a "number one" in Nic Khabibulin. In a way it's funny that both Capitals' goaltenders, Cris Huet and Olie Kolzig, went to different teams that already have number ones (in Kolzig's case he is right back into a situation with 3 goaltenders in Tampa with Mike Smith and Karri Ramo).
With Huet going the open market route, the next best thing was Theodore who was willing to sign on for less time and money. Think of it as a "patch" until the Caps young talent can get their feet wet. Although Theodore, while inconsistent, is no "patch." He is a good goaltender. Will he produce the numbers for the Caps that are comparable to Huet's? Maybe not, but he is no slouch either. When his game is on, Theodore is a playoff goaltender and has the ability to sway a game or two. If you want to draw side by side comparisons, Huet has never made the second round of the playoffs, Theo has (not to mention got cozy with Paris Hilton). If the Avalanche had a healthy squad in front of him, Theodore could have done a shade better too.
The Capitals do have some talent in the pipeline in the goaltender department and are certian that their prospects are a year or two away from the big show. The Caps didn't want to be bogged down with a lengthy contract if the likes of Simeon Varlomov was ready to play in the big league after spending some time in the minors and making his way through the system. If Huet signed for four years and Varlomov has to sit on his keaster to wait out the contract.
The job isn't done. Green check, a goaltender check. Now onto the RFA's with the likes of Eric Fehr, Boyd Gordon, Shaone Morrisonn and Brooks Laich need to be re-upped and UFA Sergei Fedorov. I still think the Fedorov deal will take the Caps almost up to training camp as he weighs his options. Obviously it helps that Alex Ovechkin is in constant contact with him and has been his number one campaigner.While those other contracts will take some time to iron out, development camp is around the corner. Just a week away, we will see the likes of goaltender Simeon Varlomov, defensemen Karl Alzner and Josh Godfrey, and forwards Oskar Osala, Francois Bouchard and Mathieu Perreault. Can a few of these players finally make the jump to the bigs? Its about time to find out.
P.S. If you were curious, NHL network is replaying the 2008 playoff series with Minnesota and Colorado. Your chance to see Theodore in action over the next week or so.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Huet Gone, Kolzig Gone, Welcome Jose
The goaltender situation just couldn't get ironed out. Cris Huet wanted a longer contract, George McPhee was only going to give him 3 years. The result, Huet makes the move to Chicago for a 4 year, $22 million contract. And the Capitals felt they had no choice but to pick up what they could.
Jose Theodore comes to Washington with a so-so career record. Plus the Capitals got him for a deal, 2 years, $9 million contract. Theodore did play well in the first round of the playoffs last season, and helped his team make the second round, a fact that Huet did not. Theodore should bring some of that calm butterfly demeanor to the Caps net. Let's hope he got that hair thing all figured out.
Huet seemed the perfect fit, but the hold up was 1 year. McPhee offered 3, Huet wanted 4. As a result Olie Kolzig signs a one year contract with the Lightning. Wha? Kolzig was rumored to head to Ottawa, to sort of settle things down goaltender wise. But the move to Tampa actually makes sense. They will use him in conjuction with Mike Smith, and when Smith's game starts to get in consistent bring in Olie.
The market apparently wasn't very kind to Kolzig. Who could only muster a mere one year, $1.5 million contract. Leaving his future very much in question. Will his competive nature help the Lightning or hurt them? Is Kolzig past his prime? We will have to wait to see. It will be interesting to see the Caps play against their former team leader. Kolzig will definitely be in a back up capacity with the contract he signed. Maybe even a back up, back up capacity, don't forget Karri Ramo.
Will Thoedore's contract give Simeon Varlamov the time he needs? Is he a good enough goaltender to get the Caps back to the playoff landscape? Is he healthy enough? Much of these questions will haunt Caps fans for the off season. Let's hope good things are to come.
Update: according to Tarik:
I just heard from a source that Huet asked the Caps for three years, $15 million and the Caps offered it to him. But Huet told them he wanted test the market today and see what might be out there. Now it's looking like he'll sign a four year deal with Chicago for $5.6 million per.
Did GMGM jump the gun thinking Huet wasn't going to sign?
Jose Theodore comes to Washington with a so-so career record. Plus the Capitals got him for a deal, 2 years, $9 million contract. Theodore did play well in the first round of the playoffs last season, and helped his team make the second round, a fact that Huet did not. Theodore should bring some of that calm butterfly demeanor to the Caps net. Let's hope he got that hair thing all figured out.
Huet seemed the perfect fit, but the hold up was 1 year. McPhee offered 3, Huet wanted 4. As a result Olie Kolzig signs a one year contract with the Lightning. Wha? Kolzig was rumored to head to Ottawa, to sort of settle things down goaltender wise. But the move to Tampa actually makes sense. They will use him in conjuction with Mike Smith, and when Smith's game starts to get in consistent bring in Olie.
The market apparently wasn't very kind to Kolzig. Who could only muster a mere one year, $1.5 million contract. Leaving his future very much in question. Will his competive nature help the Lightning or hurt them? Is Kolzig past his prime? We will have to wait to see. It will be interesting to see the Caps play against their former team leader. Kolzig will definitely be in a back up capacity with the contract he signed. Maybe even a back up, back up capacity, don't forget Karri Ramo.
Will Thoedore's contract give Simeon Varlamov the time he needs? Is he a good enough goaltender to get the Caps back to the playoff landscape? Is he healthy enough? Much of these questions will haunt Caps fans for the off season. Let's hope good things are to come.
Update: according to Tarik:
I just heard from a source that Huet asked the Caps for three years, $15 million and the Caps offered it to him. But Huet told them he wanted test the market today and see what might be out there. Now it's looking like he'll sign a four year deal with Chicago for $5.6 million per.
Did GMGM jump the gun thinking Huet wasn't going to sign?
Green Will Stay A Cap (updated)
For another 4 years. Mike Green gives the green light to a 4 year $21 million contract that will pay the defenseman a modest $5.25 million a year. Consider this a steal, since many were discussing Green signing for no less than $6 - $7 million. Green will talk with reporters via phone conference at noon.
GMGM's comments on the signing:
“Mike has developed into an impact defenseman in the short time since we drafted him, and he will be a key part of our team moving forward. We look forward to his further contributions as we continue to improve the hockey club.”
But cap space will be squeezed with others that need to be signed. With Green locked up, whose next? Huet?
Now we will have more adventures like these to look forward to.
GMGM's comments on the signing:
“Mike has developed into an impact defenseman in the short time since we drafted him, and he will be a key part of our team moving forward. We look forward to his further contributions as we continue to improve the hockey club.”
But cap space will be squeezed with others that need to be signed. With Green locked up, whose next? Huet?
Now we will have more adventures like these to look forward to.
It's Comcastic!
Not!
Really? Did Comcast Sportsnet drop the ball again? On a big free agency day, the Wizards got their props, but not a single story, teaser, any comment on the Washington Capitals and their free agency. Did DC media just take 5 huge steps backward since the love fest in April?
Apparently so. The Caps play in the District too, and they have some pretty important news going on today with free agency and all. Caps fans are starved for news judging by the numbers of those coming to my corner of the internet. I understand if you can't get GMGM on camera, but Tarik looks good in HD. You could do a phoner with Green or some agents. Or, at the very least acknowledge that the Capitals exist and that free agency is today at noon.
That's Comcrapstic! Why did I ever change the channel from the NHL Network?
Really? Did Comcast Sportsnet drop the ball again? On a big free agency day, the Wizards got their props, but not a single story, teaser, any comment on the Washington Capitals and their free agency. Did DC media just take 5 huge steps backward since the love fest in April?
Apparently so. The Caps play in the District too, and they have some pretty important news going on today with free agency and all. Caps fans are starved for news judging by the numbers of those coming to my corner of the internet. I understand if you can't get GMGM on camera, but Tarik looks good in HD. You could do a phoner with Green or some agents. Or, at the very least acknowledge that the Capitals exist and that free agency is today at noon.
That's Comcrapstic! Why did I ever change the channel from the NHL Network?
Division Notes
Free agency rears its ugly head today. As far as the Capitals, they are looking to keep as much in house as they can. But for the rest of the Division, it's a potpourri of needs and wants come the noon deadline. Let's take a quick gander at the Southeast Division.
Atlanta Thrashers - Obviously they are pretty disappointed about the outcome of last season's debacle. But they were able to move some hefty change from their cap by moving Marion Hossa. Now the dizzy birds are ready to spend some cash and pull in some much needed free agents. GM Don Waddell has his hands full with six roster players that are unrestricted free agents and a host of roster spots to fill.
"We're probably around $33 million-and-change committed," Waddell said Monday. First on his list, a veteran defenseman (stand in line). Plus he needs some goal support for Illya Kovalchuk, or a playmaker that can compliment him.
Carolina Hurricanes - If you had a team that desperatly needed a little help, it may be the Hurricanes. They couldn't finish their season out and fell out of the playoffs when they couldn't close out the Panthers in their last game of the year. But GM Jim Rutherford has some problems. One, he doesn't have much cash to lure many free agents. And two, they have 10 forwards fighting for spots.
"I don't think we'll be very active," Rutherford said. "Certainly there are some players there that we could consider, but I think in order to balance our team out to add the type of player we'd like to add on defense, it'd be more apt to be done through trade."
Florida Panthers - A team that made some moves, but not a lot of noise. The Panthers just freed up some cap space by sending Ollie Jokinen to Pheonix, but don't think they now have cash to spend. Jacques Martin has his hands full trying to keep the players he already has. Instead of being buyers, as you might think they would be, most likely they are in the same boat as the Capitals trying to keep the players they want in Panther jerseys.
"I don’t know at this point,'' Martin said. "Look at the people that we have. In order to get people we want, we would have to trade. It always depends."
Tampa Bay Lightning - By far the most active team in the off season in the league, not to mention the Division. They couldn't wait for the noon deadline to come around. Instead they traded picks to get the players they wanted and they seem ready to load up even more by lunch time. Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts were quick signs after getting their rights from Pittsburgh. Brian Rolston's rights were also traded from the Wild but the GM Jay Feaster has yet to get him under contract.
Team owner Oren Koules seemed to be the spokesman for the recent moves. "We made a lot of promises" to the Tampa Bay area and "we want to show we're keeping up our end of the bargain. … We want to show off."
Washington Capitals - Well you know. Green. Huet. Morrisonn. Gordon. Laich. Fehr. Possibly Fedorov if a compromise can be made. The Caps could be looking for help from free agents if they feel they can't get their RFA's and UFA's under contract. With all this talk, no one really has been talking about Matt Cooke and his plans. Eh, too much Green on our minds.
Happy Canada Day to our friends toward the north. Happy free agency day for the rest of us.
Atlanta Thrashers - Obviously they are pretty disappointed about the outcome of last season's debacle. But they were able to move some hefty change from their cap by moving Marion Hossa. Now the dizzy birds are ready to spend some cash and pull in some much needed free agents. GM Don Waddell has his hands full with six roster players that are unrestricted free agents and a host of roster spots to fill.
"We're probably around $33 million-and-change committed," Waddell said Monday. First on his list, a veteran defenseman (stand in line). Plus he needs some goal support for Illya Kovalchuk, or a playmaker that can compliment him.
Carolina Hurricanes - If you had a team that desperatly needed a little help, it may be the Hurricanes. They couldn't finish their season out and fell out of the playoffs when they couldn't close out the Panthers in their last game of the year. But GM Jim Rutherford has some problems. One, he doesn't have much cash to lure many free agents. And two, they have 10 forwards fighting for spots.
"I don't think we'll be very active," Rutherford said. "Certainly there are some players there that we could consider, but I think in order to balance our team out to add the type of player we'd like to add on defense, it'd be more apt to be done through trade."
Florida Panthers - A team that made some moves, but not a lot of noise. The Panthers just freed up some cap space by sending Ollie Jokinen to Pheonix, but don't think they now have cash to spend. Jacques Martin has his hands full trying to keep the players he already has. Instead of being buyers, as you might think they would be, most likely they are in the same boat as the Capitals trying to keep the players they want in Panther jerseys.
"I don’t know at this point,'' Martin said. "Look at the people that we have. In order to get people we want, we would have to trade. It always depends."
Tampa Bay Lightning - By far the most active team in the off season in the league, not to mention the Division. They couldn't wait for the noon deadline to come around. Instead they traded picks to get the players they wanted and they seem ready to load up even more by lunch time. Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts were quick signs after getting their rights from Pittsburgh. Brian Rolston's rights were also traded from the Wild but the GM Jay Feaster has yet to get him under contract.
Team owner Oren Koules seemed to be the spokesman for the recent moves. "We made a lot of promises" to the Tampa Bay area and "we want to show we're keeping up our end of the bargain. … We want to show off."
Washington Capitals - Well you know. Green. Huet. Morrisonn. Gordon. Laich. Fehr. Possibly Fedorov if a compromise can be made. The Caps could be looking for help from free agents if they feel they can't get their RFA's and UFA's under contract. With all this talk, no one really has been talking about Matt Cooke and his plans. Eh, too much Green on our minds.
Happy Canada Day to our friends toward the north. Happy free agency day for the rest of us.
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