Yes, but maybe they should. There wasn't even talk of playoffs at the onset of the season. With the Caps in the hunt at almost the break, why not? The offensive power is much more than people expected, that includes the brilliant play of both Semin and Kelley. They are going to have to take on a big hit on salary sooner than later. If the Caps have groomed something of value in all these youngsters, why not make a trade? Offer up 2 and a draft pick to get a Tier 1 defensemen.

I think we are at the point in Ted Leonsis' multi-year plan where we can at least explore the trade market at the deadline if we are still in the playoff hunt. If there is a defenseman out there who can help us make it to the playoffs without disrupting the "grow from within" process with an unjustifiable long-term salary commtiment, then it may be worth it to pull the trigger. The revenue from a playoff series can really boost the bottom line, allowing the Caps more flexibility in the future.

Quite frankly, I see OV and Semin working hard, but we are wasting time keeping Brashear on the line up. He has a -3 rating for the year and all he does is pick fights with anyone, no matter their size. Hanlon, clearly with a Napolean complex, sends Brashear out to get his team back into it, but it didn't work with Buffalo or Montreal. With OV playing with Semin now, Brashear has no role on the team.

Drop Brashear and get even a second rate right winger. And look for a new coach that knows how to manage a line-up

The Caps have several good blue line prospects in their system, but none will be able to give the Caps what they need within the next couple of years. It just takes too long for most D-men to reach their potential. Look at Green, Morrisson and Eminger....... all are touted as having offensive upside, but their lack of experience means that they really have to focus on playing well in their own zone, and their offensive game won't develop much until they've mastered playing in their own end. Guys like Schultz are even further behind in terms of development, and as a result won't be a major contributor anytime soon. If the team is serious about competing for a championship while Olie is still playing, they can't wait around for all of these players to mature. Even one solid two way D-man in his prime would make a HUGE difference on this team.

Ali -

How can you complain about Hanlon and the coaching staff? This team is young, inexperienced, and WINNING more than 50% percent of the time. Noone expected this team to be anywhere close to where they are at this point in the season, so I think Hanlon and the coaching staff deserve praise, not ridicule.

We need to get healthier. Because of the injuries, Hanlon has been forced to juggle the line-up. He should not have had Semin and Ovie playing together for the second straight game. We need two scoring lines, not one. Tarik, look at where Montreal's goals came from? Dandenault and Downey. Latendresse made a nice play. Downey drove the net.

While winning 50% of the games is not bad, it really isn't that good either. I can give credit to Hanlon for managing inexperienced and young players and improving over last year, but I really don't see them doing anything to create an immediate impact. The Caps are only five points ahead of the last place team in the Southeast division.

If you look at the front line, there are no strong people in the RW position. Semin and OV are both listed as LW and even if they change their position, you can guess where they are more comfortable shooting from.

Drop Brashaer? Do you see the way this team plays when he is in the line up vs when he is not in the line up?

They are not afraid of anyone when he's in the line up. They go out there and fly around the puck. When he's not in the lineup, they dont. End of story. The last TB game was a perfect example (as well as most of last year). We were not as gutsy as we usually are with out him there.

Teams will REALLY start taking cheap shots at our guys if we get rid of Brashaer. Mind you Ovie has a bulls eye on his back already just for being 45% of our Offense. Having Brashaer in there keeps teams from trying to injure certain players (Atl going after Mike Green is an example). Caps need that edge with him in there. Does he give up goals, no does he score them no. Does he let the other team know that they can't just 'beat us' -- YES.

Maybe the Capitals could afford to spend more if they actually sold out some games, especially ones that should easily sell out, for instance, games vs. Pittsburgh involving the top 3 young players in the game and home openers.

As long as we get into the playoffs I'm happy. we've tried the money approach and it didn't work. let's try building instead and see where it gets us. all we have to do is look at the redskins.

So, are you saying the Caps are who we thought they were? ^_^

I think the #1 D-man that we need will take a lot more than our first round draft pick and, say, Fehr and Pettinger. We'll need to offer a lot more in draft picks or some of our D prospects. If Zed or Beech were actually breaking out, we might be able to use them, but they're useless as trade bait now.

Then there's always the chance of a Pronger situation. To be honest, I would be okay with standing pat. This offseason though, there's no excuse not to go hard after a top-tier free agent.

I never agree with the "you get what you pay for" philosophy on sports teams. After all, look at the Flyers this year. They had a huge payroll, top veterans, and high expectations. And they stink. It always comes down to spending wisely and having the right pieces in place.

But I still wonder where we would be with Gonchar still in the line-up (Witt not so much). The development timetable for defensemen is so much longer than forwards, and although I like the crop on the team now as far as potential, they are another year or two from realizing it. The defense has little to show on scoring. The forwards are ultimately carrying too much of the scoring and defending part of the burden, and it showed up in the case of Montreal.

There comes a time in this process when exploring free agents or trading prospects for players isn't just a theory, it is a necessity. But with as many prospects as the Caps have at their respective points on the development curve, that time might not yet have arrived. If the Caps are in the thick of the playoff hunt in late February, then the time might finally be ripe. I would think the club certainly has to explore wider personnel options in the coming off season. The draft is the core around which the club should be built, but it isn't the only -- and certainly not the last -- step. If the club is going to hang onto the idea of managing a sparse payroll next year under the guise of "developing prospects," Verizon will be one empty building . . . much more than it is now.

I'm more worried about the fact that he put the [as EA Sports would call it] hero line together with Semin - Zubrus - Ovechkin. If a team shuts the line down, they pretty much shut down any offensive chances in general for the Capitals. I think once the Capitals get all the injured players back, their team defense will once again be pretty good. Just right now Nycholat and Schultz make me miss Bryan Muir. And that's really saying something.

Ali-

Sure, winning 50% of their games isnt great, for a team expected to contend for a championship. The Capitals are not that team, this season. If you were Hanlon, what would you do to "create an immediate impact"? Wave a magic wand?

As you said, "If you look at the front line, there are no strong people in the RW position." How is that Hanlon's fault? He's not making players worse by putting them in the wrong positions, he doesnt have the talented RW's to stick in the lineup regardless.

"The Caps are only five points ahead of the last place team in the Southeast division." Have you looked at the Eastern Conference standings lately? The 5th seed - 14th seed are seperated by only 9 points.

Ian-

The only reason Hanlon is sticking Semin and Ovechkin on the same line is because they keep getting behind early, and when you need to score in bunches, you stick your best players together and hope you can catch lightening in a bottle.

"Hard work and effort only take you so far in professional sports."

This is a fundamental truth about sports that owners try to sweep under the rug. It does NOT mean that spraying cash everywhere is a guarantee of success -- see the Orioles of the late 90s. It DOES mean that a bargain-basement payroll makes a championship run a nonstarter. I doubt seriously that a team in the bottom five or six in player salaries has ever won a title in any sport. (Feel free to correct.)

Caps -- hardworking, plucky guys who squeeze the best-possible results out of their modest talents. Any longtime Caps fan will tell you we've gone this route before, and it always ends in playoff heartbreak. Haters will bring up Jagr, but the fact is that Jagr's numbers were good to excellent while he was in D.C.; he averaged 28 goals and 40 assists in his almost three seasons in a Caps sweater. The 68 combined points are 11 more than any Cap in 2005-2006 save Ovechkin.

The management team of the Capitals -- Leonsis and McPhee -- is WASTING one of the true gems in the league. The sound you hear is that of a window closing; that window is Ovechkin and Kolzig being teammates. In addition, Ovechkin's mom and/or whoever is his agent of the month are not going to sit by idly while millions of dollars in potential endorsement deals go down the drain because he is languishing on an also-ran in a nontraditional hockey market. The specter of him leaving Washington hangs over the club like Poe's raven.

There would be a lot more angry villagers marching through town with lighted torches if the Caps were not overshadowed by the Redskins. I have no idea how being noncompetitive for the Stanley Cup is going to build hockey in Washington, but that is precisely what Leonsis and company are doing. In the chicken versus egg debate, Leonsis fervently believes that the fan support comes before the quality on-ice product. That is ass-backwards and will not work.

Caps fans are left with a single hope: that Ted will see the error of his ways, fire McPhee (come on, we all could have drafted Ovechkin), and spend some money. Otherwise, it's checking the stat line of one guy every night.

I think we only need to look crosstown to see that shelling out cash every year, while raising expectations of the fans, does little to actually win games. Look at the Caps when they picked up Jagr.. yes, we sold more seats, but did get back to the Cup Finals, or even the Conf. Finals? Sadly, no..

Look at the 'Bolts from a couple of years ago.. they were talented, and some said wasting the talent of Lecavalier, before Andreychuk came to town, and a couple other veterans to round out the lineup. Guys who were solid hard-workers, not flashy players that took away from the team concept.

That said, I think it would be nice to see Ted trade maybe one or two youngsters for a seasoned guy on the blueline.

I like the direction the team's going in, no need to blow it up by dropping cash on big name players that might not add that much. But give me a Weight like in Carolina, or Andreychuck in TB, or Pronger in Edmonton, and I'm all for it...

Randy Burridge:

First off, let me hate a little bit - was Jagr being paid $11M a season to be a 68 pt player? No - he was being paid $11M to be a 100+ pt, MVP player.

Tarik and those who want to spend more:

It's a lot easier to spend someone else's money. Don't forget that Verizon luxury seat revenue for Caps games goes to Pollin to pay for the building not to the Caps to finance payroll. Every additional dollar spent by the Caps is a pretty much a total loss. The franchise value does not justify continued negative cashflow on at NPV basis. It's a money loser.

One last thing - ask the Oakland A's and Minnesota Twins how they continue to make the MLB playoffs and while spending 1/4 what the Yankees spend.

DC is not an original 6 city. The fan base doesn't support the team, routinely being outdrawn by visiting fans. Why should Leonsis spend another dime? Its pure charity if he does.

A cheap team of hard working guys is the only way to have a sustainable franchise gievn the current circumstances economically and with fan support.

Even after the recent horrible streak of injuries and losses, the Caps are still right there in a battle for the last playoff spot. For even the most fervent Caps fan, this is better than we could have dared hope for. GMGM's $30 million wonders have outplayed many higher budget teams so far. But now's the time to add a solid defenseman--and not wait until the trade deadline. The organization can certainly afford it, and such a move would go a long way to convince us long-time fans that this season isn't just a write-off towards the future. P.S: Has anyone noticed that Brian Leetch is still out there waiting for the phone to ring?

A couple of reactions to the above posts:

-We've actually won far less than 50% of our games 16 out of 37, but we've only truly "lost" 2 games in OT so its still I think fair to call them an above .500 team.

-TB won the Cup with a very modest playroll, and only following that championship did they have to shell out big bucks to retain the likes of St. Louis and Lecavalier.

Which leads me to my point - management and scouting seems to have high hopes and expectations out of guys like Morissonn, Green, and Schultz on the backline. If we go out now and trade for a high-salaried d-men with a long contract, we'll be unable to pay those young blueliners when (as hoped) they begin to produce on the level of elite backliners, and also have money to re-up Ovechkin and Semin when they'll be demanding multi-million dollar raises. Just like TB had to let go of Modin and Khabibulin to retain their star forwards, and look where they are now.

If someone were available on the trade market soon that has a high salary but 1-2 years remaining on a contract, I'm sure the team will pursue him. I say they wait another month to see if we're really a team that can not only make the playoffs but possibly win a round, and then they'll pick up a hefty salary for a 1/3 of a season and maybe next season. If the team doesn't look like a playoff team, or like one that will lose 4-0 to the Sabres in round one, then why spend the money now for little benefit - wait until the off-season.

Right on, Tarik. The Caps have a wonderful work ethic, and they busted their butts on the ice last night without much to show for it. To give the Canadiens their due, I thought they played one of the most intelligent road games I've seen in awhile last night. In my opinion, Montreal's D enabled them to play that game. In that regard, aside from a kind of fluky drive-the-net goal, the biggest contribution Aaron Downey made was stepping in between Brashear and Rivet. Given the way Montreal's D was playing, I would have been very happy had Rivet been the one who was tossed, and he was ready to go when Downey stepped in.

We have several young defensemen who I think have real potential, but who are still development projects playing a position that is very tough to learn at this level. An experienced player who can help teach and lead a younger group would be a real plus for these guys at this point in their evolution. As to prospects for this season, I still think we need to improve on the blue line in order to have a realistic chance at the playoffs. We have enough firepower up front, and with Backstrom in the pipeline and the truly incredible Alex Ovechkin, this team is only going to get better. I think the next step in developing this team, as well as its future success, hinges on finding and signing solid D, whether through a trade now or in the free agent market. Unfortunately, it is a sellers market for quality defensemen, and it is going to cost a lot.

As to Brashear, in my opinion, we need him, period; and even with more firepower and a stronger D, we would still need him, period. His is one of the ultimate roles that someone needs to play in the NHL, and I remember all too well last season and some of the abuse Ovechkin and others took, basically because we didn't have a Mr. Brashear.

"The fan base doesn't support the team, routinely being outdrawn by visiting fans." Hogwash. This is simply not true. While it is true that there are many opposing fans at some of the games (given the transitional nature of DC this is not surprising) and many empty seats some nights it is NOT true that they are "routinely" outdrawn by visiting fans. Just because you want it to be true doesn't make it so. You were trying to make a point and it appears you allowed your exuberance get the better of you.

McPhee isn't the problem. It's money. NO Washington team of any kind has ever topped a league in payroll. Abe Pollin saw to that with the Caps and Bullets. And the Nats aren't burning up the cash register, either.

Okay; so my late mom could have drafted Ovetchkin. But, given what the Caps COULD HAVE had...which was NOT Sidney Crosby; I would say Ovie is a big gift. I wouldn't break up Olie and Ovie for the world. The Caps will never win the Cup until they open the wallet. Pure and simple.

Um, Sean, "NO Washington team of any kind has ever topped a league in payroll."???? Ever hear of a team called the Washington Redskins? They live for leading the league in total money spent on players (salary/bonus) every offseason. Its done them a lot of good too!

SCOTT SHELDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's up man?! GO CAPS

I think you are correct, Tarik, and its nice to hear a spade being called a spade. Brittle and thin defense and 3 lines of grinders is not enough to win. As noted, December and January are when the good teams start creating distance and that is what we are beginning to see. Objectively, Zubrus is not scoring enough to be on a top line, Laich is doing little, Petty sslowed down, Beech is hit or miss (mostly miss), Klepis does f@&#-all every night and the defense often can't clear the puck or foresee a cross ice pass. Thats the sad truth. You can only float so long. Eventually, sinking is inevitable. Of course, I'll still watch every game, but on TV.

Patience is the key. This team has had moments of brilliance and moments of futility. Right now we are in the valley but as the team gets healthier and important players get back in the lineup (especially Erskine) good times will come again. It only takes a three to four game winning streak to get back in the playoff hunt. Also, the Caps have seen Brodeur, Miller and Huet in the last three games and all have been stingy. When goals are hard to come by defense lapses are amplified... and certainly several goals against Buffalo and Montreal were lapses not by d-men but by forwards failing to cover either the high slot or opposing d-men breaking for the net. This is a good team and great things await.

BTW. If the caps want more fans in the seat how about slashing the ticket prices in half and make it affordable to see a game.

Ali - your comments about Brashear are completely mindless. He's a HUGE addition to this lineup. He keeps other teams from taking liberties with our players, he energizes this team with his physical forechecking, his roughhousing and his fights. He's an unselfish player who rarely leaves us shorthanded. He's not here to score goals, get a clue. That's not his role.

-- re: getting some better defensemen. I'd take those 3 from Montreal in a heartbeat - Souray, Rivet and/or Komisarek :)

RUGGED RIGHT WING FOR A BARGIN PRICE YOU ASK??

BERTUZZI BERTUZZI BERTUZZI

Caps need a GOOD veteran D man to mentor the young D they have now.

I love # 87, just remember for every one of you who dish out the $$$ to see Ovie and Semin there is a guy like me who comes to see the skill of big basher.. (I like Ovie too)

I hope we sing him for next year. Pick up George Parros too.

This ownership group tried to "buy" a good team and that clearly didn't work.
THIS IS YEAR 2 IN THE REBUILDING PLAN. Show some patience; this squad (core group) will make a run at the cup in the next couple of years.

Tarik (and most posters)-- you're dead on. It is frustrating, because our biggest needs are a scoring second line center, and a top notch defenseman. With Backstrom (sp?) in Sweden, you know the Caps mgmt isn't going to pay for a second line center when they'll have him next year (and I'm sure he'll be good, but he's gonna take a few years to get great). Top notch defensemen don't come cheap either (see Zdeno Chara).

Sadly, I think we all need to just set our expectations back a notch-- the Caps are overachieving, but don't expect any real additions at the deadline or a deviation from Ted's plan. Ted got burned bad early on, and I think he's going to play it steady now. Probably not a bad idea in the long run, but very frustrating as fans to realize that this is just overachievement with most likely minimal chance of a real playoff run (this year). Hopefully the Caps can at least make the playoffs and let the youngsters feel the pressure--it'll make them that much better next year.

The Caps need help on defense. Question is whether the guys on the team and in Hershey are the answer. Are they going to get better and good enough to be top line defensemen or are the Caps kidding themselves?

I don't see a Scott Stevens, Langway, or Witt in their organization. Or even enough players a notch or two down from them. The Caps are going to have to make some smart trades to beef up their defense, but short term fixes won't work. However, a decent "journeyman" defenseman who can settle down the guys and teach them "defensive smarts" could be a good move.

Tarik,

Nice piece on Morrisson this morning. Has there been any word from the NHL regarding Briere's spear of Ovechkin?

Tarik,
Are you that stupid? $13M is going to improve the Caps that much? Go talk to Bobby Clarke... see what he has to say....

And while you're at it.... read a REAL HOCKEY WRITER.... take notes....

http://dumpnchase.wordpress.com/2006/12/30/spending-doesnt-equal-winning/

I didn't say just spend freely. but money well spent can make a huge difference.

let's look at the division leaders, shall we?

NJ--44 mil
Buf--43.9 mil
Atl--40 mil

Nash--37.7
Cal--41.2
Ana--42

see a trend?

and don't forget that "real hockey writer" -- while I think he does a nice job--is paid by Ted.

What an apologist! Tarik, I thought, as a journalist, you were supposed to remain unbiased. Stop making excuses for the Caps. Whatever they pay their players, it's too much. Most of the Caps don't deserve to be in the pros.

Buffalo is good because they found good young, cheap talent. As soon as those players become free agents, they'll leave Buffalo (look at JP Dumont leaving as an example). But I have a feeling Buffalo will still be good, because their front office gets it. The Caps front office has apparently not gotten it yet. That's why they suck now, and will suck for a while.

BTW, of those five regulars who are out, only one - Zednik - deserves to be wearing an NHL sweater.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE CAPS, TARIK. Start reporting about the Caps.

Here is some good news for the future from the World Junior Tournament (otherwise known as the IIHF World U-20 Championships) if nothing else.

Nicklas Backstrom, C, Washington (2006 - 1/4) - Backstrom, who was the best all-round forward in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, displays a Peter Forsberg-esque ability to evade defenders, particularly in tight. Now, that's pretty heady company. I'm not saying he'll be as tough as Forsberg - that's just not his game. He is, however, smart, slick and elusive, and if he ends up with a little Forsberg and a little Joe Sakic, he's going to be one of the NHL's elite, and soon. And the fact he'll be centering Alexander Ovechkin as early as next season ratchets up his keeper value like crazy.

Semen Varlamov, G, Washington (2006 - 1/23) - Familiarize yourself with this kid and fast. Earlier this season at just 18 years of age, Varlamov won himself the starter's job for HC Locomotiv of the Russian Super League. Not only did he earn the job but he went 5-2-3 in this league where he regularly stones men up to twice his age. Olaf Kolzig is going on 37 by season's end and he's not going to last forever. Varlamov is the future in Washington and together with Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Niklas Backstrom, the Caps' future is finally bright. And by the way, he has started the tourney undefeated and leads all netminders in save percentage. The Russians aren't getting much tube-time (or broadband for that matter, either) but when he hits our screens, you'll be as impressed as I am.

http://fantasysports.yahoo.com/analysis/news?slug=je-futurestuds_123006&prov=rotowire&type=lgns&league=fantasy/nhl

To follow up on Tarik's "trend" post on December 30 regarding NHL team salaries, here are some teams currently NOT making the playoffs with above-league-average salaries:

PHI 41.7M
BOS 43.7M (highest in the league)
NYI 42.2M
TB 43.2M
EDM 40.1M
PHO 39.6M

It's fun playing with numbers to support one's beliefs; but an honest assessment would be to say while smart spending can help teams, simply throwing around money does not work in the NHL. If one looks at the big picture rather than the narrow slice Tarik provided above, this conclusion should be obvious.

Sure, the Caps need a better defense, and the recent injuries have made that even clearer. But what team would part with a #1 defenseman for a few prospects/picks? Honestly, name one and I'm sure McPhee would love to hear about it.

Saying "the Caps need an #1 D-man" is as obvious as it is useless. This isn't fantasy hockey. The Caps were serious bidders for Chara but Boston overpaid for him. Let the team develop its prospects while they keep an eye out for free agents (like Pothier, and excellent pick-up many seem to forget). The team will spend wisely when the time comes, rather than throwing around crazy money for has-been or overrated players like the Redskins.

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