Tarik, today is Friday ; )

Fixed. But it feels like a Thursday, doesn't it?

There's really nothing for those guys to be smiling about today.

Good, they need to come out and have a no horseplay practice. Practice the way you intend to play. If they horseplay in practice today, guess what, they're going to get stomped by the Pens tomorrow night.

The Caps play dump & chase on the powerplay or not? Against the Islanders it seems to have been so. The Caps shoot the puck in the Islanders zone and the Islanders shoot the puck out their zone and that was in all 6 powerplay situations last evening the same crap.
Hopefully, the Caps beat the Penguins tomorrow.

I guess we've all gotten to see just how valuable Mr. Gordon is to the team's penalty kill.

I'm growing very concerned about Gordon's injury. He's awfully young to have back problems that refuse to go away. For a guy who takes so many faceoffs, there couldn't be a worse injury.

Or like a Lang in front of the net? Or Halpern? Or ...? Like the guys GMGM traded away for children?

They need the fear of coach in them. Hanlon doesn't have that.

Tarik,

Do you think the Caps will get there act together this season and start playing solid special teams?

Man o Man.. Schultzie made a real impact. I see when he was on the PK he got crumpled twice on frankly average body checks....

This guy is makes the term "soft as butter" seem tough

Does Hanlon have a plan for teaching the defensemen how to deal with the forecheck? It was embarrassing to watch them try to get the puck out of their own end last night.

Good, I'm glad they weren't smiling in practice. This team needs a lot of work. Two days off in four days, and several players got to miss one of the practices they actually did hold because they were off doing something irrelevant with Southwest Airlines at BWI.

When will the Caps make *winning games* their top priority?

Hanlon needs to take a page out of the Herb Brooks playbook. No more goofing off or undeserved multiple days off.

Every poor game and loss is another step closer to AO signing a offer sheet with another team. Ted would rather blog to appease all the shut-ins than fix the front office. :):):)

Can we start talking coaching change yet? I hear Joe Torre is available?

So is Hartley and he's no kitten. One thing is for sure, something needs to kick in soon. They just seemed to give up at times last night.

I am in the coaching change camp! Even though I "like" Hanlon, and feel bad for him that he had nothing to work with the last couple of years, I am not sure he can really get the best out of hte players - at least it hasnt shown yet! It really does look the same as last season to me over the last three games.

Hartley is terrible and employs the same dump-and-chase scheme we try to do on our breakouts. It doesn't work. Atlanta players hated Hartley and I don't see any reason why it would be any different here. He failed with talent in Atlanta -- no room for him here in Washington.

Observations:
-No physical presence from ANY defender
-Inability to efficiently get the puck out of the D zone if the least forecheck was applied
- dump & chase, dump & chase, dump & chase. Fine if you have the speed to do it, but thus far we haven't seen it from our boys.
- For all the pucks on net in the first period, most were outside shots easily grabbed. No power play puck movement.
- Olie was awful. Just awful. Those last three Isles goals I saw in my son's Bantam A game last week.
That said:
- Alex looks amazing. He's been the quickest, most skilled person on the ice every game.
- Backstrom looks better every game.
- The third and fourth lines look good (but Gordo being gone hurts everything).
- Aside from a stupid tripping penalty, Chris Clark is playing very tough hockey.
- Maybe Flash belongs on teh second line with 19/92 and we look to address the 1st line with a true RW?

It's simple. The games I don't watch, they win (first three). The games I watch, they lose and play horribly (last three).

I will do everyone (except me) a favor and not watch tomorrow....

I think it's silly to talk about a coaching change 6 games into an 82 game season.
But then, I did walk past the phone booth this morning and wonder if Hanlon's not the NHL's... Norv Turner!

I have not yet jumped on the "fire Hanlon" bandwagon but after reading this quote in Tarik's article, I am a lot closer to making that leap.

"The only thing I wasn't happy with was the power play," Hanlon said.

I'm glad he finally claims to care about the power play (I heard an interview with him on Elliot in the Morning a few weeks ago in which he said he would be satisfied with a 17% power play this season) but it is FAR from the only thing about last night's game (or the last 4 games, for that matter) to be unhappy with.

Actually, I agree with most of Shipdrivers observations. Here are some more (from what I've seen): the Caps don't work hard anymore. It's as though they're sitting around waiting for the skilled guys to come through (and they're not, except AO). If I were Hanlon, I'd give guys like Clark, Pettinger, Laich, Steck some more ice time to invigorate the corps of the team. When skill guys aren't getting it done (e.g. Nylander, Koz, Flash, etc.) aren't getting it done (especially on the pp), the team's whole confidence goes under. Start working hard and hitting, and the pp will hopefully come around.

You know why Hanlon is so serious?? Coz he is about to lose his job...

can we please stop w/ the ovie offer sheet talk. they will sign him before the mid point of the season to a crosby like deal. he's not going anywhere...

ps. of course, if he does, so will my season tickets which we've had since year 1

Fantastic. No Gordon tomorrow. >:|

They'd better show up tomorrow nightlike they were fired out of a cannon.

Andy - I thought last night they came out like they were fired out of a cannon...but they failed to maintain that level of intensity of the first 10 minutes or so for the remaining 50. Therein lies a consistent Caps problem - playing a full 60 minutes.

Is there a reason Sutherby isn't playing?

The PP needs a Holmstrom-esque forward if they want someone to play like that.
Somebody who can take a beating, set up the screen, score the occasional deflection or rebound goal.
You know...another Dino Ciccarelli.

Hanlon was right on. Power play looked awful. Some sort of psuedo-funnel without a guy in front is never going to work. Put some pylon in front. Shoot. Tip. Maybe score.

while I like big hits, I don't think they are the key sign of "strong defense". The defense didn't look stellar (execpt Green, who I thought had a strong night in transition), but they weren't exactly soft either. With the exception of the goal (I think the first one) where the scorer was able to stick handle across the top of the crease without any contact, I don't think it was lack of physical play that hurt the defense. The rest of the D was fine, except Pothier who I thought looked a bit off.

Just got back to work after practice and Tarik you're 100% correct, today was a different practice. There was a weird feel to it, very serious. The guys were practicing hard though, which is very good to see. There's a niche that this team needs to find, and they're not quite there yet. However, when they do find it? Watch out world, here come the Caps!

11,000 last night at verizon? announced? nice turnout.

Put me in front of the net on the Power Play for one game. I don't think it will hurt our percentage...

I lead the team in plus/minus anyway.

Semin and a couple of his friends were sitting right in front on me in Section 102. I told Semin he needed to put on a sweater and play (I, of course, was kidding..sort of..kind of). Anyway, he ignored me (doesn't speak English when he doesn't want to :-) ) but his friend said, in broken English, that his ankle was still bad and hurt.

Doesn't sound as if he'll be on the ice anytime soon.

Maybe we'll be a second half team--kinda like the Avs were last year.

My two comments are:

Schultz needs to fight daily with Brash or Erskine in practice and learn to stand-up for himself. The man is a powderpuff with legs and considering his 6'6 frame is a pathetic pushover. He is a little light at 215... perhaps he should hit up Hooters after the games.

Motzko should have never been on the point for the PP last night let alone gotten as much ice time as he did. AO was constantly yelling at him to move into the correct place on face offs and even "stole" his place on the point because he wasn't moving the puck effectively. This was a bad call on Hanlon's part imo and cost us dearly on the PP.

Interesting concept. Putting Brashear in the PP. It would be difficult to unseat him in front of the net. He's a big tough rig with a rep. As lethargic as this current PP is, why not? Nothing to lose but another game...

Yeah - let's put Brash on the power play.

While we're at it, let's get Ciernek and Gruden back here and have Doig and Coumedienne replace Poti & Pothier.

Hey - anyone remember how great Coumedienne was going to be this year - how he'd be another power play specialist etc.?? LOL!

How do you actually get to the chat?

There was a link to it, last time, but I don't see anything this time.

And I was looking around 2.30. I just now decided to post about it.

Boumedienne, by the way

chat is over. sorry

Here's a link to the chat recap--

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/10/14/DI2007101400825.html

Interesting how Hanlon criticizes the PP and not the PK going 3-5. Does he remember putting Motzko on point? Or is it selective amnesia? He's starting to point the fingers at the players now in classic fashion. Time to start the count down!
By the way, what is Dale Hunter doing? It would be great to see him behind the Washington bench.
Ovie is GREAT TO WATCH!

any ideas why hanlon won't put the point guys on the power play on their off side? i.e. poti on the right point, green on the left, and let them bomb away with one timers? the point shot just really doesn't work the other way.

I actually think that kidding around in practice is a good thing. this team is fine they just need to gell together. they arn't handling the pressure to win very well (didnt last year either).

brash would be nice on the pp cept he gets called for EVERYTHING. having him in front of the net is just asking for a 4 on 4.

LETS GO CAPS!

Gm change before coaching change.

That hard work thing is what winning teams say against the losing team. It's like nice personality. Like I've said before, my strongest image of last year was watching Flash up close skating in circles with his head in the air like he was the only one on the ice rink.

Old caps won dump and chase due to speed (Bondra) & grit (many). They made it meaningful b/c they could take hard shots from the perimeter (Gonchar). Of course, not going off sides was a different issue.

i think i recall brashear getting some pp time. i think its a good idea. he can clog up the middle and hopefully open up some space on the wing for ov et al. i recall guys like tim kerr w/ the flyers and others who were big rigs who would kill the caps w/ garbage pp goals. cant be worse than what they are doing now.

to Pgreene,

Well, that does work, but it makes it harder for them to keep in clearing passes along the boards. That's a bigger problem than not getting enough one timers

Hey PMoravek....Dino, Dino, Deeeeeeno. Common denominators to suckdom: GMGM, HOlie, Ted. There was a time the caps had knowledge in their ranks mainly DP. He left and we have ten years of crap. The change starts at the top.

I bring myself to start screaming for GMGM's & Hanlon's scalps yet. I'm sure that GMGM would love to make a good trade and get the right wing and the D-man we need. The problem is the other guys need to be looking for something we have. They also need to have somebody we want, they also need to be okay with the fact that they are now going to need to play against the player they are giving up.
It's not as easy as just saying "Hey, let's get that guy."

We also had a three game winning streak before we had the three game losing streak.
This is the roller coaster that is NHL hockey...please hold on to the bar.

In the blog today Tarik was asked when is the correct time to press the panic button, his answer was not yet but to keep your finger close.
In addtion to being accurate, it's also pretty funny.

I'm stunned that Motzko is still in the line up, let alone on the top line. I haven't seen such ineptitude in 30 years of watching hockey (unless you include the movie, Mighty Ducks).

Nothing has changed with this team.

Such a fuss was made about returning to the 'glorious' red, white and blue. But I would remind you they still own the record for the worst team in the history of the sport.

It is time to pull the trigger and bring in a new coach. I hate saying that, cause I like Hugs. But he is not getting the best out of his players. This season will be lost before you know it if something isn't done.

Fire Hanlon

"The problem is the other guys need to be looking for something we have"

Posted by: pmoravek | October 19, 2007 08:06 PM

that's part of the reason why the gm's drafting is a problem.

I didn't see the whole game, but I did see Motzko generate a turnover at center ice, Drive into the zone, and send a perfect pass to Ovie who one timed it in the back of the net.

Maybe not an all around great performance, but a great play.

On Brash on PP - There are definate up and down sides to this concept. As I said in my earlier post, he's tough to move out of the way. He can take the wacks you get when you park it in the crease. The downside is that his hands are like iron. I'm not sure he can handle the trash and put it home. That, and he is a magnet for penalties due to his rep. Still, it's better than what's happening on the ice now!

On Hanlon - So let's pretend that we get rid of Hanlon. Who to replace him? Maybe one of the Sutter brothers? Could we entice one down from Alberta? Just PLEASE leave Keenan there! Is it too early to look? Atlanta didn't think so. 6 games and Hartley is out. Should we get him? I don't think so. I like Wilson and I know he's under pressure in San Jose. Maybe he could be tempted to return now that his children are grown. He does really love California, though. Someone mentioned Joe Torrie - I like him, too, but he doesn't have the disposition this team needs. How about Pete Carill? He could do a back door trap.

I don't think it's time yet, but they have to start thinking about alternatives to Hanlon. I wouldn't fire him unless they have someone better in mind, and that isn't a minor league dude like Cassidy. From the start of the season the team started out great and has gotten worse. That isn't a good sign for coaching. I still don't think the team did enough on the D end of things so how much should they even be blaming Hanlon? GMGM is really the one to look at here, since he has been here longest and still hasn't turned anything around.

Last post for the night...promise!

Two late thoughts. Trade for Darcy Tucker on wing.

Here's one for a chuckle...How about Don Cherry for coach? Think we could draw him away from HNIC?

Well, let's be honest. What could we possibly trade for? We know who we want to trade, but who wants them?

Our tradeable assets are as follows:
Anyone but
Ovie
Semin
Backstrom
Nylander
Green
Kolzig

Kozlov probably not, same with Poti, and Kolzig isn't going anywhere, ever, probably.

who seriously wants what's left? We don't have a lot of bait, really. So what kind of trade could we really make?

One semi-realistic trade I think could be made might be a swap of Eminger and Clymer for someone like Seabrook out of Chicago, or maybe...hell, Zubrus.

I just don't see a lot of return for what we seriously have to offer. Does anyone have a better idea?

Oh, and Gordon, Clark, and Pettinger, too. I would classify that line as invaluable, when uninjured.

"that's part of the reason why the gm's drafting is a problem."

Posted by: Jim | October 19, 2007 08:59 PM

Yes, because Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, Green, Alzner, and the host of other prospects we have in the system are all such terrible players.

Not every draft pick is going to turn out to be a superstar. Some of them are going to be busts, but I give GMGM a thumbs up on his drafting. Building a team from within is definatly the way to go, even if it's not necessarily the fastest. How long has it been since the Flyers have won a cup? 30 some years? And how bout them rangers? Great start, last place in the Atlantic, given how muc hthey spent on free agents.

Just chiming in for a moment, and I'm not calling for heads at all, but clarifying that after 10 years of drafting its a little too convenient to claim Caps mngt successful at drafting by pointing out Ovechkin, Semin and a few others. There were a lot more busts than players working out. Pettinger has had one 20 goal season and has never been able to put it all together; Ovie was a lay up; Semin is talented but has been a huge headache so far; Gordon is working out to be a great defensive forward; Green is showing flashes of being very offensive but not necessarily defensive. What I'm saying is, its gotten a bit better but it isn't a success story yet. I'm happy for the upturn, but lets keep it real. Some folks around these parts are a little too young to be making such wild claims and exhibiting such know-it-all attitudes.

On another note, Sids clinching goal in the shootout against Carolina Friday night was a thing of beauty. Lets hope the Caps are ready.

I'm not saying that GM'ing is easy. It's that THIS GM gutted a team for prospects, most of whom are washouts. Most of the 3rd lines and back should be in AHL, but we have to play them. On D, it's all except the first line. I've been saying this since the fire sale, get rid of GMGM.

As for Flyers and Rangers winning cups. I wouldn't be too upset if we had contenders for the cup. The Flyers seem to always be in the playoffs. The Rangers are, well, "special". Being a Rangers fan is a real test sometimes, and I am one (born in NJ pre-Devils). I don't think they did it right, either. There's a mix of buying and grooming talent that has to occur.

The role of GM is an art not a science. The layup picks are easy like OV and Backstrom. It's the second third and fourth round picks that drive success (i.e. Bondra). And that is where GMGM is lacking. David Poile was a genius at drafting virtual unknowns and turning them into solid NHLer's. GMGM picks turn into solid AHLers. Nor has he put together a coaching staff to win night in and night out. There's only sporadic bursts of energy. The PP is a giant indication of Hanlon's poor coaching. PP time is not a time to lollygag but a time to outwork the other team. You can't get to the power play and relax. Good teams double the intensity. Which leads me to my main concern: Where's the heart in this organization? Not on HOlie's sleeve; Clark sometimes but he disappears; Sadly the heart left town with Dale. OV has it but will he stay? Fire GMGM. Fire Hanlon. Find a GM (Dale?) Bring in Boudreau. Bring in energy guys like Chris Borque from the farm and go get guys like Darcy Tucker. Shift the weights and right the ship.

It's oh, so encouraging to read posts like Darryl Hockey's, and those of Greg S. It's obvious they have a rather keen understanding of what it takes to create a championship calibre hockey team. They've both been right on!

It's obvious Puckguru knows how to build a championship team and it's obvious GMGM does too. Clean house (w)right the ship.

just cause olie has been playing bad the last couple of games doesn't mean he sucks. think of all the games hes saved our butts. and look at ovie he can't decide whether to shoot or to pass and thats hurting us. he is super fast but he isn't showing us what he did last season.