Good angle, Tarik! You one smart guy!

Apparently Olie's agent hasn't watched too much hockey this season.

Many years of playing at the highest possible level ahead of him? Wow...he must be crazy along with not watching any games.

Many more years? What is he smoking?

@Ben and all the other kolzig haters
Kolzig has atcually played a pretty good season in my opinion. He gets upwards of 35+ shots a game. Sometimes you have to look at the way hes playing not just the stats. Yes, I'll admit he has let some easy shots in, but you can't blame that all on him. Those easy shots have happened because of bad plays in our defensive zone. Like not getting the puck out hard enough or a defensmen not clearing the front of the net. You can't always look at stats wen deciding if a player has a had good season or not

That's a call I'd like to hear...

Olie: "WTF is going on??? They're giving me competition? I haven't done enough for this place, and this is how they treat me?"

Art: "I know, Olie! It's a shock to me, too."

Olie: "Oh, I'll dis them soooo bad in the papers! This place will stink for years! They'll never get a UFA here EVER again!"

Art: "Now, Olie. Let's not get a rep as a disgruntled employee. I'll lose all my fees from you. Let me handle the PR part and you'll look good. Maybe even better than you already are!"

Olie: "Yeah, good idea. I'm good you think?"

Art: "Oh, yeah! The best!"

Olie: "Maybe I should go for $6M next year."

Art: "Let's not push it right now..."

He should've been disappointed that his client, when Bryzgalov was not picked up from the waivers, didn't come up with the expectation. His client was 44th among 44 goalies in NHL in save percentage.

But he is definitely disappointed that he won't get his 6% from the contract Olie couldn't signed if he'd play well enough. That's for sure.

anonymous,
good thing your opinion doesnt mean $%#@

I'm guessing Olie's agent didn't have any comment on his GAA or Save %.

Many more years? This guy is bonkers.

I hate agents.

Breeze could be a poster child for the latest round of "This is your brain on drugs" ads.

Yeah, you've got to love agents. That "many more years" comment is a hoot. Kolzig himself would never say something like that.

Hey, anonymous at 4:46, it's not hatred of Kolzig to point out how ridiculous that comment is.

What's more disappointing is Olie taking this issue public through his agent. This is not what the team needs right now. Where's the leadership, Olie?

There are 44 goalies who have played at least 1200 minutes so far this season, and of the five men who have the league's lowest save percentages, three of them are Southeast regulars. Here's that bottom five:

rank goalie, team mins sv pctg
40 Johan Hedberg, Atl 1,492 .896
41 Fredrik Norrena, Clm 1,384 .896
42 Ray Emery, Ott 1,297 .892
43 Johan Holmqvist, TB 2,288 .890
44 Olaf Kolzig, Wsh 2,591 .887

Bear in mind that the average save percentage in the league is .909, and that if these goalies had played merely to that average level, they'd have prevented 10 or 15 extra goals by now, which probably would've meant an extra 7 or 8 points in the standings for their clubs.

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/why-ovechkin-lecavalier-and-kovalchuk-cant-win/

@ 4:46pm

I ran comparative stats the other day in my spare time to verify someone's outlandish claim the D wasn't playing for Olie. Olie and Johnson averaged almost equally 26.5 shots per game, not 35.

Somebody check my math, I did it over the wkd.

Huet got something like 29 shots per game(?) I didn't write that down.

My initial statement upon the Caps attaining Huet was that I hope for all concerned that his stats are his own and not the result of a better D core giving him juicy saves and easy looks.

@4:46,

The defense is to blame for the goals scored from behind the net?

The defense is to blame for rebounds coming straight out instead of sent to the corners?

I'm just sayin...

Olie's agent seems quite bitter. Yes, Olie has given some great years to the Caps--no one is refuting that. But he isn't the future of this organization and has gotten slower this season. Saving rebounds was never his strong suit and it's becoming worse now. He has let in a lot of soft goals (anyone care to remember the Flyers game of January 13th I believe was the date, I know I don't, but that game proves Olie is not the Olie he used to be.)I love Olie as much as the next guy, but I've come to face the facts. Olie's agent needs to as well.

"Olie clearly has been, and certainly continues to be, the heart and soul of the Washington Capitals," he added. "Almost single-handedly he has carried that franchise on his broad shoulders for many years. And he has many more years playing at the highest possible level ahead of him."

Pure BS! Overpaid, OLD. Bye Olie, don't let the door hit you in the rear end on the way out.

"And he has many more years playing at the highest possible level ahead of him."

Oh good lord. I know he's trying to be a good agent and all, but he should have stopped at "Almost single-handedly he has carried that franchise on his broad shoulders for many years."

Olie does not have "many" more years at a high level. He may be able to eek out 1 more in my opinion, but I hope it's here as a backup next year!

I respect Olie and appreciate what he has done for this franchise, sticking around to play with an AHL caliber team the last few years and carrying the team on his shoulders the best he could. But there comes a time with every athlete, be it with age or injury, where they just can't consistently play at the high level that everyone is accustomed to anymore. I don't know that there is really anything the organization can do, other than be as classy as it can, taking into account the impact Olie has had on the organization and it's fans, but also realizing that the team will need to move on at some point if it hopes to win.

Olie, may not admit it, but I'm sure he realizes that the sun is setting on his career, and I'm sure it's painful, so I empathize. But I would like to ask Olie, "When is the right time to move on?" Must the franchise wait until he decides he can no longer play anymore, no matter how it affects the teams play?

This was a move that McPhee just could not pass up. It was time to find a goalie to bridge the gap for 2-3 years for Varlamov and/or Neuvirth to take over for the franchise, and at that price, Huet is just to good.

@Yo Ay

Great stat thanks!

Art Breeze has lost his f@#%ing mind

Building on what Yo Ay said, the Huet deal was justified even if Huet never plays a game for the Caps, just to keep him from making any of the other teams in our division better...

OK, I get it now!We should have replaced Olie with Ouellet, except he is not playing anywhere now, then we should have replaced Olie with Sharpie, oh yeah, he also is not playing hockey, so now thank the hockey gods, the GM of Montreal is a complete and utter idiot who gives away the best goalie in the NHL for a 2nd round draft pick and now we are saved. To top it all off this goalie is trained in that well known hockey mecca of FRANCE!! He is not some stupid American or Russian or Swede or heaven forbid a Canadian, he is from the home of great hocky players FRANCE! I mean who doesn't remember Pelozy or the great hall of famer Bozon (I am not sure which hall of fame mind you). We are so lucky!! Get real we got Huet because he never won a playoff game and they did not expect him to win one this year. Huet was not good enough to take Montreal where they want to go and he is not good enough to take the Caps there either, ask the fans in Colorado how they like Montreal's castoffs.

Tarik,

Did Breeze call you, or did you call him? Who started the ball rolling?

Thanks,

Kolzig WAS the Capitals for over a decade. His impact on the franchise and his charity work are both of incalculable value and he will one day have his number hanging from the rafters in the Verizon Center. By all rights he seems to be a wonderful person and teammate.

None of this, however, should cloud our judgement when it comes to his current performance. He has been well below average all season. In a recent Hockey News survey of the top goalies in the NHL, Kolzig didn't even make the list. His Save % and GAA are well below that of many backups in the league, including his own. True, he is playing behind an inexperienced defensive corps, but that is not a viable excuse when Johnson plays in front of the same group and has better stats.

In my opinion, Kolzig's big problem this year has been rebound control and his inability to react to second and third chances. His lateral movement was never one of his strengths and now it's a glaring weakness. He is often stabbing his leg pads at shots, rather than absorbing them or kicking the rebounds out of danger. The result is an inordinate amount of rebounds lying around the crease that, with his decreased mobility, he cannot cover. When he's lucky, like on Tuesday, those rebounds get cleared by his defensemen. When he's not, we get performances like last Saturday in Carolina.

Kolzig was a great goalie and still is a great Capital, but if the Caps make decisions for the present and future based on past performance, they will be condemned to missing the playoffs. Goaltending has been the Caps' biggest weakness all year (along with a lack of secondary scoring). Huet is an instant upgrade at the most important position in hockey and his presence in the lineup instantly increases the Caps' chances of making the playoffs, regardless of what Olie's agent thinks.

I'd understand maybe his point of view if we gave up something from the current roster for him...but an 09 pick, aka-Brian Sutherby.....if this got out that McPhee didn't do it he would have and should have lost his job....I think Olie is fantastic but at the same time the future is near and if we're to give Ovy and the rest of the young guys a shot you need to look between the pipes and say can we do this with what we have and obviously McPhee thought no.

I think I just heard the crashing of Olie's fans hearts breaking.

For all the "Look at all Olie has done for this organization" responses from fans and blowhards, i respond by saying that if kolzig throws a tantrum because he can't realize that this team needs stronger #1 goaltending then he is negating all the good he's done for the team in the past

Tarik, you being on the phone with Olie's agent did nothing but stir the pot. Was this really necessary?

and so 10% of $5.5 is ... any takers? right....

and so 10% of $5.5 is ... any takers? right....

As people have already said, those comments are indicative of an agent just trying to make sure HE continues to get paid.

Though - Kolzig played GREAT the other night (and remember, I'm one of the first to point out his soft goals and other foibles this season). Hopefully this competition will keep all three goalies on their toes, playing their best possible games.

Breeze is just doing his job and representing his client. No need to get worked up about it. What was he suppose to say, "boy, I'm surprissed it took GMGM this long to get another goalie."

Olaf may benefit from some competition. I'd be happy with a Olaf / Huet tandem next season. Sorry Johnny.

Generally speaking, over the course of this year I've never gotten the impression that Olie thoguht he was a spring chicken or something. He knows he's 37 and that things weren't going to stay the same forever.

If Olie told his agent to say this, then it's really classless. If the agent did it on his own, Olie should think about getting a new agent. That's really unprofessional to call out you guy's team like that when the team didn't do anythig nwrong. They didn't stiff him, they didn't trade him for a puck runner and a bag of sticks, they just made the best deal of the day.

Nice angle, Tarik.

I'm not sure if this him saying: Hey, GMGM, if it were up to me he would be walking next year for $6 next year and 8 the year after. But, its not up to me, so you better count yourself lucky the Olie's a better man than I am."

or if its "Hey, Olie, I'll play bad cop and make you look like the victim. You keep playing good cop and the crowds will continue to throw rose petals in front of your Masserati."

My sense is its a bit of both. Yeah, he's got to posture, and can be a bit of the outlet Olie can't be. Then on the other hand the market value of a 1A goalie is a lot less than a #1, even a 38 year old.

"...ask the fans in Colorado how they like Montreal's castoffs."

@ Bob...

You are right, that Montreal castoff Patrick Roy was awful for the Avs.

I just love it when you pretend to be me. Huet will fold like a warm towel when the pressure is on!

I'm sure the agent didn't call in on this.

These are his candid remarks when he was asked unexpectedly after being told by his client to make no remarks.

Be interesting to see if Breeze holds a press conf to howl at the moon re: how badly the Caps are treating his client....

@JC

Why are you gettin on Tarik? This IS a blog about the Caps right?

Great journalism Tarik!

"I think everybody realizes how weird it is in here right now," Kolzig said.

That includes coach Bruce Boudreau, who referenced his 9-year-old son when discussing the goalie dilemma as the Capitals try to make the playoffs for the first time in five years.

"That's the reason I didn't want Brady playing on a team with two goalies at minor hockey -- because you don't play," Boudreau said. "So three goalies, you just magnify that."

Huet and Kolzig each said Kolzig would start Saturday's home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the coach acted as if that was news to him.

"We take every day one day at a time," Boudreau said. "If Huet's unbelievable, then we'll go with him Saturday."

"I still feel I can play at a high level," said Kolzig, whose 298 NHL wins have all come with the Capitals. "And I'll continue to believe that."

Kolzig, who turns 38 next month, is 22-19-6 on the season with a 2.98 goals against average and an .890 save percentage. Huet, who had been sharing time in Montreal with rookie Carey Price, is 21-12-6 with a 2.55 GAA and a .916 save percentage. Johnson's numbers: 7-8-2, 2.67 and .908.

General manager George McPhee said the Capitals couldn't pass up the opportunity when Huet became available. Huet cost Washington a 2009 second-round draft pick.

Boudreau said it was a nightmare dealing with three goalies during two seasons he coached in the minors in Manchester, N.H. Inevitably, one of the three has to pay a big price.

"It's hard to keep all three sharp," Boudreau said. "So we want to keep two sharp."

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080228.wsptcapital28/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080228.wsptcapital28

@ Bob

Hey I saw Maxim Ouellet play last week! He was with the Trenton Devils of the ECHL @ Reading Royals...

And he still gave up 7 goals hahaha.

You really think Huet compares to ROY??? Show me his ring! When they got Roy he was already a winner. Huet has won NOTHING!!

JC

Care to have Tarik come to your place of employment and have him tell you how to do your job?

matt
+1

I heard Kolzig and Breeze were in Kolzigs driveway doing situps this afternoon

At this point I think Huet compares favorably with the guys the Caps had. That is really all that matters.

@Bob

Huet has a career .917 save percentage. This is better than that of Lundqvist (.916), Kiprusoff (.915), Giguere (.915), Legace (.915), Turco (.914), Vokoun (.913), Brodeur (.913), Roy (.910), Khabibulin (.907), Belfour (.906), Joseph (.902), and nearly everyone else -- although not as good as Hasek (.923) or Luongo (.920). In the '05-'06 season, Huet led the NHL in save percentage, and then was .929 in six playoff games.

@Bob

I am not saying Huet is next Roy, though would be nice, I am saying the situation is very similar to the Roy's trade to Avs.

To be Patrick Roy... it takes more than just save percentage numbers.

Art, go get yourself a new client.
You went from $550,000 to $80,000 from Ollie... Get over it.

What did we expect Art was going to say?
His job is to promote his client and get the best possible deal for him. GMGM made a shrewed business move and it drastically effects his and Ollie bottomline. Art knows there isnt going to be a market for his client as a #1 goalie. Washington was his only destination and that is gone at this point.

@Bob

I agree with you about the French, but not about Huet.

I am reposting an entire post by D'ohboy because I liked it so much and couldn't write anything better. So if you haven't seen it, it's dead on in my opinion:

Kolzig WAS the Capitals for over a decade. His impact on the franchise and his charity work are both of incalculable value and he will one day have his number hanging from the rafters in the Verizon Center. By all rights he seems to be a wonderful person and teammate.

None of this, however, should cloud our judgement when it comes to his current performance. He has been well below average all season. In a recent Hockey News survey of the top goalies in the NHL, Kolzig didn't even make the list. His Save % and GAA are well below that of many backups in the league, including his own. True, he is playing behind an inexperienced defensive corps, but that is not a viable excuse when Johnson plays in front of the same group and has better stats.

In my opinion, Kolzig's big problem this year has been rebound control and his inability to react to second and third chances. His lateral movement was never one of his strengths and now it's a glaring weakness. He is often stabbing his leg pads at shots, rather than absorbing them or kicking the rebounds out of danger. The result is an inordinate amount of rebounds lying around the crease that, with his decreased mobility, he cannot cover. When he's lucky, like on Tuesday, those rebounds get cleared by his defensemen. When he's not, we get performances like last Saturday in Carolina.

Kolzig was a great goalie and still is a great Capital, but if the Caps make decisions for the present and future based on past performance, they will be condemned to missing the playoffs. Goaltending has been the Caps' biggest weakness all year (along with a lack of secondary scoring). Huet is an instant upgrade at the most important position in hockey and his presence in the lineup instantly increases the Caps' chances of making the playoffs, regardless of what Olie's agent thinks.

Rebounds? huge. Always have been. Just had more experienced D to clear them out. Reflexes? Great. Makes game saving stops routinely. Shoulders? Large enough to keep the games tight for many seasons and keep the team in contention when their play should have kept them out of it.
Charisma? Stayed with a rebuilding team (partly out of family obligation) when he could have gone ANYWHERE else. He was better 3 years ago than 2/3rds of the leagues netminders. It would have been a lot worse the past 3 years with someone else in net. Look at Tampa, Columbus and the other bottom dwellers.

But now... 5 Hole? Like a middle aged hooker in a sea port. Reflexes have slowed down so the hole stays open longer. Kolzig has let in an ungodly amount of 5 holes this year, more so than in past seasons it seems. Other teams have always shot 5 hole on Olie and the shootouts alone prove that. When your weaknesses get larger, its time to pack it in. Does that mean Olie stinks? No. It means we age. He's 37. Sure Belfour kept playing till 40 but what did he achieve beyond a paycheck?

His agent can bristle all he wants. The lowest save percentage in the league is not good. Our D may be young, but this year they aren't THAT bad.

That's why you get rid of the whiners. Now we have two whining goalies who could cause problems.

Way to go McPhee - idiot.

Bob,

Huet may have never won anything, but show me all of Kolzig's hardware...Oh yeah...He doesn't have any either.

So, let's review what we have learned:

Bob hates the French.

Art Breeze is trying to make some more money. Did anyone expect he would say anything else? if he had, THEN I would expect Ollie to fire him.

There are still people who post on this blog that think GMGM is an idio, incompetent or whatever. In contrast to the rest of the hockey world that has been celebrating the moves the caps made on Tuesday. And the reason you naysayers aren't NHL GM's or coaches is because...?

We have too many goalies, but that's good. For now.

We have too many forwards. And that's good too.

The "^ Goal Club" and the "Bored at Work Club" have officially separated for the welfare of the team. No one was paid 10%, and we will still go to Austin Grill for the wings after.

Matt, Sheesh,

I wasn't going to dignify that comment with a remark but thank you. Also, wasn't it their first season on Denver as well?

When they won The Cup, their first season out of Quebec? I think it was.

It seems most of you expect Olie to go. While clearly, in Tarik's last post, It seems that Brent Johnson will be the odd man out.

@Goalie
Kolzig has some hardware. He's gotten the Vezina Trophy in 1999-2000

It's kind of sad. I thought that the Bryzgalov BS was going to end when we got a goalie who's better than he is. That said, I don't give a damn what Olie's agent says. Olie's been professional about it. If it bugs him, he has one solution - play better. Smile, and be happy, the fans love you, and the organization does too. Play like every game someone is out to take your job - cause someone is.

Yep and he also took us to the finals. Where has Huet taken anyone?

Kolzig also has a King Clancy Award and a very fresh .890sv%

Cal Ripkens agent called and said he is annoyed that he isn't currently playing shortstop and batting third in the lineup.

Time to move on and play as a backup.

I have a feeling Olie will pick it up, now that he has competition for that #1 goaltender spot. No offense to Brent, he's a great back-up, but I can't really see him as a #1 goaltender.

OK I don't feel like reading the same old tired Olie bashing. The bottom line is simple, when our D don't act like statues, and when our forwards backcheck then Olie looks like a top 10 goalie. The Minnesota game is a great example. So is the last Tampa game, or the SO loss against ATL, or the wins against the Rangers and the Flyers.

A good example of what happens when the other teams get odd man rush after odd man rush, and second and third chances at the puck, or tap in goals are the recent Islanders and Hurricans games.

Johnson is 7-8 on the season. Only one of those wins came against a team that would make the playoffs if the season ended today. Kolzig was facing the better teams more often than not.

I don't think anybody here that is sticking up for Kolzig is arguing that he is the same player he was 4 years ago. We are arguing that he is not as bad as you chicken littles are making him out to be.

When Huet plays, he'll have good games and he'll have bad games. He'll look great when the D move their feet, clear out rebounds and the general crease area and have the forwards backchecking. When we stand around watching he'll let in 4 goals on 22 shots and everyone will be screaming for McPhee's head for trading a second round draft pick for him.

Olie's agent should have kept his mouth shut. I understand wanting to have your client's back, but this is not constructive and will not help in negotiations over the summer whether with the Caps, or other teams If Kolzig chooses that option.

Very few people see Kolzig as a #1 goalie.

Art Breeze needs to move the hell on and start figuring out how to renegotiate the contract of Rod Tidwell.

@sombrero

I agree. Olie has made timely saves, and is a good goaltender for Caps. It's just when Caps D don't support him that he looks terrible out on the ice. The last game against Carolina is an example. Cpas D did not support Olie. Yeah, he could've done better with the rebounds, but it's the D's job to get rid of those rebounds, when Olie gives them up.

Well, I don't know if any of you know, but Chris Clark is SKATING again! A good sign for this Caps team!

@sombrero guy

No knowledgeable hockey person would ever call Kolzig a top 10 goalie behind DET defense at this point in his career. Making a statement like almost immediately makes me want to discount anything you post in here. But I kept reading cause you do have intelligent things to say.

I'm no chicken little btw...

This guy is on drugs. Spoken like a true agent. Kolzig has been great but no a superstar. How many stanley cups? To say that kolzig did us a favor by staying is not at all accurate. He is getting paid more that martin broudeur in NJ.

stats don't lie. save % 88. GAA=3.12

"We've got 18 games left to try to get into the playoffs and we'll see what happens after that. There's things in life and in the game of hockey that are out of your control. It's how you deal with that separates you from other people. I'm just going to continue to do my work. And like I said the other day, if it's not good enough, then there's somebody else here to do it."

- Olie Kolzig

Lets focus on that quote rather than a goofy agent.

Fact 1) Olaf Kolzig has had an august career as a Capital and is truly wonderful human being. His class is constantly exhibited and his reaction to personal adversity is a great example to us all.

Fact 2) Olaf Kolzig was well paid and is well paid as a professional athlete for the last 16 years by the team he played for, the Washington Capitals. By most accounts, except probably by his agent when negotiating, he has been and is properly and well compensated. This year he will make $5.45 Million that's more than ten (10) times as much as the President of the United States. Of course that doesn't include George W's perks nor account for the fact that even with the his current mediocre stats many, especially the Democrats amoung us, will argue Kolzig is having a better year then the guy down the street.
Fact 3) Earlier this season Caps fans questioned the ownership and management's commitment to the team, the fan base and winning.
Fact 4) It is professional sports we are talking about and Olie Kolzig is 37 years old.

Opinion 1) having and stating a reaction to the comment "Kolzig has many good years in NHL nets ahead of him" is that is an unrealistic comment doesn't make you stupid or disloyal to a good guy it makes you a realist.

Opinion 2) As long as the Caps treat this situation with some sensitivity and everyone acts professionally, both the organization and Olaf Kolzig will remain class people and organizations which so far they have been. Working to put the team in a better position to win is after all a primary objective of the jobs all involved have and get paid to do.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!

I love his and Brent's professionalism with the goaltending situation.

The agent wants nothing more then to get his name out. A good agent would keep his mouth shut.

Breeze...what an idiot.

Breeze is just angry that Ovechkin told him to get lost and that he could get more money as long as he stayed far away from the contract table.

@Sombreroguy

A couple out of this world saves a game does not make you a top 10 goalie. All goalies make insane saves from time to time. A top 10 goalie makes those saves and controls the puck. Rebound yes, but rebound to the corner or drops down, not halfway across the slot.

Olie still makes the occasional holieolie save, but over the course of the game he'll have a couple physical or mental lapses. With a defense that plays offense, that's a problem. With a good team against, its a goal.

Washed up? I don't know. Superstar, maybe once, but now, a valued vet.

I want Kolzig's agent. The deal he negotiated has made Olie the most overpaid player in the league over the past two seasons based upon his performance.

By the way, I don't think it is a particularly useful angle. I would hardly expect Kolzig's agent to throw down on him or praise the Caps for bumping his guy. Nothing surprising here at all.

You can be sure that this rank comes straight from Kolzig by way of Art Breeze.

Hell, I think I might be personally a little pissed off if I were Olie too, but you have to do whats right for the bottom line, and whats right for business.

Olie (over the whole season, and please, not just the last 20 games) has not taken care of business. Who knows why, but at his age, the benefit of the doubt is not something you can ask for on a team that needs stellar, game-stealing goaltending just to sniff the playoffs (this season).

He will get over it, and maybe he'll be pissed off enough to sign with a desparate team, like Ottawa or Tampa in the off season as a result. Who knows for sure. I'd bet money he's not coming back next year, regardless what the Undertaker's coments have been to the contrary.

rant, not rank...

I agree it's time for Olie to move on but let's not forget . . . this guy has stayed with the Caps through some pretty bad times. He has been a class act the whole way. Is he a prima donna? Maybe. Does he make a boat load of money for the, let's say, "less than steller" recent years he's had? Yes.

I still love him and I'm glad he's a Cap.

"No knowledgeable hockey person would ever call Kolzig a top 10 goalie"

How would you know? Personally I am just disappointed in Ted "Snyder" Leonsis allowing this circus to happen to the Caps. Maybe Danny and Vinny can visit the owners box on Saturday.

@Jschon

I just re-read my post after seeing your comment and want to clarify. My intentions were not to argue that Kolzig is still a top 10 goalie. My intention was that he is capable of LOOKING like one when he gets sufficient support. He faced an average of 35.5 shots in the games against Minnesota and Tampa Bay and saved .960% of them. MOST of those were not tap in goals like Satan scored in the NYI game, or third and fourth chances like in the Carolina game.

I know I am cherry picking two of his better recent games, but those were two games fresh in my mind where our D, and forwards, played well defensively.

Also, you mentioned the Detroit D and (essentially) argued that Kolzig would not look good even if he played with them.

Chris Osgood has been putting up come incredible numbers this season. Osgood was also run out of Detroit a couple years ago, and in the 2002-2003 season he split with the Blues and Islanders put up GAA and Save Percentages WORSE than Kolzig has this season.

Did Osgood get really slow and old, completely forget how to play hockey, then found the fountain of youth before he returned to Detroit? Or is the Detorit defense he is in front of now just a LOT better at limiting high percentage scoring chances and clearing rebounds?

I am on the record as being a fan of the Huet trade. I think the Caps stand a much better chance of winning with Huet/Kolzig rather than Kolzig/Johnson or Huet/Johnson. Nothing against Johnny, he is a great guy but there is a reaosn why he only spent one season as a #1.

@Bob

Because every year I pay attention to pre-season rankings. I am a geek that way. I play fantasy hockey and I need to know these things. Other than that I rely on my own hockey acumen just as you do.

And btw, you forgot a few words in my quote, "at this point in his career".

This "circus" so far is us, and Art Breeze. There hasnt been a problem yet, there might not be one.

So many people get attached to players as if they are family. People like that shouldnt be in charge of sports franchises. Its a business first and everything else is secondary. It is nothing personal.

Ego's are hurt, veterans are replaced and tough business decisions are made everyday in professional sport.

Sometimes it doesnt sit well with the fans when a fan favorite is replaced, cut, traded or benched.

I am pissed that the Steelers are letting Alan Faneca walk, but they know what they are doing in Steeler town.

This Huet deal may or may not work out for the Capitals. More things point to it working than not.

@Terminator, et al.

Man, McPhee can't catch a break on these boards. He goes out and gets Huet for virtually nothing and gets slammed for creating a three-way logjam in net. Had he not pulled the trigger on the deal and Huet went to another team for a second rounder in 2009, everyone on here would be calling for his head.

regarding rebounds....the D's ability to clear the crease and open sight lines to the shooter has a lot to do with a goalie's ability to control rebounds.

Kolzig HAS let in some softies this season, but there are too many people that are unable to follow the development of a play and diagnose not only HOW a goal happened, but WHY a goal happened.

When a goalie SPRAWLS to make a save on a wide open shooter in front of the net, then fails to make the save on the second or third attempt, who is to blame?

@ elicea

Clark is done for the year, IMHO.

That's why we picked up Cooke. If Clark does get back, that's a bonus.

"Olie, may not admit it, but I'm sure he realizes that the sun is setting on his career, and I'm sure it's painful, so I empathize. But I would like to ask Olie, "When is the right time to move on?" Must the franchise wait until he decides he can no longer play anymore, no matter how it affects the teams play?"

Leigh: I couldn't have said it better myself. Olie is a great guy, but you have a very valid point, and 'great guy' doesn't win the Cup...

@ kenwood

Just pointing out that Clarkie is skating again, and that it's a good sign for him and this Caps team.

@ kenwood

Just pointing out that Clarkie is skating again, and that it's a good sign for him and this Caps team.

@ kenwood

Just pointing out that Clarkie is skating again, and that it's a good sign for him and this Caps team.

@ kenwood

Just pointing out that Clarkie is skating again, and that it's a good sign for him and this Caps team.

@kenwood

two weeks ago I would have said the same thing, but Clark has been sighted on the ice skating and sweating his butt off so maybe there is hope.

I think we picked up Cooke because Petty had a year left on his contract, Cooke did not and they both needed a change of scenery.

If Cooke impresses, we try to resign him. If he doesn't, we cleared up a roster spot for Fehr, Bourque, Bouchard etc.

@ kenwood

Just pointing out that Clarkie is skating again, and that it's a good sign for him and this Caps team.

Sorry for all multiple postings. My computer is acting weird...

This year he will make $5.45 Million that's more than ten (10) times as much as the President of the United States. Of course that doesn't include George W's perks nor account for the fact that even with the his current mediocre stats many, especially the Democrats amoung us, will argue Kolzig is having a better year then the guy down the street.

Kolzig for President of South Africa, well, for President of Wachington Capitals. (Just get out of the goals, old man)

I like Olie as much as any Caps Fan...I respect everything he does for charities and community service...but come on...he is no Huet. Olie needs to get real, Huet is much better 5 years younger and on top of that makes $2.5million a year less!!!

BJ needs to calm down and ride the pine for the rest of the season till Oldzilla is gone and BJ can backup Huet next year.

Kolzig needs to retire with dignity at the end of the season, not whine and complain.

Does anyone knows if Cox cable transmits all of the Caps' games. I am thinking of getting their service as they have a good offer.

From the March 4 issue of The Hockey News, the magazine's crew (with input from scouts) ranks the top 30 NHL goaltenders:

1 Luongo
2 Nabokov
3 Brodeur
4 Leclaire
5 Osgood
6 Giguere
7 Vokoun
8 Miller
9 Lundqvist
10 Turco
11 Kiprusoff
12 Hasek
13 Thomas
14 Bryzgalov
15 Conklin
16 DiPietro
17 Toskala
18 Backstrom
19 Legace
20 Theodore
21 Gerber
22 Huet
23 Biron
24 Ellis
25 Garon
26 Ward
27 Harding
28 Niittymaki
29 Mason
30 Lehtonen

Pascal Leclaire, Chris Osgood and Jose Theodore are too high on the list, even if it's entirely based on this season, while I'd have Cristobal Huet and Kari Lehtonen much higher.

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/02/thn-ranks-goalies.html

Where is Olie? Oh yeah, he is #44 out of 44

Hey kenwood, did you happen to hear that clarkie was skating again.

@ tvland

Cox does not show all of Caps games, but they show most. They have both CSN and CSN+

It's funny that all the buzz surrounds the acquisition of a goalie that has yet to prove his # 1 status.
Huet will fail miserably in DC. It's fait.

Olie has acted very frustrated this year and last year for that matter. I watch every warmup and as I've said all year you can see it in his body language. Everything seems to be a burden. The guy is done and it's time to move on. A fact is a fact. His agent has not watched very many games this year. That's for sure.

What's the point in sweating the goaltending when there is no reliable defense??
I don't care if Luongo is here, It won't make a difference given the defense.
Boy, every piece of garbage that comes along, you just have to buy.
GMGM GARBAGE MAN George McPhee.
Ted AKA AZAMAT

Well I'm glad this can of worms got opened...

A handful of games are wrecking Olie's stats for the year, as if yearly stats on a rebuilding team even mean a damn thing.

There's a delusion among many that Olie gives up "softies" more than other goalies. Well, wait out Huet for a while. Watch some games around the league (for many years). You'll see plenty of bad games, and softies, and you'll see other teams CLEAR THE CREASE EVERY TIME the puck is there. The Caps don't do that, and that affects goalie STATS.

If you want STATS, and ONLY STATS, then give the Cup to the team with the goalie who wins the Vezina. Does that usually happen? I don't think so.

The Kolzig bashing has gotten tiresome. It's clearly coming from a bunch of NOOBIE hockey fans (last decade...since the Cup run or Jagr or Ovechkin) who have no perspective.

In the end, I hope Olie goes somewhere else and plays in front of a good, non-rebuilding team, just so he can shut these idiots up.

The Kolzig apologists will never accept the fact that their overpaid, old, self centered goalie is at the end of the road. What has Zill-0 done over since 1989-90? Not much. Except for the 4 and done Finals run, Oldie has not gone beyond the FIRST round when he did help get the CAPS to the playoffs! No young back-ups have ever developed with OLD-Zig around. He stinks, waive Olie the OLD Goalie and end the circus. Now even TSN.com has this circus on its website.

looks like a no-win scenario for gmgm... if he didn't pick up Huet for that little, can you imagine the indignation of some posters here? Funny thing, they'd probably be the same posters complaining that he did pick him up lol. Oh well... but honestly, we needed to do something about the goalie situation, at least for the future.

I'm pretty excited about both Huet and Fedorov. I like Fedorov attitude... looks like he can bring so much experience, and teach so much to our youngsters. We really needed that.

The Devils are the best team in the NHL right now. Excitement!

LET'S GO CAPS!

agents are so good for every aspect of the game.

tarik, who called whom?

@ TripDonkeys: Thanks for the shout out. :)

I just noticed some circular irony to the Caps' current goaltending circus. Kolzig is being replaced by Huet, who in turn was made redundant by Carey Price. Price played his junior hockey in the WHL for the Tri-Cities Americans. The Americans are owned by none other than Olaf Kolzig. Apparently Olie even spent some time 'mentoring' Price during the lockout.

What a small world it is. . .

I'm glad you're happy with the state of our hockey team, Chief. It's a shame you don't know a thing about hockey. Huet - Upgrade. Fedorov - Stop plug. Cooke - Future fan favorite.

For once look at the team you claim to be a fan of and pretend you like it.

Kolzig is a wimp. If you can't handle having competition in your locker room then go play another sport cause you won't succeed in the NHL. Your 37 years old and are crying like a 2 year old through your agent. I hope Huet shines brighter then the Las Vegas lights tomorrow night and forces Kolzig to up and retire. I've never been a Kolzig fan and I hope that Huet is signed long term by the Caps and Kolzig is shown the door!! By the way, Kolzig hasn't carried this team the past few years a young buck by the name of OVECHKIN has.

Olie still makes great saves and with a more cognizant D, the crease wouldn't be run so much. His 5 hole, as noted, is a problem as his lateral movement isn't as good as it used to be and he doesn't shut his long legs fast enough. But his blocker is still great and his glove hand is damn good. He might have the lowest save percentage in the league but that has a lot to do with the guys in front of him, too, an offense heavy team that results in a lot of odd man rushes. Don't forget the PK that gets scored on often as well. Olie's stats have as much to do with the team in front of him as they do with his aging body. Through 30 games, Hasek has seen 638 shots. In 48 games, Olie has seen 1287. Luongo, in 54, has seen 1527. Nobokov, in 61 has seen 1458. Brodeur has seen 1592 in 59. Huet has seen 1150 in 39 games played.

Just some fuel for the fire.

I think we'll miss Olie's game saving stops. i really do. But he's not one of the elite anymore. The Caps likely wont be able to afford an elite goalie with the payroll they're going to have. Huet better work out.

This is funny ... check this out:

http://capitals.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=20325

Once you get there, click on the names of the newbies to go through to their profiles ... I guess the pictures of them in their new Caps sweaters are not exactly what they appear to be ... ;-)

Agents are evil. Can't be trusted. You can tell they are not telling the truth by watching their mouth open.

Canes lost - 3 in hand with 5 points between us ... we can do it!!!!!!!!!!

Jupe,

the median save percentage among qualified goalies is .910. Kolzig has had 18 games at that or above. He's had 15 at .870 or worse.

I wouldn't say it's just a handful of games that are ruining Olie's stats.

Good short story on Boumedienne at nhl.com.

@Caps43 (and everyone else bashing agents)

- I hope your conclusion re:agents is based on more experience and exposure to them than the movie "Jerry McGuire".

That said, Mr. Breeze has every idea in the world why the Caps did what they did: To make every last person out there compete for their job.

Don't forget, Olie wants to win with the Caps prolly more than anybody, and stuck around through some bleek days to see that happen.

He still gets the start at home Sat night....unless Huet is "lightsout", which means that the healthy competition is on.

kind of random for the agent to talk about it... I don't know

dconetimer.blogspot.com

You know, the more I think about the goalie situation, the more I think this simple point needs to be reinforced: Olie has been one of the worst starting goalies in the league this season. Period. There's just no debate.

Watching him let in that late goal against the Islanders last week was the nail in the coffin for Caps management. His unstable, inconsistent play has prevented us from going on runs that last longer than 3-4 games. We look like a much better team on most nights with Brent Johnson in net.

And, along those lines, I would not be surprised AT ALL if McPhee's sit-down with Brent in the coming days outlines the likely scenario that Olie is done after this season and Huet will start in goal next year with Brent as a very capable backup and positive clubhouse guy.

Olie has been an incredible constant during the past decade for this franchise. However, that doesn't buy you permanent entitlement. He's carrying himself like that's what he deserves. No player deserves that. Ultimately, it's always about what's best for the team. Olie has reached the point where he needs to continue being the strong leader he's been by supporting Huet and doing whatever Bruce says.

Olie the Goalie is a backup now.

@Jupe

Here is your first handful of bad Olie games...
10/18 NYI L 5-2 .762
11/05 @CAR L 5-0 .792
11/10 TB L 5-2 .879
11/19 FLA L 4-3 .846
11/21 ATL L 5-1 .800

your second...
11/30 @CAR L 4-3 .789
12/07 @NJ L 3-2 .864
12/14 BUF L 5-3 .862
12/20 MON L 5-2 .762
12/29 @OTT W 8-6 .727

and your third...
1/05 @MON W 5-4 .852
1/13 PHI L 6-4 .750
1/21 @PIT W 6-5 .667
1/31 MON W 5-4 .810
2/23 @CAR L 6-3 .857

I was being kind to Olie. There is a 4th handful in there if you really look.

Did you guys read my comments in the last thread???

I hoped this 3 goalie situation does not implode.

Breeze's comments bring to brighter light that Olie and GMGM were never close to an extension this season. This summer they wont be any closer. GMGM offer max offer is 2.5 mil. Breeze is looking for 6 mil. There will be no contract. Olie is done as a Cap at the end of the season.

Just like Bondra, Langway and the others. Olie might play another year or two but it won't be for the Caps. George recognizes the team is young and getting better. Unfortunately, Zilla is getting older and slower.

Hopefully, Johnny takes this all in & rides the season out and comes back strong next year.

As I said before to you fellow bloggers. This is a business for the players, coaches, managers and owner but simply entertainment for the fans.

I don't know if anyone has said this yet, since I don't really want to read all 120+ comments. We did pass up a chance to get a very good goalie for free earlier this season, but now we're getting a goalie that in my mind, is a better goalie than that other guy whose name has come up for months, for next to nothing.

Even Brent Johnson, who should be the most disappointed person, admitted that getting a goalie of Huet's talent for what we gave up is a deal you can't really pass up.

@ LOAFKolzig and Tommy

He's in the media, he's a target. If he can't take criticism then he should be there either.

I just wanted to know if he sought out the agent and to what end? No need to stir the pot.

@Boo!
lol that is funny :D ... photoshop anyone?

@yo ay,

Kari at #30? Are they crazy? He's a beast.

My guess is Tarik isn't going to tell us who called whom.

@Chief

"Huet will fail miserably in DC. It's fait"

Fait...?

I have to ask, did gmgm steal your girl friend? Run over your dog? Give you a wedgie in school? Your rants are personal, not rational. "Gmgm SUCKS" is your norm, back it up with something please.

@Joe Bob,

But the answer puts two very diff spins on things, eh?

@Dossier
"What has Zill-0 done over since 1989-90? Not much. Except for the 4 and done Finals run"

he also won the Vezina (as the NHL's best goalie in case you're a new hockey fan) in 2000, has won nearly 300 games and has singlehandedly kept a Capitals team comprised mostly of AHLers and then AHLers plus Ovechkin competitive since the fire sale.

@elicea
Thanks for the information on Cox.

I love Olie, but: #44? There's 30 teams, so that means that at least 13 of 'em have a _backup_ who's better than our #1. That is _not_ the road to the playoffs. -JW

@Bob, Jupe and the other Kolzig nursemaids-get a grip. Olie is and has been a solid goaltender, but no superstar, his amazing run in the 1998 playoffs notwithstanding. Forget about the 5 hole; high on the glove side has been his weakness for his entire career. I like Olie, and he's been a rock for the organization. I've seen every goalie in the Caps' history and he is among the best we have had, and probably will get his jersey in the rafters someday--but I've never confused that with thinking he was a GREAT goaltender, like Roy, like Brodeur, like Hasek...

The real crime here is that, while picking up Huet for a 2nd was a steal (Bob, you listenin'?, a STEAL) GMGM didn't move Kolzig or Johnson at the deadline. Despite is assertions to the contrary, I'll bet GMGM tried like hell to move one or the other and had no takers, to avoid this very situation we are in. If this goalie donnybrook blows up in our face, which it well might, then Ted should finally give him his papers, period.

Sombrero Guy:

I agree with you that the D is not given enough of the blame for goals being allowed and a goalie can't stop everything. However, your comment about Kolzig sprawling and not getting help clearing the puck is telling. Goalies sprawl because they are out position, most of time because of lateral movement. Now they may be slow, or the D allowed a cross ice pass, or a player just makes a great move, but Kolzig has lateral movement problems and makes a lot of effort to make saves that more technically sound profly goals have hit them in the chest or glance of their pad into the corner. Every goalie should stop the first shot unless screened or deflected, but the ability to stop the 2nd or 3rd shots on rebounds separate the beer league goalie from the NHL goalie. The ultimate "tell" for Kolzig's problems right now is on that Sports Sciences cat reflex video. Watch how hard it is for him to get his pads together in a decent "V". He gave a lot of great years to the team, they are starting to show.

Re: Cooke, I think we got him because he's an agitator and a front-of-the-net guy, which are roles we need to fill. This trade wasn't splashy, but it may prove to be damn important.

mauree:
I know ... guess they have not had a chance to "take" their pictures yet (so they had to "make" their pictures)! :-) Hopefully they will take new ones soon - Huet needs a one (he looks like he just got out of bed!).

I'd just bet that IF the Caps' re-sign Huet, then we will be having the same argument over HIM next year-giving up softies, tantrums, etc. Goalies are ALWAYS the scapegoat when a team is losing. Well, last I checked, this team was still in the thick of a playoff chase...unlike the last few seasons when the players were already making vacation plans. Huet hasn't even played a game yet, and you clowns are making him sound like the savior...kind of like you did with Bryzgalov; and he wasn't even CLOSE to being picked up...I'm not saying Olie should be re-signed to a 13 year extention by any strech...but you people can't wait to get him on the first plane out of here...that's just sad.
@Sheesh...you're right...no one's (including myself) opinions mean #@$%!

Agents are like unions... ... they both suck.

Here's to Ovie scoring tonight and the Caps winning a few in a row.

And for the love of everything sacred and holy please stop showing the "60 goals" commercials.

@Nils

"Breeze's comments bring to brighter light that Olie and GMGM were never close to an extension this season. This summer they wont be any closer. GMGM offer max offer is 2.5 mil. Breeze is looking for 6 mil. There will be no contract. Olie is done as a Cap at the end of the season. "

Unless you're in the room with gmgm and Olie's agent, there's no possible way you know this. This management team took lessions from NSA on security. They probably all have Top Secret with SCI or SAP.

Go ahead Olie, break your stick over the crossbar. Its been you signature tantrum move for years. We'll all feel better.

@anon 8:02am

The reason why you think that the complaints of soft gaols will continue here is because the goaltending has been questionable here for years. Complaints about softies arent being heard in NJ, VAN, BOS, PIT, CLS, ANH and PHI and 8 other cities, why? Because they have competent goalies.

Were we talking about softies in 2000? No. Why? Because we had good goaltending.

Some people want Ollie sent in a box to Madagascar. I'm just happy that upper management is trying to improve the team. The additions are all upgrades at bargain basement prices.

Art Breeze-that sounds like an agent's name...
What else would you expect him to say? Olie's his client and most of what he says is true. The part that isn't is that Olie could go another couple of years. I had originally thought Olie could go another 4 years but the more I've thought about it, the more unrealistic that thought becomes..

I'm a HUGE Olie fan... But we do have to seperate who HE is from his play on the ice.. The rebounds have been huge, he's had games where he played amazing, around the time when he did the interview with the Post and sounded pretty upset - Johnson turned his game up (he was STELLAR against the Leafs 1/24 in the 2 - 1 win) and in turn, Olie turned his game up for a bit...

I'm on the fence about Huet; watching his interview over at the Capitals site, he didn't seem all that thrilled being there - like it was a chore for him ~ like he'd want to be anywhere BUT in DC (I hope I'm wrong)... We may have him right now, but I'd bet there's gonig to be some issues with him being a UFA...

I LOVE Olie, I will forever be a fan... However, the goalie position and those one the team with that tag need to be looked at and have what's best done for the TEAM...

Even if this is Olie's last year, he is owed so much from all Caps fans because he has been the face of our team for awhile now... but things change, doesn't mean we don't appreicate him for all he's done...

And hell yeah I'm going to be crushed when he retires - it's the end of a era!~!!

If you Olie lovers like the guy so much, have him over for dinner. Personally, it is more important to me to see the team do well than to worry about everyone's feelings. This is supposed to be a professional sports franchise, not a safe haven for people with delicate feelings. I certainly don't hate Olie at all. He was a great goalie over the years and a terrific guy, but he is showing his age on the ice. If recognizing that fact makes me an "Olie Hater" then so be it. But to all the Olie Lovers, please don't let your fondness of Olaf Kolzig the man cloud you vision of Olaf Kolzig the goalie. Even though he may be your favorite player, you must accept the fact that he WILL NOT be able to play forever. When a player's performance is no longer at an acceptable level for whatever reason, it is time for him to move on. That is the nature of being a professional athlete. You may not like and I'm sure he doesn't like it, but it is a fact of life. Take off the rose-colored glasses and move on.

Sweet merciful crap, I'm glad I didn't get mired in this last night...

Art is an agent, a crappy agent, but an agent nonetheless. He's doing what crappy agents do, and I'm sad that it has been interpreted by some people here as being some sort of middleman-delivered message from Olie. It is not. Breeze is just a moron working for his money in the hope that he'll manage to squeeze a little more cash for himself out of the Caps than he would have otherwise by putting the pressure on.

Olie has been nothing but classy about the move, and he knows full well that he's getting up there in age and isn't performing like he used to.

This is the situation we're in, folks. It's not a bad problem to have, as long as those involved continue to be gentlemanly about it.

Reposted from the earlier by Sombrero Guy, because it's worth repeating:

"We've got 18 games left to try to get into the playoffs and we'll see what happens after that. There's things in life and in the game of hockey that are out of your control. It's how you deal with that separates you from other people. I'm just going to continue to do my work. And like I said the other day, if it's not good enough, then there's somebody else here to do it."

- Olie Kolzig

There's a game to play tonight, ladies and gents. Let see if we can't put some attention to it and stop stoking this nonsense.

"There's a game to play tonight, ladies and gents. Let see if we can't put some attention to it and stop stoking this nonsense."
-HolyOlie

Amen!

Kolzigs agent may be upset at the Caps, but I'm pretty sure the entire fan base is upset at Olie's play. Bruce will go with the hottest goalie and ride that into the playoffs. Can you say Coach of the Year?

Does anyone know what we do if Huet doest want to be in Washington and doesn't sign with us for next year?

Oooooo weeeee this is getting good. I had to warsh (I'm a DC area native btw) my mouth out out with Lava soap after cheering for "him" and the Rangers last night (GMGM if you are listening, please bring Avery to DC). This town is buzzing over this goalie controversy (which I was pretty sure we had months ago, despite Tarik's denials). I must have had 2 dozen people stop me at work in the last two days to get my take on it - awesome. Now if AO's new toy will just let him get some sleep so we can get into the playoffs....

UNLEASH THE FURY!

@SA-Town Um, that's a real good question -Don't you hate it when somebody says that? Will Olie decide it's time to collect his gold watch after the slight of bringing in another #1 goalie? That is a strong possibility. If that happens and Huet is not adaquately impressed with our team or our contract offers, we could be left with only Johnny who is likely as happy as Zilla right now. I keep thinking about the goalie in slapshot to his agent "Trade me right F#^%$#ing Now!). Could be a cold July for GMGM. But then, goalies are that important are they?

Just waive Kolzig. He horrid and has been bad all year. He has cost us 8-10 games with soft ill timed softies. Now he is crying though his agent. BJ has outplayed him..he deserves the back up spot and Kolzig deserves retirement. So tired of people saying he was a great Cap so he deserves better... Its sports, players get old...when the start to stink they retire. He is not able to play well for a long stretch anymore... thats why the got Huet. To think that Huet should not play is just moronic.

@TheCapitalist

Thanks for confirming that my questions has no good answer! lol...

With all the youth and potential this team has, if Huet doesnt pan out for next year, I think we may be in some trouble in the net. I'm guessing someone will see potential and try to get on board for a three year stint in Wash. Are there any other decent UFA goalies that we could go after if need be.

I am guessing Olie, and Johnny have no desire to wear our jersey next year. If Huet follows suit, Im not sure it's time to develop a young goalie.

Saw this on the NY Times home page this morning, thought that I would share. It's about the rising of the Russian Superliga. It features Alexi Yashin and it seems he is happy to be playing there. Though his wife, Carol Alt, not so much...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/sports/hockey/29hockey.html?hp

@SA-Town

Man you are a negative thinker. Is the sky falling? Lets go find an under shelter.

Lets say worst case scenario happens with the goalie situation over the summer.

Kolzig walks.
Ollie: McPhee, take your $1,000,000 1 year deal and stick where the sun dont shine.

Huet: George, prendre votre 3 année $13.000.000 contrat et l'enfonce où le doesnt de soleil brille

B.Johnson is under contract, so he isnt going anywhere.

During the summer you make an effort to sign an UFA or you make a trade for a any number of teams that have 2 goalies that are both better than Ollie. There a handful of teams.

Its not a difficult solution.

Clarendon,

I saw that posted elsewhere. Yashin is playing in Russia because nobody in the NHL wanted him last summer when he was a UFA. It's not like he didn't give NHL teams plenty of time to send him an offer sheet, because he did and the offer sheets never came in. I think the whole thing is a bit overblown and considering that the article uses Alexei as its main example, the claim is dubious at best.

Why would Kolzig's agent be confused? I have cheered for Olie for over a decade but he has looked tired, slow, and old for a majority of the season. He may have had a good game against Minnesota the other night but his save percenage is 89% over the entire season, that is not the save percentage for a goalie bound for the playoffs. If so, it would be an early exit. I was hoping the Caps would try to get Bryzgolov (went to Pheonix) earlier this season when he left Anaheim. It was obvious back when the rest of the team picked it up in December and January that our goaltending was surfacing as one of the Caps troubled spots. The team will become more offensively explosive if Huet puts up the numbers he has for the last few years. When a team knows their goaltender is going to make the routine save, and control rebounds, they play a lot more loose. Don't get me wrong, Olie is STILL one of my favorite all-time Caps, but it should be no surprise to him that the Caps made a goaltending move this year.

@JSchon SA is just looking at things that need to be considered. GMGM has got a tough summer ahead, but that is not the end of the world. Right now there are dozens of scenarios so the focus remains on getting the young guns some play off experience and the goalie situtation will work itself out in some way none of us have even guessed at.

I am a Capitals fan. I had season tickets to their miserable first season and several other seasons.

However, it always bothers me when I read or hear about their amazing run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998. The Caps were (if I remember correctly) the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. In the first round, EVERY higher seeded team lost! So for the rest of the Eastern Conference playoffs, The Caps were the best team left.

What's amazing is not their run to the Finals (although I enjoyed those playoffs greatly) but that all the top seeds lost in the first round, giving them a much easier run to the Finals than they could have expected.

Regarding the three-goalie situation: Huet is currently better than either of the others, so of course you make the trade, giving up next to nothing for him. If he looks good with the same inexperienced D in front of him, you try like hell to resign him. Football teams carry three QBs, the Caps can carry three goalies for 18 games.

@SA-Town

A valid question re: goaltenders. I find it interesting that many seem to think re-signing Huet will be easy/inexpensive. He is very much the top UFA goalie available IMO, so he will not be cheap at all. The UFA class for goalies seems fairly weak, so if we don't end up with either Olie or Huet, there's not a lot else out there except via trade. Some serviceable guys though, I guess, if we just were looking for the "bridge" that people keep talking about until the young guys are ready.

A partial list of notable UFA goalies:

Cristobal Huet
Ty Conklin
Jose Theodore
Olaf Kolzig
Johan Hedberg
John Grahame
Johan Holmqvist
Patrick Lalime

@JSchon

This is a chat board...Arent we supposed to discuss negatives?

If you like, I can paint my face...eat my cotton candy, and jump up and down screaming "Go Ovie!" waiving a foam #8...Would you prefer that?

I myself have been a season ticket holder since we were in Landover, and want to build a Stanley Cup in the next 3 years..Forgive me if this goalie situation sparks my worries and discussions.

B.Johnson being on contract and not going anywhere is a bold statement..lol...

Picking up a number of UFA is a bold statement.

Trading an Asset for a #1 goalie is quite a bold statement.

FYI, same basic story as Tarik's, but with a little more cut-to-the-chase-we're-the-AP-so-we-don't-have-to-worry-about-relationships-like-beat-writers-do.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230822&hubname=nhl

I mean, calling Johnson "Third Banana"? It may be the case, but ouch.

@theCapitalist

I agree that this summer will be interesting for us and full of tough decisions for GMGM.

SA-Town isnt a fan of having 3 goalies. Obviously not an ideal situation given options.

But this whole thing is being blown out of proportion by us. There isnt a problem thus far between the goalies, none thatwe have heard of. I do not expect there will be. There is no circus to speak of unless you're talking about the Pro-Ollie fans vs the Anti-Ollie fans in here. I had no idea Ollie was so polarizing.

Im Pro-Capitals making the play-offs. I think the current Capitals are pro-Capitals making the playoffs. I highly doubt anyone is going to create such a locker room issue to disrupt the overall mission.

But, everyone has their opinion, I just hope I'm right.

Best post on this thread:

"I heard Kolzig and Breeze were in Kolzigs driveway doing situps this afternoon."

@SA-Town

Be critical. I am. Question decisions. I do. Pose questions. I do.

I dont have a problem with your concerns. I really dont. I just share a different point of view than yours.

I'm obviously more optimistic about the current situation than you are.

I just have issues with your assessment of Ollie's play. You would like to use the past 6 games as a qualified example of Ollie's play and I would like to use a broader example.

Our difference are purely statistical.

@JSchon

Management agrees with you. If Huet plays well, and we have a decent goaltending tandem going into next year then fine.

If Huet doesnt mix well, and we have 3 goalies that want to have nothing to do with the Caps next year, then it effect's Season Ticket holders like me's decision to re-up.

I would also like to see Olie's number in the rafters, and not end up like Mike Gartner.

JSchon:

I agree with you but for petes sake man its "olie" not "ollie". the only thing ollie around here is that sorry excuse for a burger joint ollies trolley on 12th/E streets.

Anyway i am very excited to sit back, have a beer, and watch our new weapons at work tonight. LETS GO CAPS!!

Pat,

Thanks. That drives me nuts.

You know, Huet's really the best goalie in the upcoming UFA class :X

Tarik,

So Cooke actually joined the team last night instead of today? Any word on his chances of being in the lineup? Or is BB going to sit him until he goes through a full practice rather than the morning skate?

@SA-Town

I have no idea what was funny about me saying B.Johnson is under contract he isnt going anywhere.

Unless he is traded, what are his options?
Not play? and lose $850,000? Who would do that? He couldnt play for anyone else. Would you sit out a year at your job and not get paid $850,000 if you had no other choice other than find a new occupation?

Neither signing UFA or trading for a player are bold statements. These things happen all the time.

There are only a handful of open goalie positions each year. Players want to play not sit. Players want to get paid.

The notion that the Capitals money and open goalie spot is no good is a bold statement.

Tell me why players sign lucrative deals with the Oakland Raiders? or sign deals with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays? or sign deals with the Los Angeles Clippers?

Because they get to play and get paid while doing it.

I seriously doubt Johan Hedberg is going agree to less money to back-up Marty Turco for more money and to start 60 games with the Capitals.

Johnson will be dying to get out of town after being the odd man out.

I agree with you about the UFA. The market is not that hot as was listed above. Huet has a lot of leverage demanding a contract from us.

I hope he plays well...If he does, he will get paid well...

If he doesnt, it will be a very interesting summer between the pipes..

Hey..I appeciate the conversation..It is good to debate the pro's and cons...Trade Day comes and goes so fast, but it important to see whats left once the dust settles.

SA-Town... I suggest you re-up your tickets, you're gonna want them.

This team is going no where but up. We have one of the top 5 minor league hockey programs. We are loaded with young talent and most of them are nowhere near their prime.

This goalie thing will work itself out.

Make a couple moves here a couple moves there and playing for the Stanley Cup will be a reality.

Sorry for Ollie and not Olie... to all that are annoyed by it...

@Jschon

I hear ya...all there is to do now is rock the phone booth on Sat night...I know thats what Leonsis wants with all these moves.

I havent checked..are there many tickets left for Sat's game?

We are an offensive team....we ARE NOT the old caps where Defense was our power...our D won't even touch people. Huet had D in Montreal -- he'll be just as effective as Olie...Olie is the Caps heart and soul -- Don't blame Olie he has given us everything and hopefully management is smart enough to keep him around for our Cup.

At the end of the day, We're all Capitals fans and we're all excited about having a team making a playoff push for the first time in years. MOST of us are excited about the Huet acquisition. HALF of us think Olie is being unfairly blamed for a lot of the goals given up by Kolzig AND the defense.

Its going to be interesting. If Huet comes in and plays like a world class goaltender, and is better able to cover for the mistakes of the defense I have no problem riding him into the playoffs. That has never been my argument.

But those of you throwing Olie under the bus are likely to be on here again up in arms because Huet let in 4 goals, even though 2 were odd man rushes, 1 was a tap in by an unmarked forward and 1 was a shot that Huet probably should have had. There will be games like that when you're playing a Defense with an average age of something like 24.

And Carol Alt and Yashin are not married, but in a "committed relationship"

theres a highlight clip on youtube of the soft goals olie has given up this season, it feels like its a full length movie.

@Capsgary,

"Don't blame Olie he has given us everything and hopefully management is smart enough to keep him around for our Cup"

OK, how much do you propose the team pays Olie? Do you give priority to resigning Olie or a true number one like Huet? Keep in mind the need to resign Green and Mo, etc.

@JSchon
How do YOU know that complaints about softies aren't heard in the cities you mentioned? Could you be trolling and going to these teams' message boards to get fodder to make your comments seem well thought out?

@Sombrero Guy

That's a new one ... "committed relationship" ... without marriage. Really strong.

Anonymous @ 11:37

INTERNET CONSPIRACY DETECTED!!! DISPATCH THE WEB POLICE IMMEDIATELY!

@ AY YO

You are awarded the prize for the best comment here - the one where you've compard Huet's career save % with some of the best goalies in hockey today. I love it when people operate with just the facts. Unfortunately, some people would rather blow smoke out of their ass and pretend like they're making good arguments. Well done.

Guys....save percentage is attributed to goalies statistically, but is a combination of the play of the goalies and the team skating in front of him.

If for tonight's game, a local Pee Wee team was to take the ice against Brodeur, do you think his GAA and Save percentage would be better, worse, or the same as it has been for the season?

Give Tom Brady a high school's offensive line, do you think he completes more or less passes.

Take the best pitcher in baseball, and give him a team of beer leaguers playing behind him, will his ERA go UP as balls are dropped and double plays are not turned?

Should I continue?

@ Yo Ay (apologies for screwing up your nick in the last post).

I was very surprised to see Rick DiPietro only 16th on the THN list. I personally have seen him absolutely steal a good number of games this season. The poor guy plays for a team that can't score more then 2 goals a game if they life depended on it. Often he faces an unbelievable number of great scoring chances while trying to keep the opposition to just 1 goal in order to give his club a chance to win.

Where are all of you folks so quick to diss Olie from, PHILLY?!?!? All the guy has done is help carry the team for years. Boy, the nerve of the guy to think that he deserves a sliver of respect from the team and owners he has helped keep from living in the basement of the NHL standings for the recent past.

@ Sombrero Guy

Quit apologizing for Olie's stats. Over the course of the season the stats DO reflect how the goalie is playing. Your arguments make sense to you because you're pulling extreme scenarios out of your ass. The Caps are not a high school team. There are many goalies in the NHL that play on bad teams (much worse than Caps) and yet have much better stats than Olie. The mark of a truly good goalie is one that is able to sustain good stats even when the team in front of him is not playing well. There would be a dent to the great stats taking them down to just good, but Olie's season stats aren't even average, they're awful.

No one is dissing Olie. I happen to be a huge fan of his. However, you and others like you are being sentimental and living in the past. Yes, he was great for a long time for us, but he isn't anymore. You have to face the facts and quit being in denial. The team should not reward players for past success because that would be just stupid and hurt them now. Getting Huet was a great deal.

Cujo was an amazing goalie too in his day and now that's he's old he's plenty happy to sign with Calgary to be their once in a blue moon playing backup.

Some people are just realistic while others are not and let sentimentality get the best of them, then get upset at those who operate with facts.

The last comment was from me and directed @ Doughless.

his agent is ridiculous. there is no loyalty in business like this. yes, maybe a few years ago Kolzig was a top 10 goalie, but no he isn't even top 25 in the league. Just look at the numbers. The Caps owe Kolzig NOTHING!! HE made his money and now he needs to go!!

This deal should make the Caps serious contenders in the East. Huet is the missing piece for the Caps. The Caps really should put Kolzig on waivers so someone else can take him.

Finally, others are echoing my thoughts. Olie was a great goalie, heck he won the Vezina, but as others have already stated, IT'S IN THE PAST. I thought the Caps were giving Olie too much wiggle room. I thought management was going to let him play it out this year and then offer Olie the opportunity to announce his retirement rather than not signing him or relegating him to our number 2. We'll see how this season plays out but Huet is a good option to negotiate with since he knows Boudreau. If he plays well we have a solid number 1 for next season, if he doesn't we'll have to shop during the off-season because Olie nor Johnson are capable of being the number 1.

@Sombrero Guy... are you serious with that analogy? You're better than that.

@anon @ 11:37

How do I know that there arent people complaining about soft goals in other cities?

The same reason I know they arent talking about bad QB play in NE.

The same reason I know they arent talking about bad small forward play in Los Angeles.

The same reason I know they arent complaing about the running back play in MIN.

The same reason I know they arent complaing about the SS play in NY.

Because its not bad, in fact its quite good. So I would assume that the only people complaining about any of the above scenarios would characterized as similar to those people in here that are obnoxious... ie Chief, Finn and Bob

And to be honest, those people shouldnt be paid attention to.

Sombrero guy:

SV% measures the ability of the goalie to stop shots. I think your argument applies better to GAA, which is really a measure of the entire defensive unit.

While it is true that a team can only allow 15 shots a game and 7 of them be screened deflections a goalie can't be blamed for stopping, that is rarely the case.

The Caps allow 3.02 goals per game (24th overall) yet Kolzig has the worst SV% in the entire league. Either Johnson is that good and bringing up the Team SV% or the D is not as bad as Kolzig. If the D were that squarely to blame the GAA would be as bad as the SV%, no?

I am a goalie and I feel your pain on the every goal is Kolzig's fault nonsense, but how many times do you see a Kolzig shutout midway through the 3rd period and say to yourself, "no way this holds up, a softie will cost him the shutout?" That is not the Grant Fuhr who can be hung out to dry by an offensive team that the Csps need.

Someone may have already said this, but I'm not even so sure Kolzig is the locker room guy he used to be. All indications are he isn't. He was happy when Hanlon was fired, so he went and whined to Mike Wise, who wrote a horrible column that didn't even mention Olie is South African. Now his agent is whining to the press. Olie could have stopped that, or could have immediately given Tarik a qoute that said "I don't agree with that, we all just want to win."

Love the memories of Kolzig leading us to the Finals, but those days are over. He just doesn't sound like a team guy anymore.

That was supposed to be "wasn't" happy when Hanlon was fired.

Time for Olie to take his $42M fortune (source: http://www.hockeyzoneplus.com/salaries/1944) and retire.

Time for Olie to take his $42M fortune and retire.

* source: http://www.hockeyzoneplus.com/salaries/1944

THE ultimate management move....FIRE McPHEE! Then Ted, the rebuild would be over.

No denying Olie now ain't the Olie of the 98 season. If Olie is not in the future plans of the Caps, then deal with it upfront. Instead, McPhee offers up the ultimate snake in the grass move.

I say get rid of McPhee

Alot of Ottawa's fallout seems to stem from unhappy goalies and media attention. How many people have the feeling it will happen here and start dividing the locker room??????

@ Doughless

Yes, let's get rid of McPhee, who in the consensus of anyone who knows anything about hockey has just pulled off a couple of very good trade deadline deals. Brilliant.

Or maybe we should get rid of you so that we don't have to listen to complete nonsense. Yeah, I know that's not possible, unfortunately.

What would people like you suggest McPhee is supposed to do? Keep paying Kolzing $5.5 million a season until he's 52 simply because he was good in the past and regardless of how he's playing now? You people are just like those who whine that they were fired from their corporate job after 15 years with one company. Maybe it's because they have gotten so cushy and untouchable in their mind that they completely suck at their job now and the management has decided to bring in a younger person who can do it much better and probably for less money.

"And he (Kolzig) has many more years playing at the highest possible level ahead of him."

Yeah, and Chris Chelios has his best years ahead of him.

Habs fan here from Montreal...I haven't been around since the day after Ovechkin put on that incredible show against the Habs. Just wanted to say good luck, especially to Huet tonight (we'll be watching -- and yes we're still stunned). You guys got one very classy human being in Huet, someone we're going to miss, and I think it's fair to say he's going to miss Montreal too. His numbers speak for themselves. Best of luck & Peace, and don't give up!

Speaking of Carol Alt, wasn't she the one who was b@Nging Ron Greshner of the Rangers WAY back??? She is still roast in her late 40's

Well, anyone have a comment about Kolzig today? He played horrible again posting a stunning 88% save percentage. He blew it, AGAIN. The first g