Crap. This was the one piece of hockey news I had to look forward to today.

@Sombrero Guy

Well at least you can still look forward to it all day long. :)

Tarik

What a tease you are!

Think Don will take a cheap shot at BB and say something that no coach in the SE should win the Jack Adams?

I doubt it Go Skins Go; Cherry and Boudreau are apparently buddies or something, I think Cherry was even one of the first to call and congratulate BB when he was named the Caps coach, if I'm remembering correctly.

@brad
Oh my B. I thought Cherry hated the caps and BB.

I ASSumed incorrectly.

Cherry loves BB. Even before he was the Caps coach he would always say that BB was the best coach not in the NHL. He loves OV too so i don't think he is a Caps hater.

Thanks for the new thread, Tarik. Excited for the big draft tonight?

Cherry doesn't hate the Caps, just the non-Canadian ones not named Ovechkin... :P

Jordan, I've got my papers spread all over my living room. I've got a spreadsheet going. I'm pretty sure I was mumbling stuff like "+/-" and "goals against" in my sleep. Meanwhile, you're over there creating a logo and concerning yourself with how you can possibly draft a team worthy of it??

@ Brad - you are correct. Gabby was all excited when Don Cherry called to congratulate him.

Looking forward to the announcement of his nomination...

The 07-08 Caps are like the one exception to the Canadian/Northeast distaste for Southern and Western American teams. I think Boudreau's the favorite for this award, even up North.

Sean Avery is out for the season. Can't stand him but I hate to see it happen this way...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/hockey/nhl/specials/playoffs/2008/04/30/avery.cardiac.arrest/index.html?cnn=yes

jmu_capsgirl,

Yeah, pretty much. It's going to be tough, since my logo is so jersey-worthy. It's hard to be GM AND the entire Creative Department at the same time!

Speaking of GMs, I guess Bonzai wasn't impressed with big ol' Juice, huh?

Geez, that's dangerous.
I wish him a speedy recovery.

Is there anything Don Cherry CAN'T make worse about hockey? Now I have to wait until the worst coach of all time gets to announce who the best coaches of the year are? Why is the NHL bothering with that Windbag?

Hey,
Glad to see the original bloggers still posting and talking hockey -kind of glad the season is over for the only fact that we have our board back. I just wanted to point out that I'm very proud of all of our guys and I wouldn't be surprised to see BB take the hardware! Hope he gets it, I believe he succeeded way above everyone's expectations, including mine. We had a great run, but the best is yet to come!!! Hope everyone got their RED Southeast Champions Tee's by now!
I'll be watching the game tonight - Go Montreal!(Don Cherry is annoying, don't like him too much - hate his mouth and clothes)he is a weirdo in my book! But anything is better than Clement and Jonesy - those guys are the worst!!!

Is there anything Don Cherry CAN'T make worse about hockey? Now I have to wait until the worst coach of all time gets to announce who the best coaches of the year are? Why is the NHL bothering with that Windbag?

Well, the Rangers are out now, I think. Lord help us if they take the east. We'll never hear the end of it.

Damn, I like Avery.

He'd probably have a hard time making the ice at VC worse... haha

I seem to recall Grapes saying that AO is not worthy of MVP becuase he plays in the weak SE Div.

@FS
I agree totally, to the max. on that statement! He is awful, but it's hockey night in Canada so you get Don Cherry!

Actually, he could make the VC ice worse - with all his hot air!

Let's put it this way. Don Cherry is a character and his suits are, well, originals for sure! He says things that some segment of the NHL, be they the league, owners, coaches or fans, would like to say, but can't or won't. He ticks someone off every time, and gives props to someone else in the process. Result is that half the people love him and the other half hate him on everything he says.

And people listen to him to hear what he'll come up with next. Can you say ratings?

Greg, you're right about the ice. I guess growing up listening to him, I'm a bit biased. He's crazy, but he's Don Cherry. That's just who he is. And he does get great ratings.

Cherry always has an opinion - never seems to be any gray area with him. Some announcers will be so vague you cant tell what their actual opinions are and they change their minds depending who they are talking to. Cherry tells you how he feels and he doesnt care if you agree or not. I at least respect that even though I might not always agree with what he has to say.

If Gabby does not get considered for the Jack Adams trophy it's going to be the biggest travesty in hockey in quite some time. There is no way he can be overlooked. We all know what he accomplished since we're Capitals fans, but if the league, player's association, sports writers, etc. that vote for these individuals cannot see the good in what Gabby accomplished then they have no business being associated with the sport.

My Pick's are: Gabby, John Stevens (Philly) and Dave Tippett (Dallas) or Guy Carbonneau (Montreal)

I never seem to go for the obvious ones but I would probably pick Gabby (for obvious reasons), Trotts - Nashville (they had no one and lost soooo many players, yet still fought hard and made playoffs), Julien -Boston (they had no real system beforehand - injuries).

Just a warning, I never pick guys that end up make it (except Ruff but I had been saying that for a while I was bound to be right once) So, I hope I am wrong and Gabby gets the nod, he deserves it.

Hey!!! Don Cherry isn't the worst coach of all time! I take offense to that statement!

Avery out for the season = out for one more game (the way the Rangers have been playing.)

@Mitch

I'd tend to agree abt Stevens. I don't like him but Philly is one of the best placed team on the ice this playoffs so far. However, last year he set the record for largest point drop from one season to the next in NHL history. Compare with BB, he has the opposite record (from last to first) in one season.

I'd vote BB :D too bad I'm soooo biased.

I expect that BB will be a finalist and pretty sure that Babcock will too. Just not sure who the third will be.

I am just getting familiar with Don Cherry. Is he really like that or is it just a persona/character he plays kinda like the Greaseman? (Who is back on local radio again by the way).

As much as I do not respect Avery, I hate to see his season end this way. Glad it was not something more serious. Looks like possibly another sweep for the Penguins. Hope not getting challenged too much in the earlier rounds comes back to bite in the Conference finals.

Will be really curious to see how Montreal plays tonight. If they do not come out strong I am really going to get nervous about the next round.

@Greenie

I hated negotiating through dozens of random posts too. I don't think this type of format is good for Caps playoff traffic.

You reminded me of another recommendation I should've made when the sports editor asked us here on Tarik's blog a couple of weeks ago.

The Post makes us (me anyway) register before we get in the first time and then never again. So they know who we are even if it's not shown. It'd be nice if we could add a personal little picture or icon when we do that. It'd be easier for us to pick out people we know. Some other major online news sources already do this.

As for BB, of course he's a finalist

Right?....

I'm ready for tonight. Off to work!

I have heard some talking heads arguing that BB should not get nominated for the Adams because he did not coach a full season here.

Leeguru,

That's a pretty stupid argument those talking heads make, seeing as how the miraculous part of his season was the fact that he came in and turned the team around in the middle of the season..

Jordan, I am but the messenger

I guess I won't shoot, then.

Did anyone watch the Ranger/Pens game last night?

I was amazed at how quiet MSG got after the Pens scored to make it 4-3 (it was deadly quiet). I know that this was deflating because the Rangers had just tied it up, but that is when "real" hockey fans are supposed to get behind their team. Everyone says how great the Rangers fans are, but I really don't see it. They are only in it if the team scores. They do not provide any kind of proactive motivation. Just my opinion after hearing all kinds of negative talk of our fans.

CT
Can you blame them for getting quiet?
Im sure that the Booth would get like that after expending all the energy getting their team back into the game then being deflated like that.

BTW
Anyone seen that Jeff character with my $100?

I think Coach B has a shot, although a long one. I think Stevens has a really strong shot at it. Much as I hate to say it.

Don Cherry is the GREATEST!!
Cherry is also responsible for BB's son working at CBC.
Make no mistake, the hockey world is very small, so before you ignorant people bash a great Icon like Cherry, think about EVERY episode of Coaches Cornere and think about EVERY Police officer, Soldier or any Public Servant that loses their life that Cherry Honors.
Talk about class ??
NEVER see that in any other sport or any other segment. Cherry is a Class Act, regardless of how many Mickey Mouse ties he wears.

Regardless of whether or not Coach B was in for the whole season, I love him and he gets my vote! What an exciting year we had! You certainly can't say the Caps are some boring ol' hockey team! I think they awakened a sleeping giant in the DC hockey fans! Thanks for the great year guys!

And chief knows hockey!

Leeguru! You're alive! We thought you were locked in the dungeen!

RE: the talking heads, who said that? Personally I think that is a ridiculous arguement - the Caps never would have made it to the playoffs without him. BB made history with the Caps - he deserves hardware for that alone.

@Chief,

But he dresses like a crazy person. Have you seen some of those insane coats that nut wears?

Seriously, Grapes is a bit kooky. Sometimes his insights are really probing and you can learn something. Other times, he rants like a xenophobic nut that you would expect to see mumbling to himself in the park.

He's a big pro-Canada guy. I'm not sure his nationalism necessarily equals "class".

Television is entertainment, and he, on balance, entertains.

I've been around Boo. Internet died at work, and that's where I do most of my blogging. Plus, who wants to talk about hockey with the boys out?

Meant to tell you: brought OV home since they lost, and my 10 month old daughter LOVES it. walks to the stairs, jumped up and down and shrieked and pointed. I've created another fan!

That fact that he didn't coach the season is proof of what he did for the Capitals. From last place to first place not to mention no Nylander, no Pothier, No Clark. Plus, look at Backstroms numbers since BB came aboard.

Stevens or Boudreau ?
I've posted that I like BB, however what Stevens has managed to accomplish, places him as the front runner.
Flyers showed signs of almost "wanting" to lose, yet managed to win, that's an incredible coach in Philly.
BB comes anywhere close to the same as this past season next season, he gets the Award.

old time,

You're clueless.

He tells things like they are, which seems to be a long lost character trait for many.

I noticed you made no mention of EVERY segment honoring the people of Canada that give their lives.
I suppose you think that's for ratings.

Make no mistake. I think that Cherry is good for the game, even when contraversial which he does easily and with relish. I love his suits and ties and only he can get away wearing them. It's part of his "aura", his schtick. It's one of the main reasons that I watch him - what outrageous outfit will he be wearing tonight? He's a hoot!

He is an unabashed Canadian, no doubt. I think we have a few unabashed Americans around here on TV, too. He's on CBC which is Canadian broadcast, not ABC. His honoring of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty to Canada is truly class, and considering the number of Canadians in UN forces and doing worldwide aide activities, they have a lot to be proud of.

Considering that the Adams is awarded by broadcasters to the coach, and given that the broadcasters are saying that the reason he won't win is because he hasn't coached a full season, the chances of Coach B getting the award is slim.

Being a Caps fan, I obviously have a lot of respect for BB and believe he deserves to win the award.

If he doesn't win, we are being told that it is more impressive to coach a team 82 games to success (even if the team completely changed over the summer...ie Philly) than to change the success of a floundering team mid-season.

To me, coaching is about getting the most out of your players...ie, the fact the team responded to BB as a coach showed his true impact on the team. The fact that Philly (and no disrespect meant towards Coach Stevens) improved so much from last season to this season could easily be attributed to the large amount of skill added during the off-season as opposed to the coaching.

I just find it interesting that if BB doesn't get the trophy this season, there can't really be another situation where a coach who didn't coach all 82 games should ever be in the running, no? (outside of some sort of team tragedy, etc)

The Caps went from 30th to 12th in the league with the same players on the bench at the beginning as at the end (3 exceptions, I know). The difference was Coach B.

That should guarantee an Adams, but it won't. Hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so.

Hopefully I'm not repeating anyone else's question (I haven't read through all of the posts lately).... What happens to the money we are currently paying Jagr if he retires from the Rangers?

Karl Alzner won WHL player of the year

Of course, we won't be seeing Coaches Corner here. Since the game is being shown on Versus, there will be no CBC feed on Center Ice. I hope Versus gets around to telling us.

Grandjeanius, if Jagr fails to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, which looks pretty impossible since the Rangers are about to lose in the second round, then we are rid of him for good.

@ Tommmy,

I would respectfully disagree. The VC crowd may have gotten quiet for a couple of minutes, but then I have seen them get back into with encouragement. It was like the Rangers fans were expecting to lose.

I just remember a Rangers fan coming on this blog ranting about their "real" fans and I did not see it when their team needed it most. My wife is a Ranger's fan and she noticed it too.

Leeguru:
That's so cool! :-) I'm glad she liked it ... and that you are increasing the fan base!! ;-) What did your oldest think?

Steve:
I've always wondered - what's it like to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup?!? ;-) Too bad you lost all of your cup caliber talent during the off season!

CT:
You live with a Rangers fan?!? How do you do it?!? :-P

I'm exhausted...

Boo... We are drafting tonight @ 10:30, then tomorrow, we are going to do pick by pick commentary after the fact... so it will be a bit rehearsed.

But it will be funny... would you like to participate in that?

JSchon:
LOL!! :-) Too funny. It sounds like a full-time job, so I don't know what all I can do (darn work). But I will chip in as much as possible, and defer to fullright the rest of the time ... ;-)

Wait til you see my logo, you guys.. It's so sweet.

Sport-Express? Haven't they been getting things wrong all the time? Did Ovi punch any agents there?

Watching Jagr play last night made me think that he was playing to try to get that Conn-Smythe as he knows he is looking at a questionable playing future and income if he becomes a UFA. He was all over the ice, taking shots, making hits...doing all those things we wanted him to do when he was a Cap!

Another question - does anyone know if Avery is a UFA after this season?

Boo, the 10 year old liked it as well (she loves the real OV more). they are both part of the kids club!

Doubtful,

Tarik's info has been confirmed by the Russian Hockey Federation website.

http://www.fhr.ru/news/6376-72-136

FYI, Sport-Express is considered the best sports publication in Russia.

@ DevilsCapsGal

Yep, Avery is a UFA after this season. He made $1.9m this year but given how important he is to the Rangers, he'll probably ask for a solid bump.

After our series bitterness, I'm almost *gasps* kind of liking this Philly team. Is that bad?

Jaroslav Halak!

Mauree, it's not bad, but it's also not normal. I mean it's the FLYERS we are talking about....

Boudreau, Carbonneau, Babcock are your Adams Finalists

Did the length of BB's contract surface yet? What kind of coin?

Leeguru:
The Kids Club has some pretty cool perks ... can I join?!? ;-)

mauree:
BITE YOUR TONGUE (or fingers ... or something).

OK ... just got home - how has the Habs/Flyers game been? Why isn't Montreal winning? Did I hear right - Price is not the custodian?!? If so, has it been that way the whole game? Come on guys - fill me in! :-)

@Boo!

Yeah I bet Montreal is regretting letting Huet go - although Halak is doing ok.

The Flyers are way more dangerous than the Habs. The Habs are kind of shut down. I'm impressed with the Flyers penalty kill: they play a dynamic diamond that always point at the shooters.

... and of course Montreal objects with two quicks goals lol :D

The official Jack Adams finalist announcement btw: http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=362156&page=NewsPage&service=page

Flyers back up 3-2. Briere, standing next to the post at the goal line. Sound familiar? Gotta give it to the midget, he knows where to stand.

new thread!

Another article - actually an open love letter to the Caps:

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/15523-Screen-Shots-Breaking-up-is-hard-to-do.html

Flyers win. Looks like no Canadian team in the final this year.

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