First. I hope GMGM can sign Huet. Next season is going to be exciting

First

Ahhhh!!!!!!!! The playoffs aren't even over and I'm already nrevous about what the Caps are going to do. I'm too old for this!

good news. however, i think the issue the caps have is not how much but how long. huet's gonna be 33 this fall. do you want to lock the guy up for long term at that age knowing you've got a couple of young goalies coming through the pipe in a couple of years. it would be great if he'd sign for 3 years but something tells me he could probably get a longer deal somewhere else.

when i hear an agent say "we're interested" i believe he's really saying, "hey all other GM's, get your checkbooks out cause my client REALLY likes it here". just using the home team press to shill his client.

that said, this team cannot take this years momentum into next year with johnny as our number 1 goalie. we're gonna overpay for someone else's goalie, might as well be ours.

Keep up the good work, Tarik. This will be one of the most interesting offseasons we've seen in years.

He wants 5 years, we want 3 years. Settle on 4. That gives us 2 years of a solid tandem while one of the youngsters learns the ropes. The other will be learning in the AHL.

Put me in the talks.

Sign Huet!

Though I hope we sign Huet, this situation is not ideal. We're going to have to overpay and give him more years than we should, as he is one of only three competent goalies on the market.

He's never played more than 50 games in a season, either. But I want to win now, and Huet gives us the best shot. *sigh* Hurry along now Varlamov/Neuvirth!

Is it true that Olie's house is for sale, or is that just a rumor?

No Olie fans are allowed in negotiations w/ Huet agent :-)

Give him 5... F- it...

5yr $25M

1Y - $8M
2Y - $7M
3Y - $6M
4Y - $2M
5Y - $2M

Allows you to trade him at an attractive $2M in years 4 or 5, depending on how long you want him to back up one of the youngsters.

Thanks for the updates, Tarik. I had the chance to chat with Al Koken yesterday about the chances of signing Huet and Fedorov. I hope this works out.

Happy Washington Capitals Day everyone!

"we're gonna overpay for someone else's goalie, might as well be ours."

couldn't agree with you more Cap Fan 1. We can't just pick up some average goalie. We need a goalie who not only will win the games that he is supposed to, but also steal some here and there. Not saying Varlamov and Neuvirth won't be good, but I wouldn't bee too excited about a 20-21 year old greenhorn coming in when we could be contending. It just simply wouldn't be the right time, i.e. Price coming in for Montreal when they were a #1 seed.

Would anybody be willing to put together a short summary of how the Caps top prospects did in their respective Junior/College/Minor league teams. How they developed this past year, and what their future looks like.

@reekie
Thats my thing...

BTW... Team USA has come back... 3-2 now, Canada up...

@JSchon
can you tell us who has scored for each team? thanks

If i understand the CBA, Jschon's proposal would carry a Cap hit of 5 million per season (the average per year amount of the total contract) but would allow us to pay him solid up front money. I dunno, it sounds interesting. I would feel more comfortable with 4 years but if we had to do 5, that would be the way to do it.

CAN B.Burns G, Staal A, Spezza A
CAN Heatley G, Nash A, Getzlaf A
CAN Toews G, Doan A, Kunitz A
USA Parise G, D.Brown A, Pominville A
USA O'Sullivan G, Stafford A, Gilbert A

This game is a lot fun to watch, lots of action... all goals even strength...

Merry Washington Capitals Day! Red beer and egg nog for everyone!!!! :-D

Interesting about Huet AND Olie. Hmm ... what will happen?!?

Steve:
Way to Rock the SNAFU!! Who was picking on your selections, again?!? :-)

GMGM is waiting cause HUET hasn't been a consistent #1 goalie and #'s dont lie and doesnt want to pay him #1 money. HUET will get any amount he wants on the open market cause there are stupid teams like the sens(emery).

give him a 4yr contract about 4 mil a year. No more years and no more money that deal should be the max cause he's an older goalie.The best decisions are knowing what deals to walk away from.

I hate being in the middle of nowhere!!! My ISP is blacking out CAN-USA, too!
Hey! I finally got a point out of my lone Canadian.

http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/statistics.html
Scroll down to the game and click Live. It will give you relatively updated penalties goals, and goalie stats.

"GMGM is waiting cause HUET hasn't been a consistent #1 goalie and #'s dont lie and doesnt want to pay him #1 money."

If numbers don't lie, I don't see why the Capitals wouldn't want the goalie with the highest post-lockout save percentage.

@ On Ice:

It's not just a rumor about Olie's house....it's listed with Long & Foster. I saw the listing this morning, definitely legit. Although not to be read into, even though he'd be taking a loss if he sold it...draw your own conclusions.

DA:
How do you know it is Olie's house?

Huet has a .918 save % for his career. Pretty darn solid if you ask me. He doesn't have season after season of numbers as a full time #1 goalie, which may be what "smartfan" is referring to.

His number of games played...12, 42, 36, 42, 52.

if they paid kolzig 5 plus mill a year why not give huet the same also why didnt they try to sign green to a extension earlier in the year before he blew up they probably would have gotten him cheaper but green is more important than huet look at what edmonton has done the last 2 years with trying to sign restricted free agents hopefully the caps wont screw this up like in the past

USA pulled Thomas after the 2nd. Anderson is in. Same score.

Thomas pulled a groin
Thomas pulled from goal
4-2 Canada... D.Roy G

Not sure if Huet would want to be only getting $2mm per in the last two years of the deal. He may be more agreeable to a 4 year +1 option at a different rate structure.

USA Scores

D.Brown on a PP... make its 4-3 Canada

D.Heatley just called for roughing... another PP for USA

@ Boo!

The Washington Post has a very extensive real estate section...all home purchases are public information, just a simple search of Olie's name provides all the information you need. Not that I'm a stalker or anything....I prefer to think of it as putting my History degree to use, but by doing fun research instead of historical research.

4-2 Canada. Derek Roy, even strength, from Chris Kunitz and Shane Doan

@Brian - While I support re-signing Huet, the fact that you brought up paying 5 million to Kolzig is exactly what I am afraid of. Kolzig was a top 10 (maybe top 6) goalie in the NHL when he signed that extension. While still solid, he was no longer a 5 million per year player this past season.

Huet is 32 right now, will be 33 in September. He ain't no spring chicken. But he's the best option out there. That is why front loading the contract makes sense. Makes it easier to trade him down the road if Varlamoc/Nieuvrith become studs.

Pominville ties it up on the PP...

4-4 in Canada

can not believe I am missing this game

Team USA is clearly outplaying Canada. Cam Ward has saved Canada so far... It could be 8-4

@sombrero guy- Your top ten list was money.Funny stuff.

C.Anderson just made a huge save on Staal...

Chimera missed a wide open net... I mean it was completely devoid of anything blue trying to block it.

Sombrero Guy, I hear your pain.
At least you've got some good goalie candidates coming in for you to pick from tomorrow, like Nabokov & Lundqvist.
I think I just lost another Russian d-man too. I may have to be as devious as JSchon thinks I am and see how many people I can draft before I get caught. I should have just gone all Russian. Let's go Canada!

4 on 4 hockey... 5 minutes left in reg

Halpern had to helped off of the ice, with what appears to be a lower body injury.

JSchon

So, how are you watching this game??

I don't know who is writing the power rankings for the IIHF page, but they're awful and funny all at the same time.
Example: Awful--May 3, Norway, 11th: Patrick Thoresen isn't coming, which drives the Norwegians nuts.
Funny--May 5, Italy, 14th: Marcus Aurelius had a dream that was Rome - this is not it.

http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/home/power-rankings.html

Not good on Halpern. Hope its not too bad. Maybe Flash was the better choice.

Huet has got Caps by the balls. We MUST get a goalie and the only other UFA available is consistently inconsistent Theodore. We have no choice but to sign him for whatever money he wants. Plus having goaltender prospects doesn't mean anything, no guarantees whatsoever that they will ever even play in NHL. Maxime Oulet anyone?

Another idea - Ottawa commited to trading Emery away. He's actually pretty good if he can get his stuff straight. GMGM could be talking ot them and that might be why Huet negotiations have not started yet...

Heatley scores... 5-4... 60 seconds left

I'm watching www.wcsn.com

Its over... 5-4, eh?
Canada over USA... it was an amazing game to watch... by laptop...

@markfromparkville

I can't take credit for the top 10, that was lifted from "the perrless" on the washcaps.com message boards. But thanks for the kind words heh.

@JMU - Its no secret i need a goalie, i just hope one is still there when it comes time for me to pick.

can anyone post how green played in the game today

Emery?!? Why would we want Emery?!? He is a mess ...

Green did nothing... He only played on the PP. Looked like he was trying to make every second count for him since he had limited play...

I could tell Olie wasn't a big fan of coach Boudreau.

Thomas was injured?!?!?!! NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

@ me

I completely agree with you comment about Maxime Oullet. Remember guys we had the top goalie prospect in the NHL....how did that work, it didn't. We can't bank on Neuvirth or Varlamov, especially not as soon as you guys want them

@ brian
The Reason why we didn't sign Mike Green earlier in the season is that he was awful last year. How is anybody supposed to know he is going to blow up and play great this year after his pathetic showing last year. It just takes some guys time to develop. Thats like asking to give Eric Fehr a big contract now, because although he hasn't done much yet in the NHL, he did score 50+ goals in the WHL. (not a knock on Fehr, he is my favorite prospect, just saying you never know). Plus Mike Green is a restricted free agent, so its not like we are going to lose him.

Can someone refresh my memory re: NHL arbitration. Is that a summer thing around July or later? Didn't some of the Capitals invoke that last year? For some reason I want to say it was Laich and Eminger. Is this an adversarial process or just a bureaucratic thing?

Just trying to see how the RFA, UFA, draft, July 1 timing all falls together.

@DA: why would Olie take a loss on the house? It's listed for about a quarter mil more than he paid back in '06. By the way, I'm pretty sure that's an Ovechkin bobblehead box in the office photo.

Kim,
Deadline dates for arbitration: July 5 is player elected; July 6th is club elected.
I know Laich went through arbitration last year. Not sure about Emi, although I would probably say yes.
Not sure about the intricacies though.

RE: arbitration, I think it was Laich and Juice.

Scott in Shaw:
Link, please! :-)

http://tinyurl.com/3ujyj8

Thanks JMU and Boo. Boo now that you mention Jurcina I think you are right. Think it was Jurcina and Laich.

At least it is good that Huet is interested. That's more than can be said for the end of the year when we thought he wanted out.

I can't wait for this offseason, seeing who gets signed, drafted, etc. Training camp. Chief spouting off with nothing. It's exciting!

Boo,

If memory serves correct, Lee was the one making fun of my picks. Didn't score too many today though.

Uh oh, guys. I might have two goalies that are actually playing after the draft!

Through two games today...

112.75 - Steve R
100.00 - oo7
94.50 - JSchon
93.75 - Jeff DC
92.50 - Honed
88.50 - Sombrero Guy
75.50 - Jordan
72.75 - jmu_capsgirl

There's a goalie mask on the office photo.

I think the caps would be wise to hold on to their money till the start of free agency... theres not a huge market for huet after his playoff preformance that saw him let in some goals after the other team crashed the net. I think they should extend an offer to both huet and Theodore and see what the interest level is... Huet won't be bringing in the suitors like Theodore, but Theodore could be interested in them with the youth and veteran mix. I think a shot at Theodore and then one at the likes of Kaberle and Campbell, perhaps both ? a lot of areas can be fixed with this huge array of Goalies and Dmen that are available this offseason... ps no more poti, he's made the same mistakes since he first entered the nhl

Im sure there will be a market for Huet

Again

Jeff doenst know what he is talking about

Thanks for the link, Scott in Shaw. There are several tell-tale signs in those pictures ... it is like "Where's Waldo?"!! :-)

Jeff (philly),

We don't play the Flyers any more. Why are you still on this board? Go away.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qeTz66uCb6Q

"http://youtube.com/watch?v=qeTz66uCb6Q"

That was terrible. All three are pursuing careers in TV and will be screwing up our lives for years to come.

@9:54

I hate you.

Huet/Varlemnov

Olie to Redwings!

Johnson to Hershey... Sorry Brent! your following the footsteps of Benny Clymer!

Maybe I'm crazy ... but who else thinks this?

Signing Huet > Signing Theodore

***

And no way we're getting Kaberle and Campbell ... can't wait to see Alzner play!

Btw, how about a little revenge next season on the Flyers for Mo's jaw? Was that from the cheap-shot that provoked Green's "fight" with Upshall?

Btw, not trying to say I'm the only one who favors Huet over Theodore ... just surprised that some are so gung-ho over Theodore.

You're welcome. The "K" on the fireplace screen is also a nice touch :)

Jeff from Philly needs to go to the needle point blog and talk hockey with his peers...

um, btw...
after day 5

75.50 Jordan
88.00 jmu_capsgirl
93.50 Honed
97.75 Jeff (DC)
100.00 oo7
103.50 Sombrero Guy
106.00 JSchon
114.75 Steve R

Although, I like being in 2nd, I was looking forward to drafting 4th or higher...

definitely Huet over Theodore, I think people are just throwing him out there as it is one of the few feasible options. Speaking of Alzner though, I know he was player of the year, but what kind of numbers did he put up. I don't think we need to go out and get another defenseman, unless that is if we are moving one of our guys. We'll definitely re-sign Green/Mo. So we'll have #1 Green/Mo, #2 Poti/Schultz, #3 Alzner/Pothier (if he doesn't retire, which... I'm getting the feeling his head isn't gonna make it). If not Pothier, I'd prefer Erskine over Jurcina. I don't know why everybody bags on Erskine so much, he isn't great , but he adds toughness and plays within himself by not trying to do too much. That said, I'd prefer Erskine as a 7th D, not playing every night. Not sure why everybody loved Lepisto, I wasn't impressed at all, couldn't adjust to the speed which made him take stupid penalties. Maybe in time he'll be a player, I just didn't see much there.

I wasn't on the Eminger bandwagon like some here ... but I rather have Eminger as a #6/7 defenseman than Jurcina.

Of course, I love having Erskine around, knowing he's more than eager to tussle.

@Jschon

I hear ya. I was hoping to pick 2nd, 3rd at the latest.

@ Jeff Philly

If you watched the caps and viewed their prospects in the farm system you would see that there is no need for a player like Brian Campbell or Tomas Kaberle here. Besides with the money both of them would ask for is much too high for this team. I would rather see the caps resign all of their core players and keep their money for future players like Backstrom who becomes a RFA after next year.

Alzner has made a huge impression in the WHL and although he may not be a starter for us next year, he will be someday really soon. Can't wait to see him play.

Poti has experience on the PK and the playoffs. (yes he did make the mistake of tripping umberger in gm 7) But other than that I thought he had a solid playoffs.

Huet definately would be a better fit for the caps this upcoming year. Especially since varlemov and neuvirth won't be ready for another couple years. Theodore is WAY to incosistent to keep caps fans content all the time. My bet is Huet remains a Cap for 3 to 4 years making 4-6 million dollars. (hopefully on the lower end allowing Greenie his huge raise) Although Huet did not have the numbers he had down the stretch, he still gave the caps a chance to win everynight with the exception of game 3. Remember the 2 saves in game 4 on Knuble and Upshall could easily be the saves of the season.

Huet is the better option!

LETS GO CAPS!

GMGM is really careful on spending. He know who to offer money to and who not to. He didn't go looking for a goalie @ the deadline HUET just fell into his lap. HABS didnt want to pay him max. HUET is deffinetly no a supperstar goalie(marty,luango,turco, mika). So he shouldn't get money like them. He a a great goalie so should get great money. Don't give him a 6yr deal @6 mil a year. Do we want another jagr sit. If HUET didn't play the way he did the last month would we be giving him this much money. We need to give money to good goalies not HOT goalies BIG difference. Remember he didn't do that hot in montreal this year. Is he durable

I have faith in GMGM. This is the salary cap era and money needs to be spent wisely cuase people will love to come to play with OVIE. So we need to have flexibility not tied up in a goalie that had one good year and sucks the rest of his 6 year deal.

Nice article on Backstrom
http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/news/news-singleview-world-championship/article/backstroms-back.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1573&cHash=05df239fbc

"Nabokov to join Russia for worlds."

Hope this does not mean Varlamov
has to sit. Bummer.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/hockey/nhl/05/06/bc.hko.nabokov.worlds.ap/index.html

@Bernie

Varlamov is out of the Worlds with an injury. Nothing serious. Russia was actually down to 1 healthy goaltender.

Previous:

I guess I should have explained my optimism. Varlamov out for 3 weeks and the final game is the 18th but hoping he made an early return. I'm obviously looking forward to next season...

Ya know, Huet's stats are only a smidge better than Theodore's ... the difference between the two could possibly only come down to who is in front of them. I wouldn't write Theodore off yet.

@JSchon,

Biryukov was the backup too until now. Anyway, nice to see Fedorov contributing.

Optimism, sarcasm, it all is just a blur at this point seeing the state of pennsylvania so fuggin happy with the Eastern Conf finals.

Let's go paint the Liberty Bell red and blame it on Detroit.

BWF
The real Pennsylvanians Hate the Pens & Flyers. DO NOT PAINT US ALL WITH THE SAME BRUSH. Feel sorry for the idiots that have to live in & around Pitt & Phil they have nothing else in their little lives.

Real Pennsylvanians?

Quakers?

Kolzig is gone. He has already put house in Potomac is on the market.

http://matrix.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Email.aspx?ID=24744887172

On arbitration, it used to be really bad from a player's perpective. Basically, the team tries to tear you down. Didn't someone cry after his arbit hearing? The current CBA has some restrictions on what can and can't be used in the hearings.

No one should be surprised about Olie taking off. TL and GMGM knew by bringing in another goalie, that would mean the end of the Kolzig era in DC.

All the signs pointed to it. Olie was the voice of the locker room, that all stopped. He took his name plate dowm, he missed the team meeting, he avoided all media.

He's got a minor league team. I imagine it will take some years for him to get over the past 3 months. He did the right thing by not making a stink about it. I just hope he retires and realizes his starting as a #1 days are over in the NHL.

@Sidehillman,

"The real Pennsylvanians Hate the Pens & Flyers"

So who are the faux Pennsylvanians that cheer for the Pens and Flyers? As per JSchon, the Quackers? I didn't think they drank beer and boxed.

I'm laughin' at all this because my brother went to Pitt U and had put up with all a yuns for four years...lol :0)

@ Jschon

I don't think it is a minor league team, I believe it is the Tri City Americans, a junior team in the WHL. He owns it with somebody else in the NHL I think. I believe he practiced with them during the NHL lockout though rather than going abroad like many others and actually playing for a team. I'm not sure where they play out of, but it is somewhere in Washington.

No. Expats from the D C area who followed hockey since about 1950.

Maybe I'm missing something with the links to the house for sale. How do you know it's Kolzig's?

When you search are you able to search under the seller's name? That can be the only way you are sure its his.

BWF
look at the demographics--political & otherwise & you will see that Pitt & Phil are 2 islands in an otherwise beautiful state. Us yuns are not from Pitt or did you miss that.

@JSchon (Sorry I had to take a break after the season - left hockey behind for a couple of weeks - it's fishing season down here and we had to enter some fishing tourneys with the boat or I would have gotten kicked out of the house by my boyfriend if I didn't give it a rest - catching flatties the last couple of weeks - yum yum.)
Back to Hockey-
Now that the season is over and we know who we need to sign - here is my question now that you have had time to evaluate who needs to stay. Do we have the money to re-sign Feds?? I know you said no during the season ,but what about now. I don't think Poti was as good as everyone thinks(too many mistakes for a veteran - feel like he is over-rated), I def. don't think Juice is worth a darn (doesn't have enough confidence in himself for a big man - too soft) and I def. like Emminger better than Erskine. As far as Pothier, I think he is done, he can't possibly be a dependable "D" man being concussion prone....
So where do we go from here - I say two years before Alzner is ready, I may be wrong he is a beast! But I think we need to work on our blue line more than offense. I think Laich will be even be better next year - I think he was the most improved, gritty player this year, he really came around down the stretch, and I really like how consistent he is with the puck. Kozie was disappointing in the playoffs, I expected more from him, but his streak to get us there was just as important. As for Green, is he going to be able to match his numbers from this year??????? Don't know?????
I still think Feds can help us! What is the off-season thought??? (He still has the ability to score 15 goals a season in him and prob. 20+assits with us) 30-40 points is a lot to give up, he may even have more depending upon his line mates!

Greenie,

I think if anything Green's assist totals are going to go up. Park someone in front to clean up rebounds off of Green's shots.

D - Karl Alzner 7G/29A/+26
Regarded by some experts as best north American non-professional hockey. Won the WHL's top award for an individual. Is good enough to play with the big boys. Will there be room?

G - Sermen Varlamov 27W 15L 2.45GAA
Led his Lokomotiv team (Russian Super League) to the season finals but came up short. Selected to play with team Russia in the Worlds.

G - Michael Neuvirth 17W 7L 3.11GAA .911 SV%
Played solidly during the regular season dispite playing for 3 different teams during the season. Played exceptional during the play-off going 7-2 with a 2.46GAA and .932SV%.

Francois Bouchard 36G 56A in 68games
Bouchard signed a three-year entry-level contract. He had 92 points (36-56) in 68 games with Baie-Comeau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season. Bouchard led the QMJHL in scoring in 2006-'07, when he recorded 125 points (45-80).

C - Mathieu Perreault 34G 80A in 65 games
Perreault signed a three-year entry-level contract beginning next season. Perreault, 20, was the most valuable player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2006-07 and led the QMJHL in scoring this year. A 5'9", 166-pound native of Drummondville, Quebec, Perreault recorded 114 points (34 goals, 80 assists) in 65 games for Acadie-Bathurst in 2007-08, his second consecutive 100-point season.

D - Keith Seabrook 4G 13A in 57 games
Currently playing for the Calgary Hitmen.

LW - Chris Bourque 28G 35A in 73 games

D - Josh Godfrey 17G 34A in 51 games

Wow......Washington is officially a hockey town now that people are posting links showing a player's house is for sale on blogs.

I dont know if I should be happy or scared!!!!

UK Dave,

Just check the tax records. It's his.

http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/rp_rewrite/details.aspx?County=16&SearchType=STREET&AccountNumber=10%20%2000858172

@Dave UK

also look on the shelves in the office photo. Kolzig's helmet and an Ovechkin bobblehead still in the box can be spotted where's waldo style.

I think it had to be killing Olie from the day they acquired Huet. He wanted to stick around long enough to carry the Caps, alongside Ovie, into the playoffs. Well, his wish was almost granted - but now, he's sort of pissed on the fire and called in the dogs.
I empathize with him not being "the man" anymore, but all his actions just speak this being all about Olie. What about us? We loved him and defended him (and sometimes threw him under the bus) and he still refuses to address the fans in any way other than to ask for more time.
Adios Olie...

Funny you mention the real estate section. I was in market for a new home lsat year and a house came on in Arlington that touted "Former Cap" in the brochure. (Heward for anyone who cares.) Not sure if that was a selling point, but found it amusing.

And, no, I didn't buy it. I thought his agent was on crack for what she wanted for it.

In an interview on iihf.com Huet and i quote him says... "Yes I would like to stay in Washington!" Hip Hip Huet!

Check it out
http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/news/news-singleview-world-championship/article/new-challenges-for-huet.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=552&cHash=ede704ec88