Its about time!

Now youll see alot of blogs that will give a boring analysis of last nights game, forget the score lets get down to what you really want to hear about.

THE FIGHTS! Yes, I am a huge fan of fighting in the NHL and was heartbroken with Garys attempts at trying to KO fighting out of the game. Last night, the Caps set a precedent. We decided, "we arent going to take it anymore!" The Atlanta Thrashers are the most worthless piece of junk cheapshot artists this side of the Buffalo Sabres (Rob Ray & Matt Barnaby days) and Toronto Maple Leafs. They deserved what they got last night. Game after game, year after year we have watched the cowardess of Bob Hartley and his Atlanta Thrashers trying to hurt our players. Finally, we fought back. Kudos to Ben Clymer for being the "firestarter" to this melee. Once again, dirty bastard Andy Sutton tried to take a defenseless Mike Greens head off, and here go the fireworks. Ben Clymer sticks up for his teammate and drops Andy Sutton like a bad habit. That was only the beginning. Brashear tastes Vishnevskis blood, which is great because he is a notorious high hitter himself. Bradley and Erskine took care of their light work. Then Sutherby and even Jamie Heward gets into the act after a few punches to the head from behind from Scott Mellanby. But I think Scott Mellanby said it best:

"Obviously, they took exception to [Sutton's] hit -- they were defending themselves, I don't necessarily agree with the way they went about it, but they've developed a lot of pride and identity with that team. That comes from Hanlon, and I mean that as a compliment. He's instilled a great work ethic in that team and great pride. That was just old-school hockey, and I don't have any problem with it. It's part of the game, it happens."


Im proud to call myself a Washington Capitals fan after this game. We stuck up for what is right. The Atlanta Thrashers do not respect the game, the players or the teams it is playing against. As Bob Hartley said: "Next Time." Thats right Bob, next time we'll win the game, AND kick your asses in the process.

PLAYOFFS?! WE'RE TALKIN ABOUT PLAYOFFS?!

Ok, its is now exactly *checks watch* 8:48 pm on November 14th, 2006, the Capitals have 20 points and are in 7th seed in the East. SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHY THIS MATTERS?! Its NOVEMBER, let me say it again, N-O-V-E-M-B-E-R! On blogs that I read, people seem to mention this meaningless stat. Yes, there is improvement. Yes, there is cause for optimism. But at this point at the year, that word should be refrained from being used in any blog related to this Washington Capitals team. I would love for that dreaded word to be the destination for this team. But we haven't won anything yet. This team has a long way to go, but the heart and soul of this team will carry us, but who knows when. This team has a lot of heart and soul, mainly in Alex Ovechkin and Olie Kolzig. The spirit of winning is climbing into this team and its only a matter of time, but the "p" word should be refrained from use until at least march. PERIOD.

A Couple News Items...

There have been a couple things that have gone on since I last wrote and I thought i'd take this free time (sleeping baby) to write about them.

First of all, Chris Clark being named captain of your Nations Capitals! This is a very good thing and i'm very happy for Clarkie. He helped this team leap forward last year with his grit and leadership and he will continue to do so this year. I cant think of a more deserving man for captain.

Speaking of Captains...Steve Konowalchuk retired friday after a diagnosis of Long QT disease, a disorder that can make him have irregular heartbeats. Kono always carried himself with class as a Cap and Avalanche, he was always one of my favorite players and I was devastated to hear of this diagnosis and that it so prematurely ends his career. My fav Kono moment was when he taught Peckerhead some respect after he hit Gonchar high. I dont think Peca has ever played the same since. Kono was a determined, fierce competitor and a great family man, I wish him and his family well. In the words of Mike Vogel, Happy Fishing, Kono!

Oh its been awhile

Yeah I know, youre wondering "where the hell has this guy been?" Well to answer your very valid question, since I have written, I have had a new baby! Yay me! (not for my need for sleep however). Alas with all that has happened in my life since I have last written, I have not forgotten about you. My loyal readers (all 2 or 3, if that of you!) I have written to respond to a very unordinary string of Caps news! Yes guys this is a Caps blog and although I would like to write about everything that goes on in the world of hockey, I dont have that much time. I will write after every Caps game to give my usual bitching about the officiating, how someone cheap shotted my boy OV, and such like that. So with that being said here is some happy news.

Alexander Ovechkin has announced that he is NOT ready to be the Captain of your Nations Capitals. Now I am a huge Ovechkin fan and this just adds to it. This shows a maturity of a guy who knows what it takes to win, he IS a winner. I cant say it enough, this guy IS ready, but if he feels his english is not well enough to communicate with his majority north american teammates then I would respect it if I was the Caps.

This next segment is to show you that if goalies could wear the 'C' the Caps wouldnt be asking who will be our next captain. The Caps reported for informal workouts and Olie reported to Ashburn 90 minutes before any other player and was reported to be in the best shape of the players who have reported. Ovechkin did not report today due to having to be in New York to do a photoshoot with Supertwit Crosby for Sports Illustrated.

Thats the most Caps news in 3 months! Man it feels good to write, and I hope to be giving more reports when training camp opens up in about a week or so.

Zeddy!!!!

The Original Zedhead is back! Yes thats right ladies and gentlemen Richard Zednik has been acquired from Montreal for a 3rd rd pick! It is a huge bargain for us I think. He has the potential tos core 30 goals. While he never realized that potential in Montreal, his heart, I believe has always been with Washington. His reemergance as a great player will happen with Washington I believe playing alongside Ovechkin. I have read through the Caps messageboards on this deal and I could not see why all these people bitch about this move. Yeah he didnt have a great year, theres not many players that can succeed in Montreal given the pressure. Its like playing for the Yankees or Mets, so much is expected of you, theres so much pressure there, some players can handle it, some cant. I dont fault Zednik for his lack of production there. I think he will have a revival in his career playing for us. I believe he is apart of the rebuilding project here. Most of all, he WANTS to be here. Friesen didnt wanna be here, Semin gave us hell to get him over here. Zednik wore an A for Montreal, and he can provide that type of leadership with us mentoring the youngins like Bondra did for him. I wonder if he'll get his #44 back from Eminger, ya never know. I can say though, I am very very happy with this move, as he was my 2nd fav Cap when he played with us. Keep up the good work McPhee! (I cant believe I just said that).

Ovechkin for Captain?

Several articles here about town are pointing to The Gr8 Ovie has the next Caps captain. I have to say I have the same reservations as everyone else. I dont want him to be overburdened by the responsibility of putting the team on his back...wait, he did that all last year without the C. Its different though, he is expected to be a leader in the room, and speak to the referees about calls they have made on the ice. His english is not bad, but not great either. He will have 2-3 Alternates to help him bridge the gap a bit so I'm not too worried about it. When you really break it down, I dont see much of a negative. He is well respected among his teammates and players around the league as evidenced by his nomination for the Lester Pearson award as MVP voted by the players. He is one of those guys who his teammates love to go to battle with. He is hard working and intense and is the face of the franchise. I say why not? He is very mature for his age. He had one slip up this year when he stayed on the ice too long, but he was punished, never complained, took it like a man, and it never happened again. He is a man, a very mature responsible young man who was born to captain this team to its first Stanley Cup. Why cant he be Steve Yzerman? Or Trevor Linden? No Russian player has captained an NHL team for more than 2 years, he surely will pass that. As long as he is a Capital, I dont see him relinquishing that title. Jeff Halpern endorsed him as captain on Elliot in the Morning, saying everyone in the room looks up to him, and there isnt one guy out there that I would trust with that information with than Jeff Halpern. Yeah he left in a traitorous manner but I dont think that he would sabotage the organization that way. He did grow up rooting for the team while Rod Langway and Dale Hunter were the captains. So I say now....OVECHKIN FOR CAPTAIN!

Halperns Gone!

Today, Jeff Halpern signed a big ole 4 year $8 million contract with the Dallas Freakin Stars. Now my normal response would be to naturally blame management for not giving up the gravy to our former Captain, but this time, I do not side with the player.

His big signing sorely disappoints me and this is why. Jeff Halpern came into the league as an undrafted free agent. The Caps gave him a training camp tryout and he happened to stick. We gave him his shot in the NHL, and this is how he repays us? He would not be who he is today if the Caps did not graciously give him a shot based on the fact that he grew up in Potomac, Maryland; which is only 18 miles from the Verizon Center. Myself, growing up rooting for the Caps I would give my right arm to play for the Washington Capitals. You'd have to only pay me the league minimum and I'd give my heart and my soul for that team. He complained that we werent building fast enough for his liking. Im sorry, building around a great talent in Alex Ovechkin isnt enough to keep you around? If that isnt enough to lure you back to the team that you said so many times was your dream to play for and win a Cup with. Last I looked, we hadnt won a Cup, and youre leaving us. Youre leaving us before we even get a chance to get better. What a captain eh? You sure were the heart and soul of the team, leaving it the first chance you got. Im sorry, im just a bit hurt by his decision. He left seeds unsown here. He said he dreamed of winning a Cup with the Caps, well he just went after the money, and lied to our faces. Im done ranting now.

69 Days till training camp!