Invitees Stepping Up

- Jake Hauswirth: This one is pretty much a consensus. Hauswrith scored at least one gaol in each scrimmage which is a sure fire way to get yourself noticed by coaches and fan alike. His overall skill level might not have been on par with some of the other forwards but finding a way to put the puck in the net makes up for any lack of foot speed or stick handling.

- Jake Gannon: I liked his edginess on the blue line. He had some trouble keeping up with some of the speedy forwards on the white team…but overall handled himself well.

- Victor Bartley: In my opinion…he was the best of the invitees. He didn’t put up the points/goals of a Hauswirth, Crowder, or Krug but in my mind was one of the top defenders of either team. Was paired with different guys through out the scrimmages but it didn’t seem to affect his play. Great speed and really picked up the hitting as the scrimmages went on. His hands and stick handling could be better…but the speed and skating overshadow those shortcomings.

- Michael Dubuc: It’s a shame he couldn’t play in more of the scrimmages due to injury. Good size and decent hands…just wish we could have seen more.

Caps Prospects Showing Up

- Simeon Varlamov: He’s good. Really. From his play on the ice to his interpreter aided interview with the media…everything he did this week was good for the Capitals. It’s going to be interesting to see how his preseason plays out because it could be very beneficial for him to be around the likes of Fedorov, Ovie, Kozlov and Semin for an entire season. Yeah…I’m saying it.

- Andrew Gordon: I really like everything about Andrew Gordon. His skating, his defensive play, his leadership when it comes to being on the ice with the young kids. There were several times during the practices where he was helping the guys with understanding what the coaches were relaying. His hockey sense in undeniable and if he can continue to add some muscle and learn to play with some edge (something he did a bit more of in this camp…granted with kids younger than him) then it’s going to trend well for his future.

- Oskar Osala: Freight Train. Plain and simple. He’ll be in DC at some point this season…no doubt in my mind. His skating would be the only thing I could see him needing to improve…but it’s nothing that’s a glaring weakness to his game or anything.

- John Carlson: Very high hopes for this guy after watching him for a week…ton of potential. Nice size and wheels for a blue liner and plays with a bit of snarl. Drafting him clearly makes up for trading the rights to Ruth in the Fedorov deal…by a mile.

- Karl Alzner: He’s ready for NHL duty. No need for the AHL…but if he goes, he won’t be there for long. His stick work is beyond good and his skating is effortless. Worked every well on the limited PK chances against and made the pinch of the scrimmages with his dish to a waiting Pinizzotto. The one thing I regret of the weekend was when I met him…I forgot to ask if he was going to request number 27.

- Della Rovere: Board Demon. No other way to put it. When he got in the face of Osala in the final scrimmage….I smiled. Especially since it seemed he was about a foot shorter than the big guy.

- Mathieu Perreault: Yeah…I typed it. While I don’t think his game will relate to the next level…he did somethings that impressed me throughout the week. His forechecking is pretty good and would seem to fit a Bruce Boudreau system pretty well. He’s also decent along the boards for a little guy and isn’t afraid to get in there. His overall speed I think will be his demise…for someone that small you have to have above average wheels. He doesn’t…or at least he didn’t for this camp.

- Sasha Pokulok: Looked good…looked bad. More good than bad…but still all over the place. He has talent…just not sure if he knows how to use it all together. I hope he gets figures it out this year.

Usually there is at least one player that I completely dog or want to run out of town…but this year I didn’t have one of those guys. I was looking back at my 2003 report card where I killed Lindlöf…but this season there wasn’t a Lindlöf to speak of. That’s a good sign for the future I suppose.

Anyways…here are some videos from day 3 of camp during the first scrimmage for the two teams.

I’ll have a more detailed report of the week once the camp has finally finished. Most of my daily updates along with scrimmage play by play can be found over at hfboards.

Kinda funny…the last post was after the Caps started the season 3-0…. a lot has happened since then hasn’t it?

And yes…it’s cold in here.

From Last December 30th…

Due to an injury to Boyd Gordon…Brian Sutherby might get a sweater for the evening.

Even Better!

Come on Friday night!

Eminger must be ready to come off IR. However…I’d still expect to see #44 moved at some point this season (somewhat surprised it hasn’t happened yet).

Just a hunch.

Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?

With a 2-1 comeback victory at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Tuesday, the Caps improved to a 3 win and no loss start to the young NHL season. Back to Back goals from from Victor Kozlov and a feisty Brooks Laich coupled with 30 saves from Olie Kolzig sealed the deal for the good guys. In a reoccurring theme of the season…the Caps once again struggled on the Power Play yet impressed on the Penalty Kill. The Caps are 12 for 12 when skating shorthanded this season. That’s impressive any way you cut it. Coming into Monday’s game the Caps were tied with only 5 other teams in the NHL with zero PP goals scored against…and they are still tied with the Senators, Rangers, Blue Jackets, and Predators after the game with this Islanders. Props to Boyd Gordon, Dave Steckel, Chris Clark, Matt Pettinger, Shaone Morrisonn, Milan Jurcina, Tom Poti and John Erskine for a job well done so far.

The scary part about this mini winning streak to start the season…the offense hasn’t started to fully hit on all cylinders; especially a PP that has really suffered from some early growing pains. Granted they shouldn’t be scoring 50% of the time or anything…but with the offensive players this team has; they should be burying the puck more than the 2 goals they’ve netted so far. A part of that would require them actually shooting the puck…heaven forbid. Yeah Nylander…I’m looking at you. I see you up there.

Once this offense and PP gets clicking…and if the PK keeps up at the pace they have set for themselves…well…things could get every interesting for the Capitals.

Here are the D Men Stats from the past two games. How about that balance in minutes and how about Milan Jurcina?

Pothier is +3 on the season as well.

Next game…Friday @ the Garden.

Here are the defensive stats for the first game of the year.

How about 27+ minutes from Top Poti eh? Hopefully he can keep that up for the majority of the season. I knew the Caps were looking to reduce Pothiers’ minutes…but 12:18? Interesting. Mike Green continues to impress…he’s going to be a good one.

Empty has his knee jerks on OFB. You should read them. Really.

Anyways…home opener tomorrow night. Should be fun…especially after a game like tonight.

I know the new CBA has shortened the overall length of training camp but dear lord this has taken forever to get through. Maybe it’s the heightened optimism of the coming season that is causing this uneasiness…whatever it is I’m just glad to know it’s just about time to drop the puck for real. The Caps finished the preseason with a 3-3-1 .500 record and not once “stunk up the joint”. The first Ottawa game was heading in that direction but the Caps kept it tight and ended up only losing 5-4. The 7-5 comeback victory against the Flyers was a thing of beauty.

Overall…the team looks better than last preseason. More defined and, by far, more talented in the offensive zone. Nylander still loves to spin in circles and not show a desire to shoot the puck…but it’s effective. Mind numbing…but effective. Kozlov shows some flashes of skill and great puck possession but I’m still not sold on him being the 1st line center.

Speaking of the line up…all signs are pointing to the following come October 5th in Atlanta. Still one cut to go…but here’s the jist of it.

Ovechkin – Kozlov – Fleischmann
Semin – Nylander – Backstrom
Pettinger – Gordon – Clark
Brashear – Steckel – Laich

Poti – Green
Morrisonn – Jurcina
Pothier – Schultz

Kolzig

Just a few thoughts on the lineup…

- Hopefully Backstrom slides into a center position sooner rather than later.
- The 3rd line has looked great all preseason. Could end up being one of the best in the NHL before it’s all said and done.
- Fleischmann won the 1st line RW job with some impressive games. While not lighting up the scoreboard…he showed some good chemistry with Ovie and Kozlov. He could rack up some assists with those two.
- I’m not sold on Schultz actually making the team…but according to reports…he has.
- Steckel appears to have made it. He still has until 3pm tomorrow to find out for sure but he has done nothing to prompt the Caps to send him back to Hershey. I’m happy.
- Green has looked beyond great. He’ll scare you every once and awhile with his deep pinches…but he’s becoming a serious threat on the blue line.
- How about Clymer getting waived? Nice to see the Caps are no longer looking at waiver status when making personnel decisions.

Still one cut to go. I’m going with an Eminger trade or Erskine to the IR.

Anyways…the season is almost here.

Playoffs.

Here are the details…

Eminger and Sutherby
Clark
Steckel and Hunt

Good news all around. Nice to have Clark signed before the last season on his current contract…this assures him not hitting the open market after this coming season along with locking up the Captain for 4 years. I still do not expect Eminger to be here when the season starts…but I wouldn’t completely surprise me if he was still here.

We all know how I feel about Steckel: Room For Steckel?

Anyways…here are a few shots from today.

Joe Finley Rules

Godfrey’s goal.

More of a breakdown in a bit

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Well…after catching a 12pm showing of The Transformers I’m now stuck with an hour and a half of killing time waiting for some more hockey.

It doesn’t get much more exciting than this folks.

-Think back to the morning sessions…a few players stood out to me. Backstrom is just on a different level than most of these guys when it comes to seeing the ice and passing the puck. His drop passes and backhand passing is mighty tasty. I still contend they should play him with Ovechkin as he is going to be looking to set up his wingers. Nylander will likely get the call for now while Backstrom works on learning the NHL…but it wont be too long before Backs is centering that top line.

- I’m not feeling the Perreault love that’s been going around. Trade his rights while the stock is high. Maybe he’ll change my mind tonight.

- Pokulok really intrigues me. He has so much skill for a player his size. Just needs to kick the concussion habit.

- I don’t remember seeing Finley this morning. Don’t know if that’s good or bad.

Ok…more later if I can keep this connection going. I only have but so much duct tape and aluminum foil.

—————————————————-

Well…I’m finally onsite at Kettler today to watch some hockey.

As for action…so far…Drills!

Someone shoot me. Why do I do this to myself? Oh yeah…Hockey.

It’s not all that bad. Hanlon ran the first session and Bruce is currently running the second session. One nice thing about this place I’ve noticed so far is the acoustics. You can hear everything the coaches are saying on the ice. Something that you could hardly ever hear at Piney.

Nothing to really report when it comes to drills. Most of the higher ranked prospects look smooth and somewhat stand out from the others…but until the scrimmage tonight hard to get a feel of how they really look.

The Breakfast with GMGM just let out. Poor Mafki.

CapitalFanatic

A nice Rookie Camp thread from HFBoards.com

Washington Post with a sweet article on Nicklas Backstrom

All in all sounds like a pretty nice showing so far from everyone. The players are only going to get better over the next few days by becoming more comfortable with with each other on the ice and with the coaching staff.