Ovechkin staying a Cap?

Does anyone know the progress of Ovechkin's deal to stay a Cap? A month or so ago I heard they were at a road block. I haven't heard anything more. Are they waiting until the season is over to starting talking again considering he'll only be a RFA and they'll still have a shot at signing him? I can't imagine even the Caps would let him go.

 

That would be devastating to the Caps. But I also can't imagine why HE would want to stay stuck with this losing team and this dreadful market. He's easily one of the top 5 most exciting players to watch, but he gets no attention because he's with the Caps. If I were him and I could get out of here, I'd want to play in a true hockey market.

 

But wouldn't it be great if he could help DC become a "hockey market". The only way it will happen is with an exciting player who helps us get to the playoffs in consecutive years. Back when the caps were making the playoffs year after year, the arena was packed and it WAS exciting. Need to get back to that and OV, Bacstrom, Semin and our young defense can do it!

 

I think the Rangers will let Jagr walk after this year and take a shot at offering Ovechkin a restricted free agent offer sheet (the type of offer where the Rangers would end up giving up 5 first rounders or whatever if the Caps decided not to match).

 

This team isn't going to be losing for much longer -- watch them and you will see great young players like Ovechkin, Backstrom, Green, Semin (not to mention their top pick from this year, Alzner, who is the Captain of the Canadian Junior team and likely to be ready for the NHL next year). If one of their highly-touted goalie prospects is ready soon, this is going to be a winning team (it has been really poor planning to rebuild this team but not address the fact that the starting goalie is 38 and has been on the slide for several years). I don't believe that there is any way that they are going to let Ovechkin go -- I believe they will match whatever offer is thrown at him (assuming they don't re-sign him before the end of the year).

BTW, this certainly isn't a hockey town, but neither are any of the other US markets. The only cities in the NHL which will support a team that has been as bad as the Capitals have been for the last 5 years or so are the Canadian markets (and possibly New York, but only for the Rangers).

 

Agree with the young talent, just wondering if Ovechkin will want to wait this out and still be stuck in a market that gets no attention...when there are greener pastures out there. How many years are the Caps away from the Playoffs? A year, two, three, more?

Lots of IFs thrown around, including a goalie who hasn't played in the NHL yet. I'm just not big on IF's or trusting the Caps leadership based on past decisions.

Let's hope they do turn it around!

 

The Caps will pay Alex as much as they possibly can without blowing the cap as he is their priority. I think Uncle Ted knows that if he does not make an honest, full hearted attempt to resign him, he will lose just about all credibility with the fans (and possibly some of the league). Ovechkin has said he wants to be here and has had more input (fro lack of a better word) in personnel matters. I honestly do not believe he is going anywhere.

 

I think while the people are the same, the mentality and actions of the Caps braintrust has changed. They went out and signed FAs this year and the young players and getting better. I also think by making Boudreau's promotion permanent, the young players who played for him (and won) in the AHL will continue to develop.

Kolzig is not leaving the team anytime soon and while he may not be one of the top NHL goalies anymore, I would still place him in the top half and he will provide great leadership and be a role model for any young goalie they have. I also wouldn't dismiss Johnson.

 

I would love to see Kolzig mentor a young goalie here, but I am just not sure he is the type who will gracefully accept a transition to a backup. He strikes me as one of those athletes who won't know when it is time to hang it up. I watch almost every Caps game, and the team has played really well since Boudreau came on board -- the goalies, however, have really let them down by giving up soft goals every game. I might be wrong, but I cannot think of a single game this year in which Kolzig or Johnson stole a win for the team. Since Johnson is now out for possibly a month, maybe Cassivi (having been called up from Hershey) will stand on his head for the Caps when he gets his shot.

 

Okay, I'm sold. I like building around young, talented kids surrounded by a few key veterans. I am kind of spoiled because my son's favorite team since he was little has been the Devils, who have been perpetually good for a decade.

Let's see if they can put together a run to climb out of the cellar. With a mediocre conference this year, they are only 6 points behind 8th seed Buffalo and 7 points behind 5th seed Boston (though they've played more games).

 

Yes, the Devils have really been good for going on about 15 years now. The key to that team has been, is, and will be Brodeur (Scott Stevens was great as well, much to the annoyance of this Caps fan -- they obviously had other key plays, Niedermeyer and the like, but Brodeur was the key). I saw him again tonight lead NJ to a win in a shootout against Buffalo (actually I only saw the shootout, but he only gave up a goal in regulation and stopped all 3 shootout shots). He is quite simply the best goalie that I have ever seen : Patrick Roy seemed to always get more attention, but I would take Brodeur over him any day. As a Caps fan, I can't wait until Brodeur calls it a career

 

Agree, Madcat. Brodeur is the rock who has singlehandedly won many, many games for the Devils. My son has been lucky to love a team with an incredible run, and we were lucky enough to be in NJ for the Game 7 win versus the Ducks.

I would say, though, that there has been one other key to the Devils' success, because other teams have had great goalies as well. It is GM Lou Lamoriella and their system, very similar to the Patriots' run of success. They have preached and stuck to a system of defense first (boring, I admit, but winning Stanley Cups is kinda fun!) and philosophy of team before individuals. It has allowed average role players like John Madden and Jay Pandolfo to become critical players. And they have made incredibly wise draft picks on players others passed by.

Smart, smart organization.

 

I think they're closer then two or three years for sure. So close to the eighth spot right now, hopefully they can do it THIS YEAR!

 

The Caps seem to be turning it around... 3 wins against the Sens, the best team in the east, with a combined 18 goals in those 3 games... wow! Hopefully Semin stays healthy and Kozlov starts scoring again, and we'll be set. Mike Green is definately impressive and I hope he gets an all-star nod.

 

Okay, I'm being won over by this young blood and revived spirit.

 

I went to the Caps - Sens game yesterday. While the place was still not full (attendance was about 14,500), the atmosphere was pretty good from where I sat. I suppose it didn't hurt that it was a pretty exciting game involving the second best team in the league at the moment. As for the play of the Caps, it is difficult to stress just how much better this team has played since the coaching change.

 

Where were you sitting? I was at the game too and our section was going crazy at times, including me.

I really wanted to see Brashear get the Gordie Howe hat trick, but a win was still great.

And OV scored no goals yesterday.

 

I was in Section 115. Let's hope for a win in Beantown tonight.

 

Yes a win is a must!

Go Bruins!

 

At least one Boston team kinda sucks! Eighth place in the mediocre Eastern Conference is 42 points and the Caps are only five back. Unfortunately, there are A LOT of teams clustered in the low 40's. But a strong second half would put the Caps in contention for a playoff spot. And at least they're not in the cellar anymore