I would keep OV also and focus on getting a strong second line. If the Caps can't get at least two dangerous scoring lines working on a consistant basis, then teams will focus on Ovie's line and shut him down. Thier best offensive days happened with a hot 1 & 2 lines, combined with a decent PP.
- PACaps08

I completely agree. However, this is where the faith in McPhee can be questioned.

I think he has done a great job drafting and developing the younger talent. Hershey is a solid minor league team that now has sellouts or scattered singles to a lot of their games and are in the group of contenders for their Cup each year.

His offseason trades/pickups were touted by the league and fans as placing them as the team to beat this year. The team looked really good on paper, but that has not been the case on the ice this year. Changing coaches doesn't seem make a difference, so player mix must not be right. But how can you tell this before you get the players together? You can't.

Cannot say i don't enjoy seeing the caps down and out but even i felt bad last night watching that *ss kicking and no push back!!! kind of like last year in the playoffs once the bolts start coming back they would just like say oh no we lost and just go through the motions.
This team is just to talented of a team to be playing like this; there something going on behind the scenes.

Cannot say i don't enjoy seeing the caps down and out but even i felt bad last night watching that *ss kicking and no push back!!! kind of like last year in the playoffs once the bolts start coming back they would just like say oh no we lost and just go through the motions.
This team is just to talented of a team to be playing like this; there something going on behind the scenes.
- vinnybolt4life

I too agree. They started last year before they fired Boudreau. And, since then not so much. As an outsider looking in, I think everyine is thinking,,,,,WTF is goin on here.OV and Semin are shadows of their former selves. But still makin a ton of doe-ray-me.

Bruce Boudreau was never the issue in Washington. This is becoming more and more apparent.

When Boudreau first took over the reins of the Capitals squad he took a team that was struggling and miraculously moved them into a playoff spot. His strategy of letting his horses run, horses with unbelievable offensive ability, took the league by storm and made defensive pairings around the league struggle for sleep the night before they played the Caps.

Unfortunately, this was the type of play that Alex Ovechkin relished in. He had carte blanche offensively, and he, along with Semin, Backstrom, and Green proved to be too much for many defensive units to deal with. Their dynamic offensive ability brought with it many penalties from the opposing clubs, which in turn led to more offensive output from that team.

Until the playoffs.

The problem with this squad is not character. They have plenty of character players.

Unfortunately for the team, their captain cannot be included in that group.

When you have players like Knuble, Laich, Halpern, Brower, Chimera, etc., you have more than enough character in your room. The problem is that when you don't bring your best players to task for playing strictly for themselves, you risk losing the rest of the room.

I fear this is what has happened in Washington.

As a player with character, you tend to respect other players of that ilk. If any player on your team gives anything less than 100 % you expect that player to be dealt with by either the coach or by management.

There is no denying the fact that Dale Hunter was and is a hard nosed guy as is the GM George McPhee. You have to know that the antics of Ovechkin is wearing thin in D.C. . The truth is, if Ovechkin refuses to change the way he plays in his own end of the rink, then as incredible as it may sound, you have to deal him.

The return on Ovechkin would be enormous to say the least. It would bring the type of player(s) that McPhee needs without the headaches that Ovechkin is bringing.

As a former Caps fan, I can honestly say that I have waited for Ovechkin to mature into the type of player I hoped he would be. At some point though, I realized that he was not playing for the betterment of his hockey team, and it was at that point I realized that change was needed.

McPhee I am sure has also come to this conclusion and will be looking to rectify it fairly soon.

To many injuries every year to key players. Its being to consistant now, maybe time to change the culture of the team.
Since the NHL implamented steriod testing, hate to say, but Ovie has not been the same player, just wondering..................................................


- Ur Not Me

first of all go (frank) yourself; secondly, watching last night, Ovie was one of the only guys who actually tried and had some godamn passion (maybe a little too much at times, trying to do it all himself). But honestly, to jump to retarded conclusions like that is just asinine.

There was one play were OV entered the Canes zone, and lo-and-behold, it was (frank)ing 5 against 1! Where was his center-man? Where did the other winger peace out to? No D support came as his forward line didn't even move. Maybe that is a sign all is not well within the Caps locker-room, I'm not sure, but it definitely makes sure you lose hockey games more than you win them.

They are a bunch of turkeys without heads at the moment; there is ZERO structure beyond the 3rd line grinders who do make some energy, but were pretty much held at the perimeters all game.

When the puck got coughed up in the powerplay (one of many instances) it was like night and day watching Semin and OV turn around and hunt the puck down. It was a futile effort for 08 in the end, but atleast he (frank)ing skated back hard.

Trade that clown before he walks.

One of the more pressing concerns was how disgustingly poor the defense was; no help to either Vokoun or Neuvy, and our 'best' (Carlson, Alzner and Wideman) 1) couldn't make one (frank)ing simple break-out pass and 2) gave the puck away waaaaaay too often in our zone. I suppose I'm detailing the play of Wideman with that last point more than the other two but jesus.

There's not much of a chance to score if each player is doing his own thing, which it seemed was the case last night - I hope Hunter skates them til they vomit today, that was the worst effort in years.

edit: also, I am not defending OVs play, I thought he was garbage last night; I just think that to ignore all the other blatant problems that could be EASILY remedied is naive as hell.

Cannot say i don't enjoy seeing the caps down and out but even i felt bad last night watching that *ss kicking and no push back!!! kind of like last year in the playoffs once the bolts start coming back they would just like say oh no we lost and just go through the motions.
This team is just to talented of a team to be playing like this; there something going on behind the scenes.
- vinnybolt4life

It is tough to watch. The reality is, though, that they aren't that talented without a healthy Backstrom and Green (Green's back, but clearly not in form yet).

It is tough to watch. The reality is, though, that they aren't that talented without a healthy Backstrom and Green (Green's back, but clearly not in form yet).
- MadCap2008

Cross your fingers for some trades (that don't sacrifice the youth ofcourse).

Or perhaps we should just become sellers and if we make the play-offs with the remaining squad then fair play to the lads.

Ideally (and probably unlikely) I'd like to see these guys gone:

- Knuble (doesn't seem to want to play on this team anymore)
- Semin (self-explanatory)
- Schultz (may fetch a decent return)
- Green (too much of a risk injury-wise; will return ALOT of value)
- Ward (not really much to do with his play, it's just he isn't worth 3 Mill; as an earlier comment mentioned, that is entirely GMs fault; teams looking for that extra edge in the play-offs know he can bring it; should be a solid return)

Finally, if we lose the next couple games, I think shipping Vokoun out might be worthwhile; he's most likely not going to resign, and a team like Toronto could be very interested in taking him.

Cross your fingers for some trades (that don't sacrifice the youth ofcourse).

Or perhaps we should just become sellers and if we make the play-offs with the remaining squad then fair play to the lads.

Ideally (and probably unlikely) I'd like to see these guys gone:

- Knuble (doesn't seem to want to play on this team anymore)
- Semin (self-explanatory)
- Schultz (may fetch a decent return)
- Green (too much of a risk injury-wise; will return ALOT of value)
- Ward (not really much to do with his play, it's just he isn't worth 3 Mill; as an earlier comment mentioned, that is entirely GMs fault; teams looking for that extra edge in the play-offs know he can bring it; should be a solid return)

Finally, if we lose the next couple games, I think shipping Vokoun out might be worthwhile; he's most likely not going to resign, and a team like Toronto could be very interested in taking him.
- ghostibator

Yeah, I think all of these are fair points. I lean toward re-signing Green at a more reasonable price/term (if he's willing) -- if he's finally healthy, he is a pretty unique talent on the back end.

Yeah, I think all of these are fair points. I lean toward re-signing Green at a more reasonable price/term (if he's willing) -- if he's finally healthy, he is a pretty unique talent on the back end.
- MadCap2008

That is fair as well, I guess it would make more sense to see how he plays the rest of the season; obviously I'm a bit desperate for some sort of change after the last couple games.

I mean really - 3 (frank)ing goals in 3 games? 20 in the last 10; in 7 of those 10, we scored 2 or less goals per game; you're not likely to win very often with that track-record.

That is fair as well, I guess it would make more sense to see how he plays the rest of the season; obviously I'm a bit desperate for some sort of change after the last couple games.

I mean really - 3 (frank)ing goals in 3 games? 20 in the last 10; in 7 of those 10, we scored 2 or less goals per game; you're not likely to win very often with that track-record.
- ghostibator

The really depressing thing is that Tampa was already in seller mode when they beat the Caps, and Carolina could hardly view itself as a playoff contender (though if Florida/Toronto/Wash keep losing, you never know). It's not like the Caps were losing to the Red Wings in Detroit.

From a Sens fan, actually thought Caps game last night was miles ahead of the Carolina game, and if it weren't for some good finish on Sens part, Caps were right in it.

Looking from afar, it just looks like there is no apparent system to the Caps play, and all the talent you have seems to be unsure of how to play in a given situation. Ther might be unmotivated players here and there, but to my untrained eye, it looks mostly like they are just not clear on what they are supposed to do and any partiuclar moment.

Sounds like, unfortunately, another coaching change and some player tweaking is likely result before you can get this back on track.

From a Sens fan, actually thought Caps game last night was miles ahead of the Carolina game, and if it weren't for some good finish on Sens part, Caps were right in it.

Looking from afar, it just looks like there is no apparent system to the Caps play, and all the talent you have seems to be unsure of how to play in a given situation. Ther might be unmotivated players here and there, but to my untrained eye, it looks mostly like they are just not clear on what they are supposed to do and any partiuclar moment.

Sounds like, unfortunately, another coaching change and some player tweaking is likely result before you can get this back on track.
- sens_in_5

Thanks - it is sad to see how far the Caps have fallen that opposing fans feel the need to console us I think your assessment is a pretty good one, though. I don't see Hunter being here beyond this year, and I would imagine a complete front-office overhaul will occur. Honestly, the Caps have not looked "right" since Game 4 against the Habs in 2010. It's a testament to the talent that they grabbed the top see in the East in 2010-11, because they often looked lost as they were transforming from the run and gun to whatever system they were playing last year, and now whatever system (if there is one) that Hunter is trying to employ.

Thanks - it is sad to see how far the Caps have fallen that opposing fans feel the need to console us I think your assessment is a pretty good one, though. I don't see Hunter being here beyond this year, and I would imagine a complete front-office overhaul will occur. Honestly, the Caps have not looked "right" since Game 4 against the Habs in 2010. It's a testament to the talent that they grabbed the top see in the East in 2010-11, because they often looked lost as they were transforming from the run and gun to whatever system they were playing last year, and now whatever system (if there is one) that Hunter is trying to employ.
- MadCap2008

lol. We've been there too (consolation required). This season, even. Cheers.