On the Topic of Leadership

I read with interest both On Frozen Blog's piece "Renewed Questions of Leadership" and Ed Frankovic's "Caps Off-season Focus Should Be on Leadership".  I know both these guys very well from our time in the press box together, not to mention an episode or two of working out with 12 ounce curls, and have the utmost respect for both.  Please take a moment or two to read their opinions if you haven't

Should They Stay or Should They Go?

As we slowly come out of our post-sweep funk, let's take a look at the Washington Capitals impending free agents and start the debate on whether the Caps should try to re-sign the player or part ways with them.  The Capitals have seven unrestricted free agents and two restricted (must extend "qualifying offer" to retain negotiating rights).  Ages listed for start of 2011-12 season.
Jason Arnott 

Asking the Wrong Question?

With all due respect to Japers Rink, here's my noon number:  .667.
That's the Washington Capitals winning percentage this season without Mike Green in the lineup this season.  With?  .526.
The Caps went 30-27 when Mike Green dressed for games (including playoffs) and 22-11 when he did not.
That's all.

Starting Over

It's been a little over 24 hours now since the Tampa Bay Lightning eliminated the Washington Capitals from the Stanley Cup playoffs, finishing the four-game sweep in less-than-dramatic style Wednesday night.  I haven't written anything since the game re-cap because I was still kind of raw from the whole experience and wanted a little time to reflect.
The frustration of seeing things unfold, in

GAME FOUR RE-CAP: Capitals Swept Out of Playoffs After 5-3 Loss

"I think we were expecting to have a longer series." -- Sean Bergenheim, Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa, FL -- As had been the case in the previous three games in this series, the Washington Capitals could not find the answers to some of the Tampa Bay Lightning role players in Game Four last night and paid the ultimate price for it. Third-liner Sean Bergenheim scored a pair of goals, his sixth and

Playoff Hockey?

Who is to blame when a team of great promise does not fulfill those expectations? It's a difficult question to answer. One on hand, you can place the blame on the coaching staff, failing to get the most out of the players. On the other, you have to place responsibility on the players that take the ice of field. Ultimately, you can lay out the most intricate, elaborate game plan know to the human

GAME THREE RE-CAP: "Complacent" Capitals Give Away Game Three

"We had a lot of enthusiasm and not being scared to lose, but being hungry to win." Lightning coach Guy Boucher
Tampa, FL -- Every Washington Capitals player that faced the media said the same thing in the locker room following Tuesday night's 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, putting them in a no games to three hole: "We have to be ready [in Game Four]."  The unasked question?  Why weren't

GAME TWO RE-CAP: Lightning Strike Twice Against Powerless Caps

“It was a bad change,” Coach Bruce Boudreau, on the fatal line change in overtime.
When Alex Ovechkin scored at 18:52 of the third period to tie the game at two goals apiece and to force overtime, the Verizon Center erupted to the extent it has not since Sergei Fedorov's goal to beat the New York Rangers in the seventh game of the Caps first round series in 2009.
Six minutes and nineteen seconds