Mid-season grades and report
Washington (December 26)-
The captials are currently a flop once again. This year injuries and poor luck has hit the team hard. General Manager Sviland has failed to retrieve quality players on the farm to emerge properly and fully much like the blueline over previous years has done so, but there is always room for improvement and there is still a high end of potential in this organization.
Forwards: Grade D
Captain and long time capital Mats Sundin went down. As soon as the captain went down, the team decided to decline fast. Fallen players such as Richards, now currently out for a few weeks while struggling hard this season has not helped, since trading Brian Rafalski didn't fall of the face of the Earth either, making this a bad trade currently. Mikael Samuelsson has been plagued with a injured groin all year as has Nils Ekman, who has yet to establish himself along side a few linemates this year and become as successful as he was previously, which is making it hard to deal him. Sviland has went off the record for saying he will part with Nils and Mikael, but not if his return wont fit the player. "I cannot trade a guy who's shown potential when he plays and in the previous two years such as them two for a simple third round pick, it just wont happen." Said Sviland.
Others in La-la land like Jan Bulis and Jason Williams have not helped what so ever. William was out for a few weeks just like others on the team, but Bulis has been healthy and just hasent been doing a thing this year. Making him on many teams barely a 12th forward. On the positive note, Dustin Brown has been fairly consistant and is currently on pace for a career year at around 400 points, solid enough for this young captials club. Players who have also emerged recently and are now regulars are Valterri Filppula, who is struggling to find ice time and Jiri Hudler who is struggling to do the same. Alexander Picard has been a up and down player in the minors and NHL and has yet to see his first NHL point in a handful of career games, including a few this year. Loui Eriksson, who started off the year with a great goal on opening night was spent back to the minors days later and has been called up and currently up. Tomas Fleischmann has struggled to find his scoring touch at the NHL level and is currenly on the roster but in the minors. "Its hard. We got and had a lot of faith that a few of these kids were going to finally get roster spots and emerge. Weve seen a few get spots but have yet to emerge. We are hoping with the holiday time off it will respark a few of these players and a few youngsters will get called up and stay up for the rest of the season. All in all, its another one of those 'lets wait and go get'm done next year' "
Defense: C
Finally, its nice to see that every youngster we wanted to emerge has emerged. Anton Babchuk is finally on the roster and played like he should and will only get better over time. Liles has been somewhat inconsistant at times, but when he gets point for the night he really gets points. Leading the way this year, like he did last year, the Capitals are more then thrilled we have a bright spot in the future for years to come. Seabrook has struggled this year highly but that usually happens with all second year players. "Give him a little, teams know now how he works, he has nights when hes amazing, others where hes average. He will be back into top pairing form soon, very soon." Hamhiuis recently has been taken off of the power play unit this year and is now a full time penalty killer, while thats awesome in the nhl, it hurts in fantasy land. "Danny has been one of our best players, but offensively hes not doing it this year due to his limited time on the power play and playing a shut down style of hockey. While we love it, we hate it because its hurting our team statistically." Niklas Kronwall has been out all year up and down with injuries. He recieved his first point in forever a few nights ago, so we are all hoping he will come around and finally put some points back up on the board and re-emerge like he was showing last year. Beauchemin, while having a good year and seeing a ton of playing time might be the odd man out soon. Speculation has it that if Washington can find a perfect offer for Beauchemin, who is the 6th defensemen and will likely lose out to Letang next year, will be delt around the deadline for a key ingredient upfront.
Enforcers: F
Nash failed to make a team out of camp, traded once this year and has yet to make there club. This hurts the team hard. Thornton was moved from forward to enforcer with the retirement of Domi. Currently the Capitals have no intention in toying with this posistion. A replacement for Nash will be in order later.
Goaltending: B
Why a B? Howard might be in the minors, but hes going to be the player of the future to watch for between the pipes as the backup to Fleury. Fleury is playing amazing hockey and will only get better with time. Future NHL vezina is going to be around his arms soon. His play makes this position a B.
Farm: B-
Frolik, when healthy is playing great hockey for a rookie in his first year of North America. Marek Zagrapan, while in the AHL at a young age isnt playing, but will see time sooner or later this year or early next, that wont be a problem and with a few players leaving with cap problems, he might see NHL call up in the near future, (1-2 years). Igor Grigorenko is currently looking at a "Im comming over this year or never" type of thing for next year. This organization is starting to gain inpateitn with Igor, but with his high end talent will wait it out. Daniel Ryder is currently in the top 5 in OHL scoring and would have been higher if he didnt get suspended for stupidity. He was just recently signed and will be in the AHL as soon as next year, potential for NHL spot is unlikely but you never know. Roman Voloshenko, while in a deep organization needs to continue his hard work. "Roman is having a tough time in the AHL this year finding his scoring touch without a lot of teammates from last year, by years end he will finally emerge, we arent worried." Kris Letang will be a NHL regular next year, currently havign a stellar, no wait above stellar season in the "Q" and is currently captaining Canada in the WJHC, while recording 2 assists out of 2 goals in a 2-0 win for canada early today. He will be a regular next season, moved will be made, Washington is bound for another high end offensively gifted player.
Others:
Lukas Kaspar: D... Failing to be consistant, once consistancy is found, he will be in the NHL
Evan McGrath: D.... Failing to score on a poor offensive AHL team, future might be in doubt
Konstantin Pushkarev: C-... has yet to break out in the AHL in the second season, currently almost 22 and not close to NHL ready fully yet.
Joey Ryan: B...Playing good hockey, needs to continue to find a offensive game to fully emerge as a higher prospect, could be a enforcer filler in the future, 202 PIMs last year and 74 this year helps.
Kyle Quincey: B... Plays good or solid in detroit, average in the AHL, shows how bad this team actually is. Could be a regular in the NHL next year
Sean Bergenheim: B... Needs to come back to the NHL asap, development is going great, could become a fast, scoring winger this team needs.
Mikhail Grabovsky: C-... Has yet to find his nitche in the AHL, but that happens, we will wait.
TJ Hensick: B+... scoring at a rapid pace, potential Hobey Baker winner this year, could find himself in the NHL if all goes right next years training camp as soon as next year, or he will be in the AHL
Keith Seabrook: C... Remains unknown... no idea
Vladimir Zharkov: D+... Scored 1 goal in 28 gms in the RSL as a youngster, while hes young, it might not have been a good idea to put him in the high league so early. could hurt him
Jay Barriball: B... ermerging in college with a good team has a fine player. Good potential and the scouts who scouted him have that knack recently for finding great college players.
Billy Sauer: F... Weak link for UofM. Lets in weak goals, far cry from nhl calibar. No wonder why scouts saw him as a late rounder. Potential dropee soon.
Capitals will remain in the top 10 draft picks, gain a solid player and await his emergence.
Washington post over and out....
The captials are currently a flop once again. This year injuries and poor luck has hit the team hard. General Manager Sviland has failed to retrieve quality players on the farm to emerge properly and fully much like the blueline over previous years has done so, but there is always room for improvement and there is still a high end of potential in this organization.
Forwards: Grade D
Captain and long time capital Mats Sundin went down. As soon as the captain went down, the team decided to decline fast. Fallen players such as Richards, now currently out for a few weeks while struggling hard this season has not helped, since trading Brian Rafalski didn't fall of the face of the Earth either, making this a bad trade currently. Mikael Samuelsson has been plagued with a injured groin all year as has Nils Ekman, who has yet to establish himself along side a few linemates this year and become as successful as he was previously, which is making it hard to deal him. Sviland has went off the record for saying he will part with Nils and Mikael, but not if his return wont fit the player. "I cannot trade a guy who's shown potential when he plays and in the previous two years such as them two for a simple third round pick, it just wont happen." Said Sviland.
Others in La-la land like Jan Bulis and Jason Williams have not helped what so ever. William was out for a few weeks just like others on the team, but Bulis has been healthy and just hasent been doing a thing this year. Making him on many teams barely a 12th forward. On the positive note, Dustin Brown has been fairly consistant and is currently on pace for a career year at around 400 points, solid enough for this young captials club. Players who have also emerged recently and are now regulars are Valterri Filppula, who is struggling to find ice time and Jiri Hudler who is struggling to do the same. Alexander Picard has been a up and down player in the minors and NHL and has yet to see his first NHL point in a handful of career games, including a few this year. Loui Eriksson, who started off the year with a great goal on opening night was spent back to the minors days later and has been called up and currently up. Tomas Fleischmann has struggled to find his scoring touch at the NHL level and is currenly on the roster but in the minors. "Its hard. We got and had a lot of faith that a few of these kids were going to finally get roster spots and emerge. Weve seen a few get spots but have yet to emerge. We are hoping with the holiday time off it will respark a few of these players and a few youngsters will get called up and stay up for the rest of the season. All in all, its another one of those 'lets wait and go get'm done next year' "
Defense: C
Finally, its nice to see that every youngster we wanted to emerge has emerged. Anton Babchuk is finally on the roster and played like he should and will only get better over time. Liles has been somewhat inconsistant at times, but when he gets point for the night he really gets points. Leading the way this year, like he did last year, the Capitals are more then thrilled we have a bright spot in the future for years to come. Seabrook has struggled this year highly but that usually happens with all second year players. "Give him a little, teams know now how he works, he has nights when hes amazing, others where hes average. He will be back into top pairing form soon, very soon." Hamhiuis recently has been taken off of the power play unit this year and is now a full time penalty killer, while thats awesome in the nhl, it hurts in fantasy land. "Danny has been one of our best players, but offensively hes not doing it this year due to his limited time on the power play and playing a shut down style of hockey. While we love it, we hate it because its hurting our team statistically." Niklas Kronwall has been out all year up and down with injuries. He recieved his first point in forever a few nights ago, so we are all hoping he will come around and finally put some points back up on the board and re-emerge like he was showing last year. Beauchemin, while having a good year and seeing a ton of playing time might be the odd man out soon. Speculation has it that if Washington can find a perfect offer for Beauchemin, who is the 6th defensemen and will likely lose out to Letang next year, will be delt around the deadline for a key ingredient upfront.
Enforcers: F
Nash failed to make a team out of camp, traded once this year and has yet to make there club. This hurts the team hard. Thornton was moved from forward to enforcer with the retirement of Domi. Currently the Capitals have no intention in toying with this posistion. A replacement for Nash will be in order later.
Goaltending: B
Why a B? Howard might be in the minors, but hes going to be the player of the future to watch for between the pipes as the backup to Fleury. Fleury is playing amazing hockey and will only get better with time. Future NHL vezina is going to be around his arms soon. His play makes this position a B.
Farm: B-
Frolik, when healthy is playing great hockey for a rookie in his first year of North America. Marek Zagrapan, while in the AHL at a young age isnt playing, but will see time sooner or later this year or early next, that wont be a problem and with a few players leaving with cap problems, he might see NHL call up in the near future, (1-2 years). Igor Grigorenko is currently looking at a "Im comming over this year or never" type of thing for next year. This organization is starting to gain inpateitn with Igor, but with his high end talent will wait it out. Daniel Ryder is currently in the top 5 in OHL scoring and would have been higher if he didnt get suspended for stupidity. He was just recently signed and will be in the AHL as soon as next year, potential for NHL spot is unlikely but you never know. Roman Voloshenko, while in a deep organization needs to continue his hard work. "Roman is having a tough time in the AHL this year finding his scoring touch without a lot of teammates from last year, by years end he will finally emerge, we arent worried." Kris Letang will be a NHL regular next year, currently havign a stellar, no wait above stellar season in the "Q" and is currently captaining Canada in the WJHC, while recording 2 assists out of 2 goals in a 2-0 win for canada early today. He will be a regular next season, moved will be made, Washington is bound for another high end offensively gifted player.
Others:
Lukas Kaspar: D... Failing to be consistant, once consistancy is found, he will be in the NHL
Evan McGrath: D.... Failing to score on a poor offensive AHL team, future might be in doubt
Konstantin Pushkarev: C-... has yet to break out in the AHL in the second season, currently almost 22 and not close to NHL ready fully yet.
Joey Ryan: B...Playing good hockey, needs to continue to find a offensive game to fully emerge as a higher prospect, could be a enforcer filler in the future, 202 PIMs last year and 74 this year helps.
Kyle Quincey: B... Plays good or solid in detroit, average in the AHL, shows how bad this team actually is. Could be a regular in the NHL next year
Sean Bergenheim: B... Needs to come back to the NHL asap, development is going great, could become a fast, scoring winger this team needs.
Mikhail Grabovsky: C-... Has yet to find his nitche in the AHL, but that happens, we will wait.
TJ Hensick: B+... scoring at a rapid pace, potential Hobey Baker winner this year, could find himself in the NHL if all goes right next years training camp as soon as next year, or he will be in the AHL
Keith Seabrook: C... Remains unknown... no idea
Vladimir Zharkov: D+... Scored 1 goal in 28 gms in the RSL as a youngster, while hes young, it might not have been a good idea to put him in the high league so early. could hurt him
Jay Barriball: B... ermerging in college with a good team has a fine player. Good potential and the scouts who scouted him have that knack recently for finding great college players.
Billy Sauer: F... Weak link for UofM. Lets in weak goals, far cry from nhl calibar. No wonder why scouts saw him as a late rounder. Potential dropee soon.
Capitals will remain in the top 10 draft picks, gain a solid player and await his emergence.
Washington post over and out....
posted by Washington Post at 1:00 PM
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