Mid-Season Report and Ranking
December 6- 2007, Washington DC
Kesler is Cap-Bound
Ryan Kesler is now the newest Washington Capital. Early into the weekend, Washington and Buffalo sprung a deal that would re-tool and boost the forward crop of the Capitals. Washington would send Tomas Fleischmann and their first rounder pick in 2008 for Ryan Kesler. "We are proud to have picked up Kesler. We think he will bring a lot to our organization. We are at the bottom of the playoff pack looking in. There is no where to go but up. Others need to worry."
Earlier in the weekend, Washington had a little more good and bad news. Washington recalled up promising T.J. Hensick from the farm to add more scoring. "We love this kid. Absolutely love this kid. He bring a great sense of offense and creativity. He will be a NHL'er for years." The bad news really wasnt too bad to begin with. "We just had to do it." Sviland said. Washington would then after recalling Hensick, they sent down promising offensive stud Mikhail Grabovski. "
After doing some calculations and reviewing July 1st thoughts of how the year would progress, we come acorss this:
First Line:
Mike Richards - Dustin Brown - Patrick Kane:
Projection: 900-1000 pts by years end
Analysis:
Richards has possibly been one of the leagues top players this season so far. He fights, hits, scores, plays in every situation. Simple amazing doesnt describe the kid. Brown is on pace to have career numbers in goals and points. Patrick Kane won the rookie of the month title in October and we see him doing it again atleast once before the season is over with.
On pace for:
Richards - 760 Brown - 486 Kane - 583
Total: 1800 + pts
Second Line:
Scottie Upshall - Ryan Kesler - Jason Williams
Projection: 800
Analysis:
Upshall is back from injury and playing solid, but could be better. Newly picked up Kesler has the makings for a career year himself, along with fighting, it looks good. Jason Williams has been stuck with groin injuries, yet hes having one hell of a amazing year to rebound from a bad one.
On pace for:
Upshall - 240 Kesler - 416 Williams - 444
Total: 1100
Third Line:
Hudler - Filppula - Lundqvist
Projection: 700
Analysis:
Hudler is having a career year offensively in all three categories. Filppula has started the year off slow, yet he played good second half last year, looks like he may do it once again. Hes a hell of a 3rd line forward. Lundqvist is having a rough year. Just got recalled back to re-join the pros and is on a mission to become a top notch grinder.
On pace for:
Hudler - 397 Filppula - 255 Lundqvist - 150
Total: 800
Forth Line
Sean Bergenheim - Loui Eriksson - Mikhail Grabovski
Projection: 600
Analysis:
Sean Bergenheim is in his first year back to the NHL after a hold out year. He has been ravved by fans, but his play so far offensively is nothing to cheer about. Eriksson has showed very little still since being in the NHL at being a top 2 liner. At times he shows sign of being a top 6, yet his coach obviously has no faith in the kid since he was sent down for 2 weeks this year already. Grabovski looked like he was going to make a splash this year, but his coach like Loui had no faith in him. He shows glimpses of stellar offensive creativity, yet just cant seam to get it going. He was sent down, so his points are really dead in the water.
On Pace For:
Bergenheim - 203 Eriksson - 150 Grabovski - 107 (based on 36 gp)
Total: 450 roughly
Projected points from forwards:
4150 Points:
Top 1-2 Defensemen:
Dan Hamhuis - Brent Seabrook
Projection: 900-950
Analysis: Hamhuis was at one point the top defenseman on the team. He was leading the way in time and everything. His offensive game has not come back since previous years, but we got faith in the last living Capital from the Expansion Era. Hes a leader for the team and he will only get better as the year goes on (other years too!). Brent Seabrook is what you call a proto-typical top defenseman in this league. He is a PP QB, hits, fights, everything. Hes got the makings of a top notch defenseman for the league. Once he gets more comfortable with his offensive game, he will take off.
On pace for:
Dan Hamhuis - 450 Brent Seabrook - 375
Total: 825
Second pairing 3-4
Niklas Kronwall - John-Michael Liles
Projection: 650-700
Analysis: Niklas Konrwall is starting to come around offensively. Hes finally healthy. Hes a hard hitting, offensive defenseman who knows how to play solid at the entire defensive position. His game will only improve as the years go on. Stay healthy Nik! Liles on the other hand is struggling big time this year. Hes regressed in terms of minutes player and points. Lets just hope he turns it up in the second half of the season like most NHL teams/players do.
On pace for:
Niklas Kronwall - 390 John-Michael Liles - 370
Total: 760
Third paring 5-6
Kris Letang - Matt Niskanen
Projection: 550-600
Analysis: Matt Niskanen started off on the team after a week into the season. He so far has been above expectations and is only getting better. Mostly known for solid 2-way defensive playing, he has not looked out of place in the last month defensively either. Hes got the makings of a stellar defenseman who could very well challenge one of the top pairing players next season easily. Kris Letang finally got recalled and has pushed vetran defnesemen out of the line up possibly. He will be soon playing the point on a rediculous power play and his statistics will take off without a doubt.
On pace for:
Matt Niskanen - 360 Kris Letang - 240 (based on 60 gp)
Potential pts from defense: 2180
Enforcer / Rookie
Aaron Downey - T.J. Hensick
Projection: 400
Analysis: Aaron Downey was a late pick up, hes been playing in the NHL lately and could very well be better than what we origionally had. He doesnt play a lot, but he definitely belongs in the NHL as he definitely helps agrivate other teams. Hensick was recently recalled and throw on. Since then he has progressed slightly better then previos rookie counter-part Grabovski. He will definitely be in the cards next year, hopefully he will stay up!
On pace for:
Aaron Downey - 175 (based on 41 gp) T.J. Hensick - 136 (based on 41 gp)
Total projection: 311 roughly
Goaltending:
Marc-Andre Fleury - Johan Hedberg
Projection: 750
Analysis: Fleury has been off to a slow start, as he was last year. He is starting to come around slightly but nothing amazing thus far. He will need to regain form from last year in the second half to assure the Capitals of a playoff spot. Johan was recently picked up for Francois Beauchemin and has been pretty good. It would have been better to have had Johan through the entire season but better now then never. With Johan and Fleury both playing, more points will be assured.
On pace for:
Marc-Andre Fleury - 550 Johan Hedberg - 475
Total Projection: 1025
Best player not playing at all:
Kurt Sauer
Points thus far: 117
Projected points as a defenseman: 370
Total projection if everyone lives up to potential:
7655
Top 5 Prospects this year:
1. Oscar Moller
2. Michael Frolik
3. Matthew Perreault
4. Marek Zagrapan
5. Dick Axelsson
Top 5 disappoitments:
1. Igor Grigorenko
2. Roman Voloshenko
3. Daniel Ryder
4. Marc-Antoine Pouliot
5. Keith Seabrook
Kesler is Cap-Bound
Ryan Kesler is now the newest Washington Capital. Early into the weekend, Washington and Buffalo sprung a deal that would re-tool and boost the forward crop of the Capitals. Washington would send Tomas Fleischmann and their first rounder pick in 2008 for Ryan Kesler. "We are proud to have picked up Kesler. We think he will bring a lot to our organization. We are at the bottom of the playoff pack looking in. There is no where to go but up. Others need to worry."
Earlier in the weekend, Washington had a little more good and bad news. Washington recalled up promising T.J. Hensick from the farm to add more scoring. "We love this kid. Absolutely love this kid. He bring a great sense of offense and creativity. He will be a NHL'er for years." The bad news really wasnt too bad to begin with. "We just had to do it." Sviland said. Washington would then after recalling Hensick, they sent down promising offensive stud Mikhail Grabovski. "
After doing some calculations and reviewing July 1st thoughts of how the year would progress, we come acorss this:
First Line:
Mike Richards - Dustin Brown - Patrick Kane:
Projection: 900-1000 pts by years end
Analysis:
Richards has possibly been one of the leagues top players this season so far. He fights, hits, scores, plays in every situation. Simple amazing doesnt describe the kid. Brown is on pace to have career numbers in goals and points. Patrick Kane won the rookie of the month title in October and we see him doing it again atleast once before the season is over with.
On pace for:
Richards - 760 Brown - 486 Kane - 583
Total: 1800 + pts
Second Line:
Scottie Upshall - Ryan Kesler - Jason Williams
Projection: 800
Analysis:
Upshall is back from injury and playing solid, but could be better. Newly picked up Kesler has the makings for a career year himself, along with fighting, it looks good. Jason Williams has been stuck with groin injuries, yet hes having one hell of a amazing year to rebound from a bad one.
On pace for:
Upshall - 240 Kesler - 416 Williams - 444
Total: 1100
Third Line:
Hudler - Filppula - Lundqvist
Projection: 700
Analysis:
Hudler is having a career year offensively in all three categories. Filppula has started the year off slow, yet he played good second half last year, looks like he may do it once again. Hes a hell of a 3rd line forward. Lundqvist is having a rough year. Just got recalled back to re-join the pros and is on a mission to become a top notch grinder.
On pace for:
Hudler - 397 Filppula - 255 Lundqvist - 150
Total: 800
Forth Line
Sean Bergenheim - Loui Eriksson - Mikhail Grabovski
Projection: 600
Analysis:
Sean Bergenheim is in his first year back to the NHL after a hold out year. He has been ravved by fans, but his play so far offensively is nothing to cheer about. Eriksson has showed very little still since being in the NHL at being a top 2 liner. At times he shows sign of being a top 6, yet his coach obviously has no faith in the kid since he was sent down for 2 weeks this year already. Grabovski looked like he was going to make a splash this year, but his coach like Loui had no faith in him. He shows glimpses of stellar offensive creativity, yet just cant seam to get it going. He was sent down, so his points are really dead in the water.
On Pace For:
Bergenheim - 203 Eriksson - 150 Grabovski - 107 (based on 36 gp)
Total: 450 roughly
Projected points from forwards:
4150 Points:
Top 1-2 Defensemen:
Dan Hamhuis - Brent Seabrook
Projection: 900-950
Analysis: Hamhuis was at one point the top defenseman on the team. He was leading the way in time and everything. His offensive game has not come back since previous years, but we got faith in the last living Capital from the Expansion Era. Hes a leader for the team and he will only get better as the year goes on (other years too!). Brent Seabrook is what you call a proto-typical top defenseman in this league. He is a PP QB, hits, fights, everything. Hes got the makings of a top notch defenseman for the league. Once he gets more comfortable with his offensive game, he will take off.
On pace for:
Dan Hamhuis - 450 Brent Seabrook - 375
Total: 825
Second pairing 3-4
Niklas Kronwall - John-Michael Liles
Projection: 650-700
Analysis: Niklas Konrwall is starting to come around offensively. Hes finally healthy. Hes a hard hitting, offensive defenseman who knows how to play solid at the entire defensive position. His game will only improve as the years go on. Stay healthy Nik! Liles on the other hand is struggling big time this year. Hes regressed in terms of minutes player and points. Lets just hope he turns it up in the second half of the season like most NHL teams/players do.
On pace for:
Niklas Kronwall - 390 John-Michael Liles - 370
Total: 760
Third paring 5-6
Kris Letang - Matt Niskanen
Projection: 550-600
Analysis: Matt Niskanen started off on the team after a week into the season. He so far has been above expectations and is only getting better. Mostly known for solid 2-way defensive playing, he has not looked out of place in the last month defensively either. Hes got the makings of a stellar defenseman who could very well challenge one of the top pairing players next season easily. Kris Letang finally got recalled and has pushed vetran defnesemen out of the line up possibly. He will be soon playing the point on a rediculous power play and his statistics will take off without a doubt.
On pace for:
Matt Niskanen - 360 Kris Letang - 240 (based on 60 gp)
Potential pts from defense: 2180
Enforcer / Rookie
Aaron Downey - T.J. Hensick
Projection: 400
Analysis: Aaron Downey was a late pick up, hes been playing in the NHL lately and could very well be better than what we origionally had. He doesnt play a lot, but he definitely belongs in the NHL as he definitely helps agrivate other teams. Hensick was recently recalled and throw on. Since then he has progressed slightly better then previos rookie counter-part Grabovski. He will definitely be in the cards next year, hopefully he will stay up!
On pace for:
Aaron Downey - 175 (based on 41 gp) T.J. Hensick - 136 (based on 41 gp)
Total projection: 311 roughly
Goaltending:
Marc-Andre Fleury - Johan Hedberg
Projection: 750
Analysis: Fleury has been off to a slow start, as he was last year. He is starting to come around slightly but nothing amazing thus far. He will need to regain form from last year in the second half to assure the Capitals of a playoff spot. Johan was recently picked up for Francois Beauchemin and has been pretty good. It would have been better to have had Johan through the entire season but better now then never. With Johan and Fleury both playing, more points will be assured.
On pace for:
Marc-Andre Fleury - 550 Johan Hedberg - 475
Total Projection: 1025
Best player not playing at all:
Kurt Sauer
Points thus far: 117
Projected points as a defenseman: 370
Total projection if everyone lives up to potential:
7655
Top 5 Prospects this year:
1. Oscar Moller
2. Michael Frolik
3. Matthew Perreault
4. Marek Zagrapan
5. Dick Axelsson
Top 5 disappoitments:
1. Igor Grigorenko
2. Roman Voloshenko
3. Daniel Ryder
4. Marc-Antoine Pouliot
5. Keith Seabrook
posted by Washington Post at 2:48 PM
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