This morning's WaPo has a lovely recap of the Chris Clark injury and the team's reaction thereto (as GMGM put it, "[T]he next time someone has a runny nose, or feels under the weather and doesn't think they should play, that should make them think twice").Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
- Apparently having most of the League's weaker sisters is helping the Western Conference fatten up. According to the Sagarin Ratings, of the ten easiest schedules in the League so far, only one - Pittsburgh's - belongs to Eastern Conference teams, and of the ten toughest schedules so far, only two - Detroit and Vancouver - belong to Western Conference squads. Translation? It's nice having St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus, L.A. and Phoenix on your schedule so many times. Further extrapolation: as Detroit's schedule has been tough so far, look for the Wings' record to really take off once they get heavy into the intra-divisional portion of their schedule.
- Of the 16 teams that have more points-per-game in the standings than the Caps, only Buffalo, Detroit, Carolina and Montreal have had a tougher schedule so far (both stats through Sunday's games).
- Not to get your hopes up, but... Nick Bäckström is
gonna bepretty damn good. - This is all well and good, but it's the Penguins that need the new home.
- Hart: Paul Gaustad (2G, A, +1, 5 SOG, 78% faceoffs won)
- Ross: Paul Gaustad, Ales Kotalik, Joe Sakic, Marek Svatos, Joni Pitkanen, Ryan Whitney (3 points each)
- Norris: Ryan Whitney (G, 2A, +2)
- Vezina: Tomas Vokoun (W, 23 saves on 24 shots against)
- Richard: Glen Murray, Paul Gaustad, Tomas Vanek, Marek Svatos, Martin St. Louis, Brenden Morrow (2G each)
- Calder: Daniel Paille (2A, +2)
- Aiken: Marc Denis (L, 7 goals allowed on 29 shots against)
7 comments:
1) Would have been nice to have Backstrom THIS season, but great to see he's doing well over in Europe. Perhaps another year of physical/mental maturation will do him good
2) Here's hoping to see him wearing the Black and Gold next fall. Would be a very nice addition to actually have a legit center in the lineup
Dainius Zubrus is a legit center.
ditto on Zubrus....how about this far-fetched crazy idea.....Caps trade for Forsberg? any thoughts? I think the Flyers might just give him up.
It would depend what the Caps would have to give up. I would not include Green, Flash or Fehr in any deal, though.
However, signing Forsberg on the cheap as a free agent next year to mentor fellow-countryman Backstrom? That's an idea I'd be on board with.
(Btw, both "jp" and "j.p." are me - stupid blogger/blogger beta)
It's nice having St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus, L.A. and Phoenix on your schedule so many times.
JP - I'd think one game against Philly would make up for all of those teams.
Just sayin'.
Stat-wise, maybe.
But would you rather face four of the Rangers, Devils, Pens, Islanders and Flyers 32 times or four of Detroit, Nashville, Columbus, Chicago and St. Louis 32 times?
I know which one I'd pick.
Post a Comment