Per WashingtonCaps.com, the Caps have assigned Mike Green to Hershey.Wow. I did not see that coming.
UPDATE: Here's the press release from Da Bears (please, no horrible Ray Nagin-esque jokes about the headline).
UPDATE: As Tyler noted, Tarik is on the case and promises more answers.
UPDATE: And here's Vogs' take:
But why Green? To put it simply (and perhaps cruelly), because they could. Of the 10 Washington defensemen, Green and Jeff Schultz are the only two who can be sent to Hershey without first having to clear waivers. Schultz has played so well of late that it would be even more cruel to send him out at the moment. When [John] Erskine and/or [Bryan] Muir returns, the Caps may have to send Schultz to Hershey anyway.Yet another UPDATE: Tarik's earning his keep today, giving us quotes from Green and Coach Hanlon. First, Green:
That's their decision. They obviously have a plan. Obviously, [the NHL] is the best league in the world and I'm playing against some of the best players in the world. It made me realize the magnitude and the effort and the focus you have to put in every night to be good in [the NHL]. It's been a great experience and I'll be back there soon.Then Hanlon:
For us, with all these defensemen here, it's the easy decision because he can down. From a hockey standpoint, I want to see him play some games down there and get back to playing up in the neutral zone. I want him to carry the puck and create some offense. We want more offense from him. It's an opportunity for him to go down and do those things.
There's no guarantees in this business, but there's a pretty good chance he'll be back sooner than later.
11 comments:
WHOA. That is a total stunner. I wonder what that's about.... my guess is that it has something to do with something more than on-ice play....
Maybe a game or two gets him eligible to play for Hershey in the AHL playoffs?
Obviously Green doesn't have to clear waivers, unlike all the other blueliners (with the exception of Schultz), so he's easiest from a transaction standpoint to send down. But why Green and not Schultz? Hopefully Tarik or Vogs will get to the bottom of it.
Btw, this is why I hate anonymous commenting:
Anonymous said...
sorry fanatic not a chance in hell green is getting sent down, just give him the eminger treatment and stick him with erskine, problem solved
2/14/2007 6:29 PM
Someone should be called out for that (and props go to Fanatic for making the bold prediction that Greenie would be sent down).
Wow. I've got to hop over to HF to see how the board's exploding.
(This is what we explode about these days).
Well Vogs is the organization, so uh, he's not gonna be my first source on The Truth.
Tarik sez: "I was told that the move had nothing to do with the playoffs. I'm also told the Erskine *might* play."
1) One could read that the Caps have given up on 2006-07 so are bolstering Hershey. So can Schultz be far behind once Erskine and Pothier show they are ready to play every night
2) Or more likely the team felt Green may need a bit of a wake up call. That his position on the team isn't a given unless he plays well night in and night out.
3) Even the Green's biggest supporters have to admit he's been inconsistent since the New Year. Without injuries this may have happened sooner
I'm stunned that Faux's post didn't begin "Seven could read..."
I've been waiting for Green to get a slap on the wrist from Hanlon et al for a while now. While he certainly isn't the worst D-man on the team, IMHO he's definitely the most overrated. This is partly evidenced by the onslaught of knee-jerk "STFU" responses to anti-Green comments here on the Rink.
Don't get me wrong, I *like* Mike.
But I'm glad to see it put forth by the management (to him and his crazed idolaters) that he's not untouchable, and further, that he's not playing to full potential.
I don't know that he's the most overrated, but he does have the most potential and formerly the best mohawk. He's also just 21. No one expected a Norris out of him this year, not even Tyler, and I think we all support whatever is best for his development. Is that a trip to Hershey? A trip to the press box for a few games? 27 minutes a night? I guess that's why they pay Hanlon the big bucks and we sit around questioning it.
But it does appear that the demotion is more of a roster-related move than a Green-related move, so the question of whether or not this is best for him is a particularly legitimate one.
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