With nary a game to recap nor preview and the trade deadline a mere two weeks away, we'll use this opportunity to let you play fantasy GM. Despite the fact that reality
GMGM has stated that
he expects to stand pat rather than seek reinforcements from outside the organization, it's time for you to chime in and let us know what you'd do if you were in his shoes. What are the team's needs? What assets would you be willing to part with (keep in mind that the Caps have a first round pick, three seconds, a third, fifth, sixth and seventh in the upcoming draft)? And, of course, who is/are your target acquisition(s)?
To help, here's
a list of guys who will be free agents this coming summer - and if
yesterday's Carolina/Ottawa trade showed us anything, it's that anyone can be a buyer or a seller (or both) in this market.
Of course, the Caps could conceivably get
a 30-goal scorer and/or
a top four defenseman around the deadline at no additional cost at all, but that seems increasingly less likely, perhaps making a small splash in the market all the more probable.
So have at it, armchair GMs. These are your Caps - make 'em better or stand pat.
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:Bruce Boudreau's Adams candidacy is
gaining steam....
Nice trend.... Check out
Hockey Underground for another source for Caps coverage.... Happy 28th Birthday to former Cap suckfest and
number six overall pick (!)
Rico Fata.... Finally, a year ago today we saw
insult added to injury, noted a
contract extension for a big winger and
got word of a tough injury.
Daily Awards- Hart: Mike Modano (Game-winning goal, A, +1, 5 SOG)
- Ross: Jere Lehtinen, Mike Modano (2 points each)
- Norris: Stephane Robidas (+1, 5 SOG, 4 hits)
- Vezina: Ilja Bryzgalov (L, 42 saves on 44 shots against)
- Richard: Niko Kapanen, Steve Ott, Mike Modano (1G each)
- Calder: Matt Niskanen (+1, 3 SOG)
- Aiken: Radim Vrbata (0 points, 0% faceoffs won, 3 GvA, 0 TkA)
Barring injury, at some time in early October, Matt Cooke will join Rico Fata as the only players to have played at least one NHL game with each of Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby (Fata played with the 2004 and 2005 number one draft picks during the 2005-06 season). Narrowly missing joining this exclusive club was Kris Beech, who played five games for Pittsburgh this past season, four of which Sid missed with an injury and the fifth The Kid sat out on the last day of the season.
