The Washington Capitals added one spot they coveted, another top line right winger.  The Caps agreed to terms on a 2 year, $5.6 million deal with former Philadelphia Flyer Mike Knuble. 

Knuble recorded 47 points last season with the Flyers.  He had 27 goals and 20 assists.  The year prior, Knuble recorded 29 goals and 26 assist.  Along with offense, Knuble brings some size for the Caps, standing at 6'3". 


Can anyone really argue with this signing. Several reasons why I don't think so. One, Knuble is the type of player Washington has been missing. We have ranted and raved, left and right, about the unwillingness or inability of caps to park in front of the net.  Besides Brooks Laich, Washington was limited in guys willing to do that.  Knuble is perfect and does it well.  Problem solved.  He also has some great size, which Washington generally has all over its roster.  He is a gritty, tough player.  Something needed in DC. 

To make the move even smater, look at the deal itself.  Caps are getting a guy that will net between 25 and 30 goals, for roughly $2.8 million per year.  Not a bad deal.  Kudos to George McPhee. 

Tough guy and enforcer Donald Brashear will not return to the Washington Capitals.  Brashear inked a year 2.8 million deal with the New York Rangers.

The fact Washington made no efforts in resigning Brashear before free agency was a signal the Caps chose to go in a different direction.  One thing Washington is likely trying to do is eliminate penalites and penalty kill situations.    

Let's just establish this immediately: Austin Kearns is not a quality Major League Baseball player. He was at one time, 2007 was the last time, but no longer. He's 29 years old, doesn't play the outfield well, is batting .197 with 3 HR and 16 RBI, and slugging percentage of .322 [actually an improvement over last season]. In other words, he doesn't really belong in the Majors, not even on the worst team in the Majors. He might do better in AAA, but considering his age it is probably time for Mr Kearns to consider his life after baseball. [That's Mr Kearns in the photo to the right, doing what he does not do best -- playing baseball.]

For those of you eagerly and anxiously awaiting the 12 Noon opening of NHL free agency, and may be yearning for a big time free agent signing ---- forget it!

"Don't expect us to do big money deals or long-term deals," McPhee said. "Those just haven't worked around the league. For the last several years, there have been lots of players that have signed big money deals and you'd be hard pressed to find a handful that were any good. It seems that six months after those deals are signed, GMs are trying to move that same guy."

"So we're going to be prudent tomorrow and see if there's anything makes sense for our club. If there is, we'll be involved and try to sign somebody. But if doesn't make sense, we're not going to do anything right now. No deal is better than a bad deal."

The Washington Nationals have traded two chronic under-achievers, OF Lastings Milledge and RP Joel Hanrahan to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett. Morgan is a left-handed outfielder who does something the Nats don't do -- plays defense. Morgan turns 29 this week and he runs like the wind, covering a ton of space in the outfield and stealing bases [18 so far this season] when he gets on. He hits for pretty good average, but has almost no power. 

This is the last position and the Redskins Best Ever Poll Series will be complete on the Defense.  Here are your current Best Ever defensive winners:

CB:  Darrell Green
S:  Sean Taylor
ILB:  Sam Huff
OLB:  Chris Hanburger
DE:  Dexter Manley
DT:  ?

So we complete the Defense with the Best Ever Defensive Tackle.  Here are your nominees:

Dave Butz (1975-1988)

Diron Talbert (1971-1980)

Daryl Grant (1981-1990)

Cornelius Griffin (2004-2008)

Tarik reports the Capitals have made qualifying offers to several current roster Washington Capitals, thus retaining rights.

The Caps have extended qualifying offers to forwards Eric Fehr and Boyd Gordon, defensemen Milan Jurcina, Shaone Morrisonn and Jeff Schultz and prospects Chris Bourque, Kyle Wilson and Steve Pinizzotto, thus retaining the players' rights. 

Not a big surprise for any of them.  I suspect Chris Bourque and Steve Pinizzotto have opportunities to make the roster next season.  Pinizzotto is obviously a much longer shot than Bourque. 

The following players were not qualified.

The team also severed ties with prospects Andrew Joudrey, Daren Machesney, Travis Morin and Sasha Pokulok. They become unrestricted free agents.

Pokulok and Machensey are unsurprising.  Pokulok is a prime example of a over hyped draft pick because of pure size.  The problem with Pokuluk is his inability or unwillingness to use that size to his advantage.  He was demoted this year from the AHL to ECHL.  Machensey isn't surprising simply because of how well Simeon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth have turned out.,  Machesney has been very good at the AHL level and should have no problem getting hooked up elsewhere.  Personally, I never understood was Travis Morin never got a shot at Hershey.  He led the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays for two straight years in scoring.

Finally, NHL free agency begins tomorrow.  Don't expect an active Washington Capitals free agency.  Replacing Victor Kozlov and Sergei Fedorov's are musts, but I suspect the Caps won't do via big contracts.     

Injuries have derailed one season after another for the Houston Rockets. If it wasn't Tracy McGrady out for the playoffs, it was Yao Ming. Or both. Now, after Houston had its best playoff performance since the Akeem Olajuwon days, arrives this absolutely crushing news: All Star center Yao Ming is out with a broken foot, probably for the entire for the 2009-10 season and possibly beyond that.

For now, the Rockets have privately told league peers it could be a full season before Yao might be able to return to basketball. Multiple league executives, officials close to Yao and two doctors with knowledge of the diagnoses are describing a troubling re-fracture of his navicular bone. Three pins were inserted a year ago, but the foot cracked in the playoffs and isn't healing.

"It sounds like he's missing most of next season, if not the entire 82 games," one league executive who has had recent discussions with the Houston front office told Yahoo! Sports. "That's all that [the Rockets] will concede quietly, but they know it's probably much worse."

Apologies on the late notice of late round picks, and you already have seen the list by now.  I have added quotes form the best source, Hockey's Future.   

2nd round:  C Dmitri Orlov

Orlov is an offensive defenseman with some good abilities in his own zone combined with good physical play despite his relative limited size, but he has still a lot to do before thinking about North America. Competent with the puck, he was the captain of the Russia-91 junior team and this is a good sign of leadership even if it's only junior level. Thus far he's having limited ice time with his KHL team, but he has proven that he can stay on ice at the highest level playing against men. Unfortunately a dangerous play by veteran Mika Hannula has put him out of action with a shoulder injury lately, and this has prevented him further development in the last few weeks. Currently he's No. 1 Russian skater according to CSS rankings.

3rd round:  C Cody Eakin

Eakin isn't a big guy so he relies on his terrific speed and agility as his two greatest assets for success. He's a solid two-way player that is very useful as a penalty killer, but he's far from limited to playing a defensive role. He's an aggressive forechecker and will play the body although he's not known as a punishing hitter. He's creative and will attack defenders one-on-one but likes to use his teammates as well. Eakin doesn't panic with the puck and rarely forces passes when under pressure

4th round: D Patrick Wey

No profile, but a YouTube video. 



5th round:  Brett Flemming

6th round:  RW Garret Mitchell

2008-09: Entering his sophomore season with the Regina Pats (WHL), Mitchell was determined to improve over his last year's numbers. In 71 games with the Pats, the forward put up 15 points (10 goals, 5 assists), but his biggest stat jump game in the penalty category. Mitchell nearly doubled his PIM from last year, registering a team-high 140 minutes in the box this season.  He was part of Team Canada for the Ivan Hlinka and U18 world championships.

7th round:  W Bejamin Casavant

A rangy forward with good size and a nose for the net, Casavant has the drive and determination to park in front of the opposition's net and feed off rebounds and deflections. At 6'1 and 210 pounds, he is a hard player to move once he has settled in.  When he is not making the lives of goaltenders miserable, Casavant can inflict punishment along the boards, throwing his weight around and fighting through checks to dig pucks free for his teammates. However, that size comes at a cost and the Quebec native sometimes appears sluggish on his feet, especially later on in games.

With the 24th pick in the NHL Draft, the Washington Capitals have selected C Marcus Johansson from Sweden.  Johnasson became the 7th Swede to go in the 200 NHL Draft.  Johansson is one year removed from another Swede first round pick of the Caps, Anton Gustafson.


Playing in Sweden for Farjestads BK Karlstad last year, Johnasson  scored 5 goals and 5 assist for 10 points.    From Hockey's Future

Johansson has impressive hockey sense, good technical skills and soft hands. He reads the play very well and is a skilled playmaker. Is also a speedy skater that does not shy away from the rough stuff, although he is not really a big time physical player. A team player with some leadership qualities. Has a shot he should use more often.

Johnansson almost seems as if the Capitals are shifting to the Sweden front from the Russian front.  Johansson joins fellow Swedes Nicklas Backstrom and Anton Gustafson as recent Caps draft picks from Sweden. 

From NHL.com

As a member of Farjestad in 2008-09, Johansson recorded 10 points (5-5-10) in 45 games in the Swedish Elite League. He gained valuable experience as an 18-year-old, helping his club win the Swedish championship.

As a member of Team Sweden at the 2009 World Junior Championships, he scored two goals (2-0-2) in six games, winning a silver medal. He also represented his country at the 2007 Under-18 World Championships (bronze) and the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament (gold).

I must admit, I was not expecting this pick, especially with guys like Landon Ferraro, Kyle Palmerie, and Carter Ashton, and Jeremy Morin still on the board, this was a bit of a puzzling move.  Guess I will pass on any further analysis, because the move is perplexing given what was still there, the Caps could have most certainly traded down and still nabbed Johansson.

Guess the real story is, what's next?  Are the Caps going to be in the trade market like McPhee suggested?  How do they plan on replacing Victor Kozlov and Sergei Fedorov?

We have completed the final update to the 2009 NHL Mock Draft Database.  The Database is wayyyyy bigger than it was in 2008.  We now have listed a whopping 72 NHL mock drafts, including 44 updated since June 19, 2009.  59 of the NHL mocks updated in the month of June.  

We than each and every mock draft site and writer for their contributions to the NHL draft coverage.  We were extremely pleased to list their links and spread the word of the NHL Draft, which commences tonight at 7PM on TSN/Versus.  The Database traffic has been phenomenal this year and we are looking forward to an even better 2010 NHL Mock Database.  And yes, that will get started as soon as the first 2010 mock drafts appear. 

Onward we go.  We have updated our Top 5 Consensus.  In doing so, we munched together 44 NHL mock drafts updated from June 19 through today, June 24.  Here are the Consensus choices. 

1st overall:  New York Islanders
Pick:  John Tavares
Percentage of 44 mocks:  84%

Not surprising.  However, this is the first season in awhile where the first overall pick is not absolutely certain.  The Isles could still stun and take big defensemen Victor Hedman.  Darkhorse could be Matt Duchene.

DCPSR Projection:  John Tavares

2nd overall:  Tampa Bay Lightning
Pick:  Victor Hedman
Percentage of 44 mocks:  84%

Not surprising.  If Tavares goes first, Hedman will certainly go second.  But, this is all good if trades don't intervene.   Hedman is a big defensemen and could be immediate help for Tampa Bay.  If I were a Lightning fan, which I am not, if they come out of this with Hedman, they should be pleased. 

DCPSR Projection:  Victor Hedman

3rd overall:  Colorado Avalanche
Pick:  Matt Duchene
Percentage of 44 mocks:  100%

Want to talk about respect from mock drafts.  There is not one single mock of the 44 we munched that have someone other than Duchene going to Colorado.  There is an remote chance Isles could stun and grab him first overall, but that is not likely at all. 

DCPSR Projection:  Matt Duchene

4th overall:  Atlanta Thrashers
Pick:  Evander Kane
Percentage of 44 mocks:  66%

Atlanta has been a party to many trade rumors, including the possibility of moving Ilya Kovulchuck.  I am not sure whether any deals they make will include the 4th pick, or if they stay put here.  If they do, Kane is the choice of 66% of the mock drafts. 

DCPSR Projection:  Evander Kane

5th overall:  Los Angeles Kings
Pick:  Brayden Schenn
Percentage of 44 mocks:  57%

Evenm more so than Atlanta, LA has been the subject of many trade rumors.  Again, could the 5th pick be involved?  If not, 57% of the mocks think Brayden Schenn, younger brother to NHLer Luke Schenn, will go here.     

DCPSR Projection:   Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson

There you have it.  Our Top 5 consensus with our projections.  Only think we differ on is the 5th pick, which we project LA to take Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson .

Four Washington Capitals readers, here are what the mocks project to the Caps at 24th.  We will list only those that have more than one projection:

Landon Ferraro:  8 mocks
Zach Budish:  5 mocks
Jacob Josefson: 4 mocks
Tim Erixon:  3 mocks
Ashton Carter:  3 mocks
Peter Holland: 3 mocks
Jeremy Morin: 2 mcoks
John Moore:  2 mocks
Nick Leddy: 2 mocks

The Wizards did as I expected with SG Jermaine Taylor, whom GM Ernie Grunfeld selected with the 32nd pick in the NBA Draft last night -- they sold him. Taylor's draft rights were sold to the Houston Rockets for cash. 

First, my apologies for the lack of Red Alerts, but you can blame it on, one, lack of news, two, the PA bar exam.  In any regard, the NHL Draft is tonight at 7PM.  Gotta admit, this is the first time in a few3 years that the first overall pick, is not 100% certainly.  I am almost positive the the New York Islanders will select John Tavares 1st overall, but outside chances still exist they could take big D Victor Hedman or sleeper Matt Duchene.

As for the Capitals, no use in hypotheticals.  First, the Caps are way down at #24, limiting the chances of getting any player that will have an impact over the next two years.  Second, GM George McPhee has already said, and proven in the past, the Caps draft straetgy is best available, not positional. 

The more interesting thing to watch is what will the Caps do.  Will they prusue the trade market to iomprove in various positions?  If so, some of that could take place tonight.  The Caps have freed up some big dollars on the salary cap with departures of Victor Kozlov and Sergei Fedorov and likely departure of Donald Brashear.   Matter of fact, Washington Times' Corey Masisak believes from hsi soruces we shoudl expect a busy night by McPhee and the Caps. 

Two league executives who requested anonymity said they expect Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee to actively pursue trades during this weekend's NHL draft, when several elite players could be on the move.

Still, if the Caps are looking for someone to bolster next season's roster, a trade is a more likely avenue. The departures of Fedorov and Kozlov would leave the Caps short two top-six forwards, so finding a scoring winger - preferably one who will go to the net - and a second-line center would become a priority. Versatile forward Brooks Laich could be given a chance to fill the center position behind Nicklas Backstrom, but someone would have to replace him.

Given the team's finite wiggle room under the salary cap, a package of prospects and draft picks might not be feasible if a high-priced player is the return. If McPhee finds a way to move one of his own high-priced players, specifically center Michael Nylander or goaltender Jose Theodore, then his options would grow precipitously.

The article goes on to state that the ultimate wild card in any big trade could be the willingness to move Alexander Semin.  There is no doubt that Semin can be absolutely prolific.  His athelticism, puck handling, and skating abilties are top on the team, none barred.  His ability to score is clear and precise.  But, the frustrations with Semin add up as well, he frequently disappears for stretches of games, is the most penalized Capital, and many of those penalties come up very poor times, like when the Caps gain a power play, and his efforts at time seem, well, half-assed.  But, the attractiveness is, his trade value is likely pretty high. 

Tune in tonight at 7PM, should be an interesting night. 

Caps appear ot be out of the running for the Winter Classic at Fenway park.  It appears to be the NHL has decided on the Philadelphia Flyers.  Kind of predictable, Bettman type decision.  Go bback and back to the big markets, instead of boosting revitalized markets.  No doubt the last two seasons, the fury and passion of Washington Capitals hockey has led not only to a resurgence in fans, but a big addition to the fan base.  You think the NHL would want to foster that.  Then again, that would require fore thinking and that is giving NHL Commission Gary Bettman way too much credit.  But the NHL continues to go back and tap the same trusted markets, instead of cultivating new or revitalized ones.  So no, it is not shocking. 

Good article from Lebanon Daily News on the success of the Caps organization from top to bottom, Caps to Stingrays. 

Good bye Sergei Fedorov and thanks for two great years and the opportunity to watch one of the greats of all time play in Washington, DC. 
 

What the title said. More to follow in this space...