Daily Caps Report, Nylander Ready to go

Brian McNally from the DC Examiner covered Ted Leonsis at a luncheon yesterday.  Nice to see DC area newspapers giving the Caps some love.
For all the rumors that circulated out there about the fate of Michael Nylander in DC, did anyone notice, opening day is Friday, Michael Nylander is a Capital.  Can these rumors just die no, please?  One thing the Capitals are extremely happy about is the play Nylander has provided in special teams, the boost he will give the Caps on the power play, and the fact that Nylander is healthy and playing as if he were much younger than 38.
I’ve said it here before, numerous times, adding Nylander back into the offense is like adding a high quality free agent to the success of the Capitals last year.  Nyalnder was not healthy all season, did not start the season off particularly healthy, and we will see a rejuvenated, high impact Nyladner in 2008/09.  Last year the Capitals went on their stunning Southeast Champ and playoff march, while Nylander recovered from shoulder surgery.

“It was great to see the team win and do everything they did,” said Nylander, who missed 42 games last season because of a torn rotator cuff. “But as a player it was hard to be on the sidelines when that’s happening. I wanted to be out there. I wanted to help but I just couldn’t.”

GM George McPhee insists that Karl Alzner’s move to Hershey was not a cap based move.  Sorry GMGM, not buying it.  Alzner is better and played better than either Milan Jurcina or John Erskine.  It was a cap based move, period. One thing McPhee did say that I agree with …

McPhee’s overarching message was that the Caps simply didn’t have room for the three players, a situation which he believes bodes well for the overall health of the organization.

Yes.  When you have guys liek Alzner and Bourque who had outstanding camps and pre-season, but the roster room just is not there, your NHL roster has arrived.  Two years ago — these two make the roster.
Corey Masisak put together a pretty sweet preview of all NHL teams.  Worth your read and look.
You may have heard on XM 204 Home Ice that both Alex’s Ovechkin and Semin, left practice early yesterday with nagging injuries.  Fear not, both will play Friday.  Looks like Semin’s was more of illness than injury.
Pretty cool article on Bruce Boudreau.
Doesn’t appear anytime soon that the Washington capitals will be traveling to Europe and showing off Alex Ovechkin.

“Our fans come out to support our team. The practice facility is located very close to our Hershey affiliate and we need to continue to build out our plan of leveraging Kettler Capitals Iceplex, our AHL franchise, and the rebuild of our roster to try and win a Stanley Cup.

“Hence, I don’t foresee us traveling to Europe to play in the short term, but I do see us doing so at some point to support our league’s marketing efforts as we continue to become everyone’s second favorite team.”

And Ted is obviously correct.  Listen, the Capitals are regenerating big time interest in hockey in the DC area.  It is because of that success, the fact Ovechkin is here, the winning, and the leadership of Leonsis provided in rebuilding the franchise and showing his commitment to Washington DC, that has tuned DC to a hockey town once again.  That continues to need nurtured and Leonsis is aware of that.  Take care of the home front first.
Speaking of Ted Leonsis, check out the sit down chat with On Frozen Blog.
Former Cap Matt Pettinger was released by Vancouver.  Pettinger was traded at the trade deadline last year for Matt Cooke.
Caps fans — defend Ovechkin’s MVP award, go vote for MVP at XM Home Ice.  By the way, if you are a Sirius customer for satellite radio, you can upgrade for $ month and grab the Best of XM package that includes Home Ice and all NHL Play by Play.
Down in the Minors …
The Capitals affiliate Hershey Bears kick off their season tonight at Wilkes-Barre-Scranton.  Bears play their first 4 games on the road and do not have their home opener until October 18.
Here you can take a look at the 2008/09 Hershey roster.  Big prospect names playing for Hershey this season:   D Josh Godfrey, D Karl Alzner, RW Andrew Gordon, C Jay Beagle, LW Chris Bourque, RW Francois Bouchard, C Mathieu Perrault, LW Maxime Lacroix, D Sami Lepisto, LW Osacar Osala, G Michael Neuvirth, and G Simeon Varlamov.
This Bears roster looks pretty damn stacked to me.  This is stacked with some of the very best prospects in the Bears organizations.  The two goalies of the future will get good minutes in Hershey getting used to the smaller ice and more rapid style of play.  I was glad to see Sean Collins made the roster, he played  harda nd very well in pre-season and camp, he deserved the spot.  Quintin Laing and Tyler Sloan both cleared waivers as well and join the Bears roster.
Tim Leone from Harrisburg Patriot writes a nice kick off article for the season.  You have to check out Leone’s coverage of the Patriot News of the Hershey Bears.