Caps Trade a Guy, Get Other Guys, Fans Are Like WHAT!?

Filip Forsberg has never played a single game as a Washington Capital.  He hasn't even played a game for the Hershey Bears.  However that didn't stop several fans on Twitter from calling for the firing of the Capitals general manager George McPhee after the Caps traded the prospect to the Predators for guy named Erat (not an online store to buy rats) and a minor leaguer.  So what do I think?  Hmmm.

George McPhee's Son Graham Gets A Lesson From Adam Oates

On Saturday, after the Washington Capitals wrapped up their final scrimmage of Prospect Development Camp, a young man came out to the empty ice rink with a bucket of pucks.  The teenager looked like he had some skills as he fired long range shots into the net.

After a few minutes Adam Oates emerged from the locker room and headed out on the ice to feed the young man passes.  As the shooter skated past the small crowd that remained in the arena, the back of his shirt clearly read, "McPhee"; as in Graham McPhee, son of Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee.

Graham doesn't live the life of a typical kid headed into his adolescent years.  How many other kids his age can brag to their friends about the time that Alexander Ovechkin gave them an atomic wedgie (video below) while they were on the ice at the 2011 Winter Classic?  Graham gets to do a lot of interesting things because of his father's position.  

George McPhee had a seven year run in the NHL with the Rangers & Devils.  His son is aspiring to follow in his footsteps.  Graham was an All-Star last season in the Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL), having an opportunity to play in front of several college coaches and scouts. 


What better way is there to improve your hockey skills than by learning directly from NHL players and coaches?  On Saturday afternoon, Graham got to do just that, one of the many benefits of being the son of a professional general manager.




Adam Oates joined the young McPhee on the ice and spent time feeding one-timers to the soon-to-be high school freshman, watching him and analyzing his shot.  After one-timers came catching passes and firing wrist shots, a session where Oates got on the young man for a bad leg kicking habit that he had developed.

The practice session was only about twenty minutes long, but those minutes were probably very helpful to a young man who aspires to play hockey in college and possibly beyond.  Shooting with a former 10-time NHL top 20 scorer isn't a bad way for a kid to spend a Saturday afternoon.  And perhaps one day, young Graham will find himself on the ice during a scrimmage, playing in development camp for his father's hockey team.


Wedgie Video after the jump

Joey Crabb, Strong Character Player

Yesterday was the first day of the so touted "free agent frenzy" and the Caps weren't doing much. With the filure for GMGM to pick anyone up at the trade deadline back in Febuary still fresh in our minds, everyone began to panick a little, afraid we wouldn't pick up anyone and the Caps wouldn't have the players they need to be successful.

Those fears werew momentarily set aside as the Caps signed Joey Crabb last night to a 1-year $950,000 contract. Considering he's a career 3rd liner and plays right wing, it looks as though GMGM is trying to add mroe character to the line up.

Crabb was drafted back in 2002 by the Atlanta Thrashers and played a majority of his time for the Wolves. His next stop was Chicago, where he played for a brief time before signing with the Leafs on the first day of free agency, July 1, 2010. Crabb spent most of his time with the Marlies, the AHL affiliates, but he was called up often to add some grit to the Leafs line up.

Crabb definitely is the kind of player the Caps need in their line up, he's a gritty player, who is reminiscant of DJ King, and I think he'll bring something to the table the Caps don't have. He was a good pick up and hopefully his play will be up to par. See ya in October, Crabb.

Memo To Adam Oates, GET OUT!

That was the line from a 1997 story written by Tony Kornheiser in the Washington Post.  According to the article, Adam Oates' agent said the following:

"Adam Oates will retire before he plays for the Washington Capitals"

Oates was traded from the Bruins to the Capitals in March of 97 where he played 17 games for the Caps.  That quote was taken during the offseason, Oates' agent making that claim despite Adam having 2 more years remaining on his contract.

"This isn't some Rust Belt hellhole or some Sun Belt frying pan. This is the capital of the United States. People from all over the country want to be here. If you don't, leave." - TK

All that talk was apparently contract bargaining, done with the current GM George McPhee, who was the one who hired Oates back as the coach in 2012.  Adam Oates eventually bargained his way to a 3 year re-structure at $3 Million per year according to the NY Times who called the offseason "2 months of BITTER negotiations".  (a raise from the 2.15 million 2 year deal he already had with the team)

Oates ended up playing for the Capitals for four more seasons scoring over 70 points in 3 of the 4 seasons.  He was one of the leaders of the team that made it to the Stanley Cup in 1998.  I guess all that good erases that one bitter summer for George McPhee.

And now McPhee welcomes Adam Oates back.  I wonder what his contract situation is...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source:

Kornheiser, Tony. "Oates' Agent is on a Power Play".  Washington Post.  31 July 1997.  C01.  Print.

Thank You Pittsburgh, We're Touched

As the Pittsburgh crowd booed, Washington Capitals GM George McPhee walked to the podium and addressed the heckling.  "Thank you Pittsburgh, we're touched."  Seconds later the Capitals had selected Filip Forsberg, a center from Sweden.

Lots of fans were calling for some guy named Gredenko, but he tried to kill Jack Baur, so there was no way the Caps were drafting him.  And with KKoKKoookyKK already drafted by the Lightning, there was only one choice for the Capitals, Peter Filip Forsberg.


The best part about this pick is obviously that this guy is going to have a simple nickname, Flip.

According to the people covering the draft (who I hate but probably know more than me), Forsberg was the #3 ranked player in the draft pool.  However, he fell all the way to the 11th pick.  NFL players have fallen in drafts due to character issues, injuries, combine results...so no explanation for Filip's fall was interesting to me.


Pierre bald annoying guy says "The Capitals have had success drafting swedish players" in a tone that suggested that Forsberg was being passed on by teams because of his nationality.  Is there a certain style associated with Swedes?  Do they "flop" more?  Are they too blonde?  Is this racist/nationalist?

More Questions:

• Why is the draft in Pittsburgh?
• Why is the draft on a Friday night?
• What the hell was Pierre talking about with the Swede comments?
• When will Forsberg make an impact with the Caps (estimated time-frame)
• Why did Filip fall down to #11 if he was the 3rd best player?
• Why did the draft go off air at 9pm?
• Where does Filip play next year?  Hershey?
• The #1 pick in the draft's name is Nail!?