Summer Olympics Hockey Madness, Tape Delays, And A Fool

Tape Delay, GRRR

In case you were unaware, NBC is running all the major events for the 2012 Summer Olympics on a tape delay.  That means when Michael Phelps wins a gold medal at 7am, NBC puts it on TV at 9pm.

If you have any kind of life, or are any kind of sports fan, over the course of that 14 hours you will most likely hear about any USA win of significance, making watching the event on primetime suck.

You Got Jokes

The only thing worse than running the Olympics on tape delay are the jokes about running the Olympics on tape delay.  In fact, if you don't post a joke about tape delay on Twitter they will suspend your account.

Idiot

And through all those jokes, as a new hockey fan I was fooled.  The Washington Capitals tweeted something about a show they are airing on the NHL Network.  The tweet basically said, "Watch the show, we promise no Olympic spoilers!"

Thanks to all our fans for supporting CRL on @nhlnetwork.We promise no Olympic Spoilers ever. #CapsRedLine
— Caps Game Ent. (@CapsGameEnt) July 31, 2012

After reading those words, I immediately threw all logic out the window and took those words as gospel.  I thought "Oh, I didn't know there was hockey this Olympics, but there must be."  Caps Game Ent. was a serious source, and they wouldn't fool around.

Idiot Part II

Today I was sitting in my office thinking, I wonder how the Caps players are doing in the Olympics.  Then I thought...wait, why is hockey in the Summer Olympics! I rushed to my computer.  I was going to write something to talk about the reasons why hockey shouldn't be a summer sport.  I began:

I remember growing up in the United States.  We would count down the days of school til summer when we would be free of our teachers.  We would be able to do our all time favorite summer activity: play hockey on the pond.  Sure there was no ice and the game turned into more of "try not to drown" than hockey, but...

Wait a minute.  There is NO WAY that hockey is in the Summer Olympics.  In fact, I just watched it 2 years ago when it was in the WINTER Olympics!

Discovery!

It was 1 whole week.  1 week after I read the tweet that convinced me that ICE hockey was a SUMMER sport.  It took my mind that long to solve the puzzle.  I never once looked it up, I never once asked anyone else.  I saw one tweet, assumed, threw logic out the window, and believed.

I am a moron...Now I know.  There is no way hockey is a summer sport...but, I better just double check...

Yep.  I actually googled "hockey AND olympics".  Just in case.  I didn't trust my gut enough to not look.  And guess what.  THERE IS MENS HOCKEY!

Vindication! Oh...DUMBASSERY!

Summer Olympics Mens Hockey appeared on Google!  I knew it!  Ha ha Brain, I have defeated you!  What's that brain?  Read on?

Upon further review it appeared that Olympic Hockey was actually Olympic Field Hockey...

And so I hang my head in shame.  Feel free to tweet me and tell me what a moron I am.  The guy who actually thought that hockey was a sport in the Summer Olympics...

NHL Draft: What we need and what we don't

As we all (should) know, the 2012 NHL Draft starts tomorrow. The Edmonton Oilers have the 1st pick for now three years in a row, the Blue Jackets have the 2nd yadda yadda, and the Caps have pick #11. As you all know, the Caps got two picks from the Avs (one first round and one second) for Semyon Varlamov during last years off season.

The Caps have pretty good picks this year, compared to last year anyways. Since the Caps desperately need a strong second line Center, picking one up in the draft or with our draft pick and someone's rights (I'm looking at you, Green) seems like a great idea. I'm all for it.

What I'm not a fan of is the idea of trading Green's rights (or any other star UFA's rights) and  our #11 pick for Yakupov. He's a right wing. The Caps are up to their ears in right wings, I don't care if the kid is the second coming to Jesus. The Caps don't need a right wing. They need centers and that's what they need to focus on.

Whether that comes in the form of Grigorenko (these Russian names are killin' me), Jason Arnott (personal favorite), or another free agent or draft pick. All I know is the Caps shouldn't waste their draft pick on something they don't need.

While I've been ranting about needing a solid center, I completely forgot to bring up the whole no coach thing. Not having a Coach and picking guys in the draft is a little tricky. I know that GM's basically do all the picking, signing, etc. but they have the coaches input based on the kind of team he wants to run. Without having a coach with input on the kind of team he wants to build is going to be tricky. Yeah, the Caps need a center. But depending on the coach the Caps have, having a strong center could range from being vitally important to just being a good bonus.

In the end, GMGM knows what he's doing and will make the best deal to get the best player possible for the Caps to become  a strong contender for the Cup in seasons to come. I just hope the Caps can get a Coach before September.

Mike Knuble, A Legend

I apologize for my "editors" brash article about a player he clearly knows less than squat diddly about. I know I haven't been around because finals are next week, but bad mouthing such a well respected and great player is silly business. Now, let's talk about this guy. A legend of sorts.

As we all know, Mike Knuble was signed back in 2009 to a 2 year deal worth $2.8 million and was given a contract extension in April of last year for a one-year contract extension for $2 million. He was not re-signed this off season. Ok, really?!

Caps, it's like you want to piss me off. You don't re-sign Matt Bradley and pick up Joel Ward instead, which wasn't the smartest move, and now, you're getting rid of the only guy on the team who's a lead by example veteran. Guys like Knuble grow don't on trees, ya know! Guess the Caps are going to have to turn to the likes of Hamrlik for their sage advice. Let's see how good that goes.

Really, Knuble was a great player for the Caps up until Dale Hunter took over and decided to bench him in lieu of a less seasoned player. I'm all for rookies getting ice time, but when you're team is in dire straits and you're playing guys like Keith Aucoin instead of seasoned veterans who can really bring something to the game and the locker room, one is going to scratch their head.

Now, after this season I did have my doubts on a Knuble contract extension but I didn't think the Caps were seriously going to let a valuable asset like him walk. And by valuable, I'm talking integral. He didn't have the greatest stats this season, but considering he was benched what seemed like the majority of the season or put on the fourth line (which I also didn't agree with, btw), you can't really blame him.

He was the kind of guy to give rallying speeches when you're down going into the third of game 4 of a series or a third overtime. He provided leadership and experience, which not many people on this young team have. He's actually won a Cup, people. Not to mention he's played over 1,000 games.

Not re-signing Knuble was a mistake, he provided a strong leadership back bone for the team and was an anchor for the less experienced players he played with. His talents, leadership, and strength will be missed in Washington. I wish him the best wherever he goes and hopefully he'll have the luck to be able to hoist the Cup one last time before he retires.

Camilla is the head writer for Caps Bball. She also writes for Capital Connection and Puckbuddys. Follow her at @Camcoco10.

It's your Second Chance, Caps

Game 2. A game where the Rangers can gain a a two game advantage, one step closer to knocking us out of the Playoffs, or the Caps can get back into the groove of things and win, splitting it just like the series against Boston. pretty important, isn't it? Actually, all of the games in the Playoffs are important. Every second count. There are no safe leads (as exhibited in the Flyers-Pens series), no safe players (Torres-Hossa check, anyone?), and no safe team (The Wings were the first out in the West).

That is why giving it all you've got every game is monumentally important. The Caps didn't do that yesterday. They were deflated, they had no offensive zone pressure, the defense was lacking throughout the game, players were taking stupid penalties (come on, Semin!), and, most of all, the players just weren't bringing it. They had less heart than the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz.

I know, it's a new team, you have to get adjusted. But the playoffs are the Playoffs! You play with the same pressure throughout, don't just give up when you get past the second round. No one's going to win the game for you! And, to all he guys who took stupid penalties, whacking someone on the legs is going to give the other team a better opportunity to score and, thus, win. It's not retaliation, it's stupidity. Just give him a dirty look next time, mm'kay?

To win tomorrow's game the Caps have got to bring it like they did in Boston. To quote Joel Ward from @KCarrera, "...I don't think our desperation level was as strong as it used to be." Simply put, they weren't out their busting their hinneys. If they do that, they can win easily with some of the Rangers bigger offensive players out. Also, just based on the fact they both have the same basic teams as last season and the Caps won the series in 5.

Don't give up yet, Caps fans. Yeah, the Caps are infamous for crapping their pants in the early rounds, but how they played against Boston should give even the most hardened Caps fan a glimmer of hope. It ain't over yet, so don't count out these Weagled underdogs. LET'S GO CAPS!!

a song that seems fit for the game tomorrow;

Written by Camilla Alsobrook (@Camcoco10), Caps BBall's Teen Correspondent.  Camilla also writes for Puck Buddy's and Captial Connection.

The battle of the dumpster fires

The Caps are down to the wire in terms of time to make the Playoffs, they have 4 games left and their opponents are the Habs, Lightning, and Rags, err, I mean Rangers.

Tonight the Caps face the mighty dumpster fire known as the Montreal Canadiens, or to some, as the we-only-like-French-speaking-people team. No matter their name, they’re impressively worse than the Caps this season.

The Canadiens are going to be coming into tonights game more pissed than a rattlesnake due to their 4-1 craptacular loss to the Rangers last night. Not bad motivation, eh? While the Canadiens might be on “fire”, with their record against, all the Caps need to worry about is a repeat of the Borque Incident.

I mean, you thought the Caps were bad? Montreal is a 29-35-14 measly for the season while the Caps are 39-31-8. Considering the Caps have fairly trounced Montreal the last 4 times they played them, it’s safe to say this is a win, no?

With that, Let me bring you down memory lane. Remember that freaking awesome 2009-2010 season? Ya know, when the Caps won the Presidents Trophy and were going to win the Cup hands down? Remember that little, 8th seeded team that made us pull our hair out? Yeah, those were the Canadiens.

It’s been two years and we’ve scincerely murdered them since then, but with the Caps deadline swiftly approaching, you can’t help but think that’s gotta ignite the flame a little. And, cripes, Caps, it’s the CANADIENS! If you guys can kill Detroit, then I think you guys can beat this dumpster fire of a team.

Other important notes:

-The Super Swede is back tonight! Win this one for Backy, guys.

-Neuvirths starting against Montreals irrelevant and terrible goalie.

-Renne Borque is going DOWN. Please…?

"Written by Camilla Alsobrook, Caps BBall's Teen Corrospondent.  Camilla also writes for Puck Buddy's and Captial Connection."