I feel he could play well with mojo and Sasha. And does anyone remember when I posted that someone on hockeybuzz said the caps would offer him 3yrs 12mil or 4yrs 12 mil???
Need to process this. 4 years $8m, I love it. 4 years $12m? Seems steep. But at least we're overpaying for the right sort of player. Big, physical, gritty, playoff chops.
Assets
Has good size, speed and great work ethic. Is tenacious on the forecheck and an excellent team player. Can line up on either side of center and be used on special teams.
Flaws
Is somewhat inconsistent in the scoring department. Doesn't use his size to intimidate and is not much of a physical presence. Lacks natural goal-scoring hands.
That was my top hope free agent! This guy was awesome in the playoffs. Gritty Caps shaping up.
I'm with you....everytime I watched the Preds, this guy was there in the middle of everything. I like this signing....
This is a guy poised to break into 20+g range....PPG guy in the postseason...I like it.
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George McPhee....The Teflon GM. 15 years of failure and counting....
6 - Number of playoff series the Capitals have won since George McPhee took over as General Manager in 1997 (which makes him the third-longest-tenured GM in the League), three of which came in McPhee's first season on the job.
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Canucks offer to Joel Ward was very competitive. 20 teams in expressed interest - Washington the winner.
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CKWX has learned the Canucks have spoken with Joel Ward's agent. Agents phone is ringing off hook - had 6 teams calling at once.
GMGM gets a lot of flak for not being the guy willing to be the highest bidder in a sweepstakes. I'm not sure this was the right sweepstakes to win, but I'm anxious to find out. Ward is now the 5th highest paid forward on the team. Seems like a lot of coin for a long time.
They're adding work ethic at the expense of guys who bring pure scoring, so much scoring that a want of character is alright.
They may be realizing that if you have to choose, choose the guy who works his tail off. It's long, and it's high, to be sure. Yet I'm not upset at all. He was a free agent and 2/3 of the league literally kicked his tires. Inflation is expected.
Didn't expect the Caps to be this active at all. I wonder if GMGM is the only GM in the league who gets that the best way to keep a secret is simply not to tell anyone - anyone - what you plan to do. My guess is that he was the only person with the Caps who knew this was the game plan today. It's a rumor black hole in Washington.
They're adding work ethic at the expense of guys who bring pure scoring, so much scoring that a want of character is alright.
They may be realizing that if you have to choose, choose the guy who works his tail off. It's long, and it's high, to be sure. Yet I'm not upset at all. He was a free agent and 2/3 of the league literally kicked his tires. Inflation is expected.
Didn't expect the Caps to be this active at all. I wonder if GMGM is the only GM in the league who gets that the best way to keep a secret is simply not to tell anyone - anyone - what you plan to do. My guess is that he was the only person with the Caps who knew this was the game plan today. It's a rumor black hole in Washington.
On the contrary. They told everyone they were going to be aggressive on multiple occasions. I think part of that was to appease the fan base while at the same time encouraging Free Agents to listen when they got them on the phone. Otherwise you risk Free Agents maybe overlooking them because of their reputation for being conservative at times and building from within.
