Capitals Re-sign Olaf Kolzig, $10.9m/2y

[Kegger]

Originally Posted by HockeyEh

Looking at the players the Caps signed after the lockout

- Petr Sykora (the one who gave up and went back to Europe, not the all-star)
- Andrew Cassells (basically, "fired" mid-season)
- Jeff Friesen (hugely unproductive for the Caps as compared to his prior teams)

What gives you any confidence the Capitals have a front office that CAN and WILL identify the "right kinds" of players?

Back before the lockout, when Leonsis was spending freely and the team's payroll was top-5, the Capitals either missed the playoffs or were first-round and out each year.

Wasn't the 2003-04 player fire sale and salary dump (Jagr, Lang, Bondra, Gonchar, Carter, Grier, etc., etc., etc.) leading to this year's so-called "re-build" a reflection -- an admission -- that the Caps failed pretty miserably at assembling the "right kinds of players"?

Your optimism that things will be different "next year" is touching, but it's hard to see the basis for it.

Er, the Caps NEVER signed Friesen...sorry. We got him for a conditional pick.
Besides, regardless...Kolzig provides the most leadership on this team. He is the captain, regardless of the "C" not being on his jersey. He was signed for his leadership first and his play second.

Who would you plan to put in goal for a rebuild right now? Is there anyone ready to replace Kolzig? Would you want a rookie goalie with the mostly rookie and/or inexperienced blueline?

[txpd]

hockeyeh offers, "Looking at the players the Caps signed after the lockout

- Petr Sykora (the one who gave up and went back to Europe, not the all-star)
- Andrew Cassells (basically, "fired" mid-season)
- Jeff Friesen (hugely unproductive for the Caps as compared to his prior teams)

What gives you any confidence the Capitals have a front office that CAN and WILL identify the "right kinds" of players?

Back before the lockout, when Leonsis was spending freely and the team's payroll was top-5, the Capitals either missed the playoffs or were first-round and out each year.

Wasn't the 2003-04 player fire sale and salary dump (Jagr, Lang, Bondra, Gonchar, Carter, Grier, etc., etc., etc.) leading to this year's so-called "re-build" a reflection -- an admission -- that the Caps failed pretty miserably at assembling the "right kinds of players"?

Your optimism that things will be different "next year" is touching, but it's hard to see the basis for it."

Whew...Painting with a pretty broad brush there aren't ya, pal? The firesale was a result of a failed end game to a long built team. While the Jagr signing was a disaster mostly because of the extention that he signed. He didn't want to be in a place where hockey was not a big deal and by association neither was he. That was the bottom line and that was a mistake. Carter was merely the salary dump that the Caps agreed to take in order to get rid of Jagr and he was retraded shortly there after. I am not sure what he is doing on your list of mistakes.

Lang was not a mistake. To the contrary. He was by far the best producing free agent of his class and since of all the players that you mention he was the only one that was signed as a UFA, it would seem to have been a good move. He was leading the NHL in scoring at the time he was traded. How much better was he supposed to be?

What are Bondra and Gonchar doing on that list? These players were consistant all star level performers over their time with the Capitals. Gonchar may be an albatross now, but wasn't as a Capital. Bondra is only the teams all time leading scorer.

Grier...Nobody has had anything negative to say about Grier except that he set a record for shorthanded breakaways without scoring.

The firesale was a recognition that the core of veterans had run their course and with the lockout approaching it was time get ahead of the curve.

Sykora, Friesen, Cassels.....

Sykora was a cheap long shot. A player with obvious skill and questionable desire. The Caps got him for a minor leaguer who has not become an NHL player and didn't pay him much. He didn't work out, but that was hardly a mistake.

Friesen was the best they could do to fill Semin's roster spot after he didn't show. They got him for next to nothing. He has been a bust, but my sense is that the Caps will get at least what they gave when they trade him. Again, not a mistake.

Cassels was the best they could get given that they were ticketed to be easily the worst team in the NHL. Cassels had been bought out and had no offers beyond a tryout. The option was not to sign anyone.

None of these signings are akin to Pittsburgh's gaffes.

I think what you are missing in your offering is that the Capitals have in fact "assembled the right kinds of players".
1st: They are significantly better than they were projected to be.
2nd: Whoever they brought in that you disapprove of they didn't or couldn't deter the building of a top rate locker room atmpsphere that has been part of building the team at an accelerated rate.
3rd: The team has progressed to the point that they have been able to sell the primary pending free agent on their roster to back away from his comments about not wanting to be part of a rebuilding team and resign for two more seasons.

Let's look back to go forward. If the Capitals next real expenditure on the open players market is to sign one second tier free agent and that players performs like Robert Lang, then people will be calling McPhee a genious.