I was going to make the same point. Varly faced numerous odd man rushes each game. Holtby on the other hand really only had to make the initial save on chances that were kept to the outside for the most part. The times the puck got in close, bad things happened.
I think we need to ask subject matter expert Brian Elliott's opinion on the matter just to be sure.
Your ignoring the internal cap that obviously exists. So yes, Ribeiro wouldn't be here if they'd re-signed Semin at $7M.
Semin was not the glue that held the team together. He's not the answer to the team's problems.
Yes, I'm ignoring a hypothetical cap that only exists in speculation and rumors. Until there's some concrete evidence as opposed to circumstantial inferences, I will continue to operate under the assumption that this team is willing to spend to the cap, as history suggests they are willing to do. Ted, as imperfect as he is, has been willing to spend.
I'm not arguing that Semin was the glue that held the team together. I'm simply stating this team looks a hell of a lot better with him on it. This team desperately needs another winger who can create offense with the puck on his stick.
Yes, I'm ignoring a hypothetical cap that only exists in speculation and rumors. Until there's some concrete evidence as opposed to circumstantial inferences, I will continue to operate under the assumption that this team is willing to spend to the cap, as history suggests they are willing to do. Ted, as imperfect as he is, has been willing to spend.
I'm not arguing that Semin was the glue that held the team together. I'm simply stating this team looks a hell of a lot better with him on it. This team desperately needs another winger who can create offense with the puck on his stick.
I think the pursuit of Wolski, Hillen, and Fehr is a pretty darn good indication that they weren't willing to spend in the FA market.
And that's two consecutive years they haven't spent to the Cap. Not coincidentally, it's also the two offseasons since Ted bought the Wizards
With Wolski and Chimera struggling, and Johansson apparently hurt, I see no reason not to grab Mursak off of waivers and give him a shot. Can't do any worse than what we're rolling with currently. Place MoJo on IR to clear a roster spot. See how he does until Laich or Johansson are ready to go.
Losing Semin was dumb.. but at this point, I can't even muster being upset about it any more, the team construction is just f-ed up all around. This has got to be one of the most spectacular examples in recent memory of a team going from up-and-coming contender to a giant mess.
There has to be a vision of what kind of a team is needed to win the Cup, from playing style to personnel. And then of course the guts to change things if they don't stand up to that vision. Until that happens, there's just gonna be stumbling in the dark.
Does that take into account the quality of shots teams were able to get against us in BBhockey vs Hunterhockey?
No but my data earlier was for the entire playoff season. Just looking at Varlamov's numbers against the Pens and Holtby's against the Rangers the Holtby's GAA goes down to a 1.90 with a .929 save % while Varlamov's GAA balloons to 3.74 with a .898 save percentage.
Of course Varlamov faced some tougher chances but he also had the luxury of playing behind a team that actually tried to and succeeded in scoring goals, witness Fleury's 3.01 GAA and .878 save percentage in the same series.
I'll take a series where the play of my team actually matters compared to a coin flip any time. If you prefer coin flips then have at it...
No but my data earlier was for the entire playoff season. Just looking at Varlamov's numbers against the Pens and Holtby's against the Rangers the Holtby's GAA goes down to a 1.90 with a .929 save % while Varlamov's GAA balloons to 3.74 with a .898 save percentage.
Of course Varlamov faced some tougher chances but he also had the luxury of playing behind a team that actually tried to and succeeded in scoring goals, witness Fleury's 3.01 GAA and .878 save percentage in the same series.
I'll take a series where the play of my team actually matters compared to a coin flip any time. If you prefer coin flips then have at it...
Of course it's circumstantial. They're not going to come out and say they have an internal cap as they raise ticket prices. But it's also logical.
Is it logical to think they were planning on going with what they had this year minus Semin, adding a few crap pieces like Wolski, Hillen, Fehr and roll the dice. Worst case, they do what they are doing now, and get a top-5 pick.
Knowing that the lockout would occur and the cap would lower after this year, other teams paid for FAs for this year, and therefore they are cap-strapped next year, whereas we could be more flexible. Hammer, Poti, Erskine, off the books. We would just have to re-up Hendricks, Alzner, Kundratek, Mojo, and GKs. We could probably get Ribs if he wants to come back(if or if we don't trade him at the TDL) for 3 years, $14-16 million. This would still give us a chance to sign a top 6 wing after the 2012-13 season and bring over Forsberg if he is deemed ready.
They all haven't ended in horrible embarrassing blowouts....
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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.
Losing Semin was dumb.. but at this point, I can't even muster being upset about it any more, the team construction is just f-ed up all around. This has got to be one of the most spectacular examples in recent memory of a team going from up-and-coming contender to a giant mess.
There has to be a vision of what kind of a team is needed to win the Cup, from playing style to personnel. And then of course the guts to change things if they don't stand up to that vision. Until that happens, there's just gonna be stumbling in the dark.
So true, reminds me a bit of when the bruins had a younger, promissing team with thornton, samsonov, bergeron, knuble, murray and they just sort of imploded and dissolved.
I still can't believe some people think Holtby's run was better than Varlamov's.
I'm not saying Holtby's run was better than Varlamov's. I am saying I preferred the way the Caps took the Pens to 7 games in round 2 in '09 to how they took the Rangers to game 7 in round 2 last year.
I'll take the best player in the game being the best player on the ice and a strong goaltending performance over coin flips any day...
