Again, for those of you who want Semin gone or feel that he is not worth $6 million...our system pretty much requires individual brilliance to get more than a goal a game. While Semin is inconsistent, when you combine him with Ovie and Backstrom you should be good for another goal a game based, again, on that ability to make something out of nothing. If we do not replace Semin with someone of a similiar ceiling, similar ability to go into God mode, we are in HUGE trouble. Semin, while his numbers are not outstanding this season, carried us for a stretch without which we don't make the playoffs. That will be the case until we have a system that generates offense via team play; crisp, quick passes, better communication, etc.
Again, for those of you who want Semin gone or feel that he is not worth $6 million...our system pretty much requires individual brilliance to get more than a goal a game.
No it doesn't. It requires more scoring chances from the center position. And from at least one more defenseman (what Green did for a couple years).
Semin might become a monster on a wing with a great center (on another team). I'm ok with that because he's not going to do it here. We can't afford a real 2C when paying him 6 mill.
There isn't nearly anyone with as much talent as Semin in FA. Not sure how you replace him if Kuz isn't coming over.
Not saying i want him back... i wouldn't mind either way.
No it doesn't. It requires more scoring chances from the center position. And from at least one more defenseman (what Green did for a couple years).
Semin might become a monster on a wing with a great center (on another team). I'm ok with that because he's not going to do it here. We can't afford a real 2C when paying him 6 mill.
How did having one of the NHL's best (Backstrom) work out for us in game 7?
And the Flyers also lost their best defenseman. It's very possible Pronger could have been enough of a boost to get them past the Devils. If that's happened, they'd crush the Rangers.
Even with their loss, who's looking better going forward?
except isnt that precisely the risk you take with a defenseman of pronger's age, style and mileage??
they lost him for this playoffs AND the last playoffs. remember? my guess is had mcphee traded varlamov, alzner and a 1st for pronger and signed him to a retirement contact and then had the guy make one playoff run that failed and then breakdown for the next two which ended in typical disappointment, he would be on the same spit rotating for the hot coals as he is now.
EC teams that haven't made the ECF post-lockout: FLA, WPG, TOR, NYI, WSH. One sticks out like a sore thumb. No team has made it more than twice but there's been plenty of parity for ten teams to appear over seven years. The same holds for the WC. Four 2x appearances and five with none (CGY, CBJ, MIN, NSH & STL).
EC teams that haven't made the ECF post-lockout: FLA, WPG, TOR, NYI, WSH. One sticks out like a sore thumb. No team has made it more than twice but there's been plenty of parity for ten teams to appear over seven years. The same holds for the WC. Four 2x appearances and five with none (CGY, CBJ, MIN, NSH & STL).
EC teams that haven't made the ECF post-lockout: FLA, WPG, TOR, NYI, WSH. One sticks out like a sore thumb. No team has made it more than twice but there's been plenty of parity for ten teams to appear over seven years. The same holds for the WC. Four 2x appearances and five with none (CGY, CBJ, MIN, NSH & STL).
Jesus...thanks for making it abundantly clear how crappy McPhee built teams have been when it counts most.
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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.
"It" worked poorly. "It" meaning lack of depth at C.
Backstrom is one of the best players in the NHL. If we had two like him we would've won even without Semin.
Your casuistry is taking you into txpd territory.
You missed my point. The line Backstrom was on could not muster a goal. Top lines usually get a point in most games, even playoff games. That tells you a lot about our systematic deficiencies. Sure another Backstrom on a second line might have some success, but a simply good 2nd line center against lesser defenders will have no more success than Backstrom's line had against better defenders. Are you saying that we need another Backstrom to make Dale's system work? How many teams have that?
You missed my point. The line Backstrom was on could not muster a goal. Top lines usually get a point in most games, even playoff games. That tells you a lot about our systematic deficiencies. Sure another Backstrom on a second line might have some success, but a simply good 2nd line center against lesser defenders will have no more success than Backstrom's line had against better defenders. Are you saying that we need another Backstrom to make Dale's system work? How many teams have that?
I think most everything could be the same except we add a major piece to our PP. A dominant PP has dynamic effects. You score more PP goals, of course. But it makes the other team play differently. They get less aggressive. We are more confident even strength knowing we'll get PP chances to break a tie.
And if other improvements are made, even better. Another dynamic C is the greatest need.
There is no way in hell GMGM gets fired. Ernie got re upped for the Wizards after fielding some of the worst Wizards teams ever in the past four years. Ted is a fat cat who is fine with status quo and yes men.
And I can't wait to hear McPhee on 980 again in his softspoken voice. "Well, we put ourselves in a position to win, but ya know we just didn't get the breaks this year. Their goaltending was stellar."
