Varly has looked far better to me in the playoffs than Neuvy *and* Varly was tendin' behind a worse defense. I like Neuvy, but to carelessly trade a talent like Varly as some here suggest would be an epic mistake.
The funny thing about Nuevy is he was the first Goalie in forever to allow the Caps to win a series before game 7. By the same token he also was in net for the sweep and I was all for giving Varly a start, not because I didn't believe in Nuevy, but because we needed to give Tampa a different look.
Personally, I love the calm, technically sound, and poised style of Nuevy as well as the wild and athletic style of Varly and part of me wonders if Varly can have a Thomas like comeback but I just can't decide especially with Holtby in the wings. With Nuevy though I rarely got nervous if he got scored on early because I always felt like he was mentally sound enough to recover from early goals unlike Luongo who's shakey games would result in as many as 6 or 7 goals.
I hate to point to the specter but the damned thing is standing right in front of us. The specter is mediocre management which must eventually lead to our best players eventually moving on. Ted, George McPhee, and Bruce have been playing games with Varly and he's been biding his time. Varly knows how good he is. He came to America to win the Stanley Cup, not to get jerked around by a bunch of know-nothing-win-nothings who happen to be "in the game."
I'm a true and deep Caps fan and even I am starting to really think it'd be best for some of these kids' careers to get the Hell away from Washington. Believe me, I hate it but all these kids are doing is getting a paycheck. They ain't gonna win the Cup with the management the Caps have now.
There I said it.
With this same spirit in mind, would not surprise me, in the case the Caps do not show MARKED improvement in the next two years, that #8 himself demands a trade.
With this same spirit in mind, would not surprise me, in the case the Caps do not show MARKED improvement in the next two years, that #8 himself demands a trade.
Ovechkin isn't like Lebron or Kobe. He loves the area. It would most likely take the fanbase completely turning on him as well as missed playoff appearances (emphasis on the plural form) for him to consider a trade. However he would more likely blame himself.
He has that Jordan like drive. He doesn't look to make excuses, accepts blame even when it isn't his fault, and he's determined to finish what he started. The front office would have to show zero dedication to building a winner before he reached a breaking point and you might disagree with their philosophy when it comes to player acquisition or some of the types of players they go after but it's just hyperbole to say that the team isn't trying to build a Stanley Cup contender. If that was the case they would have stuck with the same run and gun system that made them the most exciting team in the league back before this year.
Quote:
Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, ...
By the way this post was only partially directly at Khuddle. The real targets are people saying stuff like "The Caps front office doesn't care about winning the cup" and "all Ted wants is to sell tickets." I guess it's easier to sell McPhee hate if you can convicne people that somehow he enjoys loosing in the playoffs and puts no effort into building the team.
Neuvirth's playoff performance was decent. That's it. Most of his play in the NHL has been consistent with Atlas' view. However, Neuvirth's lifetime (since juniors) save percentage in the playoffs is something outrageous, much better than his regular season number. That is very intriguing and can't really be ignored. It may not hold true in the NHL, but I am interested in finding out. (Regardless, Varlamov is a much more talented player.)
I give Neuvy a C grade for his playoff performance. Like Varlamov versus Montreal the year before. Average at best. Its tough to single him out but goalies are on the ice for 60 minutes, they must face scrutiny.
Varlamov versus Pitt... our defensemen had 2 or 3 broken feet plus Greens shoulder. He got cross checked in the head and no one did anything. Varly was wearing down and it was easy to see as the series went on. He was just a kid thrown into the fire out of no where. Bruce blew it and ignored him showing signs of needing a break. Game 6 or 7, he should have been sat for Theo. I would have gone 6 to Theo and if Theo sucked, Varly back in rested for 7.
With this same spirit in mind, would not surprise me, in the case the Caps do not show MARKED improvement in the next two years, that #8 himself demands a trade.
Exactly.
Of course, no one wants that but it is inevitable if management doesn't get straightened out. It is important that fans grasp this now. It'll be too late if and when Ovie has seen enough.
I give Neuvy a C grade for his playoff performance. Like Varlamov versus Montreal the year before. Average at best. Its tough to single him out but goalies are on the ice for 60 minutes, they must face scrutiny.
Varlamov versus Pitt... our defensemen had 2 or 3 broken feet plus Greens shoulder. He got cross checked in the head and no one did anything. Varly was wearing down and it was easy to see as the series went on. He was just a kid thrown into the fire out of no where. Bruce blew it and ignored him showing signs of needing a break. Game 6 or 7, he should have been sat for Theo. I would have gone 6 to Theo and if Theo sucked, Varly back in rested for 7.
Easy to say that now but had BB gone back to Theo, the whole board and media would have ridiculed him. The team had ZERO confidence in Theo so Varly was the right and only choice IMO.
Maybe so but at the same time this past season was the first time that the Caps tried playing something called "defence".
Right on. Varly figures to be a top NHL goalie playing behind a legit defense. Boudreau didn't give Varly the time of day this year. I don't think the injuries were an issue this year; I think Boudreau has been playing games with Varly for god knows what stupid reason and Varly is biding his time. We've seen athletes do this before when they get into a bad situation with management.
Can anyone here justify playing Neuvy in back to back games 3 and 4 against Tampa? It was absurd, both teams knew it and the Caps, predictably, mailed it in for Game 4 and whimpered on home.
Maybe so but at the same time this past season was the first time that the Caps tried playing something called "defence".
You're right. But they didn't start playing D until after Christmas. Neuvirth was great October-December. Oops,
Anyone grading out Neuvirth as "average" this past year just doesn't know what they're looking at, imo. He had a better first playoffs than Varlamov and when he's on is perfectly capable of leading a team to a Championship. Something he's done twice in NA.
Varlamov is more athletic than the other two...and that's it. He's not worth paying 2-3m at this point and that's what he's looking for.
Right on. Varly figures to be a top NHL goalie playing behind a legit defense. Boudreau didn't give Varly the time of day this year. I don't think the injuries were an issue this year; I think Boudreau has been playing games with Varly for god knows what stupid reason and Varly is biding his time. We've seen athletes do this before when they get into a bad situation with management.
Can anyone here justify playing Neuvy in back to back games 3 and 4 against Tampa? It was absurd, both teams knew it and the Caps, predictably, mailed it in for Game 4 and whimpered on home.
Why? Neuvirth wasn't the problem. If Roloson's old ass can play back-to-backers so can a 20 year old.
They didn't lose because of goaltending.
The fact this is being debated and Neuvirth of all people is taking heat is silly.
Right on. Varly figures to be a top NHL goalie playing behind a legit defense. Boudreau didn't give Varly the time of day this year. I don't think the injuries were an issue this year; I think Boudreau has been playing games with Varly for god knows what stupid reason and Varly is biding his time. We've seen athletes do this before when they get into a bad situation with management.
Can anyone here justify playing Neuvy in back to back games 3 and 4 against Tampa? It was absurd, both teams knew it and the Caps, predictably, mailed it in for Game 4 and whimpered on home.
So injuries weren't an issue for Varly this year?...It was just Boudreau's fault?
If many of you think Hotby will be #1 very soon what's the risk in trading Neuvy?
Caps: Varly, Holtby
Bears: Saburin, Grubauer
Holtby will not be rushed because Varly can play some games for sure. If it will be clear Varly isn't bullet-proof still - Holtby will be playoff starter.
Vet backup at the trade deadline if required.
Stats are telling this is the way. Eyes are telling Varly/Holtby will hold the fort as good as Neuvirth and maybe better.
It's not the time yet to trade but if the offer is right? =)))
This is not true. Varly was a stone wall against the Rangers and the first 6 games against the Pens. The refs jobbed the Caps in Game 3 or Varly would've won that series in 5-6 games. Varly and the team were much better that year than this year. It's not even a comparison. Varly was good against Montreal, too. But he got Halak'd, as txpd used to say.
If many of you think Hotby will be #1 very soon what's the risk in trading Neuvy?
Caps: Varly, Holtby
Bears: Saburin, Grubauer
Holtby will not be rushed because Varly can play some games for sure. If it will be clear Varly isn't bullet-proof still - Holtby will be playoff starter.
Vet backup at the trade deadline if required.
Stats are telling this is the way. Eyes are telling Varly/Holtby will hold the fort as good as Neuvirth and maybe better.
It's not the time yet to trade but if the offer is right? =)))
To Tampa for Malone ))
I like it! A Varly & Holtby tandem would be badass. They both play a balls to the wall style. Acrobatics and flair and attitude.
According to Mike Lownsbrough, a member of the media accidentally received a conference call number and ID to a meeting involving Feaster and the Capitals. Apparently Feaster was talking to the Capitals about Regehr and on that call he also said he was talking to Columbus about Jay Bouwmeester.
This is not true. Varly was a stone wall against the Rangers and the first 6 games against the Pens. The refs jobbed the Caps in Game 3 or Varly would've won that series in 5-6 games. Varly and the team were much better that year than this year. It's not even a comparison. Varly was good against Montreal, too. But he got Halak'd, as txpd used to say.
Varlamov was all over the place against the Penguins, letting in soft goals in multiple games that hurt them.
"The Caps didn't win because of goaltending" is a ludicrous POV. They didn't win because they folded as a team and Neuvirth was one of maybe 3-5 player who actually gave a **** as they were doing it. He didn't do a Luongo.
I don't see how Varlamov doesn't have trade value. He's stated his intent to remain in the NHL, he just wants an opportunity. Unless his contract demands are way high teams like Phoenix and Colorado should have interest. Whether that's the way to go...debatable. Depends on the return and whether his demands are manageable enough in the short-term.
Actually his durability is exactly why he can't head back to Russia. If a team was so quick to cut Nabakov for poor play what chance would Varly have with injuries, and possibly poor play due to injuries?
Nabokov wasn't cut due to poor play. He left because of "family issues" with Russia (American wife and kids in a foreign country apparently weren't enjoying it).
Nabokov wasn't cut due to poor play. He left because of "family issues" with Russia (American wife and kids in a foreign country apparently weren't enjoying it).
Sorry, for overlooking that. The few blurbs I saw about him getting cut cited poor play so I just ran with that. I guess poor play was a side effect of the family issues.
Quote:
Only four months into the regular season, Evgeni Nabokov surprisingly decided to leave SKA St. Petersburg and Russia this week. SKA’s general manager, Andrei Tochitsky, said Nabokov's contract was canceled “due to family reasons,” but many suspect that mostly it’s due to his poor play and difficulty adapting to the Russian game.
According to Mike Lownsbrough, a member of the media accidentally received a conference call number and ID to a meeting involving Feaster and the Capitals. Apparently Feaster was talking to the Capitals about Regehr and on that call he also said he was talking to Columbus about Jay Bouwmeester.
))
