GDT: Flames @ Capitals - 10/3/2013 7 PM

[Carlzner]

If you're okay with Eric Fehr as the 3C, I don't know what to tell you. If anyone lacks a place on this team, it's Fehr, not Laich.

Given their contracts and trade value I would much rather have Fehr over Laich.

 

[SimplySensational]

Holtby starting Saturday.

 

[Hivemind]

Given their contracts and trade value I would much rather have Fehr over Laich.

Fehr's been a complete mess defensively at center. He's playing with two defensively capable wingers, yet his bad reads and slower reactions are just creating an awful lot of confusion and goals against (he leads the NHL in GA and has the NHL's worst +/- as a result). Even at a fraction of Laich's cost, he's not worth it right now. If you trade Laich, before long the team's 3C will be Jay Beagle or Michael Latta.

Laich can fill that role, and fill it very well. He's worth keeping around.

 

[brs03]

Only two games so the sample is dreadfully small, but Fehr's gotten mauled in the possession game (obviously the goal differential sucks as well but there's more luck involved there). 44% Corsi at 5-on-5, 35.3% at 5-on-5 close. Getting tough zone starts so far though.

I might see what he can do with easier matchups first, just to see what happens (Chimera-Beagle-Ward would have to handle the toughs; coddle Laich-Fehr-Wilson a bit) but yeah, not good early returns.

 

[caps4cup]

Holtby starting Saturday.

I have no problem with that. He's the goalie that is going to take us somewhere in the playoffs this year. He needs to shake of the rust or whatever it is. He did the same thing in the beginning of the year last year and then was an absolute monster after his first 5 or so starts.

 

[caps4cup]

Also, wtf is with Brouwer trying to be a dangler all of a sudden?

It seems to work when he does it. I noticed he started doing a lot of dangling at the end of last year as well. Good for him. As long as he doesn't turn it over a lot.

 

[SDBondra]

Worth noting, not only is Laich on the 2nd line, he's also in the down low spot on PP2, not Erat. Ward is also on PP2 in the slot instead of Fehr.

Agreed that Erat should be on the 2nd line in Laich's spot, largely because the Fehr at center experiment isn't working. Put Laich at 3C between Chimera and Ward. Fehr can play 4LW until Wilson is sent back to Plymouth (they can't possibly justify keeping him up past 9 games if they're going to play him this little).

Also, wtf is with Brouwer trying to be a dangler all of a sudden?

I think Laich looks fast - he just hasn't finished yet.

I think your last comment deserves some attention. Brouwer has been awful with the puck so far. I think last year went to his head and now he thinks he's Pavel fricking Datsyuk out there. Somebody needs to show him a bunch of tape from last year so he can remember how he scored all those goals. It wasn't by dangling through and around defenders.

 

[EHCler]

Laich seriously needs to go.

Considering how long Laich has been out we need to give him some time. The lines will be adjusted as the season comes along. D is just worrying so.

 

[vippe]

+
First Line
Grabovski
Neuvirth
-
Alzner
Holtby
Laich
Stupid penalties

While not awful I certainly didnt think Carlson was awesome like many of you said..
Gotta play Erat! This is absolutely silly.. he's a good player definately deserving to play over Laich and most definately more than 6:30 minutes a game. When he's the best part of trade where you ship away a blue chipper there's no excuse to play him less than a goon would play. Hopefully this game is a wakeup call.. Atleast very entertaining after the first period

 

[FloridaCap]

Holtby starting Saturday.

 

[FakeKidPoker*]

Capitals need Tim Thomas

 

[txpd]

I posted this in the roster thread, but Fehr is behind Ward on the depth chart and Wilson too. If he cant play center, he's not going to be playing. That's how I read this. Erat is in a holding pattern waiting on that.

Bottom line. The caps are happy with Joel Ward. he gets his special teams time and he produces. They also think Laich is an important part of their team. Neither one is going to get benched or traded or dumped so that Eric Fehr can get some ice time.

Hate it but book it. Erat? too many players. let it play out.

 

[895]

Capitals need Tim Thomas

Tim Thomas would never sign or agree to be traded to his archenemy's home turf.

 

[Stewie G]

If people are willing to give Laich time to shake off the rust, Fehr needs to be given some time to see if he can adapt to playing C. Maybe he doesn't have what it takes to be a NHL-caliber C, but I think it's too early to make that call conclusively. I agree that his defensive play hasn't been good so far, but isn't that something Fehr can be taught or can be improved upon by additional practice? I think Fehr has the hockey IQ needed to be able to put the pieces together.

 

[BobRouse]

I agree. Fehr needs time to acclimate. Laich needs time to shake off the rust since he really hasn't played much at all over the last year and a half.

I'm glad Oates went right back to Carrick and glad the kid scored. He does look like he's getting outmuscled in the D zone but he is a pretty good player when he has the puck.

Holtby off to another slow start. A couple of those goals were kinda brutal..well not terrible but if you give up goals like that and have an 80-85% sv pctg your team isnt going to win many games. But...he's very young. Kolzig didn't find consistentcy til he was 28 and lots of goalies need more time to find that.

Neuvirth I don't think can steal games like Holtby is capable but damn he is a very good technical goalie. He was outstanding.

I too found it funny that after Erskine cleared the puck over the glass from the other end of the rink that Joe B and Locker kept saying how that barely ever happens....yet it happened in the game the Caps played a couple days before. ha

I also agree that Erat would be better served in Laich's place and that 25-83-42 should be our 4th line. Wilson and Erat have played very well in the limited minutes and have more offensive skill than Chimera and Ward.

 

[bonzaibondra12]

After a much needed break from hockey, I am back. Hillen's injury happened right in front of me. I thought I heard something snap but most likely just the boards.

Anyway, congrats Carrick but he is nervous with the puck in our own zone. Fehr at center? Really?

Sorry, but when you are an NHL team you shouldn't have to be trying to fill needs like that when the season just started and don't have injuries. Pathetic roster management.

 

[marcel snapshot]

I thought Laich's work on the PK was exceptional last night. Very aggressive, but still positionally sound - thwarted several zone entries by Flames PP, and he was huge on that 5 v 3.

But geez the guy has no offensive chemistry with the other guys on the 2nd line. Why can't the brass just accept that he's an excellent 3rd line center and have him play the role of shutdown guy who's capable of potting a few on a counterattack?

Nice to see MoJo have a better game after a weak performance in game 1. But at ES our #1 line sure does spend a lot of time in the defensive zone, and they are not very good at getting the puck back from the opponent once they are dispossesed. Something needs to get fixed there.

I thought Wilson leg-lifting that Flame to the ice during the fight was not good - hopefully somebody on the Caps spoke to him about that. A young guy can quickly make himself a target around the league by doing that sort of thing.

Our D was up to its old habit of making it far too easy for the opposition to camp out in our crease. How does Lee Stempniak get to set up there so easily. Way too much traffic in front of Holtby on the 3rd goal, and we were very lucky the Flames didn't score at the end of regulation and during OT. Teams are just not concerned that there's any price to pay for going to the net aggressively against us.

 

[txpd]

i think this is the best time to try things. fehr was great in pre season and what we are seeing is that preseason isn't a good gauge at all. wouldn't you rather experiment in the first 10 games than the last 10?

my view is that the caps have plenty of roster and giving fehr and/or erat a shot at center is a way to find how much flexibility they have. we all know that chimera laich ward is a strong line. we also know that laich has barely played nhl hockey in a year and playing on the wing is a easier way to get him up to speed than center.

i have no problem with this.

as for carrick, i don't think he was nervous at all. i think he is a rookie. by all accounts he earned a chance to play some games. last night he was fine and made some really outstanding plays. he's small and going to get outmuscled. if getting our muscled is an issue for you, then this player will never be to your standards.

to me, he looks like a straight on steal of a mid/late round pick

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

as for carrick, i don't think he was nervous at all. i think he is a rookie. by all accounts he earned a chance to play some games. last night he was fine and made some really outstanding plays. he's small and going to get outmuscled. if getting our muscled is an issue for you, then this player will never be to your standards.

to me, he looks like a straight on steal of a mid/late round pick

Getting consistently outmuscled should always be an issue.

How many times do you see someone knock the 5'11" Crosby off the puck? Almost never, because he's a freakshow who does like a billion squats a day.

Carrick is a baby so this in no way applies to him, but the idea that it's ok to get knocked around easily because you're small? **** that. It's never ok at this level.

 

[RandyHolt]

Three cheers for our shootout specialists doing something more than shooting on their forehands.

Why players do not at least go FH BH once or twice is mind boggling to me. If you don't skate as fast as you can, the goalie will show you where to shoot.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Three cheers for our shootout specialists doing something more than shooting on their forehands.

Why players do not at least go FH BH once or twice is mind boggling to me. If you don't skate as fast as you can, the goalie will show you where to shoot.

I can't remember the last time our 3rd shooter hasn't had to shoot.

 

[ChibiPooky]

Anybody else feel like if Grabo plays like this all year he's atually an upgrade over Ribero?

If Grabo plays like this all year, he's an upgrade over Lemieux.

5 points in 2 games = 2.5 points/game * 82 games = 205 points.

Good luck with that.

 

[RandyHolt]

We never refer to him by his proper name

It's Pepe.

 

[danyhabsfan]

Do you think that Neuvirth could take over the #1 starting job?

 

[Ajax1995]

Well all those guys played a long time for the Caps before leaving...

Which just makes whooping someone who didn't actually spend much time in DC even more idiotic IMO.

Things about Caps' fans that embarrass me as a Caps' fan (in no particular order):

1. Yelling 'Red' during the anthem
2. Yelling 'O' during the anthem
3. 'Whooping' any defenseman who has ever played more than a few games for the Caps and now plays for someone else
4. 'Whooping' anyone at all frankly. I mean clearly Caps fans showed they knew a lot starting that wonderful tradition with Murphy
5. The whole '1, 2, 3, it's all your fault' chant after the Caps score a goal.

I'm sure I'll think of some more as the season goes on...