Comments on: 2/26, 9:54 PM - Caps active at trade deadline http://www.capsblueline.com/2008/02/26/226-954-pm-caps-active-at-trade-deadline/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:16:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: DMG http://www.capsblueline.com/2008/02/26/226-954-pm-caps-active-at-trade-deadline/#comment-118 DMG Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:45:58 +0000 http://www.capsblueline.com/2008/02/26/226-954-pm-caps-active-at-trade-deadline/#comment-118 I think that for the Capitals to have scored higher everything would have had to have gone perfectly, which would have included getting the type of solid defenseman they would benefit from having. But they did do very well for themselves, not only plugging holes but keeping their roster almost completely intact in the process. I do have sympathy for Olie, don't get me wrong (it's one of the 'Cons' of the Huet deal), but in the end the team should play the guy that gives them to best chance to win. As I wrote in my post about the Wild game, if Cal Ripken still wanted to play baseball, would the Orioles put him in the lineup every day based on his past achievements? If Darrell Green wanted to play football would the Redskins still send him out to cover the opposing teams number one receiver? If Peter Bondra still wanted to play in the NHL would the Capitals play him on the first line and ask him to quarterback the powerplay? Of course not. No matter how great a player is in their prime, their comes a point at which they're no longer good enough to be their team's go-to guy, or even to earn a place in the starting lineup. I believe Kolzig has reached that point and while the Capitals should still treat him with class, retire his number and offer him a front office job when he officially hangs them up it doesn't make sense, nor is it fair to the fans or the other players, to put the team in a position where it's more likely to lose just to pay back one man for what he has done for the team. As a quick aside, Fleischmann is from what is now the Czech Republic, so he's not a countryman of Semin and Fedorov. I think that for the Capitals to have scored higher everything would have had to have gone perfectly, which would have included getting the type of solid defenseman they would benefit from having. But they did do very well for themselves, not only plugging holes but keeping their roster almost completely intact in the process.

I do have sympathy for Olie, don’t get me wrong (it’s one of the ‘Cons’ of the Huet deal), but in the end the team should play the guy that gives them to best chance to win. As I wrote in my post about the Wild game, if Cal Ripken still wanted to play baseball, would the Orioles put him in the lineup every day based on his past achievements? If Darrell Green wanted to play football would the Redskins still send him out to cover the opposing teams number one receiver? If Peter Bondra still wanted to play in the NHL would the Capitals play him on the first line and ask him to quarterback the powerplay? Of course not. No matter how great a player is in their prime, their comes a point at which they’re no longer good enough to be their team’s go-to guy, or even to earn a place in the starting lineup. I believe Kolzig has reached that point and while the Capitals should still treat him with class, retire his number and offer him a front office job when he officially hangs them up it doesn’t make sense, nor is it fair to the fans or the other players, to put the team in a position where it’s more likely to lose just to pay back one man for what he has done for the team.

As a quick aside, Fleischmann is from what is now the Czech Republic, so he’s not a countryman of Semin and Fedorov.

]]> By: Mark http://www.capsblueline.com/2008/02/26/226-954-pm-caps-active-at-trade-deadline/#comment-117 Mark Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:13:49 +0000 http://www.capsblueline.com/2008/02/26/226-954-pm-caps-active-at-trade-deadline/#comment-117 I believe you're too harsh. While I agree with your definition of what would have been a grand slam for the Caps vis'-a-vis' the trade deadline deals today, you have to call this a homerun day on the face of it. I have been and continue to be far more sentimental towards Kolzig then you, I mentioned Huet a while back as perhaps the best UFA the Caps could pick up in the off season - if he works out and they resign him all the better this deal looks like. We needed someone to fill Nylanders shoes and Federov probably will - playing with two "pretty good young countrymen" may remotiviate him for a playoff run. I like Pettinger and wish him well, he may even do better in a playoff run in Vancouver - it's certainly a beutiful place to live and as you point out this was just a fair deal all around and hopefully will help both players as well as their teams. Good luck Matt! I believe you’re too harsh. While I agree with your definition of what would have been a grand slam for the Caps vis’-a-vis’ the trade deadline deals today, you have to call this a homerun day on the face of it. I have been and continue to be far more sentimental towards Kolzig then you, I mentioned Huet a while back as perhaps the best UFA the Caps could pick up in the off season - if he works out and they resign him all the better this deal looks like. We needed someone to fill Nylanders shoes and Federov probably will - playing with two “pretty good young countrymen” may remotiviate him for a playoff run. I like Pettinger and wish him well, he may even do better in a playoff run in Vancouver - it’s certainly a beutiful place to live and as you point out this was just a fair deal all around and hopefully will help both players as well as their teams. Good luck Matt!

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