Even though they have been eliminated, there’s still a decent among of news coming out of the Capitals’ camp today:

• Nicklas Backstrom was announced as one of the finalists for the Calder Trophy today. Not surprisingly, the other finalists were Chicago rookies Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Each has a knock on them: the two Blackhawks have the potential to cancel one another out and Backstrom suffers from the “anyone would have a good year playing with Ovechkin” attitude. I personally think Backstrom deserves the trophy because he has the best all-around game at this point. Kane is an offensive force, but is unpolished on defense and Toews is a very good defender and physical player, but he doesn’t have the offensive skill to make the kids of plays Kane and Backstrom can.
• Olaf Kolzig has taken his nameplate off his locker and skipped a mandatory team meeting. To me, this suggest Kolzig doesn’t consider himself a part of the team any longer. Guess it’s time to open those contract negotiations with Cristobal Huet and try and get him signed before the Capitals end up taking a chance on Ray Emery.
• The defense situation is starting to get complicated: Brian Pothier’s career may be finished and Steve Eminger is expected to get a qualifying offer. Hopefully Pothier does what’s best for himself and his family in the long term, even if it isn’t the best for his NHL career. As for Eminger, the Caps should bring him back. He’s better than John Erskine and is more consistent and has more offensive upside than Milan Jurcina. A defense corps of Mike Green, Tom Poti, Shaone Morrisonn, Steve Eminger and some combination of Jurcina, Karl Alzner and Sami Lepisto sounds pretty good to me (especially if the Capitals adress their need for a physical defense-first defenseman as well).
• The covert operations have ended for this season and the Caps have subsequently let the cat out of the bag on injuries. Per Tarik El-Bashir: “Boudreau said that defenseman Shaone Morrisonn played the past two weeks with broken jaw, which made it tough for him to eat. He also said Mike Green was hampered with hip pointer (suffered in Game 6) and a foot injury last game, and that Boyd Gordon had a torn hamstring in the playoffs. Boudreau also said Ovechkin was suffering from a nagging injury, which is why he didn’t practice for the last month of the regular season.”

Lastly, for now, I’ll leave you with this quote from Matt Bradley, which sums up how most Capitals fans are probably feeling today:

“It’s going to take a while for this to sink in. What we did this season was good, I guess, but we still could have gone a lot further in this.”

Caps Chat (or as the Post calls it “Capitals Live Discussion”) with Tarik is back!

Truthfully, now that it’s over, I don’t have much to add to anything Tarik said. He did a phenomenal job. I will note this though:

Atlanta: Mr El-Bashir,

The Bruins’ second goal last night (where Schultz and Kolzig were tangled up) has raised a little debate today. Do you think Schultz was “outmuscled” down low or do you think it was a case of Kobasew giving him a well-timed nudge while the two were skating together? Should it have been a penalty or crease violation on Kobasew?

Tarik El-Bashir: I think it was a well-time shove. But I also think it should have been an interference call. I mean, when a team is already down two players, the refs can’t allow the opposing team to intentionally take out the goalie, too, right? Kobasew knew exactly what he was doing.

Apparently it’s me and Tarik against the rest of the blogosphere.

CapsChat from Friday, with Tarik from the Post.

Expand/Collpase this Post

Reminder: weekly Caps chat with Washington Post beat writer Tarik El-Bashir today at 2.

Good questions for the most part and Tarik, as always, did a fantastic job. One I’d like to note (and not just because getting my questions answered makes me feel smart…although it does):

Atlanta, GA: Mr. El Bashir,

What’s the general mood around the Capitals these days? Do they feel like they’re a winning streak (and maybe, finally, some good luck) away from being back in the playoff race? Or do you get the impression the team feels that, with all the injuries and the hole they’re already in, they’re already headed for a lottery pick?

Tarik El-Bashir: I’ve got the feeling that some players believe a run is possible. But it’s going to take all of them, not just a handful.

More commentary about Hanlon’s job security from one my favorites, CapsChick of A View from the Cheap Seats.

The issue was also addressed in Tarik’s weekly Caps chat, which also provided a perfect example of why people on the internet don’t get taken seriously:

Herndon, Va.: Tarik, why doesn’t Johnson play more often? I think — I am sure you will disagree — he is better than Kolzig.

Tarik El-Bashir: You are half right. I absolutely disagree.

Update: two perfect examples:

Portland, Ore.: Has Hanlon considered putting Green on Ovechkin’s line (as a forward)? He’s the only other player who consistently makes me move to the edge of my seat when he’s got the puck recently.

Tarik El-Bashir: Green has definitely made huge strides this year. He’s still got a ways to go, especially in his own end, but he’s going to be a player.

Great chat with Tarik on the Washington Post website. He really does a great job covering the Caps and always provides good anseres for the fans. Onething adressed breifly that I’m wondering: since Erskine can’t skate and Schultz is afriad to hit where has Eminger been? Is he really still hurt?

A few choice bits:

Alexandria, Va.: Are the Caps underachieving or is this record realistic of what to expect from the team this year?
Tarik El-Bashir: I would say “underachieving” would be too strong a word. Should they have a couple more wins at this point, yes. Should they have forced a few more games to OT, yes. If they don’t go on a bit of run when the injured players return, then maybe you can break out the “underachieving” label. Are the Caps underachieving or is this record realistic of what to expect from the team this year?

Yes! Bingo! There’s a lot of doom-and-gloom surrounding the Caps at this point in the season and there shouldn’t be. With the injuries they’ve had they could be doing a bit better but it’s not fair to say they’re failing already.

20008: At the risk of stating the obvious, in the salary cap era no one can lose
three top players and keep on tickin’. Imagine if Carolina lost Staal, Stillman
and Kaberle all at once.
Tarik El-Bashir: Bingo. I know Hanlon and his players say injuries aren’t an excuse. But that’s what they have to say. They are missing 70 some goals from the lineup, and tons of experience. Sorry, but that matters.

Again, exactly right.

Washington, D.C.: Why doesn’t Hanlon see that Nylander and Ovechkin MUST play on the same line for the Caps to have any decent offense? Nylander has shown
himself to be one of the best puck control artists in the NHL, if not the best. The combination of Nylander and Ovechkin would be murderous on opponents, no
matter who the right wing was. We can’t get any worse than shut out! If Ovie gets set up nicely 15 times a game at least one or two will go in.
Tarik El-Bashir: For the first few weeks, I agreed with Hanlon’s decision to keep
Ovechkin and Nylander on separate lines. Now, I’m not so sure it’s the best strategy. I’m also starting to get the sense that it’s only a matter of time before No. 8 and No. 92 are skating together.

Oh, good the Caps are listening to me.

Zero, Boston: Regarding what you said about injuries: Is Eminger not sold
his injury has healed or is it a little of column A (Eminger) and column B(management)?
Tarik El-Bashir: Judging from what I’ve seen and heard, Eminger is healthy. He believes he’s healthy. He’s just not getting a sweater. He’s beyond frustrated right now.

Simply put, this is a bad move by the Caps management. Unlike many Caps fans I like George McPhee. But Eminger should be getting a chance to play rather than Schultz or Erskine. Plus it isn’t fair to him to just leave him hanging, wondering what’s going on.

Atlanta, Ga.: Given the lack of depth at right wing for the Capitals, given
Semin’s injury and Fleischmann’s failure to become an impact player, is a trade
(possibly involving Flash or Sutherby) looking likely or perhaps even imminent?
If not, do the Caps have plans to address this lack of depth?
Tarik El-Bashir: I’m not entirely sure what the Caps’ options are right now. It’s not like teams are knocking down their door trying to get their hands on Fleischmann and Sutherby, or Eminger for that matter. And considering all the RFAs who need to be paid this summer, and Leonsis’s budget, I’m not sure they can afford another high-dollar winger. Seems to me, they really need the youngsters like Backstrom to develop — and quick. It also wouldn’t hurt for Pettinger to rediscover his scoring touch, or for Gordon and Laich to chip in with 15 goals each.

My question answered. I don’t think they need a top dollar winger, just someone to chip in a little at both ends…