Around the (Inter)net

Rumor has it that John Tortorella is being considered to coach the United States in the next Olympics, an idea that will probably work out almost as well as having Don Waddell as general manager did in Torino…Shaone Morrisonn will play tonight…The odds on what team Peter Forsberg will return to (originally linked to from Kukkla’s Korner)…Brian Sutherby’s now 22 games into his Anaheim Ducks tenure and still without a point. That second round draft pick is looking pretty good right now, isn’t it?…James Mirtle tracks how well each team would have to perform to make it to 95 points and all but ensure a playoff birth (The Capitals would have to go 18-11-1; the team is 19-8-4 since Bruce Boudreau took over)…Speaking of Boudreau, here’s some love for him from the Rocky Mountain News…On Frozen Blog takes a look at media coverage a little closer to home.

Before tonight’s game the Caps shipped Brian Sutherby to Anaheim for the Ducks 2nd round pick in 2009 (TSN story).

The upside is that the Capitals pick up a second round pick, which should in itself be a solid pick and could also be used in a trade this year or next year to fill a hole. The downside is that most second round picks don’t have sustained NHL careers (although many do) and Sutherby should be a good NHL player for a lot of years. So, as much as I’ve liked watching Sutherby over the years, I’d have to say it’s a good move.

Sutherby just wasn’t going to get playing time in D.C. for the foreseeable future. He hadn’t shown enough offensively to warrant a top six role and the Caps already have Nicklas Backstrom and Michael Nylander for that (and Viktor Kozlov should need be), Boyd Gordon has the checking line role locked up and although Dave Steckel doesn’t have Sutherby’s grit he is a very good faceoff man and penalty killer.

It’s good for Sutherby too. Not only will he get a chance to play, but he’ll get a chance to do it on a team and in a system that suits his gritty style perfectly.

J.P. from Japers’ Rink also adds this insight:

You’ll recall that the Caps resigned Suts, a former first-round pick, to a 1-year, $800,000 deal this past summer, meaning that, in essence, they bought a second round pick in ‘09 for just under $200,000.