Great Washington Fire Sale

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » February 28, 2004, 2:27 pm

I know there aren't a lot of Capital fans (/wave Arsecn) but it kinda saddens me to see the detruction of a franchise that was very competative not too long ago.

First it was Jagr to the NY Rangers in a fucked up deal that still left the Capitals paying half his salary. Caps also got Anson Carter. I still laugh at this deal because the underachieving Rangers got another underachiever and the Caps dump 2million a year? Not much of a savings on a 10 million contract...

Then it was Bondra to Ottawa (what a difference a year makes... from near financial disaster to being buyers in 12 months) for draft picks and prospects. Its a nice deal for the Senators, as it adds scoring depth to a talented roster and allows the Caps to dump some salary, so it guess it meets Washington's goals a bit better too.

Now its Lang to Detroit for more draft picks and a prospect. Again a contender gets stronger and Washington dumps even more salary.

Who is next? Gonchar? Kolzig? and where are they going to go...

Arsecn · Post by **Arsecn** » February 28, 2004, 3:52 pm

Rumors are Gonchar to Toronto, Kolzig to Philadelphia/Colorado.... but regardless, both most likely traded before deadline.

/cries

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » February 28, 2004, 3:59 pm

I doubt the Caps will get rid of Gonchar. He becomes a free agent next year. His arbitrary (sp) value will be around 5-7 million. The leafs won't want to spend that money, especially if there will be a work stoppage.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » March 3, 2004, 5:29 pm

Capitols sold off Gonchar to the Bruins.

At this rate, they will have every pick in the first and second round 2004 draft. heh.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » March 3, 2004, 5:33 pm

i was kind of bummed the Thrashers didnt go for a defensemen in January. They were thin there already, and pretty much fell out of playoff contention because of bad defensive play and injuries to their already overmatched guys.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » March 3, 2004, 5:34 pm

I live here in DC, and I will never, ever, ever support the Capitals again. I go to about 15 games a year, chear for all the ex-penguins, and respectable players on the team (read: Bondra), and now they are all gone.

I am ready to do that thing the fans in Edmonton did when that guy traded Gretzky...you know...dress a manequin up like the owner, and hang him in front of the stadium, and burn his genitalia...shit like that. Leonsis is a peice of shit.

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » March 4, 2004, 2:12 pm

Gonchar AND Nylander in Boston... about all thats left is Olie the Goalie...

miir · Post by **miir** » March 4, 2004, 2:52 pm

Speaking of fire sales... now that Leetch is gone (yay Leafs), Sather may as well just dismantle the Rangers all together.

miir · Post by **miir** » March 4, 2004, 3:00 pm

Hehe nevermind, he's already got a head start.

xZiBiT · Post by **xZiBiT** » March 4, 2004, 3:19 pm

Dismantle the RANGERS?????

The only reason anyone wants the Caps players is because they actually produce. i.e. Lang

No GM in their right minds are gonna take those overpaid losers onto their teams.

miir · Post by **miir** » March 4, 2004, 4:15 pm

Nah, the Rangers are PACKED with talent... but as I have said many times, they are lacking too many other pieces of the puzzle to be a successful team.

There are a ton of intangibles in hockey that can't be seen from a boxscore. Any number of the Rangers snipers would be welcome on a team that can put them on a line with playmaker/passer, a guy who lives in front of the net or a defensive minded forward.

If you put talented players on a badly managed/coached team, there's no way they will perform anywhere near their potential.

Irrespective of that, I couldn't be more excited about the Leafs getting such a talented, consistent blueliner like Leetch.

Post by **Xouqoa** » March 4, 2004, 4:59 pm

Leetch will definitely help out the Leafs come playoff time. That should really pan out well for them. Detroit/Toronto finals anyone?

miir · Post by **miir** » March 4, 2004, 6:20 pm

Xouqoa wrote:Leetch will definitely help out the Leafs come playoff time. That should really pan out well for them. Detroit/Toronto finals anyone?

Seeing 2 'Original Sixers' in the final would kick ass.

Wings/Leafs is a lot more plausable than a Rangers/Hawks final.

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » March 4, 2004, 6:35 pm

With the stupid contracts Sather signed, I do wonder how many of the Broadway Bums he is going to be able to move... hard to believe people used to think he was a hockey genius when he was in Edmonton.

Leetch isn't going to be enough to help the Leafs to the finals: too many questions on the defensive/goaltending side. What has Leetch really got left? Is Belfour going to be healthy? Can the old bangers keep their bodies together enough to get through the playoffs?

Plus look at their competition:

- Boston adding some offense and defense with Gonchar and Nylander to roster with the likes of Rolston, Thornton, Samsonov (if he comes back form injury) and Murray
- Ottawa looks frightening with the addition of Bondra to the talent they have
- Montreal isn't that deep on defense but with Theodore in net I think they have a good shot. The addition of Kovalev adds some more punch to a line up with offensive gems like Koivu, Zednik and youngsters Ryder and Ribeiro.
- New Jersey has the best goaltender in hockey and some solid help all throughout the line up... can they keep it together to make a run again?
-Tampa, I don't know. Are they for real? They were much improved last year and seem to be better again this season. The guys like St Louis, Richards and Lecavilier get better every year, but do they have the defense to help the Khabibulin Wall?

The West I still see as a 2 team race and I think Detroit caught a boost over Colorado when they landed Lang (but I'm still pulling for Colorado, sorry Zoocow

).

Post by **Xouqoa** » March 4, 2004, 7:19 pm

Yeah, I think the East playoffs will be better competition wise than the west. The west will come down to Vancouver, Colorado, and Detroit I think. I'd love for Detroit to play both of those teams on the way to the cup finals. =) That would be some awesome hockey.

Ottawa is definitely going to be some tough competition, but I'm not a big fan of Lalime. He's too inconsistent in big games. Boston will be tough, I think Philly will choke as usual, so they aren't much to worry about imo. Montreal could be good. I see them winning the cup in the next few years, but not this year. Theordore is good, but still young and needs more experience in big games I think. And you can never write off the Devils, although they aren't as good this year as last. Will Scott Stevens be back in time for the playoffs? That will make a huge difference for them.

edit: oh yeah, Tampa... I'm not sure what to think about them. Explosive offense, but defense is questionable!

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » March 4, 2004, 8:05 pm

miir wrote:Speaking of fire sales... now that Leetch is gone (yay Leafs), Sather may as well just dismantle the Rangers all together.

Yeah, the org should have started w/ Sather, the fucking talentless (GM and coach and Pres) schmuck

miir · Post by **miir** » March 4, 2004, 9:10 pm

too many questions on the defensive/goaltending side

Leafs have a solid defense core.
Klee, McCabe, Kaberle and now Leetch.
These are 4 guys who can eat up 25 minutes a game... that leaves the other 10 mins to the 3rd pairing... Maybe you've been listening to the Toronto media whining too much about the Leafs defense..... they are solid on the blue line. As for Belfour.. he's money in the bank....

Truant · Post by **Truant** » March 5, 2004, 6:08 pm

I just want to add, I hate Belfour.