Turner Sports Desk

Caps mid season report card

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:20:39 GMT

As we approach the halfway point of the NHL season there has been some dramatic changes in Capitals Nation and judging by their play of late more big changes are coming.

Coaching - Is the team prepared to play and win every game? Is the team motivated, competitive, consistent and disciplined? Do they adjust well on the fly? Ultimately the coach is responsible for all of those aspects of the game. Since there was a coaching change it would be unfair to grade Hunter on a mess he did not create so this grade is split.

Bruce Boudreau: Grade F - Bruce became white noise and the effort on the ice reflected as much. Bruce lost the room and his hard skates after inexcusable losses were just not motivating anyone anymore. Everyone likes Bruce but in the end he just could not get it done.

Dale Hunter: Grade C - Dale has simplified things defensively which is a plus and those guys are playing much better. The problem that remains is the lazy fore check and back check efforts by his top six forwards as a group. Hunter got Ovechkin going but at what cost? Now no one else even appears interested in shooting the puck or going to the net. If Dale's big plan is to have Ovechkin not back check and hang around waiting for the outlet pass he may want to talk to Boudreau about how that plan worked in the playoffs (it didn't work). If is my sincere hope that Dale has a long term plan to correct the lazy, stupid hockey we are seeing. My guess is both he and McPhee have already determined that some of these guys must go. I cannot flunk Dale but I cannot give him anything higher than a C either. I am a little surprised that a Dale Hunter coached team is not going to the net and getting more dirty goals.

Forwards: Grade F - The Caps will go as far as the forwards take them and right now the top-six in particular are the jack of all trades but clearly the masters of none. They are talented but they do not fore or back check with any consistency or tenacity. They do not understand the benefits of positioning and they insist on the perfect shot instead putting shots on the net with traffic. It is truly unfortunate that some of the Caps forwards just don't get it. Watch them pass you to sleep during the powerplay and you will quickly understand that these guys are trying to eat crabs with a knife and a fork...good luck with that. Some forwards are playing old school hockey (Brooksie, Brouwer, Chimera, Knuble and others but they are overshadowed by the big names that are absolutely clueless on how to play consistent two way hockey.

The Great Scotty Bowman said that the measure of a good team is how hard and consistent they fore and back check. Since Scotty has forgotten more hockey than the entire Washington Capitals brain-trust I can only imagine what he would say over a cup of coffee and some film of this bunch. My guess is it would not be complimentary. What I admire about Scotty's teams loaded with talent is that they worked super hard. Guys like Fedorov, Yzerman back in the day and now Zetterberg and Datsuyk now are all hard workers. Ovechkin works hard...just not very smart and Semin will never be confused with a hard worker.

Defense: Grade C+ - Ever since Dale showed up the defensive play has improved. He has simplified things with better results. The problem is that the forward play (particularly the top six) is so pathetic that the defense and the goalies are often exposed. Wideman and Orlov join Carlson and Alzner as guys playing some good hockey. New defensive coach, Jim Johnson is making a real difference and hopefully the Caps can move some dead weight...Schultz, Hamrlik etc. Mike Green should be shut down for the rest of the year and just allowed to heal. He is an oft-injured RFA that no one is going to sign to an offer sheet so the Caps just need to let him heal and see what they have. I expect the Caps to be looking for defensemen that actually hit people (novel idea right?) and do not skate like they have a ship's anchors tied to each boot...cough Hamrlik. The Caps defense could use more speed and more physical guys that have no problem violently (but legally) separating opponents from the puck.

Goalies: Grade C+ - Confident goalies make confident plays. Shell shocked and exposed goalies get sun burn from the score siren being lit so often. The Caps goalies (both of them) have performed admirably under insane circumstances. The folks blaming everything on the goalies need to understand how hockey works. The five guys in front of the goalie get paid to limit access to the goalie. A team's confidence starts from the goalie and works it's way out to everyone else. If you make protecting your goalie a priority you will get better play. Protecting your goalie means fore checking to keep the puck at the other end of the ice. It means shooting to keep the opposing goalie on his heels. Protecting your goalie means back checking to limit the amount of shot opportunities the opponents get. Contrary to popular belief I think both Vokoun and Neuvirth have played well under horrible circumstances. They are playing goalie for a bi-polar hockey team that has no clue what it means to protect your goalie. Anyone think Tim Thomas isn't appreciative of the fact that his team will protect him at all costs? Tim makes big saves because he is very confident. He is very confident because his team protects him. Anyone think the Caps protect their goalies well enough for them to have any sustained confidence? Heck, this is the same team that is struggling to get shots.

Overall: grade D - The Caps have some BIG decisions to make leading up to and beyond the trade deadline. They have players that definitely need to go while others still need to buy in and play two-way hockey. On the strategy front force feeding the puck to Ovechkin is not the answer. Mike Green's return is not the answer nor is the return of Nicky Backstrom. The Caps as a team need to find a personality and stick to it. If they want to be a fast break hockey team they should be that. If they want to be the second coming of the trapping NJ Devils they should do that. Perhaps the true personality will take place once the Caps have the right personnel to become what Dale Hunter wants them to be. Stay tuned because the days leading up to February 27th's trade deadline will be interesting to put it mildly.

As Caps learn new system some new and old truths come to light

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:01:18 GMT

With a new coach comes a new system and a learning period. Lucky for the Caps they have enough time and games to get it together. That learning extends not just to the players but the coaches and GM as well. As this process plays out the following truths rise to the surface:

1. Some guys won't buy into the new system

2. Some guys won't fit the system

3. Some guys will do better than you expect

Dale Hunter's new style of play places an emphasis on aggressive forechecking, hitting, positioning and being solid in your own zone. In short, the Caps are going to play the type of hockey that actually wins or at least can beat more than just the NY Rangers in the playoffs.

Certain players are performing well and that continues. The Laich, Chimera and Ward line continues to play well because they are sticking to the basics and they hustle. Meanwhile the Caps two most talented players, Alexander's Ovechkin and Semin continue to struggle.

Ovechkin needs to focus on the basics and relax. He is clearly pressing and the more you press the more the simple things stump you. In hockey speak he is gripping the stick too tight. Alexander Semin is an entirely different story. Semin is a scorer that is not scoring. Unlike Ovechkin, who has a physical element to his game that helps the team even when he is not scoring, Semin has neither elite speed nor enough physicality in his game to create space for himself to make plays.

In fact Semin's game is predicated on time and space that he cannot create on his own or at least anymore. His favorite move to create space is his curl and drag but his opponents figured that out already thus it works far less. That is why former Capital Jason Arnott was such a good fit with Semin because his size-physicality and plain old hockey smarts created space for Semin. Without a consistent physical presence or super speedy player with veteran savvy Semin is $6.7 million dollars of wasted money.

Semin has shown an unwillingness to consistently get to the areas where goal scorers score goals. The other Semin issue is he is a penalty magnet. He uses his stick when he should be moving his feet and the penalty numbers over his career show a TREND and not an anomaly. Semin is proving he is not a good fit for this system/team all by himself. Many believe Semin will get hot all of a sudden and become a super scorer that erases his penalty mistakes by scoring tons of goals. Dream on folks.....dream on. His diminished numbers along with him looking like a fish out of water since Dale arrived is the basis for this conclusion. Semin wasn't producing under Boudreau when the scheme was built around him and Ovechkin. Ovi is adjusting..Semin is not. As I said before Semin is fool's gold because at some point you gotta call a spade a spade even though he is super talented. Talent without production is nothing...

As for the Caps overall don't be surprised if some changes are made. This team has issues with regard to the top two scoring lines not producing enough at regular strength and the power play not producing at all. The defense continues to look shaky as well.

Like Turnersportsdesk on Facebook

Follow TSDesk on Twitter

Hunter offers no quick fixes and that is a good thing

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 02:37:50 GMT

For those of you thinking that Dale Hunter would step in and magically cure the Caps of 4 years of bad habits welcome back to hockey reality. Last night's 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues was the first step with 59 steps/games remaining on a journey back to team hockey.

Here is a fact for your consumption. The 1998 Eastern Conference Champion Capitals (yes...the Caps experienced success before Ovechkin newbies) made it to the Stanley Cup finals with air-tight defense in their own zone and with timely-opportunistic offense. The 98 Caps had one pure goal scorer in Peter Bondra (52 goals) and Bondra played within the framework of the overall defense without being an offense-only liability. Bondra created opportunities for himself and others by buying into Ron Wilson's system and playing two-way hockey. Coach Ron Wilson had success because that Caps TEAM out worked, out hit and out hustled teams that were often more talented.

Fast forward to now and this Caps squad that is loaded with talent but they are far from a team. The first thing people say when you mention the Caps is the word talented. The problem is they are not combining the word talented with hard working. The Boston Bruins earned a Stanley Cup last year with no where near the talent the Caps have. Why? The simple answer was they proved to be the best team playing the best hockey when the playoffs rolled around. The Bruins had highs and lows last season but they got hot at the right time, played team hockey and endured the longest. They also beat a lot of teams with more talent than they had.

One of the most important lessons Dale Hunter must teach is showing his team how to play hockey without the puck. Hunter has to show them that you must win the little battles in the corners, behind the net and in the neutral zone in order to EARN scoring opportunities that win games. The previous regime proved to us time and time again that "cute hockey" simply does not work in the playoffs.

Dale's biggest job is showing Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin that they can create offense for themselves and others by playing smart, two-way hockey. No one is asking them to become Selke winners but they can definitely play within the overall scheme and create chances for themselves and others. Peter Bondra scored a ton of goals in a highly defensive system so there is no reason Ovechkin and Semin cannot do the same if they buy in and commit to working hard consistently.

You can no longer run and gun your way to a Stanley Cup like Gretzky and Lemieux did so for those hoping the Caps will get back to that style of hockey your amateur is showing. The Caps under Bruce Boudreau proved that a ceiling existed for run and gun hockey. The moment someone takes away time and space the Caps looked like fish out of water. It is good for regular season wins, home ice in the playoffs, plenty of accolades and beating the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs but not much else.

As the Caps move forward with Hunter and his style of play we will see who is not fitting in. We will see who values their "numbers" more than wins and losses. We will also see who requests to seek life elsewhere. This style of hockey (winning hockey) requires hard work, discipline, patience and toughness. Some of the guys starting this journey will not be here at the end.

The same principles of patience and discipline goes for Caps fans who got spoiled on the Fool's gold that was Bruce Boudreau's tenure. Bruce won a lot of games and the style of hockey he coached was exciting for fans but the results speak volumes. I'll take winning the games that matter most over winning a bunch of games ten times out of ten and twice on Sunday. The ONLY goal is the Stanley Cup. Not making it to the second round, beating the Penguins or just getting to the finals. The ONLY goal is being the last team standing at Season's end. The real journey towards that goal started last night.

Like Turnersportsdesk on Facebook

Follow TSDesk on Twitter

Names the Capitals should consider for next bench boss

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:32:25 GMT

The Washington Capitals started off with a bang. Unfortunately that bang was followed by a monstrous thud. Bruce Boudreau appears to have no answers other than hard practices, healthy scratches to send bogus messages and juggling his lines. The Caps last two efforts show a team that has tuned out their coach.

Rumors are rampant that Dale Hunter, A beloved former Cap is first in line to replace Boudreau but his lack of coaching experience at the NHL level could place the Caps in a deep hole as he adjusts to hockey at the highest level. Here are four names Caps Owner, Ted Leonsis and General Manager, George McPhee should consider as they search for the Caps next bench boss.

Adam Oates - A seasoned assistant, a former Cap and a future hall of fame player. Adam Oates brings a thorough understanding of two way hockey to Washington. Adam Oates is an offensive genius and his numbers as a player are hard to ignore. Oates would definitely grab the attention of the highly paid but underwhelming Russians (Ovechkin and Semin) who cannot add consistency to their games. Oates currently serves as an Assistant Coach in New Jersey so his transition to bench boss would be easier than bringing up an OHL Coach like Dale Hunter.

Tony Granato - A proven Coach with an active winning percentage second only to Bruce Boudreau. Tony Granato was gritty two way player and he coaches the exact same way with excellent results to back it up. The other bonus of Granato is that pulling him out of arch rival Pittsburgh where he currently serves as an Assistant weakens one of our biggest foes plus provides us priceless intelligence on the inner workings of the Penguins. Granato is a heck of a coach and he would hold people accountable for their actions on and off the ice. The Caps could definitely use a guy like Granato.

Joe Mullen - Hall of Famer, two way hockey player and a master of the basics of the game. He's coached at the AHL level and clearly he has numbers no one can deny. He also brings the intangibles that the Caps need. Accountability, leadership and experience coaching on the NHL level. He is currently an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers so stealing him may take something away from another conference foe. For those of you that remember Mullen he was a smart hockey player that always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

Dale Hunter - The sentimental favorite of Old School Caps fans like myself. Other than Joe Juneau's goal to put the Caps in the Stanley Cup Finals, Dale Hunter scored the Franchise's 2nd biggest goal vs the Flyers in the playoffs. Hunter is smart, tough and rest assured everyone in that locker room will be held accountable no matter their salary. Although Hunter is not the most talented or savvy guy on this short list he brings the intangibles the Caps need. This Caps team needs a leader who is not afraid to do what he needs to do to get consistent performance from everyone. If a team takes on the personality of the coach then the Caps are in good hands with Hunter as bench boss.

When you replace a coach mid-season on a Stanley Cup capable team that Coach must be able to come in, assess quickly and hit the ground running with his plan to get back on track. For that reason alone I believe Oates, Granato and Mullen should be the front runners because they are already at the NHL Level. Hunter would have a steep learning curve which could hurt the Caps chances this year. If McPhee wanted Hunter he should have done it over the Summer. To place Hunter in now is not giving him the best opportunity to succeed.

Like Turnersportsdesk on Facebook

Follow TSDesk on Twitter

To earn a Stanley Cup Boudreau must go

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:24:48 GMT

The same guys making the same mistakes, the same guys playing one-way hockey combined with slow defensemen that refuse to violently separate the puck from opponents, unexplained focus lapses, zero discipline and zero accountability. Ladies and gentleman your Washington Capitals! Stop me if you've seen how this movie ends. Many thought George McPhee solved the Caps problems over the summer with his brilliant manipulation of the draft and free agency. No matter how many good players you bring in, if the coach is terminally flawed you will still fail.

Fast forward to right now when the Caps appear to be stuck on stupid and no one including Bruce Boudreau has any answers on how to fix it. In last night's 7-1 loss to the Maple Leafs, Bruce's face in the post game presser told me everything I needed to know. He is at his wit's end and he has lost that locker room. So is Bruce the only problem? Absolutely not...The Caps have an overall defensive scheme that is a massive failure. Forwards don't forecheck and rarely back check, Some of their defensemen are oxygen thieves and they look like the bad news bears in their own zone...but other than that Mrs. Lincoln how was the play?

For those of you saying it is too early to make changes, the obvious response is the Caps under Boudreau have been making the same mistakes and having the same problems since he arrived. Yes Boudreau won a lot of games (199) in fact but they don't give out Stanley Cups for regular season wins. The Caps are ultra talented and they can beat 90% of the teams in the NHL even in their flawed state. During Boudreau's tenure, the only time their problems came to the forefront is in the playoffs when the game changes. For those of you saying Mike Green's return will magically fix everything keep dreaming. Mike Green's return does not change the fact that Roman Hamrlik is slow, old and ineffective. It does not change the fact that Jeff Schultz could not keep a 4 year old girl out of the crease.

I've said since they got booted from the playoffs last season that in order for the Caps to earn a Stanley Cup, Bruce Boudreau has to show us something we've never seen from him before. A focus on the basics, a focus on discipline, accountability for everyone including his highly talented Russians and the ability to effectively adjust his game plan on the fly and not just juggle lines ad-infinitum. Has anyone seen those things from Boudreau yet? Anyone?

I know what you're thinking...If Bruce goes, who do you replace him with smarty pants? My answer is someone who is a stickler on the basics, discipline and accountability. I do not care if he is proven or not because a lot of young coaches getting more done with a lot less talent than Boudreau has. The new coach should be able to go to McPhee and request he remove dead weight players who are not buying in. The new coach may even need to remove the "C" from Ovechkin and offer it to a guy who is more mature and better equipped to lead men. The Caps need new energy and renewed purpose. That can only come with regime change.

Despite early season success Capitals fate still tied to the evolution of the Russians

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 04:41:19 GMT

Their numbers are down, Ovechkin was briefly benched and at times both appear to be a fish out of water. What is going on with the Caps talented Russians? Why do their amazing moves no longer work? Why are they no longer racking up the huge stats?

Some will call this crazy-talk because the Caps sit at 8-3, lead their division and are right there with the conference leaders. Ovechkin has 6 goals and 7 assists while Semin has 2 goals and 5 assists as of today. The Caps appear to be one of the leading contenders to come out of the east. So what is the problem and why should anyone be concerned?

Truth be told the Russians have a couple of issues. The first being the evolution of their games. Stevie Wonder can see that the Caps opponents have done their homework with regard to Ovechkin and Semin. They know their favorite moves, they know where they like to shoot the puck and they know the curl and drag is their favorite move to try and create space for themselves. The result of this homework is lower numbers for both and an increase in odd man rushes when the curl and drag fails.

As I watch Ovechkin play I think of Superman using only 10% of his powers. Ovechkin can be the greatest player that ever played the game but he is so busy focusing on only one aspect (scoring-offense) that by the time the lights finally come on his body will no longer be able to keep up with his mind. If he does not earn a Stanley Cup he will have a world of regret because he wasted so much talent. Like Michael Jordan, Ovechkin can dominate almost every aspect of his sport, but sadly Ovechkin chooses not to focus on the defensive side of hockey and it not only hurts him but the chances of the Caps to hoist that Cup. Now that teams have adjusted to his offensive game he is more often frustrated and reverts back to his Ovi vs. the other team tactics. That used to work before and now it creates odd man rushes the other way. Definitely bad.

In the most recent game I saw several times when the Caps gained the offensive zone and Ovechkin had various options but chose to shoot. Offensive opportunities are few and far between especially in the playoffs so when you get them you cannot waste them. Ovechkin needs to be a better team mate and look for the pass. I understand that it is hard to tell a sniper not to shoot but Ovechkin draws so much attention someone else is bound to have a better shot than he does.

Ovechkin's line mates are also guilty of watching him instead of filling lanes while going to the net for rebounds or that rare Ovechkin pass. I guess they are so used to Ovechkin doing it all by himself that they freeze. Lately he has not been so successful during his solo trips so perhaps it is time to go to the net with him for rebounds or a pass.

As I watch Semin play I think of a brain surgeon being asked to perform surgery in the middle of a hockey game. Semin is an excellent passer and a great sniper but he requires so much time and space in order to be effective that he is horrifically inconsistent. His windup for that wicked wrist shot is like an Achilles heel scenario. The good news is that he can pluck the wings off a fly with the accuracy of the shot but the bad news is that he rarely gets the shot off due to the time it takes for his windup. Even with the obvious flaws in his game he is still so talented that he puts up eye catching numbers. The bottom line with Semin is that until he decides to work harder/smarter he will remain inconsistent during the most critical moments of the Caps season. It also does not help that he has bouts of laziness which cause him to be a hooking penalty magnet further hurting his team.

Semin is a rare bird...a playmaker that is lazy. Playmakers can't be lazy because the team relies on them to create opportunities for themselves and their line mates. That is what Matt Bradley was trying to say. He took a ton of heat for it and later retracted his statement but their was plenty of truth in what he said. For $6.7 million dollars Semin can give the Caps a lot more than what he currently gives them. An effective playmaker is a good two way player. It is no surprise that Nicky Backstrom is having a big year because he is playing excellent two way hockey. There is no reason Semin can't be as consistent if he puts forth the effort. It certainly would not hurt him to quicken that windup on that wicked wrister. He may also want to ditch the curl and drag move because when it does not work he is prone to hooking penalties while trying to prevent the odd man rush he just created for the other team.

Given how talented the Russians are no one can blame Capitals Coach, Bruce Boudreau for adopting a strategy of "give the puck to both guys named Alex and get the heck out of their way". Bruce rode that strategy to great success but as we learned in the playoffs, earning a Stanley Cup requires a total team effort. The bottom line for Ovechkin and Semin is they have to evolve or go. No one denies the talent, but if they are not using it for the good of the team they are liabilities and not assets. The Caps made it to the Stanley Cup finals without players like Ovechkin and Semin before. They did it with excellent goal tending and excellent two way hockey. Gretzky's trade proved no one is un-movable and Caps fans need to stop thinking with their hearts and look at the bottom line.

Three questions Caps Nation should be asking

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:25:05 GMT

As Washington Capitals Nation prepares for another run at Lord Stanley's Cup there are some burning questions on the minds of Caps Nation. Caps fans have the most accessible and interactive owner in sports. With the Caps Convention coming up in less than two weeks the following questions need to be asked and deserve some honest answers:

1. How long of a leash does Bruce Boudreau have? Despite all of the signings General Manager, McPhee made over the summer the bottom line for the Caps is are they a smarter, tougher and more disciplined hockey team? The answer starts with the guy behind the bench. If Bruce does business as usual then the Caps will once again cruise through the regular season only to get ousted in the 1st or 2nd round. I believe that the guy that needs to show the most improvement is Bruce Boudreau. He has to drill the basics of hockey into the heads of his European players like hitting, going to the net and positioning. He has to treat all of his players the same and sit the talented ones when they are not getting it done. Bruce Boudreau has to show us something we have not seen before...discipline. He also needs to get better at in-game adjustments as the young Tampa coach embarrassed him in the last playoff series. The bottom line is it does not matter how many new players obtained. What ultimately makes the difference is how all of the players are utilized and that falls on Bruce Boudreau.

2. Is Alexander Ovechkin a leader? He has insane skills, determination and a drive to be the best but none of that means he is a good leader of grown men on a quest for the Cup. Can Ovechkin tell his buddies to put out or sit? Can he lead from the front and make himself and his buddies skate in optional practices? Can he call guys out when they are going through the motions? If Ovechkin wants a Cup as badly as he claims he needs to grow up. Leadership is lonely at times and you may lose friends in the process. Ovechkin is going to be watched closely this season and we need to see growth, maturity both on and off the ice.

3. What is the deal with Alexander Semin? - This summer we had two Caps (Matt Bradley and David Steckel) Call out Semin for being a chronic underachiever with a lackadaisical attitude. Of course many will dismiss these comments as disgruntled former employees but for those of us around for more than 5 minutes who know Bradley and "Stecks" they were not trouble makers or guys that were a problem then or now. These were guys in the room and on the ice with Semin with an educated opinion based on time spent. Not to mention Olaf Kolzig made mention of the same thing years ago. So when three people say you are drunk it is time to give up the keys to the car. With three well respected Caps all saying the same thing why are we paying this guy 6.7 million dollars? If he is that good lock him up. If he is year to year you can get three lesser talented but more helpful players for that money. For those of you that think Semin is irreplaceable their are plenty of teams with their name on the Cup that did not have a player like Semin. Boston proved you can win without any super star forwards.

One hundred million dollar man (version 2.0)

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:08:18 GMT

The first time he made this type of money he had no idea what was expected of him. The saying a fool and his money will soon part ways was applicable. Vick did not take his opportunity seriously and he lost it. I write this with full understanding that some will never be happy with the fact that Vick was allowed back into the NFL or even out of prison.

For those who know me, they would tell you my dog [Kodi] and I are inseparable. Those within my inner circle they know I cried uncontrollably for two days when my chow-chow princess was put to sleep due to health issues. I don't cry often but I love my dogs and treat them as family, not pets. I hate what Vick and others did to those dogs. So why am I rooting for Vick's success?

A few reasons:

Hate-anger and resentment only hurts the person carrying it
Vick is now an advocate for animal rights and doing far more via his money and notoriety than the people who are still so angry at him
The more Vick succeeds the more the cause of animal protection will be elevated in the public consciousness
I am neither willing nor able to sit in judgement of anyone for the rest of their life because that would make my glass house pretty big. Stone anyone?

So while I am happy for Michael Vick and his redemption as a man, a father and an athlete I am happier that the issue of dog fighting as well as the prevention of animal cruelty will have a 100 million dollar spokesperson. Vick did the crime, he did the time and he made it back against some serious odds. That is actually how our system is supposed to work right?

Vick 2.0 fully understands just how precious and rare NFL opportunities are. He also understands now that even a dog's life is considered precious. He had to explain what he did to his daughters which as a parent I know had to be tough. Thus far I have seen improvement in his work habits and his focus to perfect his craft instead of living on only one aspect of the game (running). He would have never understood any of this had he not lost it all. Mike Vick version 2.0 is going to do more for animals than many of the people with the fire torches and pitchforks calling for his head. I am a Redskins fan so there are at least two games I will not be rooting for Vick but the more he succeeds the more animals will be protected. I can live with that.

Turner Sports Desk

Caps mid season report card

As Caps learn new system some new and old truths come to light

Hunter offers no quick fixes and that is a good thing

Names the Capitals should consider for next bench boss

To earn a Stanley Cup Boudreau must go

Despite early season success Capitals fate still tied to the evolution of the Russians

Three questions Caps Nation should be asking

One hundred million dollar man (version 2.0)

Drama-less Redskins appear on upward track

Redskins vs Ravens: Match-ups to look for

Capital gains equal capital expectations

Why the Redskins will challenge for the NFC East title

Ex Capital, Matt Bradley confirms what many Caps fans felt

Why are the University of Miami student athletes going blameless?

Trade Talk: Redskins and Bills talking Chris Cooley for Lee Evans

Grossman comments should raise the bar for Redskins

Redskins early free agent moves nothing but puzzling!

Boudreau, Caps must translate off-season success on to the ice

Washington Capitals rob Colorado with Varlamov trade

Could Marty Turco be Varlamov's replacement in Washington?

Is Brooks Laich worth $4.5 million?

What does Sabourin's resigning mean for the Caps and Bears?

As the draft nears the Capitals have no quick fixes

Review of UFA’s and RFA’s for the Hershey Bears

What can the Washington Caps learn from the Stanley Cup Finals?

The Shanahans failed Redskins and Donovan McNabb

Capitals and McPhee in need of a productive summer

Ovechkin era Caps in need of a history lesson

Caps vs Rangers - Game #4 Preview

Caps-Rangers Game #2 Preview