Yes, there is much to-do in the Capitals org of late. Things like Troy Brouwer and Brooks Laich, but if you picked two articles at random from this blog, I think you could extrapolate what recent news I find most compelling. No, it’s not Jagr’s waffling about which league and then team to join (I secretly hope it’s the Penguins and he absolutely implodes — can’t think of two things that deserve each other more).

» Continue reading “Semyon Varlamov to the KHL (probably)”

The Capitals schedule was released yesterday. The most important date, of course, is actually a preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks, when I will probably make the arduous trip from William and Mary to the Verizon Center to celebrate Phil Kessel’s birthday. Feel free to buy me a drink if you also happen to be there.

The Capitals website was also kind enough to provide a list of dates that they consider important. I am kind enough to provide other events that happened on these dates so we can see how auspicious they really are.
» Continue reading “A Historical Look at the Capitals Schedule”

Are you a fan of Regretsy? Of course you are! So here begins a feature unabashedly “inspired” by it, in an attempt to keep my spirits up during the offseason. It’s called Capital Collectibles, or at least until I come up with a better name (don’t hold your breath).

I dedicate this edition of Capital Creativity to a dear friend of mine, to whom I owe a great deal of my hockey passion. He’s funny, smart, kind, and knowledgeable about hockey, but more than that: he’s Jewish.

» Continue reading “A Religious Capital Collectible”

Every time I get really depressed and vow to swear off Capitals hockey in favour of a sort of wandering existence where I follow goalies instead of teams, something happens to make me rethink that. Aside from the money I’ve sunk into jerseys, hockey cards, scarves, clothes, and shot glasses.

Today, it was the announcement that Olaf Kölzig would be the new Capitals Assistant Goaltender Coach.

I’m not sure there’s a former Capital as beloved as Olie the Goalie. He spent 14 years with us (with the exception of a misguided couple of games with the Tampa Bay Lightning) and picked up a Vezina trophy. He tended goal for Germany at Nagano and made it to two All-Star Games. He was in net the last time we had any legitimate playoff success, which is now 13 long and generally depressing years ago.

He touchingly said he wanted to return to the place that he “considers home” and that two years was quite enough time to spend with his family, which I think we can all relate to. I don’t think his hiring will lead to some dramatic improvements on the squad — goaltending isn’t exactly our weak point anyway — but what it will do is add a new level of inspiration, both to the fans and the team. Kölzig jerseys aren’t just regulars in the Verizon Center; I took this picture at the Olympiastadion in Munich during an international hockey tournament (at which our other most beloved former Capital Peter Bondra was generally managing Slovakia — and unbeloved former Capitals coach Glen Hanlon was coaching). Sentimental hirings can be unabashedly stupid, yes, but nonetheless this has me ecstatic. Maybe it’s the rose-coloured glasses.

Here is a conference call with Olie, though I must warn it’s annoyingly low quality. And here is the official release from Mike Vogel.

All the best, Olie. That’ll shut my yap for a month or two.

As the venerable Chris Difford said, ‘another nail for my heart.’ Arturs Irbe’s contract as the goaltending coach with the Washington Capitals ‘will not be renewed‘. (Link leads to a Google translation of a Sport-Express article)

In summary, he was hired because he was the ideal coach for Semyon Varlamov (aside from certain stylistic similarities, he spoke something like 5 languages, Russian among them), and if his services are no long required, we can only assume there are certain other services no longer required.

Irbe was the very definition of a tiny goalie — well, him and Allan Bester — and he spent the bulk of his time with the Sharks and the Hurricanes. I took a very poor quality cell phone picture of his commemorative comic at HP Pavilion, which, God willing, I won’t be able to find again. He was the sole focus of the only conversation I’ve ever had with a Latvian, and I once watched him eat lunch at a Panera with Capitals coaches Bob Wood and Dean Evason.

In short, he will be missed.

Are you reading The Goalie Guild obsessive-compulsively? Well, why not?! The most recent depth charts were released on June 5 and I must say, they are basically catnip to me. Yes, Goalie Guild! Tell me what Chet Pickard’s outlook is!

Anyway, if you scroll all the way down, you will stumble upon the Goaltending Depth Chart of the Washington Capitals. And there, in black and white…

2. Semyon Varlamov

There have been a lot of indications that Neuvy is our starter over Varly, such as him starting every game of the playoffs. But I don’t trust any source related to goaltending except The Goalie Guild, and to be quite honest I’ve simply been avoiding this until it was, er, unavoidable.

So it’s with the heaviest of hearts that I am forced to look seriously at the probability that Semyon Varlamov will not be with us next season.

» Continue reading “#1 on the Roster, #1 in my Heart”

Are you a fan of Regretsy? Of course you are! So here begins a feature unabashedly “inspired” by it, in an attempt to keep my spirits up during the offseason. It’s called Capital Collectibles, or at least until I come up with a better name (don’t hold your breath).

This little number is particularly appropriate to the Aerys Network. As female sports fans, we’re used to being relegated to the sports merchandise ghetto, where everything marketed to us is pink, glittery, berhinestoned, or all of the above. I rejoice to say that this has no pink, no glitter, and no rhinestones. It does, however, have tassels.

» Continue reading “Introducing Capital Collectibles!”