A Warrior of Sacrifice May Be about To Get His Due
2009-09-18 14:05:00 For the wagerers among our readership, a real good bet for the lone available forward spot on the Capitals' roster this season is winger Quintin Laing. You could say that he's paid his dues with the organization -- and then some. A 4th round draft pick of Detroit in 1997, Laing broke into pro hockey with the Jackson Bandits of the ECHL in 2000, and it's been mostly bus rides for him ever since. But that's hardly a measure of his present value to the Capitals' organization. Tomas Fleischman's leg injury will briefly open a second roster spot up front, but the opening created by Donald Brashear's departure is for the entire season. That is the one Laing is targeting. Laing first distinguished himself in the Capitals' organization in the 2007 Calder Cup finals with Hershey. It was abundantly clear after game 4 -- a 6-2 win by Hamilton -- that the Cup would be dominated, and won, by Carey Price's remarkable netminding. After game 4 Laing was left with a royall...
By: On Frozen Blog
So Sayeth This Blogger: First Line's Set
2009-09-17 12:35:00 If only Jim Zorn had this kind of offense. Coach Boudreau called out his top line of Ovi-Backstrom-Knuble, somewhat, after Tuesday's Duchesne Cup scrimmage, and on Wednesday the trio apparently got wind of the middling review. The line spent much of Wednesday's scrimmage toying with the opposition, playing keep-away with the puck and more or less humiliating a largely undefended Semyon Varlamov, to the tune of 9-5. The 'A'ces went up 3-0 in a dominant first frame, with tallies from Joel Broda, Kyle Wilson, and Brandon Sugden, the latter Hershey's designated enforcer this season who cleaned up a rebound off of Broda's pipe-pinging. (Broda had a strong scrimmage.)Team 'B' briefly made a rally of it in the second stanza, scoring the first two tallies: Patrick McNeill (a nice camp thus far) and Brendan Morrison. But he 'A'ces went wild thereafter -- Wilson and Oskar Osala (a real solid showing from the big Finn on Wednesday) made it 5-2, and the rout was on. Only an Alexander ...
By: On Frozen Blog
On Being Young, a Longshot, Unknown, and Taught by a Jack Adams Winner
2009-09-16 19:25:00 Very early in this training camp Capitals' general manager George McPhee made an observation about Bruce Boudreau I'd never heard before. The context was a question from a reporter seeking the GM to identify the core identity of his team, and McPhee noted that his head coach, during three weeks of training camp, would be on the ice every day, working with every player individually in virtually every session. That's not something your typical NHL coach does. The point McPhee aptly made was this: in Washington, we've a special head coach, one already distinguished as ranking among the very best in his profession, and when you choose to come to a Washington camp, he'll be committed to improving you as a hockey player. So I asked the coach -- given that so many of the guys at camp this week won't enjoy full-fledged NHL careers, why make so personal a commitment to each and every one? "It's my job, to help make them better," he replied. He seemed to want to leave it at that,...
By: On Frozen Blog
Rocking the Red on a Code Red Day
2008-06-09 18:42:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - It’s 1,000 degrees outside in the blast furnace known as the District of Columbia, the air practically unbreathable, the sun an unwelcome intruder. Well Dr. OFB prescribes that you cool down tonight by sipping a frosty beverage while watching the Capitals’ skates carve the ice. As we mentioned last ...
By: On Frozen Blog
A Capital Week Begins on June 9
2008-06-02 22:24:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Comcast SportsNet is serving up a summer treat for Capitals fans next week. Each weeknight at 7:00 p.m. CSN will show a key game in the Caps’ incredible worst-to-first run into the playoffs, along with new commentary/insights from Joe Beninati each night. I for one will be granting those ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Boudreau Deux?
2008-05-12 22:42:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Waiting for Godot? No, Searching for Boudreau . . . or rather, the next Bruce Boudreau, a.k.a. the next AHL coach or coaches ready to make the leap into the big leagues. In Saturday’s Globe and Mail, James Mirtle highlights a few of the leading candidates and points ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Farewell to Our All-Time-Best Netminder
2008-05-08 13:30:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - It seems reasonable to posit that Olie Kolzig’s play as a middle-thirtysomething netminder during the first two seasons after the lockout was distinctly solid. Not spectacular, clearly, but quite solid. He didn’t have the most formidable blueline corps in front of him, which to some extent his numbers ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Hardware Hopes and World-Class Hockey Help Alleviate Some Local Heartache
2008-05-03 16:24:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Last week, in the throes of a sudden and sour end to the season, it was somewhat difficult to delineate just how successful a season the Capitals and their fans had enjoyed, wasn’t it? Lip service to a terrific run could be mouthed, but there was a pervasive ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Hardware Hopes and World-Class Hockey Help Alleviate Some Local Heartache
2008-05-03 16:24:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Last week, in the throes of a sudden and sour end to the season, it was somewhat difficult to delineate just how successful a season the Capitals and their fans had enjoyed, wasn’t it? Lip service to a terrific run could be mouthed, but there was a pervasive ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Gabby a Finalist
2008-05-01 06:00:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - The Capitals have a chance for a hat trick of post season awards with the Calder, Hart, and now the Adams. From the Washington Capitals Press Release: ARLINGTON, Va. ? The National Hockey League announced today that Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau is one of three finalists for ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Gabby a Finalist
2008-05-01 06:00:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - The Capitals have a chance for a hat trick of post season awards with the Calder, Hart, and now the Adams. From the Washington Capitals Press Release: ARLINGTON, Va. ? The National Hockey League announced today that Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau is one of three finalists for ...
By: On Frozen Blog
At Kettler the Day After
2008-04-23 19:54:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - You can cross one name off your list of free agent concerns for the Capitals this offseason — Head Coach Bruce Boudreau. Speaking with reporters at Kettler-Capitals Iceplex just moments after wrapping up a season-concluding meeting with the team this afternoon, the coach confirmed that he’d had discussions ...
By: On Frozen Blog
At Kettler the Day After
2008-04-23 19:54:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - You can cross one name off your list of free agent concerns for the Capitals this offseason — Head Coach Bruce Boudreau. Speaking with reporters at Kettler-Capitals Iceplex just moments after wrapping up a season-concluding meeting with the team this afternoon, the coach confirmed that he’d had discussions ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Postcards from a Championship Night
2008-04-06 18:00:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - SE Champs Don't Stop Believin Warmups Your Washington Capitals National Anthem in the key of red Red Out Victory Thank You Fans Shirt Off Our Back Shirt Off Our Back Shirt Off Our Back Ovechkin - Post Game Locker Room Poti - Post Game Locker Room Backstrom - Post Game Locker Room Fedorov - Post Game Locker Room Huet - Post Game Locker ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Dear Hershey: Thank You for Sending Us the Magic
2008-04-06 07:16:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Note: the following letter was penned by Hershey Bears Senior Manager of Communications and radio play-by-play voice John Walton on the day that Bruce Boudreau was named head coach of the Washington Capitals last November. AN OPEN LETTER TO CAPITALS NATION 11/22/2007 - To: Capitals Fans far and wide From: Humble Bears ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Reflections from a First-Place Locker Rooom
2008-04-02 07:30:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - “It’s probably the best crowd I ever seen in my life.” - Alexander Ovechkin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wK-q1VcG8FA Copyright © 2008 On Frozen Blog. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news reader, the site you are looking at may be guilty of ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Gabby and Ovie Chat up the Press
2008-03-25 14:00:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Late Monday afternoon the NHL conducted a media conference call with Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau and left wing Alex Ovechkin. OFB was able to listen in and ask a few questions. We figured there would be many about Alex hitting the 60-goal mark. Since Alex’s focus ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Conference Call with Bruce and Alex
2008-03-24 14:00:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenbog.com/ - The NHL conducted a media conference call with Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau and left wing Alex Ovechkin. OFB was able to participate in the conference call and ask a few questions ourselves. We figured there would be many about Alex hitting the 60 ...
By: On Frozen Blog
There is no rumor about this year?s MVP
2008-03-18 16:25:00 It?s quite possible that you don?t care about this. But almost two years ago, I offered a worded argument for Sidney Crosby as the 2005-2006 Rookie of the Year. If you remember, his biggest challenger at that time was eventual winner Alex Ovechkin, Washington?s two-years older, negative-adjectiveless 2004 draft pick. I specify because, as I ...
By: Rumor Me This
There is no rumor about this year?s MVP
2008-03-18 16:25:00 It's quite possible that you don't care about this. But almost two years ago, I offered a worded argument for Sidney Crosby as the 2005-2006 Rookie of the Year. If you remember, his biggest challenger at that time was eventual winner Alex Ovechkin, Washington's two-years older, negative-adjectiveless 2004 draft pick.
By: Rumor Me This
Knee-Jerks & Notes: Caps-Thrash, 3/14
2008-03-15 12:39:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - I’m trying to remember the last Capitals’ game that had Alexander Ovechkin skate sub-20 minutes. He didn’t even hit 18 minutes. He went for 17:40 Friday night. It wasn’t that he failed to perform to Bruce Boudreau’s standards; rather, the coach recognized that Friday represented Atlanta’s third game in ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Two Steps Forward, One-and-a-Half Back
2008-03-02 14:58:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - This one really hurt. The great gains made Friday in Newark were swiftly returned against a lesser foe Saturday at home. It seems incongruent that so stellar a team effort to open a weekend could be followed by so collosal a mess of stinky individualism 24 hours later. But that’s exactly what happened, and ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Goalie Talk out at Practice
2008-02-28 21:04:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Out at Kettler earlier today, I had a chance to eavesdrop a bit on Gabby talking about the goalie situation right before the team headed to the airport. That “plan” that the head coach alluded to yesterday became clearer today. Brent Johnson is the odd man out — he’s the ...
By: On Frozen Blog
McPhee and Boudreau Speak
2008-02-27 01:35:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Both George McPhee and Bruce Boudreau met the Washington media prior to the Caps/Wild game. The Capitals have since released the audio from the press conferences. George McPhee: [See post to listen to audio] Bruce Boudreau: [See post to listen to audio] Copyright © 2008 On Frozen Blog. This Feed is for personal ...
By: On Frozen Blog
First Impressions: Huet and Cooke
2008-02-26 23:04:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - The Capitals hosted a conference call this afternoon with Cristobal Huet and Matt Cooke. First things first: when are the new additions arriving in Washington? Huet comes in tonight during the game, Sergei Federov arrives tomorrow morning and will be at practice, and Cooke is having visa ...
By: On Frozen Blog
The Branding of a Winner in Washington, the ?Good Hockey Market?
2008-02-12 15:24:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Little commented upon during this Capitals’ Renaissance is how many people around town are taking notice: Lots. Suddenly, the downtown rink is packed. The team’s new look is a red-hot hit with the home crowd. The sports section fronts of the city’s newspapers are each week ablaze in full-color hockey victory ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Knee-Jerks & Notes: Caps-Habs, 1/31
2008-02-01 12:37:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - The Caps met Montreal for the second time in three nights. Given that the early headline on NHL.com was “Habs Go for Home-and-Home Sweep,” the Caps had something to prove Thursday night. They also were seeking to avoid consecutive losses in regulation under Bruce Boudreau. Good crowd, good ice, two ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Five Keys to Postseason Qualification
2008-01-07 15:35:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - In inventorying the season’s first half with an eye toward what the Caps must do with their second to break through to the postseason, one must divide October through December into their own halves: Glen Hanlon’s and Bruce Boudreau’s. It’s a fair bet that we won’t see the likes ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Gabby Gets the Big Gig
2007-12-27 14:24:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Near 4:30 yesterday afternoon newly named NHL Head Coach Bruce Boudreau was enjoying his first dinner as an official NHL bench boss in the press lounge of Verizon Center. There was something too arena vendor baked ziti about the scene. I thought about where in Washington I’d want to ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Knee-jerks & Notes: Caps-Rags, 12/12
2007-12-13 15:31:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Out at Kettler Capitals this past July during Rookie Camp, Tim Leone of the Patriot News pressed the case for Nicklas Backstrom spending his first year getting acclimated in North America under Bruce Boudreau. Wednesday’s Washington Post Express profiled Backstrom and his flourishing under Boudreau — 10 points in ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Knee-jerks & Notes: Caps-Rags, 12/12
2007-12-13 15:31:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Out at Kettler Capitals this past July during Rookie Camp, Tim Leone of the Patriot News pressed the case for Nicklas Backstrom spending his first year getting acclimated in North America under Bruce Boudreau. Wednesday’s Washington Post Express profiled Backstrom and his flourishing under Boudreau — 10 points in ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Hyannisport Prez #7 Makes Good
2007-11-23 14:04:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Now that Bruce Boudreau is the Caps’ interim head coach, I figured it was worth revisiting an article that appeared in the Toronto Star in June. He’s finally realized his dream, according to his comments from several months ago: “This is my 32nd year of fighting to get to ...
By: On Frozen Blog
Capitals Name Bruce Boudreau Interim Head Coach
2007-11-22 16:44:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Fresh off the presses at Kettler Capitals Iceplex: ARLINGTON, Va. ? The Washington Capitals have relieved Glen Hanlon of his coaching duties and named Bruce Boudreau the team?s interim head coach, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. Boudreau, 52, has coached championship teams in the American Hockey ...
By: On Frozen Blog
On Frozen Blog :: Capitals Name Bruce Boudreau Interim Head Coach
2007-11-22 12:11:00 (c) OnFrozenBlog - http://www.onfrozenblog.com/ - Fresh off the presses at Kettler Capitals Iceplex:ARLINGTON, Va. ? The Washington Capitals have relieved Glen Hanlon of his coaching duties and named Bruce Boudreau the team?s interim head coach, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.Boudreau, 52, has coached championship teams in the American Hockey ...
Bruce Boudreau?s Revival
2007-06-03 15:19:00 Immediately after Hershey’s 4-2 win over Hamilton Saturday night, evening the Calder finals at a game apiece, Bears’ coach Bruce Boudreau was asked if he was going to pursue a union membership card, as he’d worked so hard to overhaul his team in short order. It was a remarkable transformation. Gone were were the passive PKers ...
By: On Frozen Blog
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