Recent Comments

Certainly encouraging. I hope we can finish strong

He definitely looked like the real deal when I watched him match up against 3* 2017 CB prospect Madison Cone. Cone played locked down all season except that game.

We want to make sure our lineman are actually available for an entire game

True. It was pretty interesting seeing him getting into it with some Flyers players on Wednesday considering he used to be Philly's Captain. He does have a lot of experience and I can definitely see the reasoning behind picking him up. Hopefully it'll work out and he can help propel them over their annual 2nd Round hump.

I've never been a huge fan of Orpik. I know he's a defensive defenseman but it seems to me like he was never really fast and really was only good at just being in the way. Not a great shot or stick handler either. Having him out though has really opened up possibilities for Niskanen who has really started to come through as a play-making defenseman. Definitely glad to have Carlsson back in the lineup though.

ESPN's national recruiting director thinks we're on the right track:

ESPN national recruiting dir. Tom Luginbill on future #Hokies CB Khalil Laddler: "Upper echelon corner."— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) January 29, 2016

ESPN national recruiting director Tom Luginbill on #Hokies: "They have to be excited about their 18 verbal commitments to this point."— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) January 29, 2016

ESPN national recruiting director Tom Luginbill says #Hokies coach Justin Fuente "has been able to do things rather quietly" in recruiting.— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) January 29, 2016

ESPN national recruiting dir. Tom Luginbill calls future #Hokies WR Divine Deablo "an exceptional talent." Says WR was "position of need."— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) January 29, 2016

For the Caps, it will be very interesting to see what Richards brings to the table. He has a lot of playoff experience and could really help push them over the hump. The bright side of both Carlson and Orpik being out is that Trotz was able to get a good look at those younger Ds.

My shot in the dark, no source guess is that unless we pick up another scholarship punter or walk on, it'll be Mitchell Ludwig. He was listed as a punter all of this past season after being listed as a kicker and doing some kickoff work his first two years on the team.

I agree on most of your counts. I've been surprised at Yandle's lack of ice-time. He's not the best, but he seems to bring a lot of chemistry to the ice. I've always felt that Staal and Girardi would be a very good 2nd D-pairing. They just don't seem explosive enough and (to me) seem to lack some of the awareness needed when playing top-line ice time. Dan Boyle just needs to retire. He's been bad for probably 3-4 years now and hes past the point of return at 39 years old.

I'm not a Rangers fan, but I will say I have been impressed at how JT Miller and Derik Brassard have really stepped it up this year. Brassard won't every be an elite power forward, but from last year to this year even it seems that he's really stepped up his puck movement and quality shots.

As far as Burakovsky, I think he has the talent he just needs more experience. I'd hate to see him go. I think someone like Ladd could help for the short-term, but in the long run Burakovsky will be a better deal. He and Kuznetsov are unstoppable when they both hit their stride at the same time.. it just needs to happen more often. I think Justin Williams brings some good experience and know-how to the second line to counteract both Burakovsky and Kuznetsov's youth. IF the Caps were to trade Burakovsky, I'd love to see him traded for someone like Taylor Hall, Nathan MacKinnon, or Sean Monahan. I don't know if he could pull that kind of trade value, but I'd love to see someone like them with the speed and finesse they have paired up with Kuznetsov.

I do agree though, that if they are going to win it'll be due to Kuzy and Holtby. Holtby has been absolutely incredible this year and it seems like most nights the other team can't find anyway past him. As much as I love Oveckin, and personally see him as one of, if not the best, scoring power forward in NHL history, I think Kuznetsov may be the best overall play-making Russian on the team right now.

Being a Rangers fan though, I'm sure you can agree with me that I just really hope that the Islanders barely squeak into the playoffs only to have whoever they play against wipe the floor with them in 4 straight. They have some good, respectable players like John Tavares, Brock Nelson, Calvin de Hann, Nick Leddy, and Jaroslav Halak, but I think Kyle Okposo, Cal Clutterbuck, and Matt Martin may be some of my least favorite players in the entire NHL.

Any chance of co-eds tanning on the Drill Field Slusher Beach?

FTFY

As an OL, he should get familiar with the Taco Bell on Main

Coach:

Due to a better Linebacker being available, your reservation is no longer confirmed, how do you want to proceed?

Commit:

Coach, I would like to cancel my reservation due to ____________

News people:

Virginia Tech has an open reservation that they will be looking to fill with the cancellation of __________ insert name

Etc Etc

As a resident Rangers fan (been a fan since the Leetch-Gartner-Kisio-Mullen teams pre-Messier), I don't think we have the horses this season. The Rangers don't have enough finish in their top six, especially guys who will go to the net. Kreider has the capability, but until the last handful of games, he has not shown it. Kevin Hayes is underperforming, along with Derek Stepan (who they should have offered Torterella in a package for Ryan Johansen.

Defense is a huge problem. Dan Girardi and Marc Staal have been awful this season and are showing all the wear and tear of being overplayed and blocking shots the last four years. Dan Boyle is atrocious, and yet gets games over Dylan McIlrath (who has been the Rangers 3rd best Dman when he plays.) He also plays over Keith Yandle on the top power play unit, which defies any logic. Yandle is a defensive liability, but doesn't get top end power play time despite the power play being markedly better when he is on the ice. Ultimately, the Rangers may deal him (Andrew Shaw from the Blackhawks is a rumored target) meaning the Rangers got minimal return for a 1st rounder and a future star in Anthony Duclair.

As someone trapped in the Capitals backyard, I am impressed. That said, they still need two pieces I think to win a 7 game series against either the Blackhawks or the Kings. I really think they should offer Andre Burakowsky to Winnepeg for Andrew Ladd. Burakowsky has tremendous upside, but I don't trust him as a kid who will win the types of battles he has to win to be a consistent top six scorer in the playoffs. Ladd has that track record. Also, with Orpik's health questionable, I think the Caps need to look at upgrading their bottom two defense. I don't know who would be a good fit, but they can't go into a major playoff confrontation with Schmidt and Orlov getting 16-18 minutes a game.

Ultimately, if the Caps finally do break through, I am convinced it will only happen if Holtby (who is tremendous) and Kuznetsov are their best players. Ovechkin gets the press, and is an amazing player, but he can be limited in a playoff series where a team can focus on matching up and taking away specific areas of ice (put a left handed D with long reach at right D, overplay the forehand on the rush. Get in the shooting lane on point shots once offensive zone possession has happened.) It isn't his effort that has resulted in less production. It is the lack of variability in his game. Meanwhile, Backstrom just hasn't been the same player since his major concussion. He still puts up numbers, but he doesn't carry the play in playoff games. Kuzentsov does, and is incredibly difficult to defend because he can attack from so many angles, and he has a tremendously tough and savvy player in Justin Williams to create space for him. A guy like Ladd would give him even more room. To me, Kuznetsov is the key guy for the Caps come April.