Washington Capitals

Japers' Rink Player Card (click for hi-res version; a glossary of terms used in this post can be found here; data via Behind the Net, Hockey Analysis, CapGeek and NHL.com; h/t Habs EOTP): Carlson and his most frequent partners: 2013 Capitals 5v5 Defenseman Usage, via Hockey Abstract: Carlson's Past Four Seasons (via Hockey Analysis): Previous Rink Wraps: 2011-12 (5.52 rating)2010-11 (8.13 rating)2009-10 (8.50 rating) Key Stat: Carlson was the only defenseman on the Capitals to average more than two minutes per game on each special teams unit. League-wide, he was one of only 13 players to average over 2:45 on the penalty kill and over two minutes on the PP. Interesting Stats: Carlson had 11 points at home and 11 on the road, but all five of his power-play points came away from Verizon Center, while five of his six goals were scored there. The Good: There is a strong argument that John Carlson was the Caps' most important defender this year. He didn't have the most points (at even-strength or on the power play), and he wasn't the best at keeping the puck out of the net, but (as noted above) he was a huge factor in all three phases. Up a goal or down a goal, power play or penalty kill, there was a good chance Carlson would be on the ice. He generally isn't a flashy player, without the kind of personal highlight reel that so many of his teammates have, but he showed up every day (playing in every Caps game for a third-straight season), faced tough assignments (by both Quality of Competition and Zone Starts), did the little things (third in the league in blocked shots, two behind the league-leader) and managed to out-perform his teammates and opponents. In addition to serving as a key component of the D corps in all three phases, Carlson also set a career-best in goals-per-60 and points-per-60 at five-a-side, all while facing the most difficult competition of any Caps defender. While the Caps had mediocre possession numbers on the season as a team, Carlson managed to be near even in both Corsi- and Fenwick-for percentage (regardless of partner), and had a strong Corsi-Relative compared to the rest of the team. And, lest we lose sight of the big picture, we would be remiss if we didn't point out that despite raw Corsi and Fenwick numbers that tread water at best, 60% of the goals that Carlson was on the ice for ended up in the opposition's net. You could argue that the on-ice-shooting% that Carlson got this year is not sustainable, but 10.6% is also not completely off the charts. At the end of the day, when you face the top offensive players on the other team and you manage to out-score them by 50%, you've done a solid job. How the Separation of Alzner and Carlson Strengthened the D Corps Adam Oates sliced through the conjoined hip that was Karl Alzner and John Carlson, and got the results and flexibility he had in mind when he did so. Perhaps most notable in Carlson's 2013 season is that for the first time since he and Karl Alzner became full-time NHL players, Carlson spent more time over the course of the season skating with another defensman than he did with Alzner - in fact, Alzner was just fourth on the list of Carlson's most-common partners, as detailed in the chart above. Separating Carlson and Alzner - a somewhat bold move, given their comfort level with one another (though not given their rough start to the season) - allowed the Caps to ice a deeper defensive corps, providing the coaching staff with more options. That Carlson was out-performing the defenders who faced easier assignments speaks volumes about the work he put in this season, and it's easy to question whether the Caps could have dug out of the early hole they dug and won the division if Carlson wasn't able to carry a shutdown pair by himself (and we do mean "carry," as he spent most of the season with John Erskine). It's hard not to wonder what John Carlson could do with a stronger defensive partner, similar to all t

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Your savory breakfast links: Taking a look back at the season that was for Caps' forwards... [WaPo (Part I, Part II)] ...of which there may be too many next year, as roster decisions abound. [Caps Outsider] There are ways to fix that, of course, one of which is to send a player or two (or five) packing in exchange for some fresh blood. So which players have top value? [Angus Certified] The Caps' blue line put up offense at a rate unmatched since the 1995-96 version roamed the rink, and like most other things that improved this year, the credit goes back to the coach. [Dump 'n Chase] Rating the O-ffense. [DSP] A whole lotta stupid in the sports world this week - particularly here in DC - gives us all a break from a whole lotta Caps-centric stupid last week. Stupidity? In SPORTS?? Unpossible. [WashTimes] Brooks Laich: A fan of both local baseball teams. How wishy-washy diplomatic. And fraudulent, since we all know he prefers the Blue Jays. [RMNB] Finally, happy 22nd birthday to Cody Eakin.

Golf is both a sport and activity that is enjoyed by people throughout the world. Nothing is better than golfing on a bright, sunny day. It takes some hard work and effort to perfect your golf game, but it’s worth it! This article contains some great golf tips to help improve your game. You can determine the best golf stance for yourself by doing this. Your stance depends on your gender, size and height. Perfecting your stance is the first step to improving your overall game. Don’t use a golf cart to go from one hole to another. Walk instead. This is very beneficial to your health as you will be increasing your exercise on the course. Walking also keeps you loose and warms up your muscles. This helps you determine your best stance. It is so crucial for you to have a stance that works well with your individual build and style, but also accomplishes a good swing while allowing for precision. Your game will see significant improvement if you can find the proper stance. Get advice from a professional if you want to buy clubs. Take their advice, and always research the newest innovations and try a wide variety of golf clubs before deciding which ones to purchase. One of the first things you want to get down when learning golf is the proper grip for all of your clubs. A common mistake many players make is thinking that a harder club grip means they can power the ball farther down the fairway. Try to use a soft, but firm grip on your club to maximize your swinging potential. Hold your club as if it were a bird. If you are staring down a really long putt, then you should concentrate your focus on what speed you hit your ball with. Instead of aiming for the hole, read the putt and aim for an intermediate target. That way, you are less likely to either overshoot or undershoot, and your second putt is more likely to be a manageable one. Read blogs or ask an expert before you choose new equipment. This helps you out because they can help you find the perfect clubs, and they’ll also be abreast of the latest developments in new clubs. As we were mentioning, there is no other sport available with the qualities and mind-frame of golf; it is truly unique. It will take a lot of hard work to be a good golfer because, it is a very tough game to master. If you carefully apply the golf advice contained in this article, you will see huge improvements in your golfing abilities.

Our season review continues with a look at the forwards who finished the season on the third or fourth line, and the questions they face heading into next season. If you’ve missed any of the previous breakdowns, check them out … Continue reading →

Japers' Rink Player Card (click for hi-res version; a glossary of terms used in this post can be found here; data via Behind the Net, Hockey Analysis, CapGeek and NHL.com; h/t Habs EOTP): Brouwer and his most frequent linemates: 2013 Capitals 5v5 Forward Usage, via Hockey Abstract: Brouwer's Past Five Seasons (via Hockey Analysis): Previous Rink Wrap: 2011-12 (5.60 rating) Key Stat: Brouwer’s 0.40 goals per game output (and 33 goal pace across a full 82-game season) was the highest output from a Caps second-line winger since Alexander Semin’s 0.43 goal pace in 2010-11. Interesting Stat: Troy Brouwer, a right wing, had a 48% faceoff percentage across 232 draws, a higher win percentage than Mike Ribeiro (45%). The Good: Brouwer had a good regular season, and was among the team leaders in a number of areas. He finished second on the team in goals with 19 (including a team-high 7 game-winners), power play goals with 7, shots (111) and hits (108). His average ice time(18:47) and power play time (1:31) were both third among Caps' forwards (excluding oft-injured Brooks Laich). And he only took nine minor penalties, finishing the season with the fewest minors per minute of any top-six forward. Overall, Troy did what was expected of a second-line winger – he scored, he was physical, he played special teams and he avoided putting the team in bad situations. He even danced. But the bigger question looming over Brouwer before the season started whether he would be able to fill the void left by the departing Alexander Semin, the divisive, love-him-or-hate-him (or both) former Cap who had the second-line scoring winger role locked down in the nation’s capital for years. Big shoes to fill, no doubt, but Brouwer’s stat-line was certainly comparable. In Semin’s last two seasons in DC, he averaged 0.35 goals, 0.76 points and 0.89 penalty minutes per game. Brouwer’s pace in 2012-13 was 0.40 goals, 0.70 points and 0.60 penalty minutes, a similar stat line (save for the reduced penalty minutes). Additionally, Brouwer was able to give the team a bit more in terms of penalty killing and physicality, while not being relegated to a perimeter game. True, Troy wasn't going to pull people out of their seats with marvelous play-making the way Semin often had... but all goals count the same, right? And with Brouwer’s cap hit of $3.7 million, they came at almost a 50% discount over the pricier Semin. More importantly, Brouwer’s ascendancy into the second-line wing at half the price freed up enough cash for the Caps to bring in Mike Ribeiro, aka that coveted 2C the team had desperately needed for years. Aside from the offense and the cheaper price tag, the way Brouwer was used by Adam Oates shouldn't go unnoticed (see above usage chart). He played tough minutes without the benefit of a lot of offensive zone starts, which likely explains his lower possession metrics (47.9% Fenwick, 10th among Caps' forwards, and a -3 CORSI Rel, 11th on team). Give him easier minutes and more o-zone starts, and it’s likely he’d see those numbers creep over to the good side of the Fenwick line. The Bad: While he mimicked Semin’s more recent output in the regular season, he also mimicked Semin’s more recent playoff disappearances - an aspect of Semin's game that were not missed when he left town. The Disappearing Act That Was Troy Brouwer wasn't for lack of trying, of course; he finished the playoffs with a respectable 13 shots and threw in some physicality with 19 hits. But in the end trying wasn't enough, as Brouwer netted just one goal and one assist in seven games against the Rangers, and was noticeably absent for long stretches of the series. Playoff performance aside, a further look at Brouwer’s numbers show that he, like some of his teammates, grew fat on the power play. Of his 33 points on the season, he only produced 13 at even strength, and his 1.35 P

It was far from a seamless process for the Capitals as they transitioned to a third coach and third system in just more than a year. As players grew into their roles under Coach Adam Oates, the team pulled itself … Continue reading →

Your savory breakfast links: Alex Ovechkin sits down for a one-on-one with Mike Vogel. [Monumentall (video)] If post-season player evaluations are your thing, today is your day: Troy Brouwer. [GM on a Couch, and look for our take on his year later this morning] Jack Hillen. [Peerless] Tomas Kundratek. [Ibid.] Jeff Schultz. [RtR] Tendies. [WaPo] And here's a look at the Caps' cupboard in Chocolatetown. Yeah, me neither. [THW] Y'know, the Reading Royals' goalie Riley Gill has been putting up some great numbers in this Kelly Cup run. Good enough that Coach Courville invited the Caps' scouts to come see for themselves. [Reading Eagle] Checking in on the players as they start their summer vacays: Karl Alzner is gone fishin'. [@MattHendy26] Brooks Laich rolls with the Sports Junkies. [106.7 The Fan] Here's more on Braden Holtby 's visit to his old stomping grounds in Saskatoon ... [Star-Phoenix, Shaw TV (video)] ... plus a few leftovers of Ovi dutifully stumping along at the Gagarin Cup celly. [Life.ru (video), Sports-Express (pics)] Don't call it a comeback. At least not yet. [CSNW]

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Ah, Sarge. A moment of glory. (WaPo) As the Washington Capitals’ 2013 season has come to a close, and many words have been written about the team as a whole, it’s now time to look at this club at an individual level. As such, we will be taking a look at each player who played a significant role on the club this season and what they could bring in the future. Next up is defenseman Jeff Schultz. Season Summary: Schultz played pretty regularly up until the end of March, seeing playing time despite a poor season due to injuries. Overall, Sarge played in 26 games with three assists and a minus-6 rating while posting a corsi rating of -7.84 and a corsi rel of -8.2. Schultz never seemed to find his groove as a stable, complementary defenseman this year, which he has proven that he can do in the past, and it was so bad towards the end of the year that he was sent to the press box at the end of March and did not return. It was a disappointing year for the double nickel in just about every facet. Grade: C- Role Play: As stated above, Schultz had previously made his case as a relatively reliable, solid defensive defenseman who kept the puck out of his own net despite constant cries that he didn’t “hit people enough” by the fanbase. But those wheels totally fell off the bus this year, as no matter who Oates put him with, he was decidedly poor according to both the eye test and metric test. Schultz failed to even come close to justifying his salary and took a big step backwards by almost all accounts. Grade: C- Playoffs: Schultz did not appear in a postseason game. Grade: N/A Future Potential: Schultz is almost certain to have played his last game in a Capitals uniform, as he has fallen out of favor hard with Oates and there is no need for him on the roster with the growth of Steven Oleksy as well as the presence of many young defensemen in Washington’s system. His salary cap hit would free up room necessary for people who are actually in Oates’ plan, so it seems as though this is an obvious choice. Expect George McPhee to try and trade him, and if no partner is available, hand him an amnesty buyout. Grade: C- Harry Hawkings is a college student credentialed to cover the Capitals for RtR. Follow him on Twitter here for all your news needs this season.