©2010 On Frozen Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Mercifully. And emphatically.

Good riddance.

May it never return.

Here’s its tally sheet: zero Cups won, one playoff series won (barely), zero opponents intimidated. (Ever.) Now, we’ll try something new, which is actually something old, which is actually something quite intrinsic to hockey. And which is actually something quite fun for fans.

Our boys will still score goals in bunches, still run away with another meaningless division title, but they’ll have a little more fun in the corners, and after whistles, and the more physically vulnerable among them will skate with just the slightest increase in comfort, with a sense of a bit of a guardian angel at the near, which can make a lot of difference.

We’ll play hockey again in D.C., beginning this fall.

How swiftly did George McPhee’s acquisition yesterday of St. Louis Blues Tier I toughguy D. J. King change the hockey culture in Washington? Oh, in a few seconds’ time, beginning with the Washington Post’s Tarik El Bashir reaching the newest Capital on the phone and immediately asking him about L’Affair Talbot. Pittsburgh Penguin Max Talbot earlier this week ran his mouth on Pittsburgh radio in the leadup to the Winter Classic kickoff press event at Heinz Field, as any Penguin is qualified and entitled to do when it comes to ‘dissing our captain and our team and not expecting any retribution for it. When informed of this slight the new Cap responded, in effect, ‘Is it New Years Day Yet? Death to punk Francophones in powder blue sweaters.’

Yes, yes, yes, the Caps-Pens rivalry just got a whole lot more fun yesterday. So did hockey nights at Verizon Center this coming winter.

Yesterday’s trade with St. Louis is being characterized by media outside of Washington as “minor,” which is understandable, given the respective NHL experience and production of the two players involved. The trade is anything but insignificant, however, for Washington’s hockey community, and most especially its newest supporters, the arrivals of the past few seasons, who’ve yet to be personally introduced to hockey’s most elemental and enduring attribute: accountability. Also, mayhem shifts as momentum adjustments.

Moreover, McPhee’s move yesterday represents an explicit acknowledgment by management that the 121-pt. regular season Southeast dynamo of last season was flawed. Physically. In just the last two weeks we’ve learned that the head coach and the GM want Big Joe Finley in a Hershey Bears’ sweater this autumn and that the organization was willing to part with a solid young prospect in Stefan Della Rovere in order to secure a Top Cop without much NHL experience. And injury history. That’s a culture change all right.

And all of a sudden the autopsy of the Caps performed on NHL.com last week by Dan Rosen — that the toughening up of the Caps would extend to the team’s blueline — seems a heck of a lot more likely this morning. Bring it on.

* * * * *

About five minutes after news of the trade rippled through Twitter yesterday and I’d partially digested its impact, I thought about Matt Bradley. I thought about his health and welfare looking ahead, and what this trade most especially meant for that. Last season Bradley, a middleweight, was asked by the Capitals to police, rather singularly, as a heavyweight. His valor was unassailable, his success . . .  and in reacting on Twitter I termed what was asked of Brads last season “immoral.” Now Matt Bradley, who is a good and important hockey player in Washington, can concentrate on playing good and important hockey, and also likely lengthen his career.

* * * * *

This was a good old fashioned hockey trade. By virtue of having Cam Janssen, the Blues didn’t need D.J. King. The Capitals, conversely, were without an enforcer altogether, and possessed quality prospects in such depth that parting with one wouldn’t sting all that much.

* * * * *

A thought on what might be termed the atrophy of appreciation for hockey’s rugged side, a byproduct, I would allege, of the style of play and roster makeup of recent Capitals’ clubs: It’s telling to me that our advocacy at OFB for a modest injection of toughness in the lineup has been interpreted by some as akin to going Ogie Oglethorpe as a blog.

* * * * *

I can’t be convinced that there’s anything incompatible between Gabby’s system and carrying out hockey’s code. I saw plenty of old time hockey up in Hershey while Gabby guided the Bears.

I also never believed that George McPhee the manager who recently cited the Detroit Red Wings as evidence that hockey had moved beyond old-style enforcement (the same Wings who employed Brad May last year) experienced some epiphany uprooting him from the very style he played in the NHL. Rather, enforcers who can actually skate and play a bit are a rare commodity today, neither produced in Europe to any degree nor much available in a modern Entry Draft (which explains the buzz that Dylan McIlrath attracted last month in Los Angeles). McPhee simply couldn’t tout a commodity he didn’t possess.

Part of hockey’s healthy evolution over the past decade has included the elimination of the shiftless knucklehead in Bauers. That’s a good thing. But because our game no longer tolerates tacking in the neutral zone, or players crawling up over plexiglass and fighting fans, it doesn’t follow that a legacy component of the game — something in its very DNA — should be eradicated as well.

* * * * *

You’ve heard of market corrections in real estate and finance. NHL clubs in increasing numbers very recently have made corrections to a market that conspicuously moved away from toughness post lockout. Hockey could use a little more hatred in its present product. I think we’re on a course to return a bit of it back. Maybe Brian Burke deserves a lot of credit for reminding hockey of its double-fisted DNA. But there was simply no way George McPhee was going to dispatch his fineese club to Madison Square Garden this season to face the Rags and their new Boogeyman and have Matt Bradley police the evening, I don’t believe. That would have been a slaughter wish.

* * * * *

We aren’t done toughening up, I don’t believe.

* * * * *

The cold hard truth is that only one Capitals’ club has ever advanced to a Stanley Cup finals, and among the regular skaters on that roster were the likes of Mark Tinordi, Brendan Witt, Joe Reekie, Craig Berube, Chris Simon, and Dale Hunter. Not a coincidence, I’d submit. Yes that club caught breaks that postseason, but indisputably they were tough to play against in the only season that counts.

The Capitals’ skaters that I believe ultimately will one day raise high above their heads Lord Stanley’s chalice will have an abundance of high-end skill much like the present Caps do, but they will be joined in battle by a special forces set. Think of this roster as Beauties and the Beasts. A beautifully ugly new beast is packing his bags for D.C. as you sip your morning joe.

©2010 On Frozen Blog. All Rights Reserved.

The Washington Capitals have traded Stefan Della Rovere for veteran tough guy D.J. King. Della Rovere is a young Capitals forward who has yet to play in the NHL.

Della Rovere was the Capitals' 7th round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the large majority of his career in the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 65 goals. He was called up by the Hershey Bears and played two playoff games.

King was a 6th round pick by the Blues in 2002, and has played for the Blues almost exclusively as an enforcer. With a career total of four goals and nine points, King has spent his career using his fists more often than his hockey stick

King has a total of 185 penalty minutes, 100 of those coming in the 2007-8 season. Needless to say, the Caps were looking to add some muscle to the team, something they lacked this past season.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Is it just me or did the southeast division get a little tougher? I do believe they did. I get to see the southeast division a lot here in Washington and as I noted earlier in the year, the Capitals were pretty dominant last season but I’d say change is blowing  in the wind.

While the Tampa Bay Lightning have had Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, you have to admit that the arrival of Steven Stamkos and the evolution of Steve Downie added some extra flare to their goalscoring. But this upcoming season they get a seasoned veteran who knows how to deposit 30 goals a year into the back of the net. Hello, Simon Gagne.  If that doesn’t prove to you that TBL is emerging as stronger, I get it. Gagne has one year left on his contract and you are thinking disposable. Don’t dismiss them so fast.

Two words: Steve Yzerman. Those two words when strung together with the term GM means long-term emerging threat to me and I think it should to you too. Look for TBL to build and look for them to be a hard working team on a mission.

Still not convinced that the Southeast division got tougher? The Atlanta Thrashers. I don’t know that they’re going to be the second coming of Chicago (and I don’t believe that they will) but I believe they did an outstanding job bringing in some well needed goalscoring and presence.  Take a look at who they’ve acquired and tell me they didn’t improve. I dare you to.

What am I doing bringing all this up? After all these points don’t you think the Capitals now have a bit of a different focus going into the new season? I think they do. Something tells me they may have to work a little harder this year earning the division title. Now before anyone jumps down my throat I didn’t say they won’t. I’m merely saying it will be a little harder trying to get there this upcoming season.

Jodie Smola
NHLHS Washington Capitals Correspondent
jsmola@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @phillysunshine

According to Andy Strickland and Jeremy Rutherford the St. Louis Blues have sent enforcer DJ King to the Washington Capitals. King agreed to a two-year contract extension totaling $1.25 million prior to the trade.

King was the Blues 6th Round pick (190th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Since making his NHL debut on October 5th, 2006 King has appeared in 101 games with the St. Louis Blues. In that time frame he has accumulated 4 goals, 9 points and 185 penalty minutes.

While one of the strongest and fiercest fighters in the NHL – he has slowly fallen out of favor in St. Louis. Back to back injury plagued seasons and the growth of local boy come home Cam Janssen have limited DJ’s opportunities to play. Only appearing in 13 NHL games the last two years.

In his last full season King appeared to possess the skill required to take a regular shift every night. After the long term shoulder injury in 2007 King came to camp on 2009 looking to make his way back to the roster. By that time Janssen had taken his fair share of punches and endeared himself to many a Blues fan. Much of the fanbase had grown to believe in Cam as the better option for an enforcer and Cam backed it up at camp. His skating, stickhandling and hockey sense all noticeably improved. Janssen still has far to go, but has quickly hit the same playing level as DJ King.

It appears that the local appeal and lack of injury history turned the table in Janssen’s favor.

In return the Blues acquire Stefan Della Rovere. He was the Caps 7th Round pick (204th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The 5’11, 200-pound forward has a large amount of winning experience. He was a member of the 2009 Canadian WJC Gold Medal team and the 2010 Silver Medal team. HE captained the Barrie Colts in to a deep OHL playoff run. To close out his 2010 season he played for the 2010 Calder Cup winning Hershey Bears of the AHL. In 230 OHL games, Stefan registered 138 points (65 goals, 73 assists) and 479 penalty minutes.

Yes, 479 penalty minutes. For those of you who took in the last two U-20 World Junior Championships you know what I am talking about. Della Rovere was a Grade-A pest for Team Canada. He is an aggressive and tough forward who will get under opponents skin. There is the potential for a the thin line between right and wrong to be crossed. However, the same can be said of any player of his ilk. His game lives on the edge and teams benefit because of it.

He is not Patrice Cormier.

This is another solid deal made by Doug Armstrong. Turning an unnecessary surplus in to quality depth. Della Rovere has shown he can play at the highest levels and will get a shot in St. Louis. At age 20, he will not be heading back to the OHL. The expectation for now is that he will compete against Vlad Sobotka, Brad Winchester and BJ Crombeen for time on the energy lines. Most likely he will start the season with the Blues AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen.

You can find the full release from the Blues on their Official Website.

Jeff Quirin
NHLHS St. Louis Blues Correspondent
jquirin@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @MuSigma45

More for your Wednesday night our-skill-players-just-scored-some-serious-protection celebration — a fight card for D.J. King from hockeyfights.com. The Caps have yet to confirm the deal, but solid hockey media pros are corroborating on this King story. Assuming it’s true, the Capitals have injected some much-needed toughness into their finesse-heavy lineup.

©2010 On Frozen Blog. All Rights Reserved.

The last three NHL campaigns have ended in bitter disappointment for the Washington Capitals, as they have won just one playoff series though each regular season produced a Southeast Division Championship.  

Many players have developed reputations for disappearing in big games and important situations, but one young defenseman looks to be the one to break that trend in the nation's capital.  

John Carlson, a 20-year-old American born defenseman has emerged as a confident, clutch force on the Washington blueline.  

Carlson lives for big game situations, and has delivered offensively when his team needed him the most.  

During this winter's World Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatchewan, Carlson notched the overtime game winning goal—propelling the United States past Canada in the Gold Medal game.

The young blueliner's penchant for the dramatic continued during the Capitals' first round matchup against the Montreal Canadiens.  

As the Capitals battled back from a 4-1 deficit in Game 2, the Canadiens held a 5-4 lead with just over a minute to play. Carlson then struck—wiring a wrist shot from just over the blueline to send the game to overtime.  

Though the Capitals were eliminated in seven games, Carlson lead all Caps' defensemen in points and showed he belongs in the NHL.  

Weeks later at the 2010 Calder Cup Finals, the Hershey Bears trailed 2-1 in the series, and sat deadlocked at 2 late in Game 4.  Once again, Carlson came through in the clutch, scoring the game winner with just over two minutes remaining.

This intangible that Carlson possesses, an ability to produce in big games and clutch situations is something the Capitals desperately need.  

For a team that features offensive players who have a tendency to disappear in these important games such as Mike Green, Alexander Semin and Tomas Fleischmann, Carlson's confidence and ice-in-the-veins demeanor is an important addition.  

Carlson's rise to NHL stardom has been a quick ascent, jumping from the Atlantic Junior Hockey League's New Jersey Rockets to the bright lights of the NHL in just four seasons.

His development as a defenseman is critical, but he possesses the ability to take over games, which is a rare quality to find in a young player.  

For a team that has an embarrassment of riches in terms of talented young players, Carlson's impressive championship resume is a welcome addition, and a critical one for this squad hoping to take the next step towards bringing a Stanley Cup to D.C.  

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

There was a palpable buzz at the power plant early yesterday afternoon, for the Hershey Bears were making their first-ever visit to the historic site, and bringing along a special piece of hardware: the 2010 Calder Cup trophy. TMI has no small number of Bears’ fans (especially season ticket holders), and so this visit by this championship organization created a most special break from turbine room duty and reactor operator training in the middle of a mid-summer weekday.

The Bears do something special with this special trophy, the second-most famous in all of hockey. A team staffer maintains a full and strict travel schedule for it, and the team wants it moved all about Pennsylvania during the summer, where Bears’ fans are widely dispersed. And they want fans to get up close and personal with it. The Calder is heavy — more than 30 pounds it seems — and so the Bears’ John Walton stands ready to assist smaller members of the community with a photo-worthy lifting of the American League’s grand prize. This he did a few times Tuesday in the TMI cafeteria.

Calder also travels well beyond Pennsylvania. It gets Fed-Ex-ed at times. Since the Bears began winning it in bunches as affiliate of the Washington Capitals it has traveled, Walton estimates, to every Canadian province in summer time. It’s already visited Mathieu Perreault in Quebec this summer.

My most recent view of the Calder Cup came out on Giant Center ice after finals game 6 nearly six weeks ago, where it moved from Bear to Bear amid a victor’s shouts and hugs, an overflow Giant Center crowd remaining crammed in jubilation at the rare sight of a Calder celebration at home. I was reminded about how special that moment was to the central Pa. community yesterday as I saw the plant workers pass digital cameras back and forth among one another and reminisce about a 76-win hockey season.

Tuesday’s encounter with Calder seemed much different from last month’s but every bit as special to me: this was the Bears’ organization vividly reminding its community that it shared a stake in the triumph, that their emotional investment as fans merited a special, tangible reward. Hockey’s championship connections with its fans are more impressive, more personal than those of any other sport. This I freshly observed on Tuesday.

I met John Walton in the TMI parking lot near 2:00 Tuesday, and just returned from summer vacation, he welcomed Calder’s weight in his arms relative to that of his family’s travel luggage. We didn’t make it more than 20 paces from his car before the first plant worker stopped us with surprised admiration and the usual request. The Calder Cup stops for all photo requests, I learned on Tuesday.

We were ready to resume our arrival in the plant cafeteria, and somewhat reflexively I just lifted the trophy and marched it into the dining hall. For some years now the Hershey Bears have afforded me all manner of access and perks and support, and I guess I just felt like I was back among family, and presumptuously able to so participate. It was hot out, too, and I wanted to give JW a bit of a hauling breather.

Hockey’s hardcore fans come from all walks of life, and among those at a big power plant, all job descriptions. Many of the employees on Tuesday still wanted to talk about that sudden reversal of fortune Hershey enjoyed in the middle of Calder Finals game 3, when it sure looked like a 3-0 series hole was soon to seize the Bears. I thought it appropriate that the analogy of a light switch getting turned on in Hershey’s favor was articulated at a power plant yesterday.

There’s a great success story, too, about TMI, for those interested in the backfile on America’s most recognizable nuclear plant. After the accident in 1979, it took fully six and half years to get approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restart the other reactor on site. That reactor recently set a world record in the nuclear industry for operating continuously for 705 days, and today it reliably provides electricity for more than 800,000 homes and businesses. On Tuesday excellence met excellence for the first time, and it was love at first sight. Also on Tuesday, TMI employees asked me what I could do to get that other hockey trophy up to the site for a visit.

photo by Ralph DeSantis, Exelon Corp.

©2010 On Frozen Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Talbot then stated: "I just hate the guy." 

Talbot, who has split time between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins of the AHL, seems to have forgotten about not giving the other team "bulletin board fodder." 

I understand Talbot is trying to promote 2011's Winter Classic, which will be a game featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals, but he could have come across a little more mature.  

Calling the two-time NHL MVP "a real douche" is fairly childish and not a very smart way to promote the NHL's second most heavily hyped event.

Hopefully someone from the NHL office gets in touch with Mr. Talbot and lets him know that this is the NHL, not the WWE, and the "morning zoo" radio comments do not help the game in the least.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com