The Least Popular Man On The Caps

Many of the players on the Washington Capitals are well loved and pretty popular among the fans. Some of the most popular guys seem to be Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green, Brooks Laich, Mike Knuble, Nicklas Backstrom, and the dynamic duo of John Carlson + Karl Alzner. I think it’s great that there are so many popular Caps players on the team, and that’s just naming a few. But here’s a question for you: which current Caps player is the least likeable/has the smallest fan base?

Now don’t get me wrong- I love all of the Capitals. But many people can see that fans flock to the coolest guy, the best player, the newest face, the most crazy personality. It’s no secret that attracting fans is something of a silly popularity contest. It shouldn’t be, but let’s face it- at least in the professional sports world, that’s how things tend to work.

I’m pretty sure that at one point the least interesting man on the team was D.J. King (a.k.a: my former favorite Cap). But tough guy King doesn’t play with the Caps anymore, so he’s out of the running. So instead, I’m nominating the following four (and still awesome) Caps players for the Least Popular Man On The Team. Maybe this will get the word out that these guys need a growing fan base too!

Troy Brouwer

First up is Troy Brouwer. Sure, he might be scoring goals this year, but this new face to the team, hasn’t seemed to get many fans this season. This 26 year old’s beady eyes and itty bitty teeth may not be what many fans find glorious to look at, but if we can all just look past this guy’s piercing physique, I think we can all agree that Brouwer’s crashing hits and sneaky goals are what really matters to the Caps team.

Joel Ward

Joel Ward seems to be left out of everyone’s list of cool players on the team. I don’t know what it is about this 31 year old, but he strikes me as the strong, silent type. Perhaps it’s the Western Conference (Ward’s former home) that the Caps don’t play much against, that adds to this guy’s mystery. I’m not even going to say his lack of popularity if because he’s one of the few black players, because Donald Brashear was hugely popular when he played in D.C., so that hypothesis is out of the question. Come on now, Joel’s worth another shot.

Roman Hamrlik

This third guy is also new to the Caps for the 2011-12 season. Roman Hamrlik is the second oldest on the Caps team (falling by two years to Knuble) at 37. I’m going to guess that Roman’s age is what’s keeping fans from being attracted to him, but frankly that’s just agism right there and it shouldn’t be decided like that. I’m hoping Roman will get more ice time because maybe all he needs is more exposure.

Jeff Schultz

I hate to admit this, but it kind of took me a while to find a good picture of Schultzy. (Thanks, Scarlet Caps!) Schultz’s lack of popularity on the team is kind of odd, since he’s been with the team for a while. Yet, for some reason, he doesn’t seem to garner many fans. “Double Nickel” (as he’s sometimes referred to, for his number is 55) is the Caps’ tallest player coming in at 6’6″ and is a pretty consistent defenseman. This 25 year old is still young and building his hockey career, but I think more fans need to take a second look at this tall glass of water.

So those four men are my nominations for player who needs to come out at the end with “Most Improved” in the team’s popularity contest. It’s sad, I know, but it’s also kind of true. I think D.C.’s fans really need to branch out and learn about some of the quieter, lesser-known guys on the team! I hope this posting will get the word out that there are some other Caps guys who need some lovin’ too!

What Rally Balloon?

Yesterday was my office building’s holiday party, and as a form of decoration, there were many red and white balloons floating atop the ceiling of the cafeteria space. When the party had finished, a co-worker and I snook in and snatched up some of these balloons to take back to our office. I’m not really sure why  my co-worker decided this was what we were to do, but as a fan of balloons, I didn’t argue. I took a red balloon for myself, and proceeded to write all over it, “LET’S GO CAPS!!!” in preparation for last night’s match-up against the Flyers on our home ice.

When I got into the office this morning, my once helium-filled balloon, had now sadly drooped to the floor. How appropriate, as the Caps ending up losing their game last night, 5-1. I’m sad to say that unfortunately like the Capitals, this Rally Balloon just didn’t stand a chance. That balloon which once soared proud and high, had become a symbol of our Nation’s Capital hockey club. Now if that’s not symbolism, I don’t know what is.

Grier Retires From NHL

I first started following hockey in the 2002-2003 season. That was the same year that Mike Grier started playing for the Eastern Conference in the NHL. While Grier had been playing with Edmonton for the previous seven years, this American-born player was back in the U.S. After Grier came to D.C., he continued to play for American teams (Buffalo and San Jose) for the rest of his career. I guess he realized that the United States is really a great place to play professional hockey.

I know we’re supposedly in a post-race society, but I will admit that black hockey players are somewhat of a rarity. Mike Grier though, was extra unique in this regard, because (according to Wikipedia), he “was the first African-American ice hockey player born and trained in the United States to play in the National Hockey League.” Grier was like the Jackie Robinson of the NHL! Cool. In addition to this fantastic statistic, Grier has also had a memorable hockey career, including a bronze medal from the 2004 Men’s World Ice Hockey Championships.

After such a great NHL experience though, Mike Grier has retired. He played in the NHL for 14 seasons  and was last seen playing with the Buffalo Sabres. It’s always exciting to see former Capitals players play hockey these days, so it’s a little sad to see Grier leave the NHL. But maybe he’ll do a “Dale Hunter” and come back as a coach! Who knows.

Texts From Last Night: Caps vs. Blues Game Edition

Last night I was excited to be going to the Caps game. Not only was it another game to add to my list for the season, but it was possibly the most exciting and stressful game of the season (at least so far). The Caps had a new coach and were hoping to get out of a losing slump. Could the new guy fix the team? Apparently not. Or at least not in one miraculous game. So instead of attending a memorable Caps game, the experience was missable and I almost regret going. The game got so bad that I was basically texting my thoughts to myself during the entire third period. Below are those texts from last night describing all the unfortunate thoughts that were brewing around in my mind during a very unfortunate Caps game. Some of them might not make the most sense, but I’m sure I wasn’t the only person thinking non-sensical thoughts during that depressing game…

• “I feel like I don’t even know this team anymore.” -my friend
• I have an idea: the Caps need to get as far away from their days with the old logo and the failing record as possible. Bringing back a former player from that period seems to be jinxing the team.
• A new coach and one game isn’t going to turn the team around… but IT SHOULD.
• Even if the Caps somehow win this, I feel like they’ve already lost it.
• Once a Cap, always a Cap. Maybe bringing back a former player wasn’t the smartest move. (Has Mr. Kolzig been helping us?)
• Well, I guess my year+ record of going to Caps games and having them win was only lasting during the Boudreau Era. Apparently I have helped to usher in the Caps by attending a loss. This is so not cool.
• I started out a Caps fan when the were one of the worst teams in the league. If things are reverted back to that (which is unfortunately entirely possible) I will remain a Caps fan just like before. But I hope the franchise knows that it will be losing a truckload of all those bandwagon fans who joined in on the rush when Boudreau took over DC.
• Look. That’s all hunky-dory that the Caps have really bonded together as a team. But when the entire class completely revolts against the teacher, that rebellious thinking needs to be changed. Does the team need the same kind of treatment that occurred in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest? If it at least changes something (as it did in the movie) then maybe metaphorically yes…
• At least with Boudreau around, Caps fans had come to accept a sense of hope. But with the new Dale Hunter, fans are just lost in doubt and mystery.
• I think Boudreau should have been fired after the upcoming Penguins game. Because at least under him, the Caps have managed to beat the Pens practically every game in regular season. I guess the real test is going to be if the Caps can continue that streak with Dale Hunter.

Caps Don’t Do Well With Coaches Named Bruce

As many of you may have heard by now (boy, does news travel fast!), the Capitals’ lovable coach Bruce Boudreau was fired and Capitals veteran player, Dale Hunter has been called in to fill the coaching job. I’ll let you soak that one in…

I first heard about the news when I woke up to a text a friend had sent me. The radio was on to a discussion about the firing and re-hiring and it seemed like the whole world was talking about how poorly the Caps have been playing this season. Sure, we had a fantastic start to the season with seven straight wins, but I guess the Caps must have gotten exhausted from all that winning and the team broke down.

Many people have been asking me how I feel, as they know I am such a fan of the Caps team. Honestly, I’m sad to report that I’m not that surprised it happened. I used to think that it was somehow my fault that the Caps lost their games if I weren’t available to watch the game. That jinx could work, as I didn’t see the last two games the Caps played with Boudreau, but in all reality, I could also tell that the team was in some odd kind of muck.

So who’s the new guy taking over? Former Capital player, Dale Hunter is the new man in charge. Dale Hunter played with the Caps from 1987-1998, which was before I really became a Caps fan. Sure, you could check out his wikipedia page, but when I first heard the name, I immediately remembered this great Caps Rap which mentions Hunter at 1:08.

With all this being said and done however, it eerily reminds me that the Caps do not have the best record with coaches named Bruce. Who remembers former captain Bruce “Butch” Cassidy? While I’m not going to go and compare the coaching styles of the two men, I will point out that both coaches were named Bruce and both coaches didn’t last very long. To be fair, Bruce Boudreau’s stay in Washington was for a year longer than Bruce Cassidy’s, but still, it was a shame to see both coaches go.

So here’s to hoping that all the Caps really need now is a new coach. Maybe the Caps organization will have learned their lesson and won’t hire any more coaches name Bruce. But for the record, I liked Boudreau. I’m not happy to see that he’s gone, but I am more a fan of the players than the coaches, and when they players aren’t succeeding, then I will support whatever means will get the team to play better. I’m sorry to see the Bruce era come to a close, but I’m ready for the Caps to get their act together.

Orlov Gets Start With The Caps

See that headline? It says that Dmitri Orlov just got his start with the Capitals. Back on Monday, he played his first NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes, and game number two was on Wednesday versus the Winnipeg Jets. I had previously met the Russian kid at a Hershey Bears game, where we shared an incredibly awkward post-game conversation at an autograph session. Orlov is super young and super awkward, but apparently he’s also pretty good at playing hockey too.

Anyways, like I was saying, Orlov played in his first NHL games this week. So it confused me when I picked up a few days old Examiner newspaper today to see this odd photo:

So how come this photo shows Orlov playing against the Columbus Blue Jackets here? Did I miss something? I was under the impression that Monday was Orlov’s NHL debut. Either this photograph was Photoshopped or Orlov was secretly called up a while ago to play against Columbus when nobody knew who he was. This photo brings up some questions and I find this all very suspicious. Where did this photo come from? Why would anyone doctor such a photo? What did Orlov think of playing against one of the consistently bad teams? Where was I when this all happened?

In addition to this mysterious photo, I want to bring up another point. The article from which that photo was taken discussed how Orlov’s English may not be so strong. But Orlov has been playing with the Hershey Bears for some time. Does that imply that they don’t speak English in Hershey, PA? Is Russian the only language that they speak during hockey games and practices? Why doesn’t Dmitri speak any English? What kind of things are they teaching those Hershey boys?

Anyways, despite all this confusion around the mysterious Dmitri Orlov, he has definitely been keeping up on his end. Orlov’s been getting a good amount of ice time for a rookie, he’s been hitting, shooting, and overall impressing the Caps’ team and coaches. I heard a rumor that even if Erskine (the defenseman he’s been replacing) is healthy enough to play tonight, that Orlov might still get the nod from Boudreau to play tonight, because he’s been that useful on the ice. Thatta boy! Keep up the good work, Orlov!

DJ King Art Gallery

In yesterday’s post, I let the world know about my new favorite guy on the Washington Capitals, DJ King. Sure, most of you may not understand my appreciation for the team’s understated underdog, but that’s ok. I’m here to spread some DJ King awareness to my fellow Caps fans. So today’s post is showcasing some fan art I took way too long to create today. I don’t claim perfection, but it does (thankfully) resemble this great man. So enjoy today’s mini art gallery for DJ King!

All We Are Saying, Is Give King A Chance

I have a new favorite hockey player on the Washington Capitals and this will probably come as a surprise to you all. It’s not the most well known player, or the best player, or frankly, the guy who gets the most ice time. But that’s not why I have chosen this guy to be my new obsession, no it is actually for the exact opposite reason. Why can’t the lesser appreciated players get some lovin’ too? You see, my new favorite player is DJ King.

Check out that ringless finger. Nice.

DJ King is unfortunately best known as the Caps’ most consistent healthy scratch on the team. I don’t really understand why he’s rarely on the ice come, game nights. King is known for being one of the toughest fighters in the NHL. And ever since the Caps lost Donald Brashear and then Matt Bradley (and since John Erskine’s been on injured reserve), the Caps have had a sever lack of an enforcer. But King’s more than just a fighter. He’s a pretty decent player too. He just hasn’t really had the chance to show his coach what he’s made of, since he keeps getting the boot. You know, maybe he’d be considered a better player if he had more experience playing. But of course, I’m not in the position to make those decisions.

So I’ve taken it upon myself to draw more attention to DJ King. Heck, I’ll even be his one-woman fan club. (I doubt the average Caps fan even knows who DJ King is, which is a sad, sad, fact.) With this new-found appreciation for the man who also happens to be only a year older than me (he’s 27! Not too shabby!), I have decided to invest some serous money and time into bringing DJ King more often onto the ice. I have the idea to buy my first ever Caps jersey. I would get it with King’s name on the back, though I have a few possible ideas below, that I am having a hard time deciding on…

This is what the standard player jersey looks like. But since DJ King isn't so well known, I feel like having the word, "King" on the back could be assumed to mean something else.

I like the idea of going with his first name initials instead. This could also double as being like a Disc Jockey, which I have claimed to be. But I don't want people to just assume the latter and not get that it's also a player.

This option has a little more humor involved and people might get the point. But is it being too funny? Will it get old after a while?

I’ve got some time still, to think about this too. And maybe I won’t even shuck out the $100+ for the customized jersey and instead opt for the more personal and inexpensive idea of creating my own t-shirt. I’ll have to think things over. But I do think it would be really nice to get a jersey honoring the lesser known guys on the team. Why shouldn’t every team player be special? DJ King needs to be heard!

One More Reason To Disike The Penguins

Last night’s Caps vs. Penguins game was electric. It was not surprising that the game was low in scoring, that the game went into overtime, and of course, that the Capitals won! Malkin was on the ice too, which surprised me, because I had read earlier about how he was going to miss the game. Nonetheless, the game was a fast-paced and exciting few hours.

The one thing that upset me though about last night’s match-up was a certain quarrel that occurred in the first half of the third period. It started out with a hit by the Caps’ Jay Beagle on Penguins’ man, Kris Letang, knocking Letang’s helmet off. This shouldn’t have been such an ordeal, as non-goalie hockey players can play without their helmet on. But this occasion was made into a big deal. Perhaps it’s because Beagle just initially walked away from the hit as if nothing had happened. Letang’s teammate, Arron Asham was so upset about the hit that he took it upon himself to defend against Beagle. It’s frankly, a little silly when you think about the strong camaraderie among the teammates, but it’s also kind of cute. Below is an eight-part recap of what went down. (The video can be found here.)

1) The hit. Beagle knocks into Letang.

2) The walk away. Beagle shuffles it off, as Letang is clearly perturbed.

3) The fight. Beagle starts off with a few solid punches at Asham, but then Asham gets the better of Beagle with a couple strong whacks.

4) Part One of Asham's totally uncalled for "fight celebration*."

5) Part Two of Asham's totally uncalled for "fight celebration*."

6) Grounded. Beagle bloodies up the ice and is knocked out.

7) The damage. Beagle emerges from the ice, with a "Joker-like" gash across his mouth.

8) Helped off. Beagle is helped off the ice, not to return for the rest of the game.

I have no problem with a good hockey fight every now and then. The fight was pretty fair and the cause for it was not too surprising. What I do have a problem with however, is how Arron Asham reacted after he had defeated Jay Beagle in their battle. But was that *fight celebration really necessary? I think not. I know that hockey players [cough, cough, Alex Ovechkin, cough, cough] can be known to be rather showy at times, but that is only acceptable on some occasions. But to gloat about injuring another player is just distasteful and disrespectful. This just gives me one more reason not to like Pittsburgh’s hockey club. Arron Asham should be ashamed for his behavior. Next time just head to the penalty box like a pro. Sure, you can hang your head high, but the lack of regard for your opponent is flat out insulting- not just to the other player/team, but really to the sport of hockey. I expect more class from these guys.

A Refresher Course In The Caps/Pens Rivalry

Tonight begins the first game between the Caps and the Penguins in the 2011-2012 season. It’s a big deal because these two teams have one of the most heated rivalries in the sport. Today’s post is for those of you who want a refresher course on why the Capitals and the Penguins have such a rivalry.

Now, I’m not the most knowledgeable when it come to the history of hockey (my expertise is more about the individual players’ lives), but when it comes to my Caps, I can still properly inform you of the important basics. I’ll start with an early example of the Alex Ovechkin/Sidney Crosby rivalry from this is fantastic commercial that aired a few years ago:

This rivalry between these two star players is important because it is ultimately what created the team rivalry. Brief history lesson time! Alex Ovechkin joined the Capitals in 2005, one year after the rather disappointing year-long NHL lockout. This is the same year that Sidney Crosby entered the NHL with the Penguins. Both players were contenders for Rookie of the Year, and their close ages (Ovie is two years older) also helped to fuel the competition. Plus, to add on the pressure, Ovechkin has more trophies and awards than Crosby, yet Crosby has earned the coveted Stanley Cup whereas Ovechkin has not… yet.

 Best quote? “Crosby is known for doing some whining, Ovechkin’s known for showboating.” – Eric Fehr.

Of course, these two players aren’t the only thing fueling the teams’ rivalry. There are some more “secondary characters” in this thickened plot of battling teams. For example, take the “youngsters,” Evgeni Malkin of the Pens versus Nicklas Backstrom of the Caps. Sure, Backstrom might be the odd man out of the Russian rivalry of the three others, but his amazing gameplay keeps him as an additional teammate to look out for. Also, the Penguins have had a number of former Capitals on their roster (Sergei Gonchar, Brent Johnson, Matt Cooke), so the heat just keeps getting intensified.

Another reason why the two teams are in cahoots? Pretty much what seems to be the rule in hockey, is that if your team has recently played another team in the post-season playoffs, then those teams become rivals. The Capitals and the Penguins have indeed seen each other in the post-season a number of times within the last few years. Add in the last Winter classic between the two teams, and you can imagine the intensity.

Below are a few more video examples of the crazy rivalry:

See 2:14…

 The hanging penguin is a nice touch.

So with that being said, may the best team win. And as for tonight? The game just won’t be the same without Malkin and Crosby who are expected to miss the game for separate reasons. We’ll be waiting for you next time…