But here is more. We were still talking after our deal was rejected at three years for $5 million and we were one of the teams that kept driving the price up. I felt that we didn’t want to be used as a stalking horse and to be party to a deal that kept driving a players’ price up when we couldn’t consummate a deal and where we could be left without a number one goaltender. We are quite fortunate that George McPhee had a plan B. We landed a number one goaltender and in retrospect, the term and deal economics are better for our team. It gives us more optionality and we have a player who truly wanted to play in DC in front of our great fans. And we weren’t considered a team that did bad deals in free agency.
It is now time to look forward NOT backwards. No more discussion of the past, just looking forward to our next set of signings; to rookie camp; and then onward to welcoming Jose Theodore to our city and to our team. Go Caps!
Hey KEYS, I want to thank you for keeping Laich in forefront of conversation. Maybe some other people will realize that you can like hockey and players for more than one reason. Who cares why, as long as they do well and tickets get sold. Do guys only like Beyonce because of her singing? Name one of her songs…Cheers.
@Jim:
In the first few minutes after hearing about the Theodore signing, I was ticked. I must own up to being one of those “the sky is falling” people. But after I sat down, let it sink in, thought about it, and read JP’s take on the situation, it really does make sense.
The difference between Huet and Theodore is $1.1 million. In the situation the Caps are in at the moment, that $1.1 million could be very important. Remember the lockout? Yeah, we have a little thing called the salary cap now, and the Caps have ~$6 million left under the cap to sign Morrisonn, Laich, Fedorov, Gordon, and Fehr. If Cristobal was here, that number would be $5 million for five players, three of who are probably going to make more than a million. If Theo instead of Huet means we get to see ShaMo, Laich, and Sergei back, goodbye Cristobal. He’s not better enough to justify losing those guys.
Plus, the way you talk about trades, what if Cristobal doesn’t (and he likely won’t) keep up those stellar numbers he had down the stretch? It takes two to tango, as they say, and in this salary-capped world, a team would not be interested in an overpayed goalie. As far as the buyout option, well, it’s really easy for you to spend Ted’s money, isn’t it?
And I’d like to echo everyone elses’ comments. Ted, what can I say? This team is in better shape then it’s been in in years. You and GMGM keep it up… Whatever ‘it’ is seems to be working, regardless of what certain people think.
Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. I know that Laich will be here come September (and Gordon and Fehr).
From what I hear, the biggest issue with Fedorov is not whether he wants to sign here, but rather if he wants to play hockey this winter at all.
Now is the time to pounce on Jaro Halak…he’s the Montreal goalie you guys should have been after. Halak is an RFA, but he will be a better option than Theodore in 2 years. Get Halak, play the Hot-Hand game for the next 2 years, then dump Theodore, and let’s win a Cup with Halak.
Jim, very nice how you covered your butt so you’ll be right no matter what happens with Theodore. If he’s good it will be “due to nothing but luck.” If he isn’t so great, well, you called it. Give me a break. Also, it isn’t just 500K per year, it’s a total of 7.4 MILLION. Do you really think Huet will be worth 5.6 million in the fourth year? I don’t. If the Caps take the extra money and put it into a stay-at-home defender we may be way better off. I think everyone wanted to see Huet stay but it’s a business and you have to draw the line somewhere. It’s not like hockey generates money like the NFL or NBA (sure wish it did!). Ted and GMGM are doing a very good job. GO CAPS!!
Hey KEYS good news i hear Ted is looking to sign Brad Pitt.
Livinit -great point- but as soon as olaf steps back on the ice in dc there should be an informal short video tribute which will allow the fans to immediately thank him for his contributions off and on the ice. A more formal ceremony (and possible employment with the caps)can follow once he has retired.
Sorry I’m not going to congratulate having a “plan B”. Yes Ted is a great owner and yes maybe Huet tied our hands a bit but did anybody really follow Theodore last year? Let me enlighten you, he started the year off splitting time with Peter Buhdai. He only got the starting job after the all star break and for the last 20 or so games so to say that we have a #1 goaltender is a bit of a stretch. We got the tallest midget out there available via free agency. What would have been so wrong giving Huet another 500k per year and an extra year? Players can be traded and contracts can be bought out if one of our prospects steps up to the plate and performs. The difference in the contracts is approximately 1M but it’s a huge gamble to see what kind of goalie Theodore is going to be vs. what we already know Huet is. If this works out it will be due to nothing but luck. I’d rather have Khabibulin here who is now Chicago’s backup then Theodore. The unknown can set us back another year or 2 in our quest for a Cup. Hope is not a strategy and hoping Theodore will perform is gambling with the most important position in hockey. Not to mention Olie signed for a whopping 1.5M! You tell me who’s going to be the better bargain for the money. Olie will start and be an average goaltender and so will Theodore but then compare the salaries. Sorry folks but this deal stinks to me. GMGM had his best year yet but this is also his worst mistake. Here’s to having some luck.
“It is now time to look forward NOT backwards. No more discussion of the past…”
Mission Accomplished, Ted!
While I may not be happy with the way things are handled sometimes, I usually am. As far as the RFA and UFA(other than Olie) situations have been handled, you’re doing a fine job. Thanks Ted, George and the entire Capitals organization. You are by far the best in the league.
Ted:
I agree and for the record immediately agreed that the 2 year $4.5/yr deal for Theodore was the right thing to do. In fact I was gald Huet walked on the 5M for 3 yrs. Seriously track my posts here in the blogspere. Also it was clear you were being played by a guy who really was silly (Bartlett) since now I’ve got to believe this will color his negotiations for several years to come. I also really believe Theodore wants to be here and he is very talented, the second half of last season and the first playoff series this year he showed what he can do again when his game is on.
I’m psyched. The only thing I don’t like is it’s clear if you are into hockey and post comments on blogs you must be a bit of a horses ass – just look at the comments on Capitals Insider. Geez now people are railing against the Aucoin signing – a league minimum contract – silly boys, Trix are for kidz….
Can’t wait till next season, LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!
First off I love ya Ted and I think you guys are doing great, and I am trying to be patient with the rest of the signings etc.! and you’ll have to excuse this little rant I am about to go on….
Hey Keys, speak for yourself and your wife!!!! I cannot stand it when people (i.e. men) assume that female hockey fans only care about a hockey player’s looks! God knows I want the Caps to resign Laich but it has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with how he looks! He is a great player and brings a lot of multi-purpose skill to our team, he is a key ingredient to our continued success.
If the Capitals don’t resign him am I going to stop watching and going to games? are you nuts? I mean that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! Personally as a female fan your post is the most ridiculous and almost offensive argument I have ever heard period, and to be honest it should go up there on Ted’s wall of shame for most craziest requests and comments!!!! and if not resigning Laich means that women caps fans or any cap fans stop watching hockey or the caps it means to me they were never really fans to begin with…i.e. don’t let the door hit you on the way out! I have had it with sexist, and ignorant comments about female hockey fans!!! I am a fan of the game of hockey period, not looking for boyfriend or some kind of celebrity crush!!! I don’t understand why this is so hard for some males to understand! Hockey is the greatest game in world and we are blessed in Washington to now have the greatest hockey player in the world playing for us every night!
Ok rant over, it just drives me absolutely nuts!!!! LETS GO CAPS!!!
P.S. Note to George- You totally have my permission to resign Laich/Fedorov/Morrison ASAP! (I am kind of getting anxious waiting around
Jose is the right choice, hands down. He is younger and has a better track record. Should he return to Hart Trohpy form or clse to it, the Caps are in a perfect position. 2 young kids in the minors to groom and the potential to sign a asset with gas in the tank. Nice Job Ted!!
What is up with Brooks and Feds?? You signed another Free Agent, but not the ones we all are hoping for…We bought season tickets for 2008-2009 the very night of the Southeast Div. win because we hoped the team could stay together. We want to keep Brooks, even if it means losing Feds. He is so fan friendly
Ted,
I just hope that when #37 decides to call it quits there is a little room in our future for such a big part of our past.
Agreed!!
GMGM did a great job. I don’t understand why anybody should blame him for letting the man with a wrong attitude go. (that is Huet) Ted, you’re a great owner and I can tell right away that you really care about our team. You’re an example of how the owners in the Pro. Sports should communicate with their fans. Thank you Ted!
Lets Go Caps! (Even though I’m from Vancouver, BC)
I was upset about not signing Huet, but now I just see he was after the money and years, which is somewhat understandable. But anywho, I just can’t wait until our guys score some goals on Huet and Kolzig(if he plays against us)
We signed up for season tickets this year, so I can’t wait!!!! GO CAPS!
As always Ted, thanks for keeping us informed. This is just one of the many reasons the guys on XM’s Hockey This Morning gave you another shout out as one of the 3 best owners in the league. Go Caps!
With all due respect, I think the Caps put themselves into a tough position by choosing not to rebuild between the pipes at the same time we started to rebuild everywhere else.
Now our players are peaking with Olie over the hill and not much of a backup plan. Theodore is a big question mark.
So yeah, George did the best he could with the situation we had at hand but our inaction and overreliance on Olie put us in that position in the first place.
Ted,
You have to sign Brooks Laich. My wife and I have been fans for years, season ticket holders for three years and you almost lost us when you traded Zednik. My wife has liked to watch 3 players for their style on the ice, (Ovechkin…of course, Zednik and now Brooks Laich.) If you don’t sign him, you will lose a lot of the female base. Lots of women go to watch Brooks skate. He as my wife and her co-workers call him..”eye candy”. Him being on the team allows me to have season tickets and her interest in the caps. She is still a huge Zednik fan, he is her first bet, but she believes that if she likes a player we will lose him. You have to sign him, besides he has great on and off ice chemistry with Green. We see them a lot at the local establishments. Give him what he wants, you will get not only great skating, versatility, and goals, you will also get 75% of the female vote for signing him. My wife and her co-workers also think you should create a calendar.. “The Capitals, off the ice.” You would make a mint. Thanks for the time, keep Laich and let me keep going to the games.