Thanks Brooks Laich - hockey is a team game – and you are a fantastic team mate. Thank you. Hockey players are a special kind of tough. Go Caps! On CSN.com.
His “elbow” is ok
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Tag Archives: Brooks Laich
Double Bottom Line Caps
Rock on Kid Rock. Click here for info on this great work. Thank you
Mind Blowing Amount of Change
Check out the Washington Capital’s roster in Alex Ovechkin’s rookie season. Click here.
In the 2005–2006 season, the team was a last place squad in the conference. Of all the players mentioned within ONLY Alex Ovechkin, Brooks Laich, Mike Green and now Jeff Halpern, remain.
There are some names on this team that made me smile. I hadn’t heard some names in a very long time.
The only thing constant is change. That is for sure.
See you at camp. Thank you. Go Caps!
Tomas Vokoun is a Capital
Did we deliver on our promise to shake up the team so far this off season? A veteran goalie; a center; a wing; another wing; and a D man plus a first round and second round pick all this off season plus Brooks Laich re-signed with us as well. Very productive, don’t you think?
Isn’t cap management a good thing to handle well and to be able to do just about whatever we wanted this off season? I am also pleased that I basically told you all what we were going to do on my blog. Transparency is a good thing too! Who are you going to believe by the way in the future?
Note that every one of our signings was for a player that took a bit less money to come and play with us because of their respect for our fan base and our constant ability to qualify for the playoffs and be considered a contender for a Stanley Cup.
Players want to be comfortable in a stable and high quality environment and play with teammates that are committed to winning and to play for a loud and proud fan base and within a stable franchise. Real winners want to compete for a Cup and aren’t afraid to play on a team that is deep with talent.
I credit our great fans; the buzz around Kettler Capitals Iceplex; and the understanding that we want to win and we are focused on doing the right things the right way here in Washington with making us a have a team that can retain and attract top talent now. Thank you. I credit our fans with this great evolution of our franchise.
Read these blog posts from Capitals Insider. Read the quotes from these great players and why they wanted to come to DC. Then pat yourself on the back. You are fantastically supportive and we are very grateful. Go Caps!
Busy Day as Promised
One trade – three free agent signings. A good day.
We added Jeff Halpern, a center; Roman Hamrlik, a veteran defenseman; and Joel Ward, a big and tough forward who seems to elevate his game in the playoffs.
We traded Varlamov to Colorado for two picks – a first round and a second round pick. He intimated to us that he was going to play in the KHL unless we guaranteed him a starter’s job and a big contract which we couldn’t do at this time. While disappointed in his manner during the negotiations and the way the Russian media manipulated the blogosphere over here, we received value back and we wish him well.
We lost some players to free agency. We added some players. We kept some players in Brooks Laich and we added Troy Brouwer at the draft via trade.
We are being active and aggressive. Four new players to date added to the line up; one core player retained; and a first round and second round pick added to next year’s crop of picks.
We have plenty of time left to continue to re-craft the team. As promised. Thank you. Go Caps!
I Laich It
A funny column about retaining home grown talent and people of character. I believe in young players. Developing them, retaining them, and adding to that core. Retention is important. I believe in keeping a franchise successful. There is lots of natural churn in a franchise; player turn over via trades, retirement and free agency. Keeping young players as they enter their prime years is a key trait of great clubs.
Read this one from Dan’s blog today. Thank you.
Brooks is Back
I am happy we have retained Brooks Laich. He was a highly sought after free agent. It is a testament to our organization and to the kind of player Brooks is that he has returned to the fold and to his hockey family.
He is a talented multi-purpose player with high integrity and a great motor. He loves our city and our fan base. I am grateful that he has shown his belief in our team and that he is dedicated to doing whatever possible to help us achieve all of our collective aspirations.
He is a winner and I am proud of him. He is very reflective of the kind of player we want to reward and keep in our franchise. Go Caps! Click here to read the release. Thank you.
Double Bottom Line Brooksie
Amazing. Perfect recognition. Thank you. So well deserved. In a world filled with bad news, here is some good news.
What’s NOT to Laich?
Brooks goes mainstream and makes it into pop culture in Sports Illustrated. Is that a wry smile from Brooksie within?
What’s Not to Laich?
Do you think Ottawa doesn’t miss Brooks Laich in their line-up?
He was a second round pick and one of their best prospects. We traded Peter Bondra to Ottawa at the trade deadline for Brooks Laich and a pick.
Peter then signed with Atlanta in the off season and Brooks came to develop and play for us. He won a championship with the Bears and he is now a steadfast fixture on our club. He is young. He is special and he is a hockey player!