TGDT: 9/23 Capitals (0-1-1) vs. Blackhawks (0-2-0)

[R K]

Interesting both team have a LOT of regulars playing.



Hawks have Seabrook, Keith, Hjarlmarsson, Toews, Brunette, Bolland, Stalberg and Montedor are going.



Ovechkin, Chimira (hack), Green and a few others from the Caps.



Interesting the Caps sent starters for a road pre season game.





No TV or Radio, although there have been Tweets the Caps will have live audio feed streaming from their site.



I sold my tickets but still may go since all these starters are playing.





Hawks D pairings are



Keith-Montedor

Seabrook-Hjarlmarsson

Olsen-Fahey



1st line--



Brunette-Toews-Saad

 

[MassHavoc]

Holy shit he beat StuG.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I haven't been paying attention to who the Caps have been icing.

Have any of the regulars from the Caps seen ice time yet?



Most of the Hawks make sense since we haven't seen most of them yet.

Toews, Stalberg, Montador seem to be the ones from game 1 returning.

 

[R K]

Ovechkin played in their first home game... Last game Chimira and Ward played.

 

[R K]

Holy shit he beat StuG.

Not really he slacked and I wanted up so people could chat about the game all day if they wanted too.

 

[puckjim]

Looking forward to my first Billy Goat burger of the year.



Oh, and hockey too.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I demand updates after every period for those of you going!

 

[Tater]

I demand updates after every period for those of you going!

Not once every period, at least every 5 minutes.

 

[nana]

Looking forward to my first Billy Goat burger of the year.



Oh, and hockey too.

Nice! We love to go there too.

 

[PatrickShart]

Saad playing again.



Kid's been very impressive, maybe this team's best prospect.



I'm sure he's just in with Hossa/Kane still out - and getting rewarded for probably a good camp. It'll take a trade or two for him to make this roster...but what a steal.



All hail scooter?....anyone? anyone?

 

[LordKOTL]

Ya know, the way Saad's been playing, I wouldn't mind seeing him up a few times on the 2nd line with the Hoss.



In fact, Brunette/Toews/Kane, Saad/Sharp/Hossa, Bickell/Bolland/Frolik, Olesz/Meyers/Carbomb for the FWD lines (or swapping Olesz and Saad--both have looked damned good) doesn't look half bad at all.



Unfortunately, the team might do something stupid, like put Stalberg there.

 

[PatrickShart]

Moving Stalberg does nothing for Saad, Smith, Morin...or any prospect.



Either/any of those 3...would have to pass a guy like Bickell (who doesn't impress me - but at 550K cap hit for the next 2yrs and his 17g...I dont move him), Frolik, Olesz or Brunette. Hossa/Kane aren't going anywhere.



Stalberg, Carcillo, Mayers are the 4th line wingers that will play 10min a game. Why would moving them - then slotting Saad or any of the prospect in - be smart, when they can go to the AHL/Jr's and play 18-20min a game and develop?

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I'll be there for at least the first two periods. It will be nice to be back at the UC (especially more frequently this year).

Gotta head to a concert at Darkroom for my friend's wedding.

 

[LordKOTL]

Moving Stalberg does nothing for Saad, Smith, Morin...or any prospect.



Either/any of those 3...would have to pass a guy like Bickell (who doesn't impress me - but at 550K cap hit for the next 2yrs and his 17g...I dont move him), Frolik, Olesz or Brunette. Hossa/Kane aren't going anywhere.



Stalberg, Carcillo, Mayers are the 4th line wingers that will play 10min a game. Why would moving them - then slotting Saad or any of the prospect in - be smart, when they can go to the AHL/Jr's and play 18-20min a game and develop?

I don't see Bickell slotted as the #2LW. The only 2 regular guys I see taking over that slot are either Brunette or Sharp, depending on where the other is slotted, and unless we have a #2C waiting for us, chances are Sharp will be slotted at #2C.



Given Saad's play, I would like to see him get a chance up there, but again, slotting him 4th line does him nothing except big club ice time. Olesz also looked good and may fill that slot.



The thing is moving Stalberg IMHO helps the team en masse. If Skille didn't work for us why would Stalberg? It also prevents Q from giving him about 20 games to fail in a top-6 role--especially since his preseason perfomance shows he's just about the same as last year--skates of lightning, hands of stone.

 

[PatrickShart]

His preseason performance in one game?



He's a fourth liner. Played 10min a game last year. If they get 10g/25pts out of a fourth liner...where his speed draws penalties - which it did last year. He said it himself he's finding his role here and played physical in the playoffs...why write him off instead of letting him devolop? Players can get better after only 1 full season with a new team.

 

[Pez68]

I don't mind Stalberg as a fourth liner, as long as we have guys like Carcillo and Mayers out there along with him. For the reasons PMX stated. What we really, still need, is a fourth line center...

 

[MassHavoc]

4th line is the only place that Stalhberg fits, unfortunately his game doesn't fit the 4th, and you can see he doesn't think of himself as a 4th.

 

[PatrickShart]

He's 25yrs old - he should see himself or want to be a top line player.



I havent heard him complain about any role he's been asked to do.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I see pmx has his raging stalboner as always.

 

[PatrickShart]

LOL...yeah...he's more productive than the great Sean Avery.



I just don't see how a guy that play's 10min a game is going to bring the team down. If the Hawks only issue this year, is the 12th-13th forward - then it's going to be a great year.