Far be it from me to ever use this space as a forum for political discourse, but enough is enough. For some reason over the last 48 hours the hockey blogosphere has developed a strange and unnatural attachment to a certain VP candidate…all because she happens to be a hockey mom.

Yes, it’s wonderful that her kids have grown up understanding the greatness that is hockey. And we’re all very proud that, as their mother, she picks them up and drops them off and occasionally attends games. Good for her.

But if I may, allow me to point out a couple of key things:

1. Being a hockey mom makes her about as relevant to hockey and hockey fans as Dick Cheney is to the gun control lobby. For starters, hockey moms are not necessarily hockey fans themselves. If that was true, the MLS would be much more popular; you’d find their fans in every minivan-laden parking lot across the country.

2. Even if she is a hockey fan, it doesn’t necessarily make her a good person, or someone who should be second in line to run the country – anyone who has ever been to a hockey game can tell you that the two don’t necessarily go together. Would you want that crazy drunken fan who sits behind you yelling incoherent things and spilling beer to be inches away from the button that controls our nuclear arsenal? Me, neither.

3. Of course her kids play hockey…she lives in Alaska. It may not snow year-round but I hear it’s still pretty darn cold there. I’m thinking baseball and soccer seasons are pretty short.

4. Knowledge of hockey doesn’t give you knowledge of foreign or domestic affairs. Unfortunately.

5. No, nominating her for Vice President is not a strategic attempt by the McCain camp to wrangle that ever elusive hockey fan vote, I can assure you. We’re a demographic that is likely to be ignored by any candidate of any party from now until…well, until the President of the United States strolls out to center ice and drops the puck for a ceremonial faceoff at a Caps game. Any day now, right?

So in this all-important election year, when big issues and serious problems abound, how much should we really care that the Republican nominee happens to be a hockey mom?

We shouldn’t care at all. Not one iota.

In fact, I’m going out on a limb and being my audacious self in hoping that this is the last time Ms. Sarah Palin will appear on a hockey blog, with or without her teeth.

…hey, no one ever said hockey fans were smart, either.

Time to be a little shallow – today we’re all about the appearance with a trio of aesthetic reasons to love hockey:

Reason #18 – Hockey Smiles

As much as hockey is a fringe sport in the United States, there is still one aspect that has made its way into the collective consciousness and cemented itself as a part of pop culture despite even its greatest detractors.

It is the indelible image of the gap-toothed warrior.

To hockey fans and non-fans alike, this image has gone hand in hand with the sport itself for as long as any of us can remember. It’s at once a myriad of things – a symbol of the roughness that exists within hockey, a reminder of the speed and danger inherent in the game, and a glimpse of the overgrown child within each hockey player.

This past year we were treated to an especially lush banquet of the gappy Cappies. Between Chris Clark’s lopsided grin, Quintin Laing’s perfect Jack-o-lantern, and Alex Ovechkin’s hole in one, there were times when the Caps’ locker room had fewer teeth than a nursery full of newborns. It was a sight for sore eyes for sure, as all of us were able to revel in the tale of the tooth – or lack thereof.

Sure, new technology and better protection have stemmed the tide of toothy turbulence a bit in recent years. The number of teeth soaring through the air has diminished since the days of Bobby Clarke’s grin. But at the end of the day, hockey is still a game played at breakneck speeds with errant sticks swinging through the air and pucks flying around at 100+ miles per hour. With those conditions, the odd dental sacrifice will always be required – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Reason #19 – Hockey Hair

Ah, hockey hair. There’s nothing like it, really. It’s a mullet and yet so much more – it is the king of mullets, the emperor for life, supreme leader and still champion of all hairdos. Other mullets bow down to hockey hair. I hear they’ve even built a shrine to it in Pittsburgh.

In polite society its often frowned upon, as most fun things are; seen as trashy or unkempt, you won’t find many Hollywood hunks sporting this daring ‘do (at least not anymore). But in the hockey arena, home of so many fashion-forward trends, it is the only way to go. Sweaty, slicked back on the sides, sticking out of every hole in the helmet – it just spells hockey player.

And lucky for us, now we get to see the Grand Poobah of mullets six times a year! Life is good.

Reason #20 – Playoff Beards

Like all good fashion trends, this one is seasonal and often a little bit risky. But it is also the most celebrated, time-honored, and rewarding sartorial choice: the playoff beard.

The reasoning behind them will change depending on who you ask. Some believe it’s a superstition that developed over time, where players believed it was bad luck to shave during the playoffs. Others regard it only as a badge of sorts – not shaving through the playoffs will show just how long you’ve survived in the postseason.

Then there’s the intimidation factor, the belief that the beard makes the players appear more wild animal than human…although this obviously doesn’t work for every player (unless the wild animal they’re going for is a ferret).

Throughout the playoffs fans track their favorite beards and mock the unfortunate. Some players embrace it wholeheartedly, others eschew it in favor of a fresh shave every day and some are simply unable to produce anything more than peach fuzz.

…poor Backstrom.

And in the end, when the Cup is handed out and the season comes to a conclusion for another year, there’s just really nothing like seeing that championship picture of bearded, beaming grins staring back at you.

Absence? What absence? It was all an illusion…yes, just an illusion, the heat of the summer playing tricks with your eyes and making you think CapsChick had abandoned you. Or something.

Back to the task at hand! We’ve got less than a month to go and almost 40 reasons to love hockey left to cover – plus a myriad of questions still to answer in future installments of “Ask CapsChick” and a little bit of talk about the upcoming season. Whew! It almost makes the 2008-09 campaign feel achingly close, doesn’t it?

Let’s not waste any more time…two more reasons, coming up!

Reason #16 – Fresh-faced rookies

Just as the beginning of the season holds tremendous potential and promise, so does the beginning of a young NHLer’s career. Some may be under more scrutiny than others; some may have more talent, NHL bloodlines, higher levels of confidence. Some are big and strong and sprouting facial hair while others just shaking off the final stages of puberty.

But what connects them all is that shared experience of being brand new. The instant they pull on the jersey they are essentially unknowns to us – regardless of preexisting reputations, both good and bad, regardless of hype and scouting reports and everything else that goes into crafting the next generation. There is an aura of mystery surrounding every rookie, an unsolved equation, a question mark. It is up to them to forge a career in the league and to make us, the fans, sit up and take notice.

The rookie season is a year of firsts, one that as a fan can be just as thrilling a storyline to follow as the tale of the team itself. The first shift. The first hit. The first point. The first penalty. The first goal. Milestones all, some better than others, and some taking longer than others to achieve. There are those who go out on their first shift and immediately lay out a booming body check, who score a goal (or two) in that first game, who shoot straight out of the cannon and leave a lasting impression. And there are those who take a more methodical approach, who sell us over time.

Then there’s the question of “will they or won’t they?”, the anticipation of whether the eager young pups will sink or swim. Will the strong rookie season be just the beginning of a glorious career or the apex of a short one? Will a slow start trickle into a mediocre NHL life or will it be the opening scene of a slow and steady rise to stardom?

It’s these questions, the milestones and promise and mystery, that make rookies just one of the many reasons to tune in each night.

Reason #17 – Cagey veterans

The wide-eyed innocence of a rookie’s first season may be contagious, but there’s something equally entertainining about the balance provided by the veterans of a team. Grizzled, weathered, battle-worn and deserving of every gray hair, the veterans bring experience and wisdom to the table with every shift.

It’s the guys who calm a team down when they get too heady. It’s the guys who ramp a team up when things start to droop. It’s the players who know exactly what to say in every situation because they’ve been there before…and when they talk, others listen.

Some are superstars, elite talents in the twilight of their amazing careers; others are journeymen who have played everywhere and done everything. Some are multiple Cup winners, others still seek their elusive first championship ring.

Whatever their background, they are so crucial Hockey is such a game of skill, of technical precision, of balance, of strength both mental and physical, that it would almost be unenjoyable to watch if played only by 21 year old kids.

And then there’s the potential for rebirth late in a career that is inherent in every veteran’s potential. We have one of the best examples right here in the District – there’s just something special about watching Fedorov, almost left for dead in Columbus, experience a revitalization while playing alongside guys like Ovechkin and Semin. He made himself seem 10 years younger, made George McPhee look like a genius, and helped carry the team to the postseason.

Not bad for a guy pondering retirement just six months ago.

Reason #15 – Canadian National Anthem

Because the majority of NHL teams now make their homes in the US, it always seems a little more special when one of our friendly neighbors to the north pays a visit to the District. You get the larger viewing audience, the rabid Canadian fans, the strange Pizza Pizza ads that seem to pop up when these six teams roll into town…and you get the Canadian anthem.

It may not be the best anthem ever written – although are there really any good anthems floating around? – but there’s something stirring and interesting about it nonetheless. And if you’re an American hockey fan, it’s probably the only anthem for another country you know by heart. Some of us who have spent time in Quebec (or watched one too many Habs games) may even know the first half in French.

It is iconic all on its own, evoking memories of young Canadian hockey players with arms draped around each other singing it at the top of their lungs at World Juniors. It’s a song that tends to dominate certain parts of the Winter Olympics and one that will take on even greater meaning when the games shift to Vancouver in two years.

And the best part? Canadian fans sing along at the top of their lungs…and not just the word “OH!”:

Reason #14 – The Youth Movement

One of the reasons that the Caps and the NHL in general are so intriguing right now is that we seem to be right smack in the middle of a changing of the guard. Gone are the days of Steve Yzerman and Patrick Roy, of Scott Stevens, Jaromir Jagr, and possibly Mats Sundin. In their place we find a fresh new crop of exciting, talented beyond belief youngsters just waiting to make their mark.

Obviously there are rookies every year. There are new names and faces joining teams each season hoping to stick, to make a name for themselves. But after a few years of above-average drafts and incredibly deep early rounds, youthful talent is at an all time high.

And it’s not just guys like Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, although each has brought their fair share of excitement to the NHL since bursting onto the scene a few years ago. They are now joined by an ever-expanding group of guys whose names will someday be on the Cup, whose faces will line the bedroom walls of the next generation of young players, whose legends will be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Just in DC alone we’ve got a stunning embarrassment of riches. Mike Green, Alexander Semin, Brooks Laich and Eric Fehr lead today; tomorrow they could be joined by Andrew Gordon, Karl Alzner and Simeon Varlamov.

Outside the beltway the names are scattered across the country and around the league, each dynamic and filled with potential. Out west you can point to guys like Anze Kopitar, Erik Johnson, Dion Phaneuf and Jonathan Toews. In the east, it’s Milan Lucic, Tobias Enstrom, Kyle Okposo, and eventually Steve Stamkos,

Only time will tell which of these players – just a small sampling of the huge pool of talent – will go on to perch among the greats. One or two years of success and you’re a phenom; a few more years and you can carry the title of superstar. Over the course of a career? Those are the legends.

The way things have gone these last few years it’s going to be a fun ride to watch for sure.

Thanks to everyone who passed along congratulations for this lovely honor:

As flattering as it is, I have to point out two things…well, three.

1) A list of the best hockey blogs manages to ignore the huge and prolific blogging presence right here in DC, leaving off such household names as Japers’ Rink, On Frozen Blog and Peerless Prognosticator to name but a few. I love my little horse and cart operation here and am thrilled to have my work recognized in any way, but it feels wrong to be on a list when some of my favorites are missing.

2) Hockeybuzz.com, home of the infamous Eklund, is number three. So right away when looking at this list it’s best to do what you do when actually reading hockeybuzz.com (does anyone around here read it??) and…take it with a big ol’ grain of salt.

3) The fabulous Kukla’s Korner spread the news of this list on a day when Ovie’s rear end was the headlining topic of discussion. Nothing like serious news to dominate the Cheap Seats on a day like today, right?

And I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that this blog is only as good as it’s readers – so thank you to those of you loyal people who have stuck around to offer your opinions and insight while (almost) always raising the discussion to a higher level.

…and on that note it’s time for another edition of everyone’s favorite time-filler, “Ask CapsChick”! We’ve talked tush, so this time around we’ll go a little more hockey-centric and answer this question from Bailey:

Dear CapsChick,

Who would you make your second line pivot, Nylander or Fedorov? Also, what would your 1st and 2nd PP Unit be?

After so many years of what seemed to be a gaping void down the middle of the lineup (remember the failed experiments of Jiri Novotny and Andrew Cassels?) the Caps are in the enviable position of having a tremendous amount of depth at center. What’s even better about this is that most of their centers can play with just about anyone and a lot of them have experience on wing.

Having Nylander and Fedorov on our team this year is going to spoil us rotten, I can almost guarantee it…and because of that, trying to predict who should play center on the first, second or third line is nearly impossible.

If I had my way, though, I’m not even sure I would label the lines as such. Of course we know that any line Ovechkin is on will automatically become the first line, but with the guys we have now I can see three legitimate scoring lines being iced every night.

Fedorov played well on the second line for the tail end of the regular season last year; he also played well on the top line with Ovechkin and proved a firestarter for the all-Caps line at the World Championships when flanked by Ovie and Semin. Nylander is equally flexible and has played with just about everyone on the team at some point or another.

So just for fun, here’s my opening night forward lineup:

Ovechkin – Backstrom – Kozlov
Semin – Fedorov – Laich
Fleischmann – Nylander – Clark
Brashear – Gordon – Bradley

Healthy scratches: Steckel, Fehr

On to the power play units – and here’s where the embarrassment of riches really could show if everyone at least starts the season healthy:

First unit – keep it the same, Ovechkin, Backstrom, Fedorov, Semin, Green (just please, Bruce…please don’t put Semin on the point…there are only so many times I can see the puck hop over his stick). The way those five guys move the puck around is just sick, and once they picked up Fedorov they even occasionally scored 5-on-3.

Second unit – Clark/Fehr, Kozlov, Nylander, Poti, Laich. Kozzy’s a great guy to have working the boards (as is Clark) and Poti’s shot from the point, while rarely piercing the twine, was great at setting up plays and keeping the action in the opponent’s zone. And then between Clark, Fehr and Laich alone I can see a lot of garbage goals going in…creating deflections and traffic, causing havoc in front of the goalie and generally being pains in the rear. There’s more space out there with the extra man but we don’t want to the goaltender to know it.

As Laich famously said last year: “If you want money, go to the bank. If you want bread, go to the bakery. If you want goals, go to the front of the net.” Hear, hear (and therefore the reason I don’t put Flash on either unit).

Got a question for CapsChick? Drop it in a comment or send an email to capschick@dccheapseats.com.