So the draft is behind us, complete with all the deep, hard-hitting analysis from yours truly (…um, oops) and as teams finish stockpiling their organizations with young talent for the next 2-5 years, the focus now shifts to the immediate future.

Tomorrow marks the opening of the so-called “silly season”, where GMs plead temporary insanity and free agents commit highway robbery all over the place. Questions abound – will a GM actually pay $6 million+ for one Sedin twin, let alone two (and who is crazier in that scenario, the GM who risks taking just one or the guy who actually signs them both)? Is Saku Koivu done in Montreal? How about Havlat in Chicago?

From where we sit the UFA picture is a little less scary, if only because we already know the situation with most of them. There’s very little of the hurry up and wait that hovered around guys like Huet and Fedorov last year. We know who is heading off to Russia and who will not be back this year; the RFAs expected to be qualified have been qualified. We know there will likely be arbitration cases and we may still see the departure of one or two (or more) roster players as a result.

The questions McPhee and his team will tackle in the coming weeks will focus on finding a center for the second line, some depth on right wing and dealing with what has become a perpetual problem in DC: the potential three-goaltender tandem.

McPhee is notoriously anti-free agent, and you only have to look at some of the long term, overinflated contracts handed out in the last decade (some right here in DC) to know why. Better to build from within or make trades if possible to avoid overspending on someone who will likely be back on the market sooner rather than later. It’s a smart way to approach things, albeit a less flashy, less headline-grabbing one. It’s good hockey sense. CapsChick approves.

However, a general lack of trade partners this year may make it necessary to once again dip into the free agent pool and see what comes up. With that in mind, here are some names the Caps may be sniffing around as July 1st inches closer:

Mike Knuble, RW – ‘08-’09 salary: $2.8 million
If you can block out the memory of his overtime winner from last year’s playoffs, this could be a good option for the Caps. At 36 he’s probably not going to command too much of a raise over the $2.8 mil he’s currently making, and his consistently good numbers and leadership abilities could make him this year’s (*gag*) Bill Guerin. You know, minus the creepy salt and pepper beard.

Radek Dvorak, RW – ‘08-’09 salary: $1.6 million
The talk around Dvorak is that the Panthers would like to bring him back; if they don’t, though, he could provide another big body on the right for a relatively cheap price. He’s been a fairly consistent 10-20 goal scorer on teams that, at least in recent years, didn’t boast nearly the offensive firepower the Caps have. It would be interesting to see what he could do on a line with Ovechkin, especially for about $2 million a year.

Claude Lemieux, RW – ‘08-’09 salary: $500,000
Hey, he just became an American citizen! And he’s won a Cup before and…okay, no. I’m only teasing. Trust me when I say I don’t see ol’ Claude pulling on the red, white and blue anytime soon.

Mike Cammalleri, C – ‘08-’09 salary: $3.6 million
He’ll definitely get a raise over that $3.6 mil, particularly if the bidding war gets heated – and it might price him out of the Caps. And sure, he’d bring the average height on the team down a bit. But his speed and scoring ability would make him an interesting addition and he’s got some feistiness to him as well. If the price stays low enough (think $4-4.5 million), there could be interest.

Sami Pahlsson, C – ‘08-’09 salary: $1.4 million
When he’s healthy, Pahlsson is a relatively inexpensive center with great faceoff ability and an edge to his game that’s missing down the middle of the Caps’ current roster. He showed a renewed jump to his game after being traded to the ‘Hawks, a team that plays a similar attack style to Washington. A potentially great addition. When he’s healthy.

John Madden, C – ‘08-’09 salary: $2.939 million
Again, demand for someone with his experience could push his asking price past where the Caps are looking to spend, but he’s another one who could add grit as well as a penalty killing boost should his salary stay in a relatively reasonable range. And you never know, he might be interested in a slight discount to play on a team that actually plays an interesting brand of hockey for once. Just a thought.

And while I’m not convinced the Caps will get or need to get a defenseman of any kind – I’m more than happy to wait for this current crop to mature, unlike some of the more impatient among us – here are a few cheap options that could be available on D:

Andrew Alberts, D – ‘08-’09 salary: $1.4 million
He’s never going to blow you away with his offensive numbers. He’s not a fighter, doesn’t take too many penalties and is never going to be confused with Nick Lidstrom (but really, who is?). But if Caps fans want a steady, stay-at-home defenseman while waiting for the youngsters to finish baking, Alberts could add a little more depth to the blue line. Injuries could be an issue, though.

Rob Scuderi, D – ‘08-’09 salary: $725,000
Call me crazy, but if Scuderi leaves the almighty cult of Pittsburgh (and there’s talk that he’s not in their plans) he could be a nice fit here. He’s got experience. He’s cheap. He’s got a…*sigh* Cup ring. And yes, he was fairly effective at shutting down Ovechkin when asked to during the playoffs – that’s the mark of a potentially underappreciated defenseman right there.

Mike Komisarek, D – ‘08-’09 salary: $1.9 million
Yes, this is a personal choice. Yes, it has everything to do with being one of CC’s favorites. And no, it has nothing to do with whether he’d fit in here (or whether we can afford him, if the Habs let him go and a bidding war ensues). Come on, it’s Mikey K!

…or we could always go with some Caps’ castoffs. Ken Klee, Steve Eminger, Alex Henry, Nolan Baumgartner or Jamie Heward, anyone? No? No takers?

There are plenty of other legitimate options floating around should the Caps go the free agent route – McPhee and his scouts know way more than I would ever pretend to know about potential fits for this team. It’ll be interesting to see who, if anyone, joins the club.

Still, with all the work to be done and all the holes remaining in the lineup, there remains this sense that the Caps are but one or two good moves away from being a genuine contender set to snatch that Cup right out of the ‘Burgh. A lot of the pieces are all there; what needs to happen now is an attitude adjustment, a dedication to working hard every game and taking the next step.

So that’s it. With the awards show last night the book is officially closed on the 2008-09 season; the only hockey-related events remaining this summer are all looking ahead to ‘09-’10 and beyond. Considering the way the season ended…that’s not such a bad thing.

A few assorted thoughts in the aftermath of last night’s Las Vegas extravaganza(ish):

- Ovechkin walked away with the trio of awards we expected and one of the few prolonged laughs of the evening with his good-natured jab at Datsyuk’s English skills. And it was great that he got up there three times – because if anyone is built for this type of event, it’s Ovie. He was sweet and sentimental when accepting the Pearson, funny when receiving the Richard, and appreciative (of everyone, from fans to trainers to his teammates) when getting the Hart.

Still, through all three you could tell, more now than ever, that the shiny objects in front of him and the individual accolades don’t hold a candle to the Cup that slipped away this year.

- It wasn’t as close as the Datsyuk/Richards Selke race (three points??) but the margin for the Norris Trophy was actually pretty tight. While every other race was more like a rout, only 52 points separated Chara and Green – which is basically 5 first place votes and 2 fifth place. Chara garnered 18 more first place votes than Green; Green picked up 36 more first place votes than future HOFer Lidstrom. In other words? Another year or two of experience, a bit of improvement in his own end and Greenie’s walking away with the Norris sooner rather than later.

- Steve Mason’s girlfriend was wearing far too much eye makeup. And Steve Sullivan’s wife was wearing far too little clothing. And Evgeni Malkin’s “friend”? Well, we’ll just leave that alone. If you can’t say something nice… /girly moment

- There’s been a lot of chatter today about the lack of a host and how horrible that decision was; funny how before the show so many people saw that as a bold and exciting choice only to flip-flop wildly after having to see Roenick more than once. Amazing what reminders of a Ron MacLean-filled 90 minutes will do to your outlook, isn’t it?

- That’s not to say it’s a bad criticism, of course. For what it’s worth, I think a single host would have been nice as well – my vote goes to Michael Buble.

- I know that Las Vegas is a city that tends toward the sparkly, flashy, glittery things in life – but did Jeremy Roenick really need to blend that into his attire? No hockey player should…wait, strike that, no straight man should…no, hold on. NO one should wear glitter ever. Period. Sorry, JR.

- Congratulations to Ovechkin and Green, who both made it onto the First Team All-Stars for the year. That marks Ovechkin’s fourth appearance, Green’s first (of what should be many), and the first time the Caps have ever had two make the cut in franchise history. Kind of makes that All Star Game snub of Mike Green seem even more bizarre, doesn’t it?

- Had Crosby or Chara taken home the Mark Messier Leadership “Award” I would have been using this space to mock it incessantly as a pointless, made-up, self-promoting award created by a guy who hates not having the spotlight on himself. Since Iginla won it, though, I offer my full-throated congratulations at winning such a prestigious title (and looking damn good doing it).

- There were a lot of things the NHL did wrong last night; the selection of presenters for the Pearson and Hart, however, were spot-on. Choosing Konstantinov and Larionov for one and Ovechkin’s teammate (and the first Russian to win the Hart) Fedorov for the other gave a nod to the fact that all three finalists were future Russian legends. The league needs to find a way to do more of this – embracing and celebrating the history, appreciating the future and finding a balance between the two.

Two posts in one day? Jump back. CapsChick must be pissed about something…

If you’re flitting around the internet today, you’ll find a hearty group of awards predictions scattered throughout the blogospher and mainstream media world alike. Most of them pick Ovechkin to win the Hart, and rightly so – but this kind of statement? This drives me nuts:

Who will win: Ovechkin. He by far means the most to his team. Without him, the Capitals are not a playoff team. If you take Datsyuk and Malkin away from their teams, Detroit is still a Stanley Cup contender and the Penguins are still a Stanley Cup contender.

[CC: Emphasis added to point out the snark...]

See, it’s what is known as a backhanded compliment. We Caps fans are familiar with the ways of the ‘bhc’s, having heard them for years – this one, however, is more than a little bit of crap.

One of the great things about this team this year is that they ARE more than just Ovechkin. When you have a team full of guys like Green and Semin and Backstrom and prospects like Varlamov, Alzner and Neuvirth, it gets easier for us to say and for analysts and “experts” to agree that, yes, this team is talented beyond #8. It’s been a surprisingly common refrain throughout the hockey world and it’s the reason so many thought of the Caps as a contender in the first place.

One guy just can’t do it alone. That is, unless I’m miscounting all those Cups the Pens won with Sid before actually building a semi-talented roster around him…um, nope, don’t think I am.

Now are the Caps a Cup contender without Ovechkin? Probably not. But a playoff team, absolutely; and don’t for a minute let anyone tell you that the Penguins without Malkin, aka Mr. Conn Smythe, would have hoisted the Cup this year let alone made the Finals. And I’ll even give them the fact that without Malkin the Pens are a marginally more talented team than an Ovechkin-less Caps team because of their Captain. Cup contenders, though, I don’t think so.

Look, Ovechkin gets tons of credit for what he does, and it’s all deserved. You won’t get an argument here. And there’s no question that of the three candidates, he’s the most valuable to his team. But let’s not go throwing this Caps team – a team that took the Champs to 7 games, thank you – away as a talentless group behind an ubertalented leader.

Credit where credit is due, and the rest of the Caps deserve a lot of credit.

It’s awards day – time for the NHL to take Vegas for a little test drive and see how it fits. I hear it’s got great cupholders. And in that vein, time to crack open the Cheap Seats mailbox for another edition of “Ask CapsChick”:

CC –

- Bobby, Arlington

The one named after the chick, huh? I’m assuming you’re referring to the Lady Byng – although this is Vegas, maybe Mrs. Gretzky has an award named after her this year.

Ahem.

So, you want predictions? You got predictions. I’ll even throw in who I want to win versus who probably will, just for funsies. And…this seems to be the perfect time to remind everyone that I stink at predictions. So don’t go putting money on these based on what I say, please – and when you do, don’t blame me for losing your shirt.

Hart
CC’s Pick: Ovechkin
Who will win: Ovechkin

Well, if you read this blog you don’t need an explanation and most likely don’t need to be convinced, so I won’t waste my time. Next?

Pearson
CC’s Pick: Ovechkin
Who will win: Ovechkin

Again, no need to elaborate. The writing seems to be on the wall for this one, as well.

Norris
CC’s Pick: Green
Who will win: Green or Chara

I think this might be the year that Lidstrom gets beat, and what’s scary is he got nominated having what was, for him, a sub-par season. That’s how good he is, and those are some big shoes to fill.

And speaking of big…Chara is a mammoth of a man and a great defenseman. That Ovechkin seems intimidated by him speaks volumes to how good he can be. Like Green, he had a stellar regular season only to be merely adequate (and at times completely ineffective) in the playoffs, most likely due to injury. And should he win I doubt anyone will be calling shenanigans on the voting or claiming anyone was robbed – this year it’s really coming down to what defines the BEST defenseman to each of the voters.

As for our boy Green, I’ve already talked about why I think he could win. I think he’s a legitimate contender, especially as someone who embodies the speed and creativity that goes hand in hand with the new NHL – either way, though, I think the voting will be close.

And now for the non-Caps portion of our afternoon…if I must.

Calder
CC’s Pick: Mason
Who will win: Mason

Like the Hart Trophy, I’ve always felt that the Calder is tough for goaltenders to win. Goalies for better or for worse generally get the biggest spotlight put on them – teams are judged to be playoff contenders or flops based on what is between the pipes and they’re the only player for whom wins and losses are an actual stat.

That being said, Mason has the potential as a young goaltender to become Brodeur-esque in his ability to carry a team. He’s the biggest reason the Blue Jackets even sniffed the postseason this year. He collected shutouts like candy, including two against the Caps and their potent offense. If you want to get really technical about it you could even toss his name in with the Hart and/or Pearson candidates – but there’s time for that yet.

Vezina
CC’s Pick: Mason
Who will win: Thomas

It’s not that I don’t think Thomas is a good goaltender – or more accurately, a decent goaltender having a stellar year. But for all the hype surrounding him I’m just not ready to link “Vezina-winning” and “Tim Thomas” in the same sentence. I’ve seen the big saves he’s made; I’ve also seen the team he played behind, and they’re much more defensively sound than they got credit for. It was Red Wings-esque the way a good goalie became elevated to elite just by being on a good team, and with all apologies to Bruins fans I just don’t see it.

I’ve made my case for Steve Mason. He won’t win this one and there will be plenty more opportunities for him to do so – plus the field of viable candidates was pretty slim this season, with Brodeur missing most of the season with an injury and many of the “elite” guys having off years. It happens…and so a Bruin will probably take home the Vezina, and life goes on. (She says, stealthily hiding her Habs flag.)

Adams
CC’s Pick: Julien
Who will win: Julien

Last year the issue came up, as it does on a fairly regular basis, of whether you can award the Adams trophy to someone with a team as talent-laden as, for example, the Red Wings. It’s probably the reason Babcock didn’t get more votes, combined with the great story and amazing turnaround represented by one Bruce Boudreau. That could be an issue again this year, with McLellan and Julien battling it out as coaches of the two conference champions. Hell, we even have our Boudreau-esque candidate in Andy Murray, who performed miracles with a St. Louis team that was deemed dead in the water before preseason ended.

Still, it takes a talented coach to get the most out of talented people and there’s no getting around the new-look Bruins. They ditched the boring style of play, became tight defensively and were one of the strongest offensive teams in the league. They clearly bought into Julien’s system and that’s the mark of an Adams-worthy coach…now if he could only push a team past the second round of the playoffs.

Someday, right Claude?

Selke
CC’s Pick: Richards
Who will win: Datsyuk

I’m a big fan of everything Pavel Datsyuk does, so picking Richards over him is not so much an attack on Datsyuk as it is a symbol of how great I think Richards is – or at least how great he was this year. You can look at the shorthanded goals he scored, or at the number of shorties scored against the Flyers (that would be…0), or at his work ethic, or his consistency (80 points in 79 games). Or you can just remember how frustrating it was to play against him every time he was on the ice. A highly underrated player in my mind.

But that Datsyuk guy’s not bad, either.

Lady Byng
CC’s Pick: Parise
Who will win: St. Louis

He’s just such a nice guy, that Parise. But midget will win, if only because no one really cares about this one and he’s won it before.

…good, strong logic as usual.

Alright, folks – feel free to weigh in with your own picks. And remember to come out to Bailey’s in Ballston tonight to hang with your Hart-worthy bloggers JP and Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski!

(Oh, and I’ll probably stop by, too. Consider me the Lady Byng in a world of Harts and Pearsons.)

Well, that worst-case scenario for any true blue Caps fan has come to pass – the Penguins have won the Stanley Cup.

And yet oddly enough the sun still came up Saturday morning, the world continues to turn even as thousands of Yinzers line the streets of the ‘Burgh for the parade…and Caps fans know we’ll get another shot next year.

It was admittedly a great series to end a great (if not slightly bizarre) playoff season, and even while I still truly believe the Penguins aren’t the best team in the league I’m coming to grips with the fact that maybe there isn’t one. Not this year.

You could say the guys with the Cup at the end are the best; you could also say the team that took them to seven games without a healthy Datsyuk was their equal or better. You could put the Caps in that equation for accomplishing the same feat with a host of high profile injuries. The Sharks and Bruins dominated their respective conferences during the regular season. Chicago proved that their playoff potential isn’t dead; the Devils proved that 80 seconds can change a season.

Of course none of that matters now. The final horn has sounded, the Cup has been raised and we’re left with a few remaining token hockey-related events peppering a summer mostly devoid of the best game on earth. For the players, these few months will be long and yet not long enough to completely heal the battle wounds of the previous year; for us fans, September can’t get here soon enough.

If only to make the images of Crosby with that beautiful trophy start to fade.

…ugh. Distraction time! Today’s “don’t think about it” diversion is another rousing round of ‘Ask CapsChick’, where you the reader dictate what is talked about in the Cheap Seats. We’ll kick it off with a question from EP:

Do you think the playoff mohawk should be the norm instead of / along with the playoff beard?

After seeing Mike Green (and a number of lovable lunatics in the stands) rocking the ‘hawk over the past two postseasons I think the answer to this should be a resounding YES. It’s fun, it’s silly and it makes the guys look ridiculous. That’s the true mark of a potentially great playoff tradition.

Now as a fan of the playoff beard I would never imply that the ‘hawk should replace the beard in playoff lore; I’m thinking more of a hairy companion piece to a beloved old classic. After all, we can’t rob the world of such beautiful beards as those sported by Max Talbot, Paul Mara or Alexandre Giroux. But for the follicularly-challenged (*cough*NicklasBackstrom*cough*), the mohawk might offer a nice alternative. And I’m not going to lie, I’d pay good money to see someone like Sergei Fedorov with a ‘hawk.

Actually, why stop there? Let’s get some guys really working those creative juices and coming up with truly spectacular playoff facial hair and/or hairstyle choices. Picture Ovechkin with words shaved into the side of his head (‘unbelievable’? ’sick’?), or the Staal brothers sporting matching braided goatees. And quick, someone convince Zetterberg to dye his hair hot pink with purple stripes and teal polka dots next year! The possibilities are limitless, folks.

Hey, CC – With the playoffs continuing to stretch into mid-June year after year, do you think the league should consider cutting the number of playoff teams from 16 to something more manageable? What about making the first two rounds best of 5 like the MLB? Best, Todd (Reston, VA)

It’s a great question, Todd. Frankly I would be okay with the playoffs going on indefinitely, feeding directly into the next season but…I’m guessing the league and the players’ union would have more than a few things to say about that.

In theory something like a five game series in round one or in one and two sounds like a good idea, but I’m not sure that it would result in as good a product at the end of the day. In hockey, playoff series generally start out kind of slow; the teams feel each other out and, especially if the series goes the full seven, each game builds upon the momentum and energy from the last. Game five doesn’t have the same magic or explosiveness of a game seven.

The same holds true for cutting the number of teams down, and really I think it all feeds into the same thing – the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win, and it’s that way for a reason. You have to beat three other teams just to have a shot at the Cup. You have to win four games each time. It’s not a string of skirmishes, it’s a war. If you make it through you deserve the Cup, and I just don’t think the magic would be there if it’s four teams per conference, first team to 14 wins gets the Cup. Searching for ‘magic’ may seem like a childish motive but it’s hard to deny that this sport is full of magical potential and to remove any of that is to remove some of what makes this game so special.

That being said, I agree that it is kind of ridiculous to be playing hockey in mid-June when there is no ice anywhere in North America that isn’t artificial. If we really want to talk about cutting down on the length of a season, let’s consider shortening training camp and preseason. Let’s talk going from 82 games to 76 or 78 or even 80. Get rid of the five and six day gaps between games – this isn’t football, our guys don’t need to lick their wounds for a week before they’re ready to get back out there.

And yet none of this will happen for one reason and one reason only – money. Longer seasons, more teams, four rounds of seven-game series all equal big bucks. Hard to argue with the almighty dollar, right? But as long as hockey remains the only major league sport that is on the fringes of popular culture, it’s the way things have to be.

Congratulations to your 2009 Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears!!

Stingrays, Bears…the trio is almost complete.