Caps Clinch a Play-Off Berth

[DarthMonk]

I was content with the Caps beating the 2 seeded Bruins in Round 1, but it won't mean anything unless they beat the 1 seeded Rangers tonight.

Caps will do it tonight!

But then again - maybe not.

Taking a little stock here:

Caps = very good

Wiz = still suck but seeing a little light. Winning the lotto would be nice. Is it Ernie's personel moves or the coaches he picks? A lot of our guys seem to play well elsewhere.

Nats = very good. If they can slow down the injuries they can beat anyone in the postseason. Best staff in baseball with perhaps the best manager.

Redskins = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXQLgRuP_hs

This town might finally be turning a sports corner.

DarthMonk

[Red_One43]

^I think the Caps can hold their heads up high for their performance in the play-offs. They played inconsistently all season long and seemed to finally adjust to the coaching style of Hunter just in time for the play-offs.

The big question is will Hunter be back.

"It's the right way to play, to win," he said. Next year we'll … you know, you can … you know, start off and that's your goal. To win."
"We" to "you" was an interesting transition. Will there be a next year for Hunter?

I hope that Hunter's first choice of "we" of "you" is an indication that he is coming back. My Canadian relatives are telling me that it is not a clear cut choice - London Knights are big time, similar to a Division I football school. Division I football schools produce future professional football players. The Junior A league in Canada produces future professional NHL players - 54% of the NHL players come from the Canadian Hockey League - 20% of the NHL players come from the London Knights' Ontario Hockey league a division of the the Canadian Hockey League. These players in the CHL are age 15-20. Hunter has to decide does he want to stay with the young guys or the seasoned vets. That seems similar to decision a big time college coach must make - it is not a given that the highest level is the place for every one.

If Hunter comes back, with a few personnel moves to get Hunter's type of players and the Caps should be right back up there next year.

If we get another coach with a difference philosophy than Hunter's? Who knows what will happen.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck- ... 22769.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Hockey_League

[Red_One43]

Bittersweet night for Dale Hunter.

His London Knights won the Ontario Hockey League Championship last night. Now they go on to the national play-offs.

The Knights won the best-of-seven final 4-1 and claimed just the second J. Ross Robertson Cup in franchise history. They will open their quest for the Memorial Cup on Friday against the defending CHL champion Saint John Sea Dogs.

London won the Memorial Cup in its only other appearance when it hosted the tournament in 2005.

“With such a young group of players, we didn’t think we would win this early,” said Mark Hunter, head coach, general manager and vice-president of the Knights. “We also knew, though, that we had the right players in the mix like (Jarred) Tinordi, Harry (Scott Harrington), Seth Griffith, Vladdy (Vladislav Namestnikov), and of course (goalie) Michael Houser.

Mark Hunter is Dale's brother.


http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/ju ... ampionship

[Red_One43]

Mark and Dale Hunter — two farming brothers from Petrolia, Ont., who made it big in the NHL — co-own and run the London Knights, the jewel franchise of the Ontario Hockey League.

Dale, of course, was the team’s long-time coach, but moved on in mid-season to coach the Washington Capitals, one of the NHL teams he played for. Speculation persists that Dale will return to the Knights as early as next season

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nh ... ily-affair

[ATX_Skins]

I really hope this isnt true. I like the way he managed the team this year. They fought hard.

[Red_One43]

I really hope this isnt true. I like the way he managed the team this year. They fought hard.

On Monday, May 14th, Dale Hunter called a press conference and announced that he was stepping down as HC for the Caps. He said that his main reason was to be with his family.

[langleyparkjoe]

Knubble got released and he voiced his opinion about the lack of offense.
I actually agree with him because if we had a lead we'd just sit back and only concentrate on defense instead of keep attacking (see L.A. Kings as prime example of attacking).
When you have Semen, Ovi, and Baekstrom, you have GOT TO keep attacking because they are better than the average players.