The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Attention All Caps Fans... Scott and I will be starting a weekly Capitals podcast this week called THN on Ice.

It will be a one hour weekly show that reviews and previews games, has features and interviews with Capitals from all levels in the organization, and also includes some guest appearances from some Caps bloggers.

We will hopefully be launching the first show tomorrow or Friday, and Scott and I would like to have a mailbag segment where we field questions from you guys... so don't be shy... this thread is a place for you guys to submit some questions about the Capitals, and we will pick a few of the best questions and answer them each week.

I realize that it's short notice this week, but we will start a thread each week to get your questions. So feel free to post questions of any type... if you have questions for a certain player, we will do our best to get them answered and include them in the mailbag segment.

Because we realize that there are a lot of Redskin fans that might not yet even be hockey fans, we will also likely do a few segments about 'learning the game' both in print and in the podcasts. Stephen (Fios) did a piece called 'Getting Hooked' after attending a game, and we hope to do more pieces like that and maybe even get Stephen on the podcast to get it straight from the horse's mouth. Don't be shy about asking just hockey related questions in the mailbag either.

We will also be including public service announcements for the charity events that the Caps are putting on because, well, that's how we roll. Anything we can do to help charities publish an event is something that we're always excited about being able to chip in and help out with. So expect some segments, and some ad snippets of any and all Caps charity functions in the podcasts as well.

The Caps are an amazingly progressive organization, and we're excited to work with them. I'm sure it will take a few weeks to settle into a fully established format for the show, but we look forward to putting it together. With the level of access that the Caps entrust us with, we think that we can put together a pretty cool show for Caps fans.

So if you're a Caps fan, or a Redskin fan with a Caps question, or you're just a fan that's new to hockey, or even a Caps fan with a Redskins question... send it our way.

We'll let you know when the podcast is launched, and we hope you'll check it out and let us know what you think.

The Capitals seemed to struggle quite a bit last year with consistency. Does it seem like things will be different this year, or do you see streaky performances in store for 2007-08?

The Capitals have had difficulty getting shots on goal in the last few games, even on power play opportunities. Should the team be more focused on shot quantity than shot quality? And would a "Crash The Net" offensive style be more suited to developing scoring chances?

Is there a plan C? since we put a ton of shots at the net vs Pittsburgh this time, and still could not score?

This isn't really a pod-cast question, but how did you get hooked on Washington hockey, BH? Being from Canada, I would think you would have an allegiance to another hockey team. Sorry if this is off-topic, I was just curious.

Sweet.

The Caps should be very good this year.

Thanks Bosshog.

JSPB22 wrote:This isn't really a pod-cast question, but how did you get hooked on Washington hockey, BH? Being from Canada, I would think you would have an allegiance to another hockey team. Sorry if this is off-topic, I was just curious.

Not to speak for BH, but he's actually a Leafs fan. As a Canadian though, he's a fan of all things hockey and of Ovie in particular. That being said, I contacted ted leonsis last year to see if we could do some cross-promotions, and the next thing you know, BH and I are sitting in Caps headquarters meeting the big wigs, getting full media credentials and sitting in the press box. Hard not to be a fan of an organization that actually cares about their fans in the manner that the Caps do.

JansenFan wrote:

JSPB22 wrote:This isn't really a pod-cast question, but how did you get hooked on Washington hockey, BH? Being from Canada, I would think you would have an allegiance to another hockey team. Sorry if this is off-topic, I was just curious.

Not to speak for BH, but he's actually a Leafs fan. As a Canadian though, he's a fan of all things hockey and of Ovie in particular. That being said, I contacted ted leonsis last year to see if we could do some cross-promotions, and the next thing you know, BH and I are sitting in Caps headquarters meeting the big wigs, getting full media credentials and sitting in the press box. Hard not to be a fan of an organization that actually cares about their fans in the manner that the Caps do.

Makes sense to me! Thanks, JH.

JSPB22 wrote:Makes sense to me! Thanks, JH.

Don't forget to thank JansenFan, as well, big guy.

REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:

JSPB22 wrote:Makes sense to me! Thanks, JH.

Don't forget to thank JansenFan, as well, big guy.

What's funny is that, as I was typing that I was remembering him calling Jansen, Hansen, and me making the joke: should we call him HF from now on? That's where the H came from, not from Hog (Justice or Boss).

JSPB22 wrote:This isn't really a pod-cast question, but how did you get hooked on Washington hockey, BH? Being from Canada, I would think you would have an allegiance to another hockey team. Sorry if this is off-topic, I was just curious.

First of all, working with the Caps has been wonderful. It's been a very mutually beneficial venture and I think Scott hit on the key points already.

Secondly, you just probably can't even imagine how much hockey I watch. I can't explain it, I won't even try.

Thirdly, we cover the Capitals as a news outlet, and as far as I know, biases aren't allowed anyway. When I write about the Capitals, it's from a position of (hopefully) hockey expert, hockey fan... not necessarily a Caps fan.

I will say that they've given me every reason to be a fan of the organization itself and the first class manner with which they treat EVERYBODY it seems.


Scott had some issues last week that just couldn't be helped or overcome, so we had to put off our first show for a week, but we'll have one this week. With games on Wednesday and Friday, we'll probably do the show between games and wrap one game and then preview the weekend's games. We'll also talk about Scott's blog topic.

We'll do a mailbag section as well, so if you have any questions or need to update one that you posted... please go ahead and do so.

BossHog wrote:Attention All Caps Fans... Scott and I will be starting a weekly Capitals podcast this week called THN on Ice.

What is wrong with "Ice Hogades"?

I look forward to it. Sounds great BH! Congratulations!

My questions:

What division do you expect to be the toughest in the NHL this season?

Do you consider to have developed a rivalry with another team as fierce as those traditional rivalries among fans and teams such as Montreal, Toronto and Boston?

For a little insigt on the Caps and their blogger relations, the Times has a pretty good piece, and the second link takes you to Ted Leonsis' blog. which adds a little insight and depth to the Times piece.

The Times piece by Tim Lemke

Ted's Take on the Times piece

Was there any talk of keeping the "flying eagle" as part of the new uniform? Even though I think the new uniforms are an upgrade, but why not hold onto a part of Capitals history that delivered the franchise's only Eastern Conference crown?

What has been the team's reaction to the new uniform system? If the players were incredibly displeased with Reebok's product, would the franchise consider trying to go back to the old style?

On the uniform...I always liked the original red/white/blue uniform, which (a) suggested the Montreal Canadiens, and (b) is the proper color-scheme for any team from Washington.

Why the Canadiens? When I was young, the NBA and NHL seasons were "that cold space between the end of the Redskins season and the opening of the Nats' spring training. Since Washington had no big time team in either league, NBC (??) would broadcast a prime game into the Washington market. The hockey game was almost always the Canadiens against somebody...often the Rangers (a forgettable team in 1959). Montreal meant the two Richards, Boom-Boom Geofrion (sp), Jacques Plante and those guys.

(For historical accuracy, the town had an Eastern Hockey League team called the Presidents, and sometimes the Washington Lions, who played at Uline Arena. No TV contract. There had been an great late 40's NBA team called the Washington Capitols -- as in the building -- coached by Red Auerbach, but they were disbanded by about 1952. The Lions/Presidents evaporated about 1961)

It's good to see something like the old uniform come back. "Teal" just doesn't evoke the Nation's Capital.

As for the Boss's true heart-felt hockey loyalty, I always thought he was a Leafs fan with an appreciation for the game in general. [As JansenFan conformed, but I didn't read all the posts in the thread]

Aside from the "blah blah" in my previous post, a question for the next talk with the Caps organization:

Would it help to reduce prices in the lower tier?

(a) The TV shows only the fans at that level. When I've been to the new arena, the (expensive) lower tier seats have been, at best, half full...usually less. The higher you go, the more the sections are filled. TV viewers get a feeling that the area is empty, when, actually, most of MCI/whatever it is this year is filled with real hockey nuts. A "real hockey nut" comes to the gaem by Metro; wears a Caps jersey, often a old-style Rod Langway; has pro-Caps buttons all over; doesn't care a bit if the outfit is a bit out-there for prim&proper Washington.

(b) Could the team do better by reducing the price of the prime seats, if only to fill the arena from the bottom up, rather than the top down? I love the fanatics up by the rafters, but the wider audience doesn't see them.

(c) Please thank them for keeping Olie. Fans are loyal to players, as well as to the uniform.

(d) Can Leonsis get Langway and Kelly Miller back in the organization as coaches? Or Langway as a TV commentator: John Davidson's between-periods interviews with Langways were some of the most delightful TV hockey talk I can remember.

Alexander Semin's ankle injury is causing serious scoring line and power play line issues. I believe this is the third time time this season his ankle has been injured or re-injured. Any thoughts on adding another scoring forward to the roster?

welch wrote:It's good to see something like the old uniform come back. "Teal" just doesn't evoke the Nation's Capital.

I couldn't agree more. Even though I have some problems with the new uniforms, they are a big upgrade, especially from the black home set.

Well, the first episode is posted, although I forgot to update the thread, so it's two games behind, but be sure to check it out...

http://www.the-hogs.net/washington-capitals/

On a side note, I'll be talking to Ted Leonsis on Wednesday, so it could be an excellent time to bring up your pricing questions Welch.

If this question is still relevant by Wednesday, then this is for Ted:

I was watching the game against Vanvouver the other night and saw the vicious slapshot Chris Clark took to the side of the head from Ovie. I cringed everytime I saw the replay. How is Chris doing and is he expected to return in the near future? Thanks for your time, Mr. Leonsis.

The Capitals put seven goals on the board agaist Toronto Monday night. This is more along the lines of the offensive effort Caps fans expected to see. Was there a change in coaching philosophy or a change in player effort or both?

Im a huge Leaf fan, not real sure if this was a regualar Caps performance, but the Leafs goaltending and defensive game has been horendice.

redskingush wrote:Im a huge Leaf fan, not real sure if this was a regualar Caps performance, but the Leafs goaltending and defensive game has been horendice.

BossHog is a huge Leafs fan, too, but since this is a Caps PodCast I thought I'd approach it from the positive Caps perspective.

If BossHog and JF put together a Leafs PodCast, I'll approach it from the Leafs perspective.

redskingush wrote:Im a huge Leaf fan, not real sure if this was a regualar Caps performance, but the Leafs goaltending and defensive game has been horendice.

That's seven goals without McCabe's help. Wow!

Not a question but this is . (Pun Intended)

THN now appears on the Washington Capitals "Hockey Friendly Blogs" webpage.

http://capitals.nhl.com/team/app/?servi ... e&id=11949