2007-2008 Washington Capitals Season Thread

[MattyIceGfunk]

Wow what a little run they are on. Creeping up the standings.

I can't believe Alexander the great got hosed in the All Star Game and is a backup.

Anyone go to the games besides myself?

[ol' Cabey leg]

Has that contract extension been announced yet? Supposedly 6 years 54 million. Congrats if it's true. By far the most exciting player in the league.

[OandAFanInDC]

yeah he resigned they just announced on sportsnite good to see that met him in Arlington not too long ago nice guy even nicer benzo he rolls in

[MattyIceGfunk]

Finally a move toward the right direction for this team. With Bruce producing the wins since he took over it is looking very good for the Caps.


Alex Ovechkin signs record $124 million deal with Capitals (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-capitals-ovechkin&prov=ap&type=lgns)
By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
January 11, 2008

From left, Washington Capitals president and owner Dick Patrick, left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, and vice president and general manager George McPhee listen to chairman and majority owner Ted Leonsis, right, during a news conference that announced that the Capitals have signed Ovechkin to a $124 million, 13-year contract extension Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, in Washington.
AP - Jan 10, 9:45 pm EST
More Photos

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Alex Ovechkin was unshaved and his mop of hair was in dire need of a comb. He did, however, make one concession after signing the richest contract in NHL history.

He wore a suit. Stashed away were his bizarre color-clashing getups that would make Mr. Blackwell cringe.

"Well," he said with a shrug, "I'm still looking good."

Of course he is. He has a $124 million, 13-year contract extension with the Washington Capitals, a handsome reward for the charismatic, 22-year-old Russian who has been a nonstop goal-scorer since coming to the NHL in 2005.

"I'm happy I stay here," Ovechkin said. "It's my second home. I like the fans. I like the team. I like everything here."

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It's not the longest deal in NHL history -- Rick DiPietro signed for 15 years with the New York Islanders -- and it didn't break the record for largest average salary, but it is the league's first contract to guarantee nine digits of income.

"I'm a risk-taker," said owner Ted Leonsis, who has made Ovechkin the cornerstone of a rebuilding plan to restore the Capitals as a perennial playoff team. "And if you're going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with? This takes away any of the issues of how committed we are to winning a Cup, how committed we are to keeping a team together."

The contract will pay Ovechkin $9 million per year for the first six years and $10 million per year for the following seven. A limited-movement clause kicks in after several years that will allow Ovechkin to select a handful of teams at the beginning of each season to which he cannot be traded.

And he won't have to pay an agent a dime. Ovechkin worked out the details himself Thursday afternoon in negotiations with Leonsis and general manager George McPhee. His parents, Tatiana and Mikhail, were also in town for the final round of talks for a deal that runs through the 2020-21 season.

Even so, Ovechkin didn't seem fazed by the gaudy numbers.

"Hockey is my life," he said with another shrug, "and money is money. ... If you think about money, you stop playing hockey."

Asked what he plans to buy with his new riches, he said: "I feel I have everything."

"A front tooth," added Leonsis, noting the big gap in Ovechkin's smile.

"Maybe razor," Ovechkin said.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, speaks during a press conference to announce the Capitals have signed him to a 13-year, US$124-million contract extension, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, in Washington.
AP - Jan 10, 9:30 pm EST
More Photos
More seriously, Ovechkin said he realizes the most lucrative contract the league has ever seen will carry an extra burden.

"I know it's extra pressure, but I have to play the same," he said. "If you think of pressure, it's hard for you. I have to play the same way -- play more, play better."

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft, Ovechkin was in the final season of a three-year, entry-level deal. His salary-cap number for this season, taking into account bonuses, is $3.83 million.

If Ovechkin had become a free agent at the end of the season, the Capitals would have had the right to match any offer from another team. He and the Capitals had been talking about an extension since the end of last season, and he said the rumors about his future were starting to get to him.

"When you read the newspaper and, like, 'Ovechkin can go over there,' 'Ovechkin can be traded,' you feel it," Ovechkin said. "But then you try and don't think about it, but you think about it. Right now, I think all about my game."

Leonsis said he was initially skittish about the length of the deal, having been burned by the eight-year, $88 million contract he gave Jaromir Jagr in 2001. The owner noted, however, that other contracts will surpass Ovechkin's in years to come, and that "in 10 years the deal might look really attractive."

"My bet is the money won't affect him," Leonsis said. "He'll play every shift like it's the seventh game of the finals of the Stanley Cup, and that's what we've come to love about him."

Ovechkin has 130 goals in his 2 1/2 seasons, tied with Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk for most among all NHL players over that span. Ovechkin had 52 goals and 54 assists in 2005-06, when he edged Pittsburgh forward Sidney Crosby in the voting for the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. Ovechkin followed that up with 46 goals and 46 assists last season.

Ovechkin has 32 goals this season, helping Washington surge from the league's worst record to the fringe of the playoff race. He also has 20 assists.

Updated on Friday, Jan 11, 2008 4:53 am, EST

[the max]

for the sake of the caps fan, i hope that the salary cap doesn't go down. otherwise, ovechkin will be counting for about about a quarter of their salary cap.

could end up getting pretty messy.

[MattyIceGfunk]

Boy are the Caps starting to play or what? Alexander Semin is gonna be a BEAST!

[MattyIceGfunk]

Southeast GP W L OT PTS GF GA HOME AWAY L10
CAROLINA 50 23 23 4 50 152 162 11-10-2 12-13-2 3-6-1
ATLANTA 50 23 24 3 49 140 169 12-12-2 11-12-1 4-4-2
WASHINGTON 47 21 21 5 47 137 147 12-11-1 9-10-4 7-2-1
FLORIDA 49 21 24 4 46 122 140 9-11-3 12-13-1 3-6-1
TAMPA BAY 48 19 24 5 43 137 157 12-10-2 7-14-3 4-4-2

Creeping on up!

[MattyIceGfunk]

Another win for the Caps. And yes I will keep posting till someone else chimes in.

[FAZ8218]

I wanna see them finish first in the division and I want Ovechkin in the playoffs.

[MattyIceGfunk]

Your vision is coming closer and closer each game they play.

[cleft_pallet]

I just bought my tickets to the Jackets/Caps game on Tuesday.

[MattyIceGfunk]

http://images.covers.com/covers/data/logos/nhl/nyi.gif @ http://images.covers.com/covers/data/logos/nhl/was.gif TONIGHT!!!!!!

[MattyIceGfunk]

Huet making the big debut tonight. C-A-P-S C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS!!!!

[Big Fat Steve]

The playoff run is heating up. We need Philly and Boston to lose a few games here in the upcoming weeks. Whether we make the playoffs or not, this team has as bright of a future as any other in Hockey. In Alex we trust.

[seeinred]

You tell your fucking team to stop losing. I need to see AO in the playoffs so he can be a lock for the Hart. Otherwise I think Malkin wins it, which is bullshit. Especially since Lidstrom should win it before both of them.

[seeinred]

Great fucking game tonight guys. AO and Backstrom were both great. Just keep winning, and get into the playoffs.

[seeinred]

C'mon you motherfuckers, show some enthusiasm!. Your team just tied for the division lead after a good chunk of time in last place in the East. Ridiculous goal by AO tonight, too. God I hope they win their last 2 games.

[The NoVA Kid]

GO CAPS! just went up 3-1 over Tampa! Ovechkin has 2 tonight. Its very exciting time to be a Caps fan.

[Big Fat Steve]

Fucking Philly or Carolina needs to lose here. Shit is getting tense.

[FAZ8218]

I hope things go your way, guys! GO CAPS

[Papagolash]

I hope you guys make it in, Ovechkin = jebus

[Big Fat Steve]

The Flyers=Ovechkin's bitch.

[FAZ8218]

Hahahaha.

[flyerfan116]

Crosby=Ovechkin's bitch.

fixed it for ya....Philly is no one bitch... respect Ovechkin and look forward to a great series.....but we're takin it in 6 :action-sm

[Big Fat Steve]

fixed it for ya....Philly is no one bitch... respect Ovechkin and look forward to a great series.....but we're takin it in 6 :action-smYou might be the most polite Philadelphia sports fan on the planet. This will be a good series though. I think having home ice will help us.

[flyerfan116]

You might be the most polite Philadelphia sports fan on the planet. This will be a good series though. I think having home ice will help us.

Hey man gotta call 'em like I see 'em. I think it's gonna be a great series and match up. Both teams are on fire and it'll make for some good hockey. Wish i could rip Ovechkin, but he's the best in the league, he's not a whiny little bitch, and I love watching the kid play.


That being said, Caps...bring it!

[Big Fat Steve]

Game 7 at the phone booth.....Rock the red people!

[Fr. Dougal]

That 2nd Philty goal was utter bullshit.

[Ballbuster1]

That 2nd Philty goal was utter bullshit.:cry3: There were plenty of bad calls over the course of that series.
Final score is all that matters.
No way will the Flyers win it all.
Just glad they beat the Caps and gave a big FU to the Ovechckin ass kissers.

[mikeybot]

Good series fellas.

[maz]

maz must admit
Caps are coming on

Nice series fellas
Coulda went either way

[Big Fat Steve]

:cry3: There were plenty of bad calls over the course of that series.
Final score is all that matters.
No way will the Flyers win it all.
Just glad they beat the Caps and gave a big FU to the Ovechckin ass kissers.I gotta agree. The referees were horrific to both teams in this whole series.

I would not only kiss Ovie's ass, I'd reach around, and fondle his Smirnoff induced balls.

[Big Fat Steve]

That little Briere fucker was a headache for the Caps the whole series, and when he has his helmet on, he looks a little like Daron Malakian of System of a Down.

[maz]

I think Briere looks like the Medic from
Saving Privete Ryan

after He got shot

[Wilmington WOW]

Game 7 at the phone booth.....Rock the red people!

phone booth? ugh

red people? ugh ugh



cute lil thread ya got here :action-sm

[bb1mobile]

I would not only kiss Ovie's ass, I'd reach around, and fondle his Smirnoff induced balls.
Don't get me wrong, he's a great player and
I'd love to see him in the orange and black
but my respect for him dropped a few notches
after he tried so hard at drawing bogus tripping
penalties.