Comments on: Accolades for Alzner

By: Mike L

Mike L — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:09:36 +0000

@Ben: Schultz doesn’t need to be grizzly bear on the backline next year, that can be Alzner, but it’d be nice if her was more of a bear and less of a moose. Mind you, moose bites can be nasty! A moose once bit my sister…

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:30:43 +0000

@ Mike L: To be sure, I want Shultz to hit more too. For now, I’m happy that he is focused on sound positional defense. In the end I think that’s more important, and you can’t argue with the results so far (his plus rating speaks to his reliability IMHO). I am optimistic that as he gets stronger and more confident he will become more physical. I just don’t see him being that “nasty” bear that we are missing on our blue line. More like a cuddly wuddly one.

By: Tom in FL

Tom in FL — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:23:40 +0000

Sorry about my misspelilngs

By: Tom in FL

Tom in FL — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:22:45 +0000

1) I’m surprsied they qualified Eminger at $1.2M. You’re certainly not going to do that and then leave him up in the standds all year.
2) MNCaps: Your question was expertly answered by Mike L.
3) I like Erskine to make the team because he makes only $550K and gives good value on the dollar as a #7 d-man. As I explained in my salary cay analysis, you can’t have a bunch of high paid guys and then have all your lower guys at like the $1.2M for Eminger. You need several players like Steckel and Erskine at $550K to make it work.
4) Yes, it’s easy to see Jurcina moved for a mid-level pick or maybe as a toss in for one of the #2s to move up a few slots. I feel he provides even less actual value at $900K than Erskine at $550K, so his return on value is maybe half Erskine’s. I numbers all day and even in my sleep so please excuse me when I go on and on about this. Except you can bet McPhee does exactly this kind of analysis since now he’ll be at/near the cap. Caps at the cap! Gotta love it!

By: Mike L

Mike L — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:30:18 +0000

Ben, I don’t want Schultz to be nasty and over-aggressive, but I do want him to be knocking people over with shoulder checks and right now all he does is bump people. With his size, opponents should hesitate to go into the corners with Schultz and right now, they don’t. It’s not a question of style, it’s a question of attitude, and it is something that can be corrected. I have a feeling Schultz will be a good solid NHL defenseman for many years, but there is no reason he can’t be a stronger hitter as well.

By: Mike L

Mike L — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:27:05 +0000

MNCaps, the agreement the NHL has with Canadian Juniors is that players from 18-20 years old can play in the NHL. However, these players have to play in the NHL or be sent back to junior. If they are sent back to juniors, then they cannot be recalled until their junior league season is complete.

Alzner should make the team, and he will stay up with the Caps. If he doesn’t, he’ll play another year with the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:06:18 +0000

@ pgreene: Well according to McPhee Eminger will be qualified and it seems unlikely another team will outbid the $1.2 mill he’ll get from the Caps. I assume he’s in. So to make room for Alzner, Pothier must retire and Erskine and Jurcina become the 7-8. But there is Lepisto who could very well make the team. Who will take Jurcina or Erskine off of our hands? Maybe we could get a 3rd rounder for one of them, maybe.

@MikeL and Jason: We all want to see aggressive defensemen, but that’s not Shultz’s style. When he fills out his frame (he’s only 22 still!) he will naturally get a harder shot and play more physically. But I don’t think you’ll ever see a nasty Chara-type from the kid…I just don’t get that from his demeanor.

By: MNCaps

MNCaps — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:25:39 +0000

Tom in FL, I am daft, so would you mind explaining why Alzner cannot pay in Hershey if he has a year of Junior eligibility left? I assume it is a rule to make sure the pros don’t raid the Canadian junior programs except in the most unique cases. Thanks.

By: acap1066

acap1066 — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:21:47 +0000

Congratulations to Alzner!!! This is a good sign to come. If he is good at clearing opponents from in front of the goalie, we sure could have used him in the first round of the playoffs.

On a side note, looks like I will becoming a fan of any western division team for the Stanley Cup this year until the Caps can win it next year.

By: gusty161

gusty161 — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:30:55 +0000

From today’s Calgary Sun:
“If the Caps had managed to get past the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, Alzner said he likely would have joined the team immediately.”

Based on that, I think it’s a pretty good bet the Caps intend to give Alzner every chance to make the team next season.