Welcome!

Welcome to Caps 'Round the Clock, a blog covering the Washington Capitals and the NHL. In season, I update the Blog after every practice and on game day with Caps news and information, and then provide a recap and analysis after each contest. I also write a periodical Prospect Watch and weekly feature pieces on the state of the Men in Red and other things Capitals. And of course, I will post videos and tidbits from around the League and offer my two cents as the season wears on. In the offseason, I write a Report Card for each player, and will keep you updated on all the news about the Caps through the summer. I'm glad you're here, and hope you come back!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Season Preview: Jay Beagle

Beeegs celebrate sick goal with Greenie!!!#CaptionLikeOvi
As the regular season inches closer, day by day, the time has come to predict and begin to take a look at what the Caps and their fans can expect from each player on the roster.  Today's player is fourth line winger/centerman Jay Beagle, who will begin his fifth season in the organization this fall.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Season Preview: Matt Hendricks

Hendy won't score as much this year, but he'll still be the man.
As the regular season inches closer, day by day, the time has come to predict and begin to take a look at what the Caps and their fans can expect from each player on the roster.  Today's player is grinder and fourth line lynchpin Matt Hendricks, who will begin his second season in the organization this fall.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Season Preview: Jeff Schultz

Schultz needs to be better for DC to fully utilize their defensive depth.
As the regular season inches closer, day by day, the time has come to predict and begin to take a look at what the Caps and their fans can expect from each player on the roster.  Today's player is beloved "tree man" Jeff Schultz, who will begin his seventh season in the organization this year.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Season Preview: Jeff Halpern

Wrong jersey, my man.
As the regular season inches closer, day by day, the time has come to predict and begin to take a look at what the Caps and their fans can expect from each player on the roster.  Today's player is new centerman Jeff Halpern, who will begin his seventh season overall, but first since 2005-06, with the Caps this fall.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Season Preview: DJ King

The guy is on his way out.
As the regular season inches closer, day by day, the time has come to predict and begin to take a look at what the Caps and their fans can expect from each player on the roster.  Today's player is "figher" DJ King, who will begin his second season in the organization in the fall.

Capitals Sign Stanislav Galiev

As first reported by himself on Twitter, the Washington Capitals have signed forward Stanislav Galiev to a three-year entry level contract.  The financial terms of the deal are not disclosed at this time.
Galiev, 19, was the Capitals' third round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, and spent last year playing for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL.  Galiev won the Memorial Cup with the Sea Dogs last year, talling 37 goals and 28 assists in 64 games.  For my full prospect breakdown of Galiev, click here.
While it's good that Stan is under contract, you have to wonder why the Caps signed Galiev this early.  He's going to play in Juniors another year, and EL deals are valuable for the club.  Nevertheless, he's now officially a member of the organization.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Season Preview: John Erskine

Aaaaand, BOOM goes the dynamite.
As the regular season inches closer, day by day, the time has come to predict and begin to take a look at what the Caps and their fans can expect from each player on the roster.  Today's player is Big John Studd Erskine, who will begin his sixth season in the organization in the fall.

Recap of Last Season: Erskine had a great year last season, compiling career highs in goals, games, points, blocks, and hits, and serving his purpose as a very good backup defenseman who was forced into regular duty because of injuries. He filled this role admirably and often without any glaring mistakes, so he deserves props for that. For my full post-season thoughts on Erskine, click here.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Predicting Special Teams

Hopefully many of Ovi's PP cellies will begin down low, like this one, next year.
As the dog days of August continue and about five weeks left until training camp, it's time to hypothesize and have fun predicting things again.  Today we visit special teams: the penalty kill and power play.  Last season, the Caps' power play percentage dropped meteorically compared to the previous season, while their penalty kill did exactly the opposite.  The result was a still successful regular season team, but the Caps still struggled to come up with the big goals that they needed when they were on the power play in the postseason, particularly against Tampa.  This year?  They should aim to become the Canucks, who were near the top of the league in both power play and penalty kill last season.  And Washington has the talent to do it.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Predicting the Opening Night Lineup

Okay, it's official.  A week into August, with Development Camp long done, all contracts signed, and no more free agents left to pursue, the dog days of summer are officially upon us.  There is no hockey to pay attention to and no news to wait for.  So, it's time to hypothesize and have some fun.  Todays topic: the opening night roster.  For my lines, defensive pairings, and camp cuts, take a look after the jump.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Jeff Halpern - A Steal of a Deal

Back when we had robo cop Alex, we had captain Halpy.  He's baaaack.
During free agency this summer, the Washington Capitals managed to plug holes in their forward corps by adding grit and defense in the form of both Troy Brouwer and Joel Ward.  However, the addition of these players, with a combined annual cap hit of $5.35 million, forced the departure of Jason Arnott, Marco Sturm, Matt Bradley, and Boyd Gordon from the team.  Gordon's departure was arguably the most significant, as it left the Caps without a fourth-line, defensive center.  In order to fill that hole, George McPhee went out and signed former Caps captain Jeff Halpern to a one-year, $825,000 deal.  But Halpern's game has changed alot since his last season with Washington, when he scored 44 points.  Have a look at what you can expect from Halpy after the jump.

Monday, August 1, 2011

The Warden

Ever since the Capitals became a dominant regular season force in 2008-09, pundits and players alike have criticized the way they play the game.  People have called them soft, overly offensive, and afraid to do the dirty work when the playoffs roll around.  And every year, the Caps have lived up to that prediction, blowing playoff series leads of two games twice and getting swept the other time, never making it past the second round.  So what did George McPhee do to try and solve the problem?  He added hard-hitting grinder Joel Ward, a winger out of the Nashville system who went undrafted but has still helped a Predators team with half the talent level of the Caps not only make the playoffs, but prove very competitive in the gauntlet West.
So what's this guy all about?  Find out after the jump.