Author Archives: PucksAndBooks

George McPhee Was Mostly the Architect of an Identity Crisis

Posted on April 28, 2014 by PucksAndBooks

It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Ten years ago, gifted by the draft lottery gods, and with a young but battle-tested general manager presiding over a roster rebuild he’d already appropriately earned plaudits for, the Washington Capitals were supposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Ovechkin, David Poile, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Filip Forsberg, Front Office, George McPhee, Martin Erat, Morning cup-a-joe, National Hockey League, Seth Jones, Southeast Division, The curse of Washington hockey, The Great Old Patrick Division, Washington Capitals, Washington the cursed hockey town, Washington the hockey town | 8 Comments

Managing, and Excusing, the Ever Repeating Loop of Mediocrity

Posted on May 16, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

“I hope the Caps win a Stanley Cup before I’m dead.” — Kevin Fletcher, age 7, Alexandria, Virginia, earlier this week, relayed by his father on Facebook. The definition of precocious there. Good luck with that, Kevin. This Henrik Lundqvist … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Ovechkin, Front Office, George McPhee, Marcus Johansson, Martin Erat, Media, Morning cup-a-joe, Much-needed realignment, New York Rangers, NHL referees, playoff hockey, Print, Southeast Division, Ted Leonsis, Thomas Boswell, Washington Capitals, Washington Post, Washington the cursed hockey town, Winter Classic | 8 Comments

The Creation of a Culture for Winning

Posted on May 2, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

It’s a queer feeling, moving about Washington in this the season of the calendar of our perpetual discontent, and actually feeling good about the Capitals’ chances. This morning, well post cherry blossoms, I have a startling message to convey: We … Continue reading →

Posted in Adam Oates, Alexander Ovechkin, Dale Hunter, George McPhee, Mike Green, Morning cup-a-joe, New York Rangers, playoff hockey, Steve Oleksy, Washington Capitals | 7 Comments

On Moneyball Moves, and a One of a Kind Motivation

Posted on April 16, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

I am just returned from Pittsburgh, where Dad and I took in a most memorable Frozen Four. You know how a 16 seed has never knocked off a no. 1 seed in NCAA hoops? Well, it just happened in college … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Ovechkin, Baseball, College Hockey, Frozen Four, Maria Kirilenko, Morning cup-a-joe, Other sports, Steve Oleksy, Washington Capitals | Leave a comment

The Hockey News: ‘Five people on the hotseat’ (guess who’s no. 1)

Posted on April 6, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

More indictment of Capitals’ management, courtesy of Adam Proteau:  

Posted in George McPhee, Media, The Hockey News | 6 Comments

Echoes of Outrage

Posted on April 5, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

I’ve said my peace about this week’s trade, but I feel compelled to bring to our readers’ attention some additional commentary from one of the indisputably elite talents in the Washington sports blogging community, Homer McFanboy. This resonance of sentiment … Continue reading →

Posted in 106.7 the Fan, Filip Forsberg, Front Office, George McPhee, Homer McFanboy, Jason LaCanfora, Martin Erat, Media, New media, Prospects, Radio, Sky Kerstein | 19 Comments

A Desperation Move by a Desperate GM

Posted on April 4, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

Once upon a time, Capitals General Manager George McPhee was viewed, rightly I think, as cautious and shrewd each spring around trade deadline time. Never one to radically revamp his roster with wheeling and dealing then, McPhee in fact over … Continue reading →

Posted in David Poile, Eastern Conference, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Filip Forsberg, Front Office, George McPhee, Martin Erat, Morning cup-a-joe, Nashville Predators, NHL trade deadline, The curse of Washington hockey, Washington Capitals | 17 Comments

Hitting the Reset Button

Posted on March 29, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

I commend to your attention the most recent fit of gutsy thoughtfulness from my blogger buddy Ed Frankovic, who with commendable clarity of consideration arrives at this sobering recommendation as it relates to the handling of the Capitals roster here … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Ed Frankovic, Free agency, Front Office, George McPhee, Jeff Schultz, Marcus Johansson, Mike Ribeiro, Morning cup-a-joe, New media, Seth Jones, Washington Capitals | 8 Comments

Suspension of Disbelief

Posted on March 23, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

Right as Washington was settling in for a spring-delayed/prolonged winter weekend last night came word (via Twitter, necessarily) of some manner of meteor shower, or meteor explosion, high in the sky above the capital. For those watching the hockey televised … Continue reading →

Posted in Brooks Laich, Dale Hunter, Dmitri Orlov, Ice, John Druce, Marcus Johansson, Matt Hendricks, Mike Green, Morning cup-a-joe, Old Time Hockey, Steve Oleksy, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets | 1 Comment

NHL Realignment Delivers the Long Overdue Demolition of the SouthLeast

Posted on March 9, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

Though there surely should have been, we had no mayoral proclamation, no triumphant, inspiring oratory from any of our region’s elected officials, Chambers of Commerce, or business luminaries, no acknowledgment of the Great Liberation that uniquely visited Washington this week. … Continue reading →

Posted in Gary Bettman, Hockey Towns, Morning cup-a-joe, Much-needed realignment, Southeast Division, The Great Old Patrick Division, Washington Capitals | 6 Comments