The Washington Capitals

Washington Post staff writer Tarik El-Bashir was online Friday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. ET to examine the team and the rest of the National Hockey League.

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Washington Capitals

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Tarik El-Bashir: Hello hockey fans and thanks for joining me for another Capitals/NHL chat. I just got back from practice, where I learned Jamie Heward is doing much better today, which is great news for anyone who watched last night's game.

I see lots of great questions, including a few on Heward's status, so let me get started.

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Raleigh, N.C.: What is your evaluation of John Erskine's play so far this season?

Tarik El-Bashir: I've been going back and forth on the subject of John Erskine for a while now.

And I think that's an indication of how he's played. He'll make a great play one moment, then a bad mistake the next. He's been inconsistent. But he's physical, which is something the Caps had been lacking on the blue line.

Not everyone is impressed with him. I spoke to someone (not affiliated with the Caps) the other day about Erskine. And that person said Erskine is lucky to have a job in the NHL.

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WDC: What's the latest on Jamie Heward? And does Zubie reallllly have the flu?!

Tarik El-Bashir: Check out my blog, I just updated it with some new info on Heward, who is doing much better than anyone had expected.

I'm told he was getting stitched up from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Which is why it's so amazing he's been upgraded from out indefinitely to week-to-week.

He's seeing a plastic surgeon right now.

As for Zubrus, yes, he is really sick.

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Bethesda, Md.: Tarik,

There was a report on Forbes.com a few weeks ago that ranked all of the NHL team values and the Caps are last. Does this have to with the poor lease agreement the team has with the Verizon Center? It seems that in a market this size the ranking would be higher.

Tarik El-Bashir: You are dead on. Bad lease, coupled with weak attendance, kills Ted Leonsis's bottom line.

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Washington, D.C.: Looks like Crosby and Malkin are leading the All Star balloting instead of Ovechkin. Do you think this is in part due to the NHL clearly marketing these young Penguins more than the young Caps?

Tarik El-Bashir: I attribute Crosby and Malkin leading the All Star voting to a flaw in the NHL's voting system, which is all-digital for the first time.

I mean really, are there more hockey fans with computers and cell phones in Pittsburgh than in Washington? Are Crosby and Malkin that much more popular than A.O.?

I don't think so.

I've also received e-mails from a few software engineers and hackers who have explained to me how it would be possible to vote multiple times. Not sure how accurate they are, but it does make me wonder.

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Framingham, Mass.: Vanbiesbrouck said something interesting during the HDNet broadcast of the Caps game last night. He said that goalies fear Ovechkin's shot so much, yet he doesn't use that fact to freeze the goalie before making a move, nor does he mix it up and shoot during a breakaway instead of deeking. IS he trying to be too fancy?

Tarik El-Bashir: Yes. It is obvious to me that Ovechkin is thinking too much on penalty shots.

I've also noticed a lot of top players have begun swinging out wide after picking up the puck, and breaking in on the goal from an angle. Seems like a great idea because it forces the goalie to move, which in turn, opens his pads and makes him less stable.

Ovechkin has attacked the goalie from straight on.

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Hershey, Pa.: Tarik, who is the logical choice from Hershey to replace Heward? Seeing as if he will be out for an undetermined amount of time. If I'm not mistaken wouldn't Nycholat have to clear waivers? The only other defensman that has earned a shot in my opinion is Jamie Hunt, but he is still very raw.

Tarik El-Bashir: I would like to see Nycholat or Hunt get a shot, but I'm pretty sure the Caps are not going to call anyone up.

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Arlington, Va.: We have a game we play among the Capitals fans in our office before each Caps game. It's called "Who Will Show Up Tonight: The Good Caps, Or The Bad Caps?" The inconsistency in play from game to game is almost staggering. Yes, there's been a major improvement in the Caps' play over last year, but inconsistency remains a real problem. What does Glenn Hanlon say? What are your thoughts?

Tarik El-Bashir: That's a great observation. I hear that a lot from fans. But one thing few people -- other than coaches and players -- seem to take into account is how big a role the opposing team factors into the equation.

Is the other team tired or are they rested? How do the teams matchup, player for player? There are so many variables.

In my opinion, the Capitals' effort is about the same every night. Just sometimes they are overmatched from a talent/experience standpoint.

Make sense?

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Annandale, Va.: How confident are they that Backstrom will come over next season? And do you know what their plans with Varlamov are? They have two years, but is the lack of a transfer agreement still hampering things?

Tarik El-Bashir: Management is almost certain Backstrom will be in a Caps uniform next season, which is why they didn't go out and trade for/sign a second-line center this offseason. In their opinion, they've already got one.

There's no rush with Varlamov.

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King of Prussia, Pa.: Tarik,

Any news on the Caps changing their logo and uniforms next year?

Tarik El-Bashir: I'm expecting them to go back to red, white and blue with a new logo, as well. Getting that on the record is tough.

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Alexandria, Va.: Are the Caps gonna melt the ice tomorrow to try and slow down the Sabres ?

Tarik El-Bashir: The only thing that's going to slow down the Sabres is a 20-round shootout with the Rangers, who visit Buffalo tonight.

Have you noticed the Caps have played better against some of the faster teams this season? I have.

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Pittsburgh: Do you happen to know if the Caps have any interest in acquiring LeClair off the waiver wire? He could be a spark in the lineup.

Tarik El-Bashir: No interest. None.

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Alexandria, Va.: It appears that Beech and Klepis are battling it out for the second-line center position. Who do you think will ultimately prevail? To me, Klepis has more upside than Beech, what do you think?

Tarik El-Bashir: Both have had their moments. Both have struggled mightily.

If I were the coach, Klepis would be my second-line center (until Backstrom arrives next season). Just my gut feeling.

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Washington, D.C.: Tarik - Nice back-to-back wins; Buffalo will be a tough test. My question is related to the "system" the Caps play on offense and defense. We often hear about teams using this system or that system on offense and defense. What do the Caps call their "system"?

Tarik El-Bashir: I would categorize the Caps' system an aggressive puck pursuit style.

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Melbourne, Fla.: Tarik -- the Capitals are lagging the league in attendance again this year (27th out of 30 according to ESPN) and Ted has openly asked for input on how to create more fan interest. You grew up in the D.C. area, are well educated, have inside access to the Capitals organization, and have visited most (if not all) NHL cities/arenas -- what are your thoughts on how to improve the Capitals attendance?

Tarik El-Bashir: Ever notice that Verizon Center fills up nicely when Philadelphia, the New York Rangers, Detroit or Toronto comes to town?

Those people didn't fly in for the game. They live here and love hockey. But for some reason they haven't fallen in love with the Capitals. That must change.

Another thing I can't figure out is this: Youth hockey has been booming in our area for more than a decade. When I grew up playing around here, there were a dozen high school teams. Now there are hundreds. Multiply that out and you've got thousands of potential customers. Why aren't they coming to games? That must change, too.

Are ticket prices too high? Is Verizon Center too far from where a lot of these folks live? Places like Germantown and Ashburn? My answer to both of those questions is yes.

I could go on for hours on this subject. But that's my quick take.

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Alexandria, Va.: How do you catch the details of the game from so high up there in the press box?

Tarik El-Bashir: It's not easy. You've also got to remember I'm writing for a lot of the third period.

I catch the details by watching my laptop screen with my left eye, the ice and replay screens with my right. It was a tough skill to acquire.

I'm just kidding. But you are right, we media folks are up high. But between replays and talking to the players afterward, we usually get it right.

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Fairfax, Va.: Tarik, which stadium in the NHL has the nicest press box?

Tarik El-Bashir: My favorite press box is the one at Madison Square Garden. It's only a few feet off the ice behind the visitors' goal. Reporters are so close, we can hear the players and refs.

The atmosphere at MSG is also great.

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Odenton, Md.: Tarik, which hockey writers do you follow regularly or are most influenced by?

Tarik El-Bashir: It would be tough for me to pick one.

But the hockey writer who had the most influence on me was Joe Lapointe of the New York Times. He covered the Rangers when I covered the Islanders for The Times some years back. I learned more from him than anyone else.

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Downingtown, Pa.: Tarik,

How are the Caps regarded with respect to their ability to identify and develop talent? It seems like there has been a bit push throughout the organization to become experts in finding and molding younger, faster and cheaper players. Are they being recognized around the league for their efforts?

Tarik El-Bashir: You would be hard pressed to find a scout in the NHL who doesn't think the Capitals have made huge strides in terms of developing talent. And I agree.

Many league insiders think the Caps are going to be really, really good in a few years.

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Washington, D.C.: Two observations and a follow up: First, you are dead on re. Ovechkin's approach on penalty shots/shootouts...way too linear and predictable. He has to change it up more. Second, I also think that you are right that a lot of the Caps inconsistency is due to the opposition as opposed to their play...some times they'll look great against a tired Carolina and then get their doors blown out when the Canes are more rested.

Okay, here's a follow up question from your last chat: you stated that the Caps prospects are probably not as good as the organization thinks, and that other organizations share your view. What do you think of (or heard about) the prospects after watching the first 1/4 of the season? Given that the Caps have a lot riding ion the development of Flash, Klepis, Fehr, etc. this is VERY worrisome.

Tarik El-Bashir: Of the three players you mentioned, I think Fehr has the most upside. He's big, fast and smart. He just needs a little more seasoning in the minors. I thought he played very well during his short stint here recently.

Fleischmann is a little on the small side and gets knocked off the puck easily. But I think he's going to be okay thanks to the new rules.

Klepis is also going to be okay, just not the top level talent he was projected to be.

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Waynesboro, Pa.: Another thing that might help attendance is more coverage by The Post. I know the 'Skins rule D.C., but the Caps are everything the Redskins should be: building from within around a superstar, taking it slow and making generally good GM decisions. The Post should play this up, especially in light of how bad the Skins are.

Tarik El-Bashir: While it's not a newspapers job to promote a team or sport, we are covering the Capitals more these days. In addition to having stories in the paper almost each day, I've got a blog on www.washingtonpost.com and I'm doing a chat every two weeks.

Did you catch April Witt's 8,000-word story on Ovechkin in last Sunday's Washington Post Magazine? Great read.

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WDC: Is the NHL looking into the Pens' fishy All Star game voting totals?

Tarik El-Bashir: I haven't heard about an investigation. But I'll ask.

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Tarik El-Bashir: Thanks for all of the great questions this week. Wish I could get to them all, but I've got to write a story for tomorrow's paper.

Take care everyone.

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