The Washington Capitals

Washington Post staff writer Tarik El-Bashir was online Friday, March 30 at 2 p.m. ET to examine the team and the rest of the National Hockey League.

A transcript follows

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NHL News

Washington Capitals

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Tarik El-Bashir: Well, only five games left in another playoff-less season in Washington. But, hey, who's counting?

If you're like me, you are already focused on July 1, which, of course, is the first day of free agency -- and the unofficial start of the Caps' 2007-08 season.

Let's get started.

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Washington, D.C.: Tarik, can you tell us ANYTHING about the Caps new uniforms/logo for next season?

Tarik El-Bashir: All I have been able to squeeze out of my sources is that the Caps are definitely going back to red, white and blue. I was told the team worked with Reebok on the new design for three years and I do know there won't be an alternate jersey.

I have no idea what the new logo is going to look like, though. They are guarding that baby.

Just speculating here, but I'm guessing they'll wait for a day when NOTHING is going on in DC. And then make the announcement. That way it will get lots of coverage.

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Edmonton, London: Tampa Bay -- do they make or miss the playoffs?

Tarik El-Bashir: I hope the Lightning makes it. But they better stop this mini-slide they are on. And pronto.

Of course, they've got big questions in goal. But overall, I think they are an exciting team to watch. I really enjoy Lecavalier, Richards and St. Louis. But especially Lecavalier. One of my favorites.

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Poznan, Poland: Hey Tarik

So a lot of fans have high expectations about the type of players we are going to sign in the offseason. People are really expecting a top pairing defenseman and a true top line Center. Are we just setting ourselves up for disappointment? What type of players should we really expect to see GMGM go after?

Tarik El-Bashir: Fans who expect the Caps to spend to the ceiling will be disappointed. I don't see that happening.

I do, however, see the Caps making a play for some of the bigger names (like Gomez, Briere, Datsyuk, Hannan, Drury and all the guys we've talked about before) and settling for the best player they can get.

Remember, free agency is a two way street. Just because the Caps are willing to pay doesn't mean they will land the player. The player also has to want to come here.

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Woodbridge, Va.: Tarik,

Do you seriously expect a top-tier center to be acquired, or are we looking at someone like Stumpel or Perrault? How much do you think the Caps will honestly open up and spend this summer?

Tarik El-Bashir: Personally, I think center is where they should spend the most. Landing a guy like Gomez or Briere on the first day of free agency will make Ovechkin happy (he's not happy, trust me). And it will help prove the Caps are serious and perhaps convince others to sign here.

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Clinkerville, Australia: G'day Tarik!

Do you ever get feedback on defenseman prospects in the system that aren't yet playing in Hershey? I'm interested to hear what McPhee and others are saying about Dovgan, Finley, Thomas, Pokuluk and Seabrook.

Tarik El-Bashir: Yes. The Caps are very happy about Dovgan's development. He'll be in Hershey next year. Probably could have been there this season.

Those in the org who have seen Finley say he's been impressive, too. Pokulok has been hurt a lot of the year, so there's not much to say about him. I haven't heard much talk about Thomas and Seabrook.

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Leigh (Fulton, Md.): Tarik,

Did Zubrus honestly think he would be able to get a 5-year contract this offseason, or did he just want to get the hell out of here?

Tarik El-Bashir: I know Zubrus did not want to leave. Perhaps he was asking for too much, as sometimes happens, particularly with a player like him. Does a whole lot that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. Unfortunately, it's hard to bargain when you don't have the numbers.

He'll find out what he's worth this summer when he hits the open market.

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National Cathedral: What, if any, is the possibility that the Caps get moved to a different division. They just can't seem to attract a crowd playing all these teams from the south, where these days, it never snows!

Tarik El-Bashir: As I sit here on the patio of my hotel room in Ft. Lauderdale, I sure hope they don't moved!

Just kidding. Although the weather here is SWEET!

It's not going to happen unless another team moves. And with the Pittsburgh situation all sorted out, I don't see anything on the horizon.

But, yes, you are correct. The Caps' crowds are not helped by playing in the SE Division. They would do much better in the Atlantic.

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Wow, this is bad ... : Did you see The Hockey News poll about where NHL players would like to play if not for their own team? 283 were surveyed and 24 teams were mentioned. No one wanted to come here. When asked what city they would least like to be traded to, D.C. finished 8th.

This isn't good. How is this team going to attract free agents? Nobody wants to play here.

Tarik El-Bashir: I did see that. Which is exactly what I was talking about in a previous answer.

If you are a free agent, and Montreal and Washington are offering the same deal, where are you going to go? Unfortunately for the Caps, that's why they'll have to overspend on FAs.

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Charlottesville, Va.: Is Hanlon playing the Clark-Gordon-Pettinger line together with an expectation that will be the regular checking line next year?

Tarik El-Bashir: No one has a guaranteed role on next year's team. Hanlon made that very clear earlier this week. It's impossible to know where anyone is going to play until all the summer moves shake out. There will be signings and trades that will affect everything.

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Poznan, Poland: HAHA Landing Briere will make Ovechkin happy???

Tarik El-Bashir: Yes. They became friends at the All-Star Game. And in Buffalo the other day, the two of them sat on the bench after the morning skate and talked for like 20 minutes.

All the stuff that happened earlier this year is water under the bridge.

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Frederick, Md.: Tarik-any idea what the goal for the Caps is regarding the number of season ticket holders they are trying for next year? I think it's around 8,500 now, correct? I guess a lot of people will decide based on who they get this summer.

Tarik El-Bashir: I'm pretty sure Ted told me that his goal is 12,000 STH.

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Arlington, Va.: Tarik,

I've been a Caps fan since 1975 and I have never been more depressed about the future of this team. It's apparent that the only decent player that we got from the great sell-off is Morrisonn, who is basically the second coming of Joe Reekie. So much for our five-year plan. At least we have cap space so we can afford to make smart free agent signing like Pothier at $2.5 million a year. How does McPhee keep his job? It's been almost 10 years. How long do we have to put up with this garbage? Where is the accountability??!!! I wish we had an owner who had a clue.

Tarik El-Bashir: I've said this before, and I will say it again. This is a critical summer for George McPhee and his staff. They've got to deliver the goods. Period.

Not only do they have to trade/sign for some quality players, they had better be the right players. Because if this team struggles again next winter, it's going to get ugly around here.

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Burke, Va.: Before people get all upset about the Hockey News Poll all of 12 players out of 300 some asked picked Washington as the place they did not want to be trade to. The whole thing is a very unscientific survey. I do agree with your Montreal analogy however.

Tarik El-Bashir: I've been hoping my whole career that I would get traded to the Montreal Gazette.

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Odenton, Md.: Hey Tarik,

As abysmal as the Caps are currently, Hershey is very much in the running for a consecutive Calder Cup. That usually bodes very well for the parent club eventually, doesn't it? Or are we just looking at a top flight AHL team and no more?

Tarik El-Bashir: Depends on how you look at it. Hershey won the Calder Cup last year, right? How did that help the Caps?

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Alexandria, Va.: With the emergence of Boyd Gordon as a solid 3rd line center, what will happen to Brian Sutherby? He doesn't have the offensive skills to be a first- or second-line center. Are his future prospects with the Caps relegated to fourth-line center?

Tarik El-Bashir: I like Sutherby. I still think he has a place on this team. But I think you are right. Gordon has probably cemented himself as the third line center (although I would still like to see some more offensive production out of that position). Sutherby will probably be the fourth.

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Columbia, Md.: What happens if and when no one of any worth even comes close to signing this summer, then what?

Tarik El-Bashir: That won't happen, at least not across the board. McPhee will be able to land someone. He had just better hope those players are the right ones.

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Southeast D.C.: Any update on Backstrom? I mean, how long does it take to sign a guy to a (now standard) rookie contract?

Tarik El-Bashir: No need to freak out, my man. Backstrom will be here next season. Look for an announcement just before or right after the world championships.

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Washington, D.C.: Tarik,

Will you cover the upcoming WC?

Tarik El-Bashir: I wish. Moscow for three weeks is not in the budget.

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Rockville, Md.: Any chance the Caps swing a trade for Crosby or Malkin?

Tarik El-Bashir: Sure. But what would the Pens want, though? I don't think the Caps would be willing to part with Ballston or Verizon Center, which is about what it would take.

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Manassas, Va.: Who is the goalie most likely to send Kolzig into a well earned retirement? Is that guy within the organization right now?

Tarik El-Bashir: It's way early, but everything I hear about Varlamov suggests he's going to be great. But, that said, we probably won't see him in Washington for at least three years.

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Silver Spring, Md.: It is hard to assess the quality of the Caps defensemen - or any defenseman - based solely on statistics (Exhibit A: Rod Langway). Given this, can you give us an assessment of our young defensemen/prospects? Can the current crop form a core for a serious contender in a few years? Thanks

Tarik El-Bashir: It's possible Eminger will turn things around. He's very talented.

It's also possible that Morrisonn will blossom into a true No. 2 next season.

And I can see Jurcina, Green and Schultz growing into very steady contributors.

But the Caps HAVE to bring on veteran (or two) to help facilitate their growth. It's a proven formula -- pair a young guy with a vet and watch him grow. But the Caps don't have any mentors right now.

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Tappahannock, Va.: Tarik, is the 2007-08 season the make it or break it season for the Caps as far as the fans are concerned? Will management have any credibility left if they fail to act in the off season to bring in some additional help?

Tarik El-Bashir: I certainly think so. Another playoff-less season (which would make four straight) might spell doom for this franchise. They know this. Which is why there has been so much talk about this being a big summer in terms of player acquisitions.

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Fulton, Md.: Tarik,

Why didn't we hear anything about the Penguins possibly relocating to Washington? From the looks and sounds of the game on Tuesday, they have a larger fan base here than the home team Caps....

Tarik El-Bashir: That was about as bad as I've seen a building get taken over by visiting fans. I'm told it was pretty bad during the '98 Finals, but I wasn't around back then.

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Washington, D.C.: How would you rate our scouting department? It seems we are behind teams like the Devils, Wings who find guys with aplomb.

Tarik El-Bashir: Well, the amateur scouting speaks for itself. I think the pro scouting, on the other hand, has been pretty solid, particularly this season. The Jurcina acquisition looks like highway robbery.

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Washington, D.C.: I have to disagree with you about needing a first-line center more than anything else. I think the Caps desperately need a mobile defenseman who can pass, both out of his own zone and while QB-ing the power play. Centers are, by comparison, relatively easy to come by and Ovie is going to make whoever plays on his line into an All-Star so I don't see the need to dump a lot of money into that position while the defense is still so totally inept.

Tarik El-Bashir: Both positions are high priorities. But I think the Caps have a better chance of making a huge splash by signing a center first. Simply because there are more big name centers available.

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Fredericksburg, Va.: Tarik,

Janne Lahti scored another goal for HPK in the Finnish playoffs to send the game to OT. He has seven goals in seven games now. I hope the rumors of him signing here are true.

Backstrom has a goal for Sweden today in exhibition play against Hungary.

Tarik El-Bashir: I heard those rumors, too. I've been trying to get a hold of GMGM to confirm. Not that he'll say anything, though. But that's never stopped me from trying.

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Sykesville, Md.: Can you explain the Free Agency process. George makes offer to player X's agent, while another team simultaneously does the same thing. I am guessing the agent will work all bidders until he thinks he's gotten the best offer out of all teams. Any insight?

Tarik El-Bashir: It's a dirty process. Agents are tough to trust. And I;m sure they would say the same thing about GMs

Here's an example: Let's say GMGM calls an agent about a player and makes an offer. The agent calls back the next day and says another team is offering more. So GMGM increases his bid. Agent calls back later and says Team B has increased its bid, as well.

At what point does GMGM call the agent's bluff? How does GMGM know the agent IS bluffing? The answer is he doesn't.

All I'll say is this: I'm glad I don't have to make those decisions.

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Ashburn, Va.: I would first like to know why the Caps are taking so long in the rebuilding process while the Pengs had one year of rebuilding and are now in the playoffs. Secondly, I would like to know who you think the Caps will be signing this year?

Tarik El-Bashir: The Pens had one year of rebuilding? What? They haven't made the playoffs since 2001. Check out these draft picks (and take note of where they were taken).

2000: Brooks Orpik (18th overall)

2001: Colby Armstrong (21st overall)

2002: Ryan Whitney (5th overall)

2003: Marc-Andre Fleury (1st overall)

2004: Evgeni Malkin (2nd overall)

2005: Sidney Crosby (1st overall)

2006: Jordan Staal (2nd overall)

Not too shabby, huh? It's pretty hard to strike out when you draft 5-1-2-1-2.

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Manassas, Va.: In your personal opinion what is needed to make the Caps a playoff team? New players, new system, new coach or all of the above?

Tarik El-Bashir: New players. And not as many as you would think. A first line center, a first line right wing, and two veteran defenseman, one who can QB the power play and another who is solid in both ends.

I like Hanlon. I would keep him around and see what he can do with some really NHL talent.

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Tarik El-Bashir: Thanks for joining me today, folks. Great discussion as always. But I've got to go. The beach is calling.

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