The Washington Capitals

Washington Post staff writer Tarik El-Bashir was online Friday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. ET to examine the team and the rest of the National Hockey League.

The transcript follows.

Post Coverage:

NHL News

Washington Capitals

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Tarik El-Bashir: Good afternoon and thanks for joining me for today's chat. The Caps, as you may have read, are pretty banged up heading into tonight's game against the Devils, who happen to be the NHL's hottest team, having won eight straight. Should be interesting.

Anyway, on to your questions.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Are the wheels coming off? Injuries, poor play, grousing about ice conditions at Verizon ... seems like the Caps are close to imploding.

Tarik El-Bashir: It's certainly not a pretty situation at the moment. The most interesting thing to me is that the players are just now starting to complain about the ice conditions at Verizon Center.

The Penguins asked for the NHL's help last month. I'm guessing the Capitals will do the same, if they haven't already.

What a shame to have such a fast team, and two of the most skilled forwards in the league, and have soup for ice 41 games a year.

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Falls Church, Va.: Tarik, thanks for your excellent coverage of the Caps. With Recchi on re-entry waivers and the Ducks looking to make a trade because Scott Niedermayer has decided not to retire, do you see the Caps making a move toward claiming Recchi or trading for a member of the Ducks?

Tarik El-Bashir: I asked the other day about Recchi and was told Caps management had no interest, injuries and all.

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Warrenton, Va.: Do you think the Caps have improved at all since the coaching change, or are we in for a long, long season?

Tarik El-Bashir: The special teams have certainly looked much, much better under Boudreau. There's not only more motion and shots from better angles, it actually scores. The PK has been just as proactive (and productive).

But you have to remember that it's only been six games. That's a very, very small sample size. Check back with me in a month.

As for the playoffs, the Caps would have win two out three games the rest of the way. Do you see that happening? I don't.

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Arlington, Va.: Why are we only now hearing serious complaints about the ice at Verizon? I've heard rumblings about that for years but never from the players before now. Also, the Devils have been talking about the same problem at their new arena, but that doesn't seem to have adversely impacted on their recent play...

Tarik El-Bashir: I think the ice has been bad for years, but this year for some reason, it's been worse than ever.

Remember, Verizon Center is one of the busiest arenas in the league -- something almost always is going on there. But the veteran players I've talked to don't care about that. One told me the other day that Madison Square Garden, the busiest arena in the country, has better ice than Verizon. Now that's saying something.

I would be very surprised if the Caps don't bring in some experts in the coming days or weeks to take a closer look at the situation. That's what most teams do when players start making noise about the ice.

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Berkeley, Calif.: Tarik, Thanks for the great coverage. It really helps the out-of-town fan keep up with the team. The quality of play seems to be improving slowly. Is the attitude better or are the injuries keeping morale down? Does it feel like Coach Boudreau has changed the mindset? Thanks.

Tarik El-Bashir: When a coaching change is made, the players put forth their best effort for the first few games under the new coach as they jockey for positioning/ice time.

I think the first six games under Boudreau were still part of the honeymoon. It will be interesting to see in the next few games whether that initial burst of energy and excitement is still there.

I'm not convinced -- yet.

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Washington: Could all the perspiration that Reebok's uniform system is repelling away from players' bodies be collecting in warm pools on the ice surfaces?

Tarik El-Bashir: That's a problem, but that's not why the ice at Verizon Center is so sloppy.

Look, I'm not an ice expert, but when I walk into Carolina's building, I get really, really cold. Same in Tampa, Toronto, Edmonton and a bunch of other rinks. At Verizon, I usually take off my jacket because it's so warm. That's not a good sign. The players have made remarks about that, too.

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Fairfax, Va.: Tarik, When was the last time you spoke with Ted? What are his biggest concerns right now as far as the Capitals go?

Tarik El-Bashir: I talked to Ted for long time in his office a few days ago. He's obviously upset about the way things are going right now, but I didn't get the sense that he's about to make any surprise moves or do anything else rash. He's very interested to see if Boudreau can get this team playing the way he had hoped it would this season.

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Framingham, Mass.: What is the time-scale on Bruce's "interim" tag? Are the Caps seriously looking for other candidates, or are they going to give him a two-month tryout and only look elsewhere if he struggles?

Tarik El-Bashir: As you know, Caps GM George McPhee plays everything very, very close to the vest, but the people I've talked to seem to believe Boudreau has an opportunity to make this a full-time gig. At the same time, McPhee, like any executive in any business, also is making back-up plans and working back channels, just in case things don't work out with B.B.

As far as the timing of B.B.'s interim tag, I plan to talk to McPhee about that tonight.

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Newport News, Va.: Thanks for the coverage Tarik. What do you think about Alex not training much this week? Isn't it kind of bad for the team as a whole? I know A.O. is one of the best player in the NHL, but wasn't Bruce going to treat everyone the same? I'm just worried about poison in the dressing room.

Tarik El-Bashir: I've always been told that Ovechkin gets time off because of the hard minutes he plays. But I've definitely heard some players grumble about others who get a pass on practice.

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Finn: Motzko? Are you serious? Please tell us that he will not spend any time on either the first line or the power play?

Tarik El-Bashir: Chris Bourque has a concussion, so the choices for a skilled forward were rather limited. Enter Motzko.

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Woodbridge, Va.: Do you expect Fehr will be able to play at all this season? Even if it's just the Bears?

Tarik El-Bashir: I've seen reports that he's been on skates recently. But I would be very surprised to see Fehr in a uniform this season, here or in Hershey. You've got to remember he hasn't played since February.

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Washington: Tarik, have you talked to Eminger recently? Is he disappointed that he didn't get more playing time in Boudreau's first few games?

Tarik El-Bashir: I talk to Eminger just about every day. Yeah, he's disappointed he hasn't gotten more of chance under Boudreau. But at this point, he doesn't know how to get back into the lineup.

He gets into a game, looks good on some shifts and rusty/shaky on others, then he's out again. How is he supposed to get back into any groove? It's frustrating for him and confusing for his teammates.

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Washington: Any idea what the lines are going to look like tonight missing a couple of key guys? Will Ovechkin be playing with NHL talent tonight (i.e. no Motzko)?

Tarik El-Bashir: I don't know the line combos yet. But I will post them on my blog before the opening face-off.

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Reston, Va.: Have other NHL teams figured out that if you limit Ovechkin to two goals, you're probably going to beat the Caps, or is the problem that the Caps just aren't able to play competitively under any circumstances?

Tarik El-Bashir: Ouch.

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Washington: Thanks for doing the chats. What creates good ice or bad ice for a hockey game. What can be changed, a new ice system?

Tarik El-Bashir: I wish I knew. I've got to be honest, in all my time to covering the sport and playing it as a youngster, I've never thought too much about ice. it's not something that comes up often -- it just has in recent days because of Chris Clark's comments.

But I do know this: some rinks have ice experts who go onto the rink, check the ice and take samples from it I presume for testing.

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McLean, Va.: Great honest assessment about needing two out of three to make the playoffs. Can you get GMGM or Ted to do an impression of Jim Mora? That would be fantastic, even if it doesn't translate to print too well.

Tarik El-Bashir: Playoffs? You're talking about playoffs?

That's one of the all time best media meltdowns ever. Next to Dennis Green and Allen Iverson, of course.

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Wheeling, W.Va.: Tarik, what's Semin's status? Is he 100 percent? And has there been any clarification on Nylander's injury?

Tarik El-Bashir: Semin is 100 percent as far as I know.

As for Nylander, the Caps aren't saying. Everyone I've talked to has said they'll get in big trouble if they say what's wrong with him.

I can tell you that Chris Clark and Boyd Gordon skated at Kettler today. Nylander wasn't there. Read into that what you will.

Strange thing is it's not even playoff season yet. Oh wait...

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Roanoke, Va.: Love Olie, but he is not getting younger ... what are the Caps doing to shore-up the goalie position?

Tarik El-Bashir: Olie and the Caps are not in talks on an extension -- yet. Sounds to me like both sides want to see where things go this season.

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Montreal: Why should Ovechkin stay in Washington? Sure, he says now that he likes the city and the team, but if I were him I would accept an offer sheet from a competitive team (hopefully one in Canada, where he clearly likes to play) in a heartbeat. Ted and GMGM have to ask themselves, what incentive does Ovechkin have to remain here and go through this rebuilding process when he can get the same or more money in a better hockey town and for a better team?

Tarik El-Bashir: Okay, one more time: Ovechkin can't go anywhere until he's 26. The Caps own his rights until then.

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Chantilly, Va.: On the Eminger front, what got him in the doghouse to begin with?

Tarik El-Bashir: I've asked him about that; he told me he doesn't know. I tend to believe him.

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Hershey, Pa.: Tarik, just how much longer will hockey fans have to endure Gary Bettman? The uniform fiasco (now contributing to bad ice), the ridiculously unbalanced schedule -- can't the entire NHL see that no one shows up at Verizon for Southeast games, but fans pack the place for the old Patrick division ones? He's been on the job 10 years longer than most commissioners, and his failures number in the hundreds. What will it take to see change?

Tarik El-Bashir: Gary Bettman got the owners their coveted salary cap. Teams are worth more now than they were when he became commish. So, in short, he's going to be in the corner office for a long, long time.

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Virginia: Tarik, is Nylander out for tonight's game? What's the injury?

Tarik El-Bashir: Nylander is out tonight and questionable for tomorrow's game. See my answer above for the reason.

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Washington: Tarik, a loaded question: How would say Ted and Abe's relationship is these days? Haven't they always been at odds regarding various Verizon Center issues?

Tarik El-Bashir: I would say it's less Ted vs. Abe as it is Caps vs. Verizon Center.

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Washington: Your paper's high-profile sports columnists long have been on the record ridiculing and belittling hockey. Gene Weingarten joined them earlier this week. Clearly the sports editors there aren't all that hot on the game either. Does such institutional animosity toward hockey make your job harder?

Tarik El-Bashir: It doesn't affect me directly. I kind of operate in my own little world. It's a one-reporter beat, and I kind of like it that way.

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Washington: The Verizon Center has people who check the ice (note the guy who comes out and checks the temp at the various dots between periods). Is he just confirming that ice melts at 33 degrees, or do they actually do anything with that data? (I know you're not an ice guy, but maybe The Post could sic one of the investigative guys on it. Woodward, Bernstein, are they available?)

Tarik El-Bashir: Let me see if I still have Bob's cell phone number.

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Boston: What's the deal with Bourque's kid? I saw that he got three games with the big club in November. Will he get another shot up? What kind of trajectory is he on? Is he expected to be up full-time next year?

Tarik El-Bashir: He's making strides. In fact, he might have been here for tonight's game, but he's got a concussion.

As for his long-term prospects, I think the Caps like him. From what I've seen (good wheels, decent stick, decent shot and feisty as heck) I imagine he'll eventually become a full-time NHLer.

Next year is a strong possibility.

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Towson, Md.: Tarik, any idea why the Caps did not recall Clymer? He seems to be having a good season in Hershey. They were hoping another team would pick him up off waivers earlier in the season. Why not bring him through again to replace an injured player? If someone picks him up off re-entry waivers, oh well, they get their wish of getting rid of half his salary and then they just recall a different player. Is there some conspiracy bad blood theory around Clymer and the Caps that I don't know about?! Thanks! P.S.: Great job on the blogging, I love it!

Tarik El-Bashir: Clymer would have to clear re-entry waivers. But the Caps lost a skilled forward, so they needed a skilled forward to plug into the lineup.

When I spoke to Ben last month in Philly, he told me that the Caps had promised to put him on re-entry waivers a few more times this season in the hopes of another team claiming him. So it might happen.

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Sign Ovechkin: Tarik: Any update on talks with Ovechkin on a new contract? Also, when does McPhee's contract expire? You touched in this in a chat last season but it was a little unclear. Thanks for your ongoing in-depth coverage.

Tarik El-Bashir: The negotiations between the Caps and Ovechkin had been on hold in recent weeks because Ovechkin's mom had been out of the country. She returned yesterday, so I would imagine talks will resume in the coming days.

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Tarik El-Bashir: Thanks for spending some time with me this afternoon. Because of time constraints, I wasn't able to get to all of your questions. I'll try my best to get to more next week. Take care.

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