washingtonpost.com - Capitals

Winning Caps Find They're A Hot Ticket

Post — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Nearly four months after the Washington Capitals rallied to capture the Southeast Division championship, the team continues to cash in on the excitement their improbable run generated.

Caps' Clark Says He'll Be Ready for Training Camp

Post — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Capitals captain Chris Clark says he expects to participate fully when training camp begins next month after missing almost all of last season with a groin tendon injury.

Morrisonn Re-Signs With Capitals

Post — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Capitals defenseman Shaone Morrisonn is awarded $1.975 million in salary arbitration this week and is under contract for next season.

Caps' Schedule Includes Kolzig Visit in November

Tarik El-Bashir — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Olie Kolzig will return to Verizon Center on Nov. 10 as a member of the Lightning, one of several key dates on the Capitals 2008-09 schedule.

Capitals Will Face Off Against Huet, Chicago in Home Opener

Post — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

After opening the season in Atlanta on Oct. 10, the Capitals will host former goaltender Cristobal Huet and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bank Sues Caps' Fedorov Over Loan Defaults

Tarik El-Bashir — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Sergei Fedorov is being sued by a Michigan bank that says the Capitals center has failed to pay more than $2 million in loans taken out four years ago.

Goaltending Prospects Have Capitals Excited

Katie Carrera — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

They've done the shootout drill many times this week. Ten pucks on the blueline; first team to put them all behind the goaltender is spared the suicide skates. But this time at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, the drill was less about the shooters than it was the opposing goalies.

ThÃ©odore Says He'll Be a Good Fit in D.C.

Tarik El-Bashir — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

New goaltender JosÃ© ThÃ©odore is confident he made the right choice in signing with the Capitals and delayed re-signing with Colorado because Washington was his first choice.

Capitals Reach Deals With Fedorov, Laich

Tarik El-Bashir — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals welcome back two key players from last season's memorable playoff push, agreeing to terms with veteran center Sergei Fedorov on a one-year contract and re-signing forward Brooks Laich to a three-year contract.

Green Stays, Huet Goes

Tarik El-Bashir — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Washington Capitals entered the first day of NHL free agency hoping to re-sign Mike Green and Cristobal Huet, two important pieces on a team hoping to contend in the Eastern Conference next season.

Capitals Hope to Re-Sign Fedorov

Post — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals release unrestricted free agent Matt Cooke on Thursday but General Manager George McPhee is hopeful the team can retain Sergei Fedorov, 38.

Capitals Aim to Preserve Roster in Free Agency

Post — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT

One year after the Washington Capitals added Michael Nylander , Tom Poti and Viktor Kozlov in the first 36 hours of free agency, General Manager George McPhee isn't expected to grab the spotlight again when the signing period begins today. Instead, it's believed he will focus on re-signing his...

Capitals Extend Offers to Five

Post — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals have extended qualifying offers to five players, thus keeping their rights, and also have severed ties with two prospects.

Caps Place Winger Clymer On Waivers

Post — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals place Ben Clymer on waivers with the intention of buying out the final year of the former checking line winger's contract.

Caps Make 2 Trades to Draft Center, Defenseman

Tarik El-Bashir — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

For nearly three hours last night, Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee patiently weighed his options as trades unfolded all around him during the first round of the NHL entry draft. Then, when the moment was right, he joined the action.

Agent Calls Caps' Talks With Huet 'Productive'

Post — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Cristobal Huet's agent says talks with the Capitals on a contract extension are ongoing and have been "productive and well intentioned."

Capitals Spurn Offers, Pick Six

Tarik El-Bashir — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Less than 24 hours after trading up twice in the first round, the second day of NHL entry draft went pretty much according to script for General Manager George McPhee and the Washington Capitals.

Caps' Ovechkin Wins MVP; Boudreau Is Coach of Year

Tarik El-Bashir — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Alex Ovechkin takes home the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP and the Lester B. Pearson Award, becoming the first Capital to win either award and the first player to claim four of the NHL's top honors. Bruce Boudreau wins the Jack Adams Trophy as the top coach.

Heading Into Draft, McPhee Still Coy on Caps' Intentions

Tarik El-Bashir — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals own nine picks in the NHL entry draft, but their first pick isn't until No. 23, the latest the Capitals have made their first selection since 2001.

Ovechkin Locks Up Another Honor: Key to City

Post — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

One day after winning the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in Toronto, Alex Ovechkin had one more piece of hardware to claim in downtown Washington: a key to the city, presented to him by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty during a fan ceremony on the steps of the John A. Wilson Building.

Ovechkin Is Hoping To Fill Up Trophy Case

Tarik El-Bashir — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

After leading the league in points and goals this season, Alex Ovechkin hopes to add the MVP and most oustanding player awards.

Ovechkin Could Be MVP, But He's Lost His Shirt

Post — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Blue Reebok T-shirts touting Alex Ovechkin as the Hart Trophy winner were on sale Friday afternoon through the league's Web site.

Postseason Awards Begin To Pile Up for Ovechkin

Tarik El-Bashir — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Alex Ovechkin is presented the Art Ross and Maurice "Rocket" Richard awards for leading the NHL in points and goals, what the Capitals' star hopes is just the beginning of his postseason trophy haul.

A Net Loss For Washington

Tarik El-Bashir — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Olie Kolzig, the Capitals goaltender through some of the best and worst moments in the team's history, confirms that he has played his final game for the franchise that drafted him in 1989.

Caps Re-Sign Bradley to 3-Year Deal

Post — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals have re-signed their checking-line winger Matt Bradley to a three-year, $3 million contract extension.

Capitals Sign 2007 Top Pick To Three-Year Contract

Post — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Washington Capitals signed defenseman Karl Alzner , their 2007 first-round draft pick, to a three-year entry-level contract yesterday. The team also announced that it has extended its agreement with its minor league affiliate in Hershey, Pa., through the 2009-10 season, with an option for a...

Capitals Seek An Extension For Fedorov

Post — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Washington Capitals management has not yet discussed next season's roster in detail, but the team is expected to pursue a contract extension with veteran Sergei Fedorov .

Huet Open To Staying With Caps

Post — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The agent for Cristobal Huet said his client enjoyed his two months in Washington and would consider re-signing with the Capitals before becoming an unrestricted free agent July 1, but he also said substantive talks on an extension have not begun.

Ovechkin Is Pearson Finalist

Post — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Washington Capitals all-star Alex Ovechkin is a finalist for the Lester B. Pearson Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding player as voted by his peers, the NHL Players' Association announced yesterday. The other finalists are Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin .

Capitals' Boudreau Is NHL Coach of the Year Finalist

Post — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Coach Bruce Boudreau, who led the Capitals back from their worst start in 26 seasons to win their division, is named a finalist for NHL coach of the year.

In OT, Caps Are Blindsided

Tarik El-Bashir — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Only 20 teams in NHL history have rallied from such a deficit to win a seven-game playoff series. Last night, the Washington Capitals' bid to become No. 21 came up just short.

Ovechkin Is Named Finalist for MVP Award

Post — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Fresh off his first playoff appearance and one of the best regular seasons in more than a decade, Alex Ovechkin is named one of three finalists for league MVP.

Ovechkin Joins Squad, But Remains on Hold

Post — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Alex Ovechkin joins the Russian squad in advance of the world hockey championship and is awaiting insurance before he will be allowed to practice or play.

Kolzig a No-Show For Caps' Final Day

Tarik El-Bashir — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Veteran goaltender Olie Kolzig is noticeable absent from a mandatory meeting the morning after he cleaned out his locker stall following the Capitals' Game 7 loss.

It's Over, for Now

Mike Wise — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Although the finality crushed the more than 18,000 on hand instantly, Game 7 was not a night to see how far the Capitals could go, but to see how far they have already come.

Despite Loss, Tangible Gains

Jason La Canfora — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The game had all the hallmarks of Washington Capitals playoff hockey: The requisite controversial penalty calls, an opposition goal that could have been overturned, far too many wasted scoring opportunities and too much drama for some to take.

Caps Bring It Back Home

Tarik El-Bashir — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals fight back from a two-goal hole to tie the game and Alex Ovechkin adds two goals to beat the Flyers, 4-2, and force a Game 7 in Washington.

Capitals' Old-World Players Can Play a Winning New-World Game

Jason La Canfora — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals neophyte Russians and Swedes proved to be just fine against the big, bad Flyers, disproving the Neandertahl stereotype that European players are too soft for the playoffs.

Another Chance to Play the Hero

Mike Wise — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Twenty years after Dale Hunter thrust Washington past the Flyers in Game 7, a young Russian dynamo has finally taken his place as the Capitals' go-to scorer in the clutch.

Ovechkin Has One Goal in Mind

Tarik El-Bashir — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

If Alex Ovechkin's inspired performance Saturday was any indication, he has begun to adapt to the postseason's tight-checking style, but the question entering Game 6 is whether it has come too late.

Battle Continues For a Different Course

Thomas Boswell — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Past Capitals teams have cowered in the face of adversity, falling apart in do-or-die games, but this year's squad proved up to the challenge Saturday against Philadelphia.

Knuble Out With Torn Hamstring

Tarik El-Bashir — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Philadelphia loses Mike Knuble, the team's hero from Game 4, to a partially torn hamstring and will miss the remainder of the series.

Hanging Tough

Tarik El-Bashir — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Alexander Semin, above, and the Capitals continue their aggressive play by outhitting the Flyers time and time again Saturday to extend their playoff series to a 6th game Monday with a 3-2 victory at Verizon Center.

Caps 3-1 Down, but Say They're Not Out of It

Tarik El-Bashir — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals trail the Flyers three games to one in their playoff series, but luckily for Washington, beating long odds is what they've been doing all season.

It's Getting Late for Capitals

Tarik El-Bashir — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Philadelphia's Mike Knuble jams home the winning goal as the Flyers outlast goaltender Cristobal Huet and the Capitals, 4-3, in double overtime to take a 3-1 series lead.

Fire Offers A Flicker Of Hope

Mike Wise — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The light that makes young, star-struck skaters understand their purpose in the postseason was ignited in Alexander Semin and Niklas Backstrom on Thursday.

A Painful Lesson, but Perhaps an Invaluable One

Jason La Canfora — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Capitals staggered into Thursday's game after being outplayed in the first three contests but battled every bit as hard as the Flyers.

Decked Twice, Capitals Shuffle

Tarik El-Bashir — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

With the Capitals reeling and his top offensive players scuffling, Coach Bruce Boudreau experiments with several changes Wednesday.

Beaten To the Punch

Mike Wise — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

If the Capitals can't shake loose of the Flyers and their thuggish ways soon, this Eastern Conference quarterfinal might go to the dogs.