Despite there not being a top line defenseman on the market and I will say the Capitals did address the need for a veteran center, I'm still questioning the Caps moves. I think it has become very clear that you can not teach offensive minded guys like Ovechkin, Semin and Backstrom to play a defensive minded game, that is not part of there game. If you want to play a defensive minded system you go out and get defensive guys, not guys that play the position of defense but are offensive minded guys. And that starts with the draft instead of drafting a bunch of wingers and centers every year we have the wingers and centers. This choice of drafting all falls on George McPhee's shoulders.
Yes the Caps did get a defensman in Dennis Wideman, but he is basically another Mike Green and if Mike Green does happen to get healthy again we will have 2 offensive defenseman doesn't sound like a defensive system to me. Yes Wideman played in Boston with Zdeno Chara, but Chara is a good enough defensive defenseman were Wideman could go play offense and everyone knows that Chara can cover alot of ground with his 6 foot 7 frame. The argument that there isn't a big name defenseman out there is crap. As much as I hate to say it look at Shittsburhg, they had multiple injuries, but Ray Shero went out here and got what he wanted to try to keep his team in the playoff hunt and it's working they are still the fourth seed in the east. The same place the Pens were when Evgeni Malkin got hurt. This basically shows that the great GM's will go out there and get what they want. And the past two years George McPhee has not shown that. Whats the problem Georgey? We have the prospects in Hershey to give teams what they want why aren't we doing it? And I'm sure there is a team out there that would have taken a chance on Alex Semin.
I think if Bruce Boudreau is to be fired, due to another disappointing playoff performance this spring, then George McPhee should go also. I don't see the point of adding Macro Strum then also adding Nick Arnott that's two old guys on the team. Yes they fill the need for a 2nd line center, but why both of them? Makes no sense when McPhee could have gone after a defenseman instead of another second line center. Yes Arnott is decent as a defensive forward, but he doesn't play defense. The Caps still have John Erskine to trip over his big feet and freaking Tom Poti, if he becomes healthy, to miss play a puck or two in the playoffs. Yes, we have Karl Alzner and John Carlson, but they are still young a most likely cant bank on them for the whole playoffs. If you get another veteran defenseman you pair whoever that maybe with Mike Green then put Scott Hannan with Dennis Wideman and keep the Alzner Carlson line. Now that sounds like a defensive unit that could be solid enough to win in the playoffs. With this 2nd defensive defenseman, you can stop harping on Ovechkin, Backstrom and Semin to play defense and just tell them to play offense.
Now I have never played organized hockey, but I think if you put together a formula like this the Capitals can finally when a Stanley Cup and give Washington its first major championship in 20 years. Who knows though? I could be completely wrong and Nick Arnott and Dennis Wideman may wind up being the final missing pieces for the Caps, but until this plays out I'm going with this stance. And if there is another early playoff exit McPhee should also be out of DC due to his lack to make the right moves.
