What’s the best way for the Capitals to add a defenseman? What should the Kings do in goal? Are Michael Del Zotto's days in New York numbered? All this and more in this week's hockey mailbag. If you want to be featured in next week’s mailbag, send your questions, hockey ideas and observations here.
Not necessarily against ending fighting personally, but my concern is that if a hypothetical ban (whether through stronger penalties like a one-game auto suspension for the first fight and lengthier ones for multiple fights or an all-out ban) were put in place without a better and more strict job by the league in policing the game both in normal infractions and in embellishment, it would result in more cheap shots and more injuries than leaving fighting as it is. Are there any rumblings (on either side, given that it would probably need both league and PA approval to make that significant of changes) of willingness to go that far in penalty enforcement?
Sean, SoCal
At the recent Board of Governors meeting, Gary Bettman said ownership was very pleased with the current performance of Brendan Shanahan and the department of player safety. There was no sense that they wanted him to increase the number of games being handed out through suspension. But you raise a good point. If fighting is ultimately banned in some form, then it’s almost completely on the league at that point to do the policing. If that becomes the case, I think that a ban on fighting would have to be accompanied by harsher penalties from Shanahan and company. And like you mentioned, Sean, it’s not a one-sided conversation. The NHLPA has a say in this and, considering the appeals we’ve seen for the longer suspensions, you get the sense that it is not too eager to sign off on the league hammering its players, even if it is for the ultimate protection of its members.
I'm surprised you're in favor of banning fighting. For me, fighting is something that, by rule, should be spontaneous. No "staged fights," but I definitely still want it to be a part of the sport. If there are no fights, how will players be held accountable for cheap hits? Don't you think things will get uglier without consequences if fighting is removed from the game? Not to mention that it's one of the more exciting things that happens if it happens during a game. I was at the Blues/Leafs game and Roman Polak and David Clarkson got into a spontaneous, spirited fight after the whistle, and it was great. I'd hate to see that go away. Thanks.
Jay, St. Louis
I’m in favor of banning fighting or making the punishment for fighting much more severe but it comes from a realistic place. I realize you’ll never get rid of fighting in hockey and I’m fine with that. There isn't a sport where fighting doesn't occasionally break out over the natural course of events that take place. If baseball players think a pitcher is taking liberties, they charge the mound. They still police extreme circumstances themselves and I’m OK with it in that context. The staged fights between two heavyweights have to go. It's well past time for harsher consequences for fighting in the NHL.
As a longtime Caps fan, I'm pretty frustrated with the lack of good defensemen signed and/or traded for over the last few years. Fans react to another team getting a player they like if the price seems right, myself included. What I'd like to know is how difficult is it really? Say GMGM wants a top-four defenseman, what does he have to do or is it even in his hands?
Max, NYC
Adding a top four defenseman through trade or free agency isn’t an easy proposition. There's a reason the Capitals haven't been able to do it for years. It's really hard and they're far from alone in needing one. Look at the frenzy Ryan Suter created when he hit the market. Look at the offer sheet Shea Weber received. Guys like that are hoarded by their teams. Really, the best way to do it is through drafting and developing. As a Caps fan you probably don't want to hear this but look at the Penguins. Their defense is decimated but they've done an outstanding job drafting and developing young defensemen. Olli Maatta has thrust himself into the Calder Cup conversation with his play in Pittsburgh. This is a little unfair because you could do this in any draft with any team, but Washington passed on Maatta (picked No. 22 overall) to grab Tom Wilson (No. 16) in the 2012 draft. Both are contributing this season but, boy would Maatta be a nice fit in Washington.
Are the Rangers about to trade Michael Del Zotto? He's the most consistent whipping boy on the team. I would be hesitant to trade him, mostly because Henrik Lundqvist's poor play recently is reflecting negatively on all of the Rangers' defensemen. If there were a player they should trade, wouldn't it be Dan Girardi? He's regressed, but he would fetch more than Del Zotto due to his pedigree -- he regularly faces tough opposition skaters.
Dave, Washington, D.C.
If you’re strictly talking return in trade, than yes, trading Girardi would be the answer. He's also an unrestricted free agent and maybe the organization decides he was a better fit under John Tortorella than Alain Vigneault. But this goes back to the question about Washington -- guys like Dan Girardi are really hard to find. You're right, he faces tough competition. In fact, there's not a defenseman on the Rangers who faces tougher competition than Girardi. According to behindthenet.ca, his 1.78 Relative Corsi Quality of Competition leads all Rangers blueliners. If you trade him, who plays those minutes? Michael Del Zotto? The Rangers should capitalize on a market that is thin on defensemen and trade Del Zotto and then give Girardi a contract extension. If they traded Girardi, they'd spend the next five years trying to replace him.
Any talk of the Kings trading one of their three goalies? Perhaps one to the Oilers?
Matt, Old Bridge, N.J.
The Los Angeles goaltending story has been a great one this season, but the goalie trade market is a bit crowded right now. It's definitely a buyer's market. Carolina would like to move one of its goalies. I'm sure you could pry Michal Neuvirth away from the Capitals without too much trouble. Ryan Miller is in play. The Ducks are loaded in goal. When you look around the league, the teams that may consider adding goaltending at some point, like the Blues, Penguins and maybe even the Blackhawks are all serious playoff contenders that would want a veteran with playoff experience. That gives Miller plenty of value. Maybe not so much for some of these other backups performing at a high level. The other concern I'd have trading for one of the Kings goalies, and this is no slight on any of them, but you wonder just how much of the success is because of the system and the team in front of them. Honestly, it might take a former Kings goalie months to recover from the shock of playing for Los Angeles and then trying to stop pucks for the Oilers.
Seattle appears to be a future expansion city, but I'm interested in knowing which of the Sun Belt franchises really has a stable future financial outlook. How many existing teams are really financially healthy? I see a lot of empty seats in several buildings.
Rudy L., Seattle
Well, I’m not sure if the California teams are considered Sun Belt, but those are all thriving franchises right now. Doesn't hurt to have three of the best teams in the Western Conference. It's a little bit unfair to judge Dallas and Phoenix because they're just now emerging from bad ownership situations. The Stars have proven that, with stable ownership and a competitive team, the local market will support them. They have strong ownership now and a GM in Jim Nill who knows how to win. I like the outlook there. The Coyotes are a major question mark. I don't doubt the sincerity of the new ownership and having spoken to those guys a couple times, they have a plan in place to turn things around. Unfortunately, part of the plan doesn't include moving the arena out of Glendale. It's hard to overcome bad arena location. I think it's a problem in Ottawa and if a hockey-crazy Canadian city struggles with it, imagine how much worse it is in Glendale. Tampa Bay and Nashville are two underrated markets. I like those situations. Florida is a question mark, but again, we're early in the tenure of an owner who potentially could be transformative to that franchise. If the league is smart, it will expand to Seattle and the Toronto area and leave a city like Quebec City as a turnkey option to move a team if one of those other franchises goes completely sideways.
I think after my last couple questions, it's safe to say you know I'm an avid Blackhawks fan. I've been reading everything I can find on the Western Conference, trying to keep up with the Blackhawks' biggest opponents. Through all of my reading, I definitely still have concerns. The Ducks, Blues, Sharks, Kings, Canucks and Avs are all teams to be scared of in their own rights ... but I still don't see any one of those teams beating the Blackhawks in a seven-game series. The Hawks have only lost three straight games once this season, and are well-known for bouncing back big after a couple losses. Is that hubris blocking my vision? Or does history back me up?
Ryan Wiley, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
Hey Ryan, good to hear from you again. Chicago still is the team to beat in the NHL. I'm not sure there's a team that I would pick against them in a seven-game series. That said, of the teams you listed, I would say a few of them are definitely capable of eliminating the Blackhawks. Especially if Chicago shows any signs of wear and tear from a condensed schedule and an Olympic tournament half the team will be competing in. These are the three teams I think would give Chicago all it could handle in a seven-game series (in this order): 1. Kings 2. Sharks 3. Blues. If the Blues add Ryan Miller, they move to the top of that list.
Another tough season to swallow for Isles fans. Safe to say there's too much youth on this team?
Lindsey, Long Island
I wouldn't pin the Islanders' struggles strictly on youth. Look at the Lightning -- they're loaded with young players, and Jon Cooper has that team competing night in and night out, even without one of the five best players in the world. The Islanders were already thin on defense and the Lubomir Visnovsky injury has been a serious blow to that team. They're a different group with him on the ice. And considering all the goaltending available via trade, I have no idea why Garth Snow hasn't added a goalie. I honestly feel for Islanders fans. I hear from them all the time, and they deserve better. When figuring out what's wrong with that team, start at the very top of the food chain and work your way down.
Is there a top-two defenseman available anywhere?
Jeff, Toronto
Nope.
Who do you think the Capitals' opponent will be for the 2015 Winter Classic? I think it will be the Boston Bruins.
Tommy Huynh, Falls Church, Va.
That’s a rock-solid call, Tommy. Here's what everyone has to remember when determining the Winter Classic match-ups. It has nothing to do with fairness, spreading the opportunity around to other NHL teams or appeasing every fan group. It has everything to do with making money, selling tickets, generating television revenues and promoting the game. With that in mind, you know it limits the options to a few teams that typically drive interest and ratings. I'd rule out the Red Wings because they are hosting this year. The Rangers have two outdoor games this year, so maybe they get a year off. The Bruins fit all the requirements -- strong fan base, major television market, high-profile team. They're definitely a favorite. And then, of course, there's the Penguins. You can't overlook the fact that the Penguins/Capitals prime time game was a huge ratings success, drawing the most viewers of any of the Winter Classics. That was the best HBO "24/7" we've seen yet and early indications are that this year's won’t come close. And I can already see the promotion leading up to it -- Crosby versus Ovechkin: The Rematch.
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