A Capital Idea: W.C. in D.C.
Thursday · Mar 4 · 2010 | 11:06 PM PST
Caps vs Rangers, please!Think of Ovi in a beanie toque. (I'm a Floridian. We don't really wear them here.)
The New England Hockey Journal is spreading rumors that Washington, D.C. could be up next to host the Winter Classic.
An article posted February 20 cites the ever-eager anonymous source, who also claims the Pittsburgh Penguins could be back in outdoor action just four years after their first foray. Let me be the first to say I would be horribly disappointed by that.
I would love to see the Caps host a Winter Classic. Despite their placement in the Southeast Division, it gets plenty cold there. Americans bore witness to the fury of the D.C. winter when the government actually shut down for snow days. Plus, they deserve it, according to the Journal's Kirk Luedeke.
I can tell you that there were a lot of disappointed folks in the nation's capital last summer when it became known that the Bruins' opponent would be the Philadelphia Flyers, so this should soothe the hurt feelings a bit if/when it becomes official.
But I'm not wild about Sidney Crosby getting another parade. It's funny, my wife can't stand him. She's just barely a hockey fan and even she knows he's overhyped. (An incredibly talented player, obviously, I'm just not sure why he gets all the praise.) On the other hand, she can't get enough of watching Alex Ovechkin. And neither can I.
So assuming the rumors are true, who should Ovi and the Caps face on January 1, 2011? It simply must be the New York Rangers. How is it that the NHL's most famous franchise has been left out of the league's biggest event? And while Canada rings in 2011 with their own outdoor game in Calgary, let Americans bask in the flood of red, white and blue in our nation's capital. What could be more fitting?
And if it's names the NHL wants, forget Crosby. Consider Ovechkin and Semin going nose to nose with Gaborik and Lundqvist. An epic winter battle in another American ballpark, to be sure.
That's really all I have to say on the subject. I'm sure you guys all have opinions of your own and I'd love to hear them. Feel free to share them below.
Scott Walker #24But first, just before the Caps edged out my Bolts tonight, the boys from D.C. skated out in camouflage for warm-ups. You can see what new Cap Scott Walker thinks of it. It's written all over his face.
Actually, the best comment on these jerseys probably came from Tampa Tribune beat writer Erik Erlendsson, who tweeted this tonight:
Not what those jerseys are the #Caps are wearing tonight for warmups, but I'm getting dizzy tryiing to figure out what they are????
He followed up with a clarification from his Washington Post counterpart.
According to @TarikElBashir those are military jerseys and will be auctioned off to military charities; look more like hunting fatigues tho
The Blackhawks and Ducks did the same thing earlier this season, wearing exactly the same jerseys. Only the logos and numbers have been changed. Reebok's taking care of everybody.
By the way, I've got minor league jersey and logo news to come. So keep an eye out for that. Also... I might finally explain the cryptic messages that keep appearing on the blog and Twitter. Hmm...
Icethetics makes old school new again. 3.8.10
Reader Comments (36)
Sorry i respect you completely... I agree that Pitsburg should not be in the winter classic... But your reasons are all wrong... Not because Sidney Crosby.. Because Pitsburg has been there once already, its time to move on, bring someone new into the mix... Sidney Crosby is one of the most dynamic players in the NHL.... he's not overrated.. He is a canadian hero. And if he retired today.. His carreer would be a success... Lets see... He's 22, captain of a hockey club... Won a stanley cup... Scored the winning goal to win the gold in the olympics... Turned a franchise completely around... Yeah over-rated... Theres not mant players that can do that... I can think of only him and ovy... So when people say Crosby's overrated... Your wrong.. Sorry... The battle of Ovy vs Crosby should have been done long before... unfortunatly we might have to wait.
If the NHL was truly smart, they would have the Winter classic in Washington D.C. pitting the Capitals against.... the Ottowa Senators. Think about it. The olympics just posted one of the highest rated hockey games ever in its USA/Canada gold medal game. Do it again on Jan 1st featuring the capital cities of both countries going against each other, this time on our turf.
Looks like Scott Walker's wearing Florida Panthers gloves. No other team has that combination of red, blue, AND gold (the Thrashers don't count).
NHLs most famous franchise? Montreal Canadiens
Sidney Crosby? The most complete player in the NHL, and most fans who just started watching the NHL wont notice how far his two way game has come. It may not be as exciting as Ovechkin, and I love him too, but Crosby is a much more complete player. Sorry, he's not that overhyped.
I sense some hurt feeling in this post from the Olympics. Its funny thought Canadians are your friends, and you love the Russians the once most hated country ever by the states. What did we ever do to the Americans? Just played better hockey most of the time. It's not like we had thousands of nukes pointed at you...
Oh well cant win them all over with are looks.
WINTER CLASSIC! You want it to be a classic. TORONTO vs MONTREAL The most heated rivalry in the NHL EVER! and i mean EVER. No 2 teams have met for the cup more then them. But its too bad we always have to cater to the American market. The reality is this will never happen.
terrible that you said that about crosby because you are completely wrong.......if its anything ovi is the most over-hyped player in the nhl.....all nbc, vs or espn all they do is talk about how ovi is the best player in the nhl but hes not....sid is he can do it all faceoffs, offense, defense, power play, penalty kill, etc......don't get me wrong ovi's a hell of a player but you can't just call out crosby like that because he really is that good.........this websites about jersey news, thats why i come here i don't need to hear your opinions on nhl players so please lets keep this to jersey news and stop voicing our opinions about individual players
I hate Crosby and the Penguins but that game would be epic! The last thing I want the Winter Classic to be is a game to promote southern teams or teams like the Wild or Calgary. It would be a snoozefest. Give me the big rivalries, even if there are repeat teams every couple of years.
Yeah, the Pens should NOT be in the WC for quite some time. Yes, it's the NHL's Big Event, but it's a big marketing bump for whatever team is playing. Personally, I'd like to see a Canadian team involved, but since NBC is involved that's doubtful.
The Caps are an obvious choice because of Ovechkin, but the Washington winters are not predictably and consistently cold enough for such an event. And you're flat wrong in that the Rangers are the most famous franchise. Easily, the Canadians, Leafs, and Wings surpass them. Though the Rangers are a contender to be involved. Surprisingly, no one has mentioned the St. Louis Blues, or Avalanche.
@Kevin Y-- It really does look like FLA colors... but that's just the color of Warrior's palms for there gloves. Also, they make the inside of the glove yellow for some reason.
Currently living in the DC Area, I think that the Rangers would be the PERFECT team to come play the Caps (probably at Nationals Park). There is a large contingent of people in Washington from the NYC area. I personally would have rather seen the Rangers go up and play Boston (Original Six rivalry) and have the Flyers come down to play the Caps (also a pretty longstanding rivalry thats been inflamed in recent years). But what can you do. The Rangers can't do one in NYC from what I understand because Yankee Stadium is committed to some bowl game, so yeah, come on down to DC!
I personally find Crosby annoying, but that's because I'm biased (Red Wings fan). Objectively, I understand, recognize, and appreciate that the NHL needs Crosby for marketing, and he's embraced it. But there IS a level of Crosby Oversaturation, and if it draws the ire of hockey fans, there has to be a balance.
New fans may only recognize Crosby, but it has to start somewhere to turn Casual Fan into Diehard Fan. Very few things in life I hate more than the attitude of "I'm more of a fan than you," that whole "you're not a TRUE fan if [insert reason here]." I don't give a crap if a person just got turned onto hockey this year because of the Olympics -- as long as they don't posture around as a know-it-all after watching three games, and are willing to ask questions and learn the sport, I'm all for teaching them.
Same goes on the flip side for all the raising of Montreal on a pedestal (again, biased as a Boston Bruins fan). Montreal may have a grand HISTORY, but what has that brought them RECENTLY? A big plate of NOTHING for 17 years. A centennial celebration that fell flat on its face and a string of horrifying jerseys. Montreal is meaningful to diehard hockey fans who understand history, but to the casual fan, Montreal is a city in Canada.
The NHL has the unenviable task of trying to appease the diehards but appeal to the casual fans. And that task isn't easy when the league's popularity lags behind NASCAR and Texas Hold 'em Poker. In that respect, I see the NHL as asking us diehards to please hang on for just a little bit longer. They WILL make mistakes, and we know that (WC10 still should have been Boston-Montreal or Boston-NYR).
Reason why I hate Sidney Crosby is because the NHL put him on a pedestal since day one. Made him the "face" of the NHL and are using him to attract new comers to the sport. I just don't think you should do that. I just think he gets way too much credit for anything he happens to be a part of. Like the "Canadian Hero" reference above. He could do nothing all tournament except score a couple 1 on O goals ( one in the shootout, and one against USA) to win some games, woopty-doo. If you ask me, the penguins didn't win the cup because of Crosby, it was mostly Fedetenko and Talbot. Those two were consistently scoring every game in the playoffs and then Crosby gets all the credit.
Anyway, I think the Caps are a good choice for the game but definitely not the penguins. I'm a Flyers fan, I think this years and the one in Buffalo were a bad choice for teams. They should have let Pittsburgh face off against the Flyers in Beaver stadium, so that the game isn't on a shitty baseball field and the place would fill up entirely. But now that the Penguins and the Flyers have both had one its time for someone new. As the person above said Sens vs Caps would be kinda cool.
"How is it that the NHL's most famous franchise has been left out of the league's biggest event?"
Most famous? Really? More famous that the Canadiens, or the Leafs? Somehow NY is more deserving of an outdoor game than Toronto is? I doubt that very much.
Love that Crosby comment about your wife. Me too.
@ Kevin Y
The gold is the leather palm. Not a part of the colour of the gloves.
Max, buddy, no one's forcing you to read my blog. And because it's mine, I can and should voice my opinion on the rare occasion I have one I feel like sharing. It's not like I do it all the time. Nice of you to come to my site and tell me what I can and cannot say. Sheesh.
By the way, I love all of what you guys have to say. I knew this would be a controversial subject and I'm glad to hear some different perspectives. I guess what I meant about the Rangers is they're the most famous AMERICAN franchise, in terms of pop culture. You see them all the time in TV and movies, that sort of thing.
And Mike, I do love my Canadian friends, that's not even in question, and I know it sounds like I'm talking shit about your golden boy. Believe me, I know talent when I see it and he's loaded down for sure. Not an issue. The problem, as Weirdfish pointed out, is oversaturation. If the goal of the Crosby Mega-Marketing Effort is to draw new fans, it sure isn't working on my wife.
Can we please see some other talented hockey players get this royal treatment? What about your very own Jarome Iginla? Sure, let's give Crosby all the credit for getting the gold medal goal when it was Iggy who put the puck on his stick. Ever since the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, I've had nothing but the utmost respect for his skill. I would not have felt bad losing the Cup to Iginla. (Though I'm glad we didn't.)
Finally, Canada, I chose not to place a Canadian team in the game because I'm still assuming there will be a Canadian game going on at the same time, with two Canadian teams in a Canadian city — like the original Heritage Classic. Should that not happen, I still think the Rangers are a good get in terms of talent as far as drawing a TV audience, but the Habs and Sens sure make strong cases too. The Leafs need to get out of the basement and if anyone can help them do that it's Burke.
There, now I've explained myself.
Chris, i understand that this is your blog, but this is the LAST place i expected to see Crosby bashing... and then to say stuff like "this is my blog, i can say what i want" was a very immature response. Seriously, i've read this blog for a while and even came back after that break you took of months with no updating... i respected you as a blog writer but now it feels like a 12 year old is writing it. No one cares about yours or your wife's opinion on Crosby.
Good arguments on both sides. I like Crosby but would call Ovechkin the more complete player. Who has had more team success, obviously Crosby to this point. Everything he has done he has won. (Excluding the memorial cup in JR, but he did win the QMJHL title) . This includes a few head to head matchups against Ovechkin. Maybe he doesn't always lead the team as others have pointed out but he must have some damn good leadership abilities. Must be able to somehow inspire his team. Hockey is a team game afterall.
That being said if Ovie were a Canadian, we would be saying all the same stuff about Crosby being overhyped, not physical enough, not a pure goal scorer or game breaker etc etc etc. It all seems to be a matter or perception. Crosby overhyped... probably. Great player.... absolutely. But all team accolades aside, stat for stat, who is the better player? Hard to compare but on skill and statistics, I would have to say Ovechkin.
I'll sit back, relax and watch the rest of the comments. For what it's worth, I think the NHL should focus on Toews and Kane though. Both remarkable players in their own right. Besides If they can get along, maybe there is hope for the rest of us Canadians and Americans too!
Boom Roasted.
@VSFerrito67: Just be glad that Chris chooses to post anything at all.
Chris: Keep up the good work (even if some people don't appreciate it)
if the winter classic is in dc, will try to get a game setup at nationals park. they let people rent the ice this past winter classic in boston.
Chris, I see that in your above response you have addressed your Crosby comments and your bold suggestion that the Rangers are the most famous franchise, but what of your calling a toque a "beanie"?? How are we Canadian readers supposed to envision Ovi as you asked when you use such incorrect terminology? Bash Sid and ignore the actual history of the sport all you want....but this "beanie" nonsense must not stand ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Oh, and, Pepper..."stat for stat, who is the better player?" Sidney Crosby has more career points per game than Alexander Ovechkin. So...there's that. Bottom line is that they're both great players.
Washington definitely deserves a game, and it would be cool to see it against the New York Rangers, a team with a great amount of talent. However, won't the west miss it's turn? So far we've gone 2 eastern teams, then 2 western, then 2 eastern teams. I think it's the west's turn this time, because it's only fair. Why not a game in Minnesota or St. Louis, two cities that deserve this game so much.
About the whole Crosby or Crosby-Ovechkin thing, I don't think it'a fair to say he over-hyped considering he is 5th on the all-time NHL PPG list.
The list goes like this:
1. Wayne Gretzky, 1.921
2. Mario Lemieux, 1.883
3. Mike Bossy, 1.497
4. Bobby Orr, 1.393
5. Sidney Crosby, 1.369
6. Marcel Dionne, 1.314
7. Alexander Ovechkin, 1.296
Ovechkin is amazing. Crosby is amazing. I think that right there is visual evidence as to why they are both great. It is their different styles that make them great in certain areas. Crosby is a stronger defensive player while Ovechkin can really tear it up on the PP.
Either way, I don't think you can go wrong, or else Pittsburgh wouldn't have won a Cup and Washington wouldn't be sitting in 1st right now.
I understand your sentiments about Crosby, Chris... I grew up in the 80's and I couldn't stand the amount of Gretzky, Gretzky, Gretzky that was shoved down my throat. Was he the greatest offensive player in the history of the game? Absolutely, but I just couldn't stomach the media machine that came with him. I cheered for Messier (who I considered a more complete player). I sense the media (especially the Canadian media) is doing the same to Crosby as their last "golden boy" (Eric "Spongehead" Lindros) didn't live up to expectations, through no real fault of his own.
Now that Crosby has a Cup and that which eluded Gretzky, an Olympic Gold Medal, it can only get worse. I love watchign the guy as a player, but I don't buy into the hype machine. I fear that hype machine is more than happy to market Ovechkin, too. I just try to enjoy them for what they are (talented hockey players) and leave those who wish to suck the teat of the hype machine to their meal.
As for the Caps' opponents? Rangers would be a fine choice, but that should be a NYR-NYI game. Why not the Devils? They're in the neighbourhood, and also wouldn't get a sniff at the two New York teams in an outdoor game. Both are still strong teams, Brodeur is a more than marketable name (never mind what happened at the Olympics; I won't even get into it, but the idea he tarnished his legacy is one of the most pathetic things I've ever heard), and both have classic vintage jerseys to wear (the Devils can bring out the white version of the green shoulder jerseys they're wearing later this month, and the Caps can go back to the old font on the red jersye and PLEASE do the white pants! Just once!). Makes sense to me...
Just throwing this idea out there... Why don't they make it Washington vs New Jersey? The NHL hyped "best" goalie, Brodeur, vs. the "best" player, Ovechkin. I know New Jersey has been pushing hard for a winter classic against the Rangers, but I would still prefer to save the New York market for their own game.
Have Washington vs Jersey next year, and then maybe a Rangers vs Toronto, or a Rangers vs Islanders next year. Yankee stadium and the new Meadowlands stadium won't be able to host the game (Bowl game at Yankee stadium - 2 away weeks in a row for the Jets and Giants? Not happening) - Have the game at Citi Field in Queens. This would make a truly dramatic Rangers vs Islanders game (CIti Field is probably equal distance between both MSG and Nassau Coliseum).
Real hockey fans call it a toque, not a beanie. ;)
I've got a few pouints here...
@ Mike Ivall, the Leafs Habs rivalry isn't the fiercest one there was. I think that The Battles of Alberta and Québec in their prime were the fiercest ones there were. I'll also add the Avs-Reds one in the mix.
The crosby Buzz... I'm in Quebec. And here (And in the rest of Canada) Crosby and Ovi are equally recognized as the main stars of the sport. But as the Sport is more widely followed here, they don't shove it down our throats as much as it seems to be the case south of the border. We already know he's that good. There's no need to remind us of it.
The Rangers are not the most famous franchise in the NHL. Not even by a mile. I'd like a Sharks-Caps game or something like it for the next WC game. And I don't think there will be a canadian WC game. The NHL doesn't care about Canada. Even if there would be no NHL without Canada.
Good points Shawna, but the Rangers have been around more than 80 years so I think it's time they got into the WC. Their history is almost as storied as the Canadiens if you read the hockey history books.
I personally think that the caps should play ...atlanta. nah, mabye the devils, but in their inagural 1974-75 uni's. devils in white scouts jerseys and the caps in their red jerseys WITH the infamous white pants. we need something radical in the nhl again, even if its a one time thing.
if its in washington they have to play at fed ex field. could you begin to imagine tthe sound of 90,000 red clad fans screaming for their caps? that would be the ultimate, no sense playing in the home of the shitty nationals ballpark when you can play in the colossal monstrosity that is fed ex field.
Evan, It's Shawa, not Shawna, I'm a guy :P this nickname is the old standing result of a bad oun i made some 15 years ago which stuck on me. It was in french so I doubt you'd understand.
Anyway, Yes i know the Rangers were there for a long time, and were part of the original 6 and all that. My Idea was to get a good western team to have a wider audience in the states.
I'd wait for the game to be in New York to have the Rangers.
Crosby is Bettman's little marketing hero. Blech.
They should freeze the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and play the Winter Classic there. Now wouldn't that be something.
I have to agree; Washington vs. Ottawa seems the most logical. I've thought of that scenario myself too.
We all know that the Winter Classic (if not all nationally broadcast games) favor airing the Comcast teams (Philly, Chicago, of course D.C., etc.), so it's obviously going to be Washington against another big name... it'd have to be the Rangers or another Comcast team. San Jose? Haha.
BTW Chris, I don't think you ever mentioned the Caps wearing their 35th anniversary patches.
Agree with above folks that the Pens again would be too soon. It's a great rivalry, but too much Penguins is overkill. Agree with the suggestions of Caps-Sens (hype it like a follow-up to the gold medal game, US-Canadian capital cities), or Caps-Devils (expansion partners, not that anyone cares, but these are usually good games).
And DC folks know that RFK would be the best place to hold the game. It's in the city (not in nowheresville like FedEx field), it's got far better sight lines for hockey than Nats' stadium, and at the end of East Capitol St., you get the nice DC views. (Of course, playing on the Mall would be the absolute best, but apparently can't do that for security reasons.) The stands in RFK also sway when the fans get excited enough.
Okay, it shouldn't be Pittsburgh. I think we can all agree on that for whatever reason. If Washington hosts, the logical choice is to have one of Washington's main rivalries. The biggest rivalry I know of, knowing a few Caps fans from my time living in central Virginia, is Philadelphia, and they were just in a WC as well. NY Rangers are out because they will presumably be hosting a WC soon. So we'll go to the Southeast division - a great chance to have some warm-weather teams represented who wouldn't otherwise get a chance. I would rule out Florida, only because I would love to see them play in a WC hosted at Mile High Stadium.
So that leaves Tampa, Atlanta, and Carolina. I would give it to Carolina, and hope they didn't think of trudging out some retread Whalers jersey, but instead opted for a faux-retro jersey of their own.