Don't Call it a Controversy

At some point this season the question will need to be addressed. Based on pondering and musings throughout the Nation’s Capital I am under the impression that the question has already been raised. What are the Washington Capitals going to do about their goalie situation? I think most hockey fans understand that I’m not talking about Brent Johnson.

I write this as a former goalie and a lifelong Olaf Kolzig fan. Olie did more for the Caps than all the Murray’s put together, but even I could admit that his reflexes were diminishing and his reaction time has been slowing the past few years. He was, however, and still is, twice the goalie that Jose Theodore is. And at this same point last season, the Caps had a better starting goalie between the pipes.

The saving difference (no pun intended) this season has been the impressive play of Brent Johnson. He only seems to get better each year, drawing praise from coach Boudreau who believes Johnson to be “…better than he was when he was 25 and he’s better than when he was 29.” That sounds like improvement. Just have a look at his stats with the Caps.

At 31, Johnson is off to the best start of his tenure with the Caps and seems to be making the most of his opportunities. After acquiring Cristobal Huet at the trade deadline, Johnson was the odd man out, demoted to third string, and his future with the organization appeared uncertain.

But all that improvement does nothing for the Theodore situation. At this point it can be called a “situation”. With a 3.44 GAA, a .877 SV%, and a $4.5^ salary you are indeed in a double-quotation mark “situation”. And without some luck, some Russians and an overachieving backup your team is in a “situation” as well.

It doesn’t take a goalie coach to tell you that his angles are off and his confidence is lower than his save percentage. I have nothing against him and I don’t know anyone that does. But after over a decade with Olie as the starting goalie, the fans in Washington expect to have one of the best keepers in the game. And, as of this writing, their highest paid goalie isn’t the best on the team, let alone the league.

Brent Johnson is set to make only $812,500^ this year. With the salary cap being a concern for the Caps this year, it has to do be disappointing when the goalie on the bench makes 5.5 times the goalie on the ice. And if you don’t think he is serious about staying the number one goalie look at his media photo. Now that says “serious”.

Can Jose turn it around? Yes he can, but thus far in the season his numbers are dismal and his approval rating would be on par with the guy down the road from the Verizon Center. And if he doesn’t turn things around, I don’t see any reason why the Caps wouldn’t look to trade him. Sure salary cap room is tight, but if he doesn’t improve I wouldn’t even want him as a backup.
In Theodore’s defense, the season is young, and he’s not that old. He should have plenty of pad saves left in him. Hopefully, for his sake and the caps, those saves don’t have to come in the minors

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^ hockeybuzz.com
*current season, through 11/12/08

Labels: Brent Johnson, caps, controversy, goalie, Jose Theodore, Olaf Kolzig, Olie, the rink rat, therinkrat, washington capitals

posted by therinkrat @ 2:57 PM