Neil Greenberg

Mike Knuble And Fine Wine: Both Better With Age?

On August 13, 2010, In Analysis, Neil Greenberg, Opinion, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

It’s no secret that Mike Knuble is a fan favorite not only among Capital fans, but around the NHL in general. He’s a hard-working winger who lurks in front of the net, regularly crashes the crease and & capitalizes on rebounds in front of the net. This garbageman-mentality helped him score goals at a higher rate in 2009-10 (.42 per game) than in any other season in his career. And he did it all at the ripe age of 37.

But we here at RMNB are worried. Should Mike Knuble’s age cause us to temper our expectations in 2010-11?

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Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Brett Hull • Mark Messier • Mark Recchi • Mike Knuble • Nicklas Backstrom • Old Men • Washington Capitals

RMNB Analyzes Which Bears Prospects Should Succeed In NHL

On August 11, 2010, In Analysis, Hershey Bears, Neil Greenberg, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

One look at the dismantling of the Chicago Blackhawks and it becomes apparent that the life blood of any hockey organization is its youth. If you can bring in young players that provide value at reasonable prices you have the ability to succeed in the long term. In the case of the Hershey Bears, it allows the Caps to fill their team with players who know how to win and execute Bruce Boudreau’s system.

The challenge then becomes not only which players to promote, but which players should be dangled in a trade and which you can simply cut bait with. The underlying question in all of this is simply: Does the front office feel a certain prospect can make it in the NHL?

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Tagged with: Alexandre Giroux • Andrew Gordon • Andrew Joudrey • Boyd Kane • Chris Bourque • Francois Bouchard • Hershey Bears • Kyle Wilson • Mathieu Perreault • Prospects

What Can We Expect From Mathieu Perreault?

On August 9, 2010, In Analysis, Neil Greenberg, Opinion, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

The Caps need for a center resolved itself a little when Tomas Fleischmann signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract a day before his arbitration hearing on July 27th. Couple that with George McPhee stating that he was prepared to go into the season with the team they have, and that makes it clear the Caps will look within the organization to fill their need for a much-needed pivot in the long term.

One of those options, 2009 first rounder Marcus Johansson, appears to need more time to adjust to the North American game, while 2010 first round pick Evgeny Kuznetsov needs another Russian spy swap to play out his 2-year KHL contract. That leaves “undersized, but feisty” Mathieu Perreault – who has had a lot of success at the AHL level with the defending Calder Cup Champions Hershey Bears.

Our question is: Will Matty P’s success in the AHL translate enough to sustain him at the NHL level?

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Tagged with: Alex Steen • Antoine Vermette • David Backes • Evgeny Kuznetsov • Marcus Johansson • Mathieu Perreault • Peter Regin • Tomas Fleischmann

Does Everyone Need More Bradley?

On August 8, 2010, In Analysis, Neil Greenberg, Opinion, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

Everyone Needs More Bradley, right? Whether Matt Bradley was scoring game winning goals, working the PK against some tough competition, staying out of penalty trouble or just plain acting like a superhero, the Caps definitely needed more of it.

But do all players benefit from playing more with Brads?

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Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Boyd Gordon • David Steckel • Matt Bradley • Steve Downie • Tomas Fleischmann • Washington Capitals

Would Willie Mitchell Be An Upgrade On The Caps Blueline?

On August 4, 2010, In Analysis, Neil Greenberg, Opinion, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images North America

“We need a blueliner” is a typical Caps Fan’s lament this offseason (second only to DAMMIT!) and recently unrestricted free agent defenseman Willie Mitchell has been rumored to be in the Capital’s cross-hairs. Mitchell has been training and skating for 18 days and is finally symptom-free after his latest concussion – all fueling speculation that his signing is imminent.

But would Wilie Mitchell a good fit on the Capitals’ blueline?

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Tagged with: Defenseman • Evgeni Malkin • Jeff Schultz • Karl Alzner • Tyler Sloan • Vancouver Canucks • Washington Capitals • Willie Mitchell

Barack Obama To Attend A Washington Capitals Game Next Year

On August 2, 2010, In Ian Oland, Neil Greenberg, News, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

All those that thought President Obama would attend a Caps game before physicists figure out how to teleport an object all the way across the galaxy, please step forward to claim your prize. Wait a minute, everyone, not so fast…

All hope is not lost. The Washington Post’s new Caps beat reporter Katie Carrera informed us that Barack Obama attended yesterday’s Washington Mystics game at the Verizon Center. Those of us here at Barack The Red were instantly filled with heartbreak.

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Tagged with: Barack Obama • Barack The Red • SUCCESS! • Ted Leonsis • Verizon Center • Washington Capitals

Capitals Deal Della Rovere to Blues For Tough Guy D.J. King

On July 28, 2010, In Analysis, Neil Greenberg, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

Conventional wisdom around the blogosphere was that the Capitals’ offseason needs included a second-line center and shutdown defenseman. So tonight it was a bit of a shock when it was announced that the Caps acquired rugged right wing D.J. King from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect Stefan Della Rovere.

Yeah: WTF!?!

It’s a curious move, one that comes in response to coincidentally coincides with Max Talbot calling Alex Ovechkin a “real douche”.

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Tagged with: D.J. King • Enforcers • Meaningless Trades • St. Louis Blues • Stefan Della Rovere • Washington Capitals

Flash (Back) In The Pan

On July 27, 2010, In Neil Greenberg, Opinion, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

What started with an apology from Caps PR Mogul Nate Ewell ended with information that sent the Twittersphere into a tizzy: The Washington Capitals have signed forward Tomas Fleischmann to a one-year contract. The pact is reported to be for $2.6 million and avoids a potentially messy arbitration hearing that was set to be heard Wednesday.

The important thing to remember here is that the Capitals were going to sign Fleischmann to a one-year deal regardless. You simply do not let a developed asset like a 20-goal scorer walk away for nothing, and avoiding arbitration helps preserve goodwill on both sides. The only important detail was: for how much?

And that seems to be the rub for most: $2.6 million is too much. But is it?

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Tagged with: Alexander Frolov • Alexei Ponikarovsky • Arbitration • Clarke MacArthur • Matt Moulson • Nate Ewell • Tomas Fleischmann • Valtteri Filppula • Washington Capitals

Tomas Fleischmann and that looming July 28th Arbitration Date

On July 25, 2010, In Analysis, Neil Greenberg, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

With Tomas Fleischmann’s arbitration hearing looming in the next few days it doesn’t look like the two sides will come to an agreement beforehand. GMGM moved pretty swiftly to avoid the courtroom drama with Fehr and Schultz indicating, at least to this writer, that the two sides are VERY far apart.

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Tagged with: Alex Steen • Arbitration • Joe Pavelski • NHL • Thomas Vanek • Tomas Fleischmann • Washington Capitals

Is Nicklas Backstrom Really the 9th Best Center in the NHL?

On July 24, 2010, In Analysis, Neil Greenberg, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

Adrian Dater had an interesting post naming the top 10 centers in the NHL. As you would expect with 30 teams, each with 4 centers, some big names were omitted. The ranking is also subject to much debate. Take a look:

Sidney Crosby, PIT

Pavel Datsyuk, DET

Henrik Sedin, VAN

Jonathan Toews, CHI

Mike Richards, PHI

Evgeni Malkin, PIT

Mikko Koivu, MIN

Joe Thornton, SJS

Nicklas Backstrom, WSH

Ryan Getzlaf, ANA

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Tagged with: Adrian Dater • Evgeni Malki • Henrik Sedin • Joe Thornton • Jonathan Toews • Mike Richards • Mikko Koivu • Nicklas Backstrom • Pavel Datsyu • Ryan Getzlaf • Sidney Crosby

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A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.

Mike Knuble And Fine Wine: Both Better With Age?

RMNB Analyzes Which Bears Prospects Should Succeed In NHL

What Can We Expect From Mathieu Perreault?

Does Everyone Need More Bradley?

Would Willie Mitchell Be An Upgrade On The Caps Blueline?

Barack Obama To Attend A Washington Capitals Game Next Year

Capitals Deal Della Rovere to Blues For Tough Guy D.J. King

Flash (Back) In The Pan

Tomas Fleischmann and that looming July 28th Arbitration Date

Is Nicklas Backstrom Really the 9th Best Center in the NHL?

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