The Fifth Liners

This article was originally published on the4thlinepodcast.com The 1974 NHL expansion was a mistake. The WHA, the NHL's strongest competitor was reaching its stride and draining the pool of available talent. A common theme we've seen with the previous expansions is that new teams struggle in their debut seasons, none more so than the two teams that joined the NHL in 1974. 1974 Kansas City Scouts Kansas City has a tradition of minor league hockey stretching as far back as the mid 1920s. That's something the city should hold on to as its tradition of NHL hockey is as brief as it is forgettable. The team now known as the New Jersey Devils started its NHL campaign in Kansas City in 1974, before upping and leaving after just two miserable seasons. And those two seasons were truly miserable. Not the worst ever, that award goes to our next team, but pretty bad. In the Scouts' first season, the team went 15-54-11, finishing fifth (last) in the Smythe Division. T...

Admittedly this year's Free Agency pool was only ankle deep and compared to previous seasons there was not the big names for bidding.  However, there were still some bargains to be had and there was flurry of signings come July 1st. Here are my personal top 3 picks Justin Williams  Although William's goal production had been slowing the last few years at LA, the Washington Capitals have got themselves a bargain. Williams at 33 is still an effective right wingers which can be used to anchored the second or third line. The Capitals with the exception of Ovechkin and Holtby are a team that still needs rounding out. Williams also have extensive experience of the post season, including three Stanley Cup wins. His Conn Smyth Trophy  win in 2014 shows just what an asset he can be to a team.  P A Parenteau  Things didn't end happily in his season in Montreal, but 32 year old Parenteau still has life left in him. Signing for the Toronto Maple Leafs is a smart mo...

Playoffs are here!!!! What a crazy six months it's been in the NHL, Boston and LA failed to make the playoffs and we gathered in Columbus to watch two teams of all-stars go to battle in the most offensive neon jerseys seen in recent years. On a positive note, Washington delivered a superb Winter Classic, Jamie Benn finished top of the points table and the Vancouver Canucks BEAT teams from warm places, IN warm places to make the playoffs; but that's for another post. Let's look at the East! 1. Montreal Canadiens Vs 4. Ottawa Senators The Habs have been dominant all season, finishing the regular season with a 50-22-10 record, thanks in no small part to a squad depth that any team would be enviable of. Having megastar netminder Carey Price guarding the net is the reason I think Montreal will take this series in four games. This takes nothing away from the good work the Sens have done this season, 99 points is very respectable, but the squad can't match the fire...

Despite last night's comfortable win over the Carolina Hurricanes , the Washington Capital's remaining games are purely for pride. This week's question talks about the Caps' failure to qualify for the playoffs: " Alex Ovechkin has just notched up his 50th goal for the Washington Capitals this season- but they still seemed destined to miss the playoffs this year! Does this team have any other qualities apart from Ovi? Or are they just a one man band?" The Washington Capitals' 2013/14 campaign is headed for an early bath. Although they beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1 on Tuesday, the Columbus Blue Jackets ' win over Dallas and the Detroit Red Wings ' overtime point in Pittsburgh hammered the nail in Washington's coffin. Columbus and Detroit advance to the playoffs, Washington to the golf course. So the post-mortem into the Caps' season begins and 13/14 was a season of absolute polar opposites. Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin has reason...

In the Washington Capitals dominant 5-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center last night, we were privileged to see a moment of special Alexander Ovechkin magic! In the second period, the Caps took control and Ovechkin's goal to put them 2-0 was an act rarely accomplished by many- after 1.46 played, the Russian juggled the puck on his stick, before scoring past Price to put Washington 1-0 up! That's the reason why this man has won three Hart Trophies! Check out the video below to view:

At 41 years old, NHL great Jaromir Jagr shows no signs of slowing down and his selection in the Czech Republic Olympic team just demonstrates his versatility and after leading his side to the gold medal in the 1998 Nagano Olympics, you can count chickens that he will be one leading stars in this tournament proving that age comes before beauty! Recently while playing for New Jersey, Jagr has now surpassed Steve Yzerman to go seventh overall in the all time goals scored within incredible an 687, his plus his 1391 NHL games played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and recently New Jersey Devils make him the face of modern experience ! At this rate it wouldn't be a shock to see him included in 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, Korea! Here is tribute to the great man!

It seems that Washington's Czech fourth-liner isn't happy and wants out of the nation's capital. A few years ago Erat was the Nashville Predator's starting right winger, terrorising defences across the length and breadth of the NHL. But those days are gone, Erat was traded to the Washington Capitals in the 2013 trade deadline after waiving his no-trade clause and asking to move. It seems though that the grass is not always greener and Erat revealed to the Czech press (and subsequently the local press) that he's unhappy and wants to move on. "It's time for me to move on." He said. The Caps' GM; George McPhee has accepted that after averaging just 13 minutes ice time per game and totalling six points for the season, it's probably time to look elsewhere.

48 saves from James Reimer gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a much needed 2-1 shootout win over the Washington Capitals at the Air Canada Center last night. David Clarkson got the ball rolling when he deflected in Jake Gardiner's long shot after 10:08 of the second period. But Alexander Ovechkin then tied the game with 5 minutes remaining of the third to send matters to overtime! After an uneventful overtime, the game was pushed to a shootout where Grant Fehr gave the Caps an initial advantage when he deeked past Reimer but James Van Reimsdyk scored to level the shoot out. Niklas Backstrom then had his penalty shoot saved by the glove of Reimer which allow Joffrey Lupul to seal the win for the Leafs!

Former NHL forward Jason Arnott has called time on a glorious 18 year career that has taken in the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals to most notably the New Jersey Devils. He last played for St Louis in 2011/12, but has not played since. He did sign a contract with the New York Rangers in January this year but was not cleared by the team doctors. Since being drafted 7th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, he has gone on to record 417 goals and 938 points in 1,244 career games. The highlight of his career was a Stanley Cup win in 2000 with the Devils where he score d the championship clinching goal in game 6 against Dallas! Upon announcing his retirement, Arnott said in a statement "I would like to thank everyone who helped me throughout my NHL career, including my family, friends, teammates and fans. Playing in the NHL was my dream and I am very proud and appreciative of the fact I was able to play at the highest level for 19 years wit...

The Washington Capitals should no signs of fading in the absence of star player Alexander Ovechkin last night as they hammered the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 at the Wells Fargo Center! Things almost got off the wrong start for the visiting capitals when Steve Downie, who was making his debut after arriving from the Colorado Avalanche in mid week, almost beat Capitals goalie Braden Holtby in the opening seconds! But Niklas Backstrom got the party started when after he rifled a shot past Steve Mason after 17.28 to put the away side in front! But it was in the second period that the Capitals should their offensive capabilities and a five goal flurry would soon follow- Joel Ward pushed the advantage to 2-0 after less than 1.24 of the second before Jim Chimera made it three on a breakaway! After Steve Mason's poor display, he was pulled from net shortly after the third goal and replaced by back up Ray Emery. Sadly Emery would fare just as worse when Backstrom grabbed his second off...

The Vancouver Canucks won a closely fought battle against the Washington Capitals last night win a 3-2 win at the Rogers Arena to make it four wins straight under John Tortorella! The home side were given a lucky break after Alex Ovechkin was given a penalty shot for the Capitals after less an a minute played, but Roberto Luongo was on hand to save it and save Vancouver from going behind! Zack Kassian then put the home side in front after 11.31 played but the Canucks were quickly pegged back when Jason Chimera made things a tie game after 14.36. In the second period there were no more goals, but both Luongo and Capitals goalie, Michal Neuvrith were kept busy making several excellent stops- Ovechkins bad luck in front of goal in this game continued when he hit a post! After only 1.52 of the third period played, Mikhail Grabovski scored to edge Washington in front, but Vancouver had no desire to the fans going home disappointed and Ryan Kesler hit home a rebound to make things a ...

Mikhail Grabovski' s future has finally been decided after his release from the Toronto Maple Leafs in July as today he has signed a year one year deal with the Washington Capitals worth $3 Million. The Belarusian centre will most likely fill the gap left by Mike Ribeiro (who joined Phoenix recently) on the teams second line and could provide some important numbers to the Caps offense. For the last three seasons, Grabovski has scored at least 20 gals for Toronto, including a career high 29 goals and 58 points in 2010/11 and so far has racked up a career total of 94 goals and 217 points. Also his puck possession stats have proven key in seasons gone by and were partly responsible for the Maple Leafs first playoff appearence in nine years last season!  With Grabovski on board, the Caps already impressive attacking force could have another shot in the arm!  

Mike's question this week was "Which Teams do you predict will top each Conference- Will your predictions be affected by the Conference shake up?" (Special thanks to Mrs Laybourne for suggesting this). Well that it is an interesting question as this years realignment could have big effects on each teams performance- ok let's go to work Eastern Conference  At first glance you would say that the Pittsburgh Penguins will be the out and out favourites to top this conference due to their free scoring offense and this year this could well be the case- but their inclusion in the newly formed Metropolitan Division with team such as the New Jersey Devils , New York Rangers , Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers could well prove a hard affair as each team possesses a unique mix of strength and skill and as we saw last year in the playoffs, the Penguins struggled against the Boston Bruins in these conditions.  In the Atlantic Division, the Bruins could well be ...

As Mike's previous two post pointed out, the NHL will be a very different place come the 2013-14 season with the Eastern and Western conference have undergone a dramatic re-alignment and now it has become far more simplied with the East sporting two separate divisions with the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions and the West also having two divisions with the Pacific and Central Division. With new leagues come new rivalrys are long gone are the days of the dull Southwestern Division and sadly Vancouver will not fight for a sixth straight Northwest Division. But what will the big match ups be? Let's take a look in more detail. Atlantic Division  This division promises plenty of thrills with the Detroit Red Wings , Boston Bruins , Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens doing battle for a playoff place- there is no love lost between Leafs and Habs fans and this fixture never fails to entertain. But the clash that will have everyone talking will be when the Ottawa Senators...

Here we looked at the teams in the Western Conference, now let's look at the Eastern. Detroit and Columbus move from west to east and Winnipeg makes the trip the other way. So what does this look like in reality? Metropolitan Division Carolina Hurricanes Columbus Blue Jackets New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Washington Capitals Atlantic Division Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Detroit Red Wings Florida Panthers Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Maple Leafs

Only joking. He's still got eight years left on his monster contract. But today I was asked the following question by our own Alex: "Would Ovechkin be better served leaving the Caps? Three Hart Trophies but no Stanley Cup" Short answer: Yes. Slightly longer answer: Yes. Ovechkin has now won his third well deserved Hart Trophy. There's no arguing that. However he's also won a hell of a lot more. Click  here  for the full list. Alex raises a good point, how often do you see a player with so many decorations who doesn't have his name on the Stanley Cup? Well the Caps have never won the cup and have only made the final once in the franchise’s history. They lost to the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. The real kicker though is that Ovechkin isn't going anywhere. He's five years into a 13 year contract. I wonder if he regrets that? Alex 's Edit: I know I've probably made a lot of enemies in Washington for suggesting their favourite (adop...