Caps and Backstrom Agree to 10-Yr Deal

First Alex Ovechkin, now Nicklas Backstrom. The Washington Capitals have their two best players locked into big money contracts for a decade.

So, who buys lunch?

"Maybe we'll have to do rock, paper, scissors," said Backstrom with a smile.
The 22-year-old Swede signed a 10-year, $67 million deal Monday, a major investment in a player who has rapidly developed into one of the best centers in the NHL. He and two-time league MVP Ovechkin have developed a partnership that accounted for 210 points this season, making them the top-scoring teammate duo in the league.
"We now have two of maybe the top five players in the world playing on our team for many years to come," coach Bruce Boudreau said.


Ovechkin is about to enter the third year of a $124 million, 13-year deal. Knowing that Ovechkin isn't going anywhere played a part in Backstrom's desire to commit to Washington for the long haul.

"I was thinking that I wanted to play with him," Backstrom said. "Hopefully he'll want to play with me, too. I wanted 10 years; I wanted long term. I think it's good that we're together."

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2006 draft, Backstrom set career highs with 33 goals and 68 assists this season, and his 101 points ranked fourth in the league. He has yet to miss a game over three NHL seasons.

Backstrom's contract pays him $6 million for the next four seasons, with the amount gradually increasing to $8 million by decade's end. He had been scheduled to become a restricted free agent in July.

General manager George McPhee expressed no qualms about having so much time and money tied up in just two players.

"The risks are that the player doesn't meet expectation with the contract, but I never for one minute with Alex Ovechkin or Nicklas Backstrom think that they won't compete all the way through," McPhee said. "It sends the right message to our fans and to this franchise that we have outstanding young players who are ready to commit for the rest of their career. You win championships with these kinds of players."
Not yet, though.

The Capitals flamed out in the first round of the playoffs this year despite having the NHL's best record. Asked if the contract puts more pressure on him to perform, Backstrom said it's no different than the pressure to win the Stanley Cup.
"I don't think it is going to be anything different," Backstrom said. "We want to win the Cup."

Backstrom wasn't the only Swede putting his name to a contract Monday. The Capitals also signed 2009 first-round draft pick Marcus Johansson to a three-year entry level deal for $2.7 million. McPhee said the 19-year-old center will be ready to compete for a roster spot next season, with Backstrom as a mentor.
"Our two Vikings," McPhee said. "It's always good to have Vikings."

Ten Years of Failure; Florida Panthers Need Guidance

It was not long ago when the Florida Panthers organization was the model expansion franchise for the NHL. They had a first-class foundation for success during their inaugural season. General Manager Bill “Bowtie” Torrey helped build the New York Islanders dynasty team of the early 1980’s, and was given the opportunity of building the Panthers from infancy. Torrey and his staff obtained several key players who had vital roles in the team’s early success.

Those players included John Vanbiesbrouck, Scott Mellanby, Brian Skrudland, Tom Fitzgerald and Bill Lindsay.

Three years later, during the 1995-96 season the Panthers were the Cinderella story of the playoffs, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals in just three seasons of existence. Florida won series they were not favored to win including victories over Ray Bourque and the Boston Bruins, Eric Lindros and the #1 seed Philadelphia Flyers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins duo of Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr.


They were eventually swept by 2006 Hall-of-Fame inductee Patrick Roy and the Colorado Avalanche, this was a pivotal point in history for the Florida Panthers franchise that set off a chain reaction of events that left the team in the state they are today.

The Panthers never returned to the kind of success they had early on. In fact Florida has only qualified for the playoffs twice (96-97 and 99-00) in the 14 years it has been since advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.

They have been plagued by mismanagement from top to bottom regardless of who is in charge. This began during the 1997-98 season as then owner Wayne Huizenga tried to make the franchise more attractive to potential buyers by cutting costs. This process included questionable transactions, poor player development, and the undermining of hockey executives by non-hockey personnel.


The inability to attract a stable ownership group interested in success on and off the ice has been a major problem in the last decade. Poor ownership decisions included handing the reins of General Manager over to the likes of Bryan Murray (who was given credit for the 96 playoff run), followed by Chuck Fletcher, Rick Dudley, and finally Mike Keenan. Each GM made questionable trades and free agent signings that made it impossible to actually rebuild the roster after each respective party parted ways with the organization.


One of the worst trades happened in the 1997-98 season as the Panthers made a trade for a former first round pick of the San Jose Sharks named Viktor Kozlov. In exchange for Kozlov the Panthers sent Dave Lowry and a first round selection in the 1998 draft to the Sharks, the pick was later traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning and they selected their future Captain and 50-goal scorer Vincent Lecavalier. Kozlov’s most productive season was during 1999-00 campaign as he was line-mates with Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner Pavel Bure. Kozlov still only managed to score 17 goals and while adding 53 assists during that season.


Couple poor trades with boneheaded free agent signings such as Esa Tikkanen’s retirement contract and Ray Sheppard’s second go-round as a Panther and league circles begin to take notice.


The Panthers have missed badly during the draft in the past ten seasons. Using first round selections on players like Marcus Neilson, Denis Shvidki, Petr Taticek, Anthony Stewart, and Kenndal McArdle. When they did select players who with the ability to play major minutes like Jay Bouwmeester they bolt for free agency when they have the opportunity.

With this season much like ones of seasons of past, the Florida Panthers have the third overall selection in 2010 NHL Draft. The front office did a better job last season in the selection process taking defenseman Dmitri Kulikov. He appeared in 68 games during his rookie season scoring three goals and 13 assists. The Panthers needs to make sure they don’t rush players into service too soon, or they could potentially stunt that prospects growth as many of the Florida players have had done to them in the past.

Here's to hopes of a better next season and improved management of players.

NHL Quarterfinal Playoff Prediction Review

The NHL Playoffs have arguably had the most evenly matched series in recent memory. All but one matchup went at least six games with two series headed to a final game seven. Before the NHL quarterfinals we did a prediction and breakdown of each series much like the one below.

Let’s see how accurate Shaft Sports playoff predictions were.

We’ll begin in the East:

In the Washington/Montreal series, we said Washington would win and that they would do it in five games. I didn’t realize Halak was so good, game seven is this Wednesday night!

We took a big swing in the New Jersey/Philadelphia series and struck out terribly. We choose Martin Brodeur and the Devils in five games. The Flyers would prove us wrong winning the series in five behind goaltender Brian Boucher brilliance.

In the Buffalo/Boston series, we said Sabres in seven but the Bruins spoiled our prediction closing out the series in six.


Finally we thought the Pittsbugh Penguins had lost a step in the regular season. So we picked Ottawa in seven but the Penguins flexed their muscle and won the series in six.

Now to the West:

In the San Jose/Colorado series, we predicted the #1 seed San Jose Sharks to win in six. Both of which were correct.

Over in the Chicago/Nashville series, we predicted the Blackhawks to edge the Predators in five. We picked the right team but wrong number of games. Chicago closed out the series in six.

Then in the Vancouver/Los Angeles series, we predicted the Canucks to win in five games. Vancouver did in fact win the series but in six games not in five.

Finally we predicted the Phoenix/Detroit the Red Wings to end the series in five games. The game is headed to a game seven tonight, the Wings can make my selection half true.

Adding up our total we selected 3 out of 4 teams correct (with a possible 4 of 4 if Detroit wins tonight). We selected 1 of 4 series correct(Sharks in six games). In the East we didn't correctly select a team or series. (1 of 4 is possible if Washington wins game seven)

Dan Boyle, Game 3 Goat

Unlikely help, Sharks, Boyle gives Colorado 2-1 series lead.



After both clubs split each of the first two games of the series, the Colorado Avalanche took a 2-1 lead in the series over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night. The Sharks outplayed the Avalanche during the entire game and managed to get on the scoreboard, unfortunately it was the wrong end of the score sheet.

51 seconds into overtime Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle attempted to pass the puck behind his own net. Instead, the puck was directed towards Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov and slipped past him for the game winning goal. "We didn't beat their goalie," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "We found a way to beat ours."

Avalanche center Ryan O’Reilly was credited with the game winning goal. "Overall, they outplayed us today," O'Reilly said. "Andy kept us in it. Andy deserved this one.”

Colorado goaltender Craig Anderson stopped 51 shots in his first career playoff shutout. Over the years, Anderson has gotten use to being peppered with a high volume number of shots playing in cities like Chicago, Florida and now Colorado. It wasn’t the typical ending either team expected in game three but this is playoff hockey and we need to expect the unexpected.

As for Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle, his teammates have their full support. "It's unfortunate. It happens," Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic said. "It's not his fault and nobody blames him." One thing is for sure, if the Sharks hope to erase the memories of seasons past, they will need to win this series to show the fans of San Jose that they are not pretenders. They must show resilience in game four and provide a reason for why they were the top seed in the Western Conference.

Crosby, Penguins Back on Track

Crosby helps Pens get back on track, 2-1 series lead.



After the Ottawa Senators spoiled a much-anticipated debut on home ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Pens have battled back and won the past two games of the series. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal in game three; to give the Pens the 2-1 series lead.

Pittsburgh seemed to settle down and play the brand of hockey that many of us are used to seeing during game three, highlighted by Crosby’s third straight multi-point effort. In fact, Crosby currently has the most points of any player in the playoffs with seven (two goals and five assists).

"It's impossible to stop him, especially every night," Senators coach Cory Clouston said about Crosby, after Ottawa’s 5-4 win in game one. "He was the best player on the ice and he showed what he is able to do. When they needed a goal, he made a big play.” If the Senators have any chance at brining this series back to Ottawa after game four, they will have to try to eliminate Crosby’s second chance opportunities.

To add insult to injury the Senators will be without two of their premier forwards Alex Kovalev and Milan Michalek. Kovalev and Michalek tore their ACL’s during Ottawa’s 5-4 win in game one. Oh, did I forget to mention defenseman Filip Kuba will also be out for the remainder of the playoffs? Yikes!

"We have to pull together right now," Senators right-winger Daniel Alfredsson said. "It helps that we're so comfortable with our system.” They will have to get better production out of goaltender Brian Elliot who has looked shaky during the series posting a 3.39 gaa and an atrocious .868 save percentage. Many predicted the Penguins to falter in the playoffs including myself, however one thing we did not take into account for would be injuries. Game four is scheduled for Tuesday April 20 at 7 P.M.