Wed, 04/25/2007 - 10:22am

From one nation’s capital to another, "thank you Ottawa!"

The Pittsburgh Penguins are no more thanks to the Ottawa Senators. The Senators eliminated Pittsburgh from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday night with a 3-0 victory in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The Senators mix of grit and toughness paid off as they manhandled Pittsburgh to win the best of seven series four games to one. This news brings music to the ears of Caps fans because not only did the Pittsburgh Penguins get beat, they got beat up.

The Ottawa Senators exemplify a style of true Canadian hockey. There is nothing “cute” about their play, there are no “pre-madonna” types in that locker room. The Senators showed they are a strong tough nose team that plays smart and carries a winning attitude, something Caps fans have been waiting for since the days of Dale Hunter and company. One can’t help but notice that the Senators, a team full of Canadian raised players seemed to play the game with a passion, respect, and tenacity that most teams lack in the “New NHL”. For example Penguins Russian rookie and Calder Trophy front runner Evgeni Malkin was not only dormant throughout the series, but seemed dumbfounded by the grinding toughness and non stop checking of the Senators.

So where I’m going with all this is…the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. The Washington Capitals currently have the 5th pick in the first round in this years draft in Columbus, Ohio. The draft takes place from June 22-23 with rounds 2-7 taking place on the second day. In a NHL Mock Draft the Capitals are expected to select Russian winger Alexei Cherepanov. The NHL's Central Scouting Service released its rankings of eligible players for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, anointing Quebec's Angelo Esposito and Russia's Alexei Cherepanov as its top prospects.

Esposito (Montreal, Quebec) is the top-ranked North American skater, while Cherepanov (Barnaul, Russia) heads the European list, suggesting the birth of another North American-European rivalry along the one currently being waged by Sidney Crosby (No. 1 in 2005) and Alex Ovechkin (No. 1, 2004). Cherepanov made his mark at the recently concluded World Junior Championships. He was by far the best player on the Russian team that earned the silver medal, dropping the championship game to Canada. He was named to the All-Tournament Team after his performance there. The right winger is also starring in the Russian Super League with Omsk. Ovechkin, who is one of Cherepanov's favorite players, followed a very similar path before his arrival in Washington two years ago.

Washington Capitals GM George McPhee has had plenty of success in the past in drafting young crafty Russian goal scorers (Ovechkin and Semin). However George McPhee’s job is not to draft well, George McPhee’s job is to put together pieces of the puzzle, the puzzle being the Stanley Cup. Each hand engraved name on Lord Stanley’s Cup represents a single piece, a single piece of the greatest trophy in the history of athletic competition. Single pieces of any puzzle are insignificant, however when each piece relies on other pieces and parts of the puzzle are put together properly then the puzzle is complete. It’s been 32 seasons and 33 years and counting for the Caps to complete the puzzle and win their first Cup.

Hopefully George McPhee and the Caps organization will learn from the Ottawa Senators and realize that keeping good young rough players like Matt Bradley, Brian Sutherby, Matt Pettinger, Brooks Laich and Boyd Gordon are important for the success of the team and fan base. These players are not only gritty tough young Canadians, but they have also earned their due coming up in the ranks within the organization. With this “New NHL” era it is common to see guys come and go every 3 years via trades and free agency. I can only hope that the Caps decide to keep these guys for many years to come in order to regain a winning tradition and solid fan base that’s been missing since the late 90’s.With an influx of European talent headed to D.C. for the next hockey season George McPhee’s job will surely be in jeopardy if a playoff appearance escapes the Caps grasp for yet another season.

Alexei Cherepanov is ranked 1st among European skaters at mid-season... has played 28 games for OMSK of the Russian Super League in 2006-07, registering 19 points (10-9-19)... he was named Top Forward at the 2007 World Junior Championship, collecting eight points (5-3-8) and leading Team Russia to a silver medal... his five goals in six games tied for first in the tournament... as a 17-year-old in 2005-06, he tallied 12 points in 34 games with OMSK... names NY Rangers' Jaromir Jagr and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin as his role models.

Washington Capitals right wing Chris Clark and defenseman Brian Pothier were selected by USA Hockey to represent the United States at the upcoming 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship in Moscow, Russia.

The Caps have launched their “Change is Coming” campaign, the Caps will be going back to their glory day colors of red, white, and blue. Will the Caps go back to their stars and stripes? I doubt it with the new campaign running on http://www.washingtoncaps.com it seems as though the Caps logo is being draped by the red, white and blue of the Russian flag…

About the author
Kevin Sharifi is currently a student at Catholic University and can be reached at 61SHARIFI@cua.edu

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