Quarterly Check-in on the CAPS

To put into words that only Rob Schneider could so eloquently put as part of his starring role in the timeless masterpiece that is the Waterboy:

“Oh no, we suck again”

Things tend to be that way when your team leads the league in goals allowed (91), and by quite a margin at that (2nd highest goals allowed is the TML with 78 who also have 1 more game played). It also does not help when the better of your goalie tandem is 3.64 GAA and 0.882 save percentage. Backup Anton Khudobin has shown why he might have originally been placed on waivers as he currently holds a shiny 5+ GAA and 0.841 save percentage.

Season is not all doom and gloom, as Taylor Hall (11-19-30) and new faced Capital Ryan Donatoo (10-11-21) are pushing just around or above a point per game pace. And given both of their contracts situations and ages, they’ll likely be CAPS for a while as Hall is locked at both a high term and salary and Donato is showing he’s a guy to keep around.

On the Hershey front things are just as bad, although there might be an AHL gem in Marek Mittens who currently holds a 0.944 save percentage and 1.97 GAA. But with the Hartford Wolfpack being the only team worse in the division, it seems like a long season ahead for the leading scorer Mikey Eyssimont and the Bears.

Looking at some future Capitals

Logan Cooley: 5G 11A in 15GP for Minnesota thus far in the NCAA. The Capitals top pick of the most recent entry draft is having a solid year for the Gophers with hopes he’ll make a jump to professional hockey sooner than later, and be part of the next wave of Capitals to help turn the team into a perennial contender.
 

Ivan Miroschnichenko: 8G 3A in 8GP for Omskie Yastreby in the MHL, as well as a promotion to their VHL club Omskie Krylia where he has 2A in 3GP. A great sight to see for any hockey fan after being diagnosed and treated for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Maybe he’ll even get to see some KHL action before the season is over. Big hopes in Washington to see this man dawn a jersey in the future.

Jake Sanderson: 1G 10A in 21GP for the Ottawa Senators. Looks like the long awaited defenseman will finally be able to join the Caps next season. Early projections have him paired along with either veterans Brady Skeji or OEL in what seems to be the first domino of players to be joining the parent club.

David Jiricek: 3G 5A in 10GP with the Cleveland Monsters, Jiricek is having a nice AHL season and will hopefully infuse that talent into a Hershey team that desperately needs it.

TJ Semptimphelter: 2.59 GAA and .918 save percentage as the starting goalie for ASU. A late round selection of GM Karp, has shown in his first season as a starter that hes got what it takes to handle the load for the Sun Devils. As a backup for Devon Levi while at Northeastern, what he showed at the Beanpot is proving to not be a fluke as he is in contention for the Mike Richter Award.