Join us, as well as Pensblog, BlackhawksDL, Barry Melrose Rocks, Thrashing the Blues, Couch Tarts, and many others as we blabber on about the mayhem that ensues on the first day of NHL's Free Agency. Sit back, relax, add your two cents, and don't get busted by your boss - we don't have one of thoes nifty "hide me" buttons just yet.

We will be updating the site accordingly as GMGM unveils his plot to take over the world, but this will be your home base. Go Caps!

Yesterday we opined that available top free agent center Olli Jokinen would be a viable second line center for the Washington Capitals. However good a fit he may be, he seems unlikely to sign with the Washington Capitals this offseason knowing Capitals General Manager George McPhee's track record of not making a big splash in the open market, and also knowing the likely demand around the league for a #1 center from teams willing to pay more for Jokinen's services.  If the Capitals opt not to go with a youth movement for next year, they could look to a few other available free agents at #2 center for a short contract to fill the gap.

Make the jump to find out which of these bubble hockey guys would make a good fit.

[Ed. Note: We'd like to welcome Marshall Pirate to the RtR fold. You may recognize him from his blog, A Capital Offense. Make him feel welcome and please enjoy his first post!]

The NHL Free Agency period begins on Thursday, July 1 (Canada Day).  The Washington Capitals will be parting ways with several of their players who ended the season in DC, including Jose Theodore, Brendan Morrison, Joe Corvo, Eric Belanger, Scott Walker, Milan Jurcina, Shaone Morrisonn, and Quintin Laing.  Unless they sign a contract in the next couple of days, all of these players will become unrestricted free agents (UFA) and could sign with any team.

Some of the Caps'  vacancies will be filled from within.  Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov will fill the nets for the departed Theodore.  Karl Alzner and John Carlson, or "Karlznerson," will patrol the blueline in place of Corvo, Jurcina, and Morrisonn.  Capitals General Manager George McPhee may even bring up a forward or two from the AHL Hershey Bears like Mathieu Perreault, Chris Bourque, or Andrew Gordon, or promote a prospect like Marcus Johansson, to plug the holes left by some of the departing veterans.

Even with the youth movement, there is still at least one major hole to plug, perhaps two, and the Capitals may try to fill that hole on the free agent market when UFA hunting season begins.  The primary holes needing to be addressed is at #2 center and the Caps could possibly target a veteran defenseman.  This post will focus on the top player available at center this summer.

Qualifying Offers were made to all nine of the Washington Capitals restricted free agents today, including Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleishmann, and Jeff Schultz. These players have until July 15th to accept or decline the Caps' offer, however starting tomorrow they can receive offers from other teams in the league. In making each player an offer, Washington retains the players' rights and would have the opportunity to match any other bid they receive. If one of the RFA's were to sign with another team, the Caps would be rewarded with draft picks.

As it was noted earlier in the week, the NHL's salary cap for the 2010-2011 season was increased 5% to $59.4M with a minimum of $43.4M. The Capitals currently sit just shy of $47M, allowing them approximately $12.4M of negotiation room to tackle other teams' unrestricted free agents, make offers to current players, and combat any player that is awarded their arbitration increase.

Make the jump to take a look at the rest of the Capitals' free agent class as we inch closer to free agent signing period.

[Ed Note: We had a severe server reversal of fortune, so are re-posting this from Friday. We hope to be back to normal sometime this week. Thank you for your patience!]

By now I am sure that you've read all about the hub-bub's and whats-it's from last nights' NHL Awards gala which took place at The Palms in Las Vegas. Unfortunately for us, Rock the Red was knee deep in moving to our own dedicated server (take THAT unwanted delays!) and couldn't provide you with up-to-the minute reporting on Jamie Kennedy's mispronuciations, Martin St. Louis' appreciation of technology or Tyler Myers speech in which he channeled Sally "You like me, you really like me" Field. So here we go, as only RtR can do it... your 30 second recap in haiku.

Make the jump to see the Prose and Cons. See what we did there? No?

Note:  This story was originally published on "A Capital Offense."

Alexander Semin (Александр Валерьевич Сёмин, Pronounced "Syomin") is a remarkably talented hockey player.  He has a skill set to rival anyone's in hockey right now.  He has amazing puck control, slick passing ability, and a shot that most goalies don't see until it's too late.  Some people may question his desire and discipline, but that does not change his impact on hockey games:  he can blow a game open at any moment.  This forces opposing coaches to pay attention to him and draw some of the defensive pressure away from top-line winger Alex Ovechkin.

#28 Alexander Semin

Semin's greatest asset is his ability to create goals without a nice set-up pass.  He scores a large number of his goals this way, much the way Ovechkin did his first couple years in the league.

Semin Hat Trick

This begs the question:  if Semin is so good, why couldn't he score in the playoffs?  While Semin definitely had a few chances he should have buried among his first-round leading 44 shots, I would argue Semin did not have a playmaking center who could get him the puck in space to make a play.  My argument is if Semin had a regular center capable of producing at least 20 goals and 40 assists per year, Semin would be a 50 goal and 100 point per season player.  To make this argument, I examine Semin against his teammates and against a relevant example in the NHL.