Yeah Baby - Fedorov and Laich Sign!

Fabulous news for Caps fans -

Sergei Fedorov has signed a one-year $4 million contract with Caps, and fan fave Brooks Laich has also come to as-of-yet undisclosed terms with the team.

So the Caps now have 3 returning players who also led Team Russia (OV, Semin and Fedorov, of course) to gold in the IIHF World Championshp - not too shabby! Outside of his phenomenal career with former teams, including Stanley Cup wins with the Detroit Red Wings, Feds has stepped in as a leader among the young players in the Capital's locker room. Hockey Mom is stoked to hear the news of both signings - though I hope $4 million doesn't prove too steep in the end as I'd like to see others including Boyd Gordon and David Steckel back.

I also heard this morning on Hockey This Morning that former Ottawa Senators hothead Ray Emery is going to play in the Russian Continental Hockey League. Looks like there's several poster boys for bad behavior heading that way, including Chris Simon. How's that for a change of scenery?

So just a quick news flash - things are looking good so far. How many days until training camp...HM can't wait!

MVP - The Must-Miss Hockey Drama

I have a confession to make. I not only watched one episode of MVP, the hockey-themed drama on Soapnet, I got sucked into the marathon and watched three. It was like a train wreck, but for some reason (probably boredom), I couldn't look away. During those three episodes, I saw absolutely no on-ice action but did glimpse the following: lots of guys with tight abs parading around in their skivvies, coke-snorting and prescription drug abuse, puck bunnies at every corner wearing next to nothing and waiting for their next "victim" and a drunken head coach. Puh-lease people, at least give us a little hockey or something to make it more real! Because the acting is not exactly what I'd deem Oscar-quality...

If I were to have a soap based on my life, it would probably be a combination of Julia Louis Dreyfus's New Adventures of the Old Christine and the PG-13/Pee Wee hockey version (were there such a thing) of the classic Slapshot. In any case, it would probably make for more humorous and interesting viewing than MVP...one can only hope.

In other happenings today, the NHL has threatened Edmonton Oiler's GM Kevin Lowe and Anaheim Duck's GM Brian Burke with stiff fines should they choose to continue their verbal slugfest in the public arena via the media. I'm not sure whether I agree with the League stepping in, but hey guys, enough already!

I have to admit, the spars they come up with are somewhat amusing, albeit childish. Some of the insults that have been hurled towards each other sound a lot like the garbage I hear from my two in the back seat driving back from practice! So we'll see if these two GMs can keep their lips zipped or if they end up in timeout...does anyone know when these two teams play each other next year? Now that's a real-life not-to-be-missed drama!

Good Bye to Matt Cooke...Off to Pens' Land

As you've probably heard by now, Cap's forward Matt Cooke, is headed to play in Pittsburgh to replace in-your-face agitator Jarko Ruutu. Jeez, Matt, we hardly got to know ya...but we all know that the Caps only have so much room under the salary cap and unfortunately the team can't retain every player. I really enjoyed seeing Matt play last year and wish him the best (though that'll be weird seeing him with Sid and friends!). Matt will have to pull double duty as pesky tormentor, as the Penguins also lost their notorious enforcer Georges Laraque to the Montreal Canadiens (for you hockey newbies, an enforcer is the guy who's role is to drop the gloves and take on anyone who has overstepped their boundaries, taken liberties with key players or broken "the code" during the course of the game). As for Jarko Ruutu, I've heard it said that he may share the ice with a fellow Ottawa Senator also known for pushing the limits to the extreme, Chris Neil.

As for the Capitals, fan favorites Brooks Laich and Shaone Morrison have filed for arbitration, a process that is explained in detail here. Boyd Gordon and Eric Fehr have not yet come to contract ageement with the team either. We are still in wait and see mode to see if Sergei Fedorov resigns as well. Hockey Mom is keeping her fingers crossed that all five are signed soon!

Hockey Mom will be taking a break from my blog the week of July 12 - July 19 and heading down to the beautiful beaches of Florida's Gulf Coast (very near where I grew up and went to college). There is no hockey nor anything that resembles ice in these parts which makes it even more amazing that I've acquired such an undying passion for the game. So I will be in total withdrawal and will have to miss the Capital's Fan Fest and Development Camp. But I'll be chilling on a beautiful beach with an adult beverage and enjoying what's left of summer. Fall will be here before you know it and I'm planning to be in the stands at Kettler for the first day of Cap's Training Camp!

Happy Fourth and Thank You...

Hockey Mom wants to wish everyone a happy Independence Day and say thanks for our freedom, especially to those in the armed forces who are far away from home protecting our freedom every day! Even when the media forecasts doom and gloom and we're paying $4+ a gallon for gas, this is still an amazing country to live in and we all sometimes tend to forget the many rights that we have that don't exist in countries around the world.

For example, the freedom of speech is one that we probably all take for granted. This freedom allows me to express my views on the sport I love, along other various asundry topics, and in some way allows me to fulfill at least a portion of my dream. Anyone who's known me since my 20's knows I've long had a dream of a career in sports journalism or sports marketing. But things don't always go as one plans: people get married and follow their spouse's careers, have children (thank God!), marriages end, parents pass away and so eventually those dreams fall by the wayside for now and you roll with the punches and enact Plan B. I am thankful to have a job that I enjoy, my children, my friends and family and the freedom of speech to blog about two of my greatest passions: my kids (and their involvement in the world's coolest sport) and the NHL (especially the team of our great nation's capitol - our own Washington Caps)! We all know that millions of others don't have the freedom to express their individual views in many nations around the world so this is truly a day to celebrate.

But while I'm giving thanks, back to hockey for now. All you die-hard fans already know about this blog, but wanted to share with my hockey newbie pals. One of the other things I love is Puck Daddy's blog. This guy is hilarious and provides such a unique perspective, with a fabulous sense of humor. Yesterday's post included Sean Avery's workout regimen. So check it out! Speaking of super-pest Sean Avery and his eccentric ways, I wonder how his black nail polish is going to go over in his new home, Dallas? Note to self Sean, I think the Texas gals probably prefer hot pink so take note when you go for your next "man"icure!

So Happy Fourth everyone and see ya next week!

Shame on You, Huet....

I'm sorry but I'm still fuming over Christobal Huet's decision to string the Caps along up until July 1, get the offer he was seeking and then say "thanks but no thanks" and high-tail it to Chicago (who by the way, just signed former Sabres, former Sharks fab d-man Brian Campbell). Believe me, I understand that this is a business but Huet could have handled this situation in an entirely different fashion instead of hinting to the media that he wanted to stay in Washington. Have fun duking it out with Khabibulin in Chicago, Chris!

Of course the other news of note was the signing of the Caps long-time netminder and local hero Olaf Kolzig with the Tampa Bay Lightning (who are spending money like Ivana Trump at Saks Fifth Avenue!). All I can say is it will be a strange sight to say the least to see Olie in the opposing net at Verizon Center. Being a huge Olie fan, I wish him all the best...even if it has to be with a Southeast division rival.

So we should welcome Jose Theodore with open arms and hope that any future signings (Laich, Gordo and Fedorov, please - plus maybe some more veteran defensive help in front of the net) ensures that the team will be a major Cup contender next season.

For now, hockey mom needs to crack open a cold one and take a deep breath....

Trade Wheels Start Spinning Faster....

Wow...if you haven't heard, the Capitals were not able to come to an agreement with goalie Christobal Huet and have signed former Colorado Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore to a 2-year contract. I for one am fairly bummed out by this news, nothing against Theodore. Huet seemed to me to be the best fit for the team although none of us will know what really went on behind closed doors. Plus I really enjoyed shouting "hip, hip, huet" with the legions of other Caps fans rocking the red. Today just got a lot more interesting.....

My Favorite Color Is.....Green

As you've all probably heard, the Caps have signed a 4-year deal with defenseman Mike Green, ensuring that we get to witness more goal-scoring finesse from #52 next season!

As today marks the start of the free agency period, Caps fans are still waiting to see when other key players including Christobal Huet, Brooks Laich, Gordo (Boyd Gordon) and possibly Sergei Fedorov will get locked up (with a new contract, not jail - that's reserved for some of the thug-wannabes in the NBA and NFL, e.g. Pacman Jones). On a side note, as a new hockey fan and an active hockey mom, one of the other things I love about the NHL is that the players are fantastic role models. You don't hear about them involved in criminal activity or steriod investigations and these days, that's a rarity in professional sports! Now I am a big NFL fan and also follow some of the NBA players, but we all know that there are lots of bad apples in both leagues who have no business in professional sports. Like it or not, as a professional athlete you become a role model for young people by default.

So we'll wait to see how this day unfolds and keep our ears to the ground for any new Caps' signings along with news from around the league...