Off Wing Opinion

Purchase price of 42 inch 1080p high definition television: $800.

Monthly subscription to satellite television service: $100.

Yearly subscription to NHL Center Ice: $165.

Listening to an online radio feed of the Caps and Flyers after spending all of that money in order to ensure that you can watch any hockey game you want: Senseless.

There are some things money can't buy, and that apparently includes a simple regular season hockey game being played in your own hometown.  Thanks for nothing Versus, DirecTV and the NHL.

Here's a picture for all the Washington Redskins fans.  The following picture was snapped by a friend of mine on Route 28 in Virginia near the team's training complex in Ashburn.

Apparently firing the owner isn't an option.

Well, we're almost two weeks into the NHL regular season, and I thought it might be a good time to take a quick look back at some numbers the folks at Bodog.com sent my way a few weeks back.  It was on October 1 that they published the odds to win the Stanley Cup.  Here's the rundown:

Odds to win the 2009/2010 Stanley Cup

Detroit Red Wings 5/1

Pittsburgh Penguins 5/1

Chicago Blackhawks 8/1

San Jose Sharks 8/1

Boston Bruins 9/1

Washington Capitals 10/1

Philadelphia Flyers 14/1

Vancouver Canucks 14/1

Anaheim Ducks 15/1

Calgary Flames 16/1

Montreal Canadiens 25/1

New Jersey Devils 25/1

New York Rangers 25/1

Carolina Hurricanes 28/1

Toronto Maple Leafs 28/1

Ottawa Senators 30/1

St. Louis Blues 34/1

Edmonton Oilers 35/1

Minnesota Wild 40/1

Buffalo Sabres 42/1

Columbus Blue Jackets 42/1

Dallas Stars 44/1

Los Angeles Kings 55/1

Florida Panthers 60/1

Nashville Predators 60/1

Tampa Bay Lightning 70/1

Colorado Avalanche 85/1

Phoenix Coyotes 85/1

Atlanta Thrashers 100/1

New York Islanders 150/1

After only a few weeks, one has to wonder why anyone would think the Maple Leafs were as legitimate a contender for the Cup as the Carolina Hurricanes, a recent champ that advanced as far as the conference finals just a few months ago.  Even after last night's choke job in Chicago, plenty of folks have to think that the Flames are a little better than 16-1.  Meanwhile, stock in Boston, Washington and Vancouver is probably dropping like a rock.

It's hard to think about how things could have gone better for the Washington Capitals on opening night in Boston on Thursday.  Though just about everybody is having their say right now, I think J.P.'s wrap is most on point: everything that's always worked for the Caps in recent years continued to work (offensive flow); while everything that drove us insane a season ago (lax penalty killing) seems to have resolved itself -- at least for one night.

If there was any single surprise last night it had to be not only the play of Brooks Laich (2 goals), but the fact that he had more ice time than offseason free agent acquisition Mike Knuble (16:08 to 14:58).  That was thanks to the fact that Laich was playing on the team's first power play unit (2:16 to :56). 

For the most part, when we think of a team transitioning from year to year, we always take a look at the new parts, and perhaps don't pay enough attention to the players who are already here and how they may progress and evolve into a larger role.  I'll have to say that I'm probably guilty of that with Laich, who has managed to put his game together over the past two seasons, and done it in a way that augured well for his future success and his ability to hold his own while playing alongside the team's marquee talents.

I'll be in the box on Saturday night for the home opener against Toronto.  See you there.