Can't Stop Beechin', Zuby Fits Best

When Kris Beech made the Washington Capitals roster after training camp, I had many negative things to say about it. However, if Caps head coach Glen Hanlon thought it was worthwhile to give him another shot to prove himself then I wouldn't complain, and if things didn't start panning out, I had the right to "beech" about it! Kris Beech hasn't played in the last three games. In those last three games the Caps have been 1-1-1 with a regulation loss to the Atlanta Thrashers, a reulation win in Philadelphia against the struggling Flyers, and a stellar overtime comeback against the Senators. In the games he played, they were 4-3-4. The record is not much to argue on, however when I compared Beech's stats to Caps checking line centerman Brian Sutherby, that's where things got really interesting.

Brian Sutherby is a defensive minded forward with leadership qualities, ability to shut down opposing teams goal scorers, and a physical tempo player who can completely shift the momentum of a game. Beech has 1 goal and 5 assists, big deal. First off, three of those assists were secondary, not primary. A playmaking center should be the one making the play. Three secondary assists do not boast that. Suts (Sutherby) has the same stats and played in only three more games than Beech, but is not playing with "goal scorers" like Alexander Semin and is not seeing any time on the PP. In Beech's last three games his faceoff percentage was around 56, 26, and 66. Sutherby's last three games are around 64, 56, and 64. The reason I'm comparing these two is because Sutherby is doing the same thing in a checking role (putting up the same numbers with a slightly better faceoff percentage), but better because he's more physical and is a tempo player, while Beech is supposed to be this "playmaking 2nd line center". Brooks Laich, Jakub Klepis, and Tomas Fleischmann are all younger and have higher potential. Looking at it this way, to me it seems Beech is done for (hopefully at least in this organization) by the end of this year. You can't rule out Laich and Klepis over Beech, especially considering the amount of chances Beech has had. Beech is the oldest of the players trying to live up to potential. He's little better than he was, if at all, at age 25 than at age 18. Kris Beech has had chances to make rosters and stay in the NHL in Washington twice, Pittsburgh, and Nashville. If I were George McPhee, It'd try to pull one over and get a 3rd round pick for this guy. Maybe we could send him to Phoenix with a 3rd or 2nd round pick of ours for Derek Morris. The point is, Beech is not going to get any better or do anything. Klepis, Laich, and Fleischmann can and should get the ice time to develop, instead of postponing it by playing Beech. Caps head coach Glen Hanlon has found the right spot for Beech on this team, a healthy scratch.

Something else I want to tackle is Dainius Zubrus as the Caps first line center. I hear alot of people talk about how when Nicklas Backstrom comes over next season from Sweden, he's going to center the first line. No doubt this guy has talent. He is patient with the puck and makes slick passes that are tape to tape. But why put him on the first line? Why not put him on a second line with Semin? Is Zubrus not good enough. I think he is. Through 14 games thus far this season, Dainius Zubrus has 9 goals and 4 assists. He is an extremely solid two way player who draws penalties, passes extremely well, and isn't afraid to get physical. He might not be your typical first line center or what most would consider a first line center to be, however looking at the team and the playing style, he suits first line center for Caps hockey. Glen Hanlon was quoted in a Washington Post article by Tarik El-Bashir saying "Whenever someone says Zubie's not a number one center, I take offense to it. He allows any player who is not strong defensively to skate the extra minutes it takes to put up numbers. Ovie loves playing with Zubie." So why complain?

Everyone seems to think that every teams first line center has to be the classic offensive passing machine like Peter Forsberg or Adam Oates. I disagree. Zubrus is a first line center in a different style, and obviously it's working. For the same reason, I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want Chris Clark on that line, bringing physical play, mucking, and great outlet passes. This trio is one of the toughest and best all-around lines in the NHL. Zubrus truly is the perfect fit. They need to take care of a contract extension right away and lock this guy up.