VERSUS evolves; Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic adds to Caps coverage

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Comcast, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, NBC, NBC Universal, New York Rangers, NHL, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Versus, Winter Classic

The National Hockey League continues to pick up assists in the re-shaping process of post-merger Comcast and NBC Universal.

The relationship between the NHL and NBC was solidified with the 10-year television rights agreement reached last April after both VERSUS and NBC saw large audiences tune in for on-ice action.

And now, one year after the Capitals downed the Penguins, 3-1, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and with an audience that continues to grow, VERSUS’ rebrand will be launched with the coverage of the 2012 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic.

NBC Sports Network will be introduced as the Flyers host the New York Rangers at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, Jan. 2 in the regular season signature game.

“These rebranding efforts are a major step toward a complete strategic alignment of all our platforms and businesses,” said NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus in John Ourand’s story, Exit Versus, enter the NBC Sports Network (subscription required).

This should only enhance coverage of the game and the sport as hockey continues to solidify its footprint in the North American landscape.

On the local front, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic has added a new “Capitals Insider,” Chuck Gormley. Read the CSN Press Release: Chuck Gormley Joins Comcast SportsNet as Capitals Insider for Digital Media.

The regional sports network (RSN) who covers the Caps is taking a cue from the home office and dedicating more resources to their hockey team in Washington.

Gormley is no stranger to the rink, or a team facing high-expectations and demanding fans, after covering the Flyers for over two decades.

And even though the RSN’s may take a while before they share any NBC Sports Network branding, it great for all hockey fans that they are on the same page in the quality and quantity realm.

I’m looking forward to all the coverage this season.

Suiting up in Capitals red

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Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Mike Green, NHL, Nicklas Backstrom, shop.nhl.com

In my previous post I talked about marketing materials from teams that are not the Washington Capitals.

Now the NHL, and more specifically shop.NHL.com, are playing the loyalty card with team specific covers for their catalogs, and I love it.

I saw it in the mail pile on the counter and snatched it up like aI was a little kid and the JC Penney Christmas catalog came out (when they still had a toy section).

The cover (to the left) is sharp and highlights the Young Guns: Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin.

Seeing the “C” on Ovi’s jersey heading into the season is special and is my favorite part of the cover.

Plenty of goodies inside, but I will not be spending on gear until the Capitals Convention after I see what there is to celebrate this year’s Winter Classic between Washington and Pittsburgh.

Capitals defense: ESPN discusses trade deadline options

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Anaheim Ducks, Dan Hamhuis, Eric Fehr, ESPN.com, George McPhee, James Wisniewski, Mark Streit, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, NHL, Pierre LeBrun, Scott Burnside, Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals

ESPN.com’s NHL experts are using the Winter Olympic break to focus on players potentially on the move prior to the March 3rd trade deadline. Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun have been blogging their thoughts and I just ran across a post from Thursday, February 11th that mentioned the Washington Capitals.

Dan Hamhuis - D - Nashville Predators

There are three defensemen brought up in the discussion:

Dan Hamhuis of the Nashville Predators

James Wisniewski of the Anaheim Ducks

Tomas Kaberle of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Per discussions with Caps GM George McPhee, neither of the experts believes Kaberle would be  joining Washington. Burnside does think the Caps, should they have the desire, could make a deal to bring in one of the two younger defensemen.

The Caps also have lots of assets and offense they could dangle if McPhee decides he wants to add a piece like Hamhuis or Wisniewski.

Even though the streak was a great ride, some of those 14 games and the three losses that followed, continued to highlight the Achilles heel of the Caps. A proven, veteran goalie to guide the way to the Cup would be nice, but more realistically an upgrade on the blue line could help catapult the team and assist whoever is between the pipes.

As an interesting side note a reader commented that he thinks the New York Islanders could send D Mark Streit to the Capitals for F Eric Fehr (& maybe a 3rd line D-man or a pick). I’d hate to see Fehr go anywhere, but definitely intrigued by Streit.

Read the entire post on ESPN.com: Which defensemen can help at the deadline?