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.

Caps’ Irbe gone; Pittsburgh Guerin-teed more leadership

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Arturs Irbe, Bill Guerin, George McPhee, Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins, Steve Richmond

Is it a sick coincidence that we are still in the NHL post-season and even though both of their season’s are over, on the same day the Washington Capitals lost and the Pittsburgh Penguins won?

Caps goalie coach Arturs Irbe, after two seasons, has decided to leave the organization. It was for personal and family reasons, was the explanation provided by a Capitals spokesperson.

Japer’s Rink broke the story and you can read more details here: Caps goalie coach Arturs Irbe won’t be back next season.

After hockey has been a defining part of his life for so long, is Irbe tired of the game and the commitment? Or could the personal reasons have to do with his take on where this team is going?

With free agency, the NHL Draft and potential trades set to happen across the hockey landscape, who knows what the Caps will do. I am extremely eager to see how general manager George McPhee will shape the 2011-2012 squad, but this move doesn’t sit well with me.

I’m all for fans in Verizon Center waving red flags, but I hate to see them pop up out of nowhere in the front office/coaching staff. Hopefully in the long run this isn’t a big deal, but unless more details surface I find it odd and unsettling.

To top off losing Irbe’s 568 games of regular season experience (and 51 playoff games), our friends in Pittsburgh are at it again.

The Penguins acquired forward Bill Guerin at the trade deadline of the 2008-2009 regular season, much to the chagrin of many Caps fans. There he helped eliminate Washington from the post-season on the way to hoisting his 2nd Stanley Cup.

Today, a team with an owner in Mario Lemieux, who every player in the NHL should look up to, respect and be eager to learn from continued to show respect to the idea an organization can’t have enough positive leadership, adding Guerin back in the fold as player development coach (Guerin embraces new role with Penguins).

Bill Guerin’s career numbers from hockeydb.com include 18 NHL seasons, 1,263 regular season games (103 more playoff games), and a pair of Stanley Cup championships. He also played in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympic Games for the United States. He has been around the block and has hardware to show for it.

I can’t say the position duties and requirements are 100% the same, but in comparison Steve Richmond is the Capitals director of player development.

He played with the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings, and Los Angeles Kings. According to hockeydb.com he played in a total of 133 NHL games, including no playoff appearances.

This is not to say that Richmond is not fantastic at his job and a very good person, I know very little about him. But the point I’d like to make is that championship organizations, and organizations that strive to become elite, find ways to bring in as much leadership and championship experience as they can when they recognize an available asset.

Here’s to the Washington Capitals learning from those around the sports landscape and taking another step towards a championship and elite level status in 2011-2012.

Capitals Betrayed (via image alteration)

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Alex Ovechkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

In one of the more vile and destructive Photoshop-esque attacks ever known to offices or sports, my soul has been tarnished.

Okay, maybe it’s not that bad, and even a little funny.

Based on my passionate following of the Washington Capitals, and a certain someone in my office having Pittsburgh ties, a digital image of my smiling face was electronically drawn and quartered.

Caps and Pens fans alike might enjoy this so I had to share, but be certain there will be retribution towards the guilty party.

And hopefully it will be Alex Ovechkin and his red #8 jersey that will be parading the authentic version of that lovely piece of hardware around the streets of Washington, D.C. later this summer.

Let’s Go Caps! (and I hate that guy in the picture)