In addition to speaking with Miami of Ohio winger Andy Miele during day two of the Washington Capitals' Development Camp, I was able to join Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy, Tarik El-Bashir of Capitals Insider and others in speaking with highly touted goalie prospect Braden Holtby. He returns for his second Dev Camp as one of three members of the 2010 Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears in attendance this week, but stands alone as the only attendee to dress for a NHL game.

Holtby, the Caps' superstitious 2008 fourth-round draft pick, is expected to enter the 2010-11 season as the organizations' number 3 goalie behind Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth, but ahead of recently signed vet Dany Sabourin.  While it still remains unclear if he will see any time with the Caps this season, speaking with Caps Coach Bruce Boudreau he mentioned that he's very impressed with the young netminder, saying "[Holtby] is doing everything in the world right now to prove himself... he's in tremendous shape, he works his rear end off, and he's doing it with a smile. The cream always rises to the top."

Read on as he details his recent Lasik eye surgery, his thoughts on Washington's goaltending crew and his famed idiosyncrasies.

Do it. Even Joe Finley stops by to give his two cents.

The past few days at Washington Capitals Development Camp, Free Agent invitee and University of Miami (Ohio) left winger Andy Miele really caught our eye. Centering Anthony Pisano and Eric Alexander, Miele was speedy, had great hands and seemed eager to learn and advance his game this week.  Andy Green and I had the chance to sit down the Chicago Steel's all-time leading goal scorer, and ask him a couple of questions about the Caps organization, his senior year as a Red Hawk, and his plans for the future.

Make the jump to get to know Andy Miele!

Alexander Semin (Александр Валерьевич Сёмин, Pronounced "Syomin") is a remarkably talented hockey player.  He has a skill set to rival anyone's in hockey right now.  He has amazing puck control, slick passing ability, and a shot that most goalies don't see until it's too late.  Some people may question his desire and discipline, but that does not change his impact on hockey games:  he can blow a game open at any moment.  This forces opposing coaches to pay attention to him and draw some of the defensive pressure away from top-line winger Alex Ovechkin.

#28 Alexander Semin

Semin's greatest asset is his ability to create goals without a nice set-up pass.  He scores a large number of his goals this way, much the way Ovechkin did his first couple years in the league.

Semin Hat Trick

This begs the question:  if Semin is so good, why couldn't he score in the playoffs?  While Semin definitely had a few chances he should have buried among his first-round leading 44 shots, I would argue Semin did not have a playmaking center who could get him the puck in space to make a play.  My argument is if Semin had a regular center capable of producing at least 20 goals and 40 assists per year, Semin would be a 50 goal and 100 point per season player.  To make this argument, I examine Semin against his teammates and against a relevant example in the NHL.

On paper, Marcus Johansson doesn't stand out in any particular way.  The Washington Capitals prospect nicknamed "Mackan" in Sweden is not the biggest player at 5'11 and 190 pounds and he doesn't have flashy numbers.  Even scouts who see him play will say that he doesn't have any particular facet of his game that stands out [Hockey's Future, NHL Draft Scouting Report, Scouting Report, Draft Story].

Marcus Johansson on draft day

Rather, it is his all-around game that is his strength.  A left-shooting forward, he can play center and left-winger equally well.  He is a smart, fast player adept at both offense and defense and he usually comes away with the puck in the corners.  He likes to play with the puck and can usually find the open man with a pass, but he also has a nice shot selection he needs to use more often.  He has good stickhandling skills and good hand-eye coordination, skills that serve him well when he often plays in the heavy traffic areas.  He can be physical but doesn't usually seek contact, which is not surprising considering his 3 concussions, though there have been exceptions:

Following the Hershey Bears 3-2 victory over the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday, I was able to meet up with young goalie Braden Holtby and deliver him a present. I told him I was from RocktheRed.net, and briefly explained that RtR is a Capitals fan-run blog out of DC. I went on to mention that he had caught the eye of quite a few Caps fans and that he’s the only current Bear with a shirt named for him.  He held it up - it was dark, so he turned to hold it under the light and read it – “Holtby… Moly!  Hahaha! That’s awesome!” He seemed surprised that a Caps’ blog in DC had taken enough interest in him to put his name on a shirt.

After a few more words of praise - me for his play, and he for putting his likeness on a shirt, I then I told him it was for him from us and he said “This is mine?  Thanks… wow!”  I also mentioned that all proceeds from the shirts go to Saves for Kids, fellow goaltender Jose Theodore's charity supporting Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children's National Medical Center, to which he was spell bound - since the Bears work so closely with the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and see the effects charity has on those receiving treatment. *Okay, so this middle paragraph may be slightly embellished, but I was rushed... and excited*

Make sure to cheer on Holtby, and the rest of the Bears as they look avenge last night's loss against the Manchester Monarchs tonight at 7PM from Verizon Wireless Arena! Go Bears!

So how do you greive the loss of a season that was supposed to be so much more than it was?  If you're like me, you occupy yourself with something else.  Something somewhat similar, yet not the exact same.  Something that fills the void, but doesn't have the sting of regret associated with it. Something that medicates, without overwheming or replacing your original love.

So what am I getting at?  Here's a hint- there's still a team competing for a Championship, and you're connected to it.  You're almost as familiar with the teams' current players, such as John Carlson, Karl Alzner, Mathieu Perreault, Jay Beagle, Michal Neuvirth and Keith Aucoin, as you are players past (Mike Green, Jeff Schultz, Brooks Laich, Semyon Varlamov, Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleishmann, Boyd Gordon, Quintin Laing, Dave Steckel, Tyler Sloan, and coaches Bruce Boudreau and Bob Woods.)

That's right- The Hershey Bears.

And they're on fire. What better way to help move on from the mourning the Caps' season than immersing yourself into "Bears Nation?" and cheering Washington's AHL affiliateon as they vie for their 11th Calder Cup?

As I mentioned before, you're probably already quite familiar with the names above.  Those guys have come to DC and played well in the Red White & Blue, so what about the ones you may not be so familiar with?  The guys who may never see time in a Caps Sweater- but Bears fans have come to love?  If you're going to start following the farm team closely as they compete for the Calder Cup, here are some guys you should make yourself somewhat familiar with.  They've had quite an impact on the Chocolate and White this season, and have been an integral part of the post-season success the Bears have enjoyed thus far.

Who is this guy? And why should we cheer for him? Make the jump to find out.

There is one man held in the highest of regards within the confines of the Verizon Center. He is seen, and heard, at every home game and can change the momentum of a game with a single act. While it seems we are describing Alex Ovechkin, the man to which we are referring is none other than the Horn Guy, Sam Wolk.

Fans of all ages are instantly entralled when hearing three loud blasts echoing from the upper levels of the arena. So much so that minds are instantly filled with "LET'S GO CAPS" cheers when hearing a car honk three times in succession or even a ring emitting from an acquiantences' cell phone.

Rock the Red was recently able to speak with with Mr. Wolk, and pick his brain surrounding the mystique of the horn.

The man, the myth, the legend. After the jump.

...is none other than Rock the Red! Be sure to tune in today at 5pm ET on ESPNU to catch SportsNation and welcome the latest Washington Capitals fan Michelle Beadle!

After we announced the Quest for the Golden Razor contest yesterday, a lot of questions, grumblings, and whining was over heard by the RTR crew. Your team needs you. This post is the end-all to any little bit of doubt left, so in the name of sport "Just Do It"

Yes, we're that serious about playoff beards. Make the jump to learn more.

After another stellar weekend in Hershey, it’s time to start gearing up for playoffs after 3 wins in 3 nights (Friday 7-2 over Worcester, Saturday 4-2 over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Sunday 3-2 over Binghamton). Since only 7 regular season games remain for the Bears and the season has begun to wind down up here, let’s look ahead to how the Playoffs in the AHL vary from the ones the Washington Capitals and their foes will be experiencing in the NHL.

The Bears look to eleven - after the jump.