Get to know a Cap: Brooks Laich
by Hooks Orpik on Apr 29, 2009 11:24 AM EDT
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Print{Ed note: I've lived about a mile away from the Capitals practice rink for the past two years. I've gone to a lot of practices, met players at bars and watched a lot of games, so I think I have a handle on these guys....We all know Ovechkin shoots, Backstrom passes and Green sneaks in on the power-play, but here's a look at the "other" players that are going to play a huge role in the upcoming series]
Who he is: Brooks Laich is kind of like the Capitals version of Max Talbot: he's an energetic forward that is upbeat in the locker room and always seems to provide the goal when the team needs it most. Laich, now a two-time 20 goal scorer, has more offensive skill than Talbot, but both can play in any situation (penalty kill, even strength, power-play) in the last minute of a tight game and be trusted to make the right play.
Laich lately has been lining up as 2nd line left wing, but the Caps tend to be very flexible with how they trot out their lines depending how the games are going. Still, expect him to see a lot of time with guys like Alex Semin and Sergei Fedorov where Laich is expected to drive the net, opening up space for his teammates to operate with the puck. In that regards, he might remind Pens fans of Ryan Malone.
How the Pens can neutralize him: Laich is a good player, but he's not always the most consistent point producer. He's got one goal in the playoffs so far, and even though he might score 2 goals in the next 3 games, he could also go goal-less too. The best way to combat Laich is to keep puck possession, so that the Caps can't have possession and allow Laich to play in the Pens zone. Staying out of the penalty box as much as possible, so that Laich can't post up in front of the Pens net, is also another priority for more than just shutting down Laich.
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Brooks Laich is the perfect example of what hard work and effort can do for a player. He’s now a 2-time 20 goal guy and is legitimately a top-6 forward in the NHL. Before last season, Laich and the Caps went to arbitration for his contract, not on the dollar amount, but to see if Laich could get a 1-way or 2-way deal. Now it’s not an issue, he’s a bona-fide NHL player.
He’s also the Caps #1 Ladies’ Man if you ask the players (there’s a YouTube video of it somewhere where they asked who is the teams top Ladies’ Man). And don’t forget to check out the Brooks Laich Facts!
Let's go Caps!
I was in attendance at a Caps vs. Kings game in LA, and witnessed one hell of an amazing shift by Brooks Laich on the PK during a 5 on 3. He blocked two monster shots from the point, with the first one breaking his stick and the second one injuring him. And he still managed to run over someone and throw the puck out with his hand. I think he came back a shift later and scored a goal. Of course, I think that’s what happened. You see a shift like that and it becomes a fish story. Maybe he ran over 3 people, blocked 5 shots. All I know is that I took down his number and thought, “I’d really like to have that guy on my team.” Fish story or not.
Time Heals All Wounds
It’s amazing how attitudes can change over time. Laich is the player obtained from Ottawa when Peter Bondra was traded in “The Great Selloff of 2004.” Caps fans widely believed that the deal was a colossal rip-off, that the Caps did not recieve value for the iconic Bondra.
Fast forward to today, and Laich is something of a cult hero (think, “Chuck Norris”) among many Caps fans.
If you've read this far...seek help.
I can relate to a similar situation. It includes Jaromir Jagr and Kris Beech…
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Kris Beech is a cult hero? ;-)
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 30, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, OK – minus the cult hero part, more emphasis on the colossal rip-off part.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
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