Restricted Free Agent Eric Fehr has signed a 2 year, $4.4M deal with the Washington Capitals - a signing he announced via his twitter account. Fehr joins a recently re-signed Jeff Schultz and Boyd Gordon, leaving Tomas Fleischmann as the sole RFA yet to sign.

Besides being the muse for awesome t-shirts, Fehr appeared in 69 regular season games for the Capitals during the 2009-2010 season, amassing 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points, finishing with a +18 rating.  He also appeared in all 7 of the Capitals post-season games this year, scoring 3 goals and adding assist for 4 points with a +2 rating.

It’s been a long road for F16, dealing with nearly crippling injuries and surgeries, and it will be interesting to see what a new deal as well as a clean bill of health (and hopeful increase in ice time) will do to his production over the next two years.

[Ed. Note: Yesterday the Capitals/Bears signed both left wing Kyle Greentree and defenseman Brian Fahey to two-way contracts. Although both are proven players (Greentree scoring 121 points in 143 games over the last two seasons, and Fahey's 2008 Calder Cup championship) there is still room, and a need, for a veteran presence to assist in leading Hershey to its third consecutive AHL title. One gentleman comes to mind, and yet there has not been any talk of his signing, to which we respond with great dismay. If you agree with us, feel free to voice your opinion in our comments section or mail your own letter to Mr. Yingst.]

Doug Yingst
President/General Manager Hershey Bears Hockey Club
550 West Hersheypark Drive
Hershey, PA  17033

Dear Mr. Yingst:

Over the past week, we have seen numerous players depart the Washington/Hershey organization.  No longer will we see Alexandre Giroux light the lamp with his scoring prowess or show off his uncanny ability to grow and manipulate playoff beards.  Kyle Wilson is also a Bear no more, nor is his strong grit and defensive power.  Tough guy Greg Amadio has also packed up to move on, taking with him his self-sacrificing style of play and “sandpaper-esque” style.  Also gone is Jason Bacashihua, a gentleman both on and off the ice, who always put out more than what was asked of him in the net. 

Now I can’t fault you for the departure of these players.  Giroux had to take that deal with Edmonton to fulfill his life-long dream.  Kyle Wilson left for much of the same, a more legitimate chance to play in the NHL.  Amadio went back to where he started in hopes of more minutes and more opportunities that he couldn’t have had here.  Cash also signed with something comfortable, going back to an organization he’s been with before for more minutes. 

It’s no secret that John Carlson and Karl Alzner will be wearing Red instead of Chocolate come October.  The two of them are bound for greatness, and the Capitals need them.  It’s also being said that we could be losing another player to graduation – though no one can say for sure who that will be (Perreault?  Gordon?  Pinizzotto?). 

I know you’re a busy man, so I guess I’d better just get to the point here.  Why have you not signed Bryan Helmer yet?  He’s been such a significant part of the Bears’ roster these past two years, wearing the C both years, and more importantly, winning the Calder Cup both years.  He’s played a key role in mentoring defensive prospects such as Carlson, Alzner, Miskovic, Yeo, and P. McNeill, as well as helping to improve the game of the older defensemen (such as Collins, Wellar, and Amadio).  He’s made the community a priority (you know, that whole Helmer’s Heros program?), dove headfirst into charity initiatives (you saw him round up his teammates to shave their heads for children’s cancer, right?), and earned the respect of each of his teammates as well as the thousands of fans in Bears’ Nation. 

True, Helmer is no spring chicken.  Nor is he some young stud prospect that will tear up the AHL and then move on to the NHL.  The fact is, he’s an older defenseman that knows how to win and how to lose.  He has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and enjoys leading the team.  He cares about the history in Hershey and wants nothing more than to continue the traditions and carry out the values on which this organization was founded.  So why haven’t you signed him yet?

Surely, veteran limitations can’t be a factor here.  With Giroux, Wilson, Amadio, and Bacashihua gone that frees up 4 roster spots.  The graduation of another will open up a 5th.  You also can’t blame an overstaffing of D-men in this situation, as 3 defensemen have vacated Hershey (Amadio, Carlson, Alzner). 

Every Bears fan also happens to know that Helmer wants nothing more than to return to Hershey.  We all stood in the crowd as Helmer gave his speech at the Calder Cup celebration and turned to you and said “I would reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeealllllllllllllly like to come back for another year, Doug.”  He loves the team, the organization, the community, the fans, the Giant Center, the local media…

Mr. Yingst, you know as well as I do that Helmer totaled 32 points in 71 games and finished with a + 29 rating for the 2009-2010 regular season.  In the chase for the Calder Cup this past spring/summer – he managed 4 points and a +12 in 21 games.  Last year, in 2008-2009, Bryan tallied 27 points and a +18 rating in 63 games.  For the 2009 Calder Cup run he had 8 points with a -2 rating in 22 games.  For an older player, just looking at the numbers, I don’t see a man running on fumes.  I see a player improving.

So please, Mr. Yingst.  Do the right thing.  Sign Bryan Helmer for another year here in Hershey.  Let him lead the team through what could be one of its toughest years in recent memory (with the loss of so many key players).  Give him the chance to take the reigns and mentor the younger guys into the types of players we so dearly love in Hershey.  After all, when they make it to the NHL, that reflects well on you.

Sincerely,

A full-priced paying 40-game plan season ticket holder (that also buys the full-playoff-run plan as well as preferred parking for both the regular season and playoffs) and the rest of the Rock the Red team.

It's been reported by the Caps that restricted free agent Jeff Schultz re-signed with the team to a 4 year deal worth $11 million. Double-nickle led the league in plus/minus this season, setting a Capitals franchise record along the way (+50). The 6-foot-6 defender was paired with Mike Green most of last season, and truly evolved into a reliable blueliner with strong PK abilities. Schultz's signing echo's Caps' General Manager George McPhee's intent to build from within and reward on (and off) ice excellence.

Restricted Free Agents Eric Fehr and Tomas Fleischmann, who also filed for arbitration, remain the only RFA's unsigned. According to our FA tracker, DC now has approximately $9M of cap space left.

The Washington Capitals announced yesterday that they re-signed restricted free agent Boyd Gordon to a one-year, $800,000 contract. Gordon, 26, did not file for salary arbitration with other RFA's Tomas Fleishmann, Jeff Schultz, and Eric Fehr.

Gordo is the longest tenured member of the Capitals roster, having been selected in the first-round of the 2002 draft (17th overall). He had four goals and six assists in 36 games last season, a year which was plagued by habitual back injuries. A strong face-off man that can play center and right wing, BG finds most of his playing time on the fourth line. He's also the recent topic of a heated debate.

Make the jump to take a look at the rest of the Capitals' free agent class as we stand one week into Free Agency.

If a team can't score it can't win, right? However, does that mean that your defense needs to be Top 5 to win the Cup?

The 2009-2010 season was comparably different for the Capitals organization’s two Gordons.  Boyd Gordon had a difficult year, struggling with back problems and found himself in only 36 regular season games for the Washington Capitals, and tallying only 10 points.  Meanwhile, down in Hershey, Andrew Gordon was having a career best season, playing in all 80 regular season games for the Bears and managing to record 71 points.  However, the playoff roles for the two Gordons were reversed: Boyd suited up for all but 1 game (playing 6 and totaling 2 points), while Andrew missed 4 games with a knee injury (but still managed to play in 17 games, and adding 20 points). 

So, because it’s the offseason, and there isn’t really much else going on, is one Gordon greater than the other?  Do the first initials A. & B. have more meaning than just a shorthand version of their given names?

Wilson has been an integral part of the Bears’ lineup these past few years – perhaps making his biggest impact 3 years ago when he was called up from South Carolina to fill in for the injury-plagued Bears.  Wilson caught fire, and was never returned to the Stingrays.  The 6 foot 200 lb center finished the 2009-2010 season with 24 goals and 29 assists for 53 points.  Hershey will absolutely miss Wilson.  He’s been known to put the team on his back and make things happen when needed (which he especially showcased during the playoffs).

We decided to let the fan vote decide the last Caption Contest, so as promised, here are the winners...

2nd runner up: Michael "ubiquitously named" Smith

Sister "winners don't need nicknames" Ovechkin

"Sorry Sidney, He's mine allllllllllll mine!"

We're presuming that Borque is laying claim to MG52, but as long as we're poking fun at Mrs. Crosby...the fans are onboard. Congratulations to Sister Ovechkin!! Send us your address via one of the convenient buttons top right and we'll send you your autographed Capitals Convention Program (just in time to take with you to October's follow up).

Our runner-ups are entitled to a prize too, so contact us as well, and we'll send you off a couple of RockTheRed.net's new swanky stickers.

The first day of free agency was relatively quiet for the Washington Capitals organization, with only a pair of player moves affecting the teams. Late last night, it was reported that the Hershey Bears’ back up goaltender Jason "Cash" Bacashihua signed with the Colorado Avalanche. In response to losing Bacashuihua yesterday, the Washington signed goalie Dany Sabourin, 29, to a one-year $525,000 contract.

Cash was a true unsung hero for the Bears during his year stint with the team. He never got the minutes he thought he would, and quickly fell in the ranks behind Braden Holtby and Michal Neuvirth. When called on, he deftly defended the crease- winning 17 of his 22 starts (with a .911 Sv %). Most importantly, despite a reduced role within the club he tirelessly supported the younger players constantly offering them his advice. Cash will most likely see more minutes with the Avs' AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, where he started 58 games from 2007 through 2009.

Dany Sabourin, drafted by the Calgary in the 4th round of the 1998 entry draft, is a NHL journey-man, having spent time with the Flames, Penguins, Oilers, Canucks, and Bruins. He spent last season with the Providence Bruins, winning 28 of 56 starts and posting a .915 Sv % and 2.67 GAA. Although quickly falling in ranks to Tuukka Rask, Sabourin will bring experience to a maturing Bears club from his 57 NHL games, most of which came backing up Marc-Andre Fleury during the 2008-10 seasons with the Pens. Of course, there's always the thought that maybe GMGM signed him for his experience in a Winter Classic.

Dany Sabourin, the newest of Bears

Join us, as well as Pensblog, BlackhawksDL, Barry Melrose Rocks, Thrashing the Blues, Couch Tarts, and many others as we blabber on about the mayhem that ensues on the first day of NHL's Free Agency. Sit back, relax, add your two cents, and don't get busted by your boss - we don't have one of thoes nifty "hide me" buttons just yet.

We will be updating the site accordingly as GMGM unveils his plot to take over the world, but this will be your home base. Go Caps!