[Ed Note: We had a severe server reversal of fortune, so are re-posting this from Friday. We hope to be back to normal sometime this week. Thank you for your patience!]

By now I am sure that you've read all about the hub-bub's and whats-it's from last nights' NHL Awards gala which took place at The Palms in Las Vegas. Unfortunately for us, Rock the Red was knee deep in moving to our own dedicated server (take THAT unwanted delays!) and couldn't provide you with up-to-the minute reporting on Jamie Kennedy's mispronuciations, Martin St. Louis' appreciation of technology or Tyler Myers speech in which he channeled Sally "You like me, you really like me" Field. So here we go, as only RtR can do it... your 30 second recap in haiku.

Make the jump to see the Prose and Cons. See what we did there? No?

Dino Ciccarelli joins Cammi Granto and Angela James in the player category, along with Jimmy Devellano and Doc Seaman in the builder category, as the NHL's HOF class for 2010.  Ciccarelli joined in the Caps in March of 1989 when he was traded by the North Stars with Bob Rouse in exchange for Mike Gartner and Larry Murphy. A member of the Caps from 1988 through 1992, he adding 112 goals and 97 assists to his career totals of 608 goals and 1,200 points while playing in the Nation's Capital.  Dino paved the way for career garbage-men (a la Mike Knuble), using his pint size to notch his goals - including 12 in his first 11 games as a Cap. He was very successful in his 3 seasons with Washington, having a 41 goal and 38 goal season (and a injury-shortened 21 goal season) before being traded in 1992.

Dino was considered a long-shot to enter the hall, having been on the ballot since 2002, mostly due to "character issues" such as off-ice altercations with the media, attacking a player with his stick during a game, poor clothing choices while retrieving the newspaper, and a fabled limo ride through Georgetown with scantily clad women. However, his on the ice contributions could not be ignored. He, along with Dave Andreychuk, were the only eligible 600-goal scorers not yet elected to the hall. Ciccarelli currently ranks 16th on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.

Last week the always-cryptic General Manager of the Washington Capitals, George McPhee, stated that “3 or 4 players here [in Hershey] are going to be on our team [the Capitals] next year.” So who are those 3 or 4?  Of course, it’s assumed that Karlznerson will be rocking the red.  You may also consider Michal Neuvirth another one to be calling the DC Metro area home in 2010-2011 season (barring circumstance with Jose Theodore's negotiations).  Supposing we have hypothesized correctly about the first 3 players, a 4th spot on the Caps' roster remains available for the taking.

Now, development and training camps are weeks away- and the free agency market has yet to open up.  If things were to stay as they are *this very second*, who would be that 4th player to graduate to the show?

Make the jump to take a look at the pro's and con's of a few possible candidates.

Apparently the NHL's offseason trading frenzy has begun! Late Friday we saw the Montreal Canadiens ship post-season stud goaltender Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues for a handful of prospects. Then, over the weekend we saw more movement as the Nashville Predators had a yard sale, trading the rights to Dan Hamhuis, the coveted free agent defenseman, to the Philadelphia Flyers for blueliner Ryan Parent and Jason Arnott to the New Jersey Devils for Matt Halischuk and a second-round pick.

Through all of this the Caps' General Manager George McPhee kept a steady course, not hinting at moves he planned on making prior to the looming open to the free agent signing period. It's definitely a tricky line to toe, as not only does GMGM need to find the missing piece to raise DC's play- he has to make sure that the sacrifices made to bring it in are at the right cost.

While we are not trying to flood the airwaves with rumors in the same vein as Brodeur-for-Semin, Sharp, Hjarmalsson, Huet, and Huet's huge cap hit-for-Semin and a 2nd rounder, and Boudreau-for-Joe Jonas, I feel that the following four Caps would most benefit the squad if they started the 2010 season on another team.

Ready to make a deal? Make the jump!

The Washington Capitals free agent picture continues to clear as Tarik El-Bashir of Capitals Insider informed us yesterday that although the Caps and defenseman Shaone Morrisonn have been in contact, there have not been any contract negotiations between the two. If the Caps were not to return Morrisonn to the roster not only would they be able to free up $1.975M in salary cap space, but also free up room on the bench to call up Karl Alzner or make a pass at another free agent blueliner.

That, and cut down on the number of boarding penalties the team takes in a season.

Your look at the rest of the Capitals' free agent class as we inch closer to free agent signing period which opens on July 1st:

While we have posted this picture of the shirtless Mike Green and Chris Bourque combo before, it sadly didn't make the jump in our archives when we joined the Bloguin network- but their loss is your gain! In celebration of C-Bo's Jack A. Butterfield Trophy winning performance throughout the Calder Cup, we wanted to offer our readers the chance to win a Bourque autographed program from the inaugural Capitals Convention! How do I win, you ask? Here's all the information you need:

Leave us a caption for this picture recalling the bromantical afternoon filled with spring-time toplessness, sunglasses guaranteed to offer the same UV protection as Saran Wrap, and hats "broke off" to a 45 degree angle. A winner will be chosen next Friday, the 2nd, at which point we will mail the winner their prize ('cause we're nice guys like that). And since we have nifty + and - buttons within our comments section, help us decide who should win by voting others' comments "up" or "down." Well, whaddaya waiting for? Enter today!

It's no secret that we dig the playoff beard. It's also no secret that the Hershey Bears, in their quest for their AHL-best 11th Calder Cup championship, grew some of the fearcest beards this side of a vuvuzela.  It's debatable whose crumb-catcher reigned supreme but among the top was Alexandre Giroux, who has the abilities to cultivate a 5 o'clock shadow by 9 in the morning. Make the jump to follow Giroux's three-month follicular adventure, where he ventured from baby-faced forward to a worthy stand in for Lemmy from Motorhead.

Girounameaux!

Tuesday night was a good-bye of sorts for Hershey Bears’ fans.  About 5,000 people filtered in to Giant Center one last time before summer break to show their appreciation for all of the accomplishments of this year’s Hershey Bears Team.  The Calder Cup Celebration has become an expected event for fans like myself, who have now attended 3 of such celebrations in the last 5 years.  There event is always emceed by John Walton, the voice of the Bears, and features speeches from GM Doug Yingst, Head Coach Mark French, and Captain Brian Helmer.  After the speeches are said and the fans are riled, the Cup is passed through the crowd on the floor.  A 2 hour autograph session follows, with each and every player available to sign items, take pictures, or just say hello.

Although I had a difficult angle to take pics at the celebration (and the obstacle of people much taller than me), I managed to get off a few shots of the players taking the stage.  After you’ve seen my photos, hop on over to Penn Live to check out the pictures taken by Chris Knight of the Patriot News.

John Walton readies the crowd for the players. If you're ready, make the jump to see the pictures!

Monday night the Hershey Bears extended their dominance over the AHL, winning their second straight Calder Cup championship - and 11th in franchise history. Giant Center was loud, the boys from Chocolatetown played hard, and their end-of-game celebration was well deserved. Much like RMNB, I wanted to share the pictures of my experience with the readers. Excitement of players realizing their dreams is hard to capture in a single frame - but it was well worth the try. Enjoy!

Make the jump to see the rest of the pictures!