Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Knuble Signs Two-Year Deal With Caps

The Capitals got the gritty top six forward they wanted, inking Mike Knuble to a two-year, $5.6-million deal, according to TSN.

Knuble scored 27 goals and 20 assists with Philadelphia last year, as the Toronto native is a forward who goes to the net and gives the Caps the type of forward they needed during the postseason.

The forward, who turns 37 on Saturday, has scored at least 20 goals in his last six seasons, potting a career-high of 34 in 2005-06 with Philadelphia. He also had two goals and an assist in six games during Philly's loss to the Penguins in the first round.

He also had three goals and three assists in Philadelphia's first-round win against the Caps in the 2008 playoffs, and also scored the game-winner in overtime of Game 4.

Knuble is averaging 21.5 goals per season in 820 career games, and also has 21.4 assists per season, and combining for 56 goals and 56 assists in his last two regular seasons in which he played all 82 games. He also has spent time with the Rangers, Red Wings, Bruins and Flyers.

In other Caps news, Donald Brashear signed a two-year deal with the Rangers for $2.8 million per season per TSN, and now will head to the team that he earned a six-game suspension against in Game 6 of the first round.
Posted by Ted Starkey at 2:55 PM
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2 comments:

  1. Ted -- psyched about Knuble. He's a mature and proven version of what I expect Brooks to become. I thought Guerin was a necessary p/u at the deadline, but McPhee and Bouds are so enamored of the young talent that sometimes I worry they can't see/taste the Cup. My philosophy is -- whatever it takes to get us over the hump. Philly proved in the 07-08 campaign that we weren't tough enough. Crosby proved that time and again in front of our net this go-round. Would have loved to have seen us get a tough Dman to say, "Welcome to Washington, Mr. Crosby. How's the view of Verizon from your keester?"
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  2. Ryan-

    I agree on Guerin, I felt the Caps missed on a golden opportunity to get a veteran gritty forward cheap for the playoff drive, and all signs pointed were the Capitals were the team when the deal fell apart and the Isles eventually settled on the Pens as a trading partner - which of course burned the Caps.

    Knuble is exactly what they needed up front, as my one quibble with Bruce Boudreau is putting Ovechkin at the point on the power play since he's one of the few guys to crash the net - although Knuble's presence makes that a non-issue now.
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