Off Wing Opinion: Capitals Notebook

Off Wing Opinion: Capitals Notebook:

Funny, but that sounds a lot like what you might expect to hear from the head coach of an NFL team justifying the release of a popular veteran player. Lou was over a barrel and he knew it. Guess Caps GM George McPhee was simply making the best offer. That Lamoriello waited this long to deal Friesen was probably because he wanted to hold out for the best deal possible.

And that pretty much sums up Jeff Friesen. Drafted 11th overall to some controversy over placing. Friesen became a fan favorite in San Jose for his work ethic and intensity, and his almost too-honest public comments about himself; nobody was a bigger critic of Friesen than he was.

Unfortunately? I think he was drafted too high — his career in the NHL is fine by any standard, except for someone drafted in the top third of the first round. So in San Jose, there was a feeling he never quite lived up to his potential (I think he did; I think he never lived up to his draft position). With his salary to some degree driven by being a high first rounder, he’s one of those players that (a) ultimately seem to be available, (b) end up being traded to a team that sees his upside, and (c) once he gets to his new team, they found out that Jeff Friesen is — Jeff Friesen. Which is pretty good, but Friesen makes people believe he’s capable of more; after all, there aren’t many people in the league that outwork him.

And so Friesen seems to be one of those players that moves around — good enough that people want to trade for him, not good enough that they end up feeling the need to keep him. His value as a trade asset is higher than his value on the roster; especially now, where some teams have more salary flexibility than others.

That may well turn into how Friesen is remembered around the league. A good player by any definition — but left iwth a general feeling that he should have been even better.

One can only wonder what his career might have been if he’d been drafted in the bottom third of the first round (a more appropriate place for him, IMHO) — and the changed expectations that would have brought. (for another example of this problem, take a look at Radek Bonk).

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