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Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:53 pm EST

Capitals Web editor will play backup goalie against Sens

By Greg Wyshynski

Pretty amazing story coming out of DC tonight: With Jose Theodore out with a hip flexor, the Washington Capitals are turning to Web site producer Brett Leonhardt as their emergency backup goalie tonight for Brent Johnson against the Ottawa Senators.

Brett, who at 6-7 is aptly nicknamed "Stretch" around the Capitals staff, is scheduled to take warm-ups and will be on the bench for the start of the game. Simeon Varlamov, one of the Capitals' top goaltending prospects, is expected in town tonight and could relieve Leonhardt of backup duties during the first intermission.

Something important to consider: Johnson is battling a nagging hip problem, and almost left the team's last game against Boston.

Leonhardt is a former Div. III goalie with Neumann College Knights, and Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post reports the Caps had to get the NHL's permission for this to happen and that Brett signed an amateur tryout contract to make this happen.

The Caps tell us Leonhardt's going to wear No. 80. Go win those bar bets, DC fans.

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57 Comments

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  1. Journeyman
    1. Posted by Journeyman Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Playing against the Sens should be pretty comparable to Div. III college hockey.
  2. .................................................!
    2. Posted by .................................................! Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    I'm also the back-up back-up back-up left winger to the back-up left-winger tonight.
  3. Katebits
    3. Posted by Katebits Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    Wow! I love this!
  4. carl_vs_mastershake
    4. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    I'd give him a C++
  5. Bubbabanjo
    5. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Man that is awesome. Only in hockey! Is it April.....I feel like a fool buyin this?
    I hope Johnson lands on that hip so hge gets in the game. This is like old time hockey coach. Put on the foil!
    Wyshynski you stink!
  6. darren m
    6. Posted by darren m Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    Whoever nicknamed this guy "Stretch" is probably that same genius in the Caps organization who came up with the stunningly original "Alexander the Great."
    It just makes me curious as to what they call Alex Semin behind the scenes.
  7. rwl060
    7. Posted by rwl060 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    @Journeyman:
    As much as I have always liked the Sens organization, I cannot disagree with that assessment.
  8. Caroline
    8. Posted by Caroline Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT

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    Wow, what a story. How exciting that must be for him!
  9. Donald B
    9. Posted by Donald B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    Amateurs seem to always sneak onto Theodore's ice.
  10. Zorro caliente
    10. Posted by Zorro caliente Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:23 pm EDT

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    There's hope for u Wysh! With Broduer out...naa, I don't think u're allowed to wear sunglasses behind that mask hahah. PS. u stink :)
    PPS. Can't we all just get along? Hahaha take that Les Bian!
  11. ScottyWazz
    11. Posted by ScottyWazz Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    As a former student at Neumann College for two semesters, I'm glad to see someone from that god-forsaken hell hole make a name for themselves.
    In fact, there was a rumor/gag going around that the school was going to change their name to Franciscan University and the team name would be the Catholic Knights. Couldn't wait to see the Franciscan University Catholic Knights take the ice in a blaze of glory.
  12. Caps
    12. Posted by Caps Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:18 pm EDT

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    Just give Clint Marlachuk an amateur contract; word is he's taking shots before practice too.
  13. Caps
    13. Posted by Caps Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:18 pm EDT

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    Malarchuk*
  14. Boostedsm
    14. Posted by Boostedsm Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    Would it be too much for the kid to say "common coach, just one series?"
  15. Mike C
    15. Posted by Mike C Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:13 pm EDT

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    Sweet. Simply sweet. Even if it's just to buy time while their newly-called up goalie arrives, I think that it's a good thing.
    However, as far as I know, the Caps would have to take a bench minor penalty to add the other goalie into the roster. Or does that apply only if the Caps don't add the other goalie's name on the roster before the game?
  16. twoeightnine
    16. Posted by twoeightnine Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    How does this work in regards to the cap and contracts? Or is that too serious of a question.
  17. brosecki
    17. Posted by brosecki Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Now I just have to decide who to drop to get this guy in my fantasy league...
  18. iahoooooooooooo
    18. Posted by iahoooooooooooo Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:03 pm EDT

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    the nickname alexander the great didnt come up in washington, he was called that since he started to play in russia, even before moving to nhl, he was considered as alexander gr8 :o
  19. Full Metal
    19. Posted by Full Metal Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    nhl 09 glitch
  20. Darth P
    20. Posted by Darth P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    I really hope they put him in for a minute or two - maybe if the Caps get a power play or something. Either way, the guy's going to have a story to tell for the rest of his life.
  21. Sledge Longfellow
    21. Posted by Sledge Longfellow Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    If this guy is any good, I wonder if Theodore gets the Hell's Angels to break his ankles with pool cues.
  22. Josh T
    22. Posted by Josh T Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:43 pm EDT

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    Hopefully he's been eating some Rold Gold pretzels like the old commercial.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSUAMpCHNgs
  23. twoeightnine
    23. Posted by twoeightnine Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    Leave it to the Bogger to give us the details. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/12/meet_the_caps_new_goalie.html
  24. Garth the Hoser
    24. Posted by Garth the Hoser Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    @Carl:
    If you don't win a Wyshaward for the "C++" comment there oughta be an investigation.
    Classic.
  25. John
    25. Posted by John Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    that's cool

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