Center Eric Belanger, now a former Washington Capital, signed a one-year free agent contract with the Phoenix Coyotes for $750,000 Tuesday.  The deal surprised a lot of folks after early-summer rumors of his return to D.C. 

Apparently, the whole thing surprised Belanger and his agent as well, as they believed they had a verbal agreement for a one-year, $1.85 million contract.

Belanger, and his representitive Joe Tacopina, believes the Caps backed out of a deal because they were not able to complete a trade they wanted to make before announcing Belanger's signing.

First, as any lawyer will tell you, a deal is not a deal until it's a deal.

Second, thank goodness whatever the hold up was happened, since it saves the Caps a ton on salary cap room.

It's easy to understand Belanger's frustration, since he already found a house to rent and put his kids in school in the area.  It's a tough business some times.  But his agent really is at fault here, allowing his client to make those arrangements absent a signed, announced deal. 

It's the agent's responsibility to protect his client, not the organization.

Belanger misses the opportunity to play for a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, but will probably spend time on Phoenix' top line and power-play unit, so he has a chance to put up some numbers and have another payday next off-season.  Just don't expect his agent to solicit any offers from George McPhee.

According to this report by James Mirtle, the "mystery team" that signed C Eric Belanger is indeed the team he last played for, the Washington Capitals, to a one-year, $1.85 million contract.  The salary is a slight raise from the $1.75 million Belanger made last season. 

The report also says the reason Belanger was instructed not to reveal the team was that Washington did not want him to announce it for fear of complicating another deal they had in the works, potentially moving a forward in exchange for a defenseman.

Belanger had 15 goals and 26 assists in 77 games last season between Minnesota and D.C.

The report also links the Caps with free agent D Willie Mitchell yet again, who has recovered from his concussion sustained at the end of last season.  Mitchell remains another possibility to bolster the Caps devensive corps.

The Belanger deal certainly opens up the idea once again that C/RW Tomas Fleischmann could be the moving part in this equation.  Flash had moments of brilliance last season shrouded in a fog of playing a new position and the extended Olympic break. 

But the memory of his complete disappearance in the opening round loss to the Montreal Canadiens has to linger in the mind of GM George McPhee and Coach Bruce Boudreau.

McPhee did well by signing Fleischmann before arbitration to protect his asset, but Flash seems to have fallen into a "square peg" situation, much like Michael Nylander before him.  Both players are obviously talented, but either misfit for the style or position asked of him.

Coach Bruce Boudreau succinctly summed up the entire story of the Washington Capitals 2-0 win over the New York Rangers tonight, when asked what he thought of goalie Jose Theodore's performance.

"I thought he was by far our best player," Boudreau said.

Theodore was challenged all night by the normally anemic Ranger attack, and New York managed to get 30 pucks on net.  On the few occasions was Theodore forced to work especially hard, and he was up to the task all night.

Theodore's biggest save came in the second period with the Caps clinging to a 1-0 lead at the time. 

Shaone Morrisonn accidentally sent the puck right to New York's Brandon Dubinsky in the slot, and Theodore neatly turned away the backhander.

Theodore was surprised, but was in good position to make the save.

"Sometimes [things] happen pretty quick out there.  Next thing I knew [Dubinsky] was all alone.  I was able to get a pad on it and keep it out of the net."

"As a goalie, there is not a better feeling than when you bail one of your friends out of trouble like that.”

"That was definitely a turning point," Boudreau said. "Any time they were putting pressure on us, Jose would get it, and he would stop it, and he would not let a rebound go tonight. And that's, I think, the key to his game. He's brimming with confidence. We hope he can keep it."

General Manager George McPhee made four trades at the deadline, but none to acquire goaltending help.  He took criticism in some circles for the decision, but Theodore is, apparently very quietly, putting together one of his very impressive runs.

Since Jan. 13, Theodore has been simply excellent.  His record is 12-0-2 with a 2.38 GAA and .929 save percentage. 

"During the break, we were taking a lot about playing solid defensive hockey," Theodore said.  "In the playoffs that's how you win games."

Other Highlights:

• Eric Fehr scored the first goal of the game, his second in consecutive games, giving him 17 on the season.  Asked about the influx of new players, he said, "You gotta contribute if you want to stay in."
• The second goal was scored by newcomer Eric Belanger, who centered Alexander Semin and Brooks Laich tonight, sending Brendan Morrison to the press box.  "I've been in the league nine-ten years now," Belanger said.  "I know there's going to be a lot of different line combinations and hopefully we can find one where I fit well."
• Belanger's goal was set up by a beautiful cross-ice, no-look pass from Semin to Laich, who then hit a cutting Belanger.
• The win stretches the Caps club-record home winning streak to 13 games.
• Alex Ovechkin continued his scoring drought, now up to six games.  Nicklas Backstrom has a five-game scoreless streak.
• Joe Corvo had an assist and logged 2:14 of ice time.
• For Theodore, the shutout is the 29th of his NHL career and his first since March 17 at Florida. Saturday’s shutout was the first of Theodore’s career against the Rangers.
• The Caps are now 25-3-3 on Verizon Center ice this season.
• Washington was 1-4 on the power play and killed both penalies against.
• The video board played tributes to former Caps all night, celebrating the franchise's 35th anniversary. The Caps wore 35th Anniversary patches on the red jerseys and were auctioned after the game.
• It was also "Pick-a-Stick" night for charity.  For $65 fans were able to pick out a stick and the autograph was revealed. There were 200 sticks, however, there were at least 800 people in line by 6:15pm. $13,000 was raised for Caps charities.

Several sources report that the Caps have acquired Eric Belanger, 32-year old centerman from Minnesota, for a second round pick.

Belanger has 13 goals and 22 assists with 28 PIM in 60 games for the Wild this season.

Depending on further deals, Belanger will figure to slide into the third line center spot with the Caps.