Martin Erat

Capitals legend Martin Erat officially announces retirement

Martin Erat, an Olympic bronze medalist and one of the greatest hockey players in Nashville Predators history, has officially retired. The Czech forward was also part of the most controversial trade in Washington Capitals history, which many fans regard as the franchise’s worst.

After spending one season in the KHL and his last four in the Czech Extraliga playing for HC Kometa Brno, Erat, at age 38, has opted to spend more time with his family.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Martin Erat has retired

Martin Erat, part of the most controversial trade in Washington Capitals history, has officially retired.

After three years of playing in the Czech Extraliga for HC Kometa Brno, Erat, at age 37, has thrown in the towel. His transfer to retirement was tweeted out by EP Transfers on Thursday morning.

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By Cara Bahniuk 4 years ago

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Former Capital Martin Erat will captain Czech Republic Olympic team

Early Monday, the Czech Republic announced their roster for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

While hockey legend Jaromir Jagr was not extended an invite, the Czech Republic national team will feature several players with NHL experience, including two who used to play for the Capitals.

Former Caps forward Martin Erat will captain the Czechs while former Capitals and Hershey Bears stalwart Tomáš Kundrátek was named one of eight defensemen to the team.

Other notables include Michal Jordan, who played 78 games for the Carolina Hurricanes over three NHL seasons, and Roman Cervenka (39 games for the Calgary Flames in 2013).

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By Ian Oland 5 years ago

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David Poile tried to talk Martin Erat out of trade demand ‘for basically two or three weeks’ before landing Filip Forsberg

With the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup Final, we are now learning even more context behind the worst trade in Capitals history.

From PK Subban to James Neal, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston spoke to David Poile about all the big trades the Predators general manager has made to push the team over the top. That includes the April 3, 2013 swap with Washington for offensive dynamo Filip Forsberg.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Sportsnet just burned Caps fans so bad with this Filip Forsberg stat

Congrats to Pontus Aberg of the Nashville Predators for scoring his first career playoff goal on Saturday night. Aberg was assisted by Preds star Filip Forsberg, which gave Sportsnet an opportunity to twist the knife in Caps fans just a little deeper.

Ugggggggh.

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By Peter Hassett 6 years ago

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To All the Caps I’ve Loved Before

There’s really no need to read this piece. Your life will be no better for having read what’s below. Your life might actually get worse. You should probably stop right now.

(Last chance.)

So the Caps have freed some players over the last few years, and it feels like all of them have turned into beautiful hockey butterflies. The team had good reasons to trade or release some guys; others… not so much. In this still very young season, those hockey butterflies are playing so good it’s like they’re trying to make you jealous. Well, it’s not going to work, hockey butterflies.

Okay, yeah, it is.

I’m gonna take a peek around the league, in a totally non-Facebook-stalker-y way, just to see how certain ex-Caps forwards are doing in their new homes. Pretty freaking well, it turns out. Starting with prospect-bust-turned-Calder-standout Filip Forsberg, lemme run down who has moved on and how they’re doing.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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BAP Golf: The Saddest Hockey Cards You’ll Ever See

As a kid (and definitely definitely not as an adult), I was a collector of hockey cards. I took pride in my Capitals collection. Like, I have every Pat Peake card ever made, and I don’t even care what you think.

The other night I was cleaning up my office downstairs and I noticed the above card of still Capitals coach Adam Oates, which I had completely forgotten. Please note that’s not Oatesy swinging a hockey stick – that’s a golf club. And he’s also wearing those high-waisted jeans again.

This card was produced by Be A Player (now owned by In the Game), which was a wildly popular brand of trading cards back in the day because it included so many autographs in their sets. I thought Be A Player would become one of the titans in the industry, but I can tell you when things started to go very, very wrong: in 2002-03 when they produced these hideous golf card inserts.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Marty Erat Scores, Of Course He Did, Why Wouldn’t He, Isn’t That Just GREAT (Video)

This is an image of Martin Erat, a professional hockey player, after scoring a “goal.”

Capitals pariah Martin Erat was shipped out of town— at his request— at the trade deadline. Disappointing everyone with his performance in Washington since the Filip Forsberg trade in April of 2013, Erat never really found a spot in the Caps lineup. (Or maybe he just got limited ice time, weaker linemates, and a rigid coach who didn’t exploit his talents, but that’s neither here nor there.)

Erat scored just one goal in 2013-14 as a Capital– an empty netter right before the Olympic break. If you count own goals, make it two. Oof.

So what did we think would happen once he got out of town? Of course he would score. Of. Freaking. Course. That’s just freaking priceless.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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(Photo: Mark Buckner)

Coming into the 2014 NHL trade deadline, some fans feared Caps general manager George McPhee would make a drastic move in the hopes of securing a playoff spot. Instead, he made three reasonable ones. The Caps got better this year without harming themselves in the future.

The biggest deal was the final one, with the Caps sending Michal Neuvirth and the newly acquired Rostislav Klesla to the Buffalo Sabres for Caps killer Jaroslav Halak and a third-round pick.

“I think we start with Neuvirth, and he wasn’t happy being a number two,” McPhee told reporters at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. “We tried to accommodate him. We brought in an experienced guy. I think it’s an upgrade on the tandem which is what we wanted to accomplish.”

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By Chris Gordon 9 years ago

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The Last Photo You’ll Ever See of Michal Neuvirth and Martin Erat as Capitals

Photo: @a0gr8

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin just shared the last photo you’ll ever see of Michal Neuvirth and Martin Erat as Capitals.

“Last dinner with boys, and they gone!!” Ovi wrote on Instagram. “Good luck to them, and welcome new players to the team!” Neuvy is now off to Buffalo, where more playing time and opportunity await, and Erat to Phoenix, where at least it’s warmer.

By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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