Langway

Former Washington Capitals defenseman Rod Langway, 37, a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman, signed yesterday with the Richmond Renegades of the East Coast Hockey League.Langway, a seven-time NHL All-Star who hasn't played competitively since the Capitals released him in July 1993, will rejoin a former Washington teammate -- Renegades general manager Craig Laughlin."His ability to teach our young defensemen will help as we get ready for the playoff push," Laughlin told the Richmond (Va.)

Former Washington Capitals defenseman Rod Langway, 37, a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman, signed yesterday with the Richmond Renegades of the East Coast Hockey League.Langway, a seven-time NHL All-Star who hasn't played competitively since the Capitals released him in July 1993, will rejoin a former Washington teammate -- Renegades general manager Craig Laughlin."His ability to teach our young defensemen will help as we get ready for the playoff push," Laughlin told the Richmond (Va.)

Rod Langway could be back in the NHL next season, but it won't be with the Washington Capitals.The Caps released their longtime defenseman yesterday, a formality that ended a turmoil-riddled, yearlong relationship between team and player.Langway, 36, is now free to negotiate with any other club and, according to his agent, there have been serious talks that would give Langway a chance to return to the NHL."Rod will be wearing a team jersey next year," said Mark Barondess, when reached at his office in Tysons Corner, Va.Langway did not return a phone call last night.

Rod Langway could be back in the NHL next season, but it won't be with the Washington Capitals.The Caps released their longtime defenseman yesterday, a formality that ended a turmoil-riddled, yearlong relationship between team and player.Langway, 36, is now free to negotiate with any other club and, according to his agent, there have been serious talks that would give Langway a chance to return to the NHL."Rod will be wearing a team jersey next year," said Mark Barondess, when reached at his office in Tysons Corner, Va.Langway did not return a phone call last night.

The Washington Capitals announced yesterday that defenseman and captain Rod Langway will play at least two more years with the team and will have a place in the front office when he retires.Langway, 34, signed a two-year playing contract yesterday, and Capitals general manager David Poile said his playing status will be reviewed at its conclusion. Poile also said Langway will join the team in a yet-to-be-determined position when he retires."When you build a house, you need a foundation, and Rod has been the foundation that this franchise needed from its inception," Poile said.

LANDOVER -- It wasn't the kind of return to action veteran Washington defenseman Rod Langway had in mind, but it wasn't bad for the first night back, according to Capitals coach Terry Murray.Langway, who was sidelined while deciding whether he would accept a part-time role and then while recovering from knee and shoulder surgery, returned to the lineup for the first time in 30 games Saturday night in a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers."It was frustrating being on the ice for two goals," Langway said of his comeback.

The only thing certain about the future of Washington Capitals captain Rod Langway is that he will have surgery today on his shoulder and knee. What the future holds after that depends on who is doing the talking.Caps general manager David Poile, who told Langway his role with the Caps would be more limited, said he hasn't spoken to Langway since that meeting two weeks ago.Poile said he expects to sit down with the veteran defenseman two orthree weeks after the operations to find out what decision he has come to about continuing his playing career with the Caps.

Washington Capitals defenseman Rod Langway sat at a table at the Piney Orchard Ice Rink in Odenton flanked by general manager David Poile, coach Terry Murray and teammate Kevin Hatcher. He looked out at the bank of television camera crews and reporters and grinned."Gee, I hope you're all not disappointed because I'm not retiring," he said, drawing a laugh.What Langway was doing was handing over the team captaincy to Hatcher. On some NHL teams, captains come and go, but Langway's tenure in the role for the Capitals covers 10 years.

Washington Capitals captain Rod Langway, long the cornerstone of the franchise, has reached the crossroads in his career.During a meeting between Langway, 36, and Capitals general manager David Poile yesterday, Langway was asked to become a part-time player. Until last week in Calgary, Langway, when healthy, never had missed a game in a Caps uniform. Now, he has sat out two of the last three and will not play this weekend."I discussed his role with the club," said Poile. "I told him he may JTC not be playing every game.

Washington Capitals captain Rod Langway, long the cornerstone of the franchise, has reached the crossroads in his career.During a meeting between Langway, 36, and Capitals general manager David Poile yesterday, Langway was asked to become a part-time player. Until last week in Calgary, Langway, when healthy, never had missed a game in a Caps uniform. Now, he has sat out two of the last three and will not play this weekend."I discussed his role with the club," said Poile. "I told him he may not be playing every game.

What do statistics mean, anyway? Anything you want.When Washington coach Terry Murray and goaltender Don Beaupre look at the overall team performance numbers, they see different things.The Capitals basically have had their way with Adams Division Notebookteams (12-5-2), Norris Division teams (10-3-2) and Smythe Division teams (6-4-1). It is only the Patrick Division teams that give them trouble -- 11-18-2."I hope we're mature enough and experienced enough to be beyond the point of not being able to do it whenever we need to do it," Murray said.

Only five weeks ago, Rod Langway handed the captain's "C", which he had worn on his uniform for 10 years, to teammate Kevin Hatcher. Yesterday, he said he was taking an early vacation and announced he "will no longer be a playing member" of the Washington Capitals.Of course, Langway attached a rider to the statement. He will take the next two months to access his physical condition and determine if he still can contribute on the ice -- either for the Capitals or another team."I just look at it as my playing career is over right now," Langway said.

Washington Capitals defenseman Rod Langway sat at a table at the Piney Orchard Ice Rink in Odenton flanked by general manager David Poile, coach Terry Murray and teammate Kevin Hatcher. He looked out at the bank of television camera crews and reporters and grinned."Gee, I hope you're all not disappointed because I'm not retiring," he said, drawing a laugh.What Langway was doing was handing over the team captaincy to Hatcher. On some NHL teams, captains come and go, but Langway's tenure in the role for the Capitals covers 10 years.

LANDOVER -- It wasn't the kind of return to action veteran Washington defenseman Rod Langway had in mind, but it wasn't bad for the first night back, according to Capitals coach Terry Murray.Langway, who was sidelined while deciding whether he would accept a part-time role and then while recovering from knee and shoulder surgery, returned to the lineup for the first time in 30 games Saturday night in a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers."It was frustrating being on the ice for two goals," Langway said of his comeback.

LANDOVER -- Washington Capitals center Michal Pivonka was on his game last night, which was fortunate for the Capitals, who did not want a repeat of the Philadelphia folly that occurred two days earlier.What Washington needed was a strong comeback after the six-goal loss to the Flyers. And they got it. Pivonka was involved in the Capitals first three goals."This was a big improvement from Wednesday night," said Capitals coach Terry Murray, who could find little fault with a 4-3 victory over Edmonton.

The life of Washington Capitals coach Terry Murray wa simplified yesterday, when a talk with defenseman Rod Langway revealed the veteran needs another two weeks of conditioning and healing before beginning his part-time role.Finding that out made it possible for Murray to make a full two-week commitment to defenseman Jason Woolley, who was recalled from the Skipjacks yesterday. Woolley will be playing in his first Capitals game tonight since breaking his wrist Oct. 12 in New Jersey.The Capitals face the New York Rangers in the Capital Centre in a battle for second place in the Patrick Division.

Veteran defenseman Rod Langway is staying with the Washington Capitals and right wing Tim Bergland is going to the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning along with defenseman Shawn Chambers.That was the story for the Capitals last night, as the expansion draft to stock the Lightning and the Ottawa Senators was held in Montreal.Langway, one of 17 Washington players available in the draft, had said he would retire if chosen by Tampa Bay or Ottawa.Capitals general manager David Poile said last night he was delighted that Langway, 35, would be back for an 11th season with the team.

Veteran defenseman Rod Langway and right wing Tim Bergland might not be with the Washington Capitals by late tonight. They top a list of 17 players the Caps have made available in the NHL expansion draft, which starts at 6 p.m. in Montreal.The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Ottawa Senators will stock their teams with at 6 p.m. in Montreal. Langway, 35, and Bergland, 27, top a list of 17 players the Capitals have made available to the two expansion teams.Washington figures to lose one defenseman and one forward in the draft.

The only thing certain about the future of Washington Capitals captain Rod Langway is that he will have surgery today on his shoulder and knee. What the future holds after that depends on who is doing the talking.Caps general manager David Poile, who told Langway his role with the Caps would be more limited, said he hasn't spoken to Langway since that meeting two weeks ago.Poile said he expects to sit down with the veteran defenseman two orthree weeks after the operations to find out what decision he has come to about continuing his playing career with the Caps.

LANDOVER -- It was hard to distinguish the expansion team from the veteran playoff team last night at the Capital Centre.The Tampa Bay Lightning didn't look like the typical expansion punching bag to Washington Capitals coach Terry Murray, either."