We were reminded of Jonathan’s hockey fandom a week or so ago, when he lobbed in a comment (below) on the apology post that Ted Leonsis wrote on his site. And he didn’t use an alias. We love full disclosure. Hockey + media plays into our sweet spots and this is the first in a series of 5v5 Q&As we’ll do with DC journalists. The rules are simple, five questions plus an OT and shootout, to be answered in five minutes. We yield the floor.

1. Take us back to your early days as a young Caps fan. How did you get into the game, what are some of your earliest Caps memories and who were some of your favorite players?

“In 2nd Grade, my friend got some stick hockey equipment as a gift. The first time I played in his driveway, I knew it was my sport. It was just more fun than all the other sports I had played. As a sports fan, I’m a total homer. So growing up in Northern Virginia outside DC rooting for the Caps was a no brainer. Peter Bondra was my favorite player for a long time — I love the goal scorers.

Later in life, my wife and I got season tickets for a couple of years. The Sergei Federov goal to beat the Rangers 2-1 in Game 7 in 2009 is one of my all time favorite Caps moments because I was there for that one. The crowd was roaring!”

2. Did you ever play hockey as a kid or in school? If not, might you have any interest in joining our new adult league? We’re filling out the roster with ex-smokers who’ve undergone joint replacement. Are you in?

“I did play growing up, in high school at Lake Braddock and in college at Wheaton College in Illinois. I have been playing off and on in an adult league at Fairfax Ice Rink where I worked in high school.”

3. You wrote a tough response to Ted Leonsis’ “Apology and Empathy” post:

It was reported that you were one of the “hard-liners” in the negotiations. I never saw a response from you to that, and you didn’t address it here in this post. Is there any truth to the notion that relative to the median position among owners, you wanted to hold out longer than most? If that’s true, can you explain your thinking? Especially since we were robbed of seeing most of a season of Ovechkin’s prime?  Sincerely,  Jonathan Strong

What else would you like to say to Ted about the recent troubles? What would you say to Bettman and Fehr?

“Personally, I found the lockout outrageous. As I understand it, the players made significant concessions in the last round and this time the owners wanted a lot more — despite the fact that the league was doing very well financially. It’s pathetic that Garry Bettman has presided over this amount of turmoil over contracts. And it hurts the sport.

Ted Leonsis has been a great owner of the Caps. I’ve met him, heard him speak about his five keys to happiness, and pinged him for some hockey stories I wrote as a reporter for the Daily Caller. So I was shocked when it was reported that he was one of the “hard-liners” in the negotiations among the owners who would rather cancel the season than strike a bad deal. The thought that our own owner was part of the reason we were missing a season of Alex Ovechkin’s prime was pretty tough to swallow.

At the time I wrote the comment, Leonsis still hadn’t addressed this allegation, which was first reported in October. On Friday, Leonsis did respond, downplaying his role in the negotiations. Leonsis said, “I think one reporter said I was a hard-liner, which I had to laugh at,” and that an unnamed person told him “you were really nice. You’re not a hard-liner.” He also said his role in the negotiations was minimal, and that what he was pushing for was “a 50-50 deal and a 10-year deal.”

I am glad he responded, but as a cynical reporter the response didn’t seem all that airtight to me. He never really said “it’s not true,” if you read it closely. What I’d really like to see is some of the hockey reporters do more substantive work on what happened behind the scenes, so we’ll see if that comes out.”

4. As 2012 was winding down, the CBA negotiators were banging heads in NYC and the Hill and WH were thrashing each other during the fiscal cliff debate. What were the common elements between the two fights?

Both sides are only interested in getting what they want, but since the debate is playing out in public they go to great lengths to appear “reasonable.” The more reasonable-looking side tends to have the public with them, which is leverage for getting what you want.

5. Caps fans have plenty of rivals to hate on. What team do you love seeing fall to the Capitals and why?

Growing up I saw the Penguins beat the Caps in the playoffs over and over again. I would get in trouble if you printed the things I say privately about that team and its players (especially Crosby).

OT: You’re George McPhee. Who are some Caps you would trade away, and for who in return?

Tough question. As much as I love the guy, I think you might want to look at what people are offering for Mike Green. I think he’s a player that’s extremely talented and exciting to watch, but may not be as helpful to the team winning as another player you could get for him.

Shootout: Fast forward to the spring. The Caps are locked in a tough playoff series while the debt ceiling negotiations are going on. What’s on your TV at work – C-SPAN or Comcast Sports?

“Comcast, of course!”

Anyone who follows the New Jersey Devils knows Ken Daneyko. 

Dano was the second draft pick in team history (1982 Draft, First Round, 18th overall) and went on to play in the NHL for 20 seasons, all with the New Jersey Devils. He retired after winning his third Stanley Cup in 2003. 

Dano’s grit and hard-nosed game, along with his dedication to the team, earned him the nickname “Mr. Devil”.  His #3 jersey was retired in 2006. Nowadays, Daneyko appears on MSG (a New York area sports network) as an analyst during Devils’ games (pre- and post-game as well as between periods) as well as a panelist on MSG’s weekly roundtable program, “Hockey Night Live.”

When not on camera, Ken involves himself in many local charities, including hosting The Ken Daneyko Golf Classic supporting The Center for Great Expectations. 

After the jump, the interview.

Brian: The Devils have five days between games this week.  When you had that long a stretch between games, how’d you fill the non-practice time?  Do the players nowadays do the same?

Ken: Nothing really different than any off day. We would have practice and then time to spend with the family. Pretty sure it is the same today.

Brian: By starting Johan Hedberg in the season’s second game, Coach DeBoer seemed to say that he was reducing Brodeur’s workload this season.  Now Brodeur is out a week rehabbing his shoulder.  How many games do you think Brodeur starts this season?  He’s always seemed to thrive on the big workload.  Do you think it’s good for him (and the team) that he’s getting more rest?

Ken: I absolutely think it is good for him to get more rest this season. With 2 veteran goaltenders and one as good as Hedberg, it gives you the luxury of resting Marty. With the pace of the game these days and Marty’s age, your backup goaltender has to play much more in my opinion. I think Marty is at the point in his career that he understands that.
 
Brian: Kovalchuk’s playing a lot of minutes (partly due to the Devils playing in several overtime games, but mostly because he’s double-shifting a ton) – can he keep this 27 minute/game pace up?

Ken: I don’t think he is going to play 27 plus minutes all season long; however he is a horse and very capable of logging top minutes for most of the season.

With his talent level I believe you want him to play as much as his body allows. That will be monitored by Coach Deboer.

Brian: There’s been a lot of buzz around Adam Larsson – the Devils haven’t had that high a pick in the draft since Niedermayer in ’91.  DeBoer’s kept him off the PK to try to limit the amount the 18 year-old has on the ice.  How do you think Larsson’s handling things, on and off the ice?

Ken: I think he is handling things as well as can be expected from an 18-year-old. He is mature beyond his years and understands the game so well that he is capable of playing in all situations.

He will go through some tough times as all young defensemen do, but its part of the process in developing.

Brian: With the NBA locked out most likely until the New Year, what do you think the NHL is doing (or should be doing) to fill the sports vacuum?  It’s great that Versus is showing more games this year, but is there something more?  (If I could find a Nets fan, I’d take them to a Devils game…)

Ken: I think the NHL is doing a terrific job of televising more games to promote the game.

If the NBA stays out for an extended period and both teams are playing in the same arena, I would absolutely extend invitations to NBA season ticket holders to check out how wonderful a game hockey is, if they are not fans already.

Brian: There’s a code among players regarding things that are said in the locker room.  Does that extend to things said on ice?  Was Sean Avery doing something taboo by seeking out the media after the Simmonds altercation?  And do you think racial and sexual slurs are less prevalent on the ice today than they were in your playing days?

Ken: Do I think there is a code to what is said amongst players? To some extent yes. However with so many different personalities, there is always going to be the exception and that is something you cannot control.

I do think the racial slurs are less prevalent today because players are more cautious due the fact that there are so many more media outlets. For example, Twitter, Facebook and You Tube, etc. Because these issues are more sensitive in this era.

Brian: When on the set of MSG’s Hockey Night Live, do you hold it over Ron Duguay that you outlasted him in the first season of Battle of the Blades?

Ken: I think he was ribbed from some of his other friends. Not really my style to gloat.

Duguay is a good friend and it was a fun experience and extremely challenging. I have a deeper respect for figure skating and how tough it is. Donating to our favorite charities was what is was all about.

-The Kings host the Devils Tuesday evening, and Ken can be seen during Devils’ telecasts on MSG and on “Hockey Night Live” on Saturday nights. Follow Ken on Twitter @KenDaneykoMSG.

And Mr. Devil insists that you follow Brian on Twitter: @trot71