Giveaways!

For most Caps fans, the word 'giveaway' conjures up images of Mike Green at his own blueline or Alex Semin at the point on the powerplay. But it also means 'cool promotional items'! Magnetic calendars, posters, drink koozies, scarves and more. It's like the surprise in the box of Cocoa Puffs!

There has been a lot of speculation (ok, I've been wondering) about which current Cap gets his likeness on a bobblehead this season. With Alex Semin and John Carlson already on their own Inova Blood Drive bobbleheads, consider them off the Fan Giveaway list. Let's take a look at the candidates!

• Nick Backstrom - Your odds on favorite. Successfully translating his blond locks into plastic sculpture could be tough, but it can be done.
• Semyon Varlamov - If done right, goalie bobbleheads are cool. If done wrong, they end up looking a lot like Michael Neuvirth.
• Brooks Laich - I would personally go for a 'Brooks Laich Tire Pressure Gauge Night, sponsored by AAA', but I'm sure the ladies would like a mini-Brooks to put on their night stands. Ok fine, I would too.
• Matt Bradley - Everything needs more Bradley, but now your bookshelf will have just enough. The real question is: is the bobblehead bleeding or not?
• Karl Alzner - Get Hertz Rent-a-car as your sponsor and include The Beard and you're gold.
• John Erskine - You could pretty much just change the name on this.
• Mathieu Perreault - Technically, it would have to be 'Mathieu Perreault Mini Bobblehead Night'...
• Eric Fehr or Tomas Fleischmann - Coach Boudreau isn't too high on the Fehr bobble, but would happily endorse the Flash version.

Of course if the Caps are budget-savvy, they'll just hand out an empty base with the Verizon logo and call it 'Second Line Center Bobblehead Night'.

Bobblehead Versatility

I know, it's been over a week since the Inova Blood Drive featuring John Carlson, but I wanted to commend all the fine men and women at Inova Blood Donor Services for what was the finest, most efficient and friendliest blood drive I have even been a part of. Obviously, I'd also like to thank my fellow Caps fans and John Carlson himself for turning the blood donor center the perfect shade of blood Capitals red.

I would also like to thank whoever created the John Carlson bobblehead for the event. The USA USA USA!!! one-knee goal celebration pose if perfect for the young rookie.

Perhaps more awesomely, the stick that comes with the bobblehead is removable, which allows you torecreate some other great goal celebrations. Such as:

Riding The Stick

The Flaming Stick

The possibilities are endless.