I personally, can’t wait to see him in action. I like the direction this team is heading and commend you, George and the rest of the front office staff for the long term vision you appear to have for the team. Let the ninnys say what they will. We have a good group of players on this roster and most fans can recognize that fact. Good luck in the upcoming draft…Hopefully we are able to land yet another guy who can be a long term player for this team and continue what has stated here.

Congratulations on an outstanding season and good luck as this team heads into 2008 season!!!

Karl Alzner was the WJC team Captain, he just won the Western Hockey League’s Player of the Year (a league known for hard hitting defensemen) and he is still young. Maybe these critics should know that after Rod Langway was drafted, he played in the AHL and WHA for a year and a half before jumping to Les Habitans.

Alzner looks like he is going to be a defenseman that could be on a franchise level such as Stevens, Pronger, etc. Obviously, this is based on potential, but I think the pick was smart in that our defense got burned quite a bit in the playoffs. Maybe Alzner can clear people out from in front of the crease.

As you can see by “Jim in Colorado’s” comment many folks just don’t understand that as the Caps first pick in the 2006 entry draft, the Caps only had until June 1st of this year to get Alzner under contract. Further many fans really don’t understand how highly rated Alzner is “as the best defenseman NOT playing in the NHL last season” by most scouting reports. Instead they fret about why you haven’t signed the likes of Mike Green, a Restricted Free Agent, who you will no doubt be in contract talks soon with and whom you have the right to match anybody else’s offer too. Or perhap’s like Jim, they think you shopuld just give Huet the same deal Olie Kolzig had last year; as if he would take it or that would be smart Salary Cap Management on your and GM George McPhee’s part.

Sapper summed it up best just because they can afford a computer and internet access and can send you an email doesn’t mean they should do so; but there’s nothing stopping them. Also don’t sweat it - how much did your ownership group’s investment appreciate last year - just look at that and the overall increase in positive fan mail and attendance as the real measure of the overall fan sentiment to what you and the Caps are doing.

All that said I agree folks should give ALzner a break, the contract he got isn’t unlike the rookie contract Mike Green had and both are/were blue chip prospects; look how Green turned out with some of Gabby’s “seasoning”.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!

This is the downside to your being so involved and reading every email. Most folks in your executive and ownership positions have their emails read and filtered by assistants before they make their way to the top. You don’t have that layer of insulation/bureaucracy built-in, and because of that, most of us can reach you and are very greatful for it. There are always going to be naysayers and relative crack pots. Some are well-intended but ill-informed and others are simply rude.

Not every email can be positive. If someone has a gripe, they need to make their case by presenting a cogent argument with some basis of fact. Some are chronic gripers, while others I think write to see if they can get you upset.

Please relax, Ted. Enjoy the summer with your family.

I met Alzner last summer at the rookie camp, and I was very impressed by his personality. He’s an absolute Champion. He could potentially be our next Rod Langway. Even if he falls well short of those lofty expectations, and if he ends up being just an average NHL defenseman (which won’t happen), he’s the type of guy who’s leadership will do nothing less than keep this team together in tough times, and put them well over the top as far as morale is concerned. He gets the very best out of himself and his teammates.

Ted, why even bring attention to these negative comments? These people are obviously fools.

BTW, did you hear about the 20 Orioles fans kicked out of Camden Yards for “cheering too loudly” for the Orioles? In the same game, they were recognized on the jumbo-tron for being “Fans of the Game.” Then, a group of Red Sox fans complained that they were cheering too loudly, and they were kicked out. The Orioles released no comment about specifically why they kicked these fans out, only saying why they would generally kick fans out. I’ve been to Devils’ games up in NJ, and I saw several fights between Devils fans and Rangers fans, and the Rangers fans always got the boot first. Now, in Baltimore, we can’t even cheer for our own ball club? Thank god I’ve got the Capitals to cheer for loudly.