I want us as a franchise to be respected.
I want for the media to believe in our team and for our fans to be able to hope and dream of big success.
After being on Comcast SportsNet tonight and hearing the local resident experts’ positive predictions and seeing some of the national media picks for the new season, I am starting to get very nervous.
The last time we were picked this highly and with this much expectation, we didn’t even qualify for the playoffs.
So I think I liked it better when we were underdogs. Now we have the weight of expectations on our shoulders. I am hoping our shoulders are broad enough to carry these heightened expectations. There are so many great teams in the NHL. I would hate to give any team bulletin board fodder as motivation. We must remain hungry and very humble.
As I have said, “Don’t believe the hype.” We have to play every shift of every period of every game to win enough games to qualify for the playoffs. It is a long season and anything can happen. We can’t believe our press clippings. We have to execute. Drop the damn puck already! Let’s see what we got. 
If anything, I’d be happy to see so many scribes putting such high expectations on the Caps. They think we’ve got a shot at the moon. So by all means, let’s shoot for it! Even if we somehow miss, at least we’ll still be amongst the stars.
“Drop the damn puck”
You said it!
LETS GO CAPS, LETS GO CAPS
Whose ready for some hockey?
DC IS
I know the Caps have high expectations and alot of so called experts are picking us to have a great season. I dont think its something this team needs to be burdened by.
The Caps have a very good team. Play hard, have fun and stay focused and everything takes care of itself. The minute the team starts worrying about every experts opinion is the minute they start taking a step in the wrong direction. This team can go toe to toe with any team in the NHL. Time to enjoy the ride. Go Caps!
Ted, it’s only hype if there’s no substance to back up the statements. The Caps have as assets:
1) The best player in the world
2) Three Hart Trophy winners in the line-up
3) The best young defenseman in hockey
4) The runner up for rookie of the year last year
5) The coach of the year from last year
6) A small taste of success…just a small taste
I think the players want more. The last time the Caps went into a season with high expectations, they were an older team. In last years playoffs, 90% of the goals were scored by players under age 26. There is *nothing* that should get in the way of the Caps winning the Eastern Conference…
By the way, check out ESPN’s Southeast division poll. They had to adjust it to ask who the Best Forward was!
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=3631
Ted were winning the cup no need to freak
“Don’t Eat The Cheese”
On a recent CAPS365 interview Bruce said: “we got what we did last year by out working other teams, out willing them, and out wanting them…”. I don’t see that changing. Success follows hard work.
ONLY ONE MORE DAY!! LETS GO CAPS!
#2 comment, from Alex, asks, “Are the Caps great yet?”
Hell yes, they are. Greatness is not necessarily reflected in one’s victories. In my 32 years as a Cap’s fan (Portal 5, baby!) I have never witnessed a team of more character. There are great moments and players in Cap’s history, but the last couple of years, (and most assuredly this season) have been THE GREATEST so far!
I know THE CUP is THE PRIZE that everyone, players and fans alike, ultimately wants.
But to have watched this team grow, to have attended a PRE-SEASON game with over 13,000 (giving the team a standing ovation at the end of the game), to read Ted beeeoooch-slap Mike Milbury and to be able to proudly proclaim, “Hell yeah, I’m a Caps’ Fan”, all gives me reason to believe these Caps ARE GREAT.
We know what we got, drop the puck already, ‘cuz these boys got some serious hockey to play!
Ted is fired up….I’m with him. Let’s go Caps! I agree….as nice as it is to be expected to do something now it’s time to go out there and do it. Can’t wait for Friday!!! and really can’t wait for that banner to go up….
LET’S ROCK HUET AND ROCK THE RED!!!! Make him wish he never went to Chicago….
I agree one hundred percent. This team was humble throughout their tremendous run last year. The same faces are returning and they know the feeling of an overtime game seven loss. These guys are going to put nose to the grindstone all season. Drop that damn puck and let’s do it! Unleash the fury!!!!!!!!!!!
I like being the underdog as well, but as you said mere weeks ago, “This is the greatest camp we’ve ever iced.” The feel for this team is one of destiny, one of chemistry. The last time we were chalked to bring it all home, it felt artificial and almost cheap.
Ted I totally feel your pain, I have been having the same worry as well. But the truth is that the guys on this team are special, and as long as they stick together and play with their heart they will go far. But you are right they need play minute by minute, shift by shift, period by period, game by game or they will succumb to the pressure. And I believe they will, especially with Bruce in charge!
But enough is enough…..DROP THE PUCK
LET’S GO CAPS! Don’t Stop Believin’ I know I haven’t not yet at least!
Exactly TL, …the Core of the Soul of Winning Hockey is the approach of success being, every shift, every period, every game…every shot, every save…The Zen of Goaltending..dont believe the hype nor the predictions…bottom line , the Caps are a young and exciting hockey team and thats no hype…
The Capitals do have a history of folding under the expectations. Before the 1998-99 season, many publications, the most noted one being ESPN the Magazine, picked the Caps to repeat as East Champions. Whoops. Then there was all the hype going into 2001-02 after acquiring Jagr. Whoops x2.
There’s no easy way to deal with hype and big expectations. It’s a learning process. There will probably be a few times in a season where the team does nothing but misfires and loses a few games in a row, which will no doubt lead to MASSSSS HYSTERIAAAAA !!!!1!!1!one!111!. Even Detroit in recent years has stumbled and failed to get past the first round.
But for the first time in a while, I have faith this team can pull through.
dont worry, we are still looked upon as a joke in many cities by many other teams fans…the only thing to stop this team from success this year is itself…there is enough talent everywhere so that no one person has the weight of the world…and it cant start any worse than last year…its still just hockey, and the caps players know how to play…after the pressure they played under last year, and with veterans like fedorov and theodore, the team will be fine….Fedorov will prove to be an absolutely brilliant signing, much like last year
Learning to win with great expecations upon them is another phase of growth the Caps must go through. The ingredients are there, and now expecations are supplying the pot and the heat. I bet the Caps can cook.
Great teams play well no matter what the hype is. That’s one of the things that makes them great. Are the Caps great yet? That remains to be seen and one of the reasons I am so eagerly awaiting this season! Go Caps!
Ted,
There is no comparison between the last time we were favored and this team. The biggest differences between these 2 teams is the Leadership on the ice. The old ‘leader’ was worried about the bottom $. The new leader wants to win.
2 different teams. 2 different identities.
I’m not saying we’re going to win the cup (this year). But if we want to, this is the year where we make a big step to win it in the future.
I BELIEVE.