We just came back from seeing the re-imagined Star Trek film — and I must say I enjoyed it as did every member of my family. Paramount has a new — tent pole — series now — this film series will become epic — ala Harry Potter or the Batman franchises — kudos to JJ Abrams for doing great directorial duties; the story held together and the CGI didn’t overwhelm the character development. Star Trek is great summer entertainment fun — and at the heart of the story was a new element called “Red Matter“; when it first appeared — I heard a young man sitting three rows ahead of us in the theatre say — “Lets Go Caps”. That made my day. Red Matter was also central in blowing up the world and starting all over.
Red does matter. And I am still receiving emails — mostly supportive ones thanking us for a pretty good season. To remind everyone — we generated the most points in team history — tied for the most wins with 50; won back to back divisional championships; made the playoffs for the second season in a row — and went to game 7 of the second series before bowing out to the Penguins. We beat the Rangers in series 1; and we lost to the Penguins — every game but game 7 was close in that series — and we lost two games in overtime. We were the youngest team in the playoffs during the second round. We sold out every game — we are sold out for all of next season in terms of season tickets — we have a great relationship going with Hershey and the Bears who are on to the finals of the AHL Eastern Conference.
Wisdom of crowds?
Despite this performance — which we rank internally as terrific but NOT good enough — I am receiving emails from fans that are random and frankly a bit hard to fathom. In a world where continuity matters and making incremental improvements are the order of the day — and adhering to a system is critical for ongoing success; here are the kinds of emails I have been receiving:
“Fish stink from the head down — you have had a decade to win a Cup and you haven’t — sell the team to someone who knows how to win”;
“First George Mcphee has to go — short of drafting Alex Ovechkin — what has he done? — we need to clean up this unholy mess”;
“It is time for Bruce to go — he has lost two game 7’s in two years — what does a man have to do to get terminated in your company — can’t you see that his system will never win a Cup?”
“Get rid of Fedorov and Kozlov– ; rebuild that first line”
“Get rid of Semin and Nylander- neither can play a game I like”
“Get rid of Fleischmann — trade Fehr; not getting it done — we need free agent vets in their place “.
“Laich is over rated — trade him while he has value”;
“I hate Bradley’s game — get Cooke back”;
“There is no place on this team for Gordon — he doesn’t score”;
“Steckel is slow — he peaked in Game 6 — trade him now”;
“Clark is over the hill — takes too many penalties — trade him”;
Brashear is too old and I don’t condone fighting; don’t bring him back”
“Eskine is slow — bring back Witt”;
“Juice should be in the AHL”;
“Mo plays a sloppy game — don’t resign him”;
“Green isn’t a good D man — move him to the wing”;
“Schultz is weak and often injured — trade him or cut him “;
“Not sure if Pothier can make it through a full season – you may want to move him”;
“Poti is too expensive — put him on waivers — someone desperate will take him “.
“Theodore is three or more — I told you NOT to sign him as a free agent”;
“Dont throw Varly to the wolves — trade for an experienced starter — have Varly back up our the new vet goalie for one more year”.
“Promise me you won’t bring back Johnson as back up goal tender”;
“Karl Alzner is simply NOT ready for NHL duty”;
So — basically — if we follow the logic of the collective wisdom of the crowds via these emails over the last 5 days — I would sell the team — but before I do — I would fire George and Bruce — and get rid of every player but Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
How is that for a strategy to enhance continuity — build off of our success and seek improvement? :-). Imagine if we hadn’t racked up 108 points — or won a division title; or a playoff series — what would some of the email experts be saying?. Yikes.
I have always found the best thing to do is to buy some time — gets some perspective — do some analytics — never make a big decision in haste — see what is happening in the industry — do your homework as to what are best steps to improve the team; look long and hard at what the cap situation will be in two to three years; see what is available in the draft or via trade; and never act out of emotion or over react to the last game played. And at the end of the day — believe more in the players you have in your system than in players in someone else’s system. We will get better as our core group of young players mature.
I am proud of the team — and the people in it — we know we need to improve — but for those of you yearning for wholesale and radical change — and complete management and player turn over — I don’t think we will be able to satisfy you all.
Trust in us that we will do our best to change the team to improve it at its weakest links — but there is a CBA with rules in place — a salary cap and a budget to contend with as well.
We know Red Matters — we want it to be relevant and matter for a long long time — blowing everything up and starting over though might work in Star Trek the movie — but it isn’t needed nor do I think it would work for us right now.
Live long and prosper…
Tags: Bruce Boudreau, George McPhee, Star Trek, Ted Leonsis, Washington Capitals
Thank you for this post. I LOVE the fan suggestion posts, they always make my day. I think my favorite one I’ve read on this blog is the one that suggested bringing back Bondra, and that was at the start of this past season.
There is an old saying that I believe can be applied to our team, “failure is a stepping stone for success.” For a team full of veterans this might not be the case, but for our team, stockpiled with young talent and growing up together, I truly believe this adage applies. Let’s see, we lost to the Flyers in a pivotal game 7 last year after rallying from a 3-1 series deficit. This year, down 3-1 to the Rangers and facing another first round game 7, we won. We moved on to play a battle tested Penguins team that went to the cup finals last season and forced another game 7. Ted, as you said, this team proved this season that last year’s division championship run wasn’t a fluke. The future is bright for this team and next year, with a little tweaking might prove to be a 2nd round game 7 victory (and hopefully a cup run). Anyone thinking otherwise should forfeit their right to rock the red.
Keep up the great work. You and George have done a marvelous job transforming this town and this team, regardless of what some of these fools are saying. Summer is my favorite time of year…but October can’t come soon enough.
Ted,
I’m not a fan of a bunch of negativity because that seldom solves problems. Most hockey experts acknowledge the quality of the core of the team but at the same time, also say our defense is weak and we need one more quality forward. It’s possible some of that help is in Hershey, but don’t overlook the possibility of a trade or two.
Ted:
Here’s a line you can use for most of these folks. I use an adapted version when it comes to parenting advice for my autistic kid. “Unsolicited team management advice is not appreciated unless you too own an NHL team.”
LOL Win the Cup in 5 and people will bitch it wasn’t a sweep.
The good news is, you could get rid of 80% of these if you give out McPhee’s e-mail. rofl
Mr. Leonsis:
Thank you and your organization for the wonderful season and another step in the evolution of the franchise.
I worked for the Baltimore Ravens for a number of years (coaching video, PR and new media positions), allowing me the incredible opportunity to work in close proximity to GM Ozzie Newsome. Ozzie stresses the team’s internal “process” as the key to the operation.
As a longtime Capitals fan (in recent years relocated to the West Coast) who is thankful for your streaming audio of live games, DirecTV Center Ice and NHL.com’s streaming live game video - I can’t thank Mr. McPhee enough for staying the course of what appears to be the Caps “process.”
I was annoyed at the lack of a move at the deadline to pick up an agitator/energy guy (seemingly distracting and forcing #8 into that role far too often) if nothing else. But I’m realistic enough to know that wanting to make moves doesn’t mean the price is right or fair. I learned from Ozzie the stability of the organization for the long run and allowing the “process” to mature is vital and can’t be strayed from.
As for an NHL team following this path - I look no further than the Red Wings to think the correct decisions are being made at Kettler. I remember getting excited so many times when Steve Yzerman’s name would pop up in trade rumors when the Red Wings “collapsed” or “fell short” of their fans’ or the media’s demands. They stuck with him and allowed young players to grow, seasoning in some key veterans and seem to be doing quite well for themselves amongst the NHL landscape.
And as for anyone giving Ovie a hard time - look at what a disappointment Peyton Manning was because he couldn’t win in the playoffs. Not a bad quarterback.
Bottom line - whether on decisions team or individual based - thank you and the organization for the steady hand, wonderful (though at times draining) experiences and for implementing the red “process.”
Ross
Dear Ted,
I just wanted to say thanks for an awesome season. I finally have reason to be proud to call myself a Caps fan. We’re the opposite of the Redskins and I like it that way. Very smart decisions have brought us from the bottom of the barrel to the cream of the crop. Don’t change it now, I’m confident you’ll have a smart off-season. That said the only thing that went wrong this season is that you weren’t evil enough. Pull a Bill Belichick and bribe those refs. Clearly the Pens had a pool of money going straight to the refs back pocket. I think a few dollars fell out during some games. We’ve got to play dirty in the crease as well as with the rules. If they’re going to bribe the refs we might as well. Plus the NHL kind of robbed us on this one.
Ted,
I want you to know up front that I am a die hard Pens fan. But having said that, I had lived in the Frederick Md. area for about 10 years and enjoyed going to Caps games. It was because of reading about you and your desire to put a good team on and off the ice. Ted you are a class act and there are many cities that would love to have you as an owner. Keep up the good work and see you next year!
Thoughts on the 08-09 season:
Yes, it was deeply, bitterly disappointing that we did not win the Cup, and more so that we can’t seem to break free from that old Pittsburgh hoodoo.
That said, anyone who would use this reversal as a basis for calling the best regular season in franchise history a “failure” is—to put it bluntly—beyond full of it.
Inch-by-inch, baby.
The officiating in the first round was flat-out terrible (e.g., Brashear suspended for one hit on an ex post facto Campbell decision, but Avery often not even penalized for repeat offenses).
Bad as the first round officiating was, the second round was horrible beyond my most paranoid nightmares. It almost lent genuine credence to the conspiracy theories floating around about Bettman’s wishes, etc.
As far as those who would counsel you to blow the team up, fire the Coach & GM, and THEN sell it: I am behind you 100%, Ted.
I know some tweaks and adjustments are inevitable, but I also trust you and George to NOT blow up this team. If for no other reason than this: The last thing I want to see is for a player who was on the cusp of respectability with Washington to get sent away, only to have him resurface a year or two later as a star…in an enemy sweater. The only “change” I feel remotely qualified to suggest is this: in the event that Chris Clark does not return next season, Brooks Laich IMHO definitely deserves to wear the “C”.
In closing: Thanks Ted, GMGM, Coach Bruce and ALL of the Caps for a fantastic season: It was refreshing, and just plain great to be able go through the lion’s share of this hockey season HAPPY. Looking forward to Rocking the Red again in ‘09-’10!
thank you,
thank you for a great year. thank you for sticking to your guns with the cba. it has already begun to bring new life to the nhl. as a lifelong caps fan i can remember watching the caps face 60 to 70 shots in a game. at times it was painfull to watch my beloved capitals. now though they are fun to watch again. for that above all else ,thank you.
cmon ted you or some comedy writer had to make some of that stuff up—very funny emails—keep on sharing