We need ongoing motivation and a chip on our shoulder. Thanks for our preseason ranking of 11th in the NHL for next season. We need to work hard and get results to prove to you that we are better than this ranking. Time will tell but we love flying under the radar and being ranked low. It is motivational to us. Click here to read these rankings.
Ted's Take
No way the Caps can beat teams like the Pens, Flyers, or Bruins in a 7 game series…poor team defence, lack of toughness, and spotty goaltending still hold you back. I think you’ll have a great regular season–racking up lots of points against the weaker teams (particularly since you play in that very weak division), but come playoff time, when the better teams clamp down on D, the Caps will show their true colors.
The Caps get plenty of respect from the mainstream media. They are often referred to as the most exciting team in the league. Ovechkin gets non-stop coverage. Guys writing for the national media have to write about the positives and negatives of a team. The Caps haven’t done anything to merit that much respect when it comes to discussing the playoffs and the Cup.
The Caps have underachieved in the playoffs for two years in a row. The Caps have a lot of unfinished business in the playoffs. They haven’t even made the conference finals, despite winning two division titles and earning high seeding. Their first item of unfinished business is learning how to win more than lose in the playoffs. They have 10 wins and 11 losses in three rounds. They barely beat the Rangers last year.
On paper they still don’t look like a team that can win enough playoff hockey to make the finals, let alone win the Cup. They are exciting in the regular season and Ovechkin is the best goal-scorer in the world, but the Caps don’t seem to have the sense of defensive responsibility or grit needed to win a championship.
In short, the Caps have a long way to go. The Penguins came within two wins of the Cup in 2007-08. Winning the Cup the next year was a matter of unfinished business. The Caps haven’t earned any consideration as a serious cup contender. I can think of at least three teams in each conference that are more likely to win the Cup or beat the Caps in a playoff series.
Why do you respond to these things Ted? First, they have a right to rank the Caps wherever they want – it’s just an opinion. Second, it makes you look petty.
Thank goodness the sport is still played by players, not journos.
Ted:
Do yourself a favor and STOP reading SI.com, FoxSports.com and ESPN.com articles on the Caps. Neither of those sites (or radio/TV stations), has any respect for the team, let alone any sports team in DC. We will be fine. When we WIN the Cup, those people will have no choice but to follow or stop watching the sport. We will do it this year…..Unfinished Business…Let’s Finish It!
Good thing that people that actually know and care about hockey say differently: http://tinyurl.com/lxbp9y
Go Caps!
Dear Ted,
If it takes being ranked #11 by a magazine in order to fire your team up, perhaps #11 is the correct slot. Besides… with Jose “Three or Four” Theodore named as the starter before camp even starts, you’re lucky to be #11.
Remember the SI curse? It is alive and well. It won’t surprise me if both the Penguins and especially the Flyers are battling out for the 8th playoff spot while the Caps compete for the President’s trophy. SI is almost always wrong on these ratings. But you’re right — a great motivator. Nothing like low expectations from the mindless media to start the season.