We aren’t playing as well as we can. We aren’t healthy. We can’t score on a power play on the road. We aren’t gelled as a defensive unit. We seem to lack some intensity. See? I read your emails but we are 6-2-2.
We are near the top of the East in goals scored; middle of the pack in goals against; and near the top in points garnered. We have won 4 games in a row - ugly wins - but wins just the same.
We have so much work to do. We have so much improvement to make but after ten games, we are first in the division and near the top in the East. We are 6-2-2. We have 14 of 20 possible points. That is a decent pace for the year. We know we aren’t near peak performance yet and we ask for a bit of patience from our most demanding fans and the media. We know we have upside. It is a long season. We need to get healthy, keep garnering points and have a bit more fun out there. Onward. Go Caps!
Teddy, We all want “The Cup”! But I hope your most demanding fans allow themselves to enjoy the journey. It really is the best part!
And if my math is any gooder than my English, 6-2-2 through ten extrapolates to 114 points. While that’s certainly an amusing bit of conjecture, concerns remain.
Too many games so far have been a lot more exciting than they needed to be. (See under Islanders, Thrashers, Predators, Devils.) We have seen comfortable leads lost, and come-from-behind rallies that never should have come to that. There have been nights where the team looked so sloppy I was name-dropping Sean Avery.
Yes, the Caps have made it through a tough early stretch with a pretty good record, despite ugly efforts on some nights and apparent lack thereof on others. And 6-2-2 is better than some teams have been doing (is Toronto TRYING to beat our inaugural season as worst-ever?)
But I doubt there is a single Caps fan who saw Game 7 against Pittsburgh last year, who will soon forget just how much it hurt to see our season end the way it did. There may be some Caps fans, I suppose, who will NEVER forget that heartbreak, for as long as they live.
And even though I support our players and hope and intend the best for them, I have yet to be entirely convinced that that spirit is present on the ice.
That said, 6-2-2 is certainly better than 2-6-2. You can’t win the Cup in October, but you can certainly lose it (I’m looking at you, too, Minnesota.) So, on balance, it’s a respectable start, and better efforts and results are sure to come. I just hope they come sooner than later.
…but can we please do something about that defence? It still isn’t positionally sound enough or tough enough for a playoff team.
And constructive criticism is not disloyalty – one criticises because one cares!
here’s the problem though, we’re 6-2-2, but how many of them are “quality” wins? If we can’t beat the top 5 teams then we ain’t that good. San Jose was the only win from the top 5 that we got in that stretch, and we eeked out a win against the cr@ptaculist team in the NHL? When are they going to realize that they’re not giving it their all?
19. bh says:
October 26, 2009 at 1:06 pm
You have raised everyone’s expectations that the Caps are a Cup contender. You have sold a lot of tickets based on this expectation. When the Caps don’t play like contenders, you should expect to hear about it from your customers. The tickets aren’t discounted when the team takes a period off.
You reap what you sow. Deal with it.
Amen !!! The prices keep going up and the deal where you have to pay even more to see the best competition that the NHL has to offer is reudely insane. Ted, how about a refund in the difference between the Blue games and the Red games when The CAPS stink the rink up ?? I just want to get what I pay for just like you want the extra $$ from me just to get into the arena !!
The fact that people will complain about a 6-2-2 team, and even call you a liar (*headdesk*) for pointing out such things, shows just how determined some people are to be miserable.
Seriously people. Get a life.
I’m more concerned about trends that seemed to bite the team in the butt last year..showing themselves this year. Some of those wins were some serious on the edge of your seat wins…which is great in some aspects, but worrisome in others.
But it’s still early, and I have confidence that the team you have in place as far as coaching will be watching those trends and trying to curtail and break them quickly!
RE:
You forgot to mention that the 6-2-2 record is the best start for the Caps since they went 7-2-1 in 1997-98, the year the Caps went to the Stanley Cup Finals.
In 97-98 there was no shootout, or three point games, which puts our current record at 5-3-1 in those terms. Not a bad record overall, but can we compare apples to apples?
That said, we do have a very talented young team. And that is exactly how they play. Almost all of our games have been one goal decisions, with the Caps either taking it easy, or ramping up the pressure like crazy in the third depending on their position. How this season progresses will largely depend on the players “re-maturing” throughout the year.
I’m sure you have heard it all at this point, yet I felt like I should respond. My frustration with the team is the consistent laziness. We have seen this season what this team has the ability to do (see the Boston game), yet day in and day out they play inconsistent, lazy hockey. It seems as if all we hear from management and coaches are “It’s early in the season” “we are winning games/top in the division” “injuries have hampered us”. At what point are these issues going to get fixed. We have had the same story year in and year out yet the players are still allowed to have the same lazy/inconsistent tendencies. It cost us several games in the playoffs last season and now it seems to be a reoccurring problem. When will the coaches/management take the extra step to say knock it off or bench those who are not willing to go out and give 100% every night?
ted,
i just want you to know that i am not complaining one bit. the fact that we’re 6-2-2 with a TON of room for improvement speaks volumes of the caliber of this team.
a win is a win is a win. if we can improve even somewhat on the issues you noted in your post, this team can be far and away the best team in the NHL.
keep up the good work.
-jamie
ted, you forgot “we need an enforcer”.
You have raised everyone’s expectations that the Caps are a Cup contender. You have sold a lot of tickets based on this expectation. When the Caps don’t play like contenders, you should expect to hear about it from your customers. The tickets aren’t discounted when the team takes a period off.
You reap what you sow. Deal with it.
You forgot to mention that the 6-2-2 record is the best start for the Caps since they went 7-2-1 in 1997-98, the year the Caps went to the Stanley Cup Finals.
you are right Ted, we are and will be fine, I think too many people listen to all the preseason hype and expect the Caps to go undefeated, which we all knmow is impossible. Ugly or not, a win is a win, and this town should be happy that we have a team that can actually win on a consistent basis, so lets Rock the Red, lets go caps !!!!!
Brilliant response Ted! Last time I checked the Stanley Cup was not won in October. Still plenty of time to work out our kinks, but after playing some tough opponents having the record that we have is not too bad. Note: What those stats don’t show that even our losses were close!
Ted,
I couldn’t agree more. Last year Caps actually started slower 3-3-1 out of the gate and really didn’t hit stride till December when we only lost 3 games. I think people certainly need to relax a little bit as this is a 82 game season. You can’t be emotional from game to game. Right now the wins are ugly, but as the season goes on I am sure they will be a lot more complete.
GO CAPS!
Ted,
There were always be people who say they want more, but as a lifelong Caps fan, I cannot begin to thank you enough for what you’ve done for this team/franchise/fan-base. Yes, things have been a little slow now, but they’ll pick up. I, for one, am not worried. We’ve got a great squad, and I think we can go very far this year!
I know it’s a little early to be thinking about this, but I had an amazing idea that would really fire up the fan-base and tie them to the team for generations: WHEN the Caps win the Stanley Cup, how about having a “Hoist the Stanley Cup” session for season ticket holders?? The idea is simple — hold a celebration at the Verizon Center for season ticket holders, where everyone will get an opportunity to raise the Stanley Cup for a few seconds… I’m sure it’s a pipe dream, but like you, I’ve had “hold the Stanley Cup” on my bucket list for years and years. Celebrating a Caps Cup victory like that would truly be an amazing moment for me personally, and I’m sure for every Caps fan out there.
From my knowledge, this type of Stanley Cup celebration has not ever been done, but I’m not sure if it’s even permitted by the NHL. Maybe something to look into?
Thanks again, and keep up the great work!
THANK you. Maybe this will get some of the doom-and-gloom sackcloth-and-ashes types to shut their pie-holes!
Somehow.. I doubt that, though.
Touche Ted! I am definitly not happy with our level of play, but the season is young, lines have been changing a lot, and we have a winning record. I think we should hold off on overly harsh words until we have had more time to work out the kinks.
I hate to watch these highly talented guys play under their potential, that is what upsets me. Win or lose, healthy or hurt, they still need to play to their ability. If they can honestly say that they tried their hardest, then I will be ok with a W or an L. Philly is a tough team and if we continue to play this way, we can turn that “ugly win” into an “ugly loss”. The Caps are a great team and organization…we will overcome! Let’s Go Caps! See you tomorrow night!
I’ve got no doubt that our Caps will be right there at the end… just need to keep grinding out these wins! I’ve been a fan since I was a 6 year old in 1974 – the Caps’ first season… a season where they won EIGHT GAMES TOTAL all year, and carried around a trash can in the locker room pretending it’s a Stanley cup.
I’ve stuck with the franchise through good times and bad, so to hear people nitpicking about a 6-2-2 start is crazy to me. The Washington Capitals have never fielded a more exciting team than they have right now, and it’s so much fun being a fan (unlike being a fan of my Redskins… ugh…).
Thank you for all you’ve done for this franchise, it’s really appreciated throughout the Caps community. Keep up the good work, and I just KNOW we’ll have a cup here in DC soon!
Ted-
Relax, they haven’t peaked yet. Real fans know they don’t get hot til December. Things are fine and the games are great.
Take care,
Jim
Ps – Could you please buy the redskins?!
Thanks Ted, there was no need to apologize but the gesture shows what kind of an owner you are. Itis much appreciated from a season ticket holder (club level). This city is hungry for a winner and teams like the Redskins and Wizards have created a “Losing is good business” approach from the media and it has rubbed off on certain fans. You have a strong base that is behind this team and appreciates the fact that they can be almost dominant when they are playing their C+ game.
I’m not doubting you read fan emails, but those complaints are easily found on any Caps message board/blog. That said, who says we’re not healthy? We’re in far better shape than last year where it must have been like a revolving door into the trainer’s room. Short and sweet, you’ve spoiled the fans with talent and wins over the last few seasons, so I understand why everyone feels like we should be undefeated, not that I condone it. Lastly not to get on a soapbox or anything, but as much as I have come to enjoy all the personalities on this team it feels like it may be time to start moving some assets so that our younger players get to show that they belong (or don’t…) and also generate more draft picks or players to restock our farm system in Hershey/SC. Thanks again for your work and the hard work of everyone in the organization.
I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I just said as much on the WP Capitals Insider blog. Relax people and rock the red!
Ted,
One of the reasons fan like me adore you and compare you with Dan Snyder is that you learned from your lessons, stopped fooling yourself, and, most of all, you stopped lying to us. You asked yourself: “Can this team win a championship?”, you said “no” — and you did something about it.
(That lucky ping pong ball named “Ovechkin” didn’t hurt.)
All this said, stop fooling yourself and lying to us with things like “we are 6-2-2″ — as of this writing (Sunday night) 22 of the NHL’s teams have a record above .500. Standings points in the “new” NHL are as misleading as gold stars in kindergarten. (Everyone gets one for participating!) You know it. So, please stop.
Here’s reality, Ted: the Caps don’t play 60 minutes on a night-in-night-out basis. When they play soft, they get caught flat and take stupid, lazy penalties – usually late in the game when they lack killer instinct and blow leads. Worse, they “play down” to teams below them in the standings. WORSE: these problems date to last year. WORST OF ALL: nobody has done adequately addressed these issues. (Nobody, of course being the coach, who is “Hanlon Helpless” on these fronts.)
Last year’s team learned the hard way: When you regularly take so many nights off, a night off comes your way — when you last want one.
(Remember game 7 of the Pittsburgh series, Ted? I know you do.)
So please knock off the “we’re 6-2-2″ nonsense. If you are in this for “gold stars for participation,” fine. Be honest with the fans. If you are “singularly focussed on the Cup” (as you have said), roll tape of Game 7 from the Pens series last year and ask yourself: “Do I see any disturbing trends that exist today and are not being adequately addressed?”
Thanks.
Amen. The fans need to have more fun too — not get so upset over the season so far.
Amen. Caps fans and Hershey Bears fans are getting so upset over both teams and it’s only the end of October. The season has a long way to go and the Caps and Bears will better. Both teams have too much talent to not turn things around and become cohesive teams. The fans need to have more fun too — it takes less face muscles to smile than to frown.
No one will ever hear my faith in this team, the coaching staff or this organization wavier. I believe in supporting them unconditionally, I love the Washington Capitals, win or lose I always have and I always will. I believe that if you are a true fan, that you know it’s early in the season, that there are many, many games still ahead and that now is the time to get the kinks worked out, establish the rhythm of play and put all the pieces together. I am tired of the negative from the media and from ‘fans’ beating to death the mistakes. Our job as fans is to be a full time support system! I’m a firm believer in rocking the red loudly and proudly. I think that the phone booth should be unbearably loud through out the game. I think if they are down in the game our voices should be at a fevered pitch to energize the team so that they know we support them, that we believe. It’s easy to cheer when ahead, it shows true faith and belief to cheer when your team is behind. Rocking the Red isn’t just about wearing the colors, it’s about supporting this team, this organization through each and every game!!! Let’s Go Caps!!!
Great post, Ted! Well put about our situation. Here’s to peaking at the “right” time.