A remarkable thing happened this morning and I wish to thank you all.
I have received more than 250 emails and most of them are offering up thanks and words of encouragement to us as a franchise and to me personally. Your regards and good wishes are most appreciated by me and my family. Thank you. It has me energized.
Last night’s defeat was deeply personal and deeply agonizing to me. I feel like I let so many people down and my deepest desire is to build a franchise that is built to last. One that helps create wonderful lifetime positive memories between family members and between friends and communities of interest and to help bring a city closer together by winning a championship.
To fall short so early in the process this year is quite humbling.
But my personality and outlook on life is thus “if it doesn’t kill you–it will make you stronger”.
We won’t do anything rash or make any decisions out of emotional angst. We will collect our thoughts. We will be energized by our failure. We will seek to improve. We will be diligent in our research and we won’t deviate from our plan. We still intend to build around our core. We will make adjustments. We will keep our upside. We will accentuate the positives and we will tweak and change around the negatives where needed.
I am committed to hard work, to investment, to constant improvement, and to getting it “just right”.
I do not have a defeatist attitude and I am not being delusional. We have work to do that is obvious, but I am ready to get back at it starting today. Thank you for your support on this troubling and humbling day. As I have said…We have miles to go before we sleep. The woods are dark and deep. We are committed to improvement and we will be better next season. Onward. Thank you.
Tags: NHL Playoffs, Ted Leonsis, Ted's Take, Washington Capitals
Ted,
We are sad but filled with hope. We often hear the darkest hour is just before the dawn. The dawn is near. After the playoffs, we look forward to beginning the 2011 season and crossing paths.
Best Wishes to you and yours and the entire organization!
Greg
PS GO CAPS!!!
Ted,
Thanks for giving me and my daughters an amazing time together, routing for the Caps. As a 25 year plus fan, I have never had such a fun season. To have our daughters, 11 and 14, join this with me was really wonderful, and the last couple of weeks I re arranged my schedule to watch the games with them, and we were lucky enough to go to 5 or 6 during the season. It turned into a wonderful family experience. Yes, great lifelong memories.
You have a great team assembled, keep it together. GMGM has done a very good job, despite the last week.
Yes we need a couple of bruising 3rd and 4th liners to punish teams who gang up on our skill players. They don’t have to be stars, just bruisers. I didn’t ever see lack of effort on this team. It is what it is..a lot of teams will lose on their way to winning the cup.
As a season ticket holder and a die-hard Caps fan, I have to say that this loss really really stung. I can barely listen to the pundits and read the paper. However, I am stunned by the hate from supposed fans after the fabulous
ride we had in the regular season. Yes, the end was bad, but let’s not forget the thrill they gave us for 8 months. Remember Phil Mickelson couldn’t shake the “He’s great but he’s never won a major” reputation until he won his first Masters. Fast forward 5 or so years and he has collected several more majors and all is forgotten. This Caps team will forget this when they win their first Championship and will see it as a defining moment in their careers after they win multiple times. Which they will. Thanks Ted for bringing together this group of players and this coach. It has been a fabulous ride.
I am sorry that the Caps lost. While I am an avid Pens fan, I come from DC and I honestly think hockey is at its best when the Caps play the Pens.
Thanks for all the work you do to make the Caps a success in DC, and through them making hockey great in DC and in the NHL. You have a classy group of people — like Brooks Laich (fixing a tire for a fan on the Roosevelt bridge after the game? Awesome.). You’ll have your moment with the cup.
Backstrom deserves at least 7 mil next year. Plus two 20+ goal scorers are coming off rookie contracts. Green or Jizz got to go.
Ted -
I am a huge hockey fan and have the following thoughts:
1) As a fan - I would love ot have someone who cares as much as you as my owner. You want to win and take losses not just as an owner looking out for the bottom line, but as a fan who is upset his team did not succeed.
2) Your team is built very well and is a few simple players away from contending for a cup. You need a strong solid goalie and one defensive defenseman to play with Green and allow him more freedom to roam.
3) If you really wanted to take a step towards winning for a long time, I would make the following trade: You trade one of your prospects (probably Carlson and a offensive prospect) to Montreal for the rights to Carey Price and Hamrlik. This makes very good sense for you. True you will be losing a blue chip defensman and another offensive prospect - but you will be getting a superstar goalie for a long time. Price will be awesome the day he gets out of Dodge (Montreal). Hamrlik can be a stop-gap until your younger players develop and altough getting long in the tooth, he is calming influence on the young players, a good dressing room guy and a wonderful teacher to young defenseman.
Thanks, Ted, for being rational.
[...] Ted Leonsis has always been seen as a pioneering owner, certainly when it comes to his ideas on how to use the Internet and new media to market his team and the NHL. His philanthropic efforts are just as impressive. But it may be his heartfelt commitment to his fan base and to the the DC community for which he will truly be remembered (note, he is not going anywhere. In fact, with his purchase of the Wizards, he is a DC guy for the very long term). [...]
Ted, we feature today and this weekend at Sports Doing Good your “take” on the series loss. You run the team like many other owners should run their own, i.e. with a feverish desire to win so as to bring joy to countless others. Things happen, often not to our liking but your commitment long-term to the team, the fans, and the community will inevitably bring that joy to you and the fans. Good luck next year and every year after that.
Hoya Saxa.
The Caps have arrived!
What a great regular season and what a terrible ending in the playoffs. As a rabid Caps fan since the ’70s I’ve seen ‘em all and this one was the worst. I was really angry at Mike Green for his unthinking cross check that led to Montreal’s first goal and his non-clear on their second goal. Of course, the real reason we lost was our power play failures (of which Mike Green is an important part). I’ve heard a lot of people say we must trade Green but that is ridiculous. Hopefully he’ll grow and learn from this. We do need a stronger defense for the playoffs, though. Thanks to you and your management team for an exciting, ultimately heart-breaking season.
Ted,
Didn’t you say in February you had arrived… that you didn’t have miles to go before you sleep… Enjoy the president’s trophies… let the real hockey teams enjoy hockey’s real prize. For all us fans of other teams, please don’t change a thing!
Wooo!
Ted - Sorry to hear about the game 7 loss. Caught me totally by surprise. You got any room for a tough checking forward over there, things aren’t looking too good here in columbustown, and I still have broom marks on my behind from last years playoffs!
Some of us forget that we are not entitled to a Stanley cup. Only one is given out every year. The statistics are consistently against you. What we can do, and expect, as fans is continue to support our team. This instant gratification or entitlement is a by-product of our society needing constant results. It is impossible. Improvements are needed, absolutely and the ownership can make small improvements. Over time some of the players we consider valuable may loose that stature and we will gain new ones. Some players are not playoff ready and strategically we can move them on over time. Too many teams destroy systems before players get used to the system, constantly flip flopping to get the newest scheme. Remember 3 seasons ago we got in to the playoffs on the last day of the season. Last year we fared much better and were heart broken in the second round. We are only 3 seasons removed from the bottom of the NHL. Have faith that our under 25 team still has a lot of growing to do. Admire them for their commitment to this city and these fans. To the fans who want the team to be turned on it’s head, go root for the Redskins. Ted is patient, not everything goes our way but to the people who stayed behind after Brooks’ goal know there is always hope in a Caps fan. The Stanley Cup is the only competition in professional sports where heroic players can come out of nowhere. Congrats Montreal, I hope this isn’t a fluke for you.
Ted,
Thanks so much for a fabulous Caps season….a record breaking year in many areas. As season ticket holders since 2000 and a fan who watched Labre skate his first game in a Caps uniform, we have much to be thankful for. A great owner, GM, coach and players who are only going to get better. As a result of the way we lost to Montreal, I believe the “young guns” will become the “wiser guns” and continue their exciting brand of regular season hockey, but next season be able to adjust to the team’s defense that they will be facing.
You’re a great man and we’re proud to be associated with you and such a classy, professional, yet family oriented Team like the Caps!! As Bruce says you’ll need a “really big cupholder” next year!!
Go CAPS
Good to recognize the need for serious soul-searching, but not be hasty and ‘blow things up.’ On the other hand, something more than ‘tweaks’ will be necessary. There has to be some accountablilty for failures.
I don’t like all of the calls for GMGM and Gabby’s heads and the hand wringing. Let’s have a little perspective, please. We failed at the ultimate goal. But please consider we got to watch a wonderful season of really exciting hockey with many ups and some downs. Life isn’t so bad. Here’s to next year.
I will ALWAYS be a Caps fan (about 25 years running now), and this won’t make me quit. I believe the core nucleus of this team need to stay, with the exception of the you-know-whos who were absent. Something needs to be done either this offseason or before the deadline.
It’s time to go with the youth in Hershey…bring up the ones that have been waiting their chance, and see how they do. Now’s as good a time as ever.
Is there any way we can bring in Dale Hunter and Olie Kolzig as assistant coaches, so they can be a part of us winning the Cup?
Wishful thinking, but they deserve it for all the years of service to the Caps!
While it is clear that the current roster has the physical tools to win any game, any series, and a Stanley Cup, it is much more difficult to determine whether these guys have the mental/psychological makeup to do so. Those of us not in the locker room have no idea what is going on in there, and we certainly don’t know the players well enough to determine what’s going on in their heads. We think we see problems, but we don’t really know the causes — we can’t really know the causes. All we know is that when the going has gotten tough 3 years in a row, this team went nowhere.
This is not unprecedented in the NHL. Ottawa had a similar team years ago, and San Jose has been in this situation several times. The Rangers were a threat to win a Cup for several decades, but didn’t get there until Messier showed up, and haven’t had a sniff since he left. Having failed to find a Messier, Ottawa finally gave up and dismantled their team, and San Jose has made significant changes as well. It hasn’t worked in Ottawa, and we’ll see about San Jose.
Ted, you and your management team have to figure out whether this group of players and coaches have the ability to change mentally. Can they learn what it takes? Will they do what it takes? Will they risk themselves to block a shot? Will they commit to actually playing in the defensive end, covering somebody and making the effort to break up the opponent’s play instead of simply skating with them, or worse just standing there waiting for somebody else to do the work and get them a breakout pass? Will they take what the opponent gives them and find a way to make that work, instead of stubbornly trying to stay with what the opponent has stacked themselves up to stop at all costs, hoping we won’t change our approach? Will they be determined to win — and will they actually win — not just the 50-50 pucks, but the pucks that initially would seem to be 20-80? Will they go to the net, play for the rebound, even knowing that they are going to get hammered?
Some have already proven they will do these things: Knuble was doing it all series, including on the goal-that-should-have-been the other night. Laich, who scored our only allowed goal the other night by crashing the net and then changed a woman’s tire on the way home, also gets it. Don’t you dare trade that man or I will give up my season tickets.
Others have actually taken a few steps back, including the Captain, who was not the same player after the Olympics and the suspension. Yes he got some goals and a few assists, but he didn’t make a positive difference. Somebody or something clearly got into his head a few months back, and we need to get them out of there.
Is there a Messier out there who can come in and make this team into a Cup winner? Probably not. Is there a coach who can make a difference? Not unless he can change the way these players think.
It is interesting to look at Hershey’s success. First of all, Bruce and Woods both won Calder cups down there, so that gives you a hint that the problem ain’t the coaches or their system. The vast majority of the top players on that roster the past 4 years are AHL lifers or at best future 3rd-4th line NHL players. On our current top 2 lines, only Laich played there. Their leading scorers will never be NHL stars. Many of our most highly regarded prospects aren’t even there — they are in juniors, or overseas.
The Bears do have NHL-quality goaltending, a couple of first-pair NHL defensemen (who played great together the other night, by the way) plus lots of guys who will do what it takes to win in the playoffs, at least at that level. They may not be big enough or fast enough to be NHL stars, but they are winners. Maybe we need to let some of them bring that winning approach to the NHL level next year, even if it means we score a few less goals, or aren’t quite as entertaining, during the regular season.
I don’t know if you are aware but after the game 7 loss Brooksie (laich) came upon a Mother and daughter with a flat tire when he was on his way home, still in his suit he changed their flat tire,stayed with them for 40 minutes, apologized to them for losing the game(they were Caps fans) and when asked how they could thank him, he replied to help someone else who needs it when they come upon them. I hope the Caps organization and their fans appreciate not only his play on the ice but what a good man we have in our organization,We are fortunate to have this fine young man on our team!
“A loyal and devoted fan since 1986 and will continue to be”! Go Caps.
It must be genetics. As far back as I can remember the Caps have struggled in the Post Season.
Lots of questions though:
George:
Theodore is a goner, is Varmalov the answer?
Green & Semin, how many more Post Seasons are we going to hang with them?
I still have faith in this team, a few tweaks and adjustments and you will be ok. One point, do not let the players run the team, that’s what I see, tougher coaching is required, no more Mr. Nice guy, their way does not work!
Teddy, Your post is right from the heart! You have built a franchise that will last a life time! It was a difficult moment and we will shake it off because “THE TEAM”, THE FRANCHISE, & YOU have given us
many great moments and memories from the regular season. The fans have faith in the future because as my son would say Ted Leonsis is a very determined man.
Ted,
While I would love the opportunity to be GM-for-the-day and make some changes to personnel (like trade the defensive liability in Green and get something real in return– couldn’t resist), I’ll let others to that.
Many thanks for your outstanding vision and leadership!!!! While this post season has literally made NHL history, I will not overlook how far the organization has come. Being a lifelong Caps fan for 35 years, I can remember the frustration of the past post seasons. While we have had numerous strong teams, I never felt like we had THE team to win it. This year I honestly believed we had THE team that could win it. What a nice feeling to have. And during the regular season the team performed up to that expectation. Having the decades-worth of disappointment and very low expectations, at least for one season and hopefully seasons to come, we ALL have that expectation. I never really felt that Abe had the same conviction or passion to win the Stanley Cup as yourself. I watched as he made money on the Caps and plowed it into the pitiful Bulletts. You have a strong vision for the Caps and I appreciate it and will not take it for granted. Lastly, many thanks for you words on THE FAN 106.7 yesterday. You’re words were reassuring and I’m ready for next year. “This to shall pass.”
We had a wonderful season, obviously down about the ending.
If you read the fantastic book; “Fooled by Randomness”, by Nassim Talieb you can exactly read about the effects of chance on our lives.
Humans, especially the media try to backfit a story and assign causality when things are many times determined by chance.
You let anyone tell me that 95 shots on goal with a few hitting the crossbar and another one going in and being waived off is not a matter of chance. A few one hundredth of a degree in change of angle and we are not even having this conversation.
Please forward to Ted and the Coach, I am sure they would appreciate the book. I just hope harmful changes do not result from a statistical aberration wholly assign able to chance.
Thank you
David Navari
May 1, 2010
I am a Washington Capitals fan.I was upset the team did not advance to the 2nd round. I heard a rumour about getting rid the head coach. I think that is the dumbest idea and please don’t unless it is absolutely necessary.He is what Washington is made up of and when I heard this I thought whoever started it must be crazy. I’m not blaming anyone in particular but I guess somethings need working on. Good Luck next year and you have at least on fan in Canada cheering your team on.
I’m a Montreal Canadiens fan. What I notice about the Washington fans is that they fully expected to win this final game. They never even considered the possibility of losing. That’s why the Canadiens won. We didn’t assume they would win, not just because we were the underdog but because we weren’t arrogant.
Personally, I think the coaching is all wrong for the Capitals. They need people who can analyse the situation and come up with ideas, not just “shoot harder”. Unless this happens, the caps can’t improve.
Ted- For those that say they have truly been caps fans for a long time and then in the next breath state the entire team is flawed- I truly doubt either their knowledge or tenure as a caps follower.
Back during the Kevin Hatcher, Iafrate, etc..days, I had to read article after article in the Washington Post about the boring “lack of excitement” defensive game the caps play day in and day out. However, I must say: I do believe offense wins games and defense wins championships, but there has to be a balance. I think McPhee and you have done a great job building and doing your best to find the right recipe for a winning combination. JUST because it hasn’t come to fruition yet doesn’t mean the team is completely flawed, it means there are some more tweaks. For everyone else out there, look across the other 30 or so NHL teams and see how much management has done to make as drastic of changes as this organization has to try and find that right combination. No, we did not lift the cup this year but you CAN NOT ignore the fact that management, along with adding Boudreau, broke many Caps records this year and for the first time ever captured the President’s Trophy. Are those accomplishments taking 3 steps backwards? Wake up.
As a season ticket holder, fan, and coach myself, I will TOTALLY agree with the previous statement someone made along the lines of “Hardwork beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”. The HEART (Desire and killer instinct) have to come out stronger to raise the cup.
No matter how talented your team is;
you can’t win in the playoffs without
solid goaltending. The times the Caps
have gone the farthest, they either had
a peaking goalie (Olie) or an averge
goalie who got hot at the right time.
Ted,
Thanks for an overall great season. My family and I have a ton of great memories from this season to share. Both my ten and four year old daughters went to their first and second games this season (crushing wins in both!) My ten year old has since watched every game at home with me since mid-season. Obviously she was crushed with defeat last week, but it gave me a chance to share your quote above and let her know that she’ll appreciate the Cup even more when it does happen.
Remember Cup or no Cup fans will never be satisfied. Riggins once said that immediately after a Super Bowl victory a fan opened his limo door and told him they HAD to repeat next year.
Thanks again and keep doing what you guys are doing!
The pain of the loss has now subsided and we are looking forward to the next season. We will cheer even harder and enjoy the wins even more and when playoff time comes again we, as fans, will be ready to rock the Phone Booth and watch our beloved CAPS lift the Cup. Thank you for an exciting season.
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[...] Ted Leonsis has always been seen as a pioneering owner, certainly when it comes to his ideas on how to use the Internet and new media to market his team and the NHL. His philanthropic efforts are just as impressive. But it may be his heartfelt commitment to his fan base and to the the DC community for which he will truly be remembered (note, he is not going anywhere. In fact, with his purchase of the Wizards, he is a DC guy for the very long term). [...]