Alex Ovechkin. Alex Semin. Semyon Varlamov.
They all played a lot of hockey this year.
A lot of hockey for their country Russia, as well.
There were great disappointments this season. They didn’t medal in the Olympics. We lost as a team in the first round of the NHL playoffs after winning the President’s Trophy during the regular season. And Russia just lost in the finals at the World Championships.
These pictures tell the story.
But if it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger.
I hope our players will now take some quality time off away from the rink to rest up, heal up, and then come back next season refreshed and clear of mind and spirit, and only dedicated to our team’s success. There is no shame in effort. There is no shame in working hard for your country and its hockey program.
Here’s to hoping that next year is all about the Washington Capitals and our long playoff success.
jim, go take a look at how the blackhawks were built. signing big time, expensive free agents along with young talent. guess what, they are already over the salary cap next year with only 14 players signed. what do you think is going to happen to them next year? they will have to shed players, big time. if they win this year, good for them. but they have a very short window to do so. the caps are being built smartly with the window of opportunity opened for many years, not just one.
the pens have three defensemen signed next year with about $10M of cap space to fill those spots and find some wingers for sid.
the caps have much more flexibility to fill holes next year. thats smart cap management.
as ted would say, relax, try and be happy. the team is being managed by professionals who know what to do and wont be sucked into poor decisions which would jeopardize the teams future.
Time to step up. Pittsburgh started rebuilding around the time the Caps did. They have now been to two Cup finals and won a Cup. Chicago started rebuilding after the Caps did. They have been to a conference final and now a Cup final and are odds on favorites to win. And the Caps haven’t gotten past round two. Something isn’t working.
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Ted – I know you are working the Caps v 2.0 formula on the Wizards, but I suggest the v 1.0 is worth a visit. LeBron is not Jagr, he is Ovechkin, a lot more so than John Wall will ever be. LeBron is a proven once in a generation player.
I am not seeing the Wizards in the run for LeBron, but you can really precipitate a playoff team in 2010-11, and set it up for a lot more in the very near future if you went after LeBron in a big way.
Do it Ted – Get LeBron James!
One goal next season – improve or win it all. The Olympics won’t be a distraction and here to hoping our boys will still be playing in the NHL playoffs right now so the World Championships will make room for others to represent their countries next year.
Go Caps!
Seems like there may be some common threads to Russia’s defeat and our own demise in the postseason..could not help but notice that it was written that the vast majority of shots taken by Semin and Ovie were from the Perimeter and that there is some question as to whether the coaching and system in place was the best use of talent and the best approach to winning a championship…..conversely, the Czech’s were not afraid to go to the net…neither are Philly and Chicago…which why the Caps and Russian Team are where they are and Philly and Chicago are where they are….