Aren’t we all glad we drafted, developed, and retained our two-time MVP in Alex Ovechkin. He signed a 13 year extension. He didn’t want to test free agency. He loved our fans and our franchise. He showed respect and love to us and we reciprocated in kind.
Same with Nicklas Backstrom, who just signed a 10 year deal with us to be here during his key free agent years too.
Phew. What a relief. Fans can fall in love and stay in love with these players and our team for the long term. Our players showed commitment, respect, loyalty, and integrity to the fan base and our community. We are very grateful.
When I read some of the articles about the NBA free agency loss of players, I cringe.
I know it will happen to us one day. I don’t look forward to it. Click here to see a bunch of stories that will make your hair stand up. Wow.
So life goes on now in the NBA, and life goes on now in the NHL too. Back to work.
Ernie is a Great guy and GM. I believe given your trust in his abilities Ted, despite the comment about Ernie that he will be Awesome. In my opinion as a native of DC-people need to Let Go of the past mistakes and Move Forward. Like you stated before experience plus new idea equals Long term Success. You stick to your plan, work your plan and I know the organization as a whole will achieve unbelivable successes. Good Luck this upcoming season.
I think Lebron is really going to regret the way he handled this. I don’t think too many would have blamed him for moving on if he had did so with class.
I LOVE YOU TED!!!! WE NEED YOU IN ASHBURN! I’m excited about the Wizards for the 1st time in a long time! I know that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I feel really good about the future of the team based on your management skills!
Teddy, It speaks volumes for you and your organization. TRUST, LOYALTY and COMMITMENT. I am so looking forward to seeing my CAPS back on the ice. I bought a CAPS flag to fly along side my American flag. I’ll raise the flag on opening-day.
I hope you are enjoying your summer.
Ted I think Lebron’s decision should put all the teams with a young franchise player (Utah, NO, CHI, ORL) on notice. There is no time to waste. The Cavaliers left an inept GM in place for Lebron’s first two years and saddled themselves with some awful contracts that limited there ability and flexibility to surround James with talent in future years.
John Wall is a once in a generation opportunity for the Wizards to become a perennial contender in the NBA. Let’s not look back in several years as our star player leaves for greener pastures and wonder how it might have been had we had a better GM.
You have said that part of the rebuilding process is to realistically assess whether your team can ever win a championship, and if not then you should rebuild. A good corollary would be to realistically assess if you have an elite GM, a top 5 or at least top 10. If you don’t have a top 10 GM bringing in personnel, how can you expect to create a top 10 team? Ernie is a fine GM for a team with middling ambitions. Teams of the Grizzlies, Clippers, Timberwolves ilk. If you were to ask the basketball intelligentsia where Grunfeld ranked among NBA GMs, what would you find? I have a hunch but I’m not sure. Are you? If not, then you should be. The opportunities to win a championship are not as readily available in a medium-sized market as they are in a major market like Chicago, Boston, NYC, or LA. For the sake of the fans and the city, please don’t let this one slip away. If you do not have confidence that any aspect of the organization is top-10 in the league, then it needs to be improved upon and that includes the Front Office. Time is of the essence. Four years until John Wall is a Free Agent. Are you confident enough in Ernie Grunfeld that you are willing to give him one of those four years?
Keep resting on those laurels, it’ll give you and McPhee more time to come up with another excuse as to why a team that should be a contender gets bounced in next year’s first round. Remember, don’t use “fluke” you guys already sold that line of nonsense once.
We are very lucky. Now lets reward them by giving them cups. Not that millions of dollars are not rewards
Win a Cup please. Soon. That is all that matters.
Wished you owned the Skins’ and the Nats’ as well!!
Thanks go to both sides. Thank you Ovechkin and Backstrom for believing in this team and not jumping ship like a certain Akron native. Also thanks Mr. Leonis and GMGM for making sure these guys stay. We’re truly fortunate to have such great players that want to do this the right way.
Great work Ted! Thank you.
Rocking the Ted signed Red as we speak ;-jeff
Echo sentiments noted here. Cant help but wonder if a few years from now if we will see Sidney Crosby on a stage for the TSN cameras ala Lebron. Thanks for locking up 8 and 19.
All because you and GMGM have learned to do this the right way. Ovie has been quoted as saying nobody in the Caps organization has ever lied to him or treated him and his family with anything but respect. Washington is truly fortunate to have you as its leading sports owner.
Thanks!
Thought of that last night, myself. Was very thankful that we have guys who signed long term who we can really grow to love and appreciate. I also think that any of the boys wouldn’t pull the stunts LJ did, that they’re stand-up enough and respectful of fans and followers to make a quiet exit, if there ever is an exit.
Yet another reason I follow hockey instead of others.
the nhl is not without its examples of players who refuse to play in a certain market (lindros) or seem to deliberately underperform in a certain market (jagr) – but by and large, our nhl atheletes seem much more down to earth…and much easier to embrace. i’m not sure what the contract longevity is when comparing each of the sports…but it IS gratifying when an owner such as yourself is able to keep a nucleus of players together over a long time. it defines a team…rather than a constantly changing jigsaw puzzle. i hope that we are also able to retain some of our less heralded, albeit equally important, players (such as laich) for the long haul as well. good luck with the wizards…i think it will certainly be a challenge!