The team is working hard; staying together; and trying to get healthy. See article enclosed.
I saw Alex Ovechkin last night at the Wizards game. He was with his dad. He was upbeat, calm and quite focused and serious. He is the leader and captain of the team. I am hopeful the players take their cue from their captain.
I would like to thank so many fans for their words of advice and wisdom and support during the last 48 hours or so. Even the fans that have strong opinions regarding change have been straightforward, honest and not cursing in email. Thank you again.
If I can paraphrase two of my favorite emails:
“You are still 10 points ahead of the ninth place team in the conference. I do think you will make the playoffs and that is all I wanted from the team this season. I and many fans didn’t want the pressure of finishing the year with the best record in the league like last season. It is the playoffs that matter. Frankly, I wanted the team to face some adversity during the season. Yet now that we are losing games, I am unsettled and very angry with you and the team.”
“I am so confused. You made the exact trade that I wanted – a skilled younger forward for a vet tough D man – and we haven’t won a game since the trade. Is change that hard? Is this a coincidence? What do you think is going on?”
“I always thought our team would play better defense without Schultz and Green on the blue line. You know I don’t like those D men. You need to make some trades and bring in more D men.”
“You made a big mistake in getting younger and injecting so much change this season. You told us you would but it is a step backwards. Carlson, Alzner, Neuvirth, Varlamov, Johansson, King, Hendricks. This is too much change from last season. I don’t like it.”
“You must change everything about this team – staff; systems; key players. If you don’t change, the season is doomed.”
“How did the Southeast division get so tough? I can’t believe that Atlanta and Tampa are playing so well and if the season ended today, three teams in the division would make the playoffs. Yet I do believe that this higher level of competition will serve us well if we make the playoffs.”
We are facing true adversity now. It is healthy and perhaps necessary although let us be honest, we don’t like it. Just like real life trials and tribulations. But we are short-handed. We need confidence and calm and focus and belief. And hard work. We are in it together.
All of us – with fans at the forefront – I appreciate your missives and your communiqués to me. Thank you.
See you all tonight at Verizon Center. Go Caps!
We’re counting up, but the wrong side of up. When will the bleeding stop? It may be true that they’re working hard, but the results are Redskins like. And that’s not a good thing. I appreciate all the things that Ted and the Caps do for the community. Still, seven loses in a row with no end in sight? After the playoff meltdown, it was clear to me that Bruce did not make any adjustments to the Montreal attack. Now that everyone plays the Caps similiarly, the results are more or less the same. DEFEAT. This does not bode well for the future. Keep Bruce if you want, but I’m afraid that the Stanley Cup is just a figment of the imagination, as far as Caps fans are concerned. With this kind of talent, this should not happen. But it has and continues to go on. The Lakers may have lost four in a row, but they are the champs, and they know what to do. The Caps are nowhere near champs and at the moment are more like chumps. Hopefully, they get out of the funk. This team is playing poorly, no matter what you say. After all, the definition of poor play is the lack of winning. And certainly, there is no argument to the fact that victories are just not there.
Ted, just wanted to say that despite a losing streak, I trust you, I trust the coach, and I trust this team. The game tonight just finished up and while a heartbreaker I see a team that wants to play for their coach and for their fans. The wins will come, they are too good and too proud to not. Please dont let the new media frenzy with this team get to you, Bruce is a coach that this town has needed for a long time. Ive been a caps fan my entire life and I refuse to let the vultures sway my opinion, they dont know hockey, they know how to cause drama where there need not be any. So to sum it up please continue your hard and excellent work, it is much appreciated, trust in this team and in our coach. I’ve never had more faith in a sports team.
As a Caps fan since ’79-80, I too shall be patient. Living in Philly, remember where THEY were at this point last year (changing coaches, out of the playoff picture entire) and where THEY ended up (Stanley Cup finals after making it into the playoff on the last shot of a shootout in the last game). The Flyers simply were a tough team that worked their way thru it, never stopped believing in themselves, in this very tough city (where I live) and the fans are tougher than anyone in DC. This is the time that tries our souls; let’s see how our Caps do.
Born in 1969 and raised in Southern MD I remember the Caps from 1976 on. Good and bad. The 7 overtime game we lost to lose the series….. I still remember just staring at the screen in disbelief. I have always been a Caps fan and always will be.
People need to remember where this all started and where we’re at now. We now have the privilege of seeing some of the best players to ever play the game every night. Ted, GMGM and BB are the ones who got us here. Ted has spent a TON of money to build something lasting and not just a 1 year wonder. GMGM has used the draft picks and the money wisely to build the core group almost every other team would die to have. BB took that core and taught them how to win. They were losing with the same core and BB changed that. No matter what happens going forward don’t forget what all 3 of them have done for us the fans.
If this still is going on when 2011 starts Ted and GMGM may decide we need to replace BB to take that next and final step. I would support their judgement as I support not making a move right now. I hope it doesn’t come to that, BB deserves to lift that cup as much as the players on the ice every night. He has earned it, they have earned it and we have earned it.
We all need to remember the horses that got us here and respect what they’ve done on our behalf. We have come a long ways and for the better part of 3 years we have seen the most entertaining team in the NHL. Enjoy it, cheer the team on and yes, talk about what we need or don’t need but remember how we got here and support and respect the people who have done it. We are classy fans as good as fans anywhere!!! I say all this because when the Caps lift that Cup, this year or next, a part of me will be lifting it with them. We ALL have earned it and we ALL need to remember that and stick together!!!
GO CAPS!!!!!!!!
Sometimes you need to lose to win. I am not worried about the current losing streak. Before we know it, it will have passed. I am very happy with everything with the Caps, granted 64oz beer in a reusable insulated mug would be nice at the games. We are very lucky to have this team.
P.S. The beer guys selling beer in the seating bowl is great.
People, the problem isn’t just with the current losing streak. It is with last season’s Montreal debacle and their sloppy, lackadaisical efforts even in many of the games that they have won. Many think there is a bigger problem than just the current losing streak.
I think that we as Caps’ fans have become a little spoiled. We got so used to winning (almost) every game during the regular season last year that we forgot what it’s like to lose. Maybe the players forgot, too. In my mind, as long as the guys can take something from this losing streak that will eventually make them a tougher team to beat in the playoffs, then so be it. Who cares if we finish 3rd in the conference instead of 1st. As long as we make the playoffs, anything can happen. Last year, I had the feeling that it was OUR YEAR. And although we got robbed by Halak and Montreal, I have that same feeling again this year. This team is built to win. It is only a matter of time, Caps’ fans. The Cup will be coming to DC. With Alexander the Great leading the charge, there is no doubt in my mind.
I do have to say one more thing, though… and that is, Ovi, PLEASE SCORE!!! WE MISS YOUR GOALS, WE MISS YOUR CRAZY CELEBRATIONS, and WE MISS YOUR WINNING SMILE!!! All of the things that made us fall in love with you in the first place, please bring it back. I’m sick of hearing about how good Crosby is. He is SO boring in comparison to you.
Light it up tonight, Caps!!!
The price of being such an accessible owner! Hang in there…these are the dog days of the season…this losing streak will not matter in April…just a hiccup, which hopefully turns into the last lesson the boys need to win the Cup!
Yawn, they’ll work it out:
Pay the price in front of the net – for 3 periods
Outwork in the corners – for 60 minutes
Forwards help out more on D – on every shift
D men stay frosty
Don’t just look busy out there – make a difference
Talent is not what you rely on to win games, but it’s often the deciding factor when both teams commit to the above. And god help the team that doesn’t commit to the above, because talent, “luck”, and dreams certainly won’t.
I’m a believer…Let’s Go Caps!
I know this is a weird thing to stand out for me but the one e-mail you had gotten where the guy was like, “You know I don’t like those D-Men. You need to make some trades…” really irked me.
#1: You probably have no clue who he is, much less be able to read his mind and know that he doesn’t like those ‘d-men.’ That is presumptuous, rude and a little delusional. And just slightly creepy. Sorry.
And moving on to the other fans (not necessarily just Caps fans) who are showing their asses right now:
#2: Every team has their slump, whether they’re the best or not. It seems like every hockey fan I’ve dealt with cannot seem to grasp this. Am I upset that the Caps have been on a losing streak lately? Yes, I am. There’s no doubt about it, especially having to work around Pens fans. They make me want to pull my hair out. But am I going to bash the team players and the staff or flip-flop to another team like some Caps fans have been talking about doing? No. I love my Caps and I am fiercely loyal to them, no matter what.
#3: Alex Ovechkin is probably one of the greatest players I have ever seen in my entire life but another issue I’ve seen is that the fan base wants to put the entire team successes and failures on his shoulders. And this was even before he became Captain. They expect perfection from him every time he steps onto the ice and that is not fair to him. He is a man. He’s not perfect. Lay off of the Ovie bashing and let the man do what he has to do. I’m sure no one can be as hard on him as he probably is on himself so the fans’ bashing is completely unnecessary.
That’s about it. Sorry about the rant on your blog, Ted.
I have never given up hope on my Caps. They are still near and dear to my heart and I will be in the stands, right behind Ovi’s dad and brother as always, cheering them on.
A little adversity can be a good thing. The quotes: “Winning doesn’t come easy” and “Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger” seem like the theme of this team right now. However, I have no doubt that they will be back with full intensity, passion, and heart. Let’s Go Caps!
Also, just a note … the year when Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup was the year when they struggled in the regular season and had to even make coach change to make the playoffs.
I don’t like to see the Caps lose, I however know that can’t win them all. I think what is most frustrating for me is that prior to this slide, they played what was a perfect game. They played the way I’ve always figured they could, they stuck to their system, they played good hard defense and when they had to, they shut the other team down and closed off all possible lines of scoring. It was beautiful to see. Experiences are only worth while when we truly learn from them, when we find that lesson that the universe was so desperately trying to teach us. I would like to believe that this team, will learn from this. That they will look back to that perfect game and compare it to these recent ones and that they will finally understand that if they play their system, listen to the coaches that the outcome will be victory! So come on Caps, Unleash the Fury tonight! Play hard, play smart, play strong, play your system and for all the fans, get back to having fun playing!!!!! We miss your smiles, we miss your enthusiasm, we miss your passion and we miss your winning ways!!!!!
I’m taking my 8 year old son to his first ever hockey game tonight. I’m confident that we’ll win this game and build some momentum. Adversity builds character, great things are to come! Go Caps!
Teddy, I have always been in Ah of people who have GREAT writing & communication skills. Thank you for including us. Your a fantastic owner and we have a fantastic team. Its a journey. Rock the Red & Lets Go Caps!
Wow. People around here are so desperate for a championship in ANY sport that they trash the one team that gives us the best chance for it we’ve had in over a decade?
Impatient much?
I, for one, am willing to wait as long as it takes for the Caps to win it all. If it’s this year, fantastic. If not, and they take something away that helps them win it all next year, great.
I’ve been a Cubs fan for a very long time. I know how to be patient. Too bad others don’t.
I will be glad to see a healthy team back on the ice soon, and the wins will come! I trust you, and I trust Coach to make things happen the way they should.
Thanks again, Ted, for being so accessible, and open.