2008 was a great year. It was a year of progress and change and growth and promise.

Yikes. I can’t believe I am typing those words.

For the Washington Capitals and our fans, we just finished a remarkable 12 month span, a span in which we were 52-23-6 and for the third best record in the NHL. We made the playoffs last season after a remarkable run. We won the Southeast Division crown too. We are now up 12 points in this year’s race as well in the division.

This season, for the first three months of play, we have the second best record in team history.

We have the reigning all world player on our team in Alex Ovechkin. He is second in the NHL in scoring this season as well. He won every award last season.

And this season, we are playing astonishingly well in spite of a rash of – no – a crazy amount of injuries. Who knows how good we can really be when healthy?

We have also shown the world that DC is a hockey town. We have a great and passionate fan base. Business is booming. The community has embraced this team even in a very tough and gloomy economic environment. So thank you Caps fans everywhere!

Here is to a healthy and happy 2009 Caps fans. I am hopeful I can say, ”You ain’t seen nothing yet!” Happy New Year!