Last year the Caps returned to their original colors and new logos in June and stormed out of the gate in October, going 3-0. Then injuries, apathy and suspect goaltending led to a 3-14-1 skid that cost coach Glen Hanlon his job on Thanksgiving. The next day, the Capitals rallied to beat the Flyers in overtime in Philadelphia, giving new coach Bruce Bourdreau his first NHL win. From there Capitals slowly worked their way back into relevancy and signed Alex Ovechkin to a $124 million contract. At the trade deadline they acquired Cristobal Huet who led the Caps on a tear, winning his last nine regular season starts. The fanbase was energized and turned Verizon Center into a sea of red (without giveaway t-shirts too) Washington captured the SE Division crown and faced the Flyers in a 7-game epic. The Caps got bullied for several games, but figured out how to play in the playoffs and forced game 7. By then they were too tired and fell in overtime of game 7 after two consecutive penalties.
Since then, the Caps watched Boudreau win the Jack Adams Trophy and Ovechkin sweep the post-season awards.
This year, the Capitals return very much on the NHL radar with Ted Leonsis looking for disrespect to motivate them. He is uncomfortable with the praise the Caps are getting because they have not really done anything yet which is a very healthy outlook
The team that returns is almost the same as the one that left with a maxed out salary cap. A notable departure is G Cristobal Huet, the deadline acquisition whose nine straight wins to close the season put the Capitals in the playoffs. The Capitals tried to resign Huet and even met his demands, but he decided that he preferred Chicago. Also leaving is long-time G Olie Kolzig who departed for Tampa Bay after playing his entire career in the Capitals organization — he’ll be back someday to see his number in the rafters. Jose Theodore, a one-time elite goalie, arrives in their place after a comeback season in Colorado. He was widely seen as the second-best goaltender available after Huet in free agency. Unlike the two goalies above, Theodore has won a playoff series recently.
The offense which came to life last year behind Ovechkin’s 65 goals and the emergence of Nickalas Backstrom should be even more powerful than last season. Boudreau likes to attack the other team and feels the high risk/high reward style forces teams to play on the Capitals terms. At the very least, it makes for exciting hockey. The return of injured centers Michael Nylander and Chris Clark, the captain, should also help the attack.
Tonight’s game is against Atlanta a Southeast division “rival.” Tomorrow night, hockey night in Washington debuts for the 2008-09 with Huet and his new team, the Chicago Blackhawks an excellent coincidence on banner raising night.
It should be a fun season and I expect the Capitals to at least reach the second round, but fully capable of going farther. We shall see.
Capitals blogs I regularly read:
Japers Rink – Long-running, one of the best
Dump and Chase – washingtoncaps.com beat writer Mike Vogel
On Frozen Blog – hockey is everything to these guys, this chick
Off Wing Opinion – the longest running
A View from the Cheap Seats – a woman’s perspective
Bleatings from a Caps Nut – grumpy
The Peerless Prognosticator
Ted Leonsis – the boss
