Greensboro, NC -- After another 2 pick draft and crazy offseason spending spree by the Redskins, a dozen win season by the Wizards, and a huge stumble out of the gate by the "Natinals," DC does have one team it can focus its attention: The Washington Capitals.
After a come from behind, 7 game series against the frustrated New York Rangers, the Caps were skating high into the NHL match-up of the year: Ovechkin vs. Crosby. If you didn't see tonight's game, you missed a scintillating, duo hat trick performance by the Pens' and Caps' star players. The Caps now take a 2-0 lead heading into Pittsburgh.
Ted Leonsis, the Capitals' first class owner, realized during the 2004 season that trading for star players (Jaromir Jagr) and spending on pricey free agents (Robert Lang) isn't the correct way to build a consistent playoff team for a sport based on team unity and cohesion, very much like football, and to a certain extent, basketball. By building the core of the team through the draft -- Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Green -- then supplementing the team through low priced free agents -- Federov, Kozlov -- the Caps used the standard blueprint for building a perennial playoff team. Fans from DC are delighted that one team finally did it right.
You would think the Caps could share their blueprint with their city friends, but Snyder and Lerner choose to hum their own tune. Coincidence or not, Leonsis is the most approachable owner in DC (and in sports for that matter); he wants you to contact him, and he listens. Snyder and Lerner both shun the spotlight and their fans' reception... and their teams are awful... karma?
The Nationals have a choice next month to go the "Capital Route" and draft uber prospect RHP Stephen Strasburg with the first pick in the MLB draft. For a team needing a facelift, or a face for that matter, Strasburg would solve many of the teams' problems: pitching depth, a franchise player, an ace, etc. Of course, all they have to do is negotiate with Scott Boras. Let's go Caps!
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