So that’s it.
It’s over. For the first
time since the spring of 2007, the Washington Capitals are not in the NHL
playoffs. It’s an odd feeling; one
that I felt was inevitable at some point over the last three seasons, and now
that it has, it’s quite empty. But
it’s here. And now, it’s time to
fix it.
Here are some (very early and preliminary) thoughts about this team and how to do just that.
I’m not going to go in to deep detail over what finally sunk
this team to the level they are at right now. I’ve written about their problems ad nauseam over the last
three years but especially this year and by now, you know what did them in: bad
possession, bad coaching, bad lineup decisions, and poor roster
construction. This is nothing new
if you’ve read anything I have written over the last 24 months.
In reality, this team should have counted itself very lucky
over the last two seasons, but particularly last year, to make the
playoffs. It was their failure to
realize this that has ultimately led us to this moment. Instead of being proactive and trying
to fix a flawed team with deep issues, the cracks were papered over with
rhetoric, public relations work, and t-shirts celebrating yet another Southeast
Division Championship.
Now that the team has finally missed the playoffs for the
first time since “the rebuild,” an opportunity has presented itself for real
change. This means several things,
including but not limited to new people in charge, up and down the totem
pole. It means a new coach/coaching staff and a new general manager.
Names I would consider for each position, respectively: Guy Boucher,
Peter Laviolette, Dan Bylsma/Barry Trotz (should they become available); Jason
Botterill, Al Macisaac, Wayne Thomas, Joe Will.
