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redsk1 10-06-2009, 04:06 PM washingtonpost.com (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/02/AR2009100204624.html?sid=ST2009100205053)
I'm posting this Caps-Ted Leonis article in the Locker Room, because its what many of us would like to see happen in the Skins Front Office. I apologize in advance for another FO thread, but it's a great article.
A couple of quotes stand out:
"It is very sobering and painful when you look in the mirror and don't like what you see," Leonsis said. "It's easier to go down the 'We're-one-player-away' path. I've been there when I brought in Jaromir Jagr.
"But when you come to that clarity, 'Can this team win a championship?' And if your answer is, 'No,' then you have to do something."
Like tell the truth.
"Of course it was a gamble, because we had a team with brand-name players that fans thought they loved but in hindsight were just familiar to them," Leonsis said. "I said, 'You're going to hate this plan. This is a very hard message for you to internalize. But if you are patient with us, this is the only way we're going to compete for the Cup.' "
Risking losing even his loyalists by waving the white flag, he directly communicated "rebuild" instead of "reload," trotting out an on-the-cheap outfit for two years while promising eventual rewards from the draft and farm system.
SmootSmack 10-06-2009, 04:16 PM I've seen up close and personal what Leonsis has done (along with McPhee and the rest of the front office) to turn the Caps around and it has been very impressive. He gets it, whatever it is, he just gets it. And he's a great guy...still he has had the benefit of owning the Capitals.
As much as DC loves the Capitals now, they have flown (skated?) under the radar for years in our nation's capital. That has been great for management as it has allowed them to make some pretty wretched mistakes to get to where they are now.
SOUL-SKINS 10-06-2009, 04:16 PM God I hate Hockey
SFREDSKIN 10-06-2009, 04:24 PM Maybe he and Dan can swap franchises or have Ted buy the Redskins.
RobH4413 10-06-2009, 04:31 PM God I hate Hockey
Have you been to a game? Four years ago I would have said the same thing. I hated on the NHL, Caps, and the entire sport.
I went to a game, started learning the ins and outs of it, and fell in love with the atmosphere. It's got the old school grit that football has... there's fighting, and there is the finesse aspect of the game as well (see Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, etc...).
Plus when your home team has a player that's the football equivalent of Sean Taylor mixed with Peyton Manning, its hard not to fall in love with the sport.
People sometimes accuse me (and somewhat accurately) of hopping on the bandwagon. My response is, "Look. My entire life I've been a Redskins fan, an Orioles fan, and a Wizards fan... I've now been introduced to Hockey as a sport... so please feel sorry for me, and let me be a Caps fan. I will never jump off this ship"
SmootSmack 10-06-2009, 04:33 PM There is nothing like watching hockey live. TV really doesn't capture hockey well at all.
Big C 10-06-2009, 04:33 PM the capitals really did a great job blowing up the old expensive team pre-cap, and now are a force. was painful to watch for a while, but really pleased with the result.
SFREDSKIN 10-06-2009, 04:40 PM the capitals really did a great job blowing up the old expensive team pre-cap, and now are a force. was painful to watch for a while, but really pleased with the result.
A force? Hell, they just might be the best most talent young team in the NHL. I'll go out and limb and say barring any serious injury, they will their first ever Stanley Cup. I like what Leonsis did, he had great vision and a master plan which he executed to perfection. If there's one weakness is goalie, even though I think Varmalov just might be the answer.
redsk1 10-06-2009, 04:51 PM Those points that the article brought up are legit Skins questions.
1- Can we win the SB w/our current team? My honest answer would be no. Sure any NFL team has a shot but a legit strong chance? No.
2- Why do we always think we are a player or two away? Are we? No, oline help, help at the playmaker positions-WR-RB-QB, and maybe a playmaker on D (even though Orakpo could be that guy).
Listen, we could turn this thing around this year. Let's play it out and see. At the end of the year if we are mediocre or worst, it's time to be honest.
over the mountain 10-06-2009, 05:03 PM yup the caps and ted have come a long way from when ted was squaring off with caps fans after he got rid of bonzai and others.
i still cling to the days of kelly miller, michal pivonka, mike ridley, langway, pete peeters, dale hunter, dino, alan may, bobby gould . . . even that nancy larry murphy. oh the glory days of hockey, how i miss them so . . .
oh back on topic . . . the DS could take a few pointers. I heard an interview with ted and he was asked what did he do when he first got the team and how did go aobut turning the caps around. he said he studied the nhl teams that always put out consistent winners and how they went about it thru the draft and developing their talent with a competent farm system. it was a great interview and ted really highlighted all the background research and studying he did in deciding to take the caps in the direction he did. but really the point he was making was that an owner should really breakdown and study the long term successful teams and model your approach after theirs.
the DS needs to eat some humble pie and spend a few dinners with ted to see how owners can learn, adjust and then thrive.
go skins!!
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