The saying “close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades” is the perfect example of the Washington Capitals season. Falling just short of the second and final wildcard spot meant that Alex Ovechkin and company would be watching this years playoffs from the comfort of their own homes, as opposed to playing well into the spring. Here is my Post-Mortem analysis of a team in which I feel is one of the leagues “worst of the best”.
Season Record
38-30-14
Did they Make The Playoffs?
No
What Went Right?
Despite the fact that the Capitals did not make the playoffs, they were right in the thick of playoff contention for the majority of the season. A slow finish to the season ultimately doomed them, but there are positives to take from all of this as well. I think the Capitals have it in them to be one of the leagues premier teams, and with a little help in the offseason filling up some glaring holes, have no doubts that they will be in the playoff race again next season. Alex Ovechkin was his usual self this year, leading his team in points with 79 (51-28-79) in 78 games played and winning the Rocket Richard Trophy for having scored the most goals in the league. While some have argued that Ovi may not have what it takes to lead his team to the promise land, I believe that with a little run support, Ovechkin is primed for many more big seasons with the Caps. Teammate Nicklas Backstrom also had a big year, posting 79 points as well (18-61-79) in 82 games played. As long as these two players continue to produce, Washington fans will have something to be excited for.
What Went Wrong?
For a team that missed the postseason for the first time after getting there the previous 6 seasons, there has to be a feeling of disappointment surrounding the organization. Falling just short of the 2nd wildcard spot (90 points, 9th place), the lack of scoring (besides Ovechkin), a blue line that was exposed and definitely needs to be bolstered, and a goalie controversy played a major role in the Capitals failed season. Oh, and I haven’t yet mentioned their coaching staff or General Manager. When only half of the Capitals Defensemen ended up playing more then half of the season, you know there would be some miscommunication and lack of synergy on the back end. Mike Green, John Carlson, Karl Alzner and Dmitri Orlov were the only defensemen who were around for at least half the year. That spells trouble for any team who is looking for consistency, and led to a lot of shots (and goals) on net.
With what seemed to be a good thing going into the season, having goaltenders Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby ready to man the pipes suddenly turned into a Vancouver Canucks like carousel involving three goalies and one net. It ended up in Neuvirth being shipped off to Buffalo in exchange for Jaroslav Halak, who also ended up being shipped off by seasons end. It has also been speculated that there was quite a bit of drama between players and Head Coach Adam Oates throughout the season, which is never good for a teams mentality. If players have not bought in to the type of system a coach employs, the coach will probably end up not being there long. (See – John Tortorella).
How To Improve This Offseason?
An educated guess would be to change the coaching staff, add a couple pieces that the team needs, and hope to God that Alex Ovechkin will continue to do what he does. The Caps desperately need a solid 1-2 goaltender combination, as well as some consistent defensemen that will get through the majority of the season, all while logging big minutes. Normally I would say that the players should have to buy into whatever strategy their Head Coach is using, but there are some circumstances where your team just works one way. For the Caps, it’s to build an explosive team that is centered around Ovechkin. I would continue to do that for as long as Ovi is willing to play.
Make sure to check out all of our other “Post Mortem” articles for every team in the NHL, and be sure to follow James on Twitter: @hashtagswag604
