Washington Capitals at game 80

Its been a long season. A marathon of losing, broken hopes leaving a sour taste for Capitals fans everywhere. A journey into darkness as everyone involved in the franchise mourns a lost first season. We know where to place the blame too. Its clear as the morning sunshine here near the base of Mount Fuji that management is at fault.

They knew the team was in for a tough first season when deciding to release the greatest goal scorer in NHL history. A 37 year old future hall of fame player with a nine point five million dollar contract through to the 2025-26 season. Also free to walk away were Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom. It was a shockingly bold move and we can see the results of this decision. Losing permeates the team.

42 losses during regulation time, with a further 9 lost in overtime. A shameful set of statistics. The current roster has a paltry 223 goals scored with an overall -143 plus minus rating. Its a season of titanic record setting conditions resulting in the of dropping game after game. The headlines look for new and interesting ways to report the loss games.

Some are now concerned that the youthful core of this team has perhaps grown to accept the losses. However a tour of the club house after the recent loss to the almost equally woeful division rival Islanders saw the room in silence. “We put in a solid effort, but like the rest of this season it just wasn't good enough” said new team campaign Josh Manson. The coach, despite a very impressive resume and many strong seasons in the past is not well known for developing younger players.

The team has seen almost all its top players traded away. Gone are high end players such as John Carlson, Darcy Kuemper, Tom Wilson and even team captain Jared Spurgeon after being acquired in the Carlson deal. To make matters worse Washington has retained a substantial portion of Spurgeon's deal. Its an ugly balance sheet. Tom Wilson's salary is also retained for next season. Almost 4 million paid to players who suit up for other teams. A disaster of a season.

The team doesn't even have a starting netminder for next season. This is despite having millions of dollars set aside for injured goal tenders such as Robin Lehner and Chris Driedger. Currently Jaro Halak has the inside track to start opening night for season 2. Driedger has returned to play in the AHL this season yes is buried behind the Kraken's Grubauer, Martin Jones and even Joey Daccord. Yet both Jones and Daccord are free agents in the NHL next season so there is some hope Christopher with his 12 games played and 907 save percentage will find his way back to regular NHL ice time. Another AHL goalie in Arvid Holm is playing well for the Manitoba Moose with 34 games played and a 913 save percentage. David Rittich is ahead of him on the depth chart but is UFA at the end of this NHL season, so the hope is he sees backup time behind the franchise aka Connor Hellebuyck. Sadly the NHL Jets have had a questionable season forcing Hellebuyck into playing more than his fair share of games. Hopes and dreams do not make an NHL goalie. So clearly the team needs someone to play in net for next season. Could it be an EBUG ? At this points fans would not be surprised.