I am not as big a fan of individual awards and shows as I once was. We have now won a bunch. In retrospect, the awards will be looked at as being milestones in individual careers, but the biggest life time memories will be built around sharing a collective trophy and accomplishing a major communal goal. Enough said.
It was great to see Alex Ovechkin win his third straight NHLPA MVP and to watch Ovie and Mike Green voted onto the league's first all-star team last night. Over the last three years, the Caps have been (arguably) the best team during the regular season in the Eastern Conference -- if not the entire NHL.
They've got a President's Trophy, three division titles, a boatload of goals and points and a bunch more accomplishments. But, once they hit the postseason, their fortunes reverse course.
The Caps have won just one playoff series over the last three seasons despite a combined 323 regular-season points over that span. As a comparison, the Philadelphia Flyers have won five playoff series during the same three years (as a five, six and seven seed), despite only 282 regular-season points.
As the draft takes place this weekend -- and possible trades are considered by GM George McPhee -- it's important to remember that the Caps need players who will sacrifice and battle in the playoffs. And no regular-season accomplishments will help them do that.
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