Ghost Writer...

The following is a letter that was written last summer that shares a different perspective on some of the inside workings of the Capital's franchise. The letter was not published. Happy reading...

Every one of these comments from "fans" is flawed before they are even written because they come from "fans". No "fan" has the faintest idea what really goes on behind the scenes with this organization. The Caps management says only what they want fans to hear. Players, with a few exceptions, say only what they know will not get them called into the coaches or GM’s office.

George McPhee and Ron Wilson inherited a team built by David Poile and Jack Button. They enjoyed the success of reaching the finals that David Poile earned and should have been a part of. Since the Caps' loss in game four of the Stanley Cup playoffs this organization has gone from an organization committed to hockey and winning with loyalty to it's players and staff to an organization committed to the image of it's upper management and ownership and more recently to not losing more money.

It is unfair to lay the full blame of this team's failures on McPhee although many decisions he made or went along with were to protect his job. The ownership has ruined this team. The arrogance combined with it’s wealth and concern for it’s own image is why this team has done nothing since Abe Pollin sold the team to them. The most glaring example of this is Jaromir Jagr. This decision, even though advised against, ruined the team, ultimately leading to its dismantling. Jagr was brought here because of arrogance, lack of due diligence and because it made the ownership look good to the "fans". Due diligence!!! $77 million over 7 years you would think would demand that you really know what kind of person you were investing in. Talking to just a few people who knew him day in and day out could have kept this organization from making the worst decision in NHL history. Just imagine the players that may still be in Washington. The failure was not Jagr’s fault.

Other decisions speak for themselves. Bruce Cassidy, put into a no win situation. Hiring him, a decision made with a lack of due diligence and no hockey knowledge. He had a great nickname and was probably thought to be controllable. A decision made by ownership and agreed to by others. The failure was not Cassidy’s fault.

Glen Hanlon. A friend of McPhee's hired, when the coach who may have turned things around went to Anaheim. Again, it was not a hockey decision it was a personal decision. It was a lost opportunity at a turning point for the organization.

Comparatively, David Poile, in the same amount of time, inheriting nothing, building from scratch, has put together a team that will contend for the Stanley Cup. He is committed to winning and to his players and is not hampered by arrogance or his ego.

“Fans”, you feel good when you post your comments and you have the right to do so but please do not be disillusioned. Do not believe that these comments have any weight or influence on any decisions made by these people.

The decisions are made by an ownership with more money and ego than sports knowledge, and a group of friends that make up the Caps upper management. Decisions made by people with insecurities, paranoia, and committed to self-preservation with out any concern for how their decisions affect those who really are committed to hockey, winning and the integrity of the sport.

BUT, give a monkey a typewriter and eventually he spells a word! All the failures gave them Alexander Ovechkin. But from this one “word” can they put together a
bestseller? Time will tell but don’t believe everything you read.