Washington Capitals NHL Team

In 1972 the Washington Capitals Hockey Team, nicknamed the Caps, came into existence as a professional NHL franchise.  Abe Pollin succeeded in purchasing the hockey team beating out over 11 other bidders.  Their first years would be ones of learning and strategizing to make the team a more competitive and a winning hockey league team.  They are members of the Conference Eastern Division Southeast and have had many struggles within the division winning and maintaining the level of excellence they need and require.

As with all sports teams improvement occurs over a period of time. Throughout the early 1990s the Washington Capitals continued to have major problems with winning hockey games past the first or second rounds in the division playoffs.  For 14 years running the team made it into the playoffs.  The Capitals accomplished making it to second place during the 1985/86 season.  Each year they had a very slow start but seemed to really get going and start their winning sprees during the first couple of months of the year, January and February.

In the late 1990s the Caps won their way into the Stanley Cup finals.  The Caps had defeated the Sabres in six games and would now take on the Detroit Red Wings.  Try as they may they were defeated by the Red Wings in four straight playoff games.  In 2000 and 2001 the Caps were successful in back to back Southeast Division wins but lost in the first rounds of the Cup finals.  They finished the Southeastern Division in 2005-2006 near the bottom of the barrel. Their one light at the end of the tunnel was having their rookie win the Calder Trophy.  Now they will need to rebuild their program to again produce a winning hockey team.