WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Capitals are off to a rough start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs despite having the best record in the NHL again this regular season, but that hasn’t stopped most experts from predicting that the team will finally break through and win it all next season.
“Their upcoming quick exit from the postseason will really motivate them to put it all together next year,” said one analyst. “They’ll know what they need to get over the hump and make it all happen then. Their latest humiliation will be a great springboard for them.”
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said he believes the team is close to winning the Cup and will just need a few slight roster tweaks to be right in contention to win it all next year.
“I’m not going to blow this team up just because of one quick playoff exit that happens to come on the heels of a dozen or so others,” he said. “Let’s not forget that this team won a lot of games this year. We’ll be back next year.”
Team captain and star Alexander Ovechkin says he thinks the Capitals will be Cup contenders next year, too.
“When we get eliminated in a few days or maybe even a couple weeks, it will be disappointing,” he said. “But this is a resilient team. We come back every year from the same kind of playoff defeat. I see no reason it won’t happen again.”
Also see … Mad Lib: Why the Capitals Will Win the Stanley Cup This Year
