Pending A Series Loss, Is the Caps Season Still a Successful One?

[KCC]

No. it's cup or bust for OV and the Caps at this point.

 

[HugginThePost]

Where did I say they'd be considered "failures" if they don't win?

Get off your high horse buddy....

You've still not explained why it is "unlikely" that the Caps lose.......that was my point.

Why use that word? That's a loaded statement, almost like you're looking for a particular response.

In other words.....trollie

 

[Alexei Yashvalev]

If Winnipeg got destroyed by Vegas I won't think badly of Washington for losing to them.

 

[bobholly39]

Of course! No one expected the Caps to contend again, just like no one expected Vegas in the SCF. I want the Cup badly, but I won't say the season was unsuccessful if we don't get it.

Disagree tbh.

I did have Pitt #1 but I had them as Dark horse #2 in east (maybe #3 after Tampa). There's something about losing at that high level that builds character. I liked the fact that both the Caps AND Ovechkin came into this season with no expectations really (most had written them off) after such a disappointing outcome last year.

I do think there's a ton of pressure on Caps to deliver the cup. I get most didn't see them in the finals - but considering all the great teams they've had in the Ovi era, they really need a cup. A finals and no cup will be disappointing - there's no guarantee you make it back next year (or anytime soon).

 

[FinRanger]

Being 2nd best team in 31 team league. Pretty good IMO.

 

[CatOTails]

According to HF this league consists of 30 chokers and 1 SC winner. So right now Caps are halfway to choker label (Vegas too). Biggest potential chokers are OV with disconnected controller and Flower with beachballs.

 

[5minutemajor]

And you call yourself a moderator. What a way to get the first-reply in.

 

[Laineux]

Right. Because what I ask/ and or say on a message board affects the outcome....

When a butterfly flaps its wings it causes a tsunami and when a poster at HFB jinxes a team the team loses...

 

[daver]

If this season is deemed a success then the last two years are massive failures, especially last year. A loss in the SCF means you just failed not as bad as 28 other teams.

For the Caps sake, I hope they have zero sense of "just happy to be here" and treat this like its there only chance to win.

 

[John Price]

Yes!

no matter what happens this season was great. they finally made the finals

 

[Kevs Security]

Yeah and this is the worst Caps roster in years so nobody even thought they would get past Pens

 

[Bumpus]

 

[HanSolo]

6th in league standings. Last Eastern Conference team standing.

How is that not a successful season?

You get to the Finals and you had a successful year. Any other metric and there's only one good team every year.

 

[HanSolo]

I mean, that doesn't make any sense at all. 'You're first or you're last' You-- You can be second, you can be third, fourth. Hell, you can even be fifth."

 

[Ridley Simon]

Vegas's season is already a success. There's nothing they can do ( Short of blowing a 3-0 series lead) to diminish that.

What about the Caps? They weren't expected to be here. But they overcame a 2-0 hole to the Jackets, and shutout Tampa in games 6 & 7.

Absolutely a success. Learned how to win series that previously they’d lost. Keeps the Ovy window open for at least 3more years, IMO.

 

[CapsDC]

Not a total success but every series win makes the season more of a success. Even if you fall short you have to be able to look back and be proud of what your team did. Only 1 team wins a championship every year, everyone else ends with a loss. If you only celebrate and feel good about championships it seems like being a sports fan would be a bit miserable.

 

[trick9]

Anything less than the Cup is not enough for this core.

 

[HunterSThompson]

Successful from which perspective:
The players...No
The management...Yes
The fans...No at first, then yes.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Disagree tbh.

I did have Pitt #1 but I had them as Dark horse #2 in east (maybe #3 after Tampa). There's something about losing at that high level that builds character. I liked the fact that both the Caps AND Ovechkin came into this season with no expectations really (most had written them off) after such a disappointing outcome last year.

I do think there's a ton of pressure on Caps to deliver the cup. I get most didn't see them in the finals - but considering all the great teams they've had in the Ovi era, they really need a cup. A finals and no cup will be disappointing - there's no guarantee you make it back next year (or anytime soon).

Fair enough, I just think that the season isn't a disappointment in the fact that it's a bounce back playoff campaign.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Better to make the finals than not. But once there you want to win.

 

[Newsworthy]

I love N. Backstrom as a player and voice. Basically he said they are in it to win it

 

[PuckSeparator]

Yes, obviously. The Caps were not cup favourites this year and have been noted by pretty much everyone to have an inferior team (on paper) than in years past.

 

[NyQuil]

I'm not sure how many more kicks at the can they have.

They have to win it all.

It's not a choke or anything, but you have to look at it as an unsuccessful season.

This is the culmination of a decade of building.

 

[txpd]

Of course! No one expected the Caps to contend again, just like no one expected Vegas in the SCF. I want the Cup badly, but I won't say the season was unsuccessful if we don't get it.

The Caps expectations are ruled by their reputation and history. Any team with a Vezina goalie, the leading scoring defenseman in the league, 2 all star centers and the greatest goal scorer of his era would be considered a competitive team. Should the Caps win this series, they will be a favorite to win again next year

 

[txpd]

Tell that to the 95 Red Wings or 2011 Canucks. If there's high expectations for a team ( Not the Caps this season), anything short of a cup can be considered a "Unsuccessful".

The season was a success the moment they beat the Penguins and got to the 3rd round for the first time in 20 years. That they then beat Tampa made all the more successful.

Winning or losing in the finals will define their expectations for next year more than define success in this season