NHL Draft First Round Recap

The NHL Draft is in the books, and while the first two picks were easy to figure out (those were the only two I got correct), the rest provided some interesting moments.

1. Buffalo Sabres-Rasmus Dahlin, D, Frolunda (Sweden)

This was just a formality, as Dahlin is a generational talent on the blue line. He does everything well, and should easily step in as the Sabres' second best defenseman after Rasmus Ristolainen. He may very well be the team's best defender by the end of the season. He was the beginning of the Sabres' attempt to rebuild the blue line, as Mattias Samuelsson was taken at the beginning of the second round, and he should provide a physical presence.

2. Carolina Hurricanes-Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL)

Carolina needs scoring, and Svechnikov provides that in numbers. His play off the puck isn't bad, but he may need to gain a little weight to withstand the rigors of the NHL. Still, his goal scoring is welcome on a team that may be getting a roster makeover soon. That makeover began in earnest today, as Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin go to Calgary while Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and Adam Fox come to Carolina. It feels like a shuffling of chairs, but Ferland provides a physical presence the team has lacked for years while Hamilton provides the team security in terms of contract term. The move also means the Hurricanes won't have the pain of renegotiating with either Lindholm or Hanifin, as both were set to be RFAs soon.

3. Montreal Canadiens-Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat (Finland)

While it may look on the surface that Montreal may have reached to get a center, a position that they have long been unable to fill in any way, shape, or form, Kotkaniemi had been rising on the draft boards in recent weeks. He's no generational talent, but great centers don't often grow on trees, and Kotkaniemi may yet to realize his full potential, especially if Montreal's front office and coaching staff don't foul it up.

4. Ottawa Senators-Brady Tkachuk, LW, Boston University (Hockey East)

The departure of Mike Hoffman opened a need for a scoring winger, and Tkachuk provides that. He also has the same snarl that his father Keith and brother Matthew have, and that should make the Senators a little harder to play against. His timetable to play in the NHL may be sooner than you think if he signs with the team in the next month or so.

5. Arizona Coyotes-Barrett Hayton, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

I've been on record as saying that the Coyotes reached on this pick. He wasn't projected until the middle of the first round, but given that Kotkaniemi went off the board, the Coyotes got spooked into reaching here. This may also be a pick that proves me wrong at this time next year, since Hayton is slated to have a more prominent role on the Greyhounds if he stays there.

6. Detroit Red Wings-Filip Zadina, RW, Halifax (QMJHL)

Conversely, I loved that Detroit picked Zadina here despite the team's massive hole on the blue line. Sometimes, the best available player is there and you just have to go for it. Detroit did well here, and their scoring is going to be better for it. This wasn't the only good thing the Red Wings did in the Draft, as you'll find out later.

7. Vancouver Canucks-Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan (Big10)

Hughes is short even by today's standards, but he provides the team a much needed offensive spark, and with no real game breaker on the Canucks plus some level of uncertainty with Olli Juolevi, it was wise of the Canucks to further bolster their blue line.

8. Chicago Blackhawks-Adam Boqvist, D, Byrnas Jr. (Sweden)

The Blackhawks need help just about everywhere in the pipeline, but they really needed it the most on the blue line. Boqvist is an offensive force from the blue line with some defensive issues (think Erik Karlsson in his draft year), but given that there isn't much for the Blackhawks right now combined with their two best defenders nearing 35, they need all the help they can get.

9. New York Rangers-Vitali Kravtsov, RW, Chelyabinsk (KHL)

Kravtsov wasn't projected to be going until the middle of the first round, and certainly, I had him not at all in the first round, given that Russian players in the draft that aren't potential superstars are rarely certainties. Kravtsov will need to add weight, but his skill set isn't far from what Valeri Nichushkin and Denis Gurianov were in their draft years. Like the Dallas Stars' prospects, Kravtsov carries question marks about whether he wants to be in North America, but he should provide the Rangers a physical presence should he decide to come across the pond.

10. Edmonton Oilers-Evan Bouchard, D, London (OHL)

The Oilers' search for defensemen continues, and Bouchard has the best all-around game of every defenseman not named Rasmus Dahlin. He should continue to develop in London and the Oilers should be thrilled that a player of his caliber fell here.

11. New York Islanders-Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, US NTDP (USHL)

There is still uncertainty with John Tavares, as he is going to talk to five teams in addition to the Islanders before making his decision. In the interim, the Islanders picked a pure goal scorer in Whalstrom. However, unlike Kiefer Bellows, Whalstrom may have the potential to be a little more, as he has power forward ability once he unlocks his full potential.

12. New York Islanders (from Calgary)-Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

The run on defensemen I thought was going to happen earlier this round didn't happen until a little later. Fortunately for the Islanders, it brings them Dobson, a player that needs to fill out, but is already a winner, having won a league title and the Memorial Cup with the Titan. His skill set is also intriguing, as he is just as good as the other prospects, and has a height advantage over most of them.

13. Dallas Stars-Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint (OHL)

If Barrett Hayton had the talent lever that Dellandrea had around him, Hayton would have been right around this spot. As it is, Dellandrea is every bit the player Hayton is, but with proven character, as he had been drafted by the Firebirds when they had their ownership problems. The numbers are comparable, and Dellandrea can produce regardless of who's around him.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis)-Joel Farabee, LW, US NTDP (USHL)

The Flyers were incredibly frustrating in this round, as Farabee was a smart pick. They have no obvious holes in their pipeline, and Farabee has proven that he can play with superstars. You can never have enough scorers, and that is what Farabee can do.

15. Florida Panthers-Grigori Denisenko, LW, Yaroslavl 2 (Russia)

Denisenko is a Russian equivalent of Brad Marchand in that his play can sometimes go over the line. However, like Marchand, Denisenko is also capable of scoring, and given that Florida lacks snarl, this is an okay move. It would have been better had he not had the Russian factor hanging over his head, as he may be a while in coming over.

16. Colorado Avalanche-Martin Kaut, RW, Pardubice (Czech Republic)

Kaut is seen as a safe pick, as the worst he could end up in the NHL is third liner. The Avalanche coincidentally need secondary scoring, which is exactly what Kaut provides. If Kaut comes to North America to play, as reported by local sources, that may speed up his development.

17. New Jersey Devils-Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL)

Despite making the playoffs, the Devils' defensive depth was on full display, as they got repeatedly torched by Tampa Bay in the first round. Smith is similar to Will Butcher in that offensive upside may be limited, but he is responsible in his own end. With no real playmaker on the blue line available at this spot, the Devils picked the best available here.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets-Liam Foudy, C, London (OHL)

Columbus reached here a little, but like with Barrett Hayton, this pick may be looking good this time next year. Foudy is fast, and Columbus needs some speed down the middle. His offensive numbers looked way better in the second half of the season, and he is in line for a bigger role in London next season.

19. Philadelphia Flyers-Jay O'Brien, C, Thayer Academy (USHS)

Remember when I said the Flyers were a frustrating team in this round? This is why. O'Brien wasn't even projected to go until possibly the third round, yet the Flyers took him here. Why didn't they trade out of the pick? Better yet, why did they leave Joe Veleno on the board? You want to pick a center that badly, Veleno would have been a good pick here. Instead, this one has Mark Jankowski written all over it, as O'Brien may not even be ready for 4-5 years, and even then, he doesn't have high level talent potential.

20. Los Angeles Kings-Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat (Finland)

Before Jesperi Kotkaniemi ascended the draft boards at a rapid pace, Kupari was relatively close in terms of which Finnish center would come off the boards first. Kupari tailed off a little in the second half, but his potential is there, and the Kings' continued commitment to speed in the draft rewards them here.

21. San Jose Sharks-Ryan Merkley, D, Guelph (OHL)

This pick has either the potential to be a home run or a major bust. Merkley has talent that would have put him in the top five of this year's draft. His attitude is what caused him to slide down the boards to possibly second round in some cases. In other words, he will either be PK Subban or Anthony D'Angelo in terms of what he can be in the NHL.

22. New York Rangers (from Ottawa via Pittsburgh)-K'Andre Miller, D, US NTDP (USHL)

The Rangers traded up to pick a project in Miller, as he's only been on the blue line for about three years. However, the potential surrounding him is immense and he could very well be the best pick the Rangers made this round, especially if he uses his time in Wisconsin wisely.

23. Anaheim Ducks-Isac Lundestrom, C, Lulea (Sweden)

Solid, two-way player and fills a need for the Ducks down the middle, as they are facing potential problems with center depth soon with Ryan Kesler likely missing this coming season to surgery and the uncertainty of what he can be if he comes back. Given Ryan Getzlaf is nearing his mid-30's, passing on Joe Veleno could be a mistake down the line, but Lundestrom provides more in terms of being a safe pick.

24. Minnesota Wild-Filip Johansson, D, Leskand Jr. (Sweden)

With a number of defensemen on the board and the Wild needing somebody there, Johansson isn't the best pick available, but he is solid in all areas. He may need a couple of years to put on weight, but it's not a bad pick here.

25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto)-Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo Jr. (Sweden)

Bokk provides scoring, something that the Blues lacked. However, they also needed a center, which once again, Veleno would have provided. This may turn out to be the pick that the Blues regret lest Robert Thomas is that second line center next year and/or Bokk turns out to be the second coming of Vladimir Tarasenko.

26. Ottawa Senators (from NY Rangers via Boston)-Jacob Bernard-Docker, D, Okotoks (AJHL)

At this point, you could put in a number of defensemen here and it would be good to decent. Bernard-Docker is actually the safest pick of the defensemen available, as nothing truly stands out, but he also doesn't make many mistakes. North Dakota awaits him next year.

27. Chicago (from Nashville)-Nicolas Beaudin, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)

Another undersized defender picked by the Blackhawks, I thought this would have been where they either took a forward or took a gamble on Bode Wilde. Still, Beaudin is a good pick that was often overshadowed by fellow QMJHL defenseman Noah Dobson. He will provide offense and maybe more if he adds weight.

28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay)-Nils Lundkvist, D, Lulea (Sweden)

Even this late in the first round, Lundkvist is a bit of a reach. However, his potential isn't bad and the Rangers can afford to let him develop for a while, especially with the glut of defenders already in the system.

29. Toronto Maple Leafs (from St. Louis via Winnipeg)-Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

I thought Sandin would have gone higher than most. Toronto was able to trade down and still get the guy they wanted plus extra picks. Sandin has offensive upside and will likely spend an extra year in major junior.

30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas)-Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)

Shockingly, Veleno was the one to take the free fall in the draft. Fortunately, Detroit decided to take the best player available, and despite needing defenders (they would take Jared McIssac a few picks later), it's hard to pass on a player of Veleno's caliber. Great pick by Detroit here, as it seems to be the theme for them throughout the draft.

31. Washington Capitals-Alexander Alexeyev, D, Red Deer (WHL)

This is the Brooks Orpik replacement pick. Alexeyev had an up and down season, but he carries size and a physical component. Offense may be an issue, but character is not, as he had left Red Deer to be with family after the death of his mother and came back to finish the season in time for the WHL playoffs, where he played with an injured finger.

NHL mock Draft: picks 24-31

There is big news involving a three way trade that I will get to at some point, as it relates to the clown show known as the Ottawa Senators and the potential impact it may have on its star player. In the meantime, I need to finish this mock draft, which is likely going to be wrong save for maybe the first three picks.

24. Minnesota Wild-Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint (OHL)

The Wild's center spot is getting older and the surest things in the system haven't proven themselves yet, as Joel Eriksson-Ek hasn't been the player they Wild envisioned yet and Luke Kunin has injury issues. Dellandrea already has shown character, playing on a Flint team that had been in turmoil early in his time there, and he has skill that may only be in the beginning stages.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs-Sampo Ranta, LW, Sioux City (USHL)

The Maple Leafs may look to trade out of this spot, given their wealth of prospects. Should they stay, left wing may almost certainly need an infusion, and with the number of prospects, they can afford to take on a project in Ranta, a goal scorer who will likely need two years minimum at Wisconsin.

26. New York Rangers (from Boston)-Martin Kaut, RW, Pardubice (Czech Republic)

The deadline trades strengthened the Rangers' blue line prospect pool, and center looks set if Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil both make the NHL roster next season. The Rangers may look to trade up, since they have another pick at 28. Kaut might be the safest pick, as he doesn't truly excel in one category, but does everything fairly well.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville)-Mattias Samuelsson, D, US NTDP

The Blackhawks need defensemen badly. With the scoring need addressed earlier in this mock draft, they get a physical player in Samuelsson, who shows better offensive acumen than his father Kjell, who played in the NHL in the late-80's and early 90's.

28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay)-Filip Johansson, D, Leskand Jr. (Sweden)

The Rangers could always use another player on the blue line, especially since there is uncertainty as to who will emerge. Johansson is an all-around player that may have more offense than what he's shown thus far.

29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg)-Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)

The Blues need to close the gap between the first and third lines. With the possibility of either Tage Thompson or Robert Thomas getting regular NHL time next season, that means the Blues need another center to groom. McLeod needs to be more than just a speed guy, but he will have time to develop.

30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas)-Jacob Olofsson, C, Timra (Sweden)

The Red Wings need any help they can get, and though it is unknown what Olofsson's offensive upside is, his two-way game already would put him in position to join the NHL next season if he chooses.

31. Washington Capitals-Nicolas Beaudin, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)

The Capitals need to continue to stock the defenseman pipeline, with Madison Bowey already graduating to the NHL and Lucas Johansen potentially close. Beaudin needs to gain weight, but the rest of his game suggests that he can be a quality defender on an NHL roster.

NHL mock Draft: picks 16-23

I'm trying to catch up here before the Draft Friday, so here's my picks from 16 to 23.

16. Colorado Avalanche-Joel Farabee, LW, US NTDP

The Avs addressed their blue line depth in last year's Draft, and now, their main objective is to get more scorers in the pipeline. A year at Boston University should give Farabee a chance to pack on a little weight, but his ability is there, and if he gets paired with either Nathan MacKinnon or Mikko Rantanen down the line, it would unlock his full potential.

17. New Jersey Devils-K'Andre Miller, D, US NTDP

The Devils are still fairly thin on the blue line even with the addition of Sami Vatanen and the emergence of Will Butcher. Miller still has room to grow, especially since he's still learning the position, but the rewards are immense and he will get a little time to learn in Wisconsin.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets-Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat (Finland)

The ceiling is high for Kupari, but consistency is an issue that needs to be sorted out. Still, the Blue Jackets need scoring, and Kupari would, at his best, provide that.

19. Philadelphia Flyers-Serron Noel, RW, Oshawa (OHL)

The Flyers don't have much in the way of needs in the pipeline, but do have some holes to fill at the NHL level. Noel provides a power forward skill set that could very well match that of current Flyer Wayne Simmonds.

20. Los Angeles Kings-Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax (QMJHL)

The depth on the blue line may become an issue soon, especially if Drew Doughty leaves soon. McIsaac won't replace his offensive numbers, but everything else about his game suggests that he can be a solid player who's proficient in his own end.

21. San Jose Sharks-Jett Woo, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)

San Jose needs to get younger on the blue line, and there isn't much in the pipeline. Woo is more of a physical type and won't provide much offense, but his game is similar to Marc-Edouard Vlasic, something that the Sharks will happily take.

22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh)-Barrett Hayton, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Ottawa is thin down the middle, and if Matt Duchene leaves after the season, the Sens are in major trouble. Hayton will get a chance to show more of what he can do offensively, but he's already a player who shows great detail defensively.

23. Anaheim Ducks-Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo Jr. (Sweden)

The Ducks need skill players, and bad. Bokk may just be scratching the surface of what he can do, and he may also need to pack on a few pounds, but the potential is there, and he got to play on the same team as Elias Pettersson, who is slated to debut in the NHL next season a year after being drafted.

NHL mock Draft: Picks 9-15

Continuing on to the NHL mock Draft, and picks 9-15, I'll try to get in the selections with the World Cup going on.

9. New York Rangers-Brady Tkachuk, C/RW, Boston University (Hockey East)

The Rangers have three picks in the first round, and they can afford to wait until later to pick a defenseman. They can also trade up if they need to. Should they think Tkachuk could come off the board earlier and they want him, a trade up is possible. Then again, a defenseman heavy draft could very lead to Tkachuk falling if the Rangers decide to stay put. Tkachuk is almost like his dad and older brother. In other words, a power forward that can make life miserable for the opposing players.

10. Edmonton Oilers-Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

The Oilers are in a precarious spot with the salary cap, and there is word that they may be moving the pick along with a hefty contract. Should they stay, Sandin provides the most offensive upside of the defenders remaining. He also happens to be fairly proficient in his own end, something that was evident when paired with fellow Draft-eligible defenseman Adam Boqvist.

11. New York Islanders-Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)

A playmaker who has immense talent, Veleno showed most of what he can do after a mid-season trade to Drummondville. Already a champion with Saint John in 2017, his talent level can be even higher, and with John Tavares likely a goner, he can step in as a top center once he makes the NHL.

12. New York Islanders (from Calgary)-Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL)

The Islanders were terrible in their own end last year, and Smith is the best defensive defenseman available in the Draft after Dahlin. He may not provide much offense, but the Islanders aren't exactly hurting in that category.

13. Dallas Stars-Isac Lundestrom, C, Lulea (Sweden)

The Stars may wish to address their center depth soon, as Martin Hanzal is better suited for third line duty and Jason Spezza is seeing a pretty steep decline in skill. Lundestrom may not be flashy, but he does a lot of things well and his skill set reminds some of current Nashville center Calle Jarnkrok, who can play a complete 200-foot game.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis)-Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat (Finland)

The Flyers may need to force feed a few of their current prospects into the NHL roster soon, which of course means that it's a good idea to stock up on prospects with a high ceiling. Kotkaniemi may be seen as a late bloomer, but he has great potential offensively and is continuing to work on being better in the areas he needs to improve upon (i.e. skating).

15. Florida Panthers-Bode Wilde, D, US NTDP

Hockey sense is a question mark for Wilde, but everything else checks out. Florida needs defensemen badly, and Wilde has potential if he can improve his hockey sense.

2018 NHL mock Draft: Picks 1-8

With the NHL Draft just a little over a week now, the mock drafts are coming together...except for mine. That changes today, as I begin my sixth year doing this, with the actual results hopefully resembling mine a little. Like every year, the mock draft will be broken down into parts. Today, picks 1-8.

1. Buffalo Sabres-Rasmus Dahlin, D, Frolunda (Sweden)

Never has a defenseman received as much hype as Dahlin, who is viewed as a generational talent. His year included a roster spot on the Swedish Olympic team. He has the size and ability to step in right away, something that Buffalo will happily take, as their defense is rather thin after Rasmus Ristolainen.

2. Carolina Hurricanes-Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL)

Carolina picked a bad time to have the second overall pick, as their needs are where this year's Draft is weak. However, given that everyone except Sebastian Aho is considered tradeable, a pure goal scorer is exactly what the Hurricanes need. Svechnikov is the best player in this regard.

3. Montreal Canadiens-Filip Zadina, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

Like Carolina, the Canadiens' needs are not highly ranked in this Draft. However, if there is a team that is a prime target to trade down to get more picks, it's Montreal. Should they stay at three, Zadina would be just as good of an option as a scorer, especially if Max Pacioretty gets moved. Zadina is also a little better defensively, which should help the Canadiens, who need to play 2-1 games consistently.

4. Ottawa Senators-Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan (Big 10)

With recent increased rumors of Erik Karlsson maybe on the move, the Senators need a defender that can come close to his talent level down the line. Hughes is the safer pick between him and Adam Boqvist, as Hughes appears to be closer to NHL ready if he leaves Michigan right away.

5. Arizona Coyotes-Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

Though they picked Pierre Olivier-Joseph last year and Jakob Chychrun the year before, the Coyotes still need to stockpile the blue line, particularly if they let Niklas Hjalmarsson walk and/or buy out either Alex Goligoski or Jason Demers in the next year or so. Dobson may need another year or so before he's ready, but he's got high potential and is already a winner, as he was on the Acadie-Bathurst team that won both the QMJHL title and the Memorial Cup this year.

6. Detroit Red Wings-Adam Boqvist, D, Byrnas Jr. (Sweden)

Detroit hasn't had a great offensive option from the blue line since Nicklas Lidstrom retired. Mike Green is likely gone in free agency, and there's no guarantee Dennis Cholowski will develop. Boqvist has the best offensive potential from the blue line out of all the defensemen in the Draft not named Rasmus Dahlin.

7. Vancouver Canucks-Evan Bouchard, D, London (OHL)

Although depth on the blue line is good, the Canucks lack a true number one defender. Olli Juolevi recently underwent surgery, so the Canucks may want to consider a fall-back option. Bouchard is more well-rounded than many of the defenders in the Draft, and he has the size most don't.

8. Chicago Blackhawks-Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, US NTDP

Though they need defensemen more, the Blackhawks do have the luxury of waiting until the end of the first round thanks to having Nashville's first round pick and the Draft being pretty good on defensemen. Wahlstrom would give the Blackhawks another scorer that could potentially go along with Alex DeBrincat in the future.

The Caps' Circle of Life

The image you see above is one that Washington Capitals fans finally get to see after 45 years or so of failure and misery. So, how did it finally get to this point? Let's look back at their history.

The Capitals entered the NHL in 1974 along with the Kansas City Scouts. They were literally the worst team ever, setting records for futility in their first year and only winning one road game all year. In fact, their first eight years were usually bad, with talk of them actually being moved out of the DC area. In 1982, David Poile would become General Manager and orchestrate a trade that would solidify their blue line, as Rod Langway came over from Montreal that same year. Add to the likes of Bengt Gustafsson and Mike Gartner, and the Captials would finally break through into the playoffs that year. The problem was that the New York Islanders were in the midst of their dynasty, and they were thus knocked out in the first or second rounds. They would make the Conference finals in 1990, where they were swept by Boston. In 1991, the Capitals would begin what became a recurring theme in the playoffs, as they encountered their kryptonite in the Pittsburgh Penguins, losing to them nearly every time they made the playoffs in a stretch from 1991 until 2001 (That theme would carry over a few years after that, but that will be covered later.). In 1994, the Capitals did manage to get one over on the Penguins, but were promptly pushed aside by the eventual champions of that year in the New York Rangers. 1998 was a banner year for the Capitals, as they would make the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their history on the back of Olaf Kolzig and Peter Bondra. However, their maiden trip was anything but joyous, as the Detroit Red Wings swept them aside on their way to winning back to back Stanley Cups. After more Penguin pain, in the 2001 offseason, the Capitals would poach the Penguins roster for Jaromir Jagr. Unfortunately, success did not follow him to Washington, nor did it reverse the team's fortunes, as they would only make the playoffs once in his time there, losing to Tampa Bay in 2003. They hit rock bottom in 2004, trading nearly everyone with value, including Jagr.

In the 2004 NHL Draft, the Capitals picked a generational talent in Alexander Ovechkin, who would have his rookie year in 2005 thanks to the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season. The team still stunk, but Ovechkin began pumping life into the team. It wasn't until the middle of the 2007-08 season, when Bruce Boudreau was installed as head coach and Nicklas Backstrom had a coming out year that the Capitals made the playoffs once again. Once again, they couldn't get past the second round, as among their owners, the Pittsburgh Penguins resurfaced after a tear down and rebuild of their own to take the Capitals down in 2009. 2010 was a good year, at least in the regular season, as the Capitals won their first Presidents' Trophy. However, they fell to Jaroslav Halak and the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. For the next few years, the Capitals still couldn't get past the second round, as the New York Rangers took ownership of the Capitals from 2012 to 2015. In that time, the team went through four head coaches, and there were constant rumors of Ovechkin getting moved. Things didn't get better, as Pittsburgh returned to take ownership of the Capitals in 2016 and 2017 en route to their Stanley Cup championship in those years.

The 2017-18 season was one with considerably less expectations, as the Capitals were on the verge of salary cap hell, as they were forced to let key players such as Karl Alzner, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Marcus Johansson all leave. While they won their division, it also came with an asterisk, as Braden Holtby had a terrible year to the point where Phillipp Grubauer was starting the playoffs as the starting goaltender. Things got off to a rocky start, as they lost their first two games of the first round. However,  Holtby was reinserted as the starter, and the Capitals won the next four games and the series. The second round brought a familiar nemesis in Pittsburgh. However, the script was rewritten, as the Capitals finally found a way to beat Pittsburgh and make the Conference Finals and face another potential owner in the Tampa Bay Lightning. It looked like they were going to bow out when they were down 3-2 in the series. However, Holtby summoned his previous Vezina Torphy winner form and shut out the Lightning in the last two games to help guide the team to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in team history. After a wild game one against the Vegas Godlen Knights, it looked like the magic would finally run out. However, Holtby would make the save that Capitals fans will be talking about for a long time as the turning point in the series, as they would steal game 2. From there, Ovechkin put the team on his back and the rest of the team provided the necessary support in giving Washington not only their first wins in the Finals, but now, the Stanley Cup to go along with it.

In conclusion, the Stanley Cup win not only erases the failures of Washington's past, but also puts Ovechkin in the conversation as one of the league's all-time greats. In fact, his career trajectory mirrors that of another player that had to wait about 14 years to win his first Stanley Cup in Steve Yzerman, a great player that couldn't win the big one and was once rumored to be on the trading block for Alexei Yashin. All of that is now over for Ovechkin, as he finally has his place in the sun, and the Capitals no longer have to be subjected to endless jokes about never being able to win the big one.

End of the Snow Error

Yesterday, the New York Islanders finally turned the page on the Garth Snow era, as he was shown the door along with head coach Doug Weight. The end really occurred a few days ago, as Lou Lamoriello came to the Islanders after he was stripped of the General Manager's title in Toronto. So, what did Snow accomplish on the Island/Brooklyn?

• On one of his first days as General Manager in 2006, a role he accepted after retiring and after the Islanders unceremoniously dumped Neil Smith after 41 days on the job, he handed out one of the single worst contracts in league history, as he was the General Manager of record when Rick DiPietro signed his 15-year deal. You know the story, and he was eventually bought out in 2013.
• Draft history: besides John Tavares in 2009 and Brock Nelson in 2010, the Islanders have had trouble developing their top prospects. Nino Neiderreiter was almost ruined before he got traded to Minnesota, where he is now a 30-goal threat every year. Ryan Strome (2011) never developed, and now, he may be for bustdom, as he hasn't developed as hoped in Edmonton. Griffin Reinhart (2012) hasn't even made the NHL as a regular and he's on his third team in Vegas. Michael Dal Colle (2014) is looking more and more like a bust while Josh Ho-Sang (also 2014) is still looking to crack the NHL roster permanently. Mat Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, both 2015, appear to be future fixtures for years to come, but mostly, the Islanders have had major inability to either develop players or allow them to sink or swim at the NHL level, instead relying on over-the-hill veterans that clog up roster space (see: Ladd, Andrew).
• Dating back to the DiPietro debacle, the Islanders have never been able to identify a number one goaltender. Jaroslav Halak, Thomas Greiss, Evgeni Nabokov, and DiPietro haven't been the answer, and their ability to draft and develop goalies has been awful.
• Incompetence at head coach. Instead of trying to get coaches that know what they're doing or at least a good name coach, Snow went with the likes of Ted Nolan, Scott Gordon, Jack Capuano, and Doug Weight. Those coaches were either incompetent, cancerous, or both.
• The trades: The aforementioned Neiderreiter trade netted them Cal Clutterbuck, and while he's a good fourth line player, they are also stuck with him for four more years. Matt Moulson and a first round pick for Thomas Vanek? Not working. It also forced them to make numerous trades to get back in the first round in 2015..twice. While the picks have worked out to date, it also robbed the Islanders of the number of players they could have added with the extra pick or two.

All Snow has to show for his time with the Islanders: one playoff series win, and even that would be deemed questionable. It will remain to be seen what Lamoriello can do and who he hires as head coach, but one thing is for certain: the bar it set pretty low for the Islanders, and Lamoriello is only being tasked to be somewhat competent.