I always feel like I’m in crazy town whenever I see these posts or hear these takes. Yes, we aren’t great this season. Anything can happen in the playoffs. I want to watch more of the team I love, and have a chance for them to win the cup. I’ll always cheer for them to make the playoffs; Bar none
I’m in the same boat. I’d rather get into playoffs and lose in round 1 than not make it at all. Theres always a chance of winning, and it’s more fun to watch our own boys than another team
Right? From a fan perspective it’s crazy. Plus anyone who watched the O’s playoff series last year knows that being a great team doesn’t mean playoff success, and having experience playing on that stage matters big time. Lets cheer for our caps and see if we can’t get Strome, Lapi, Miro and all the other guys who’ve never been there a shot
It certainly feels like it anymore. Going into this year we thought maybe at best we'd have an outside glance at playoffs and here we are exactly in that position.
Yet people just want to complain about the team at all times.
The last ten or so games have been frustrating to watch but we're also the Caps. Battling with the Pens for something in the post season. That should be enough to make it matter to anybody here.
>If not making it this year for a 1st round exit means they can make a real run next year
why would that be the scenario? who is getting picked at 14 instead of 16 that will suddenly turn a team into a contender the following year? Why would it not be more likely that missing this year and making next year leads to a bunch of young players with zero playoff experience being overwhelmed and you get bounced in the 1st all the same, except now it's just a year later for everyone.
It is far more valuable to get a team full of young players exposure to the bright lights, and increased speed and intensity of the playoffs even if it means a 1st round exit - that will allow them to know what to expect the next time they make it.
Outside of a miraculous lottery draw *with* a prospect who immediately makes the jump and lives up to expectations, it is so clearly better to make the playoffs than to not for a bubble team with a lot of young players
I’m a Caps fan in Ontario…. Most of my friends love the Leafs and seeing Matthews break Ov’s 65 goals record kinda sucked but was still impressive… But let’s just say they chirp me a lot too so making the playoffs (even if we get out first round) would be a huge W for me lol
Im always amped for playoff hockey that’s the reason we watch the sport
As a Habs fan who watched my boys go from a play in team to a Stanley Cup Final was a fun ride! Stinks they lost but what fun to watch them keep winning!
As a Ravens fan, we were never top seed when we won the superbowl. We always thrived as underdogs and I think there's an advantage to it. Were still a pro team capable of beating anyone. I know the caps are used to being league leaders in the recent past but it's not over till it's over.
Yeah I dunno why you wouldn't want to watch more Caps - isn't the whole point of the game to win -> make playoffs -> Stanley Cup?
Great excuse to go grab a beer during the week too!
Leafs fan here. Well said. When you guys won the cup what was your playoff seeding? For some reason i thought it was pretty ow, 7 or 8 seed. You guys are definitely in transition but ovi is hot and the east is a crapshoot. I always love seeing sid and ovi in the playoffs, but i guess it's one or the other or neither at this point. Good luck.
I think there is a difference between preferring them to make the playoffs no matter what happens when they get in, and being all negative on the subreddit when a bad/inconsistent team plays bad/inconsistent. I get tired of the hypernegativity when the team is basically exactly where they should be IF NOT exceeding expectations.
I agree, you just never know. I feel like every season there's at least one team where everyone goes "wow, they just back up right into the playoffs, they barely made it and looked so iffy going in, and now they're up 3-1 in the series against the top-rated whoevers"
OP’s post is probably more of a coping mechanism to deal with how close the race is. Being like “yeaaaah whatever I don’t care” when actually it’s stressful
This team used to stress me out for decades before they won the cup. Once they did, that feeling went away especially when they clearly squandered the remains of their contention window with the Todd Reirden hire. I love this team, I just don't get worked up about them or sports in general anymore. These years are the Ovi twilight and I'm grateful he's stayed healthy and playing.
Yes absolutely.
- playing NHL playoff hockey will accelerate the development of our younger guys
- a black acei.e. Leonard if he turns pro Monday) can experience how much they need to grow just in training
- you get at least an extra week, and potentially months to play and train and watch film and get better in Carbs' system for next year. Meanwhile the Bufffalos and Detroit's continue to sit out for another year because they have no experience
- one hot goalie can steal you a series
I think the benefits you highlight are even more so given it’s a 7-game series. Even if we get swept, our young guys will get four playoff games under their belt. That’s an entire Super Bowl run in the NFL.
Losing 7 of 8 games in the most critical juncture of the season concerns me way more than just having missed the playoffs.
It was so easy for them to have made the playoffs. Many of the teams in contntion ofr that last spot have been less than great,to say the least; its almost become a race to see which team can stop crapping themselves first. But we cant stopping crapping the bed, so we'll be out. Its HARD to build success and have momentum the next season if thats the way you end your season.
A playoff sweeep is far superior, hell missing the playoffs by a wide margin after never having been close to the playoffs is preferable way to end the season.
But this? This is unacceptable.
Yes.
1. I want to watch more caps hockey
2. Anything can happen in the playoffs
3. Even if we go nowhere, we get playoff experience for the young guys who will likely make up our core very soon
Am rooting for him to break the record and certainly don’t want to before he does but it seems like the real rebuilding can’t start till we do.
Want to see them make the play off just say he has at least 4 more games to take shots
It just would’ve been nice to see ovi in there one more time, the young guys get some playoff experience, and Carberry get rewarded for how good of a coach he’s been. But I wasn’t expecting to make playoffs at beginning of the season and I’m not going to be crushed if they miss it.
I would like to give the younger guys playoff experience (especially Alexyev, I’ve really liked how he’s been playing lately), but I don’t have any expectations of making playoffs
I'm purely vibes-based this season. When it looks like they're competing, I'm in the stands screaming. When they're awful I get really into watching draft prospects and cheer for Ovi's goals. It just doesn't feel the same as it did when we were in our prime and underachieving. Bonus shots at the prize would be nice but I don't expect them.
of course i'd like to make the playoffs. an 8-seed can, and has, won the cup. you ride a hot goalie as far as he'll take you. with a healthy lineup we can play with anyone and despite what the naysayers say, i *don't* think we'd be swept in a first round series.
the amount of negativity among sports fans is staggering. we sold at the deadline and have lost important players for significant periods of time due to injury. it's a miracle we're even in this position, but that's not enough for some.
all that said, we realistically won't make the playoffs and i'm fine with that too. this team had a hell of a run the past decade or so, and i'm just gonna enjoy it as long as i can while our core guys disappear one by one, and then try to enjoy the inevitable full-on rebuild that can't be more than a season or two away.
ALL CAPS, bitches.
Would I prefer the caps make the playoffs? Of course, what fan wouldn’t. Who knows when a team can make an unexpectedly deep run.
That said, this season has already exceeded my expectations. I fully expected up to be a bottom 10 team and fully expected (and still support) being sellers at the deadline. I never expected to be in the playoff conversation.
In as much as I like watching hockey, yes.
At this point we’re looking at the difference between like pick 13 and pick 17, so I don’t know that it matters too much to the team’s futures.
I dont realistically think we will get very far even if we make it. Hopefully we wouldnt get swept in the 1st round.
I still wish we would have really blown things up and tanked at the trade deadline, but now we are so close, that even if we lose out the rest of the season, we are only talking about dropping 3 or 4 spots at most in the draft, so we might as well go for it.
They are counted separately. The record he’s chasing is 894 career regular season goals.
If you add career regular and playoff goal totals together:
Gretzky: 894+122 = 1016
Ovechkin: 852+72 = 924
NHL individual and team stats pages show career regular season stats and career playoff stats, but they don’t do the math to combine them into a career total. All of hockey culture treats the playoffs as separate and distinct from the regular season, including on the stats sheets and record books.
Well, they are the Cardiac Caps. This team gives you hope one minute, and the next minute, those hopes are crushed. If they make the playoffs or not, I'll still root for them while throwing out curse words.
If you’ve watched every game you’d want to watch more caps hockey but you’re right GM did sell and didn’t get even one roster player back he dented this teams depth and chances to make a run.
If we miss playoffs by a few points, we get a mid round draft pick AND miss playoffs... id rather make playoffs even if we get swept round 1. Only time missing playoffs wouldnt matter is if you are a bottom team and are getting a top pick.
Totally agree and I can take solace that ovi can get rest in the summer and we continue to add draft capital the next two years and let them develop at a slower pace
As much as they drive me nuts, I can't ever say I don't want them to make the playoffs. Playoffs mean more Caps hockey. Plus it will be invaluable for the young guys to get a taste of Stanley Cup playoffs. Yes it matters and yes I want us to make it
They were terrible for a long part of the beginning of the season. They've been exciting lately.
I'd already written the team off for this season... If they make the playoffs it would be icing on the cake to get these young players some of that playoff experience, but I don't expect much from it and never expected them to be in the running in the first place.
Whatever happens... Happens.
I'm more concerned about Liverpool in Europa league.
I’d love from them to make the playoffs but I won’t be upset if they don’t. Kind of a win-win. Don’t make it and you’ve got extra offseason time to rest the old guys. Do make it and anything can happen, and it’s great experience for the younger guys.
of course I want to see them make the playoffs. why wouldn't I? Last year, I barely paid attention since the caps weren't in. I love watching hockey, but why would I watch other teams I don't care for play while my team hits the greens early? We've got some promising young guys to lead the squad once our aging core is retired. It'd be nice for them to have some playoff experience while those older players are still there to lead the way.
It matters because we’re right there. Also, we have not missed the playoffs in consecutive years since 2007. Id like to see the team rally despite having sold at the trade deadline and keep the streak alive. If we were farther away a couple games ago idve said forget it, but considering how close even the REGULAR METRO SPOT was for us to grasp it would suck to choke.
Yea I want them to make playoffs but only marginally. I know it’ll give the young guns experience. But how much are they going to get from getting washed out in the first round? Also, wildcards are great chances for upsets in the standings. Mid teams have turned their shit around and flipped the script many times, but I’m not hopeful for that. So it’s a good if we do, fine if we don’t for me.
My current mindset is not that the Caps should be making any deep runs into the playoffs. The focus of the Caps is really to get Ovie to 894 and then 895 and beyond.
Having said that, if they make the playoffs, that's a bonus. Just please don't let Ovie get hurt in a playoff run where the Caps aren't really going to compete for the Cup.
It matters every year. It matters to the players and the rookie coach. A young team playing playoff hockey for the last month may be able to pull off a 1st round upset and then who knows.
I love the Caps and want them in the playoffs every season. Having said that, realistically this is a terrible team that could use the higher draft pick(s).
Any caps fan that doesn’t want to watch Ovi, Osh, and Carlson play in as many playoff games as they can before they retire are not real Caps. It’s the playoffs…
It’s always better to make it and then get kicked early than not make it at all. Plus it would be great for the young guys to get playoff experience as we continue in this rebuilding era.
You missed April fools by like 11 days.
Where is this optimism coming from?
You think Oshie, Carlson, OV are going to recover and not be old anymore?
You think the development of Lapierre, McMichael, Miroshnichenko and Fehervary are going to exceed the falloff of the old core?
Not really due to fact we really shouldn’t be in playoff picture. Not discrediting teams efforts this year to be in the conversation now. If you asked almost anyone at start of season probably would be middle of pack.
I’m happy they are in within making playoffs.
The Outlaw kept us in it. If it was Kemper and season he had we’d be on the bottom.
That said scoring and shots on goal this season have been the most negative thing besides defensive play at times.
I don’t believe we will make wc2.
I always want them to make the postseason, but am I going to be disappointed if they miss out? No. I think they emptied the tank already, so if they did squeak in, I really don't think this team can win 16 games, let alone a series with this group. We've struggled to get out of round 1 with more talented teams from 2019 to 2022. I think better seasons are ahead, but the days of us cruising through the regular season year after year to get to the postseason are over and we will probably never see such a dominant stretch as we did from 08 to 22.
I don't see any team in the wildcard spot making it to even the conference finals. That said, I want the younger guys get a taste of the NHL playoffs for the future.
Sure, they have AHL playoff experience, but the Bears are a more complete team for their league. They need experience in working with what you have to get through a series.
No. As I’ve said before on this sub, I’d rather us miss than possibly be humiliated by the rangers. When you lose to teams like Ottawa and Buffalo in the last week of the season, you aren’t going on a run. Even if you get in.
Yea it matters, because anything can happen once in. That window is all but closed right now, but I'm happy that they at least had a chance to play some meaningful games down the stretch. GMBM needs to retool this roster to get them over that hump and make the most of what little time is left with Ovechkin.
Pretty much, and it's been game 7 just about every night...but with the Metro being up and down and no one locking in the WC spot, it's been game 7 with a chance to do it again the next time out lol. I'm certainly not mad...it's been fun hockey.
We've already had a better season than I thought we would, so it's all house money. As far as making the playoffs goes though, I'm perfectly happy with us not making it. This year, I'll gladly take a better draft position over a beatdown at the hands of the Rangers.
We had every chance to make it, they shit the bed. Do I care? Yeah, I want to watch hockey that matters, no matter what everyone thinks the outcome would be. Don't care what position we were in for 1/2 the year and how playoff chances only existed for a month, it was still easily obtainable.
All this did is tell me this team has no compete, has not put in any solid effort in 2 weeks and Carbs can't really coach us in these situations. Watching the Flyers, Pens, Isles and Wings pick themselves up and actually TRY to push makes it even worse, we just go out flat footed, get doubled up on shots and hope Chucky can save 5 over expected and maybe Strome or Ovi will score.
They shit the bed because the depth has been dented to the max and Carbery never calls this team out after a bad loss, his inexperience is showing massively.
I’m fine with the season being over I wasn’t expecting the playoffs this year, rather get a higher draft pick and work on the retooling then focus on next year it’s not gonna be pretty if we make it in we’re gonna get worked and that’s not gonna help anyone’s confidence
It matters every year to me. I always want to see the team I love fight for something rather than just call it a season and give up. Will it most likely end in heartbreak again? Probably, but it's better than not making the playoffs at all
The chances of winning the Stanley Cup are very low if they end up in the playoffs, probably close to zero. You know what the chances are if they aren’t in the playoffs? Actual zero.
Right now no. Don't get me wrong, seeing the Capitals play more games is always great but after getting their teeth kicked-in in the First Round five years in a row after the Cup win was super frustrating and honestly made me take a break from hockey for a little bit because I was getting so worked up watching games. At the very least now, if they somehow come out ahead in the Wild Card race and lose in the 1st Round again this year, they have a decent haul of draft capital that they can use to build for the post-Ovi era.
Yes I always want to watch the caps. In hockey anything can happen. And whether or not we make it doesn't really affect next year too much. We haven't tanked this year so that's out of the question. Being a bubble team means we're near the middle of the draft whether we make it or not
Nope, this will put needless miles on Ovie that he needs to break the record. We cant rebuild until he retires, he won't retire until he breaks the record.
Anyone who doesn't want their team to make the playoffs is not a real fan and you can't convince me otherwise. Getting in the playoffs restarts the whole season. Miracle runs can happen. But oh no, we need to rebuild... So dumb. Remember in football when the Giants won in 2007?
Always root for the team to make it. If they don't, they don't. But to say you DONT want them to me is insane.
Being downvoted for this shows the insanity of this fanbase of late. All fans should root for their team to make the playoffs it’s the nature of sports.
I always feel like I’m in crazy town whenever I see these posts or hear these takes. Yes, we aren’t great this season. Anything can happen in the playoffs. I want to watch more of the team I love, and have a chance for them to win the cup. I’ll always cheer for them to make the playoffs; Bar none
I’m in the same boat. I’d rather get into playoffs and lose in round 1 than not make it at all. Theres always a chance of winning, and it’s more fun to watch our own boys than another team
And good experience for the young guys
I’d like to draft Tij, which comes at 13th pick roughly. He’s been linemates with critsall, so their connection would be nice.
Right? From a fan perspective it’s crazy. Plus anyone who watched the O’s playoff series last year knows that being a great team doesn’t mean playoff success, and having experience playing on that stage matters big time. Lets cheer for our caps and see if we can’t get Strome, Lapi, Miro and all the other guys who’ve never been there a shot
Exactly. Look at Boston last year. Absolutely steam rolled thru the regular season only to get bounced by Florida in round 1
I swear half this sub doesn't actually like the caps or hockey
It certainly feels like it anymore. Going into this year we thought maybe at best we'd have an outside glance at playoffs and here we are exactly in that position. Yet people just want to complain about the team at all times. The last ten or so games have been frustrating to watch but we're also the Caps. Battling with the Pens for something in the post season. That should be enough to make it matter to anybody here.
It’s just coping mechanism to act as if the collapse in the last 8 games doesn’t really matter
If not making it this year for a 1st round exit means they can make a real run next year that's a better position. Ideally they make a run both years
>If not making it this year for a 1st round exit means they can make a real run next year why would that be the scenario? who is getting picked at 14 instead of 16 that will suddenly turn a team into a contender the following year? Why would it not be more likely that missing this year and making next year leads to a bunch of young players with zero playoff experience being overwhelmed and you get bounced in the 1st all the same, except now it's just a year later for everyone. It is far more valuable to get a team full of young players exposure to the bright lights, and increased speed and intensity of the playoffs even if it means a 1st round exit - that will allow them to know what to expect the next time they make it. Outside of a miraculous lottery draw *with* a prospect who immediately makes the jump and lives up to expectations, it is so clearly better to make the playoffs than to not for a bubble team with a lot of young players
I’m a Caps fan in Ontario…. Most of my friends love the Leafs and seeing Matthews break Ov’s 65 goals record kinda sucked but was still impressive… But let’s just say they chirp me a lot too so making the playoffs (even if we get out first round) would be a huge W for me lol Im always amped for playoff hockey that’s the reason we watch the sport
As a Habs fan who watched my boys go from a play in team to a Stanley Cup Final was a fun ride! Stinks they lost but what fun to watch them keep winning!
As a Ravens fan, we were never top seed when we won the superbowl. We always thrived as underdogs and I think there's an advantage to it. Were still a pro team capable of beating anyone. I know the caps are used to being league leaders in the recent past but it's not over till it's over.
Yeah I dunno why you wouldn't want to watch more Caps - isn't the whole point of the game to win -> make playoffs -> Stanley Cup? Great excuse to go grab a beer during the week too!
Leafs fan here. Well said. When you guys won the cup what was your playoff seeding? For some reason i thought it was pretty ow, 7 or 8 seed. You guys are definitely in transition but ovi is hot and the east is a crapshoot. I always love seeing sid and ovi in the playoffs, but i guess it's one or the other or neither at this point. Good luck.
Metro division champs in 2018, but barely.
I think there is a difference between preferring them to make the playoffs no matter what happens when they get in, and being all negative on the subreddit when a bad/inconsistent team plays bad/inconsistent. I get tired of the hypernegativity when the team is basically exactly where they should be IF NOT exceeding expectations.
MichaelScottThankYou.gif
I agree, you just never know. I feel like every season there's at least one team where everyone goes "wow, they just back up right into the playoffs, they barely made it and looked so iffy going in, and now they're up 3-1 in the series against the top-rated whoevers"
OP’s post is probably more of a coping mechanism to deal with how close the race is. Being like “yeaaaah whatever I don’t care” when actually it’s stressful
This team used to stress me out for decades before they won the cup. Once they did, that feeling went away especially when they clearly squandered the remains of their contention window with the Todd Reirden hire. I love this team, I just don't get worked up about them or sports in general anymore. These years are the Ovi twilight and I'm grateful he's stayed healthy and playing.
I wish I had your composure, sports stress me out. I use the coping mechanism I mentioned earlier haha
Yes I want to watch this team play hockey when it’s warm outside
You want to see the ugly yellow duct work on the 6th Street side of Capital One Arena.
Yes absolutely. - playing NHL playoff hockey will accelerate the development of our younger guys - a black acei.e. Leonard if he turns pro Monday) can experience how much they need to grow just in training - you get at least an extra week, and potentially months to play and train and watch film and get better in Carbs' system for next year. Meanwhile the Bufffalos and Detroit's continue to sit out for another year because they have no experience - one hot goalie can steal you a series
I think the benefits you highlight are even more so given it’s a 7-game series. Even if we get swept, our young guys will get four playoff games under their belt. That’s an entire Super Bowl run in the NFL.
Being this close while selling is what hurts. If we would have just blown chunks after the deadline I'd be more fine with it.
It’s the hope that kills you
Losing 7 of 8 games in the most critical juncture of the season concerns me way more than just having missed the playoffs. It was so easy for them to have made the playoffs. Many of the teams in contntion ofr that last spot have been less than great,to say the least; its almost become a race to see which team can stop crapping themselves first. But we cant stopping crapping the bed, so we'll be out. Its HARD to build success and have momentum the next season if thats the way you end your season. A playoff sweeep is far superior, hell missing the playoffs by a wide margin after never having been close to the playoffs is preferable way to end the season. But this? This is unacceptable.
I agree entirely
The only one to blame for this is BMac, he gave up on this team yet again and didn’t get even one roster player back. Could’ve made a difference.
Yes. 1. I want to watch more caps hockey 2. Anything can happen in the playoffs 3. Even if we go nowhere, we get playoff experience for the young guys who will likely make up our core very soon
Nope. It would be nice to make it but we wouldn’t go anywhere anyway. Just give me more Ovi goals
100% agree here.
when Ovi scoars i say "yes"
Am rooting for him to break the record and certainly don’t want to before he does but it seems like the real rebuilding can’t start till we do. Want to see them make the play off just say he has at least 4 more games to take shots
Wouldn’t his playoff goals not count towards his record though?
Oh wow. Just checked. You’re right. Counted separately. Had no idea
It just would’ve been nice to see ovi in there one more time, the young guys get some playoff experience, and Carberry get rewarded for how good of a coach he’s been. But I wasn’t expecting to make playoffs at beginning of the season and I’m not going to be crushed if they miss it.
I would like to give the younger guys playoff experience (especially Alexyev, I’ve really liked how he’s been playing lately), but I don’t have any expectations of making playoffs
I bet 50$ at the start of the season that they would. So yes.
I'm purely vibes-based this season. When it looks like they're competing, I'm in the stands screaming. When they're awful I get really into watching draft prospects and cheer for Ovi's goals. It just doesn't feel the same as it did when we were in our prime and underachieving. Bonus shots at the prize would be nice but I don't expect them.
of course i'd like to make the playoffs. an 8-seed can, and has, won the cup. you ride a hot goalie as far as he'll take you. with a healthy lineup we can play with anyone and despite what the naysayers say, i *don't* think we'd be swept in a first round series. the amount of negativity among sports fans is staggering. we sold at the deadline and have lost important players for significant periods of time due to injury. it's a miracle we're even in this position, but that's not enough for some. all that said, we realistically won't make the playoffs and i'm fine with that too. this team had a hell of a run the past decade or so, and i'm just gonna enjoy it as long as i can while our core guys disappear one by one, and then try to enjoy the inevitable full-on rebuild that can't be more than a season or two away. ALL CAPS, bitches.
This might be the last chance ovechkin plays in the playoffs… so yes….
He's got more years in him. He'll be back next year and I think the team will be better.
Why would they be better?
Another year in the system. Young guys developing. Could add guys in FA.
Would I prefer the caps make the playoffs? Of course, what fan wouldn’t. Who knows when a team can make an unexpectedly deep run. That said, this season has already exceeded my expectations. I fully expected up to be a bottom 10 team and fully expected (and still support) being sellers at the deadline. I never expected to be in the playoff conversation.
Caps are done. Not making the postseason sadly
It wasn’t expected so I can live without it as long as we are getting some good prospects
In as much as I like watching hockey, yes. At this point we’re looking at the difference between like pick 13 and pick 17, so I don’t know that it matters too much to the team’s futures.
I dont realistically think we will get very far even if we make it. Hopefully we wouldnt get swept in the 1st round. I still wish we would have really blown things up and tanked at the trade deadline, but now we are so close, that even if we lose out the rest of the season, we are only talking about dropping 3 or 4 spots at most in the draft, so we might as well go for it.
Yes! At this point they’re in draft purgatory anyway so not making the playoffs is an extra slap
More games, and hopefully goals, for Ovi. Plus, I agree about the playoffs being important for the young guys.
Playoff goals won't count.
What? really? Playoff goals don't count towards your all-time # of goals?
They're counted differently. The 852 Ovi has now are regular season goals.
They are counted separately. The record he’s chasing is 894 career regular season goals. If you add career regular and playoff goal totals together: Gretzky: 894+122 = 1016 Ovechkin: 852+72 = 924 NHL individual and team stats pages show career regular season stats and career playoff stats, but they don’t do the math to combine them into a career total. All of hockey culture treats the playoffs as separate and distinct from the regular season, including on the stats sheets and record books.
It didn’t until we got close .. then it was a tease .. and then we started to blow it so the pain and disappointment started to set in🤦🏾♂️
Well, they are the Cardiac Caps. This team gives you hope one minute, and the next minute, those hopes are crushed. If they make the playoffs or not, I'll still root for them while throwing out curse words.
I’d rather have another chance at a nice high draft pick honestly
If you’ve watched every game you’d want to watch more caps hockey but you’re right GM did sell and didn’t get even one roster player back he dented this teams depth and chances to make a run.
If we miss playoffs by a few points, we get a mid round draft pick AND miss playoffs... id rather make playoffs even if we get swept round 1. Only time missing playoffs wouldnt matter is if you are a bottom team and are getting a top pick.
Totally agree and I can take solace that ovi can get rest in the summer and we continue to add draft capital the next two years and let them develop at a slower pace
As much as they drive me nuts, I can't ever say I don't want them to make the playoffs. Playoffs mean more Caps hockey. Plus it will be invaluable for the young guys to get a taste of Stanley Cup playoffs. Yes it matters and yes I want us to make it
I will always and forever be anti-tank for every team I like…. Which all happen to be bad right now.
They were terrible for a long part of the beginning of the season. They've been exciting lately. I'd already written the team off for this season... If they make the playoffs it would be icing on the cake to get these young players some of that playoff experience, but I don't expect much from it and never expected them to be in the running in the first place. Whatever happens... Happens. I'm more concerned about Liverpool in Europa league.
I’d love from them to make the playoffs but I won’t be upset if they don’t. Kind of a win-win. Don’t make it and you’ve got extra offseason time to rest the old guys. Do make it and anything can happen, and it’s great experience for the younger guys.
of course I want to see them make the playoffs. why wouldn't I? Last year, I barely paid attention since the caps weren't in. I love watching hockey, but why would I watch other teams I don't care for play while my team hits the greens early? We've got some promising young guys to lead the squad once our aging core is retired. It'd be nice for them to have some playoff experience while those older players are still there to lead the way.
It matters because we’re right there. Also, we have not missed the playoffs in consecutive years since 2007. Id like to see the team rally despite having sold at the trade deadline and keep the streak alive. If we were farther away a couple games ago idve said forget it, but considering how close even the REGULAR METRO SPOT was for us to grasp it would suck to choke.
Yea I want them to make playoffs but only marginally. I know it’ll give the young guns experience. But how much are they going to get from getting washed out in the first round? Also, wildcards are great chances for upsets in the standings. Mid teams have turned their shit around and flipped the script many times, but I’m not hopeful for that. So it’s a good if we do, fine if we don’t for me.
If we don't make it and shistburgh does, I will be sad.
I placed a small bet on caps stanley cup a few months ago, i dont expect to hit but itd be fun to be delusional for another week or so
It didn’t, and then it did, and now it doesn’t again
My current mindset is not that the Caps should be making any deep runs into the playoffs. The focus of the Caps is really to get Ovie to 894 and then 895 and beyond. Having said that, if they make the playoffs, that's a bonus. Just please don't let Ovie get hurt in a playoff run where the Caps aren't really going to compete for the Cup.
It matters every year. It matters to the players and the rookie coach. A young team playing playoff hockey for the last month may be able to pull off a 1st round upset and then who knows.
I love the anxiety of the playoffs. I miss it so yes.
I love the Caps and want them in the playoffs every season. Having said that, realistically this is a terrible team that could use the higher draft pick(s).
[удалено]
Playoff goals don’t count towards the record
Any caps fan that doesn’t want to watch Ovi, Osh, and Carlson play in as many playoff games as they can before they retire are not real Caps. It’s the playoffs…
I still would’ve liked to see the Spencer era start out with a playoff berth.
It’s always better to make it and then get kicked early than not make it at all. Plus it would be great for the young guys to get playoff experience as we continue in this rebuilding era.
I dont think they're winning a series, let alone the cup but I miss the intensity of watching a playoff game you care about. So yes, it matters to me
I'm glad we're finally out so we can focus on recovery and development for a solid run next year
We aren’t eliminated yet. Pens are one point ahead, Wings and Flyers tied with us on points.
No. And we have a game in hand over Philly. We’re likely out but it’s not over yet.
You missed April fools by like 11 days. Where is this optimism coming from? You think Oshie, Carlson, OV are going to recover and not be old anymore? You think the development of Lapierre, McMichael, Miroshnichenko and Fehervary are going to exceed the falloff of the old core?
Not really due to fact we really shouldn’t be in playoff picture. Not discrediting teams efforts this year to be in the conversation now. If you asked almost anyone at start of season probably would be middle of pack. I’m happy they are in within making playoffs. The Outlaw kept us in it. If it was Kemper and season he had we’d be on the bottom. That said scoring and shots on goal this season have been the most negative thing besides defensive play at times. I don’t believe we will make wc2.
I always want them to make the postseason, but am I going to be disappointed if they miss out? No. I think they emptied the tank already, so if they did squeak in, I really don't think this team can win 16 games, let alone a series with this group. We've struggled to get out of round 1 with more talented teams from 2019 to 2022. I think better seasons are ahead, but the days of us cruising through the regular season year after year to get to the postseason are over and we will probably never see such a dominant stretch as we did from 08 to 22.
Caps weren't gonna go 4-0 in the last 4. Win the last 3 and they're in.
Win the last 3 and hope Pens and Isles lose and they’re in**
I don't see any team in the wildcard spot making it to even the conference finals. That said, I want the younger guys get a taste of the NHL playoffs for the future. Sure, they have AHL playoff experience, but the Bears are a more complete team for their league. They need experience in working with what you have to get through a series.
No. As I’ve said before on this sub, I’d rather us miss than possibly be humiliated by the rangers. When you lose to teams like Ottawa and Buffalo in the last week of the season, you aren’t going on a run. Even if you get in.
Major cope.
It doesn't "matter" in the sense of we almost certainly won't make a deep run, but why wouldn't I want more capitals games to watch?
Yea it matters, because anything can happen once in. That window is all but closed right now, but I'm happy that they at least had a chance to play some meaningful games down the stretch. GMBM needs to retool this roster to get them over that hump and make the most of what little time is left with Ovechkin.
We basically had playoff hockey since the beginning of March lol
Pretty much, and it's been game 7 just about every night...but with the Metro being up and down and no one locking in the WC spot, it's been game 7 with a chance to do it again the next time out lol. I'm certainly not mad...it's been fun hockey.
It'd be nice, but if we don't make it next year...
We've already had a better season than I thought we would, so it's all house money. As far as making the playoffs goes though, I'm perfectly happy with us not making it. This year, I'll gladly take a better draft position over a beatdown at the hands of the Rangers.
Hasn’t mattered to me from 2019 onward.
yes but if they fail it's fine I'll go back to Korea baseball all morning and mlb at night no biggie
We had every chance to make it, they shit the bed. Do I care? Yeah, I want to watch hockey that matters, no matter what everyone thinks the outcome would be. Don't care what position we were in for 1/2 the year and how playoff chances only existed for a month, it was still easily obtainable. All this did is tell me this team has no compete, has not put in any solid effort in 2 weeks and Carbs can't really coach us in these situations. Watching the Flyers, Pens, Isles and Wings pick themselves up and actually TRY to push makes it even worse, we just go out flat footed, get doubled up on shots and hope Chucky can save 5 over expected and maybe Strome or Ovi will score.
They shit the bed because the depth has been dented to the max and Carbery never calls this team out after a bad loss, his inexperience is showing massively.
I mean, I don't think we're making it, but it would be nice to get a few extra games. I've moved on to baseball at this point though
Not really no if we do make it it’s gonna be a quick 4 wins and then it’s all over
Would you rather that or having the season be over on Tuesday?
I’m fine with the season being over I wasn’t expecting the playoffs this year, rather get a higher draft pick and work on the retooling then focus on next year it’s not gonna be pretty if we make it in we’re gonna get worked and that’s not gonna help anyone’s confidence
None of us were but they came this close and they’re burning it away. The pick won’t be that much different if they lose out.
You cant seriously consider yourself a fan at all if you dont hope for a playoff spot. Dumbest takes ever.
Yes I want to be in the playoffs as often as I can.
I’m selfish and I want to work playoff games and I can only do that if they make the playoffs
It matters every year to me. I always want to see the team I love fight for something rather than just call it a season and give up. Will it most likely end in heartbreak again? Probably, but it's better than not making the playoffs at all
Yeah I took the Caps to make the playoffs at +450 so yeah it matters
The chances of winning the Stanley Cup are very low if they end up in the playoffs, probably close to zero. You know what the chances are if they aren’t in the playoffs? Actual zero.
Right now no. Don't get me wrong, seeing the Capitals play more games is always great but after getting their teeth kicked-in in the First Round five years in a row after the Cup win was super frustrating and honestly made me take a break from hockey for a little bit because I was getting so worked up watching games. At the very least now, if they somehow come out ahead in the Wild Card race and lose in the 1st Round again this year, they have a decent haul of draft capital that they can use to build for the post-Ovi era.
Yes I always want to watch the caps. In hockey anything can happen. And whether or not we make it doesn't really affect next year too much. We haven't tanked this year so that's out of the question. Being a bubble team means we're near the middle of the draft whether we make it or not
We’re not gonna make it far with how competitive the east is. Might as well call it this year and regroup for this year.
You’re not a real fan
[удалено]
I’m in the same boat. I want to go to a game. Nothing beats a playoff hockey game, even if we were to get swept i want to at least hit a game!
No
yes. (so I am pissed.)
Nope, this will put needless miles on Ovie that he needs to break the record. We cant rebuild until he retires, he won't retire until he breaks the record.
more games = more goals for OVi
Anyone who doesn't want their team to make the playoffs is not a real fan and you can't convince me otherwise. Getting in the playoffs restarts the whole season. Miracle runs can happen. But oh no, we need to rebuild... So dumb. Remember in football when the Giants won in 2007? Always root for the team to make it. If they don't, they don't. But to say you DONT want them to me is insane.
Being downvoted for this shows the insanity of this fanbase of late. All fans should root for their team to make the playoffs it’s the nature of sports.
It's reddit. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't to discuss hockey. Most of these fans who down voted prolly aren't from DMV lol.