Saturday night, before the tears had even dried, I began writing this article in my head. I was looking for all the positives aspects of this season, among all the ashes of burnt and broken dreams. I had even come up with a potential headline; “Big Changes in Washington Next Year?” I was ready to speculate about who would and wouldn’t stick around. Now, I no longer need to speculate, and the question mark at the end of the headline is unnecessary.
[caption id="attachment_181" align="alignright" width="322" caption="Dale Hunter, Washington's coach since November, 2011, announced he will not return next season."]
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Around noon today, it was announced that Dale Hunter is choosing not to return as head coach of the Washington Capitals next year, citing vague and generic reasons having to do with his family. I expect if he’d wanted to stay, he would have been offered a contract, but Hunter never seemed to be having a particularly good time as coach. Regardless, Washington is now on the hunt for a new fearless leader. I hope that they find a coach who preaches a less conservative style of play, and a more aggressive strategy, which suits this highly skilled team much more.
[caption id="attachment_182" align="alignright" width="333" caption="Alex Semin has recorded 408 points in seven seasons with Washington."]
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Before much postulating could be done about Washington’s coach for next year, another bombshell was dropped. Alexander Semin’s agent announced that Semin is not interested in returning to Washington, and will be a free agent as of July 1. This is certainly bad news for any fan of Semin. He has one of the best set of hands in the game, and could shoot a puck through the gap in Ovechkin's front teeth, and he will likely be picked up quickly once the free agency period begins. I can’t argue with Semin’s skills, but I will not be shedding many tears over Semin’s departure. He is inconsistent, frequently underachieving what his skills indicate he should be capable of, and never struck me as much of a team player. That being said, it will certainly be unfortunate for the Capitals to have to play against him next year.
I’m expecting this summer to be very tumultuous for the Capitals organization, and many more surprises await the DC faithful. A new coach will likely be found relatively soon, and he may want to change personnel. October, 2012 will see many new faces on Washington’s bench, and more than likely, a new style of play and new identity for the Capitals.
Given how the Capitals far exceeded the expectations of them this post-season, I believe that with the right coaching, and a few tweaks here and there, Washington will surpass this year’s playoff run, arguably their best since their 1998 trip to the Finals. I will be on the edge of my seat on July 1, anxiously waiting for news of Washington’s acquisitions, and additional departures.
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