During a recent chat, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis recalled when then-GM George McPhee excitedly told him that they were going to take Alex Ovechkin with the first overall pick in the 2004 draft.
Leonsis was skeptical. There was no social media or YouTube in those days, just grainy DVDs showing shadowy figures skating around dark Russian rinks. Who knew which one was Ovechkin? Who knew if he was the player who would save his franchise?
They were about to find out. The night of the ’04 draft in Raleigh, the Caps hosted a fan event.