Capitals from the beginning

[Justmeingardner]

Hi all. This will be my first dynasty report, so I hope you enjoy! I chose the Washington Capitals as I like to take a poor team and make them better. Boy, do I have my work cut out for me!

The name is a bit of a misnomer, as my first report actually begins about halfway through their inaugural season of 1974-75. Here goes.

The Caps are struggling mightily in their expansion season. GM/Head Coach Joe Forbes has been fruitlessly trying to make trades to improve the team (focusing on the teams defense), but it seems nobody wants to offer anything of value for the entire roster!

The stats so far...

Team record: 5-31-4. Among the five wins are victories over Montreal and Boston, but those would be the highlights of a miserable start.

Team stats: G/G: 1.85, GA/G: 4.83, S/G: 19, SA/G: 44. Last in every team ranking except PIM/G, where they rank 8th.

Goaltending: Michel Belhumeur: 2-10-2, 4.35
Ron Low: 3-21-2, 5.05

Skaters: Yvon Labre: 5-6-11, -29, 66 PIM to lead team
Doug Mohns: 3-11-14, -30
Dave Kryskow: 8-6-14, -17
Bill Lesuk: 5-13-18, -25
Pete Laframboise: 7-9-16, -27
Tommy Williams: 7-22-29, -17

GM Joe Forbes has stated that Michel Belhumeur will see more playing time in the second half, and he will continue to explore trade opportunites. He also said that he will not make trades that are basically lateral moves. Rebuilding the team remains his primary objective, and nobody is untouchable.

[Justmeingardner]

As the season mercifully wraps up, the Capitals record stands at 11-61-8. They finished dead last in all team rankings, except PIM/G, in which they rose to 5th overall.

G/G: 2.00
GA/G: 4.75
S/G: 20
SA/G: 44

Joe Forbes replaced leading scorer Tommy Williams as captain in an attempt to shake things up. he awarded it to 40 year old Doug Mohns, saying "This may or may not be Mohnsies last season, and he has earned this title." Tommy Williams said all the right things, "Whatever's best for the team. We just need to focus on the ice." This seemed to light a fire under Mohns, as he finished by leading all Caps defensemen in goals, assists and total points.

The Michel Belhumeur plan didn't pan out. He went 1-5 with a pair of double-digit losses before rupturing his medial collateral ligament. He will be rehabbing all off-season in hopes of returning next year.

Forbes did manage to make one small trade, sending LW Bob Gryp to Chicago for D Bob Murray in an attempt to bolster the defense. Forbes was quoted, "We really tried to bring in new talent, but the off-season will hopefully offer more opportunities. There WILL be changes made."

Goalies:
Ron Low: 7-37-3, 4.84
Michel Belhumeur: 3-15-2, 4.36
John Adams: 0-6-1, 5.14
Bernie Wolfe: 1-3-1, 4.66

Skaters:
Tommy Williams: 18-47-65, -34
Bill Lesuk: 15-31-46, -43
Pete Laframboise: 17-18-35, -38
Doug Mohns: 11-20-31, -53
Yvon Labre: 8-10-18, -50, team-leading 131 PIM

In league-wide news, the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup over the New York Rangers in a replay of 1972. The Bruins won 4 games to 3.

[Justmeingardner]

"I am proud and honored to announce our free agent signings," said Joe Forbes at the press conference. "May I present to you..."

Bobby Hull - 36 year old Bobby Hull has decided to leave the WHA and sign with the Washington Capitals. It is a landmark contract for the Caps that will improve their offense tremendously for the next year. The Golden Jet's numbers from Winnipeg last year were 76-80-156, +77

Rosaire Paiement - The center signed a 3 year deal with the Caps, after posting the following line with the Chicago Cougars of the WHA - 35-60-95. Teaming with Hull, Rosie makes their first line formidable.

Daryl Maggs - Again from the Chicago Cougars, Maggs's respectable 9-28-37, along with nearly 20 minutes logged per game will help strengthen the Caps defense.

A few trades occurred as well

TO DET: D Blair MacKasey and RW John Paddock
TO WAS: RW Barry Wilcox

TO TOR: LW Mike Bloom
TO WAS: D Willie Brossart and LW Lyle Moffat

TO VAN: D Larry Bolonchuk
TO WAS: D Dave Dunn

Also, D Doug Mohns will not be returning. A team spokesman said, " Doug is contemplating retirement, and we couldn't commit to him for that reason."

These moves show that GM Joe Forbes is serious about rebuilding this franchise.

[Justmeingardner]

1975-76 End of season

The hockey year has ended, and despite considerable improvements, the Washington Capitals still finished last in their division, with a final record of 21-51-8. The big free agent signings in the off-season were not enough to pull them out of the basement, but did give fans something to cheer about. They did, however, escape owning the worst record in hockey. That distinction went to the Kansas City Scouts.

Bobby Hull missed 4 weeks early on with a separated shoulder, but came back strong to lead the team in goals (47) and points (90), and was quickly re-signed for another season. Rosaire Paiement and Tommy Williams (the other members of the first line) also had fine seasons. Defenseman Yvon Labre had a breakout season, leading all Washington defensemen in goals, assists and points. An end of season trade brought in G Michel Plasse from Kansas City, and in 11 games played for Washington, gave them the first solid goaltending they have had. He was quickly re-signed to a 3 year deal.

Team stats:
G/G: 2.83, 14th
GA/G: 4.45, 17th
S/G: 25, 17th
SA/G: 41, 18th

Goalies:
Ron Low: 14-35-1, 4.38
Michel Belhumeur: 2-9-0, 4.94
Bernie Wolfe: 0-2-1, 5.52
Michel Plasse: 5-5-1, 3.09

Skaters:
Bobby Hull: 47-43-90, -11
Rosaire Paiement: 25-43-68, -26, 165 PIM to lead team
Tommy Williams: 14-48-62, -18
Yvon Labre: 14-47-61, -27
Murray Anderson: 7-13-20, -3

Joe Forbes was quick to remind the media and fans that "This is just a beginning for the Capitals. Our goal is to continue to improve and put a quality team on the ice. Now, we have something to build on."

In league news, the Montreal Canadiens hoisted the Stanley Cup after defeating the Chicago Black Hawks 4 games to 2.

[Justmeingardner]

More big news in the off-season!

With the increasing instability of the WHA, many players are in fact, jumping ship and hoping to return to the NHL. The Capitals were benefactors of this last season, and maybe even more-so this off-season.

The list of former WHA players who signed with Washington is as follows (including 4 players from the Minnesota Fighting Saints!)

RW Real Cloutier (2 yrs): 71-72-143, +75 with the Quebec Nordiques
C Mike Antonovich (2 yrs): 26-39-65, +16 with the Minnesota Fighting Saints
D Barry Long (3 yrs): 29-60-89, +19 with the Edmonton Oilers
D Rick Smith (3 yrs): 13-62-75, +22 with the Minnesota Fighting Saints
D Ron Busniuk (2 yrs): 10-45-55, +31 with the Minnesota Fighting Saints
G John Garrett (2 yrs): 32-10-4, 2.84 with the Minnesota Fighting Saints

Said GM Joe Forbes, "This is almost poetic justice. Much of this talent was taken away from the NHL by the WHA. Now the roles are reversed as the WHA prepares to implode, and the talent is rightfully returning to the NHL where it belongs. We are fortunate to be able to bring fresh talent into our organization this way, and are very pleased with each and every signing, but let me be the first to caution fans: As we saw last season, a few players do not a championship make. It takes teamwork, practice and desire to win consistently. Hopefully we will find the combination that works."

In other team news, there were off-season losses as well, among them Tommy Williams and Pete Laframboise who chose to become free agents.

[Rasmuth]

entertaining. Looking forward to the Cap's ascent in the standing.