Build for the future and the future is now

Bruce Boudreau: "We want to win. That is a bunch of crap and stuff that people make up, that it's a young team and are looking for an excuse. We want to win, nothing had changed.

By Bob Cohn, Washington Times, Apr. 19, 2008:

Nearly half of the 27 Caps players are 25 years old or younger. Alex Ovechkin, the leading Hart Trophy candidate as MVP, is 22. So is Mike Green, who led all NHL defensemen in goals. Nicklas Backstrom, No. 1 among all rookies in assists and second in points, is 20.

The list goes on. Alexander Semin, who finished second on the team in goals, is 24, as is Brooks Laich, who played in every game this season and scored 21 goals. Defensemen Jeff Schultz, Steve Eminger and Shaone Morrisonn are 22, 24 and 25, respectively.

"We're exciting," Laich said. "Our youth is sometimes an advantage. We have so much enthusiasm and energy. You look at our celebrations after we score or after we win. We just have so much fun playing with each other."

And, more young players, like Karl Alzner, Andrew Gordon and Sami Lepisto, are on the way.

"I love where this organization is heading," Laich said. "I love the players we have here, the staff, everything about this town, the city, and hockey we have here. My dad was in town and I said, 'You know what? I think we're exciting now, but give us a couple of years together and we're gonna get better and better.' "

"I did a lot of research," Leonsis said. "And for the most part, the teams that had generational success built from within. They had a group of players that came and went, but the core stayed together. That was the drive behind Alex's 13-year deal. We want him to be here, he's gonna be a constant, and we've got a lot of other young players."

It still took an infusion of experience at the trade deadline to get the Caps into the playoffs. Fedorov is 38, Huet is 32 and Cooke is 29. But as much as those players have helped, the Caps' youth has rubbed off.

"I think we keep them young," Laich said. "Sometimes if they're not feeling overjoyed or up, or they don't have that much energy, they see the young guys skating around and see how much fun we have playing the game. I think it brings them back. Like with Fed. We call him the 28-year-old Fedorov right now."

By Corey Masisak, Washington Times, Apr. 19, 2008:

...Two players on the roster have played for teams who rallied from a 3-1 deficit.

Sergei Fedorov's Detroit Red Wings did it in 1992 against the Minnesota North Stars. He counts his overtime winner in Game 6 as one of his favorites as an NHL player.

"We have to move on. We have to forget that experience whether it is winning or losing," Fedorov said. "That's what I learned before the most. Talking about '92, I was young and it was just exciting to be in the playoffs. If you feel positive and think positive for a day or two, you can be fine. You come back with a new attitude and you can be rejuvenated."