The Washington Capitals are now six years removed from their 2018 Stanley Cup run. Looking back, team owner Ted Leonsis said he couldn’t appreciate the championship at the time.
“When we won in 2018, I did not get the adrenaline high of great joy,” Leonsis told WTOP. “It was more relief.”
After a decade of playoff disappointments with superstar Alex Ovechkin, the franchise had developed a reputation: the Capitals were always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
“I lived in fear that Alex would be the greatest player to never win the Stanley Cup,” Leonsis said. “So, I had all this angst and drive to deliver and when we won the Cup … it [was] more a sense of ’Phew! We did it.’ I wish I could have turned up the joy factor more.”
The 67-year-old said he hopes to see another championship in his lifetime.
“I promise that we’ll do everything we can to win another Cup. I’m going to have the greatest time this next time.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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