Ross McKeon's 2008 Wasn't Like Yours Or Mine

by J.P. on Dec 30, 2008 12:34 PM EST

In the grand scheme of things, "What Ross McKeon thinks about the Caps" ranks just below "The current state of the Heidi/LC feud" in terms of things I care about, but the guy who recently suggested contracting the entire Southeast Division has ~~pooped out~~ written a "2008 Stories of the Year" for the NHL that deserves some mention. And while I'll leave it to Fark to comment on some of what was included, we'll note what wasn't. With a hat tip to the Caps PR folks, here's some of what happened in 2008 that Ross might have missed:

The Capitals close the book on a remarkable 2008 calendar year against Buffalo, a year that saw them post a 51-23-6 record to this point (trailing only San Jose, 117 points, and Boston, 110, with 108 points). Among the team's other notable achievements in 2008:

Won the Southeast Division championship last season and has a 10-point lead in the division this year

Posted a 31-6-3 home record at Verizon Center with 14 sellouts

Alex Ovechkin has scored 60 goals in 2008 (10 more than any other player), posted 113 points (second only to Evgeni Malkin, 124), won four major NHL awards, received the Key to the City of Washington, D.C., signed a new 13-year contract, played in the NHL All-Star Game, led Russia to a gold medal at the World Championship, won NHL First Star of the Month three times and launched his own designer clothing line

Bruce Boudreau was named NHL coach of the year and was selected for induction in the AHL Hall of Fame

Reasonable minds can differ as to which of the above storylines - a (thus far) successful rebuild, a historic individual season for the game's best player and/or the best coaching story in recent memory - belong on the list instead of the Rangers and Bolts playing a pair of games in the Czech Republic or an ugly injury to a sniper who hasn't scored twenty goals in a season since before the lockout, but McKeon once again shows himself to be either out of touch with what's going on in the League or intentionally forgetting some of the NHL's best stories. Take your pick.

Tweet Comment 3 comments | Add comment | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

thanks for the rekindled blood boil

McKeon’s article and rebuttal (and Puck Daddy’s semi accurate add on) made me think back to all those games I went to as a kid in the mid to late 70’s, when we were getting trounced by the Montreals and the Bostons routinely. To sum up these thoughts: we deserve what we have right now, in the packed stadium, cheering our guts out for a darn good team with the best player in the game.

I understand the thrust behind McKeon’s (f)article, that contraction will make the surviving teams better with the talent gleaned from the dismissed clubs going to those who survive, but the ‘purity of the sport’ argument is bullshit, imo. If McKeon wants hockey purity, he should buy himself a seat at the Booth and watch #8 for an entire game.

Unfortunately, douchebags like him will persist until we win a championship (I guess he’s forgotten that the SE has produced two champs in the last five years). Make no mistake, it’s coming: DC will have a Cup in the next three years, and hopefully that will put this conversation to bed for good.

by bigonetimer on Dec 30, 2008 1:07 PM EST reply actions

(f)article

brilliant

by grapejoos on Dec 30, 2008 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

McKeon once again shows himself to be either out of touch with what’s going on in the League or intentionally forgetting some of the NHL’s best stories. Take your pick.

I vote for McKeon being out of touch with the league. This is the same guy who, last year, said of the Capitals, "Much like the situation in Atlanta, the only intrigue [in Washington] is Alexander Ovechkin and his pursuit of a goal-scoring title".

by David Getz on Dec 31, 2008 3:27 PM EST reply actions

Something to say? Choose one of these options to log in.

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Southeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Florida Litter Box Cats	55	27	17	11	65
Washington Japers' Rink	55	28	22	5	61
Winnipeg Arctic Ice Hockey	57	26	25	6	58
Tampa Bay Raw Charge	55	24	25	6	54
Carolina Canes Country	56	20	25	11	51