On Monday, Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson spoke to the media following today’s practice. He discussed his thoughts and feelings on the team’s recent frustrating play.
On the Capitals’ overall play since 2022, Carlson believes “there’s not much concern,” adding, “I think there’s a lot of areas of improvement, but no one in there I think is oblivious to what’s going on—where we’re coming up short, where we feel like we should be doing better…definitely unhappy, trying to work our way through it, and I don’t think we’re worried or panicked that those are the results we’ve been getting.”
“Sometimes you get stuck in between a lot when things aren’t going your way,” Carlson said. “You try to manipulate things perfectly and whether that’s sometimes overpassing or making sure that you’re finding the perfect play, and sometimes it’s too much going back to the basics of over-simplifying.”
He feels parts of their play have gotten better, noting the power-play on a “chance perspective” and the return of center Nicklas Backstrom helping with the team’s game execution. “Whether it’s a period of time or an area of our game where we’re just not firing on all cylinders all the time…we certainly haven’t had great results, but I don’t think we’re getting the doors blown off of us or anything. I think [there are] a lot of games where we actually don’t play too bad at all…we need to clean up for a more complete effort.”
After Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Capital One Arena, the Capitals have a 12-10-5 record at home. “From a player’s perspective, maybe it doesn’t feel as bad as it is, but certainly something we need to pick up…we’ve gotta give our fans a lot more to cheer about…home ice is big down the stretch into the playoffs, and I think we need to establish that identity at home like we have on the road.”
Carlson doesn’t feel the team’s identity is off “very far,” adding, “It’s little things, and obviously, they mean a lot in this game…I just don’t think we’ve been that powerful in certain areas…I think our power-play is kind of always been a buoy for us too during these times, and it hasn’t been too bad the last little, but bigger picture, longer-term thing, I think that’s hurt us a lot this year.”
By Della Young
Fire Blaine Forsythe now. The Caps need a new power-play system.
Agree but that is not all they should fire. Lets clean house by starting with the useless clone of GMGM, GMBM and follow that by sweeping the entire coaching staff out the door. Now if Ted isas smart as he thinks he is, its time tolook in a new direction to replace the staff just fired and iys outside the organization. But lets wait until the day after the season. There is no need for the players to learn a new system mid season. Lets setttle for what we have now and be sellers in getting rid of older players while keeping our younger players and maybe even picking up a player or 2 and a draft pick or 2. Lets build for the future not worry about the playoffs now as this team as it is built; slow and with age; is not a Cup team. Maybe Ted will set aside his ego for once and actually do what is best for the team.