It’s too easy to take shots at the Capitals 8-67-5 first season. To get a sense of the despair, this UPI story recalls Ace Bailey’s misery from a late-season game in 1975.“The Washington winger falls to his knees as his opponent skates around him and scores.
“Bailey brings his stick above his head and slams it to the ice in a picture of absolute frustration. The end of the stick splinters into a half dozen pieces and Ace Bailey looks at it sadly and shakes his head.”
Okay, there is a punchline to this anecdote.
The above scene is part of the team's 1974-75 PROMOTIONAL HIGHLIGHT FILM!
On spectacularly bad teams, it's also easy to forget that these are real people, with real pride, who had achieved success in their careers. These quotes from 1974 and 1975 are sad, funny, and especially, poignant.Goalie Michel Belhumeur, after yet another loss:
“I don’t know what we’re doing wrong, but we’re doing something wrong.”
Center Ron Lalonde, observing the Capital Centre recreation room:
“There were more guys injured then playing. It was like a country club.”
Defenseman Yvon Labre, echoing that sentiment:"You wondered if all of them had their hearts in it."
Washington Post, Feb. 24, 1975, on 3 losses in 3 nights:“The Capitals wound up the most totally lost weekend in NHL history (Sunday) by dropping a 7-2 decision to the St. Louis Blues. The non-contest followed a 9-4 loss to Buffalo Friday and a 10-3 shellacking at Chicago Saturday.”
Defenseman Bob Paradise, (un)motivational speaker, at a team meeting:
“Well, if nobody else is going to say anything, I will. We aren’t going to win.”
Coach Jimmy Anderson, after a hard-fought loss:“I went outside the arena and just screamed into the night.”
(Anderson was fired after 54 games)
Red Sullivan, who replaced Anderson as coach:“I hope I can be behind the bench for 10 years.”
(Sullivan stepped down after 19 games)
GM Milt Schmidt, who replaced Sullivan as coach:
"I need the players more than they need me."
Montreal Gazette, Jan. 3, 1975:
“The beleaguered Capitals must be getting the impression they have been damned to eternal misery.”
(Quotes from the Wash. Post, Balt. Sun, AP, McClatchy News and Montreal Gazette.)