By Chilli Amar
On February 28th, Caps fans were anxiously awaiting the news of any last minute changes before the trade deadline. My fiance Don was busy reading various blogs and texting his buddies, trying to guess what Capitals General Manager George McPhee might do. I was busy asking Don questions like: Why do hockey teams make such sudden changes so late in the season? I never quite understood how a player could be sent away after spending so many months practicing with the same group of guys. How do coaches expect the "chemistry" of a team to work so late in the season if you're replacing players with guys you've never worked with before?
By now you know that the Caps traded center David Steckel for Jason Arnott of the New Jersey Devils. Don explained that our team needed a stronger center in the second line. McPhee obviously believes getting a more aggressive and talented player in that position will help the Caps score and win more games. Well...so far, it looks like it was a smart decision. The Caps have won five in a row since the trade.
The other decision that was made at the trade deadline was the acquisition of defenseman Dennis Wideman from the Florida Panthers. He was brought on because of injuries to Caps defensemen Mike Green and Tom Poti. So far, that McPhee decision has been working too.
As a fan, I'm thrilled to see the Caps playing with more confidence and winning again. There's still a long way to go in the season...but if these boys put forth a solid effort every game, there's no reason why they can't win the Stanley Cup. The talent is certainly there. LET'S GO CAPS!