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Craig Custance, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

How Trotz can transform the Capitals

It all started so promising. The Washington Capitals jumped out to a 3-0-2 start this season. The summer moves made by GM Brian MacLellan were the right fixes. Barry Trotz was the coaching savior.

But the playoffs can’t be clinched in the first two weeks of the regular season.

So now, MacLellan, Trotz and the new mix of players in Washington face their biggest challenge head on as their losing streak sits at four games. It’s no longer about learning a new system or stringing together a few wins.

It’s about changing the DNA of a franchise.

There are teams around the NHL that can’t seem to shake negative characteristics. The San Jose Sharks have shown a propensity to collapse when pushed into a corner. The Winnipeg Jets are still looking to wring the last of the Atlanta Thrashers out of their team culture.

Then there are the Capitals. Washington is a team that handles success about as well as a child television star. Put together a few wins and the foot comes off the gas. Play a strong period and the follow-up period is a dud.

As Trotz so eloquently put it after the team blew a 3-1 lead and surrendered five consecutive goals to a suspect Arizona Coyotes team that doesn’t score particularly well, these Capitals sometimes play only as well as they think they have to.

It’s kind of the Capitals Way.

“It’s an old story already,” Trotz said after the loss to Arizona. “Too old for me.”

Imagine what MacLellan is feeling.

He has been in the organization for 14 seasons. He has seen this all before, all too often. This offseason, he took steps to fix this particular character flaw in the Capitals, most notably bringing in culture-builder Trotz. Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen helped improve a defense, but they are also both great guys and teammates. They are guys who know how to win.

MacLellan’s work changing the Capitals DNA might not be done yet.

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