Caps' Owner Ted Leonsis this morning fielded questions from the press a day before he jets off to Toronto and the NHL Awards ceremony tomorrow night, where he hopes his organization needs a U-Haul to handle all of the hardware its been nominated for.

"We're hoping to make history" tomorrow night, he said this morning.

The Capitals could become the first team ever to have the NHL's MVP, coach of the year, and rookie of the year all at once. The most likely (i.e. mortal lock) victory Thursday night is Ovechkin's winning the Hart. He'd be the first-ever Cap to win it, and he'd become only the fourth player in NHL history to win both the Calder and the Hart. Former Caps' coach Bryan Murray won the Jack Adams in 1984.   

When asked about potentially jinxing his organization's trophy chances in Toronto by announcing yesterday this Friday's trophy showcase and skate for Caps' fans out at Kettler, Mr. Leonsis referenced the commitment and sacrifice made by a player like Alexander Ovechkin, not just on the ice but off it as well. Ovechkin, the owner noted, departed for Canada to compete in the World Championships for Russia not long after the conclusion of the Caps' season, flew home to Russia for a celebration of the team's gold medal at the Kremlin, was ordered back to North America to appear on NBC during game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, flew back to Russia to enjoy some R&R, and now returns here again for the league's awards evening. Friday, he suggested, was an opportunity for the team to acknowledge the sacrifices made by Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom and Bruce Boudreau for 2007-08 -- a "Season to Remember" indeed.

But talk about some frequent flyer miles for the left winger!

He pointed to Thursday night as a "vindication" of the Caps' rebuild -- a proof that indeed it was over. He reminded the media of how it was a "controversial" but nonetheless "unanimous" decision on the part of the team's ownership group. While acknowledging that Thursday night was a bit of a feather in the organization's cap -- he termed it "a capstone on a plan we articulated" -- he was quick to suggest that individual awards, while significant, are no match for hockey's ultimate prize -- the Cup.

"We are envious" of Detroit, he said.

We were struck particularly by the owner's reflection on the remarkable turnaround that took place during 2007-08. Mr. Leonsis reminded his listeners of Caps' fans clamoring for Glen Hanlon's firing in Verizon Center in mid-November but how, within 100 days' time, his team's home was transformed into "sellouts night after night," the Phone Booth suddenly becoming "one of the loudest buildings" in the league, and of course the site of the unforgettable Red-Out at the very end of the regular season and throughout the opening playoff round versus Philadelphia.