Ovechkin, Caps Finally Raise Their Stanley Cup Banner
By Howard Fendrich ••
Sherree Burruss spoke with Alexander Ovechkin on the red carpet as he arrived for the season opener and banner ceremony.
After all of their individual days with the Stanley Cup from Moscow to Minnesota, all of the fountain-diving and beer-guzzling, the parade and the diamond-encrusted rings, Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals got to do something else new for the franchise: raise a banner signifying an NHL championship.
The team and its fans finally enjoyed that rite Wednesday night, before opening the regular season by hosting the Boston Bruins.
"The atmosphere is going to be unbelievable," Ovechkin said. "The people are going to be happy. Some might even cry."
The Cup itself, now etched with his name, was on the ice for the banner ceremony. Then the Capitals played hockey that counts for the first time since a 4-3 victory on Lars Eller's goal in Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights back in June.
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Fans showed up in force to support the Capitals in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
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Washington Capitals fans celebrate a goal by Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana #13 during the fan watch party at Capital One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
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Washington Capitals fans celebrate a goal by Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana #13 during the fan watch party at Capital One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
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A Washington Capitals fan celebrates a goal by Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana #13 during the fan watch party at Capital One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
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Washington Capitals pack 7th street outside the Capital One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
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A Washington Capitals fan watches Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals during the fan watch party at Capital One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
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A Washington Capitals fans cheer during the fan watch party at Capital One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
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A Washington Capitals fan holds a "Lets Go Caps" sign during the fan watch party at Capital One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
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A Washington Capitals fans cheer during the fan watch party at Capital One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
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Washington Capitals fans watch Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals during the fan watch party at Capital One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
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Fans gather and watch the Capitals in Vienna, Va.
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Fans gather at National Harbor to watch the Capitals in Game 5.
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"Once that banner goes up, it'll be nice closure for everyone that what happened was real," forward T.J. Oshie said Tuesday after Washington practiced. "And we can start focusing on the future and trying to do this thing again."
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There is a different coach in charge of Washington — Barry Trotz left when he didn't get the sort of contract he wanted and was replaced by one of his assistants, Todd Reirden — but otherwise, not much has changed: 18 of the 19 players who appeared in the Cup-clinching game are still around.
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Washington Capitals players, coaches and staff were presented with their 2018 Stanley Cup Championship rings in a private ceremony Monday. Get a look at the jaw-dropping rings, which each feature more than 250 diamonds, plus custom-cut rubies and a star-shaped sapphire.
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The ring is made of 14-karat white and yellow gold, set with diamonds, rubies and a sapphire. The total precious stone weight? A cool 10.2 carats. That includes 5.5 carats' worth of diamonds (230 round diamonds and 22 princess-cut diamonds), 4.6 carats of rubies (28 taper-cut rubies and seven star-shaped rubies), and a star-shaped sapphire on each.
Washington Capitals and Jostens
The left side of the ring features the player's name above a Capitol building created from 14-karat white gold. A star-shaped ruby and sapphire are set on each side of the Capitol. The player's numbers are set to the right, with the number of stones ranging from 7 to 18 diamonds.
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The face of the ring depicts the Caps' logo in red and blue enamel -- surrounded by 27 pavé-set diamonds and encircled by 28 rubies -- and the words "Stanley Cup Champions" in yellow gold. The three star-shaped rubies above the logo are inspired by the D.C. flag. Another 157 diamonds create "a cascading waterfall effect" down the sides of the ring's face, a release from the team said.
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The inside is engraved with the Caps' logo, as well as logos and series scores from their journey to Stanley Cup victory.
Washington Capitals and Jostens
On the right side of the ring, the year 2018 is set with 26 diamonds, and a Stanley Cup created in white gold is set with another 20 diamonds and one star-shaped ruby, symbolizing the team’s first Stanley Cup victory. Two more star-shaped rubies on either side of the Cup commemorate the team's two Eastern Conference Championships, the release said.
Washington Capitals and Jostens
The Caps won a long-awaited Stanley Cup victory earlier this year. "These rings will now forever be a reminder for the players, coaches, and fans: we did it," said Capitals owner Ted Leonsis in a release. "We are thrilled today to be able to unveil this beautiful ring, which will always be a proud symbol of the Capitals' incredible 2018 Stanley Cup run and the unbreakable bond they created among all Caps fans who shared in the joy of that moment together."
"The systems and stuff, it's all the same. So it's pretty straightforward," goalie Braden Holtby said about the switch from Trotz to Reirden. "Obviously they have different personalities and it's going to take some adjusting for everyone, but that almost can be a good thing in that way, because we do have almost the same roster coming back and when you have that happen, complacency can sometimes set in, just because everything's the same. That little change might help us stay fresh and stay excited about things."
What's entirely, and inalterably, changed is the whole vibe around the Capitals, who have been around since 1974 and only once before even made it as far as the conference finals. The longtime core of Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom never had been past the second round of the postseason.
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Alex Ovechkin of the NHL champion Washington Capitals hoists the Stanley Cup during a parade down Constitution Avenue on June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
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Alex Ovechkin of the NHL champion Washington Capitals hoists the Stanley Cup during a parade down Constitution Avenue on June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
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Alex Ovechkin of the NHL champion Washington Capitals holds the Stanley Cup during a parade down Constitution Avenue on June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
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Fans gather on the steps of the National Archives Building as they wait to watch the Washington Capitals NHL hockey Stanley Cup victory parade along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, June 12, 2018.
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Participants lead the NHL Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals during a parade down Constitution Avenue on June 12, 2018 in Washington, D.C.
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Washington Capitals NHL hockey team left wing Alex Ovechkin, from Russia, holds up the Stanley Cup during a victory parade, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
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Busses carrying members of the NHL Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals organization make their way to Constitution Avenue on June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
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Participants cheer as the NHL champion Washington Capitals parade down Constitution Avenue on June 12, 2018, in Washington D.C.
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Participants cheer during a parade for the NHL champion Washington Capitals down Constitution Avenue on June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
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Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie waves while holding his daughter Lyla Oshie during a Stanley Cup NHL hockey victory parade, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
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Fans watch as the NHL Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals parade down Constitution Avenue on June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
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Washington Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer, of Germany, points to fans during the Stanley Cup NHL hockey victory parade in Washington, Tuesday, June 12, 2018.
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Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, DC takes part in the NHL champion Washington Capitals parade down Constitution Avenue on June 12, 2018 in Washington, D.C.
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Alex Ovechkin of the NHL champion Washington Capitals holds up the Stanley Cup during a victory parade along Constitution Avenue June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
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Restaurateur, chef Jose Andres, center, gestures while celebrating during the Washington Capitals NHL hockey Stanley Cup victory parade in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, June 12, 2018.
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A fan carries a homemade Stanley Cup made of mostly empty beer cans as people begin to arrive for the Washington Capitals Stanley Cup victory parade on Constitution Avenue.
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The application for the parade permit said organizers expect "100,000 + +" fans to attend.
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Fans cross Pennsylvania Avenue as they head towards the Washington Capitals Stanley Cup victory parade route on the National Mall.
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Washington Metropolitan police officer Robert T. Fennell, right, helps hand out posters to a pair of young fans before the start the Stanley Cup victory parade on Constitution Avenue.
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Washington Capitals NHL hockey team owner Ted Leonsis touches the Stanley Cup during a team photo on the ice at Capital One Arena ahead of the Caps' victory parade on June 12, 2018.
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Washington Capitals NHL hockey team owner Ted Leonsis, left, and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin pose with the Stanley Cup on the ice at Capital One Arena ahead of the Caps' victory parade on June 12, 2018.
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Some fans bought replica Stanley Cups to celebrate their team's historic win ahead of the Caps' victory parade.
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A fan hoists a Stanley Cup made out of empty beer cans just before the Washington Caps are slated to appear for their Stanley Cup victory parade.
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The application for the parade permit said organizers expect "100,000 + +" fans to attend.
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Lucky fans gather in front of the stage at the National Mall.
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Caps fans pose with NBC4's Angie Goff ahead of the Caps victory parade and rally.
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Fans make their way to the National Mall for a glimpse of their team and the Stanley Cup.
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NBC4 anchors Chris Lawrence and Eun Yang report from Constitution Avenue.
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Fans buy Caps gear and paraphernalia hours before the victory parade is slated to start.
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Fans make their way to the National Mall hours before the Caps' victory parade and rally is slated to start.
The view at 12th and Constitution in advance of the parade.
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NBC4 anchors Eun Yang and Aaron Gilchrist pause for a pic.
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Whatever sense of doom and gloom that hung over their team for years has now disappeared.
"All the talk of jinxes and things like that," Oshie said, "people can kind of get out of their minds."
Ovechkin, Oshie and Backstrom were among the Capitals who had to sit through a banner-raising as the opponent two years ago in Pittsburgh, when Sidney Crosby and the rest of the rival Penguins celebrated a championship.
