Uncle Ted Apologizes

(Image via ESPN.com)

Here is a transcript directly from Ted Leonis' personal website in which he apologizes for the lockout.

I know Capitals fans – and hockey fans around the world – agonized the past few months; I apologize for my role in not being able to help us reach a more timely agreement. I’m sorry it took this long. 

I empathize with our fans – losing games in this manner was upsetting, and we are sorry for all of the inconvenience it caused. We know we have fences to mend, and we must work hard to rebuild trust and continue to grow our great hockey community. I promise personally to lead this effort and to show contrition; this entire experience has been extremely humbling.

Yesterday the Board of Governors voted unanimously to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement. The vote was unanimous, and I was enthusiastic in my support of the new agreement. We now await the players as they conduct their vote. Hopefully then we will quickly publish our schedules, open camp and drop the puck. Then, thankfully, we can return our focus and passion to the ice, where it should be – on our great game and the remarkable young men who play it.

Our goal is simple: assemble the best team we are able and commit ourselves to winning the Stanley Cup. We are excited about having Adam Oates behind our bench, and will support him as best we can as he institutes his system and philosophy. We realize there won’t be much time, but we have a locker room full of high-character players who will make the necessary investments to learn and buy into Adam’s style.

I believe the new CBA agreement helps all of us – players, teams and ultimately the fans – to achieve long-term stability for the league. It creates a great partnership between the players and the teams, and it assures competitiveness and the ability for all 30 clubs and their fan bases to hope to compete for a Stanley Cup. 

To all Caps fans – local and long-distance – thank you for your ongoing support and your support of our players, we truly appreciate it. You are terrific fans, and we have worked extremely hard for many years to grow that relationship, and we have been rewarded with fantastic support. It is now incumbent upon us to be a first-class partner not only with our players but also with our fans. It is time to move forward in the best way we can, together. 

Stay tuned for more communications from me and the team following the union voting and ratifying the agreement. 

Go Caps!

After reading this, should we be mad that he was said to have been one of the top 5 owners pushing the lockout to happen and continue? Should we get back to the Verizon Center and watch a game? Voice your opinion in the comments section below.

Brendan Sheridan

Creator of this lovely blog and also part of the creative side of things. Follow me on Twitter @md_dc for even more random musings.