Stanley Cup Playoffs 2017: Bandwagon fan guide to Capitals

So your favorite NHL team has been eliminated. Why not join the Washington Capitals bandwagon? Plenty of seats are still available.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the best time of the year. That is, unless your favorite team isn’t in it. Casual fans might not want to watch the postseason. However, for hardcore fans, they debate which team’s bandwagon to join. Fear not, postseason deprived fans. The Washington Capitals will welcome you with open arms. This post draws inspiration from an article courtesy of Fear The Fin.

There are a lot of good teams to bandwagon for (except the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers). In the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there will be some compelling storylines. None of them are more compelling than the Capitals finally winning a Stanley Cup. Here’s why each eliminated fanbase should join the Caps bandwagon.

Colorado Avalanche

The Capitals provided the Avalanche with Semyon Varlamov. He’s largely responsible for your playoff run in 2013-14. Heck, Varlamov should have won the Vezina Trophy and likely the Hart Trophy. Also, consider rooting for the Caps the first step to redeeming yourselves for encouraging the Filip Forsberg trade. It was with your draft pick the Caps got him.

Arizona Coyotes

The Caps and Coyotes go way back. We’ll always have the Martin Erat for Chris Brown and Rostislav Klesla trade. Daniel Winnik is a former Coyote and a pretty awesome guy. The Caps, much like the Coyotes, know what it’s like to play in a market that doesn’t always support hockey.

Vancouver Canucks

Come on guys. Root for the team which has numerous playoff failures and isn’t in your conference. Teams with empty trophy cases have to stick together. You’ve got to cheer for your brethren to exit the unfortunate brotherhood. The Canucks traded Matt Cooke to the Caps for Matt Pettinger. This practically makes us family, right?

Los Angeles Kings

Ahem, the Caps have Justin Williams. Do you dare root against the beautiful man responsible for helping the Kings win two Stanley Cups? You can’t deny you love Mr. Game 7, the Reggie Jackson and Ray Allen of the NHL.

Washington Capitals

Winnipeg Jets

What’s up Atlanta Thrashers? Long time no see! Patrik Laine is the second coming of Alex Ovechkin. He’s European, people underrate him and he loves to score goals. They’re practically twins.

Florida Panthers

You beat us in game 82. The Caps are graciously allowing you to feel slightly better about your team. While Washington doesn’t have Jaromir Jagr anymore, you owe it to him to root for his favorite former team. The Panthers tried to draft Ovechkin in the 2003 NHL Draft multiple times. Rooting for the Caps is sort of like rooting for the cats in an alternate universe.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning fans have three reasons to root for the Capitals. First of all, you guys owe it to Caps fans after those shenanigans in the 2011 postseason. Secondly, this is your punishment for losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the conference finals. Thirdly, Nikita Kucherov and Ovechkin are buddies. Root for the Caps to make your superstar happy.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils will face an uphill battle to returning to glory. Want it to happen sooner? Root for the Caps to win a Stanley Cup. The moment they win, they’ll likely start retooling. This makes things easier for the Devils. Also, you owe us for Scott Stevens. Had the Caps not unselfishly accepted five first round picks from the Blues for him, he would have never became a Devil.

Carolina Hurricanes

You play the Caps hard all the time and as fans, we respect this. Remember how awesome it was when the Hurricanes shocked the world by winning the 2005-06 Stanley Cup? Don’t be selfish. Root for the Capitals to experience this joy as well. By the way, thanks for Justin Williams. You developed him very well.

Detroit Red Wings

You owe us for 1998, you jerks. Plus, did you guys read Mike Green’s contract? In tiny fine print at the bottom, it says Red Wings fans must root for the Caps in the playoffs. And hey, if Sergei Fedorov loves Ovechkin, why not root for him? You guys wouldn’t want Mike Babcock and the Leafs to win anything, would you?

New York Islanders

It’s completely understandable if you guys don’t want to root for the Caps. Rooting for divisional teams is always a hard thing to do. Caps fans have made it an annual tradition to have fun rooting against divisional foes in the postseason.

But listen, Islanders and Capitals fans share a deep appreciation for Jason Chimera and his beautiful bald head. This practically makes us brothers, right? Dale Hunter could have ruined John Tavares, but just ask him. He was great for his development. Is it getting dusty in here or is it just me?

Philadelphia Flyers

So what if the Caps and Flyers have a deep history of hating each other’s guts? Washington is your best hope at keeping the Pittsburgh Penguins from repeating. We both hate Sidney Crosby and John Tortorella. See? Let our disdain for black and gold unite us!

Buffalo Sabres

Kevin Shattenkirk would like mighty fine in blue and gold, wouldn’t he? You know what would make him want to sign with the Sabres? Winning a Stanley Cup. Remember the Michal Neuvirth for Jaroslav Halak trade? Good times.

Dallas Stars

You guys got a Stanley Cup because of a terrible ruling. To redeem yourselves, Stars fans must root for the most cursed playoff team in NHL history, the Washington Capitals. Good luck.

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There’s no reason you shouldn’t root for the Caps unless you take joy in the suffering of others. Capitals fans have waited long enough. And do you want to hear the “Ovechkin chokes” narrative for another offseason, knowing how false it is? Exactly. As a reward for joining the bandwagon, you’re more than welcome to come to the Stanley Cup parade.

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