Top 3 hockey books to read as we wait for the NHL
#2 Red Rising: The Washington Capitals Story by Ted Starkey
This book takes a look at the early stages of the Rock the Red era as a whole as Alex Ovechkin and the Young Guns weren’t even in their prime yet.
The Capitals underwent a massive change in the 2007-08 season. Not only among personnel midseason but before the season when they switched their home jerseys from black to red. It was a rebrand that was better than the rebrand of the local football team.
"The story of the rebranding and reemergence of the Washington Capitals. Featuring original interviews with Capitals players, coaches, and staff from the past decade, including team owner Ted Leonsis, as well as the expertise of the NHL’s most informed media personalities, Ted Starkey’s Red Rising looks at how a chronically underachieving hockey franchise became a success on and off the ice in Washington, across North America, and around the world. Fueled by the arrival of charismatic Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin, as well as gifted youngsters like Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green, the Caps have transformed themselves from a team in danger of becoming the NHL’s laughingstock pre-lockout, into an organization players, media, and fans respect and adore. Now rivaling the NFL’s Redskins (Commanders) for the hearts of Washington fans, the Capitals are a dangerous contender, a true power that could bring the Stanley Cup to America’s capital."
They did.