*submitted by Larry L*

New Washington team names GM

 

 

 

Pulls a surprise no one say coming

 

 

 

Last Wednesday, Tilman Fertitta, owner of the new Washington Capitals National Hockey League team met with local dignitaries, the Washington press and members of the Caps Gold Club. With him were BRHL commissioners Bryce Shuck and Eric Dolegowski. Fertitta then pulled a surprise that no one saw coming when he stated he had hired the first General Manager in the New Caps history. Lawrence Linke then walked out from behind the curtain, which left both Shuck and Dolegowski speechless.

 

 

 

Most people know Linke as the current GM of the highly successful New York Rangers, a team that is currently in 1^st place in the Metropolitan Division. He is generally considered one of the brightest YOUNG minds in all of hockey. When asked about the switch, Linke stated starting a team from scratch is a dream come true. When asked about his plan, Linke stated he refuses to commit himself to one practice, promising to acquire both young players and veterans in the  expansion draft to build a good core. He then will supplement that core through the draft.

 

 

 

Linke got his start in the Internet Hockey League, which is generally considered the second best SIM hockey league in the world and the little brother to the BRHL. He started with the Nashville Predators, the team with the worst record in the league and with his first ever draft choice selected Steven Stamkos. Linke showed his boldness two years later by trading Stamkos for three players who all became all stars.  By the end of the third year Nashville was competing for a playoff spot and made the playoffs in their fourth year.

 

 

 

Linke then moved to the Anaheim Ducks franchise, on that was so bad the league was considering disbanding it. The franchise was also missing its next two first round draft choices, both of which became # 1 overall. Anaheim was well on the way to respectability when he was lured away to his dream job, the New York Rangers.

 

 

 

While the Rangers GM they consistently made the playoffs while never winning it all. Linke’s proudest moment was the prospect list he built up, including Adrian Kempe, Brady Skjei, Robert Haag, Shea Theodore, Anthony Beauvillier, Boris Katchouk, Connor Ingram, Igor Shesterkin, Pavel Buchnevich, and Vitaly Abramov.

 

 

 

On his NHL roster were such young stalwarts as J T Miller, Kevin Hayes, Vladislav Namestnikov and John Gibson

 

 

 

With Linke’s pedigree it shouldn’t be long until the New Caps are a winning organization.