Caps Briefing: Olaf Kolzig, An Icon Remembered
In the history of the Washington Capitals, only one goalie has carried the team to the Stanley Cup Finals. That goalie retired today, after a decade in D.C. and a brief curtain call with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Olaf Kolzig may not play in the NHL any longer, but Caps fans will always remember him as one of the most dedicated, team-focused players in Washington history.
Caps fans called him "Godzilla," because he was one of the biggest goalies in the NHL and loomed like a monster across the comparatively tiny goalposts. Kolzig drew national headlines for winning fights with other goalies, scoring a goal in juniors and carrying a Caps team without very much offensive firepower all the way to the brink of a championship. Of course, the Caps lost in 1998 to a Detroit Red Wings team that may have had more skill than any team since, including recent Capital Sergei Fedorov on its second line and new addition Mike Knuble as a spare part.
In his last couple years with the Caps, Kolzig showed excellent sportsmanship by agreeing to stay with the team while it dismantled its roster and rebuilt around young talent like Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. Unfortunately, his knees did not last long enough to carry the Caps to another Stanley Cup Final. In the Spring of 2008, the Caps traded for Cristobal Huet, who was supposed to be about as good as Kolzig. Huet quickly went on a hot streak to win 19 out of 20 starts, taking away Kolzig's starting job just when the Caps had finally gotten back into the playoffs again.
Kolzig stormed out of the building after the Caps, using only Huet, lost their first round series to the Flyers in seven games. He took his name tag with him. Staying frustrated, the Caps' all-time leader in wins signed the next season with divisional rival Tampa Bay. It was hard for some Caps fans to take, but at least it wasn't the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Last night, Caps fans all had the same nightmare. Penguins backup goalie, former Cap Brent Johnson, suffered a knee injury in a preseason game. The Pens played minor leaguer John Curry and lost a game they had been leading to the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs. The Pens clearly need experienced help to back up Marc-Andre Fleury, and one of the most experienced goalies without a contract is Olaf Kolzig. After a brilliant career in Washington, many Caps fans have long assumed Kolzig would some day end up working in the Capitals organization. But it would be tough to come back after a stint with their arch-rivals.
Therefore it came as a very pleasant surprise all around the Beltway when Kolzig announced this morning that he had chosen to retire from professional hockey. Thank you, Olaf Kolzig, for staying away from Pittsburgh. It was hard enough to watch the Penguins knock the Caps out of the playoffs again this spring. It would be unbearable to see you helping them this year. We may have been frustrated when injuries kept you from doing your best at the end of a great career in Washington, but after today's classy move, all is forgiven.