It’s a typical hockey fan criticism leveled at the reigning Stanley Cup Champion if they have a slow start to the next season. The idea is that all the long playoff series and the partying from winning the Stanley Cup over the summer somehow saps energy from the collective team, causing them to come out of the gate without much fire.
The Washington Capitals definitely partied this summer. With a 5-4-2 record to start the season, the Capitals find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture right now. But bringing back all of the talent that won the Stanley Cup probably means that they’ll find their stride eventually.