Today marks an exciting milestone for our organization as we introduce Chris Patrick as our seventh general manager in the franchise’s 50th season in the National Hockey League. Chris has been an instrumental member of our team for over 15 years, overseeing our analytics team and pro scouting staff and serving as a steadfast guardian of our minor league teams, one of which recently achieved back-to-back AHL championships. His intelligence, exceptional work ethic, and extensive experience make him the perfect choice for this role.

With Dick Patrick as Chairman, Brian MacLellan as President and Chris as General Manager, we believe we have a dynamic leadership team in place to continue to guide our hockey operations department forward. They share a cohesive plan and philosophy that encompasses all aspects of our organization. As our team continues to evolve, we are confident that this move will strengthen our overall performance and future prospects.

I take immense pride in the historical continuity within our hockey operations department. Under Dick’s leadership, we have consistently had talented individuals in long-serving roles steering our organization. Their unified focus on building a team with a strong identity, system, and philosophy have yielded impressive results. Since I acquired the team in 1999, and under Dick’s guidance, we have won a Stanley Cup, three Presidents’ Trophies, and made the playoffs 18 times, which is tied for the most playoff appearances in the NHL in that span. In that same time frame, the Capitals rank third in the NHL in wins (991), points (2,229) and home point percentage (.640).

I am proud of the work Brian has done since being appointed to lead our hockey operations in 2014. Brian is a man of integrity, intelligence, and strong leadership. During his tenure, we won the franchise’s first Stanley Cup, two Presidents’ Trophies, five Metropolitan Divisions titles (2014-2020) and secured six 100-point seasons. Among general managers with at least 500 games of experience, only two others in NHL history have a higher point percentage than Brian’s .631.

We are entering a pivotal moment in our franchise’s history. One of the standout qualities of our hockey operations team is their transparency with both me and our fans. It’s no secret that our legacy players are on the tail end of their illustrious careers. We are deeply appreciative of their continued excellence on the ice. However, we must also look ahead. I am confident that this leadership group has excelled in identifying and acquiring the right players to allow us to retool and compete for another championship.

Since winning the Stanley Cup, we have focused on drafting and replenishing our farm system. Our AHL team, the Hershey Bears, have secured back-to-back championships for the second time in 15 years. Two of our top prospects helped lead Team USA to gold at this year’s World Junior Championship. Our young players are learning how to win early in their careers and are developing the right way.

With Dick, Brian and Chris at the helm, I am both confident and enthusiastic about the future of our organization.

–Ted Leonsis