WASHINGTON - After departing from the OTHL following two months of service and abandoning the powerhouse New Jersey Devils, Tom Poraszka has come crawling back.
The youthful Tom Poraszka ended his first tenure in the league due to personal obligations but could not resist a tempting offer to return to the OTHL as a GM. However, with the position in New Jersey taken by a suitable and capable GM, it was another team that came knocking. Arguably the team in the worst shape of any, the Washington Capitals expressed in desperation their need for a competent and committed general manager following the short tenure of the most recent applicant.
After originally denying the Capitals' offer in favour of 'personal obligations', Poraszka soon fell victim to OTHL withdrawal. He now becomes the third general manager of the Capitals, and with a team that has been labelled as the team that may 'just always suck'. The change of scenery from New Jersey to the nation's capital in Washington is not the only change Poraszka will notice; going from Brodeur to Salo in the crease, from a stacked roster full of young stars to an aging roster lacking in firepower. With prior successful rebuilding experiences, Poraszka knows exactly what he has to do to turn the Capitals into a winner and recognizes that it won't be a short process, "I'm happy to take on this challenge, but at the same time it's apparent that this isn't going to be a rags to riches conversion within the next month. Rebuilding takes years, two or three to be realistic, but it's the only way to ever become a winner."
Poraszka also continued by negating rumours that the club may make a conscious effort to lose in order to increase their chance at 17-year old phenom, Sydney Crosby. "That's ridiculous, there's no point to it because it all becomes a lottery in the end regardless. We'll play out this season as well as we can and use our pick - wherever it ends up - to select the best player available for this organization."
In his final words of the press conference, Poraszka called out fellow OTHL GMs to come ready to talk trade, stating anyone would be available, however some assets would be more difficult to acquire. "I got my finger glued to the trigger and anyone can be had. But guys like [Maxime] Ouellet, who are the most valuable assets available to us will be tough to get off our hands. In Ouellet's case, I feel rebuilding is done best from the crease outwards, with Maxime we have a guy who will definitely be able to play as our number one for several years to come."
With a new GM at the helm, the Capitals appear as though despite the fact that they may be basement dwellers for the next few years, a contending team may be attainable.