Ted Leonsis wins 1,000th career game as Washington Capitals owner: “It all starts with him”

Ted Leonsis of Monumental Sports & Entertainment celebrated his 1,000th career win as majority owner of the Washington Capitals after his Alex Ovechkin-led club defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Wednesday night. Ovechkin scored his 861st career goal in the third period, clinching the game.

After the win, Leonsis was presented with the milestone puck by Ovechkin in the Capital One Arena locker room.

Leonsis hugged Ovechkin and then told his team: “You know I love you. I love the team. I love the community. I think we're the fastest ownership group in the league to 1,000 wins right now, so that's a real accomplishment. It's the organization we've built and I'm really, really proud of you. This is a feel-good moment. 25 years, 1,000 victories. Let’s do it again.”

According to the Capitals, Leonsis is actually the second-fastest active NHL owner to reach the 1,000-win mark, doing so in his 1,907. Game. The only owner to do it faster was Jeremy Jacobs of the Boston Bruins.

“The longevity of what he's built here as an owner, and I always appreciate the fact that it's such a stable (organization),” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said. “He's built something here from management: 'This is what we care about, this is what we believe in, and I'm going to enable people to do their jobs and be the best at their jobs.'

“It was impressive because I was able to do it, and not just because I was here for two years. I also remember coming here in South Carolina in 2011-12 and just noticing little things about the organization. And it all starts at the top. When you're around the people in this organization, you immediately notice that it starts at the top: how they treat people, how they work, how committed they are to excellence, and how they care for the community. You can just feel it throughout our entire organization: it starts with him.”

Since taking over the team prior to the 1999-2000 season, Leonsis has helped the Caps win a Stanley Cup (2018), three Presidents' Trophies (2017, 2016, 2010) for best regular season record and 12 division titles. and 18 playoff appearances in 24 years.

The Capitals also rank third in the NHL in wins (1,000) and league points (2,247) and, led by Leonsis, are second in home scoring (.642).

Congratulations, Ted!