When it came to his hockey career, Brooks Laich’s primary goal wasn’t to make the National Hockey League, but rather to stamp himself as a legitimate professional on hockey’s foremost stage.
Mission accomplished.
It would be difficult to find an athlete as passionate about his profession as Laich, who has become one of the key components on a talent-rich Washington Capitals team eager to net hockey’s most cherished team prize.
“I’ve always had a belief that if you do things the right way that success will come,” said the 26-year-old centreman who is in his fifth season as a member of the Capitals. The main goal wasn’t to make the NHL, but rather to establish myself a player that could contribute on a consistent basis.”
It doesn’t end there for Laich.
“The goal is to be the best you can be, to win a Stanley Cup, to defend it and as a team ask, ‘How good can we be?’”
For the players who comprise the Caps lineup, it’s a question they’ve no doubt floated around the dressing room over the past two campaigns.
Featuring some of the top offensive stars in the league, including two-time Lester B. Pearson Award winner Alexander Ovechkin, fellow Russian sniper Alexander Semin, Swedish standout Nicklas Backstrom and blueliner Mike Green, Washington has no shortage of firepower anywhere in their lineup.
Despite the loss of Russian forwards Sergei Fedorov and Viktor Kozlov, who both opted to play in the Kontinental Hockey League, Laich isn’t worried about how the new additions, namely Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison, will fare both on and off the ice with the Capitals.
“We are lucky to have so many great guys, in terms of character and talent,” said Laich, who played three seasons in the Western Hockey League, with Moose Jaw and Seattle, from 2000-03. “Make no mistake, great guys left, but we were able to fill those holes with two great hockey players. It’s been a seamless transition from the time they arrived.
“This is a very accepting dressing room when it comes to new guys,” he continued. “That’s the way we want it to be and that’s the way it’s been since I’ve been here. It’s a great environment to be in.”
One that Laich continues to flourish in.
Traded to the Capitals for Peter Bondra in 2003-04, Laich spent the NHL lockout season of 2004-05 with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. He began the 2005–06 NHL season with the Capitals' new AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, but was called up to the Capitals soon after.
During the 2006–07 NHL season, Laich played 73 games for the Capitals and showcased his two-way play as well as his ability to play both the centre and wing positions.
Re-signing with the Capitals on July 25, 2007, the 2007–08 NHL season saw Laich develop into a more offensive player. He scored 21 goals (more than the previous three NHL seasons combined) and posted 37 points, most coming through his tireless work in front of the opposition’s net. Laich also led the team with a 17.2 shooting percentage and led all Capitals forwards with 56 blocked shots.
“People will ask me what my goals are, in terms of statistics, as each year starts, and I always respond by saying I don’t set numerical marks,” offered Laich, who led the Seattle Thunderbirds with 41 goals and 94 points in 2002-03, earning the WHL Western Conference MVP. “Each year, my focus is to improve my role.”
It’s proven to be a fruitful approach for the native of Wawota, Saskatchewan, a town known for its long history of successful sports teams, most notably in hockey and baseball.
“I’ve been fortunate to be put in key situations over the past few years,” said Laich. “I’ve been on the ice for the first power-play unit and I’ve also seen time on the penalty kill, too. I take a lot of pride in that. When Bruce (coach Boudreau) looks down the bench, I want to be that guy who can do any job.”
Offensive contributions aside, Laich has developed an equally well regarded reputation as a respected leader, a role that came naturally to the forward.
“When I first got here, Dainius Zubrus was someone who really helped me out,” recalled Laich. “(Recently retired) Olaf Kolzig and Jeff Halpern also had a huge impact on me. Those were the three main guys that were very helpful.
“I also watched Sergei Fedorov like a hawk when he was here, how he went about preparing for a game and his desire to be the best he could be.”
Laich couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
“It’s a lot different than it has been in the past,” noted Laich. “There were thin times and now there are better times. There is a genuine sense that we can win it all. It’s as though we’re still just putting our toes in the deep end.”
Last year ended on a disappointing note, as Washington fell to rival and eventual 2009 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh in their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup.
“The word I use is hunger,” said Laich. “We had a solid regular season, but the year ended with a thud. We feel we have a lot to prove as a team. The way you look at it is that in that Game Seven on our home ice, we were beaten by a better team that day. It might hurt to say that, but you have to give credit where it’s due.
“But I do believe that you can learn and be better in those situations. It makes you more determined. Sometimes you have to lose in order to win.”
And with Brooks Laich as a teammate, the odds of winning always seem to be in your favour.