I wish I had your optimism Lil.. If they were trying to tank at least it'd make sense. lol These dopes just stink. 
I don't know if I'd use the pejorative term "stink" Mick, but looking at the lineup Alta posted tonight, it's unreasonable to think that this team could be competitive with the better teams in the league.
o They're playing basically with two rookie centers (McMichael played wing almost all last year.) And McMichael, while he's produced something is not (yet? ever?) a #1 center.
o Ovie has finally turned into just another guy scoring-wise. Had to happen sometime.
o Desperate for scoring and with little cap room, the Caps plucked Pacioretti out of the bargain bin, hoping for half a year of a top 6 scorer. Didn't happen.
o I think Protas can be a useful piece, and may eventually take over as #4 center post Dowd. But he ISN'T a top-6 forward.
o On defense, Jensen and TVR seem to have regressed this season. It happens to 30-somethings a lot. You just don't know what something the drop-off will occur.
o The Caps thought they could develop something with Sandin. He looked great the first 10 games or so after he was acquired last season, but hasn't given us anything remotely like that since. So tonight, in what is arguably the most important standings game of the season thus far, he's benched in favor of Hershey call-up Iorio. I don't disagree with this, but shoving Iorio cold into a game of this magnitude isn't what you'd really want to do.
o Lindgren, the backup goalie, is carrying the load because Kuemper has been decidedly uninspiring.
Add it up. IT DOESN'T ADD UP TO ANYTHING. I'm amazed the team kept in playoff contention this long.
