The world will never be quite the same again, but at least it has started to heal. People are getting on with their lives, albeit with a heightened awareness of the value of human life and freedom, and the fragility of both. This is a good thing. If anything positive can be derived from the events that took place on September 11, it is this heightened awareness. I am glad that we are getting on with our lives. I am glad that NFL football has resumed, and that the NHL hockey season has just begun. But I hope and pray that we never lose this heightened awareness. I hope and pray that we never again take life and freedom for granted as some, perhaps all, of us have done in the past.

In lieu of a formal article, I would like to bring everyone up-to-date with the Washington Capitals by simply listing all the major events that have taken place since I last wrote in early August. But before doing so, let me just say that I wish Eric Lindros, one of the game's great players, health, happiness, and success in New York. Mr. Lindros had some nice things to say about the Caps in one of his first interviews as a New York Ranger. When Gary Miller of ESPN asked him for his thoughts on the deal that sent fellow superstar Jaromir Jagr to Washington, Eric said, "That was a real strong move... I looked at Washington. I thought that the ownership they have there, and their desire to win, you can see why they did go ahead and make that trade, and I think Jaromir is going to be happy there."

Caps' goaltender Olaf Kolzig also had some things to say about the Jagr deal. "By us getting Jagr, by him saying he's happy to be here, I think it's going to go a long way towards maybe getting other restricted free agents here, not this year but in years to come," Kolzig said in an interview that aired on the Caps' official web site. Kolzig also stated that the Caps "pulled off... Basically the trade of the century for the organization. Not only did we get him, but we've taken away from our biggest nemesis [the Pittsburgh Penguins]." Kolzig analyzed the deal further by saying, "I don't think [prospects Kris Beech, Michael Sivek, and Ross Lupaschuck] are going to add up to what this guy brings to the table."

Incidentally, Penguins' General Manager Craig Patrick said that the deal the New York Rangers made for Eric Lindros in August was better than the final offer they made for Jaromir Jagr in July.

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August 20: Netminder Olaf Kolzig signed a five-year, $31 million contract extension. This is slightly over a 100% raise from his current, $3 million yearly salary; it puts him closer in earnings to the league's elite netminders, Dominik Hasek ($9 million/year), Patrick Roy ($8.5 million/year), and Martin Brodeur ($8 million/year). The length of the contract ensures that the Caps will have high-quality goaltending for years to come, giving prospects like Corey Hirsch and Rastislav Stana ample time to develop.

August 22: The Caps acquired center Chris Ferraro from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for future considerations. Ferraro will play for the Caps' AHL affiliate Portland Pirates along with his twin brother Peter.

August 30: The Caps re-signed utility forward Glen Metropolit to a one-year contract. Metropolit spent most of last season with the Portland Pirates, although he did appear in 15 games with the Capitals.

September 10: The Caps raised ticket prices as much as 40% in some seating areas. The overall hike came to 15.8% as the top-row "Eagles' Nest" seats remained unchanged at a bargain $10 apiece. Despite being the third-highest price increase in the NHL this season, the Caps' average ticket price of $44.48 still ranks towards the bottom of the league, over $5 below the league average of $49.86.

September 11: Training camp began at the Caps' practice facility, Piney Orchard Ice Arena, in Odenton, Maryland. Many players reported earlier, as early as late August. Jaromir Jagr flew in from the Czech Republic on September 9.

September 11: Adam Oates was stripped of his captaincy. Caps' General Manager George McPhee expressed that he would trade the disgruntled center "if there's a trade there that makes sense" but that until that time "Adam will play hard and we'll give him the ice time he deserves."

September 14: The Caps and defenseman Brendan Witt agreed to a new three-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

September 17: Veterans of the previous year's Caps team donated $1,000 each to a relief fund set up after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

September 19: The Caps announced that, for the first time ever, all 82 of their games will be broadcast on television. (Last season only 71 games were televised.) 78 games will be aired on stations local to Washington DC: 40 games on Comcast SportsNet, 23 games on News Channel 8, and 15 games on WB50. The other 4 games will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, beginning with next Wednesday's game against the New York Rangers.

September 26: Jeff Halpern signed a two-year contract with a club option for a third year. The contract is for $1 million for each of the next two seasons and $1.45 million for the optional third season. Halpern can earn up to $200,000 in incentives each season, $50,000 each for hitting the 22, 25, 28, and 31 goal marks.

September 27: 10-year Caps veteran left wing Steve Konowalchuk and 7-year Caps veteran defenseman Brendan Witt are named co-captains for the upcoming season. Right wings Peter Bondra and Jaromir Jagr and defenseman Calle Johannson will be rotating alternate captains.

September 28: Utility forward Glen Metropolit is claimed by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2001-2002 NHL Waiver Draft. Metropolit should see more NHL ice time with the Lightning than he did with the Caps.

October 1: 19-year-old center Brian Sutherby is signed to a three-year contract that will pay him about $900,000 a year. Sutherby basically beat out Trent Whitfield for the Caps' fourth-line center spot.

October 2: The Caps cut three players from their roster to reach the NHL's 23-man limit. Trent Whitfield, who played 61 games with the Caps last season, was sent to the Portland Pirates. Defenseman Frantisek Kucera, a throw-in from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Jagr deal, was also assigned to Portland but will likely not report, preferring instead to play in his home country, the Czech Republic. Another former Penguin, Rene Corbet, a non-roster invitee to the Caps' training camp, was not offered an NHL contract but may end up in Portland as well if a deal can be worked out.

Currently, the Caps are negotiating with Jaromir Jagr on a five-year extension to his existing two-year contract.

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Here is a summary of what transpired in the Caps' preseason:

Game 1: September 18 vs. Philadelphia Flyers at the MCI Center in Washington, DC: L, 6-1

Jaromir Jagr scored the lone Caps' goal on a power play.

Game 2: September 21 vs. Dallas Stars at the new American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX: L, 3-2

Peter Bondra and Jagr scored one goal apiece. Jagr played very physically in this game, even throwing a few hits. "I play to my style," he said after the game. "I had to fight for my scoring chances. I'm not going to go out and hit somebody, but in games like this against Dallas, I have to win battles for the puck if I'm going to get a chance to score."

Game 3: September 22 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning at the Compaq Center in Houston, TX: L, 4-3 (OT)

Andrei Nikolishin scored two goals; prospect Matt Pettinger scored one. Jagr did not play. When asked why, Caps' head coach Ron Wilson said, "Jagr is the best player in the league, but this is a preseason game to learn what [other] players are capable of doing."

Game 4: September 24 vs. Boston Bruins at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, ME (the home of the Caps' AHL affiliate Portland Pirates): W, 3-2

In a game I wish I had seen, prospect Mike Farrel scored a goal in the first period. The Caps did not score again until there was less than a minute of playing time remaining and no goalie minding their net. Steve Konowalchuk and Ulf Dahlen scored back-to-back goals to give the Caps their first preseason victory. Jagr, Bondra, and Adam Oates did not play.

Game 5: September 25 vs. Philadelphia Flyers at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, PA: L, 6-4

Bondra scored two goals; Trevor Linden and Sergei Gonchar scored one apiece; but it was not enough to defeat the Flyers. Once again, Jagr did not play. Defenseman Brendan Witt injured his left knee on a collision with Flyers' center Keith Primeau and missed the last 10 minutes of the game. Fortunately, the injury, a sprain, is not considered serious and Witt is expected to play in tonight's season opener.

Game 6: September 28 vs. Carolina Hurricanes at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Raleigh, NC: W, 2-1

Jagr provided the only Caps' offense in this game. It was enough to beat the 'Canes, giving the Caps their second preseason victory.

Game 7: September 29 vs. Carolina Hurricanes at the MCI Center in Washington, DC: L, 5-4 (OT)

Bondra scored a hat trick and Linden tallied a single goal; unfortunately, it was not enough to defeat the 'Canes. On the positive side, Olaf Kolzig showed no ill effects from a groin pull suffered in training, and Chris Simon showed no ill effects from offseason shoulder surgery despite being involved in a fight in the previous game.

The Caps' overall preseason record is a somewhat disappointing 2-3-0-2. Their biggest weakness is defense. Their most productive offensive line is not Jagr's top line, but the second line consisting of Linden, Oates, and Bondra. Only newly-signed rookie Brian Sutherby played in all seven preseason games.

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Going into tonight's season opener vs. the New Jersey Devils at the MCI Center, the Caps' lines stack up as follows:

Zubrus - Nikolishin - Jagr

Linden - Oates - Bondra

Konowalchuk - Halpern - Dahlen

Simon - Sutherby - Sacco

The Caps' defensive pairings are as follows:

Johannson - Witt

Gonchar - Reekie

Cote - Zettler