It is rare when the arrival of a single player immediately changes an entire sports franchise’s fortune. That was the case for the Washington Capitals in 1982 when they acquired defenseman Rod Langway in a blockbuster trade with Montreal.
Langway, now 62, led Washington to 11 consecutive playoff appearances (1983–93). The Capitals never made the postseason during their first eight years in the NHL. Things got so bad in the summer of 1982, that fans spearheaded a campaign to “Save the Caps” and keep the team from moving to another city.
“The story was (owner) Abe Pollin wanted 12 million dollars for the team,” Langway recalls. “When I came here, I was guaranteed one year. I was told to rent and not to buy. It was probably a 75 percent chance that we would be gone.”
Langway, a central Virginia resident, won the Norris Trophy, given to the NHL’s best defenseman, in 1983 and 1984. He was inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame in 2002. “When you were coming down on Langway, it was like trying to skate through seaweed and around an octopus,” says Craig Laughlin, a former teammate of Langway’s and current Capitals’ broadcaster. “Langway was the same as Wayne Gretzky, but in a defensive mode. He was the best defenseman arguably ever to play.”
We recently talked to Langway, nicknamed the Secretary of Defense, about winning a Stanley Cup with Montreal, his reaction to the Capitals capturing the Cup recently, and his involvement with the franchise today.
What were your emotions when the Capitals finally won a Stanley Cup?
It was an unbelievable night and it was a great sight to see. I was at my restaurant, where it was standing room only. I enjoyed it so much. I had tears of happiness. I was so exhausted rooting for and watching them. I am going on 39 years being involved with the Capitals.
How did it compare to winning the Cup with Montreal?
I was 21 years old and I will never forget it. It was the beginning of my career and laid the foundation for what kind of player I was going to become. It was an eight o’clock game in Montreal and it was Game 5. We stayed at a hotel and my roommate was Bunny Larocque. We couldn’t sleep until 2:30 in the morning. We had a 40-minute walk to the rink and when we got there, you just knew it was over. We won and we went crazy on the ice.
Have you enjoyed yourself in your role as Capitals ambassador?
Absolutely. I can come and go as I please, but they put me in position where I can mingle with the fans and get involved in the charities that they support. I represent the Capitals the way they want me to, but also the way I feel I need to. One of the things I do is go around to selected suites during the game for birthdays and other events. I get requests for people that want to meet me and take pictures with me. I go to 35 games a year and the playoffs. They keep me busy. I’m on the payroll. I wouldn’t say it’s a full-time job, but I am on-call. I mingle with VIP season-ticket holders, 30- and 40-year season-ticket holders. I have traveled on Capitals trips to Nashville and Florida.
You are always involved in the Hero’s Salute at games. How much do you like meeting these veterans that are Capitals fans?
That’s special. Most of my family was in the service, all branches except Air Force. I was born into a Navy family. I was born in Taiwan after the Korean War. The Capitals selected me to do the salute and it’s right down my alley to really respect the servicemen.
Did one particular veteran stick out?
A couple of years ago there was a pilot. I believe he was 93 years old and he was in World War II. He still fit in his old uniform. He lost his first wife and married a 70-year-old. She looked like she was 35 [next to him]. I was talking to his wife and she said, “I can’t get him to sit down. We live on a farm. My daughter rides horses and he works around the farm. About a week ago, he was under a truck changing the oil.”
After you stopped playing, you got into coaching in the minors? Did you want to be an NHL coach?
I didn’t want to be a head coach. My goal was to be a defensive assistant coach. I was like a player-assistant coach, but my legs couldn’t hold up. I couldn’t keep up with the young kids. I stop playing and concentrated on coaching. I had a bad taste in my mouth from a couple of teams. They weren’t really honest with me or the players I coached. In the minors, if you are not affiliated with an NHL team, it’s kind of tough.
Talk about the two restaurants named after you?
Langway’s [in Gambrills] just has my name. No money involved in it. When I came here in ’82, I met the Koutroumpis family. They owned the restaurant across from the hotel I stayed in for two months. I went there every chance I got. About five years later, the youngest brother Willy, wanted to use my name on a sports bar (in Lanham). I stopped playing in ’93 and he closed it in ’95. Then about four years ago, he bought the old Krazy Otto’s. He revamped it, came to me and said, “Can I use your name again.” I said I won’t be there much, but it’s going well.
What was it like not playing with a helmet?
Everyone asks me that. It’s like playing in practice. When I started playing as a kid, I never wore a helmet outside on the ice. You had a hat on because it was so cold, but you didn’t have a helmet. I wore helmets in baseball and football. When I got to the pros, no one wore helmets in practice. I was one of the last guys not to wear a helmet. Craig MacTavish and Brad Marsh were the others. If I played today, I wouldn’t wear a helmet.
Are you feeling any effects from playing without a helmet? How is your health?
My health has nothing to do with not wearing a helmet. My issues are with my knees, shoulders, and back. That’s wear and tear, but I would do it again. That’s for sure. I get around okay. I can work out a little bit and play golf. I do mostly bikes. I would love to run and skate, but I can’t do that. I haven’t been on skates in over 10 years.
John Carlson could be first Capitals defenseman since you to win the Norris Trophy this year. Do you think he can do it?
Absolutely. He is the front runner now. It’s overdue. I am a big fan of his. He plays a lot. If he does win it, it’s well deserved.
