On the next wave of young players:
"We've got [Vladislav] Gavrikov playing defense in Russia, in KHL, for St. Petersburg and the Russian national team. He was an Olympic gold medalist last year and played in the world championships. I think that had he chosen to come here earlier, I think he could play in the NHL right now. We're hoping that he will come over next year.
"Alexandre Texier in the Finnish League is having an unbelievable year. Now that he's fully healthy and got going, he's over a point a game in the last 25 games, and he's not even 20 years old yet. We've got [Emil] Bemstrom, who played in the world juniors (for Sweden) and then made the men's national team for the February tournament and was chosen the MVP of the tournament with three goals and one assist in three games, and he's 19 years old.
"And then Liam Foudy is on an unbelievable pace now (for London) in the OHL. After a little bit of a slow start point-wise, he has got 30 goals now in 46 games and 55 points. He's doing really well.
"They're all the modern style -- fast, quick, explosive players with skill. We're excited about those guys. And obviously we have some good players in the American League too."
On focusing on the ultimate goal:
"I don't think it's going to feel any better after you win one round or two rounds until you reach the real goal, which is to win the Stanley Cup someday. Obviously, you've got to take steps, and it's one step at a time, two steps, three steps, and then the final step. But until that happens, I don't think that the one round or two rounds is going to make us any happier, really.
"We're growing. We're taking steps into the right direction. I'm confident that we'll be a good team for many years to come here."
On believing:
"Look at all the disappointments Washington had. They were always labeled as a team that chokes in the playoffs or can't win in the playoffs. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Well, once they went all the way, nobody's saying a thing. That's what it takes.
"Same thing about individuals, and I've talked to our team about it too. Until you win, they're going to doubt you, say that you can't do it in the postseason, you're a regular-season this and that but you choke in the postseason.
"That's what they say about players in every sport until you win it. In golf or tennis, they have the same stories about certain players that haven't taken the final step. They get labeled as this and that, as (Capitals forward Alex) Ovechkin got labeled before in hockey. And then you when you've won, nobody's saying a thing anymore and never will."