CAPITALS 8 Entering this season, Alex Ovechkin has led the league in shots in eight of his nine campaigns. Projected Roster HEAD COACH: BARRY TROTZ LW C RW 1st Line: Eric Fehr Nicklas Backstrom Alex Ovechkin 2nd Line: Jason Chimera Evgeny Kuznetsov Troy Brouwer 3rd Line: Joel Ward Marcus Johansson Brooks Laich 4th Line: Jay Beagle Michael Latta Tom Wilson D D #1 Mike Green Dmitry Orlov #2 Karl Alzner Matt Niskanen #3 Brooks Orpik John Carlson G Starter: Braden Holtby Backup: Justin Peters/Philip Grubauer Scoreboard 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 PLAYOFF FINISH DNQ Conf QF Conf SF Conf SF Conf QF REGULAR SEASON 38-30-14 27-18-3 42-32-8 48-23-11 54-15-13 POINT TOTAL 90 57 92 107 121 SHOOTOUT RECORD 10-11 3-0 4-4 5-6 5-6 GOALS SCORED 235 149 222 224 318 GOALS ALLOWED 240 130 230 197 233 POWER PLAY % 23.37 26.83 16.73 17.49 25.24 PENALTY KILL % 82.04 77.91 81.58 85.62 78.80 Grabovski, who was allowed to leave in free agency and landed with the Islanders. He’s not a huge producer, but he can be a solid second-line center. One player who bears watching is 22-year old center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who showed he could score during an abbreviated debut last year. Defense How badly did Washington want to upgrade its D? Badly enough to commit a total of $67.75 million to Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik and lure them to D.C. from Pittsburgh. They will be expected to fortify immediately a defense corps that played a big role in the Caps’ finishing 22nd in goals allowed last year. Orpik brings immediate pop to the blue line and led the Pens in hits last year. Niskanen had 10 goals and a plus-33 rating last year, so he should help at both ends and serve as a puck mover from the Washington zone. It’s not stretching things to say that if these two don’t get it done, GM Brian MacLellan, who was promoted to the post last spring, will have some big-time explaining to do. The holdovers are pretty steady, but depth will continue to be a problem. Mike Green is a steady force who can shoot well from the point and also stand up enemy forwards at the other end. Young John Carlson has great size and a similar ability to provide cover with his shot on offense. Adding the two of them to Niskanen and Orlik should be a good start toward making Washington better on defense. In Trotz’s structure system, having two-way defensemen can help. There is hope that 23-year old Dmitry Orlov, who had a plus-11 rating last year in 54 games, will be ready to contribute at the beginning of the season. He is recovering from a wrist injury. Karl Alzner is another big man on the blue line and showed himself to be a good passer, along with a physical presence, last season. Connor Carrick, a 20-year old
Washington Capitals Gameday HQ
To see the actual publication please follow the link above