Already possessing one of the league's most ferocious rosters, George McPhee and the Washington Capitals made all of the right moves this off-season to truly contend for the Stanley Cup in 2012. Much like San Jose Washington
Up front the capitals are one of the strongest teams. Players like Ovechkin, Backstrom, Knuble, Laich and Semin headline the troops. These leaders are supported by strong role players such as Chimera and Johansson along with new additions Ward, Brouwer and Halpern. The newcomers bring an extensive amount of playoff experience to a team that desperately needs postseason success – and not just four or eight wins, but the full 16. Fans are growing anxious and now is the time to strike.
As for specific forward predictions, I see Ovechkin and Backstrom rebounding from their “slumps.” The 2011-2012 season may see one of these players eclipse the 100-point mark. Although there are rumors of Semin’s departure, I cannot imagine the team trading away one of their prolific snipers. He will be needed in the playoffs when goals are more scarce. He will not be needed to fight, haha. Laich will be increasingly relied upon as the season progresses and I anticipate him stepping up to the challenge. He is a good two-way forward with size and skill. Knuble will continue to be the presence in front of the net needed for those invaluable garbage goals. Chimera, one of my favorite shut-down centers, will continue to grind out games with his size and speed. With increased ice-time, Johansson should see a rise in his production to a possible 40+ point season. You cannot say enough about the additions of Ward, Brouwer and Halpern. Ward came with a high price-tag, but brings energy and enthusiasm to the club. In the playoffs this year, Ward proved he can be a difference-maker, both on and off the score sheet. Brouwer brings proven playoff experience, a Stanley Cup ring and the knowledge of how to mesh with skilled players. I expect Brouwer to crack the top-six eventually. And finally, Jeff Halpern comes in at $825,000. What a deal. He may not be the flashiest player, but he will play sound hockey and make smart decisions – something every team needs.
Offensive Score: A
On the backend, the Capitals are also solid. Their defensive depth chart looks something like this: Green, Wideman, Schultz, Hamrlik, Poti, Erskine, Carlson and Alzner. That’s eight defensmen that are top-six-worthy. Having that many NHL-ready defensemen is a blessing. Just ask Mike Gillis. While Green can sometimes be a defensive liability, his offensive talent overcompensates. A slight slump is his numbers this year shouldn’t carry over to the upcoming season. I expect his rampage on goaltenders to continue. Wideman is another offensive asset. He will provide a stable right-handed shot that should be utilized on the 2nd PP unit. Schultz is a another strong defenseman who is most notable, at least to me, for his excellent plus/minus in 2009-2010 – indicating his 5-on-5 value. I cannot quite put my finger on the value of Poti. I have seen him make smart plays. I have seen him make idiotic plays. He is not worth his price tag, but is still a solid defenseman. Erskine is a big boy and will continue to be a menace on the backend, providing much needed security for the more talented players. Finally, this year is a tremendous opportunity for Carlson and Alzner to prove their worth. I predicted Alzner over Carlson to be the big surprise for this team only because Alzner seems to have a firmer grasp on his defensive responsibilities while Carlson tends to be offensively-focused.
Defensive Score: B-
And last, but certainly not least, we arrive at the Capitals’ goaltending situation that greatly improved over the summer with the addition of Vokoun. Vokoun has always played for subpar teams like Nashville and Florida
Goaltending Score: A
The Capitals will be a scary team when October rolls around.
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