Founded: 1974
Arena: MCI Center
Stanley Cups: 0
2008-09 Capitals Preview:
(See below for the team ranking from last season)
After last season's spectacular breakthrough, Ovechkin and the Caps begin 2008-09 with great expectations. They're favored to repeat as Southeast Division champions and surely win a playoff round or two. But maintaining last year's momentum is a huge challenge.
That challenge begins in net, where Jose Theodore replaces the Cristobal Huet. The Caps were right to let Huet chase superstar dollars in Chicago. He's not worth the money. But Theodore doesn't inspire confidence after an up-and-down season in Colorado. Olaf Kolzig departed for Tampa Bay, leaving journeyman Brent Johnson as the back-up.
Mike Green was a revelation last season, scoring 56 points and skating the puck out of trouble. At 23 years old, he's the Caps' top defenseman. The team needs another great Green year, because the rest of the blue line remains a work in progress. Veterans Tom Poti and Brian Pothier hardly make an imposing pair. Karl Alzner is a future centerpiece, but he just turned 20, too young for a pivotal role. Shaone Morrison will soon be 26, so you have to wonder if he's ever going to be a top-tier defenseman.
The good news is that nobody can stop this team when it has the puck. Another year of 100-plus points and crushing hits from NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin is a given. So the season could depend on the guys around him. Alex Semin has been inconsistent. Nicklas Backstrom has to build on an outstanding rookie season. It's up to supporting players like Brooks Laich, Tomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr to establish Washington as a three-line threat.
Which brings us to the veterans. If any of the young stars falter, as young players often do, old guys like Sergei Fedorov, Michael Nylander and Viktor Kozlov have to pick up the slack.
Given their mix of youth and experience, this forward group potentially matches any in the Eastern Conference. They have to score big to keep the pressure off Theodore and the defense.
Washington's winning pace in the second half of last season will be almost impossible to maintain. But it's hard to imagine a serious challenge from a division rival. The offense should keep clicking, so the only threat to the season is in the Capitals' own zone. If Theodore can't take charge, Look for GM George McPhee to explore goaltending options on the trade market.
What the Washington Capitals did in 2007-08
NHL rankings in each category are noted in brackets
2007-08 Regular Season Record:
Team Statistics
Team Leaders
Goaltenders
Cristobal Huet: 52 games, 32-14-6
2.32 GAA (10th in NHL), .920 SV PCT (T-6th), 4 SO (T-9th)*
Olaf Kolzig: 54 games, 25-21-6
2.91 GAA (T-37th in NHL), .892 SV PCT (T-41st), 1 SO (T-36th)*
Brent Johnson: 19 games, 7-8-2
2.67 GAA, .908 SV PCT, 0 SO
*goaltending rankings among those with at least 25 games played.
