Posted by For a second straight year, the Washington Capitals come into training camp with high expectations, but with strings attached. The 2008-2009 team started the season with new free agent acquisition Jose Theodore being replaced after allowing four goals in 30 minutes against the Atlanta Thrashers. By the end of the Capitals’ playoff run last May, Theodore had lost the starting job to a virtually unknown 21-year old Russian prospect.
Photo by On Frozen Blog
Semyon Varlamov is now a household name after a terrific performance in last year’s playoffs, but 13 games of playoff experience was not enough to win the starter’s job. Coach Bruce Boudreau has made it clear that Theodore is the starter going into training camp and that Varlamov (or Calder Cup MVP Michal Neuvirth… Hey anything is possible, right?) will have to outplay Jose to win the job.
A well-documented goalie controversy is under way, but here are five more things to think about for this year’s squad:
Same Face, New Place
Mike Knuble fills the void of a forward who is willing to crash the crease, but the signing of Brendan Morrison should not be thrown by the wayside. Morrison is a few seasons removed from a 51-point (20+31) campaign in Vancouver. Four surgeries in the past three years definitely throws up a red flag, but at $1.5 million for one year, this deal could prove to be pivotal come playoff time. Morrison also played alongside Knuble for two seasons at the University of Michigan and even won the Hobey Baker Award in 1997.
Put Up or Shut Up
Jose Theodore has had a rough six months. The new crop of goalie prospects are knocking on the door and Theo is on the brink of relinquishing his grasp on the starter’s job. Shaky starts late last year accumulated and eventually forced Semyon Varlamov into action. Varlamov shined and is a serious contender for the starting job this year. Jose has lost the trust of most fans and will be on a tight leash come October.
As if things could not get worse, Theodore’s infant son passed away just last month. Theodore still believes he can be a starter in the league but if something happens, a grumpy veteran sitting on the bench can turn into a distraction in no time (See: Nylander, Michael).
Poised for a Breakout
Two years ago it was Brooks Laich, last year it was Tomas Fleischmann (who is out until early October), and this year, Eric Fehr will emerge as a legitimate scoring threat. Fehr was drafted with the 18th pick back in 2003, before players like Ryan Getzlaf and Mike Richards. Fehr set career highs in all major offense categories last season and even scored six goals over a seven game stretch last February. But time is running out for the injury-prone Fehr to prove himself… He will be a restricted free agent at the end of this year.
Oskar Osala - Photo by Caps In Pictures
Names You’ll Know by the End of the Season
If I had to answer this question last year, I would have said Karl Alzner and Semyon Varlamov. Both made it to Washington and both received positive reviews. Two names to remember this year are John Carlson and Oskar Osala. At 19, Carlson is maturing at an astonishing rate. He played a crucial role in helping Hershey win the Calder Cup and played great during the annual Capitals vs. Flyers rookie game last week (and also helped my fantasy team win this week!).
After winning the Rookie of the Year awards in the OHL and the FNL, respectively, Oskar Osala put up 37 points (23+14) in his first year in the AHL. Osala missed out on the RotY Award this time, but the former 4th round pick saw very limited Power Play minutes last season due to a crowded depth chart. The bottom line is that Osala is a big body with the coordination and skills to match. If a Capitals’ forward goes down, Osala could get the call, but he will most likely be NHL-ready and compete for a roster spot next year.
Mandatory Bold Predictions
By Thanksgiving, Michael Nylander will not be wearing a Capitals sweater.
Nicklas Backstrom will finish among the top five leaders in points.
Alexander Semin will score 45 goals.
Jose Theodore will play less than 30 games.
The Capitals will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
So there you have it, your 2009-2010 Eastern Conference Finals runner-up. I still believe that this team is one acquisition away from a Stanley Cup appearance. Be it a wavier wire move or a blockbuster deal at the deadline, something else has to happen.
Over-hyped? Probably.
Overrated? Definitely not.
Matt Leighton is a marketing student at James Madison University. You can contact him and find all his work on his Capitals blog here. You can also follow him on Twitter.
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G-Cagg’s Eastern Conference Playoff Preview (Round One)
Hockey Links and a Chicago Detroit playoff preview
There will be an upcoming Blues’ season preview.
Timeout: Caps Must Return to Form for the Blackhawks
Sending Our Support to the Theodore Family
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I remember last year Semin was on a tear before that first injury and still finished with a ridiculous points per game average despite missing time. He could easily eclipse 100 points this year if he’s healthy.
If Semin stays healthy and stops taking stupid penalties, he becomes one of the biggest offensive threats in the league.
Those are, of course, some of the biggest ‘If’s’ that I have ever typed up, so we’ll see what happens.