NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, three important questions facing the Washington Capitals.
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Can the Capitals get by until Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson return?
Washington will begin the season without two top-six forwards with Backstrom (resurfacing surgery on left hip) sidelined indefinitely and Wilson (surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in left knee) expected out until at least December.
The Capitals went 17-5-6 when Backstrom missed the first 28 games last season because of his hip with the top line of Alex Ovechkin, Yevgeny Kuznetsov and Wilson carrying the offense. Ovechkin had 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists), Kuznetsov had 30 (nine goals, 21 assists) and Wilson had 24 (nine goals, 15 assists) in those 28 games.
So missing Wilson, who plays in all situations and is a physical presence (240 hits last season), in addition to Backstrom will be a tougher challenge, even after adding Connor Brown (trade with Ottawa Senators) and Dylan Strome (signed one-year contract).
“With regard to Tom, those are big boots and I’m not sure that they get filled,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s going to have to be a collective effort from everybody to make sure that we’re playing the game, that we’re contributing offensively, we’re providing physicality, providing leadership.”
Can Ovechkin do it again?
Ovechkin, who turns 37 on Sept. 17, remained elite last season, tying the NHL record with his ninth 50-goal season (Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy) and leading Washington with 90 points (50 goals, 40 assists) in 77 games, his most points since he had 109 in 2009-10. He also led Capitals forwards in ice time for the seventh straight season, averaging 20:34 per game.
The Capitals might need similar from Ovechkin in his 18th NHL season.
“He’s such a strong player, I don’t think much will change for him this year,” Laviolette said. “I think he wants the ice time. I think he wants the opportunity and when he gets it, he’s going to play hard like he always does.”
Video: Can Alex Ovechkin pass Wayne Gretzky in goals?
How much of a difference can Darcy Kuemper make?
After signing Kuemper (five-year, $26.25 million contract) to be the No. 1 goalie and Charlie Lindgren (three-year, $3.3 million) to back him up, Washington expects to have more consistency in net than it had the past two seasons with Ilya Samsonov (signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs) and Vitek Vanecek (traded to the New Jersey Devils).
Kuemper won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche last season and has an established track record as a No. 1. The 32-year-old’s .921 save percentage in 197 games (102-61-22) over the past five seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes and Avalanche is first among NHL goalies to play at least 150 games, and his 2.43 goals-against average is second behind now-retired Tuukka Rask’s 2.36.
“This is the guy we’re counting on to come in and take the rope here and be that guy,” Laviolette said. “You always need two goaltenders, so there will be a great opportunity for both, but he’s certainly the guy we wanted to get to come in and be that guy.”
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