Washington Capitals: 5 Caps With A Lot To Prove In 2015
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals will enter the 2015-2016 NHL season with a revamped top six forward group, having added T.J. Oshie (via trade) and Justin Williams (via free agency). On paper, it appears that the Washington Capitals will have the deepest forward group that they’ve had in years. Add that to a strong top two defensive pairings and an elite goaltender (Braden Holtby) and the Washington Capitals just might have what it takes to bring the Stanley Cup to DC for the first time.
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However, winning a Stanley cup is extremely difficult. The Caps can’t just rely on Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Holtby, John Carlson, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Oshie and Williams to drag them kicking and screaming to a Stanley Cup. It has to be an absolute team effort. The Capitals must have four strong lines and must be able to get contributions from all across their lineup. And yes, they’ll likely need a little bit of luck.
How much luck they will need depends on how well the Washington Capitals play. If they want to get production from all across their forward lines and pairings, there are guys who are going to have to step it up. If they can’t be relied on, the Caps will have to find replacements for them. Replacing them won’t be as easy as it sounds.
The Caps made a bold statement when they traded for Oshie and signed Williams. Not only did they drastically improve their top two forward lines, they also gave a vote of confidence to their bottom six forwards. By not re-signing Mike Green and not pursuing any full-time defensemen in free agency, they gave a vote of confidence to their third pairing. The Caps are putting quite a bit of stock into five players who have a lot to prove in 2015. That’s either going to end well or end poorly.
Next: #5: A Former Top Six Forward