Washington Capitals Training Camp Player Profile: Taylor Chorney
Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals have had good luck with signing Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen in recent years. That could bode well for new addition Taylor Chorney.
The Washington Capitals had a very busy day on July 1st – the first day of NHL Free Agency. Defenseman Mike Green packed his bags for Detroit, Hershey Bears Captain Steve Oleksy headed for Pittsburgh, Justin Williams got a phone call in Los Angeles and 28-year old defenseman Taylor Chorney, who only just arrived in Pennsylvania exactly one year prior, was signed by the Washington Capitals.
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For Chorney, it was the fourth such time he’s been told to pack his things and meet with a new team. Ouch. Taylor isn’t the first and certainly won’t be the last to endure the cruel flexibility and sacrifice that being a professional hockey player demands. In Washington however; he’ll have a chance flourish.
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Taylor was selected in the second Round (#36) of 2005 NHL Entry Draft before fellow defensemen Kris Letang and Cody Franson (both were selected in the third Round). The former University of North Dakota standout was praised for his ability to drive play and his intelligence in recognizing how plays developed. Hockey’s Future also said this of him:
"Chorney is slightly undersized for the defensive position but makes up for it with good hockey sense and puck-moving skills. He is a terrific skater, and is usually a sound positional defender. He plays a very heady game and is mature beyond his years…Chorney is likely to spend his career as a tweener–good enough for top four minutes in the AHL while getting spot call up duty at the NHL level."
Chorney did exactly that when injuries thinned the blue line roster of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played in 5 Playoff games with the Penguins, which must have been a dream come true for Taylor as his father Marc, played for Pittsburgh in 210 games over his own career. Taylor filled in admirably on the third pairing but didn’t really tally any stats worth noting during his extended call-up.
Washington Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan was likely watching Chorney during that span and probably pegged him as a relatively low risk signing with a potentially high ceiling as a player. I don’t see any harm in that at all. Washington Capitals Assistant Coach Todd Reirden may have vouched for Chorney as well, although their mutual time in Pittsburgh did not overlap.
While Nate Schmidt and Dmitry Orlov have been tabbed as the early favorites for the Washington Capitals third pairing on defense, the competition for the seventh defenseman roster spot behind them will be fierce. Chorney will be among that group with fellow blueliners Aaron Ness, Ryan Stanton, Mike Moore and Connor Carrick. Stars and Sticks’ #2 ranked prospect Madison Bowey will also be competing at camp, although he’s more likely to need more time to develop at the pro level.
Roster depth is tested all the time in the NHL and having quick shoe-ins in Hershey could be invaluable later in the season should injuries take a hold of the Washington Capitals as they did the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets last year.
The Hershey Bears also have concerns to their blue line after losing Steve Oleksy, the team’s leader and more than occasional enforcer. Like Oleksy, we’ve seen Chorney stand up for his teammates in times of duress, something that nearly every hockey coach adores seeing from their players.
Chorney is about an inch taller than Oleksy and about as competent at fisticuffs. If Chorney misses the roster for the Washington Capitals, he could fill a big need for a junkyard dog tough and intelligent defenseman in the AHL. He’s a veteran presence for both teams and having those voices in the locker room is never a bad idea.
Another not so bad idea could be reuniting a couple of standouts from the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux. Taylor Chorney should be excited about playing with former North Dakota alum T.J. Oshie if he makes the Washington Capitals. The two also shared plenty of time in St. Louis for the Blues. Check out the nice zone entry and assist on Oshie’s one-timer he picks up here against Michigan Tech.
I think the competition for the bottom defensive spots on the Washington Capitals roster will be among of the top highlights of the Capitals upcoming training camp this year. I hope that Chorney finds a long-term spot within the organization somewhere for his sake, but I’m more relieved to know that if our depth at defense is ever tested; we’ve got some competent veterans that have played under the big lights before and can handle themselves well.
He’s a left-handed shot as well, so if Dmitry Orlov suffers any further injury, Chorney could be asked to take his spot. Keeping our bench loaded in Hershey continues to be a huge part of the Washington Capitals success, both immediately and for the long-term. I’m not saying that’s where he lands necessarily, but he could certainly help if that were the case.
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