Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
#2: The Washington Capitals Have Forward Depth
The Washington Capitals have failed to win a Stanley Cup despite having Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. The biggest reason for that? While both are elite talents and Ovechkin is primed for the Hockey Hall Of Fame whenever he retires, the Washington Capitals have not always surrounded the duo with the best talent.
In the past, they have been guilty of relying too much on them to provide most of the scoring for the Washington Capitals. Perhaps watching the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning helped the Washington Capitals realize that they desperately needed to increase their forward depth in order to win a Stanley Cup, because that’s precisely what the Washington Capitals have done so far this off-season.
For the first time since the 2009-2010 season, the Capitals could have three legitimate scoring lines if everything goes right for them. Oshie should make Backstorm and Ovechkin even better. Barry Trotz hasn’t shied away from sending out his first forward line against his opponent’s top lines. Oshie has experience in playing that role with the Blues. He should make that line even more balanced and even more deadly.
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The second line will have a variety of options to go with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Justin Williams. They could go with Marcus Johansson or Andre Burakovsky. While Johansson will most likely get the job as second line left wing, the Caps have a very capable top six forward to center their third line, which will most likely be sheltered. They’ll also have Tom Wilson on their third line. Their third line left wing spot is currently up for grabs, but someone like Stanislav Galiev, Riley Barber or perhaps even Jakub Vrana could grab it. Their fourth line of Brooks Laich, Jay Beagle, and either Jason Chimera or Michael Latta could stand to be improved, but those are three guys used to playing a shut down role and handling tough defensive zone starts.
It isn’t a stretch of the imagination to say that the Washington Capitals might have the best forward group that they’ve ever had.
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