Last season Nic Dowd was the newest face on the Washington Capitals. This year, he’ll be the most familiar face on the fourth line.
Nic Dowd wasn’t sure if he’d make the opening night lineup one year ago. The center was brought in with the Washington Capitals facing the daunting task of finding a fourth line center to fill in the void left by Jay Beagle and Dowd had to earn that spot.
Thanks in large part to a successful training camp, Dowd beat Jayson Megna for the starting spot on the fourth line and he hasn’t looked back since.
Dowd fared well in his first season and now has a home in Washington for the next three seasons carrying a cap hit of just $750,000 per year. The center finished with a career-high eight goals and tied a previous career mark in points with 22 while adding 14 assists. What makes it more impressive is he did so while averaging the second-lowest ice time of his career at 10:18 per game.
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Dowd also was stellar on the face-off dot winning 51.9% of battles ranking first among the team. Face-offs were one of Beagle’s specialities and the fact that Dowd led the team in face-off percentage showed that he can be that main guy on the fourth line just like his predecessor.
To no surprise, Dowd also had career highs in several advanced statistical categories. At even strength, Dowd’s Corsi-For percentage was 48.55%, Fenwick For at 49.80% and a High Danger Chances For at 48.96% (via Natural Stat Trick).
Dowd plays a defensive game and when he turns it on offensively it makes your jaw drop. A spin-o-rama goal on opening night to capitalize his welcome to Washington. A backhanded flip down the ice to a streaking Carl Hagelin for a breakaway goal.
A penalty shot goal that made Capital One Arena lose their minds, the first such playoff penalty shot goal in Caps history. Those are just three examples of the the gem you get in this fourth line center.
I predict Dowd to be even better next season. A 30 point season is certainly possible. Defensively, he’ll continue to block shots and be one of the most important members of the penalty kill. It’ll be important to have a flowing chemistry on the fourth line that could likely feature two new teammates in Brendan Leipsic and Garnet Hathaway unless Travis Boyd or Chandler Stephenson beat both out.
Dowd had a long journey to get to where he is now and next season could be his best.