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1. Going for Gold » Aside from the regular season, NHL players also are gearing up for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The league will take a three-week break in February and early March so its elite players can compete. The Caps will be more affected than most. As many as eight players could be headed to Canada to represent six different countries, including star wingers Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin (Russia). The travel will be minimal, which is nice. But how much gas will be left in the tank for the stretch run when everyone gets back?
2. Fight On » When heavyweight Donald Brashear took his fists to New York during the offseason the Caps were left without an enforcer. They chose not to replace him, figuring an offensive upgrade on the fourth line was more important. It’s not an unprecedented move. The Red Wings haven’t employed a true fighter in years. But the move carries some risk. Most of those duties will be left to defenseman John Erskine and forward Matt Bradley, who tangles with the middleweight fighters. Not ideal. Then again, if a fourth-line left wing pots 10 goals the Caps may lead the NHL in scoring.
3. Where’s Michael? » Center Michael Nylander has been in limbo since the end of last season. Get ready for more of that. He appeared in 72 regular-season games, but played just twice in the playoffs. The 36-year-old center doesn’t seem to fit the roster or coach Bruce Boudreau’s system. But he is a $4.875M salary-cap hit for a team that is just under the NHL’s ceiling. That’s a problem. Nylander has a no-movement clause and must approve any trade. And even then the Caps must find a team with the cap space, budget and a need at center. Washington GM George McPhee has said a buyout is not an option.
FIVE TO WATCH
Jose Theodore, G
He was benched in the postseason in favor of rookie Semyon Varlamov. But Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said Theodore enters camp as the No. 1 goalie. Will he keep that spot? If Varlamov plays well he will still see his share of playing time. Theodore is in the final year of his contract.
Brendan Morrison, F
Cut last year by Anaheim as he struggled to rebound from ACL surgery the previous April, but finished the year strong with Dallas. The 34-year-old is trying to prove he’s got a little of the magic left in his game from his glory days in Vancouver. Penciled in as the second-line center.
Karl Alzner, D
Is there a spot on the blueline for the ’07 No. 5 overall pick? There are seven vets ahead of Alzner, who played in 30 NHL games last year. He must beat out two of them to get regular minutes. Alzner endured a few growing pains as a rookie, sometimes letting his nerves get the best of him.
Chris Bourque, F
One of the final three cuts during training camp in ’08, Bourque did play in eight NHL games. At AHL Hershey he finished with 21 goals and 52 assists. Size will always be an issue for 5-foot-8, 181-pound winger. But there is an open spot on the fourth line and he wants it.
Alex Ovechkin, F
What can the two-time NHL MVP do for an encore? He has 219 career goals in four seasons — ranking him third in team history. His single-season career highs: 65 goals — 22 on the power play — and 54 assists (twice). Do we hear 70-55-125? Or is that asking a bit much?
