Perreault, Johansson in fight for roster spot
On a team where most roles were defined even before training camp began last weekend, two spots remain conspicuously open.
The Capitals are searching for a few good centers to play behind star Nicklas Backstrom. They will give Tomas Fleischmann every opportunity to be the second-line center, an experiment that had varying degrees of success last season. That would leave two young players, Mathieu Perreault, 22, and Marcus Johansson, 19, fighting for third-line duty. There are others in the mix, of course. Keith Aucoin has been a marvel at AHL Hershey the last two years, but at 31 has never translated that success to the NHL level. One of David Steckel or Boyd Gordon could always ascend from a crowded fourth line.
Johansson, the organization’s first-round pick in 2009, has looked smooth as he adjusts to the smaller North American rink and a style of play far different from his native Sweden. But an opportunity is there for Perreault, too. And he does have one clear advantage over Johansson: The 21 games he played with the Caps last season, recording four goals and five assists.
“There’s no doubt, I don’t want to go back to Hershey,” Perreault said. “I’ll do everything in my power to stay up here.”
Perreault skated the majority of his shifts last season with right wing Eric Fehr. Chris Clark was with them before he got traded Dec. 28. Jason Chimera replaced Clark. That trio has looked strong early in training-camp scrimmages so far.
Size always will be a concern for Perreault, who is listed at 5-foot-10. He did his best to pack on muscle over the summer without losing much of his quickness. But there will be some nights where Perreault is just outmatched physically.
“You know there are an awful lot of big guys out there,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “If he’s working against someone like [6-5, 220-pound New Jersey center] Jason Arnott down low that’s quite a big difference in size.”
Perreault knew a roster spot was unlikely during camp last season. He just wanted to establish himself during his second year in Hershey. That happened with 16 goals and 34 assists in the AHL. Now he expects to take the next step.
“I know I can play at this level,” Perreault said. “I showed it last year. I know what I can do. If I do what I’m best at, I like my chances.”
