When Capitals winger Joel Ward signed with the club July 1, his role seemed defined: third line, right wing. But while that is likely to be his home for much of the 2011-12 season, Ward probably shouldn’t get too comfortable. Washington coach Bruce Boudreau, in case you haven’t noticed, likes to switch things up. Already this preseason the top line — featuring Alex Ovechkin and, for now, center Marcus Johansson — has include Ward, veteran Mike Knuble and trade acquisition Troy Brouwer at right wing during either games or practices. That primarily has been Knuble’s spot the past two seasons. But this is the time to experiment. Brouwer, working his way back from shoulder surgery, provides a big body on that side of the ice and played with skilled players in Chicago. Ward does the same, though he’s known more as a solid defensive presence who scored just 10 goals with Nashville last year. But at practice Thursday, he was the one skating with Ovechkin and Johansson, and that appears to be the top line for Friday’s third preseason game at Chicago.
“I kind of knew what I was up against,” Ward said. “I’ve seen [Ovechkin] in the past, [and] in a few scrimmages I got to play with him a little bit. It’s going to be a lot of fun for sure, so I’m hoping to gain some chemistry in the games, and hopefully he doesn’t get too upset with my play and we can keep moving forward from there.”
Not that anyone should bury Knuble at this point. Boudreau pointed out that while Ward reminds him of a younger Knuble — who also blossomed in his late 20s — he doesn’t yet have the hands that the veteran has consistently shown for years.
“I think Sunday’s practice will be a better indication of where I’m leaning,” Boudreau said. “It’s still in the experimental stage, but next week’s going to be more important where we try to keep a little more straightforward as to what we’re going to do. The good news is that even after the preseason is over, we have a week to get ready. Hopefully we’ll find some sort of niche that we really like before then.”
– Brian McNally
