Capital’s season preview: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov continue to go on the offensive

The 2022-23 NHL season begins on October 7th. With training camp open, NHL.com takes a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster matters, and the prospective lineup for each of the 32 teams. Today the Washington Capitals.

Coaches: Peter Laviolette (third season)

Last season: 44-26-12, fourth place in Metropolitan Division; lost to the Florida Panthers in the first round of the Eastern Conference

3 KEYS

1. Alex Ovechkin and Yevgeny Kuznetsov

Ovechkin and Kuznetsov were the driving forces behind the Capitals’ 17-5-6 start last season Nicklas Backstrom dropped out with a left hip injury. Ovechkin had 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists) and Kuznetsov 30 (nine goals, 21 assists) in those 28 games. The Capitals will need similar production from them to start this season with Backstrom out indefinitely after a surface treatment to his left hip and front Tom Wilson is expected to be out until at least December after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The acquisitions of forward Connor Brown (Trade with the Ottawa Senators) and Dylan Strome (signed one-year, $3.5 million deal) will help fill the gap, but Ovechkin and Kuznetsov need to regain the lead.

2. Goaltender Stability

The Capitals signed in search of more consistency on the web Darcy Kumper (five years, $5.25 million average annual value) and Charlie Lindgren (three years, $1.1 million AAV). Ilya Samsonov (signed Toronto Maple Leafs) and Vitek Vanecek (traded to the New Jersey Devils). Kuemper, who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche last season, gives Washington the established No. 1 goaltender it wanted. The 32-year-old is likely to have a similar workload to last season, when he had an NHL career-high with 57 games (all starts) and fourth in the league with wins (37-12-4) and shutouts (five). occupied place. , finished fifth in saves (0.921) and eleventh in goals against average (2.54).

3. Preserve health

Already missing Backstrom, Wilson and Karl Hagelin (Lower body, eye), Washington can’t afford any more extended absences. With an aging core that includes 37-year-old forward Ovechkin, TJ Oshie35 and Lars Eller33 and defender John Carlson, 32, Nick Jensen32 and Dmitry Orlov, 31, it will be important to budget for the rest to keep these players healthy over the long season. Oshie, who underwent offseason surgery for a core injury, was limited to 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 44 regular-season games last season due to injuries and illness, but he proved his worth by scoring scored six goals in six games at the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Video: Capital’s offseason outlook

roster overview

make the cut

Although most roster spots are fixed, there is some competition for lineup positions, including between Strome and Connor McMichael for the vacancy in the center of the second line created by Backstrom’s absence. Brown gets the first look at Wilson’s right wing spot on the top line with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. Anton Manta and Oshie are other options. Beginner Luke Johannsen fights against incumbents Matt Irwin and newbie Gabriel Karlson (signed a two-way, one-year deal) for the additional defender spot. There is a similar competition between Henrik Borgstrom (has signed a two-way contract for one year), Brett Leason, Axel Jonsson-Fjällby, Joe Snively and Beck Malenstyn for the extra front space. Forward Hendrix Lapierre and Aliaksei Protas will also turn heads, but might be better served early in the American Hockey League season if he doesn’t play a regular NHL role.

The most interesting addition

Strome became an unrestricted free agent after failing to receive a qualifying offer from the Chicago Blackhawks despite having 48 points and an NHL career-high 22 goals in 69 games last season. Strome was a healthy scratch for 13 of Chicago’s first 39 games last season. That shouldn’t be a problem with Washington with Backstrom and Wilson out. It will be interesting to see what Strome can achieve with the chance to play regularly on the Capitals’ top two lines and on the power play, where he had 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) last season.

Biggest potential surprise

Lapierre, who was drafted 22nd in the 2020 NHL draft, was the biggest surprise of last season’s training camp. He was on the opening night roster and scored in six NHL games before being sent off to Quebec Major Junior’s Acadie-Bathurst Ice Hockey League. McMichael’s development last season and the addition of Strome will make it harder for Lapierre to make the team this season, but the 20-year-old is determined to prove himself again after recording 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists ) in 40 had games with Acadie-Bathurst.

Ready to break through

McMichael has a chance to make the next step after having 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) and a 10:28 ice time average in 68 games as an NHL rookie last season. This season of experience and an off-season to get stronger will help the 21-year-old, who was drafted No. 25 in the 2019 NHL Draft. McMichael seems more comfortable in the middle but could switch to the wing if Strome fits better in the middle of the second line.

fantasy sleeper

McMichael, C/LW (not drawn on average in Fantasy) – Although his performance as a rookie was limited last season because he had the lowest average ice time in the Capitals (10:28; 40-game minimum), McMichael is a prime candidate for a breakthrough this season. He has a chance to compete with Strome and Lapierre for the No. 2 job at center in the absence of veteran Backstrom, who is out long-term after hip surgery. -Anna Dua

Planned lineup

Alex Ovechkin – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Connor Brown

Dylan Strome – Connor McMichael – Anthony Mantha

Markus Johanson – Lars Eller – TJ Oshie

Conor Sheary — Nick Dowd — Garnet Hathaway

Martin Fehervary -John Carlson

Dmitri Orlov – Nick Jensen

Eric Gustafsson — Trevor van Riemsdyk

Darcy Kumper

Charlie Lindgren

Hurt: Nicklas Backstrom (hip), Tom Wilson (knee), Carl Hagelin (lower body, eye)