Alex Ovechkin (Caps Outsider)
The Washington Capitals enter the 2014-2015 season with a clean slate and playoff hopes. In the 2013-2014 season the Capitals failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006-2007. As a result of this, changes were made both in the front office and on the coaching staff as general manager George McPhee and head coach Adam Oates were both fired. The Caps promoted from within to replace McPhee by giving his former assistant Brian MacLellan the GM title, and they replaced Oates with former Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz.
These weren’t the only additions made in the organization as the Caps rebuilt their defensive corps by signing Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik from Metropolitan Division rival Pittsburgh on the first day of free agency. They’ll join John Carlson, Karl Alzner, and Mike Green for a daunting blue line that should see much more continuity than the shuffling that went on under Oates.
Trotz begins his stint behind the Capitals’ bench Thursday night, in Washington’s season opener against the visiting Montreal Canadiens. Not only does Trotz bring 15 years of NHL coaching experience with him to the Caps, but he will also bring an insistence that every player has to play defense at a high level for the team to improve from last season’s disappointment. This means that three-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin will have to focus on the defensive aspect of his game more for the betterment of the team. A productive relationship between Ovechkin and Trotz could be just what Washington needs to get back to the postseason, and perhaps make a lengthy run. “If Ovi is willing to listen,” Trotz said, “he’s going to have a chance to do some great team things. And he is willing to listen.”
The Capitals are trying to avoid their third straight season opener, as they’ve won 10 of their last 12 meetings with Montreal while Ovechkin has six goals and two assists in the past five. Montreal is looking to open with consecutive wins for the first time since 2009-2010. The Canadiens (1-0-0, 2 pts) got off to a stellar start with Wednesday’s 4-3 victory at Toronto. The goaltending match-up tonight is Braden Holtby (5-0-0, 0.99 goals allowed average, .964 save percentage vs. Canadiens) for the Caps and Dustin Tokarski (0-1 vs. Caps) for the Canadiens.
