WASHINGTON CAPITALS

2005-06 Recap

Record: 296-41-12, 70 pts

Goals For: 230 (23rd overall)
Goals Against: 300 (29th overall)

Power Play: 14.7% (26th)
Penalty Killing: 78.9% (28th)


2006-07 Preview

Key Additions: LW Richard Zednik (UFA, Mtl), D Brian Pothier (UFA, Ott), LW Donald Brashear (UFA, Phi), LW Alexander Semin (returned from Europe)

Key Losses: C Jeff Halpern (UFA, Dal), RW Brian Willsie (UFA, LA), D Mathieu Biron (UFA, SJ)

RFA left to sign: none


Offense: They still have nobody to play with Alexander Ovechkin, which means he will have to be primarily a one man show. He is capable of doing it, but it doesn’t bode well for a competitive team. He will apparently start the season on a line with Dainis Zubrus and Brian Sutherby. Not exactly on offensive juggernaut.

Defense: No standouts, led by up and coming Steve Eminger and newly acquired Brian Pothier who will be counted on for offensive production.

Goaltending: Olaf Kolzig signed a long term deal with the Caps and is the goaltender of the present and foreseeable future. He will be spelled from his shellshock by the capable back-up Brent Johnson.

THE BIG QUESTION: Can Ovechkin win the Hart Trophy? They say you can't win the MVP on non playoff team, but Alexander the Great has as good a chance as anyone. A last place tema wih him in the lineup, they might not win 5 games a year without him. He had nearly twice as many points as his nearest teammate, and is poised to do that again this year. He will definitely be a finalist, and likely a winner of more than one season ending award.

Synopsis: Until they get some help for Ovechkin, the Caps will fluter along the bottom of the standings in the league. At least the hometown fans will be brought out of there seats on a regular basis by the ultra-exciting Hart-trophy candidate.