The 2019-20 regular season is quickly approaching, and training camps are about to kick up for all 31 NHL clubs. It is a new year, and with a new year brings new faces to training camp. Capitals training camp is set to open September 13.
With camp right around the corner, there are plenty of positive developments for the Washington Capitals. What are some of the positive developments that fans will see come September 13? Should fans be optimistic as training camp opens?
LOOKING HEALTHIER
There is plenty of good news for the Washington Capitals on the health front as training camp opens. Forwards T.J. Oshie and Lars Eller look to be healthy entering training camp, which gives the Capitals forward group a huge boost.
In addition to the forwards getting healthy, defenseman Michal Kempny has been back and participating in some skates at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in recent days. Kempny is coming off a torn hamstring injury sustained back in late March.
PLENTY OF COMPETITION
Competition is very good for an organization to have, and the Capitals have plenty of it for the few spots up for grabs in their lineup.
The Capitals will likely have to make a trade before the regular season starts, so multiple players will be competing for depth positions. The biggest training camp battles the Capitals have will involve positions on their fourth line and depth defensive positions.
Chandler Stephenson, Brendan Leipsic, Travis Boyd are some of the notable names battling for the final forward spots on the Capitals roster.
PROSPECTS MAKING AN IMPACT
In addition to some established NHL veterans fighting for spots, the Capitals have a few younger prospects worth keeping an eye on.
Some notable forward prospects to keep an eye on include Shane Gersich, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Brett Leason, and Garrett Pilon. In addition to some young exciting forward prospects, the Capitals have some defensive prospects worth keeping an eye on. Lucas Johansen, Connor Hobbs, Alexander Alexeyev, and Martin Fehervary are some of young defensemen hoping to push for roster spots.
REFRESHED AND REFOCUSED
The Capitals did not get the desired outcome last spring, as they were tossed early by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Capitals should not feel the pressure as much heading into training camp this season since they are no longer the defending Stanley Cup Champions. While the goal of club remains unchanged, the Capitals are no longer the team that other clubs are gunning for.
If the Capitals can play to their potential and survive a grueling month of October, they will be able to generate a lot of momentum to begin their season. If the Capitals can generate a lot of momentum in the fall, it will give the club an early boost of confidence.
By: George Foussekis
Good stuff George F! Yes, hope springs eternal for the Caps during training camp.
The combination of talent on the Caps and the Hershey Bears is impressive, maybe as good as any season ever. I disagree with the thought that the “pressure may be off” for being a year removed from winning the Stanley Cup.
I sure hope the Caps and the Bears and their GMs and Coaches are feeling pressure! The Caps were plain EMBARRASSED by the Carolina Bunch Of Jerks in the 2019 playoffs. It was disgusting. Whole coaching staffs have been fired for lesser offenses. Plus we have Ovechkin for two more seasons — and NOTHING is a guarantee after that. The window is NOW
Wouldn’t hurt for Idiot Kuznetsov to talk his way out of a lengthy suspension when he goes to grovel before King Buttman on 12 September. Kuzy is now an official NHL knucklehead, and Caps management should be ready to cut losses if necessary.
For me, it was BH who didnt perform last spring… too much talk about the 4th line but I like TB… he finds a way…
Boyd needs 20 consecutive games to truly show what he can do.