Not sure quite what has happened to me this summer. Since 2001 I have loathed the Washington Capitals, almost as much as those goons from Philadelphia, but with a series of roster changes, the Caps have suddenly became a more attractive outfit. My opinion on them started to change back in March 2015. Sitting in a sports bar in Denver, I was able to watch the Caps take on the Boston Bruins and the odious Brad Marchand. What I witnessed was the usual cheap shot antics from the Bruins as they tried to bully the Capitals, but Alex Ovechkin was having none of it. He went after Marchand following one cheap hit too many on one of his team mates, and delivered a hard hit of his own. The gloves were close to coming off, and I sat there thinking, ‘wow, if a skill player like Ovechkin is prepared to do that, maybe there is more to this team than I realised.’ I warmed to the Capitals that day simply because they were not prepared to get bullied or intimidated by the Bruins, who have fast became one of my most despised teams and effectively taken Washington’s place on that list.
Of course Ovechkin has always been a class act, since arriving in the NHL in 2005, he has scored goals for fun and is closing in on 900 points. He has now surpassed the great Sergei Fedorov in goals by a Russian born player in the NHL and continues to light up the scoring charts season after season, but are players like Ovechkin soon to be a thing of the past?
In an era that has seen the NHL rely less on individual talent and more on the team as a whole (think LA Kings 2012 & 2014), super star players such as Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are few and far between. I have always been of the opinion both players are great but are massively over-rated. Since lifting the Stanley Cup in 2009 has Sid the Kid really done anything in Pittsburgh? I would argue he certainly isn’t the same player that first set the league alight between 2005-09, but a lot of that could be down to the serious injuries he has sustained in those intervening years. Ovechkin too, you could say isn’t the same explosive player he was back then either, yes he is still amongst the goals [another 50 goal season this year] but has his role became irrelevant? The NHL these days is led by players like Jonathan Toews (3 cups in 5 years), Anze Kopitar (2 cups in 3 years) and even clutch players like Patrick Kane who seems to come alive during the post season more than most. All those players were part of a great team, and that has perhaps been Ovechkin’s problem in the past, a great individual talent who has been unable to have the right players around him to succeed.
As great as Wayne Gretzky was, would he have won as much as he did in Edmonton without Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr and others? Almost certainly not, as his stint in Los Angeles proved. So perhaps that is what’s needed in Washington for Ovi to get his hands on the Cup.
This season could represent the best chance Washington has had in years to be a serious contender. Landing the President's Trophy goes a long way to proving that. T.J. Oshie was a surprise addition this summer having arrived from an impressive St Louis Blues team and he has linked up well with Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
Justin Williams arrived fresh from winning two Stanley Cups with the Kings and has slotted onto the second line perfectly alongside Russian, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Swede Andre Burakovsky. Both have been in fantastic form this year and a joy to watch.
Kuznetsov is a lightning fast skater with soft hands, a precision passer, possesses a rocket of a shot, and he is the best player on the Washington Capitals team. He may not only be the best player on his team, but in the entire NHL. After excelling for his hometown, Traktor Chelyabinsk, in Russia’s KHL for five seasons, the talented young Russian made his NHL debut with the Capitals during the 2013-14 season, appearing in 17 games. Selected by the Capitals in the first round in 2010, his first full NHL campaign was the 2014-15 season, during which he scored 11 goals and 37 points, and it was in the 2015 playoffs where fans noticed his seemingly unlimited potential. Only 23 years of age, Kuznetsov displayed the poise of a seasoned veteran, scoring a brilliant goal in the third period of the seventh game in the series, in the first round of the playoffs, defeating the Islanders and advancing the Caps.
Another former Los Angeles Kings player who has won a Stanley Cup or two is Mike Richards. After getting binned by the Kings towards last season he has found a new lease of life alongside Marcus Johansson and Jason Chimera.
Jay Beagle has re-found his form on centering the fourth line after some time away injured and has regular line mate Tom Wilson to rely on. Brooks Laich was another likeable player but he was recently traded for former Penguin Daniel Winnik.
Kuznetsov is a lightning fast skater with soft hands, a precision passer, possesses a rocket of a shot, and he is the best player on the Washington Capitals team. He may not only be the best player on his team, but in the entire NHL. After excelling for his hometown, Traktor Chelyabinsk, in Russia’s KHL for five seasons, the talented young Russian made his NHL debut with the Capitals during the 2013-14 season, appearing in 17 games. Selected by the Capitals in the first round in 2010, his first full NHL campaign was the 2014-15 season, during which he scored 11 goals and 37 points, and it was in the 2015 playoffs where fans noticed his seemingly unlimited potential. Only 23 years of age, Kuznetsov displayed the poise of a seasoned veteran, scoring a brilliant goal in the third period of the seventh game in the series, in the first round of the playoffs, defeating the Islanders and advancing the Caps.
This season has been a breakout year for “Kuzy”. Finding himself near the top of the NHL leaderboard in overall points – along with the likes of Kane, Benn, Seguin and Karlsson – the young phenom is averaging just over point per game (20 goals and 49 assists in 68 contests), and is tied for 6th place with Sydney Crosby. Through the 68 games he’s also hit an astonishing rating of +30. Playing center on Washington’s second line, between left wing Andre Burakovsky and T.J. Oshie, “Kuzy” and his line-mates have considerably enhanced Washington’s team scoring, thus reducing the onus on the “Great 8”, Alex Ovechkin. The Caps are running away with this year’s President’s Trophy (with a record of 49-14-5 totaling 103pts), and have amassed an astounding league leading goal differential of +59. Never one to shy away from what some may consider to be borderline over-the-top celebrations after scoring a goal, Kuznetsov is very animated and creative on the ice. Typically pumping his fist while dropping to one knee after a tally, “Kuzy” put a little extra mustard on it when he notched his 20th of the season, in the Caps 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh, on March 1st in Washington. Displaying amazing hand-eye coordination, Kuznetsov, as he was falling backward, managed to baseball swing a floating Justin Williams pass from behind the net, past Marc Andre-Fleury.
Kuznetsov’s signature move is something that Capitals announcer Joe Beninanti nicknamed the “twister”. Caps fans have grown accustomed to watching “Kuzy” take the puck behind the net, giving the goalie the impression he is attempting a wrap-around – while almost as if he has eyes in the back of his helmet – Kuznetsov will instead reverse a pass to a Caps skater, who will then tap home in the vacated side of the net. The gifted Russian has been an absolute creative offensive catalyst and has earned high praise from Head Coach Barry Trotz this season.
Since joining the Capitals, “Kuzy” and teammate Alexander Ovechkin have become close friends. According to the Washington Post it was “Ovi” who gave his blessing when he was replaced by Kuznetsov in the All-Star game, due to a lower body injury. Both Russian super-stars are revered in the United States by Washington fans, and adored in their home country as well. While Kuznetsov may not be a household name to the casual fan in the States, like Ovechkin is, he has certainly made a name for himself in Russia. At the headquarters of Bauer Russia, one of Ovechkin’s main sponsors, at Riga Ice Land, a hockey rink in Ovi’s hometown of Moscow, there is a mural painted in Kuznetsov’s honor.
Kuznetsov’s signature move is something that Capitals announcer Joe Beninanti nicknamed the “twister”. Caps fans have grown accustomed to watching “Kuzy” take the puck behind the net, giving the goalie the impression he is attempting a wrap-around – while almost as if he has eyes in the back of his helmet – Kuznetsov will instead reverse a pass to a Caps skater, who will then tap home in the vacated side of the net. The gifted Russian has been an absolute creative offensive catalyst and has earned high praise from Head Coach Barry Trotz this season.
Since joining the Capitals, “Kuzy” and teammate Alexander Ovechkin have become close friends. According to the Washington Post it was “Ovi” who gave his blessing when he was replaced by Kuznetsov in the All-Star game, due to a lower body injury. Both Russian super-stars are revered in the United States by Washington fans, and adored in their home country as well. While Kuznetsov may not be a household name to the casual fan in the States, like Ovechkin is, he has certainly made a name for himself in Russia. At the headquarters of Bauer Russia, one of Ovechkin’s main sponsors, at Riga Ice Land, a hockey rink in Ovi’s hometown of Moscow, there is a mural painted in Kuznetsov’s honor.
Another former Los Angeles Kings player who has won a Stanley Cup or two is Mike Richards. After getting binned by the Kings towards last season he has found a new lease of life alongside Marcus Johansson and Jason Chimera.
Jay Beagle has re-found his form on centering the fourth line after some time away injured and has regular line mate Tom Wilson to rely on. Brooks Laich was another likeable player but he was recently traded for former Penguin Daniel Winnik.
It’s no wonder I have warmed to the Capitals half of their team has former Pens on it. Their defense is led by Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen both arrived from Pittsburgh last year through free agency and complement John Carlson and Karl Alzner well. A fourth Russian in Dmitri Orlov and Nate Schmidt make up their defense corps.
Braden Holtby has also made headlines this season and has shown signs he has the ability to lead his side to the Stanley Cup. Holtby has posted a 48-9-7 record this season with three shutouts, a 2.22 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Holtby’s 48 wins mark the Capitals franchise record for wins in a season, breaking the previous record (41) set by himself last season and Olaf Kolzig in 1999-00. The 6’2”, 217-pound goaltender is the 13th goaltender in NHL history to post multiple 40-win seasons and is the seventh goaltender in NHL history to record consecutive 40-win seasons.
Braden Holtby has also made headlines this season and has shown signs he has the ability to lead his side to the Stanley Cup. Holtby has posted a 48-9-7 record this season with three shutouts, a 2.22 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Holtby’s 48 wins mark the Capitals franchise record for wins in a season, breaking the previous record (41) set by himself last season and Olaf Kolzig in 1999-00. The 6’2”, 217-pound goaltender is the 13th goaltender in NHL history to post multiple 40-win seasons and is the seventh goaltender in NHL history to record consecutive 40-win seasons.
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