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The Washington Capitals are balanced on and off the ice The Washington Capitals are balanced on and off the ice
(about 3 hours later)
As if to emphasize what would come next, Nicklas Backstrom paused and prefaced that his response would be an “honest answer.” “Yes,” he then said simply. Yes, there were nights in past seasons when he worried that if he and Alex Ovechkin didn’t score, the Washington Capitals wouldn’t win. Yes, that was a pressure that they embraced at the time as the team’s star players, he said, but yes, it could be an emotional burden too. As if to emphasize what would come next, Nicklas Backstrom paused and prefaced that his response would be an “honest answer.” “Yes,” he then said simply. Yes, there were nights in past seasons when he worried that if he and Alex Ovechkin didn’t score, the Washington Capitals wouldn’t win. Yes, that was a pressure that they embraced at the time as the team’s star players, but yes, it could be an emotional burden too.
It’s one that’s now been mostly lifted, and yes, the team as a whole is likely better for it. In a second season under Coach Barry Trotz, Backstrom and Ovechkin are still the faces of the Capitals franchise, but others have been added, too. It’s one that’s now been mostly lifted, and yes, the team as a whole is likely better for it. In a second season under Coach Barry Trotz, Backstrom and Ovechkin are still faces of the franchise, but others have been added, too.
Offseason acquisitions T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams as well as the development of young center Evgeny Kuznetsov have taken some of the scoring load off Ovechkin and Backstrom. A deeper defense with Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen, free-agent signings before last season, and Braden Holtby’s evolution into one of the NHL’s top goaltenders have made Washington more than just an offensive juggernaut. Offseason acquisitions T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams, as well as the development of young center Evgeny Kuznetsov, have taken some of the scoring load off of Ovechkin and Backstrom. A deeper defense with Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen, free-agent signings before last season, and Braden Holtby’s evolution into one of the NHL’s top goaltenders have made Washington more than just an offensive juggernaut.
That balance on the ice and also in the locker room is what’s propelled the Capitals to the league’s best record and a season where anything less than a Stanley Cup will be considered unsuccessful. Yes, the Capitals have disappointed in the past with early postseason exits, but they’re confident this one is different. That balance on the ice and also in the locker room is what’s propelled the Capitals to the league’s best record and a season where anything less than a Stanley Cup will be considered a failure. Yes, the Capitals have disappointed in the past with early postseason exits, but they’re confident this one is different.
“You can win games in the regular season, but in the long run, you’re not going to win games with just two players or one player or whatever,” Backstrom said. “You need everyone. … We’ve played more like a team, and that’s what I think matters and that’s what I think is going to matter in the postseason, too.” “You can win games in the regular season, but in the long run, you’re not going to win games with just two players or one player or whatever,” Backstrom said. “You need everyone. . . . We’ve played more like a team, and that’s what I think matters and that’s what I think is going to matter in the postseason, too.”
Ask players in Washington’s locker room when this team started to feel special, or at least especially close, and they struggle to pinpoint one moment. There were pre-season golf outings and dinners that were a mix of veterans and younger players like Tom Wilson and Michael Latta. There were team-building activities that Trotz orchestrated, like when the team went rowing before the season started.Ask players in Washington’s locker room when this team started to feel special, or at least especially close, and they struggle to pinpoint one moment. There were pre-season golf outings and dinners that were a mix of veterans and younger players like Tom Wilson and Michael Latta. There were team-building activities that Trotz orchestrated, like when the team went rowing before the season started.
[Steinberg: Being favorites means the Caps won’t win the Cup][Steinberg: Being favorites means the Caps won’t win the Cup]
Those things had an effect, but the Capitals didn’t credit them for the turnaround. Most players just shrugged and said the personalities of this particular group naturally fit and complemented each other, that, as Wilson put it, “on any given night, any guy could go out with any guy for dinner on this team – and I don’t think you could really say that about any teams past or teams around the league.” Those factors had an effect, but the Capitals didn’t credit them for the turnaround. Most players just shrugged and said the personalities of this particular group naturally fit and complemented each other — that, as Wilson put it, “on any given night, any guy could go out with any guy for dinner on this team – and I don’t think you could really say that about any teams past or teams around the league.”
Wilson mentioned the contrast of 21-year-old forward Andre Burakovksy, “who’s the young, not to say goofy one, but keeps it light,” with 35-year-old defenseman Brooks Orpik, “who’s kind of the older, real serious guy that’s been there and an amazing leader.” Williams is somewhere in between those two ends of the spectrum, “a leader and a little bit of a goof,” Wilson said. Wilson mentioned the contrast between 21-year-old forward Andre Burakovksy, “who’s the young, not to say goofy one, but keeps it light,” and the 35-year-old defenseman Orpik, “who’s kind of the older, real serious guy that’s been there and an amazing leader.” Williams is somewhere in between those two ends of the spectrum, Wilson said, “a leader and a little bit of a goof.”
Trotz thought Oshie endeared himself to teammates when he fought Boston’s Adam McQuaid in an exhibition game. “The bench went, ‘That’s a star player fighting a guy who’s out of his weight class in a preseason game,’” Trotz said. “That’s pretty impressive. That said a lot.” Trotz thought Oshie endeared himself to teammates when he fought Boston’s Adam McQuaid in an exhibition game. “The bench went, ‘That’s a star player fighting a guy who’s out of his weight class in a preseason game,’ ” Trotz said. “That’s pretty impressive. That said a lot.”
That team bond was tested early in the season, when Ovechkin was absent from a morning skate before the second game of the season because he had overslept, accidentally setting his alarm clock incorrectly. Because he broke a team rule by being late, Trotz made him a healthy scratch against the San Jose Sharks, a game Washington lost, 5-0. As practice ended the next day, the team walked off the ice together in a show of unity.That team bond was tested early in the season, when Ovechkin was absent from a morning skate before the second game of the season because he had overslept, accidentally setting his alarm clock incorrectly. Because he broke a team rule by being late, Trotz made him a healthy scratch against the San Jose Sharks, a game Washington lost, 5-0. As practice ended the next day, the team walked off the ice together in a show of unity.
Asked about that incident months later , Trotz said he appreciated how Ovechkin handled it, that he didn’t respond with an outburst but instead understood that he had to be held accountable just as any other player. The result of the game reinforced that the Capitals still needed Ovechkin, but that he was disciplined also spoke to the team.Asked about that incident months later , Trotz said he appreciated how Ovechkin handled it, that he didn’t respond with an outburst but instead understood that he had to be held accountable just as any other player. The result of the game reinforced that the Capitals still needed Ovechkin, but that he was disciplined also spoke to the team.
“He’s a superstar, but he is just another player on our team,” forward Jay Beagle said. “He doesn’t get special treatment, and that’s why we saw that with Trotzy. That sent a message to all of us, you know? It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from, he sees us all as team members and individuals on this team that need to be pulling on the same rope. When you have something like that happen, it’s definitely accountability. It’s what we need.” “He’s a superstar, but he is just another player on our team,” forward Jay Beagle said. “He doesn’t get special treatment, and that’s why we saw that with Trotzy. That sent a message to all of us, you know? It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from; he sees us all as team members and individuals on this team that need to be pulling on the same rope. When you have something like that happen, it’s definitely accountability. It’s what we need.”
Early into Trotz’s tenure with Washington before last season, when he’d get questions about past dazzling regular seasons that were followed by early postseason endings, he was told the team’s record when Ovechkin and Backstrom didn’t get on the score sheet.Early into Trotz’s tenure with Washington before last season, when he’d get questions about past dazzling regular seasons that were followed by early postseason endings, he was told the team’s record when Ovechkin and Backstrom didn’t get on the score sheet.
From Ovechkin’s rookie season through 2013-14, there were 198 games in which he didn’t record a point, according to hockey-reference.com, and the Capitals lost 73.4 percent of those games. They lost 66 percent of the games Backstrom didn’t score a point from his rookie year until the season Trotz arrived. From Ovechkin’s rookie season through 2013-14, there were 198 games in which he didn’t record a point, according to hockey-reference.com, and the Capitals lost 73.4 percent of those games. They lost 66 percent of the games in which Backstrom didn’t score a point from his rookie year until the season Trotz arrived.
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On this Capitals team, with six 20-goal scorers, Washington won 56.7 percent of the games Ovechkin didn’t get a point and 62 percent of the ones Backstrom didn’t, according to hockey-reference.com. For the first time since Ovechkin’s first season with the Capitals in 2005-06, he wasn’t the team’s leading scorer at the end of the season; Kuznetsov was, with 77 points. Ovechkin and Backstrom tied for most points in 2013-14. On this Capitals team, with six 20-goal scorers, Washington won 56.7 percent of the gamesin which Ovechkin didn’t get a point and 62 percent of the ones when Backstrom didn’t, according to hockey-reference.com. For the first time since Ovechkin arrived in 2005, he wasn’t the team’s leading scorer at season’s end; Kuznetsov was, with 77 points. Ovechkin and Backstrom tied for the points lead in 2013-14.
“I don’t think there was a whole lot of pressure on Ovi to score every night,” General Manager Brian MacLellan said. “I don’t think he felt that way. And the same with Nick. When you have Kuzy playing well and adding offensively, it takes the pressure off.”“I don’t think there was a whole lot of pressure on Ovi to score every night,” General Manager Brian MacLellan said. “I don’t think he felt that way. And the same with Nick. When you have Kuzy playing well and adding offensively, it takes the pressure off.”
“It’s a better feeling, too,” Backstrom said. “We can focus more on both ends, and we can play good defensively as well. Maybe before, we were all going offense because we thought we were going to be the ones to win the game for us, but I think both me and Ovi had to realize that you can win games when you play good defensively as well.”“It’s a better feeling, too,” Backstrom said. “We can focus more on both ends, and we can play good defensively as well. Maybe before, we were all going offense because we thought we were going to be the ones to win the game for us, but I think both me and Ovi had to realize that you can win games when you play good defensively as well.”
Eight different players played with Ovechkin and Backstrom as the first-line right wing last year, so MacLellan made filling that vacancy a priority before the season. He addressed a struggling defense by signing Niskanen and Orpik a year earlier, and in trading for Oshie and wooing Williams, he got two top right wing options. Eight different skaters played with Ovechkin and Backstrom as first-line right wing last year, so MacLellan made filling that vacancy a priority before the season. He had addressed a struggling defense by signing Niskanen and Orpik a year earlier, and in trading for Oshie and wooing Williams, he got two top options at right wing.
Oshie has spent the majority of the year playing on the first line, scoring a career-high 26 goals, while Williams scored 22 goals and 30 assists primarily playing with Kuznetsov on the second line. A lack of depth at center previously had plagued the Capitals, but Kuznetsov blossomed into one of the league’s most exciting and creative players in his second full season. Oshie has spent the majority of the year playing on the first line, scoring a career-high 26 goals, while Williams had 22 goals and 30 assists primarily playing with Kuznetsov on the second line. A lack of depth at center previously had plagued the Capitals, but in his second full season, Kuznetsov blossomed into one of the league’s most exciting and creative players.
“That’s what’s really been the difference in our team all year, our one-two center combination” Holtby said. “I think that’s pushed us to the next level. Nick has had a lot of pressure on himself the last few years, and once Kuzy has taken that off, he’s flourished even more, being able to really play his complete game and not being relied on for strictly points as he has been so much because he’s such a well-rounded player.” “That’s what’s really been the difference in our team all year: our one-two center combination” Holtby said. “I think that’s pushed us to the next level. Nick has had a lot of pressure on himself the last few years, and once Kuzy has taken that off, he’s flourished even more, being able to really play his complete game and not being relied on for strictly points as he has been so much because he’s such a well-rounded player.”
Trotz recognizes how draining carrying the Capitals must have been for Backstrom and Ovechkin, that a more balanced lineup has freed them to have more substance in their personal games. But he also wonders if pressure can be a good thing, a question that will be answered in these playoffs, with the most talented roster Washington has had. Trotz recognizes how draining carrying the Capitals must have been for Backstrom and Ovechkin, that a more balanced lineup has freed them to have more substance in their personal games. But he also wonders whether pressure can be a good thing, a question that will be answered in these playoffs, with the most talented roster Washington has had.
“If the expectations of you having to produce every night drives you because you know that if you don’t do well, then the team’s not going to do well, that might be the incentive that drives you to make you a great player,” Trotz said. “Where if you know other guys can get it done, maybe that takes a little of your edge off. … Some guys falter with that pressure, and some guys need that pressure to drive them.” “If the expectations of you having to produce every night drives you because you know that if you don’t do well, then the team’s not going to do well, that might be the incentive that drives you to make you a great player,” Trotz said. “Where if you know other guys can get it done, maybe that takes a little of your edge off. . . . Some guys falter with that pressure, and some guys need that pressure to drive them.”