Capitals Corner Profile: Patrick Marleau

Tonight's guest in Capitals Corner is dynamic pivot Patrick Marleau. The 26-year-old enters the year as the No. 1 center and he'll play a big role in the Washington offense this season.

Checking in at 6-2 and 205 pounds, Marleau is a great combination of speed, skating, and strength. He's also extremely durable and good at both ends of the ice. Patrick needs to work on his passing to really move to the next level, but he'll be surrounded with quality players this season so his numbers should improve. Last year he had 16 goals and 25 assists with 115 hits and 0 PIMs in 79 games.

Marleau was born in Aneroid, Saskatchewan where the best part of growing up was being able to skate at any time. Patrick, or "Patty" as he's known, like all kinds of music and his favorite movies are the Austin Powers series. On the small screen he's a big reality fan and loves "Big Brother," "Amazing Race," and "Survivor." His favorite vacation spot is Maui, and he loves chicken and pasta. He also has a dog named Daisy.

In 2001, Patty established a foundation with ex-Montreal Canadien Trent McCleary. The foundation provides financial backing for less fortunate kids to participate in all sports.

When it comes to hockey, Marleau's idol is former teammate Mario Lemieux. His three wishes for career and life are a healthy family, Stanley Cup, and staying healthy.

Come back next time when we take a look at another player in Capitals Corner.

Capitals Corner Profile: Manny Legace

The first goaltender in Capitals Corner is starter Manny Legace. The 32-year-old netminder was a revelation last season and a big reason why the Capitals were able to make the playoffs. He is slated to start the season as No. 1 this year.

Legace checks in at 5-10 and 162 pounds, so he isn't the biggest in stature, but he's all heart. He has very good speed, good skating, and solid puck control. He's also disciplined and had strong endurance. Last season he finished with a 27-21-6 record, 2.97 GAA and .894 save percentage. He also notched three shutouts and three assists.

Manny was born in Toronto, Ontario, and he loves riding his Harley-Davidson. He's active in motorcycle charity events. His first car was a Ford Fairlane when he was 16 or 17. Legace is also a spokesman for the Judson Center, a facility that exists to meet the special needs of children who are otherwise living a legacy of abuse and neglect.

During his junior career, Legace won a gold medal and the Best Goalkeeper directorate award at the 1993 World Junior Championships. In 1993-94 he played on the national team and posted a 8-6 record. During the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, Manny won a silver medal as the backup goaltender. He also played with the Toronto Planets of the Roller Hockey International League in 1993, posting a 13-10-3 record with the team.

Come back next time when we take a look at another player in Capitals Corner.

Capitals Corner Profile: Artem Chubarov

In today's edition of Capitals Corner we'll meet forward Artem Chubarov. The 26-year-old pivot joined the team last season in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks.

Chubarov is 6-1 and 189 pounds. A very fast skater, Artem is also a great skater and excellent puck handler. He passes pretty well and has good strength. Chubarov is good in his own end, but he's also strong in the offensive zone. Last season he scored 16 goals and added 26 assists with 109 hits and 44 PIMs in 75 games.

Born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Artem enjoys spending his summers back in his homeland. His favorite television show is Spin City, and on the big screen his number one is Casion. When asked what he would like to be if not a professional hockey player, Chubarov responded that he'd like to be President of Russia.

His greatest hockey moment was scoring the overtime goal in the gold medal game against Canada at the 1999 World Junior Hockey Championships. We can only hope he has more moments like this for the Capitals.

Come back next time when we take a look at another player in Capitals Corner.

Panthers-Michal Handzus

MICHAL HANDZUS
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 215
Born: Mar 11, 1977
Origin: Banska Bystrica, SVK

"We have a good solid group at center and it starts with Michal."GM Perrault told reporters "Michal can control the puck real well, acuratly pass the puck and is always a threat to score. He is an unselfish player who has the ability to make plays happen. If all goes well he should be one of the league leaders this year."

Michal is expected to lead the power play this year and will split the top line honors with the other Panther centers Patrik Stefan and Stephen Weiss.

"I am looking forward to the upcomeing season." Michal said when asked about the upcomeing year "We hav a talented team with a good combination of youth and experience. I am excited about our chances to go all the way this year. If we can stay healthy and give lots of defensive support to Roberto we will improve our chances of success. Our team is pretty solid up front and scoreing shouldnt be a problem."

Michal will lead the power play that will be packing a punch with Bondra on the left and Nolan on the right.

The Florida Panthers are excited about the upcoming season and will be introducing the Panthers players to the fans and the media.

The one player that the Panthers will be looking for a big season out of is starting goaltender Roberto Luongo.

Position: Goalie Catches: Left Height: 6' 3" Weight: 205 Born: Apr 4,1979 Origin: Montreal, QC, CAN

Roberto is a proven veteran and is one of the best goalies in the league. Luongo took the Panthers all the way to the finals in year 2 and is looking for a return trip.

"We have an excellent team and we will be in the thick of things in the upcoming season. We have a great combination of proven veteran experience and youth. We are on a mission this year to give veteran winger Petr Bondra another chance at the cup before he retires. After being there in year 2 and coming so close and not winning just makes you crave it more." Luongo told reporters "I have been preparing during the offseason more. I wanted to be in game shape going into training camp and making sure we get off to a good start. Getting off to a good start will be key with all the talented teams. Even more important will be to sustaining that good start and how we deal with the inevitable adversity that all teams face during the regular season. I, as are all members of the Panthers, are confident that we will be and have a successfull season this year."

Capitals Corner Profile: Andrew Ference

We'll turn to another defender now as we continue Capitals Corner. Today it's 26-year-old Andrew Ference, one of the younger blueliners on the squad.

Ference, 5-10 and 196 pounds, isn't the biggest body on the blue line, but he's a solid contributor who is good in his own end and a good passer. He has good speed, excellent durability, and he skates well. Last season Ference scored seven goals and passed out seven assists in 70 games. He also had 72 hits and 169 PIMs.

Off the ice, the Edmonton, Alberta native enjoys riding his Harley Davidson. He also liked to go snowboarding and mountain bike riding. As you can see, he's really into the outdoors.

Growing up he was a hometown Oilers fan, but he also supported the Pittsburgh Penguins and superstar Mario Lemieux. The player he most admires now is legendary defender Chris Chelios.

When it comes to entertainment, Andrew's favorite band is Sublime and he'll warm up to anything by Metallica. His favorite movie is Full Metal Jacket and Sean Connery is his favorite actor. Sometimes he likes to sit down with a good book and his favorite is The Beach.

After his hockey career, Ference wants to open an outdoor adventure club where people could come for the week or weekend and do things like kayaking, rock climbing, snowboarding, skydiving, and other activities. He also wants a Porsche 911. When it comes to vacation, his dream spot would be Kenya in Africa. He's been there once and he can't wait to get back again.

Come back next time when we take a look at another player in Capitals Corner.

Capitals Corner Profile: Jonathan Cheechoo

Next up in Capitals Corner is Season 4 Calder Award winner Jonathan Cheechoo. The 25-year-old winger is a dynamic player and should provide plenty of goals and grit in Washington for years to come.

Cheechoo is 6-0 and 205 pounds and is a real grinder on the wing. He passes the puck well, and has great puck handling skills. He also has very good endurance and durability which gives him the ability to play extra minutes every night. Last season Jon scored 19 goals and passed out 34 assists with 89 hits and 24 PIMs in 75 games.

Jonathan is a native of Moose Factory, Ontario, a town located 500 miles north of Toronto. Moose Factory is on an island that's roughly five square miles and sits in the Moose River at the southern tip of Hudson Bay. He is the only member of the Moose Cree First Nations to sign a CLUTCH contract. Cheechoo still thinks of his hometown as his favorite vacation spot, and his grandparent's house is his favorite hangout in Moose Factory.

Off the ice, his hobbies are fishing and hunting. His favorite food is fried moose. Among his other favorites are musician Tim McGraw, actor Matt Damon, and actress Jennifer Garner. He also loves the movie "Good Will Hunting" and the television show "That 70's Show."

Cheechoo, or "Cheech" as he's known, began skating at age two and he considers Jari Kurri his hockey idol. When asked to describe himself in three words, Jon said he's dedicated, hard working, and positive. His three wishes in hockey are to win the Stanley Cup (we all hope in Washington), have good health, and have a long career. If he wasn't playing hockey, he'd be teaching elementary school.

Come back next time when we take a look at another player in Capitals Corner.

Capitals Corner Profile: Anson Carter

The first forward entering Capitals Corner is Anson Carter. The 31-year-old free agent arrival will play right wing or center on the first or second line for Washington

Carter, a 6-1 and 200 pound power forward, has good speed and great hands. He also skates very well. Anson has a very good scoring touch and his durability and discipline are excellent. Last season with the Coyotes, Carter scored 23 goals and handed our 45 assists with 110 hits and 0 PIMs in 82 games. The Capitals are counting on Carter for similar or better offensive numbers this year.

Anson, a native of Toronto, Ontario, spends the off-season in Los Angeles, Calif where he runs a hip-hop label, Big Up Entertainment. He has a Great Dane puppy named Zeus and is single.

During his junior hockey career, Carter capture a gold medal with Team Canada at the 1994 World Junior Championships. He appeared in seven games and scored three goals and two assists.

Capitals Corner Profile: Dan Boyle

The second player going into Capitals Corner is defender Dan Boyle. Entering his third season with the club, the 29-year-old is an established veteran with Washington and will likely play with Rob Blake in the No. 1 defensive pairing.

The 5-11, 190 pounder, has adequate speed and is a good all-around blueliner. His best attribute is his passing, but he also has good intensity and strength. Boyle isn't a standout at either end of the ice, but he plays well both ways. Last season he scored nine goals and dished out 17 assists with 86 hits and 0 PIMs in 60 games. Dan missed the early part of the season due to a contract dispute.

Boyle, a native of Ottawa, Ontario started skating at age 6. He was a Flyers fan growing up and a big fan of Rick Tocchet. His current favorite player is Brian Leetch.

Dan was a pitcher when he played baseball as a youngster, and he credits his mental toughness to his time on the mound. Boyle's favorite television show is Late Night with Conan O'Brien on NBC.

Capitals Corner Profile: Rob Blake

In the first of a series of player profiles, Capitals Corner takes a look at new defender Rob Blake. The 34-year-old joins Washington as a free agent acquisition and will immediately move to the top of the list on the Capitals' blue line.

The 6-5 and 220 pound star has good speed, intensity and strength. He's also excellent at both ends and can pass the puck very well. Blake is a good puckhandler, skates well and has strong endurance. Last season he scored 11 goals and dished out 34 assists with 182 hits in 73 games.

Off the ice, Rob spends his summer in Los Angeles, Calif. where he enjoys surfing and playing beach volleyball. He and his wife Brandy have a son, Jack (4), and a daughter, Brooke (2). They also own a Pug named Puggy.

If he hadn't become a professional hockey player, Blake says he would have been a farmer. His friends and teammates call him "Blakey," and he owns his own cloting line, BLUELINE. One of his other major off the ice activities is the charity celebrity golf tournament he hosts every summer with Luc Robitaille.

Rob's favorite celebrity is Pamela Anderson, and his favorite musician is Kid Rock. When it comes to the big screen, he loves NARC. Blakey's favorite pro athlete is Michael Jordan. And when it comes time to chow down, Rob most enjoys a good, juicy steak.

Come back next time when we take a look at another player in Capitals Corner.

Tommy Salo: Super Swedish Stopper

While Manny Legace is the number one man in Washington, Tommy Salo is a more than capable backup. In fact, he's a super Swedish stopper par excellence. The 34-year-old netminder is ready for the new season ahead after a less than stellar Season 4.

After a decent Season 3, Salo was not up to standard last year. He finished the campaign at 6-21-1 with a 3.44 GAA and .879. In the process, Tommy lost his starting job to upstart Manny Legace. Barring a remarkable turn of events, Salo will only see spot time as a backup this year in Washington. In Season 3, he played 67 games and finished the year 30-27-7 with a 3.36 GAA and .876 save percentage.

Salo's poor performance was quite surprising last season. He has decent speed and puck control, but never could get it going. While Legace was winning games left and right, Salo couldn't get out of his own way. Perhaps his mediocre intensity kept him from performing at his best? We'll never know.

What we do know is that Salo is not all that interested in being Manny's backup. Fact is, they don't really get along and Tommy would like to start somewhere. Washington GM John Henry says "Salo is definitely on the block, we like him well enough, but we'd be happy to let him go for a decent young goalie. Manny is our man."

Will Tommy last in Washington? Possibly, but if you're looking for a goalie, Salo is your Super Swedish Stopper!

Five, Six, and Seven Round Out Solid Defensive Corps

We've profiled the top four, now let's take a look at the last three defensemen for the Washington Capitals. They won't get the ice time as the top group, but they still play an important role in the success of the team.

No. 5 on the blueline is 26-year-old Andrew Ference. Andy is strong in his own end with good speed, skating, and passing. He's also very durable which allows him to step up and contribue on specialty teams when needed. Ference checks in at 5-10 and 196 pounds, and scored seven goals with seven assists in 70 games last season. He also recorded 72 hits and 169 PIMs.

Checking in at No. 6 is 6-1, 208 pound, Michal Rozsival. The 27-year-old passes the puck well and plays a good game in his won end. He also has good strength, endurance, and durability. While primarily the sixth defender, Rozsival has the ability to move up the ladder and log more time with hard work and dedication. Last season Michal netted 11 goals and 27 assists with 97 hits in 83 games.

The No. 7 on defense is Russian veteran Boris Mironov. The 32-year-old isn't the player he once was, but he still brings a strong game to the ice and can handle things in his own end. Last season Boris scored five goals and passed out eight assists in 77 games. He also had 113 hits and 274 PIMs.

With two more strong players at No. 5 and 6, the Capitals defense is good all the way to the end. The team will need strong play throughout the lineup to keep opponents off the board and propel Washington to victory.

Defense Key to Capitals' Success

While the Washington Capitals showcase a strong goaltender and depth at the forward positions, the key to a successful season lies with the defense. Keep the other team off the board and good things happen, give up too many goals and it will be a long season.

The backbone to Washington's defensive corps is free agent acquisition Rob Blake. At 6-4 and 220 pounds, Blake brings a huge physical presence to the blueline, but he's also a fast and strong skater. A defender with excellent discipline and good endurance and durabilit, Blake is very good in his own end and his strong passing and puck control let him contribute on the offensive end as well. Rob will surely see lots of minutes and play in all situations for the Capitals. Last season Blake scored 11 goals and dished our 34 assists in 73 games. He also doled out 182 hits with 0 PIMs.

Next up on the blueline is 6-4 and 230 pound monster Sheldon Souray, a combination of intensity, strength, puck control, and offensive skill. He's no the most durable or disciplined, but he can handle himself well at both ends of the ice. Last season Souray had four goals and 11 assists in 75 games. He also had 108 hits and 161 PIMs.

The No. 3 man on defense is two-way threat Dan Boyle. He's not the biggest player at 5-11 and 190 pounds, but he can still handle himself in the physical game and he's an excellent passer. Boyle also skates well and plays a strong game at both ends of the ice. After missing time due to a contract holdout last season, Dan netted nine goals and 17 assists with 87 hits in 60 games.

Rounding out the top four on defense is 6-3, 193 pound, Cory Sarich. Cory plays a strong defensive game with good speed and very good strength. He also has good endurance and great durability. Sarich can move the puck and chip in with the offensive game as well. He needs to work on his discipline to make it to the next level, but he's still a top four blueliner. Sarich also missed time last year in a contract holdout, but after returning he scored 11 goals and handed out 22 assists with 81 hits in 58 games.

The top four are certainly the key to the defense, but five through seven will also play an important role. We'll take a look at the rest of the blueline corps in another installment of the Capitals Report.

Right Wing Ready to Rock

With depth at center and firepower on the left, the right wingers for the Washington Capitals are ready to rock in Season 5. A strong group of four will man the right side and provide offensive punch for the team.

The top man on the right is 27-year-old Todd Warriner. At 6-2 and 205 pounds, Warriner is a good power forward with good speed as well. He's also an excellent passer with very good skating and puckhandling skills as well. Warriner's best weapon is his offensive skill and the team will definitely count on him to score a lot of goals. He'll likely play with Palffy and Marleau to form a strong first line with a lot of scoring ability. Last season Warriner netted 19 goals and dished out 34 assists in 81 games, 30 goals or more will be expected this year.

Checking in on the second line is free agent acquisition Anson Carter. Another power forward with good speed, Carter tips the scales at 6-1 and 200 pounds. Much like Warriner, Carter is a very good passer and an even better skater. He's not quite as strong in the offensive end, but he is expected to score and create goals. Anson may move to center for the Capitals, but no decision has been made on that move. Last season, he scored 23 goals and added 42 assists in 82 games for Phoenix.

Next up on the right is Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Cheechoo. The second-year pro is another power forward for the Capitals and is 6-0 and 205 pounds. Cheechoo is a solid passer with good puck control and a good offensive touch. Last season he played mostly on the top line, but with the added depth on the team this year, he should be able to play in a more comfortable role on the second or third line. Jonathan netted 19 goals and handed out 34 assists in 75 games for the Capitals last year.

The final man on the right is speedy scorer Peter Tenkrat. The 28-year-old is 5-11 and 200 pounds and has good speed and skating skill. He's also intense and strong with good endurance. Tenkrat joined the team late last season and finished the campaign with 33 goals and 31 assists in 83 games. All of the scoring came with the Blue Jackets.

The right wing group joins a strong set of center and left wingers, and working together the forwards must propel Washington to greater heights this season.

The Blues pro staff took to the ice today in what was there fist full practice. One big surprise was Brad Richards the Blues leading point getter from last season on the LW was moved to center for most of the practice. When asked after the practice if this would be a permanant thing Coach Paul Maurice had these comments, "Well i believe the whole purpose of practice is to try new things. Brad was more then willing to give it a go. He is a good playmaker and one of the leaders on our team. We have a lot of depth at LW with our free agent aquisitions and Brad might be of more use to us as a center. As for his performance he did well controling the puck but needs a lot of work on the dot.


Several players where sent to the JR league today including GM Foleys own son Patrick. When asked how he felt about his son being cut from the team GM Foley had these coments, "Patrick still has a lot to learn and we are not prepared to rush his developement. He is still eligible to play in the JR's and that is where he belongs. Personally i would like to see him on the top line in the JR's then playing 5 minutes on the pro team."

Capitals Look to Left Wing Firepower

The Washington Capitals will look for goals from the left wing this season as the team tries to improve on last year's point total. We've already examined Washington's strength through the middle, now let's take a look at the players manning the left side of the ice.

The top left winger is free agent acquisition Zigmund Palffy. The 5-10, 182 pounder is a great skater with great speed. He passes the puck like a star, is a great puckhandler, and can score goals with the best of them. His offensive prowess adds a new dimension to the Washington attack, and everyone is expecting great things from him. Last season Ziggy scored 27 goals and added 34 assists in 75 games. He has all the potential to put up even better numbers with the Capitals this year.

Currently slated for the second line left wing spot is veteran Mikael Renberg. The 33-year-old Swede is a great passer and puckhandler. While not expected to score a ton on his own, Renberg can dish the puck and create a lot of goals for his teammates. Last year he had 15 goals and 38 assists in 78 games.

The third line slot goes to youngster Frantisek Lukes, 23. Another speed demon on the left, Lukes has the potential to move up and play on either of the top two lines as well. Along with his blazing speed, he's a very good skater with a good shot and nose for the goal. Frantisek scored 15 goals and handed out 19 assists in 50 games last season.

While the team expects to play with just three left wingers, one more player has a good chance to crack the lineup. Ivan Rachunek, 24, came to the team during the off season in a trade with the Red Wings. A great skater with good speed, intensity, and strength, Ivan will likely start on the farm, but with his good passing and scoring touch he could definitely crack the lineup.

For the Capitals to succeed this season, the left wing group must step up and supply the fire power. Will they? We don't know yet, but we will soon enough.

Capitals Add Pair of Picks for Pecker

The Washington Capitals acquired two draft picks today in a trade with the New Jersey Devils. The picks are either Philadelphia or N.J.'s second rounder, whichever is better, and N.J.'s third rounder. All picks are in the Yr. 2007 draft. Heading to the Devils are Cory Pecker and $2,000,000.

With many players graduating the junior ranks after the season, the Capitals need to keep adding picks, and GM John Henry expects the second round selection to be a quality pick. The team was also able to add a second selection to the trade for cash.

Pecker, 25, checks in at 6-0 and 180 pounds. He's a speedy skater with good endurance and durability. He also has a nice scoring touch. Last season he scored 14 goals and dished out 12 assists in 80 games.

"We're sorry to see Cory go, but he probably has a better chance to crack the lineup this year in New Jersey. He played well for us last season, but I don't think he'd be in the top four this season," GM John Henry said after announcing the deal.

The Capitals still have a number of players on the block, so more trades are expected in Washington. Stay tuned for the latest.

Blues fitness testing

That's right boys and girls it is almost that time. Time for the Blues players to step onto the scales to get weighed and push themselves to the limits in an effort to see how much work needs to be done after the offseasons inactivity. The boys all went into a room in the Savis center where there height weight and body mass was measured. They where then taken to an exercise room where they where made to lift weights ride the exercise bikes and put threw other tests that would measure there physical stamina as well as there mental stamina. All the players where made to push there limits and then to try to push them a little further.



coming out clearly on top was forward Taylor Pyatt. In the best physical shape of his life he had worked all offseason to give himself the best shot at competing this season. Pyatt is penciled in as a top 2 liner with the blues this season and is expected to contribute 30+ goals. When asked if he was ready for the season he had these comments, "We have a few new additions to the team as well as a couple of guys who have moved on. GM Foley has kept the core of this team together but when I heard that he had bought out the contract of Lindros I will admit I was a little disappointed. Of course when 1 player is taking up 1/5 of your salary towards the cap it is bound to happen." Other players who were in top physical form coming into camp include Aaron Ward, Mike Leclerc, Dan Hamhuis, Agris Saviels, Kevin Weekes and Nikolai Khabibulin.

As for the players who came into camp and still have a little work GM Foley had these comments, "While some of the players do need a little bit of strength and endurance training overall we are happy with the results of today's testing. There are no real concerns but some players are likely to find themselves in the Jr league and the farm system this year due to there lack of progress in the offseason. Fortunately none of the players we have penciled in as starters on the pro team will be missing when we drop the puck to start the regular season."

There have been a lot of changes for the Blues this offseason and it is quite possible that they will struggle to recover from the lose of Eric Lindros. It will certainly be a huge hole to fill and while the Blues coaching staff seems to be optimistic that the remaining players will show they are capable of making a run this season. Many insiders believe the Blues will be hard pressed making the playoffs let alone competing for the Clutch cup.

Capitals Feature Strong Depth at Center

As preparations continue for Season 5, the Washington Capitals are looking at where all the pieces fit in the lineup. One spot where the team should be strong is at center ice. There are no superstars through the middle, but the club showcases strong players through all four lines.

The likely No. 1 pivot is 26-year-old Patrick Marleau from Aneroid, Sasketchewan. The 6-2, 205 pounder didn't enjoy his best season last year with just 43 points, but with blazing speed, excellent skating ability, and a good scoring touch, he should be able to improve this year. Marleau will have strong players on both wings, so if he can improve his passing his point total will surely go up.

Stepping in at No. 2 center is Artem Chubarov. Also 26, Chubarov hails from Gorsky, Russia and checks in at 6-1 and 189 pounds. Much like Marleau, Artem is extremely fast and skates very well. He's also a great puckhandler with a good scoring touch. Last season he scored 16 goals and added 26 assists in 76 games. Chubarov will play with better linemates this season as the club has improved throughout the lineup, and everyone is expecting the Russian to improve on last year's offensive effort.

The current No. 3 center, Dan Snyder, is the best passer in the bunch and another speed merchant on the ice. Hailing from Elmira, Ontario, Snyder isn't the biggest player at 6-0 and 169 pounds, but he's scrappy and plays a very intense game. With a concerted effort to improve his discipline, Snyder, 27, could be a big player for the Capitals this year. Last season he played on the third and fourth lines and scored 11 goals with 10 assists in 69 games.

Due to roster regulations, junior graduate Mike Zigomanis is slated to be the No.4 center, but probably will not see much ice time as the team is expected to run with three centers most nights.

A final intriguing possibility is free agent signing Anson Carter who could move to center if the coaching staff decides it's the best move to make. Currently slated to play on the first or second line at right wing, the 31-year-old power forward is a very good passer with great skating and lots of speed. He's also very good in the offensive end. No decisions have been made yet, but the team will take a long look at moving Carter during the preseason. With four good wingers on the right side, adding a great passer like Carter to the middle of the first or second line could be the best move for the team.

Strength at center ice is just one reason why the Capitals expect to improve on last year's point total. But will they do it? Only time will tell...

Legace Ready to Lead Capitals

After an excellent Season 4, goaltender Manny Legace returns to lead the Washington Capitals between the pipes in Season 5. The 32-year-old has two years remaining on his contract and if he continues his fine play, the Capitals will likely do whatever it takes to keep him in town.

Going into last season, Legace was expected to be on the bench for most of the action. Fellow veteran Tommy Salo was the man in Season 3, finishing with a 30-27-7 record, 3.36 GAA, and .876 save percentage. While a new GM took over, Legace didn't do anything in preseason to unseat the then 33-year-old Swede from the starting job.

As the early part of the season progressed, however, it was clear that Salo wasn't quite right and the team turned to Manny, a career backup. Legace ran with the opportunity and never looked back. He finished the year 27-21-6 with three shutouts. His 2.97 GAA ranked among the league's best, and the .894 save percentage kept the team in many games. Salo, on the other hand, struggled throughout the campaign. He got many opportunities, but finished the season 6-21-1 with a 3.44 GAA and .879 save percentage.

Legace isn't a big man in stature at only 5-10 and 162 pounds, but he's the big man in goal for the Capitals.

With the addition of several quality free agents and the development of a strong group of young players, Washington is surely looking to improve on last season's 73 points. If they do, Manny Legace will certainly play a huge role in between the pipes.

Goaltending In NY Questionable

The goaltending situation in Manhattan was shakey for most of the year last year and the Rangers failed to land another goaltender this off season. When queried about the state of affairs in net GM Burns explained his strategy.

"Look I'm not one to make excuses, but consider the situation when I got here. We were going to lose 13 juniors, had only two draft picks, 1.2 million dollars in the bank, had superstars to resign in pro, were weak at centre, right wing, defence and we didn't have the luxury of a Luongo or Brodeur in net. We had tough decisions to make. We have 12 million in the bank now. We gained a draft pick. We now have a bonifde #1 centre in Ribeiro who will lead this team for years. Our young stars are developing well. We took specific steps to improve our defence by getting Spiller under contract and by bringing in a stay at home guy in Lukowich. Our team is better.

I have a lot of faith in Mike Dunham. With an improved defence in front of him he should see less shots and his numbers should improve. Lehtonen will be taking over in the near future but until he does he's a capable back up. Lehtonen is only 22 and will be our number 1 in a year or two.

We've been hard at work improving the team."

When asked if any players were available Burns thought about it and replied, "Tyutin and Lehtonen are great young players but if genuine older superstar players were availble we'd consider them due to the youth of our team."

Capitals Trade Block Bursting Over

The Washington Capitals announced that seven players are on the trading block recently as the team looks to add draft picks, young players, and a sturdy, disciplined defender. The club nearly traded one player, but the draft pick acquired had already been traded by the other club.

The first player on the block is Bubba Berenzweig, 27. He checks in at 6-1, 215 pounds, and is an offensive defenseman. He also has good strength, endurance, and durability. Last season with the Capitals he scored one goal and added two assists with 14 PIMs in 21 games.

Next is Troy Ferguson, 26, a 5-9, 160 pounds, center. Ferguson has blazing speed, good intensity, and is an excellent skater. He's also strong in endurance, very disciplined, and quite durable. Last season with the Junior Capitals Ferguson scored two goals and added three assists in nine games.

Another forward, Alexander Korolyuk is 29 years old and plays left wing. He is 5-9 and 190 pounds. Korolyuk has good speed and skating and showcases excellent durability. Last season he scored eight goals and added eight assists along with 30 PIMs in 66 games.

Boris Mironov is the first defender available, and at 32 years old he's a good experienced veteran. He also brings great size with his solid 6-3, 233 pounds frame. A very strong blueliner, Mironov also has good endurace and excellent durability. Last season he netted five goals and dished out eight assists in 77 games. He also doled out 113 hits to go along with 274 PIMs.

Denis Pederson, a 30-year-old right wing, is 6-2 and 205 pounds. He has good strength, a decent scoring touch, and good durability. Pederson would be a good pickup for any team looking for some veteran leadership on the wing. In Season 4, Denis scored five goals and passed out nine assists in 40 games. He also recorded 137 PIMs.

Next up is Jason Robinson, a 28-year-old intense and strong defender. He also has good speed, strong endurance, and very good durability. Last season he played 24 games and scored two goals. He also dished out four assists.

The last player available is versatile veteran Andy Sutton. The 30-year-old can play either left wing or defense and brings a strong game with scoring touch at either position. Sutton also brings good endurance and durability, and he can pass the puck well. Last season he scored seven goals and added 11 assists in 50 games. With his enormous 6-6, 234 pounds frame, Sutton adds great size and experience to any team.

Will the Capitals trade any of these players? Only time will tell...

Nashville Rumours

Trade rumours have been circulating through various sources in and around Nashville. The Predators looked to have everything ready and set in terms of lineup for the upcoming season, however names such as Modano, Langkow, Brunette, and Kuba continue to come up as being rumoured to be available for trade. GM Cunti finally addressed the media: "Sure we're always looking to improve our team, but as it stands right now we don't see any changes being made."

On the other hand, it is well known that the Predators GM would like to inject the team with more youth, whether it be in the way of juniors, picks, or just young studs playing in pro. For this, we know that players like Modin, Pratt, Eaton, Lysak or some of the defensemen currently playing for Nashville's pro farm team are up for grabs. Currently there are no indications that GM Cunti has had any communication about any of those players mentioned.

Expected soon to be captain Mike Modano released a statement to the press, "Trade rumours are always part of the game. Everyone understands that this is a business and that things change. I've enjoyed my stay thus far in Nashville and I'd like to finish off my career here. I think that we've got a great club with a lot of character and guys like Joey (Thornton) will really help the team out."

When asked about his current bump from the top line down to the second line, Modano replied, "Joe is a great player with a lot of skill. I was involved in discussions with both Ken (Hitchcock) and Biagio about the best kind of line combinations. Of course nothing is ever set in stone and I'm sure we'll test out team chemistry come pre-season. I think having 3 good scoring lines where we can get a balanced attack from all three lines is one of the major key things to do in order to win in this league."

During some of the Preds practices, it was observed that Modano was playing on a line with Thornton and Brunette so a top line that included those three cannot be discounted either. We look forward to see how the Preds shape up against some of the other major players in the league!

Capitals Trade Canceled

The Washington Capitals trade with the Minnesota Wild was canceled today by the CLUTCH league office. The Wild had already traded the draft pick to Detroit and thus the transaction could not be completed.

"I'm stunned with what's happened. A GM approached me about a trade, and now it turns out he didn't even have the pick to trade," GM John Henry said in an afternoon press conference. "We will welcome Bubba back to the fold and look forward to opening training camp soon."

Berenzwieg, 27, is a 6-1, 215 pound, offensive defenseman. He has good strength, endurance, and durability as well. Last season with the Capitals he scored one goal and added two assists with 14 PIMs in 21 games.

During today's press conference, Berenzweig said "I was looking forward to joining the Wild, and am disappointed with this turn of events. But, if this is how the organization operated, then perhaps it's a good thing to stay here in Washington. I'm looking forward to the start of camp and to earning my spot on the roster."

Stay tuned for the latest news from Washington as the offseason continues...

Washington Adds Yr 2007 Draft Pick

The Washington Capitals acquired Chicago's 3rd round pick in the Year 2007 draft today in a trade with the Minnesota Wild. Going to Minnesota is defender Bubba Berenzweig.

With 12 players leaving the Jr. Capitals after this season, Washington continues to have a need for draft picks in the Year 2007 draft. Adding a third rounder for a player unlikely to see time with the pro squad now or in the future only makes sense for Capitals management.

"It's a shame to see Bubba go," GM John Henry said, "but he wasn't going to see much time here in Washington. When Minnesota inquired, I talked with Bubba and he agreed the move made sense for his future. He goes to a team where he'll get a chance to play now and possibly in coming seasons."

Berenzweig, 27, checks in at 6-1, 215 pounds, and is an offensive defenseman. He also has good strength, endurance, and durability. Last season with the Capitals he scored one goal and added two assists with 14 PIMs in 21 games.

The third round pick gives Washington three picks in that round. The club also has one pick in the first round, one in the second, one in the fourth, and two in the fifth.

Are there more moves in the Capitals' future? Only time will tell...

Rangers Defence Promising But Immature

The New York Rangers achilles heel in the upcoming season is their defence. Young and promising as they are there are constant rumblings that Tyutin may be available if the right deal for a #1 defender came along. The top six have good strength but are not fleet of foot. The tope 4 pairings look solid if not spectacular. The Rangers may put alot of pucks in the net but they might be fishing even more out of their own cage.

GM Burns went out and got a defensive stalwart in Brad Lukowich. Lukowich is strong defensively and positionally but doesn't shine in many other areas. The Rangers had a wealth of offensively gifted Dmen and brought Lukowich as an anchor. Mathew Spiller is back after sitting out an entire season due to a contract dispute and he looks better than ever. The defence is very young which could cause some problems. Here are the likely starting pairings:

Brad Lukowich
Age: 29
Brad Lukowich D L OK 58 65 69 75 90 62 67 70 73 78 65 66 70 74




Ossi Vaananen
Age: 25
Ossi Vaananen D L OK 73 74 79 76 78 26 71 73 77 70 72 53 62 77



Vaananen is good all around but is a year away from being the type of player that anchors the defence. He has good strength, speed, intensity, and is great with the puck. His defensive zone work is not incredibly high but he the rest of his attributes make him a great package of talent. Lukowich can sit back, defend, and let Vaananen control the back end of the game.

Mathew Spiller
Age: 23
Matthew Spiller D L OK 78 65 77 66 79 47 71 62 66 75 60 38 49 74



Fedor Tyutin
Age 22
Fedor Tyutin D L OK 74 61 77 72 80 58 71 78 78 67 66 41 48 75



While it may seem risky to put two such inexperienced youngsters together these two young stars in the making mesh well together. Tyutins puck handling skills are balnced nicely by Spillers strength, intesity and defensive acumen. These two could be the core of the Rangers defense for the next decade.

Tomas Kloucek
Age: 25
Tomas Kloucek D L OK 75 64 81 73 74 32 76 61 71 72 67 45 57 75




Brooks Orpik
Age: 26
Brooks Orpik D L OK 78 66 79 76 73 32 66 66 68 71 57 56 51 74



The youth parade continues into the third line as young Orpik and Kloucek will be expected to shoulder a signifigant load. Both can be shakey in the defensive zone but both are strong and play the Body. Orpik in particular has a penchant for hitting.

3 More Free Agents Join Capitals

After yesterday's double-signing, a trio of free agents put their signatures on the dotted line to join the Washington Capitals. Carl Corazzini, Rob Scuderi, and Aleksander Suglobov are the new arrivals. All three signed contracts worth $300,000 per year with $250,001 signing bonuses.

Corazzini, 26, is a 5-9, 170 pound, center with good speed, intensity, and strength. Carl joins the team from the Bruins where last season he dished out three assists in 29 games. He also had 15 hits and 22 PIMs. It's not likely he'll see time in the Pro ranks this season, but with hard work on the farm, he could develop for the future.

Scuderi, 26, is defensive blueliner with good endurance. A project for the future, he checks in at 6-1 and 210 pounds. The coaching staff expects Scuderi to continue showing a good physical game while working hard on the skill aspects to improve overall. He will play on the farm for the foreseeable future.

Suglobov, 26, is a strong and intense winger with good discipline. He provides depth at the wing on the farm, and with perseverance and dedication he could make it to the pro ranks in the future. Aleksander is 6-0 and 200 pounds.

The Capitals are likely finished in the free agent market, but we never know what GM John Henry will do. Stay tuned for the latest from Washington...

Panthers Get Funk

The Florida Panthers picked defenceman Michael Funk from the Portland Winterhawks as their 1rst pick (25th overall) in this years draft.

The 6-4 - 199lbs defenceman from Abbotsford, British Columbia is full of promise. He is speedy, can pass and has an good shot. He will be able to hone these skills in Florida's JR system.

"We are excited to have Michael in our organization." New GM Michael Perrault told reporters."This kid can skate. He plays on both the pp and the pk and can pass very well. He will be fun to watch develope and we are hopeing that he will be up with the Pro team within a couple years. We would like him to develope into a more all round defenceman. We feel Michael will fit in real well in the Panthers future."

Rangers Full of Promise

The New York Rangers are on the cusp of becoming perennial favourites. With a host of young skilled players the team is hoping that the future starts this season.

"We're excited about the upcoming season," said team captain J.P. Dumont. "We've got a team that's better than it was last year and also I think it's more balanced. We're not going to be satisfied unless we make the playoffs this year."

With an average team age of 26 years old and a salary level of only $37,890,000 the team has room improve and to add more players. The Rangers are loaded with exciting players up front and it their offence that will decide their fate this season. Here is are the likely opening night line forward combinations. We will focus on defence and goaltending in the next article.

First Line


LW: J.P Dumont.
Age: 27
J-P Dumont LW L OK 51 74 71 73 89 63 73 79 85 73 76 70 59 78



C: Mike Ribeiro
Age: 25
Mike Ribeiro C L OK 60 76 70 70 72 53 80 81 81 71 77 58 53 79




RW: Alexei Ponikarovsky
Age: 25
Alexei Ponikarovsky RW L OK 68 79 76 77 68 43 82 79 71 65 82 44 44 79


These three young stars will most likely start on the first line together. All three can handle the puck as well as anyone in the league. Ribeiro's vision and set up skills should mould nicely with Ponikarovsky's scoring prowness. Look for puckhandler extrordinaire JP Dumont to carry the puck into the zone and for speedy powerful Ponikarovsky to bang in the corners. This line can come at you several differnt ways.

Second Line



LW:Martin Erat
Age: 24
Martin Erat LW L OK 65 72 73 71 77 57 73 81 81 68 80 40 58 79





C: Jason Blake
Age: 32
Jason Blake C L OK 58 82 62 67 78 72 77 75 75 63 74 68 69 76


RW: Pavel Bure
Age: 34
Pavel Bure RW L OK 61 91 48 70 55 74 86 72 81 57 92 68 59 79


Pavel Bure is no longer the most skilled player in the league but he hasn't lost a step in terms of speed. He's still an electrifying sniper and with fellow speedster Jason Blake at centre they should back defenceman up and intimidate with speed. Youngster Martin Erat fills out the line. Erat is a magician with the puck. Watch for him to set up Bure and when he's unable to connect with a pass to put the puck in the net.

Third Line

LW: Rick Nash
Age: 21
Rick Nash LW L OK 76 73 76 72 76 57 73 72 68 67 79 51 44 77


C: Chad Kilger
Age: 29
Chad Kilger C L OK 57 71 79 68 91 51 68 69 72 64 69 54 54 73




RW: Niko Dimitrakos
Age: 27
Niko Dimitrakos RW R OK 75 72 73 72 74 69 71 69 66 70 68 64 61 74


The most exciting element of this line is superstar-in-the-making Rick Nash. Not quite ready for prime time but as good a third liner as you'll find anywhere he adds a good offensive dimension to the line. Kilger is decetn all around and can use his power to maintain position in fron to the net. Dimitrakos has decent speed and likes to bang. Both Kilger and Dimitrakos could go before the season begins if rough and tumble banging forwards became available.

Fourth Line

LW: Peter Polcik - Photo Unavailable

Age: 22

Peter Polcik LW L OK 68 64 79 71 80 68 70 65 73 75 74 46 55 75

C:Toby Peterson (HO)

Age: 27

Toby Peterson C L OK HO 70 72 72 80 80 75 73 69 70 58 69 68 64 74

Dan LaCouture

Age: 28

Dan LaCouture RW L OK 75 66 75 71 75 48 63 61 68 67 65 61 53 71

The Rangers made an astute signing in Lacouture. By picking this banger off the unassinged list they have a player who can play on the 3rd or 4th line and has a good amount of grit. They need to get Peterson under contract or look elsewhere. At only 22 Polcik is an exciting player and will be a key factor on this team for the next decade.

The Rangers depth on left wing gives them quality players on every line. They're reminiscent of the NHL's Ottawa Senators a few years back in that they're stacked on the wing and weak at centre. Perhaps they could use a bit more grit on the third and 4th lines but this core group of forwards are the cornerstones of a future championship team.

Capitals Add 2 Free Agents

The Washington Capitals announced the signing of two free agents today. Alex Henry and Daniel Tjarnqvist will join the club after agreeing to terms. Both men signed two-year deals worth $300,000 per year with $250,001 signing bonuses.

Henry, 26, is a sturdy blueliner who joins the team from the Boston Bruins. He's very strong with good durability, but he needs to work on his discipline. He checks in at 6-5 and 220 pounds and can really play the body and clear the front of the net. In 50 games last season at the Pro level, Henry scored two goals and added seven assists. He also had 64 hits and 204 PIMs. Henry will join the farm club for Washington and look to work hard and make the Pro squad in the future.

Tjarnqvist, 26, is a strong defender with good durability and excellent discipline. He has a lot of work to do before he makes it to the Pro rankgs, but the scouts see some good hidden potential in Daniel.

A bid for the hulking Matt Walker was unsuccessful as the defender signed with the Vancouver Canucks for $315,000 per year with a $260,000 signing bonus.

More moves may be in the works, only time will tell...