Capitals Slotted Third in Metro - Is a Playoff Push Coming?
AS ALEX OVECHKIN pursued Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record, his teammates rose to the occasion. The Capitals went from a wild-card team in their first season under Spencer Carbery to the top seed in the East in Year 2.
An aggressive 2024 off-season saw a third of the roster turned over, which led to a 20-point improvement - the third-largest jump across the league. The season ultimately ended with a second-round loss to Carolina, but Washington's on-the-fly retool is paying dividends. The Capitals were one of the NHL's oldest teams just a few years ago but have now integrated younger pieces throughout the roster. Much of the roster returns after marginal off-season changes. The Caps are built for a post-Ovechkin transition, but is there one more run with him in the lineup?
OFFENSE
Ovechkin garnered the headlines, but the No. 2 scoring team last season was balanced. Washington was the only team with seven 20-goal scorers and seven 50-point scorers. Aliaksei Protas emerged as a top-line fixture, breaking out for 30 goals despite limited power-play time. Protas, Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, Connor McMichael and Jakob Chychrun all had or tied career highs in goals, assists and points. Pierre-Luc Dubois embraced his opportunity on the second line and had a career-best 66 points. Six defensemen reached the 20-point mark - a first in franchise history. However, despite the production in the regular season, the Capitals were limited to just seven goals in their five-game series against Carolina.
DEFENSE
The top six return on the blueline - a unit that tied for eighth in goals against per game (2.79) last season and missed just 25 games combined. The run of good health ended when Martin Fehervary tore his meniscus and was lost for the playoffs. Fehervary frequently partnered with Matt Roy as a shutdown pair. Roy and Chychrun fit in seamlessly in their first year in Washington. John Carlson logged big minutes again, while Rasmus Sandin and Trevor van Riemsdyk each played all 82 games.
Declan Chisholm comes over from Minnesota as the seventh defender. Nic Dowd will be heavily leaned on as a shutdown center. Dowd led Caps forwards in D-zone starts (30.8 percent of shifts), while still collecting 27 points.
GOALTENDING
After years of passable goaltending following Braden Holtby's departure, the Capitals finally hit on the position last season. Logan Thompson, acquired from Vegas, emerged as Washington's No. 1 with a 31-6-6 record, a 2.49 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Charlie Lindgren returns as a trusted backup, one who can carry the load if needed.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Despite Washington's offensive prowess last season, the inconsistent power play tied for 13th overall.
Ovechkin led the team with 14 PP goals, though the Capitals force-fed him at times. As lethal as Ovechkin's one-timer can be from his office, the Caps struggled with puck recoveries. Chychrun was effective playing opposite Ovechkin on the half-wall, with Carlson up top. Washington tied for fourth on the penalty kill. Fehervary and Dowd lead the unit, while Protas and Wilson are threats to create shorthanded.
INTANGIBLES
Ovechkin's chase of Gretzky's record was a real motivator for the team. The buzz was palpable, and the team fed off the playoff-like atmosphere as the record neared. With the chase complete, could a potential final NHL campaign for 'The Great 8' have a similar impact? With Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie officially moving on and Ovechkin and Carlson entering the final year of their contracts, Washington's Cup core is dwindling. Do the remaining vets have one more run in them?
Aaron Rodgers' debut saved a Steelers' recent draft pick from being put under a microscope for his Week 1 performance
Aaron Rodgers was the catalyst behind the Pittsburgh Steelers' comeback win in Week 1. It was his MVP-like performance along with Chris Boswell's leg that willed the Steelers to victory. But he is no longer the rising tide that lifts all boats.
He can be a distributor whose decision-making, ball placement, and experience allow the Steelers' offense to succeed. But at almost 42 years old, he's obviously not as spry as he once was. Which makes him more of a sitting duck in the pocket, and puts pressure on his tackles to succeed.
Well, if the Pittsburgh Steelers lost that game and Aaron Rodgers didn't put up those numbers, LT Broderick Jones would be facing a lot of heat right now. Because when you see what his tape looked like, it's far from pretty.
Broderick Jones struggles mightily in Week 1
Watching the game live, I thought it was clear that Jones was struggling. He looked out of sorts, but I thought a lot of his struggles came down to what was happening with the coverage. That perhaps Rodgers was holding onto the ball for a tad too long.
That couldn't have been further from the truth.
When you turn on the tape, you see a player who struggled with power, with getting his hands up, with getting his shoulders square to the pass rusher. Jones finished the game with four pressures allowed and three sacks allowed, earning 54.5 grade per PFF, though the grade should be taken with a grain of salt.
Part of me says be patient, give him time and let's not forget this was his first real experinece at LT in the NFL.
The other part of me says, let's get the ball rolling here.
I know he was a LT with the Georgia Bulldogs and I know he's played two years in Pittsburgh. But all those habits he learned at RT, he has to unlearn them now at LT. All of the work he needed coming out of Georgia to be a stable left tackle, well that timeline is just starting.
And to be quite honest with you, the Steelers only have themselves to blame for that.
