Is Alex Ovechkin capable of leading the Washington Capitals to a Stanley Cup birth? Will the additions this offseason help improve the hockey culture in DC? Will the Capitals finally get over the hump that is the New York Rangers in the playoffs?
Those are just some of the questions posed to a Washington Capitals team that have been searching for an identity the past decade. And it still continues.
This offseason, the Capitals made significant changes to both management and on-ice personnel.  Let-go by Capitals management were former Rangers player George McPhee and former Capitals great Adam Oates.
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To change the direction of the team, former Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz was brought in, fired by his former team after missing the playoffs the past two years. The longest tenured coach at the time, 15 years to be exact with the Predators, Trotz will bring a different mindset to the rink. His defensive-style coaching should lift an under-achieving Capitals team that has been having a difficult time playing consistently.
On the ice, the team made a big splash by signing two former Pittsburgh Penguins. Veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik and breakout star from last season Matt Niskanen come in to assist with the transition. Both were signed to multi-year contracts to stay with the Capitals.
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Niskanen is set to earn $5.75 million over the next seven years. A handsome pay raise from the $2.3 million per year he was earning with the Penguins. This past season, he recorded 46 points (10 goals, 41 assists). He ranked in the top 10 of NHL players with a +/- rating of 33. However, last season was his highest point total in the NHL. His previous six years in the league, he has only broken 20 points on one other occasion (21 points with the 2011-2012 Penguins) and 30 points once (35 points with the 2008-2009 Dallas Stars).
10-year veteran Brooks Oprik was signed to a five-year deal, worth $27.5 million. That comes out to an annual cap hit of $5.5 million. Again, a handsome $1.8 million raise compared to his earnings last year with Pittsburgh.  However, the signing comes as a surprise to most NHL fans. He certainly wasn’t signed for his offensive abilities. Last season, Orpik had 13 points (2 goals, 13 assists) with goal differential of -3. He was a distant 33 total points and -36 rating last year to the Penguins offensive leader for defensemen, Matt Niskanen. However, Orpik did lead the team in hits last year with 221. However, he is not known as an offensive threat. Throughout his career, he has scored no more than 25 points in a single season.  In addition, his playoff performances are not significant. In 92 playoff appearances with the Penguins, he has a total of 15 points (2 goals, thirteen assists). But, the former first rounder will provide the Capitals with a hard hitting, stay-at-home defenseman. His presence on the ice will cause forwards to think twice about skating in his direction. Hopefully, his defensive abilities will justify his salary for the Capitals.
In addition to these two players, the team added depth at the goalie position by signing former Carolina Hurricanes Justin Peters through free agency. It appears he will be the backup to Braden Holtby. This should provide stability for Holtby, as he will not have to worry about looking over his shoulder or competing for the starting job.
Notable subtractions from last year’s team were Mikhail Grabovski and Jaroslav Halak. Both are New York Islanders. Grabovski signed with the Islanders, after spending one year with the Capitals. Halak had his rights traded to the same team in May 2014. With this move, it appears that Capitals management wants to eliminate any controversies as to who the starting goalie should be, as in seasons past.
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Ultimately, the team’s success will come down to one man, Alex Ovechkin. The prolific scorer has been the face of the Capitals franchise, since his rookie year. Heading into his ninth NHL season, the team’s captain is looking to get the organization back in to the playoff picture. Last season, the team missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Despite his 51 goals, Ovechkin could not will his team into the postseason. This year may provide something different. A new system, new coach, new management, new players, all of these factors may help the team to success. However, much will be depend on Ovechkin and how he performs.
So what does all of this mean to the defending Eastern Conference Champion New York Rangers? It means, their job got a little tougher. Over the years, the Capitals and Rangers rivalry has been brewing. Last season, the two teams played head-to head four times. In those meeting, the series was split, with each team winning twice. But, it’s been the playoffs that have caused this matchup to elevate. Not quite as high as against the Philadelphia Flyers or New Jersey Devils battles, but it’s reaching those heights. Aside from last year, the Rangers have posed a stumbling block to the Capitals’ postseason progress the past two seasons. Both times, the series has gone the full seven games with the Rangers coming out on top.
Puck Prose
With the additions to the Capitals team this offseason, they could pose a threat to the Blueshirts. With what appears to be a commitment to a more defensive-style, puck possession brand of hockey, the Capitals will be striving to return to playoff success. However, the team must still adjust to the changes. But you don’t have to look too far for an example of adjusting to changes. The New York Rangers are that example and look how far they got last season.
Season-series predictions: For the 2014-2015 NHL season, the Rangers and Capitals will play four times head-to-head, splitting the series with two games in each team’s home arena.
Game One- Tuesday December 23 at Madison Square Garden
Game Two- Wednesday, March 11 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC
Game Three- Sunday, March 29 at Madison Square Garden
Game Four- Saturday, April 11 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC
The last game of the season will end with the two playing Washington, D.C. Rangers win the season series, 3-1.