Rink Roundtable: Bring on the 2021 Season
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Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images
And we’re back! A new hockey season is always full of uncertainty - but this year will be unlike any other. So what lies ahead for the Caps over the next 56 games? We offer up some thoughts in our latest Rink Roundtable.
Q1. What do you see as the Caps’ biggest strength and biggest weakness heading into the season?
Peerless: The biggest strength might also be their biggest weakness: Experience, and the flip side, age. In a league notorious for turnover, the core of the team – Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and John Carlson – all dressed for 77 or more games in 2010-11. As far back as 2015-16, Ovechkin, Backstrom, Carlson, Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie, Dmitry Orlov, and Tom Wilson all dressed for 75 or more games with the exception of Carlson (56 games, the rest missed to injury). There’s a familiarity and a history (and a championship) in that room.
Quick / Grosenick
Due to those unavailable, the lines were shuffled in the bottom half of the lineup, while some players rose up and could assume larger roles if in fact other players are not able to play on Thursday. Frk’s absence will open up one roster spot regardless.
McLellan, at this time, was unable to commit to anything further regarding the opening-night roster. That information is expected to come later this week.
3 Key Takeaways
The New Guys
As noted above, three players from the World Junior Championships were cleared to join the Kings roster, as they skated for the first time with the group today. Quinton Byfield, Arthur Kaliyev and Tobias Bjornfot each took part in their first camp skate of 2020, and for Byfield his first-ever Kings practice.
Capitals Sign Zdeno Chara
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Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Zdeno Chara to a one-year $795,000 contract. THN’s Ken Campbell was first to report the news:
I ve been told that Zdeno Chara, shockingly, just signed with the Washington Capitals. Ken Campbell (@THNKenCampbell) December 30, 2020
The official announcement from the Caps came 27 minutes later:
OFFICIAL! BIG Z TO DC!
The Washington Capitals have agreed to terms with defenseman Zdeno Chara to a one-year, $795,000 contract.
Here is Washington’s full statement on the signing:
The Washington Capitals have agreed to terms with defenseman Zdeno Chara to a one-year, $795,000 contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Washington inks veteran free agent blueliner to a one-year deal for 2020-21 by Mike Vogel @VogsCaps / washingtoncaps.com
Just after the Christmas holiday, the Caps announced that veteran goaltender Craig Anderson would be joining the team on a professional tryout agreement basis. The 39-year-old netminder instantly became the oldest player on Washington s training camp roster, but he s the oldest no longer.
On Wednesday, the Caps announced the signing of unrestricted free agent defenseman Zdeno Chara to a one-year contract for $795,000. Chara, drafted in the third round (No. 56 overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, turns 44 in March, and he ll proceed directly into the Hockey Hall of Fame three years after the conclusion of his playing career.