Capitals season preview: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov continue to drive offense

The 2022-23 NHL season starts Oct. 7. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lineup for each of the 32 teams. Today, the Washington Capitals.

Coach: Peter Laviolette (third season)
Last season: 44-26-12, fourth place in Metropolitan Division; lost to Florida Panthers in Eastern Conference First Round

3 KEYS

1. Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov
Ovechkin and Kuznetsov were the driving forces behind the Capitals' 17-5-6 start last season while Nicklas Backstrom was out with a left hip injury. Ovechkin had 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists) and Kuznetsov had 30 (nine goals, 21 assists) during those 28 games. The Capitals will need similar production from them to begin this season with Backstrom out indefinitely following resurfacing surgery on his left hip and forward Tom Wilson expected to be out until at least December after having surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The acquisitions of forward Connor Brown (trade with the Ottawa Senators) and Dylan Strome (signed one-year, $3.5 million contract) will help fill the void, but Ovechkin and Kuznetsov will have to lead the way again.
2. Goaltending stability
Seeking more consistency in net, the Capitals signed Darcy Kuemper (five years, $5.25 million average annual value) and Charlie Lindgren (three years, $1.1 million AAV) to replace Ilya Samsonov (signed with Toronto Maple Leafs) and Vitek Vanecek (traded to New Jersey Devils). Kuemper, who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche last season, gives Washington the established No. 1 goalie it wanted. The 32-year-old will likely have a similar workload to last season when he played an NHL career-high 57 games (all starts) and tied for fourth in the League in wins (37-12-4) and shutouts (five), was fifth in save percentage (.921) and 11th in goals-against average (2.54).
3. Maintain health
Already missing Backstrom, Wilson and Carl Hagelin (lower body, eye), Washington can't afford any other lengthy absences. With an aging core that includes forwards Ovechkin, 37, T.J. Oshie, 35, and Lars Eller, 33, and defensemen John Carlson 32, Nick Jensen, 32, and Dmitry Orlov, 31, budgeting rest to keep those players healthy over the long season will be important. Oshie, who had offseason surgery to repair a core injury, was limited to 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 44 regular-season games last season by injuries and illness but demonstrated his value by scoring six goals in six games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut
Although most of the roster spots are set, there are some competitions for lineup positions, including between Strome and Connor McMichael for the second-line center vacancy created by Backstrom's absence. Brown is getting the first look at Wilson's spot at right wing on the top line with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. Anthony Mantha and Oshie are other options. Rookie
Lucas Johansen
is battling incumbent Matt Irwin and newcomer Gabriel Carlsson (signed a one-year, two-way contract) for the extra defenseman spot. There is a similar competition between Henrik Borgstrom (signed a one-year, two-way contract),
Brett Leason
, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Joe Snively and
Beck Malenstyn
for the extra forward spot. Forwards Hendrix Lapierre and
Aliaksei Protas
will also get long looks but might be better served starting the season in the American Hockey League if not playing a regular NHL role.
Most intriguing addition
Strome became an unrestricted free agent after he wasn't given a qualifying offer by the Chicago Blackhawks, despite having 48 points and an NHL career-high 22 goals in 69 games last season. Strome was a healthy scratch for 13 of Chicago's first 39 games last season. That shouldn't be an issue with Washington with Backstrom and Wilson out. It will be interesting to see what Strome can do with a chance to play regularly on the Capitals' top two lines and on the power play, where he had 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) last season.
Biggest potential surprise
Lapierre, who was selected No. 22 in the 2020 NHL Draft, was the biggest surprise of training camp last season, making the opening-night roster and scoring one goal in six NHL games before being sent to Acadie-Bathurst of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. McMichael's development last season and the addition of Strome will make it more difficult for Lapierre to make the team this season, but the 20-year-old is determined to prove himself again after he had 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) in 40 games with Acadie-Bathurst.
Ready to break through
McMichael has a chance to take the next step after he had 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) and averaged 10:28 in ice time in 68 games as an NHL rookie last season. That season of experience and an offseason to get stronger will help the 21-year-old, who was the No. 25 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. McMichael appears more comfortable at center but could shift to wing if Strome fits better at second-line center.
Fantasy sleeper
McMichael, C/LW (undrafted on average in fantasy) - Although his production was limited as a rookie last season because he had the Capitals' lowest average ice time (10:28; minimum 40 games-), McMichael is a fantasy breakout candidate this season. He has a chance to compete with Strome and Lapierre for the No. 2 center job in the absence of the veteran Backstrom, who is out long-term following hip surgery. - Anna Dua

Projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Connor Brown
Dylan Strome -- Connor McMichael -- Anthony Mantha
Marcus Johansson -- Lars Eller -- T.J. Oshie
Conor Sheary -- Nic Dowd -- Garnet Hathaway
Martin Fehervary -- John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov -- Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Injured:Nicklas Backstrom (hip), Tom Wilson (knee), Carl Hagelin (lower body, eye)