Washington Caps Coach: New roster additions fan hopes for playoff breakthrough

Fans of the Washington Capitals, frustrated in recent years over the team’s failure to advance beyond the early rounds of the National Hockey League playoffs, can hope for better things during the 2015-2016 season, Coach Barry Trotz intimated during a National Press Club luncheon speech July 8.

Although stopping short of predicting outright improvement over the 2014-15 squad, which lost to he New York Rangers in the second round of the playoffs after finishing second in the regular-season standings, Trotz said the team is “moving in the right direction” toward its ultimate goal –- winning the Stanley Cup, the NHL’s iconic championship trophy.

“We want to be the gold standard of the National Hockey League,” said Trotz, who is entering his second year as Capitals’ coach after 15 successful seasons in the same capacity with the Nashville Predators.

“We’re getting close.”

Among reasons for his optimism, Trotz cited the recent off-season acquisitions of wingers T.J. Oshie from the St. Louis Blues and Justin Williams from the Los Angeles Kings. Oshie, the hero of the U.S. Olympic team last year in Sochi, Russia, has scored at least 50 points in three NHL seasons. Williams has been a member of three Stanley Cup-winning teams, most recently with the Kings.

Thanks to the new blood, “we will not be as scared of Game 7,” the coach observed -- a reference to the team’s repeated failures to win the final games of their best-of-seven playoff series. Last spring the Caps blew a three-games-to-one lead in losing to the Rangers.

Addition of Oshie and Williams may mean the Caps will “be a little bit lighter” in physical size next year, Trotz acknowledged. “But Oshie is competitive –- he will put his nose in there,” Trotz said. “The same with Justin Williams.”

Despite gaining Oshie and Williams, the Caps also in recent days have suffered roster subtractions. Gone via free agency –- which Trotz called “a reality of the salary cap era” – are veteran defenseman Mike Green, a fan favorite, and forward Joel Ward. Also departed is forward Troy Brouwer, traded to the Blues in the Oshie deal.

To help replace the departees, the Capitals will rely partly on upcoming young talent. “We’ve got people coming down the pike,” Trotz said, noting that “in the salary-cap era, everything is about developing people."

As for Green: “You cannot replace Mike Green,” said Trotz. “But, collectively, we can fill the gap.”

Asked in the Q&A session about his relationship with the team’s superstar and captain Alex Ovechkin, the league’s three-time Most Valuable Player, Trotz praised him for “buying into” the coach’s urging to improve his defense. Although Ovechkin has “won every award possible individually,” Trotz said, “you talk to him and there’s only one trophy he wants to win. It’s the same one I want” –- obviously referring to the Stanley Cup.

In response to another question, Trotz said that center Nicklas Backstrom, another team star, is “on schedule” in recovering from post-season hip surgery, but may not be able to start the season. Trotz also praised goaltending coach for Mitch Korn for his role in last season’s notable improvement in the performance of goalie Braden Holtby.