Arlington, Virginia

As Washington Capitals training camp got underway yesterday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia, head coach Bruce Boudreau tirelessly addressed a myriad of topics, including goaltending and his expectations for the season. 

Boudreau assured the assembled throng that despite the disappointing end to last season, when his team faltered in Game 7 at home to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, there will not be any wholesale changes in his approach in either training camp or into the regular season.

“It’s an ‘if it ain’t broke’ type thing, but we want to get better. It’s my goal to push them from day one of camp, to be the best conditioned, hardest working team in the league and not be complacent with the fact that just because our players seem to get an awful lot of attention, they’re not out there (being) prima donnas,” said Boudreau.

“A lot of times what happens with teams, and I don’t think we are in that boat, is, they get to a certain point and they don’t make it, they don’t win the whole thing and then they fall back into the middle of the pack and they have to rebuild. I think we’re still on the upswing; and so we’re going to push and push them to be great and not complacent.” 

What may prove to be the most spirited battle, not only at training camp, but also in the regular season, figures to be in the crowded Capitals’ crease, where veteran Jose Theodore, and rookies Semyon Varlomov and Michal Neuvirth are competing for the coveted position of number one goaltender.

“It’s going to be fun, in the goaltending department, Theo is there, but he’s got these young kids breathing down his neck for time. Both Varlamov and Neuvirth are coming off tremendous years, and they want part of that (goaltending time in the NHL),” said Boudreau.

Boudreau also addressed the current glut on the Caps’ backline, where rookies Karl Alzner and John Carlson, both members of the Hershey Bears’ 2009 Calder Cup winning team, threaten to push the incumbent defensive veterans.

“I know a lot of NHL teams are say that they’ve got a lot of depth. I think we’ve got an abundance of depth. We’ve got at least 11 guys that have played, or that we think can play in the NHL today on defense. It’s going to be quite a battle to see who the seven or eight are…”, said Boudreau.

There can be no argument that Boudreau’s influence and winning ways have led to a turnaround in the Capitals fortune, as he has led his charges in both seasons behind the Washington bench to the Southeast Division title. 

Perhaps the player most qualified to comment on what has aided in Boudreau’s success at every level he has coached is David Steckel, who is entering his sixth consecutive season under Boudreau, playing in Manchester, Hershey, and now Washington under his leadership.

“He’s that same guy as he was that first season that I stepped on the ice with him in Manchester,” said Steckel.  “He hasn’t changed, which is perfect. He’s a great coach and a great person, and I’m happy that I get to play in the NHL with him as my coach.”