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Fehr's Back, Backstrom's A-OK & A Rookie Surprises |
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Caps Welcome Back Eric Fehr
The Capitals announced a signing yesterday as they opened up training camp, bringing back former 2003 18th overall pick, Eric Fehr, on a one-year $600k deal.
Though this could be considered as a depth signing for the Caps, Fehr is much more than that for this organization as he returns "home," having spent 230 of his 265 NHL games in a Capitals jersey.
Returning to DC with him is his 6'4 frame and his occasional ability to put the puck in the net.
Don't look for him to be an impact player, but don't rule that out either as Fehr has always been a step or two away from seeing his game break wide open. As a depth winger, he will be an ideal fit in a lineup that could use a decently versatile player of his nature on the bottom two lines.
It should be interesting to see how Oates uses the big bodies on this team, including Fehr. He won't have a shortage of size, and, more importantly, with that glut of size, his team doesn't exactly suffer in the speed department as Aqshington's big boys can fly.
Fehr is not stranger to the speed in DC and, having some himself, will find his rhythm as a Capital in short order.
Backstrom: Excited to be Back
Despite concern over the weekend leading up to Capitals training camp that first line center, Nicklas Backstrom, was seeing a specialist in relation to a neck injury he suffered in his final game in the KHL.
While speculation floated around that the reason he was seeing a specialist was because there was concern that it had triggered concussion related issues, it was clear yesterday when #19 took to the ice that he was good to go.
Putting further fears to rest, he tweeted late yesterday that he was happy to be back in DC and looking forward to rocking the red, certainly a welcome relief for the fans that have been following his return to the Caps rather closely.
Looking ahead, now that he is healthy and raring to go, the question becomes whether or not he and Alex Ovechkin are ready to dominate in the NHL as they had in the KHL?
I'd wager they will do just fine.
Wilson Steps Up
The only Junior invite to Caps camp, Tom Wilson, is fitting right in.
A big body with no fear of mixing it up (as his track record suggests), Wilson has been playing terrific hockey in Plymouth, picking up 13 goals and 23 assists in 31 games. Though he was cut from Team Canada this past December, his hard work has payed off in that it caught the Caps attention.
But the question becomes, where does he fit in on this Caps club?
With training camp and a potential 5 game tryout, it would seem that both Wilson and the Caps are set to find out.
What's most interesting is how impressed the Caps seem to be in his potential. Already towering over opponents at 6'4, while weighing in at 210lbs., there is no hiding that Wilson has the size and strength to fit right into NHL play, but as an 18 year old, you'd have to think the only thing holding him back will be experience and maturity.
Yet, as both coach and GM pointed out, by having Wilson in camp (whether he sticks or not), the Caps are doing their part for giving Wilson the jump start on building those intangibles.
Whatever the case may be, he is definitely one to keep an eye on in camp this week.
Odds & Ends
The Caps assigned Tom Poti to a conditioning stint with the Hershey Bears. Poti, who has basically missed the last three seasons, has been valiantly fighting his way back to NHL shape though his assignment suggests that the Caps do not likely have him in their immediate plans.
Regardless, if he can get his game back with the Bears, he could be a huge depth asset in a shortened season.
Speaking of health, it would appear that both Brooks Laich and Dmitri Orlov will miss the start of the season as they are both dealing with nagging groin injuries. Their timetable isn't set as of yet, but I doubt both will miss much time.
That's all for today, unless mentioning that Evgeny Kuznetsov picked up 4 goals in the KHL all star game is something that floats your boat?
Have a good Monday.
www.twitter.com/StevenHindle
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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