The Capitals haven't had a consistent roster all year and it doesn't look as if they will have one anytime soon.
With Captain Chris Clark on the injured reserve and the trade deadline approaching the Caps are looking to fill some important holes. The biggest hole the team needs to fill is on the blue line. The front office and General Manager George McPhee have already made some moves to fill those holes but more needs to be done.
Special teams have been a problem for the team all year. Their penalty kill ranks in the lower half of the league. In the National Hockey League defense is just as important as offense especially on special teams. Just like in every other sport it is defense that wins championships.
By calling up Karl Alzner and signing Staffan Kronwall, the team has bolstered their blue line but both are new to the system. While coaching philosophies don't vary much from team to team, there is an adjustment period coming to a new franchise. With 28 games already under his belt, it won't take to much time for Alzner to get acclimated again, but with Kronwall not having much NHL experience it could take a while for him to get comfortable.
These two accomplish the task of improving the blue line but only time will tell if they make an impact. The problem with trades and pick-ups is that you will never know how they fit until they are here. There is great risk in trading at the deadline but at the same time there can be great reward.
Every year when the trade deadline rolls around, commentators always say teams need to get bigger on the blue line. It seems to be the answer to everything in the NHL if you're not winning. There are serious flaws in this theory however, since it takes more than big players to have a good defense.
To have a good defense, teams have to do three things well. They have to dive into corners, move the puck out well and have good goaltending. Even though the Caps dive into corners for the puck, they sometimes struggle to move the puck and often have lack luster goaltending. They need two of the three to improve the special teams.
Jose Theodore was the team's big pick up in the off-season. He started off the season shaky but has been solid as of late. Even with his improved play though Theodore is still the biggest question mark on the roster. He has shown to collapse in the playoffs and the Capitals don't want that to affect their cup run.
The Caps pulled off a big goalie signing last year at the deadline and there were already talks of them seeking out another goalie earlier in the season. It would be smart for the team to get a solid number two not only because of Jose's play but also because he can't play every game from here on out. With Brent Johnson sidelined with a hip, the Caps have no proven No. 2.
If McPhee decides he wants to make a move he can kill two birds with one stone. If the team makes a trade it will most likely include has-been center Michael Nylander. Nylander has been less than productive this year and takes up a big chunk of the salary cap. Even though Nylander isn't doing what the Capitals want it doesn't mean he can't help another bubble team in the NHL.
If the season ended today the Capitals would be the second seed in playoffs. With a weak division and a home heavy schedule, the Capitals don't look to be slipping out of their winning ways any time soon. While a trade isn't necessary for the team to continue their success it couldn't hurt once we look towards the playoffs.
You can reach this columnist at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.
