CAPS season starts tonight

It's been a VERY long offseason for the Caps. Having come off a season with such high expectations and then winning the Presidents' Cup as the top points team in the league only to be ousted in the first round of the playoffs against the Canadiens, there should be a chip on every Cap player going into the season. Hopefully we learned from last year and are better for it.

It's interesting because the Southeast division is still pretty weak outside of the Caps so going through the regular season is almost a formality. There is no question we will get to the playoffs. The only question is what seed but the real question is what will be do once we get to the playoffs. The Caps are still a pretty young team but they have guys that have been part of the team and played together for a few years now. This is the year to make that run.

Here are a couple of keys to the season:

1. Goaltending. Theodore is gone so the Caps will be going with Varly and Neuvirth. Both are very talented but both are young so there is no real veteran presence. The Caps did bring in Danny Sabourin from Boston but I am comfortable with Varly and Neuvirth. As mentioned, they are young but they are talented and they have been with the Caps for a few years so they know the ropes. Also, Neuvirth has won multiple championships with the Hershey Bears so he has been part of a championship team. Also, it is a young team so these guys fit in pretty well. It would be different if the team was made up of older vets but they fit in perfectly with this group.

2. Ovie. He is going to get his no question. He seems to have really stepped up as captain and you have to love his passion for the game. He seems equally happy with his teammate scoring as he is with his own goal. Look forward to seeing Ovie capture his third league MVP trophy this year.

3. D.J. King. Much needed acquisition. He will bring a toughness the Caps were lacking last year. Two years ago we had Brashear but he signed with the Rangers last year and we didn't have that tough guy that we needed last year. Bradley tried to fit the role but he isn't really cut out for that so look for D.J. King this year to get in plenty of scrums.

4. Second tier guys. Guys like Fehr and Fleischmann had solid years last year but they need to step up their games and not rely on Ovie, Backstrom, and Semin to be the only scorers. Look for one or both of these guys to have a bigger impact this year.

5. Semin. This guy needs to step up. He had a good regular season but, as always, disappeared in the playoffs. He needs to shake off his performance at the end of the season last year and play with an attitude as opposed to pressing. He is a real talent and needs to show it.

6. John Carlson. This first rounder showed a taste of what he is capable of towards the end of last year but it's time for him to take that next step. He could be a Mike Green type. Maybe not as skilled skating with the puck but certainly a threat on the blue line.

7. Coaching. These players are comfortable playing for Boudreau and really seem to respond to him. However, he is in the very fortunate position of having one of the most talented and young teams in the league so the expectation has to be winning the Cup. We bowed out early last season and another season like that cannot be tolerated. Again, the expectation has to be the Finals and anything short, it may be time for change because this team is too good now and we can't allow the window to close.

It's been a long offseason for players and fans alike and it's great to get the season back underway. Tonight it's the Thrashers and it would be great to get started off on the right foot with a dominating win.

LET'S GO CAPS!!!