Ovechkin - Johansson - Brouwer... intriguing...
Since Bruce Boudreau is always experimenting with line combinations, it might not last for too long, but it is intriguing...
Boudreau via Capitals Insider:
"It looked like there might be something there..."
Troy Brouwer's scouting report from SB Nation:
Assets
Has the combination of size and scoring upside that scouts drool over. Is a punishing body checker, but he can also play well without the puck.Flaws
Needs to work on his skating in order to maximize his scoring potential at the highest level. Must prove his junior numbers weren't a fluke.
What's up with his junior numbers? He holds a handful of AHL team records!
fantasyhockeyscouts.com:
...including most power play goals by a Rockford Ice Hog in a season (25) and goals during a regular season by a Norfolk Admiral (41).
Tarik El-Bashir, CI:
When Ovechkin and Brouwer skate together, it puts two of the NHL’s top-10 hitters from last season on the ice at the same time. Brouwer ranked fifth with 262 hits and Ovechkin was 10th with 241.
When I asked Boudreau the reasoning behind put two huge hitters on the same line, the coach said:
“Well, I mean, it’s to have two big hitters on the same line,” he said. “And not necessarily have Alex going do all the hitting and getting the puck [and having] somebody else to do it.”
Wow, Brouwer had more hits than Ovechkin? That's going to be interesting...
Update:
Joe Yerdon, ProHockeyTalk, NBC Sports:
Ward spent the last three seasons being a full-time player with the Nashville Predators as a grind line guy. Ward was able to make a big impression on the Preds and the rest of the world in the playoffs last season scoring seven goals and six assists in the Predators’ 12 games in the postseason.
7 goals and 6 assists in only 12 playoff games? Wow.
Update:
Stephen Whyno, TWT:
While the second group on the ice at Kettler skated hard, the early group got in a normal workout. That's some evidence - along with the players who were in the first group - that those guys are going to Chicago on Friday for the 8:30 game at United Center.Read more...
Here's your lines, with the interesting placement of Joel Ward with Alex Ovechkin:
Alex Ovechkin - Marcus Johansson - Joel Ward
...hmmm Ovi usually doesn't play on the road in preseason...
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At today's practice Joel Ward took his turn on the right side of the line with Ovie and MoJo. (see today's Capitals Insider). Coach BB said he knows who he'd like as RW but isn't saying who that is.
More good news from today's power play drills: Ovie on the half wall. Could it be true his days on the point on the PP are over???
About the heavy hitting...there is a fine line that can be crossed, and players should take note. What might have been legal--or overlooked before--will no longer be tolerated. NHL Senior VP for Player Safety Brendan Shanahan has not been reluctant to hand out suspensions in the preseason for violations of the new rewritten Rule 41.1 on boarding. IMO Shanahan won't hesitate to bring down any player, even a big name star, if he so much as sniffs at any violation of Rule 41.1.
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