2008-2009 team record: 50-24-8 (2nd east)
2008-2009 total team goals: 268 (3rd)
2008-2009 total team assists: 449 (5th)
2008-2009 total goals allowed: 240 (19th tied)
Projected depth lineup (players in bold are players projected)
LW – Alex Ovechkin C – Nicklas Backstrom RW – Alex Semin
LW – Brooks Laich C – Michael Nylander RW – Mike Knuble
LW – Tomas Fleischmann C – Brendan Morrison RW – Chris Clark
LW – Boyd Gordon C – Dave Steckel RW – Eric Fehr
D – Mike Green D – Jeff Schultz
D – Tom Poti D – Milan Jurcina
D – Brian Pothier D – Shaone Morrison
G – Simeon Varlamov
G – Jose Theodore
All players projected through at least 75 games played (except goalies)
Alexander Ovechkin 2008-2009 stats: GP 79, Goals 56, Assists 54, Pts 110
2009-2010 projected stats: Goals 54, Assists 47, Pts 101 (A+)
Nicklas Backstrom 2008-2009 stats: GP 82, Goals 22, Assists 66, Pts 88
2009-2010 projected stats: Goals 23, Assists 70, Pts 93 (A+)
Alexander Semin 2008-2009 stats: GP 62, Goals 34, Assists 45, Pts 79
2009-2010 projected stats: Goals 38, Assists 42, Pts 80 (A)
Brooks Laich 2008-2009 stats: GP 82, Goals 23, Assists 30, Pts 53
2009-2010 projected stats: Goals 21, Assists 27, Pts 48 (C+)
Mike Knuble 2008-2009 stats: GP 82, Goals 27, Assists 20, Pts 47
2009-2010 projected stats: Goals 30, Assists 26, Pts 56 (C+)
Mike Green 2008-2009 stats: GP 68, Goals 31, Assists 42, Pts 73
2009-2010 projected stats: Goals 25, Assists 50, Pts 75 (A+)
Semyon Varlamov 08-09 stats: GP 6, Wins 4, Sv% .918, GAA 2.37, SO 0
2009-2010 projected stats: Wins 32, Sv% .910, GAA 2.51, SO 3 (B)
Sleeper watch – Jeff Schultz
It’s about time one of the younger Washington defenseman steps up and starts taking advantage of this potent offense. I think Karl Alzner is still a year or two away, so my money is on Jeff Schultz, who is another one of the promising young Washington defenders who showed it last season. Hunch pick.
