Complete 2010 Projections
PROJECTED 2010 SEASON STATS
| 1. Alex Ovechkin, Was LW | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |   | 2009 Statistics | | 56 | 54 | 8 | 72 | 19 | 22:59 | | 2010 Projections | | 61 | 49 | 13 | 57 | 18 | 24:24 | | 2010 Outlook: Ummm ...Two straight Hart Trophies. Two straight Maurice Richard Trophies. Two straight Lester B. Pearson Trophies. An average of 55 goals and 105 points per season for his four-year career. An enormous advantage in your fantasy league's shots-on-goal category. Just some of the things Ovechkin brings to the table. Consider that he may lead the league in goals, points, shots and power-play goals -- four of the seven skater categories in ESPN standard leagues. How can you not pick him first overall? |
| 2. Mike Green, Was D | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 31 | 42 | 24 | 68 | 18 | 25:46 | | 2010 Projections | | 25 | 35 | 17 | 56 | 13 | 27:02 | | 2010 Outlook: While maintaining a ridiculous goal-scoring pace for most of the season, Green had fans conjuring up images of Paul Coffey's 48-goal season when he went on a streak in early February with 10 goals in eight games. Finishing with 31 goals, Green has been a fantasy standout since coach Bruce Boudreau took over the Capitals partway through the 2007-08 season and gave him permission to join the rush whenever he judged it appropriate. Green has been nursing a shoulder injury since the playoffs last season, but has said it will heal without surgery in time for training camp. Obviously watch his status as draft day approaches, but with no prior health concerns, Green is a safe pick as a top defenseman. |
| 3. Nicklas Backstrom, Was C | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 22 | 66 | 16 | 46 | 14 | 19:56 | | 2010 Projections | | 23 | 67 | 15 | 39 | 10 | 19:38 | | 2010 Outlook: With a forecast of finishing with 90 points, you might think we would have Backstrom higher on this list. However, as a set-up man, Backstrom is wanting in power-play goals and shots on goal. He also doesn't take many penalties, causing him to lose value in three of the seven standard categories. Backstrom helps make Alexander Ovechkin the great player he is, but he won't be nearly as valuable to ESPN owners this coming season. Consider him among the lower third of the top 30 forwards. |
| 4. Mike Knuble, Was RW | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 27 | 20 | 5 | 62 | 11 | 18:09 | | 2010 Projections | | 34 | 34 | 12 | 58 | 12 | 20:48 | | 2010 Outlook: It may seem odd to call for a career year for a 12-year NHL veteran on the wrong side of 35, but Knuble should have his best NHL season ever playing wingman to the Alexander Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom show. He has a bruising presence in front of the net as well, which should make him a regular on the Capitals' first power-play unit. Knuble will adequately fill the void left by Viktor Kozlov, both for the Capitals and for fantasy owners. |
| 5. Alexander Semin, Was LW, RW | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 34 | 45 | 25 | 77 | 8 | 19:14 | | 2010 Projections | | 34 | 35 | 12 | 68 | 8 | 20:30 | | 2010 Outlook: Semin will reward those who draft him with more points than games played, but don't be surprised if his games played are again limited by the nagging injuries that force him to miss 20 or so games per season. Even though he doesn't see a heck of a lot of ice time with Alexander Ovechkin, this Russian winger takes plenty advantage of the tools at his disposal on the Capitals' second line. He'd be a top-10 forward if he could stay on the ice for a full season, so know that there is some upside when you pick him in the third or fourth round. |
| 6. Semyon Varlamov, Was G | YEAR | | W | GAA | SV% |  | 2009 Statistics | | 4 | 2.37 | .918 | | 2010 Projections | | 32 | 2.36 | .914 | | 2010 Outlook: Jose Theodore is going to be getting big bucks to sit on the bench. Varlamov took over the starting job late in the season and played like a cucumber (as in, cool as a) through the two rounds Washington was in the playoffs. Varlamov was expected to eventually take the reins (which made Theodore's multiyear, multimillion dollar contract questionable to begin with), and it looks like the job is now his to lose. The Capitals are a good team to be in net for, and while we may have been a bit generous with his goals-against average, Varlamov's ratios will easily justify him as a No. 2 goaltender. |
| 7. Brooks Laich, Was C, LW | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 23 | 30 | -1 | 31 | 9 | 17:16 | | 2010 Projections | | 27 | 31 | 5 | 33 | 10 | 19:04 | | 2010 Outlook: With a cemented role as the centerman for Alexander Semin, Laich will have sneaky value this coming season. He managed 53 points last year, and we have him projected to do slightly better this season. There will likely be some power-play time available for him, as well, and if the team improves defensively, his value could rise even more. Be wary of the fact his partnership with Semin is what generates his value, and any sustained absence from Semin would do damage to Laich. |
| 8. Michal Neuvirth, Was G | YEAR | | W | GAA | SV% |  | 2009 Statistics | | 2 | 3.00 | .892 | | 2010 Projections | | 4 | 2.73 | .903 | | 2010 Outlook: Neuvirth is included in the rankings as a safety measure, with Semyon Varlamov still unproven and Jose Theodore sinking fast. We don't think Neuvirth will play into the Capitals' plans this season, but you need to be aware of him just in case. He was a stud in major-junior hockey, but due to an overcrowded system began last season in the ECHL. Before the end of the year he was starting for the Capitals' AHL affiliate in Hershey and won the Calder Cup Trophy with playoff MVP honors. He broke the AHL record for postseason goals-against average with a 1.92 mark. Washington is likely OK with giving Neuvirth another spin through the AHL, but they'll have some tough decisions next year with Varlamov and Neuvirth. |
| 9. Jose Theodore, Was G | YEAR | | W | GAA | SV% |  | 2009 Statistics | | 32 | 2.87 | .900 | | 2010 Projections | | 10 | 2.84 | .898 | | 2010 Outlook: Theodore couldn't parlay some mild success at the end of 2007-08 with Colorado into his new job with the Capitals, and he wasn't in the running to start by the time the playoffs rolled around. Semyon Varlamov will likely nail down the starter's role, and Michal Neuvirth is around to mount a strong challenge if Varlamov falters. |
| 10. Matt Bradley, Was RW | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 5 | 6 | -1 | 59 | 0 | 10:36 | | 2010 Projections | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 11. Sergei Fedorov, Was C | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 11 | 22 | 4 | 50 | 2 | 16:30 | | 2010 Projections | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 12. Viktor Kozlov, Was C | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 13 | 28 | -9 | 16 | 2 | 15:39 | | 2010 Projections | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 13. Brendan Morrison, Was C | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 16 | 15 | 3 | 32 | 3 | 14:12 | | 2010 Projections | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 14. Michael Nylander, Was C | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 9 | 24 | 0 | 32 | 4 | 14:02 | | 2010 Projections | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 15. Tom Poti, Was D | YEAR | | G | A | +/- | PIM | PPG | ATOI |  | 2009 Statistics | | 3 | 10 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 21:11 | | 2010 Projections | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
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