The Overhaul

Going into the week before the 2011 NHL Trade Deadline, Caps fans looked at the team in 1 of 2 ways. Either they thought the roster was just fine and it was simply an change of attitude that was needed, or they thought that the Caps were missing something. I guess I fell in the latter of the two categories but was quite surprised of the 3 moves that the Caps pulled off in the past week.

Marco Sturm could turn out to be quite the steal though I'm less inclined to think that. When he has been healthy he has been able to chip in a goal every 3-4 games. Unfortunately health has been a big question mark for him. He has only played 17 games this year due to a nagging knee injury. If he can battle through that then he has a good amount of experience to add to the second line. I would have to say he is a rental for sure but he should still be good for around 6/7 goals if he can stay healthy.

Waiving DJ King is something that makes me a little angry. This is only because it just makes losing Della-Rovere so much worse.

The Arnott/Steckel trade could end up being as great as the Fedorov/Ruth deal a few years back. Arnott definitley gives us the 2C we have been looking for with a ton of playoff experience and success. While I do not expect him to have the same effect on Semin as Fedorov, I do expect for him to clear up space for Semin to do what he does best.

It does suck to see a heart and soul guy like Steckel go, especially since he was arguably the greatest faceoff man in the league. Unfortunately that was really all he brought to the Caps. Although we will always have Game 6 OT and the Winter Classic to remember him fondly.

The Wideman deal I feel is really flying under the radar. As much as fans have been crying for a defenseman since last year, I honestly though GMGM would stand pat on the blueline, having acquired Hannan earlier this year. This was a move than was made simply out of the possibility that both Green and Poti could not return this year. The Caps have said that Green will miss a few weeks but head injuries are a funny thing. Unless we see something crazy from Poti, this move has at least signaled the end of his time in DC.

Here are my line combination predictions. The first set are with current injuries in mind, the second set are if the team is at full strength. Remember that with Backstrom's current injury he has been relieved of nearly all faceoff duties

Injury
Ovechkin-Laich-Backstrom
Sturm-Arnott-Semin
Chimera-Johansson-Knuble
Hendricks-Gordon-Bradley

Hannan-Schultz
Carlson-Alzner
Wideman-Erskine

Full Health
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Laich
Semin-Arnott-Fehr
Sturm-Johansson-Knuble
Chimera-Gordon-Hendricks

Green-Hannan
Carlson-Alzner
Wideman-Schultz.