Washington Capitals

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Danick Paquette (left) is defended by Brett Flemming (center) and Samuel Carrier (right) during the Washington Capitals' 2011 Rookie Camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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**FILE ** Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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The Washington Capitals signed 19-year-old Stan Galiev to a three-year, entry -level contract Wednesday. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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The Washington Capitals placed Anton Gustafsson, the 21st pick in the 2008 NHL draft, on waivers Wednesday. (Associated Press).

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Huntingdon Beach, Calif. native Garrett Haar was a Washington Capitals seventh-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft, and is among many NHL prospects being produced from nontraditional markets. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee called Garrett Haar, the team's seventh-round pick from this past June, the "surprise" of development camp. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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The Washington Capitals inked Karl Alzner to a two-year, $2.57 million contract Thursday (Associated Press)

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**FILE** Washington Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner (The Washington Times)

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Ted Leonsis, majority owner of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, Mystics and Verizon Center, spoke at the National Press Club on Wednesday. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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The Washington Capitals are counting on Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom, Brooks Laich and Alex Ovechkin to become leaders this season. Do they have what it takes? (Green: Joseph Silverman/The Washington Times), (Backstrom: AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek), (Laich: Associated Press Photographs), (Ovechkin: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Typically a center, Washington Capitals' Brooks Laich played defense for the entire game against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday --- the first time in his career. (Associated Press)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, from Russia, looks to shoot the puck in the second period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series with the New York Rangers Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19) of Sweden drives the puck down ice during the NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

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Washington Capitals General manager George McPhee talks with reporters during a press conference at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va., Monday, July 11, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Goalie Steffen Soberg, drafted last month, displays his skills during the Washington Capitals' development camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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The Washington Capitals signed forward Troy Brouwer (left) to a two-year, $2.35 million deal on July 6, 2011. The Capitals traded their first-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks during the NHL draft for the rights to Brouwer, who could challenge Alexander Semin and Mike Knuble for big minutes at right wing. (Associated Press)