Counting Down to the Regular Season

With just about two weeks left until the regular season, the Caps have all but finalized their roster. According to Capitals Insider, they're now down to 20 forwards, 12 defensemen (without Tom Poti, who might be out for the year) and three goaltenders.

Of those, the goalie position (with Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth) is set, and the top seven defensemen (John Carlson, Karl Alzner, Mike Green, Roman Hamrlik, Denis Wideman, John Erskine and Jeff Schultz) probably are too.

So that leaves the forwards. Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, Mike Knuble, Joel Ward, Alex Semin, Jason Chimera, Jeff Halpern, Matt Hendricks, Marcus Johansson, and Brooks Laich have definitely secured a spot. DJ King (unfortuantely) probably has too, which means the final spots will go to Jay Beagle, Christian Hanson, Mathieu Perreault, Mattias Sjogren and/or Cody Eakin.

Either way, this is a stronger team than Coach Bruce Boudreau has guided in the past. As with previous seasons, everything will evolve until the spring arrives. Until then, though, there will be a lot to watch. More on that as the regular season nears.