SI.com hockey writer Darren Eliot will analyze each NHL team prior to the start of the season. Here's his take on the Washington Capitals.

Goaltending

	Although he played just six games in 2003-04, 24-year-old netminder Maxime Ouellet will be counted on more this season. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
	Capitals At A Glance HEAD COACH Glen Hanlon LAST TIME WE SAW THEM The Capitals finished last in the Southeast division with 59 points to miss the playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons. ARRIVALS Forwards: Ben Clymer, Andrew Cassels, Chris Clark, Miroslav Zalesak. Defensemen: Mathieu Biron, Ivan Majesky, Bryan Muir. DEPARTURES Tim Kennedy. FIVE KEY QUESTIONS 1) Does Olaf Kolzig have anything left in the tank? 2) Can the inexperienced youngsters on defense step up? 3) Will Ovechkin prove to be the real deal? 4) At season's end, will Hanlon still be the coach? 5) With a wealth of young talent, will the Caps return to the playoffs within two years?
	Darren Eliot's Season Previews Pub Date Team 9/14 Atlanta Thrashers 9/15 Carolina Hurricanes 9/16 Tampa Bay Lightning 9/18 Florida Panthers 9/19 Washington Capitals

Olaf Kolzig is by far the Capitals' highest paid player. He is also, for better or worse, the team leader. He has had success and has made a difference in his career, but it is difficult for an aging goaltender with an impressive resume to make a difference in a rebuilding situation -- especially a veteran like Kolzig, who has a demanding disposition and a temper that goes with it.

BOTTOM LINE: The best thing for the Caps and Kolzig might be seeing youngster Maxime Ouellet take on an increased workload this season to further his development. Critical to the process is if Kolzig views that scenario the same way.

Defense

Part of the issue for Kolzig and the Caps is their inexperience on the blue line. Brendan Witt returns, but is limited in his usefulness and has requested a trade. Youngsters Steve Eminger and Shaone Morrisonn will get a chance to establish themselves after solid seasons by both with the Portland Pirates (AHL). The Capitals also added journeymen Ivan Majesky (who failed his training camp physical) and Mathieu Biron to flesh out their complement of available defensemen and will likely see time as well. You get the picture.

BOTTOM LINE: In talking with GM George McPhee, who was his usual candid self, the defense corps is a work in progress. His take was that they "didn't quite know what to expect from their defense this year, even though we feel that we have some good young prospects." Translation: Youth in the NHL means inconsistency; youth on the back line in the NHL means many long nights.

Forwards

Up front, the Caps are as McPhee termed it "competent." They have veterans Danius Zubrus, Jeff Halpern and free-agent center Andrew Cassels. More importantly, they have some excellent prospects at the forward position led by Alexander Ovechkin. Beyond him, the Caps are counting on Alexander Semin, Boyd Gordon, Brian Willsie and Brian Sutherby to continue their maturation.

BOTTOM LINE: This collection may be competent, but consistent scoring will be hard to come by. Ovechkin is the real deal and reason enough for Caps' fans to get excited.

Coaching

The Caps enter the season with an unproven NHL coach on a team fraught with question marks -- never the blueprint for immediate success. That doesn't mean the players won't eventually blossom into bona fide NHL'rs. It also doesn't mean that Glen Hanlon isn't a quality coach. It simply means that graying may challenge Hanlon's shock of red locks by season's end.

BOTTOM LINE: Hanlon has put in the requisite time to get his shot at coaching in the NHL. Seldom, though, does a coach make it through a rebuilding process like the one the Caps are in the midst of and get to see the team turn the corner to consistent competitiveness. In the short term, he'll be measured by the development of the organization's young players. In the end, all coaches are measured by wins and losses.

2005-06 CAPITALS: Roster | Schedule | 03-04 Statistics | Team Page