17 Washington Capitals

The Grunting coming out of the Capitals practice facility these days is a far more pleasant sound to Washington fans than the cries of "Ouch!" that echoed throughout last season. In 1998-99 the Caps lost a staggering 511 man-games to injury. In June, Washington dismissed trainer Stan Wong, who had been with the Capitals since 1986-87, and though general manager George McPhee says the firing was "not an attempt to assess blame," he was delighted to bring in Greg Smith, who last season was the trainer for the Ducks, the team that lost the NHL's fewest man-games to injury (98).

From the start of camp Smith had the Caps stretching and riding stationary bikes before they took the ice each day. After practice the players tossed around medicine balls and endured grueling abdominal workouts. "We're doing things as a preventative so that we don't have to do them in rehab" says coach Ron Wilson. "The guys don't mind. They'd run a marathon every day if they thought it could turn us around."

When Washington's players arrived in camp last season they were coming off a run to the Stanley Cup finals (where they were swept by the Red Wings) and had high hopes of returning. By early October forwards Steve Konowalchuk, Michal Pivonka and Jan Bulls were injured. As the season limped on, one key player after another—from premier center Adam Oates to top defenseman Mark Tinordi—missed a lot of time. The Capitals wound up 31-45-6 and out of the playoffs. "One injury led to another," says Wilson. "Guys who had to fill in got worn down. Then they got injured too."

Wilson is trying to phase young players like Bulis, 21, and Jaroslav Svejkovsky, 22, into prominent roles. But with Oates, sniper Peter Bondra, veteran defensemen Sergei Gonchar and Calle Johansson, and always aggressive, sometimes brilliant goaltender Olaf Kolzig, Washington hasn't changed much from last year—or from the team that went to the finals 16 months ago. If healthy, the club could challenge for the title in the Southeast Division.

The most significant change outside of the trainer's room occurred when a group led by America Online executive Ted Leonsis bought the Capitals in June. Leonsis, who has made millions at the internet company, knows that America on line is not how you would describe attendance at Washington home games. The Caps sometimes play before small and listless crowds, and Leonsis has vowed to change that, in part by increasing his players' visibility. It's a good idea—so long as the players are healthy.

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