It looks like Alex Ovechkin may be moving back to the left wing. Barry Trotz said, after an afternoon skate at the Caps rookie camp, that he'd like to see Ovechkin on the left side again to start training camp.

“There’s no question... I want him to develop to play both sides. He did. We’re going to go into camp, I’m going to say I’d be leaning more to left than right.” (Alex Prewitt, Washington Post)

Ovechkin, under the guise of former head coach Adam Oates, moved to the right side last season, as it was becoming painfully obvious that he was too predictable on the left side. The move had its advantages for Ovechkin, but for the most part the move was moot and Ovechkin ended up scoring the majority of his goals on the PP from the left side.

Trotz feels that Ovechkin can play better from the left side, and they want to help him round his game this season.

“He moves his feet better on that side and he’s able to go laterally better,” Trotz said. “I said I want to play him more on that side, but I want to clean up some things on his own end by allowing him to do that on that side, to play that side. He’s very willing. We had some great conversations today.” (Alex Prewitt, Washington Post)

Ovechkin has always been the subject of ridicule when it comes to his defensive play, and every one knows that defense isn't Ovechkin's game - it never has been.

He does need to "clean up his game" as Trotz says, and to move Ovechkin back to his regular left wing could just be to make him feel more comfortable. His even strength play last season was atrocious, but it wasn't just Ovechkin. The entire team was terrible on 5-on-5 play and the captain took the brunt of the finger pointing when his +/- fell to -35.

The Caps are poised to make a run at the playoffs this season and get back to where they were a few seasons ago when they were a threat. Trotz brings experience to a team that desperately needs balance and direction.

If Ovechkin does indeed stay on the left side to start the season, the question then is who would play the wing on the right side. Fehr? Ward? Or would they move over Brouwer or Laich?

Chances are, Trotz will try either Laich or rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov during camp, but we can speculate all we want until we know for sure.

Wherever he plays this season, Ovechkin needs to get himself back on track in a 5-on-5 setting, and the Caps as a whole need to stop relying on the PP to win games. The team needs to "clean it up" and in a few days they'll get their chance to right the ship.

More to come...

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