Grading the Washington Capitals' Stars Through Opening Games of 2014-15 Season

The Barry Trotz era of the Washington Capitals is now just two games old, but already this team looks much better than the squad that missed the postseason in 2013-14. 

Sure, Washington fell to the Montreal Canadiens in a shootout during the new coach's regular-season debut on home ice. But for Caps fans, there's a lot to be optimistic about. 

That's because Alex Ovechkin and company thoroughly dominated an elite Boston Bruins club in an immensely hostile environment on Saturday, and they appear to have the sort of structure that was often absent under Adam Oates. 

Obviously, two games is a very small sample size. But thus far, Trotz has his best players firing on all cylinders, and that's been a key factor in Washington taking three out of a possible four points against two of the Eastern Conference's deepest rosters. 

With that in mind, here's a look at grades for each of Washington's star players through the first pair of regular-season tilts. 

Andre Burakovsky

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After just two games in the NHL, Andre Burakovsky doesn't fit the typical definition of NHL star. But if he continues to play like he has thus far, his name will be known throughout the hockey world very soon. 

During his first clash as a Capital, the former first-rounder tallied Washington's only goal against Montreal on a bullet of a one-timer from the slot, sending the Verizon Center faithful into a frenzy. 

And during the team's 4-0 victory over Boston, Burakovsky racked up a pair of assists and looked dangerous despite receiving less than 11 minutes of ice time. 

Grade: A+

As the team's leading scorer with three points in two games, Burakovsky clearly has the talent and instincts to contribute at this level. And it looks like Washington finally has a secondary sniper to fill the void created by Alexander Semin's departure two years ago. 

Mike Green

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When Brian MacLellan brought in Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik to shore up Washington's defensive core, it immediately seemed that Mike Green's days in D.C. would be limited. 

And given that the two-time NHL First Team All-Star has been plagued by injuries for the last four seasons, it certainly didn't look good for the sharp-shooting rearguard's stock when the team announced he'd miss the opener against Montreal. 

But once Green returned to the ice against the Bruins, the 29-year-old made quite the first impression on his new coach. 

With the Caps up by two in the second period, Green took a nifty cross-ice feed from Evgeny Kuznetsov and unleashed a power-play laser that beat reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tuukka Rask, finding the top corner of the net. 

It was vintage Green. And if he continues to play solid defensive hockey in his own zone while continuing to produce at the other end of the rink, one has to assume he'll earn more responsibilities from Trotz going forward. 

Grade: B+ 

Green would be in the A-range if he'd been able to play against Montreal or if he wasn't relegated to third-pairing duty in Boston. But his poise in all three zones was an encouraging sign of things to come. 

Nicklas Backstrom

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As half of the team's dynamic duo of elite scorers up front—and arguably the team's most complete player—Nicklas Backstrom has to be performing up to par in order for the Caps to meet expectations as a group. 

And so far, the slick Swedish pivot has done that. 

Held pointless against Montreal, Backstrom rebounded two nights later to post two helpers in the win over Boston, including a beautiful feed from low on the left-hand side for Ovechkin's second goal of the first period. 

Perhaps more importantly, the two-time Olympian showed an uncharacteristic pinch of snarl on the forecheck against the Bruins, indicating that Washington's primary offensive catalyst has bought in to the hard-working style of his new coach.

Averaging over 20 minutes a night through the two games, Backstrom's only area of concern has to be in the faceoff circle, as he went from winning over 65 percent against Montreal to just under 30 the following game.

In addition, Backstrom's average of 1.5 shots per game is far below his career average of 2.26. Given his quick release and pinpoint accuracy, that needs to change. 

Grade: B

Backstrom has room to improve, both on draws and when it comes to getting shots on the cage. But after setting up both of Ovechkin's goals against the Bruins while playing an impressive two-way game, he's doing just fine.

Braden Holtby

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After a mediocre 2013-14 campaign that saw him post the worst numbers of his career, Braden Holtby entered this season in need of a bounce-back performance in a big way. 

Luckily, Holtby gained the knowledge and guidance of renowned goaltending guru and new Capitals charge Mitch Korn over the summer, and the early returns have been superb. 

No, Holtby didn't look good against the Canadiens in the shootout last Thursday. But outside of the skills competition, the 25-year-old's been virtually unbeatable, giving up just one goal in 125 minutes of hockey. 

In comparison to 2013-14, Holtby's been more comfortable moving laterally in the crease and seems to be putting emphasis on gaining sight on screened shots from the perimeter of the offensive zone. Both helped him against the Bruins, as Holtby weathered the storm through four power plays, producing a number of show-stopping saves in the process. 

Grade: A

A coach can't ask for much more from a goaltender than what Holtby's provided through two games, as the 2008 fourth-rounder has stopped 52 of 53 shots against two of the game's best teams. If he keeps rolling at this level, the Caps won't be scrambling to grab a postseason berth in March. They'll be closing in on securing home-ice advantage in Round 1. 

John Carlson

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Despite Green's status as one of hockey's most dangerous blueliners when on his game, there's no question that John Carlson has usurped him as Washington's most valued offensive rearguard. 

That's because the U.S. Olympian has the size, shot and mobility to keep opponents honest while providing consistent production on the offensive side of the puck. 

It also doesn't hurt that the former first-rounder is as reliable as they come, suiting up for every single Capitals tilt since breaking into the NHL full time in 2010-11.

Against Boston, Carlson recorded two assists, including a great feed into Ovechkin's wheelhouse for the game's opening goal, and he logged a game-high 24:56 of ice time in the process. 

As the fulcrum of Washington's defense, Carlson plays in all situations. And if he, along with Green, Orpik, Niskanen and Karl Alzner, continue to play this way, Washington will be a force to be reckoned with in the Metropolitan Division. 

Grade: B+ 

Carlson was inches away from tallying his first goal of the year until Joel Ward got a piece of his blast on Washington's fourth and final goal at TD Garden. But his contributions can't be overlooked. He's manning the left point on Washington's No. 1 power play, skated five minutes of short-handed time against Boston and remains one of the NHL's most promising young defensemen. 

Alex Ovechkin

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As arguably the sport's most polarizing figure, Alex Ovechkin faced more than his fair share of pressure heading into his first season under the no-nonsense Trotz regime. 

Early on, as the superstar sniper has many times before, he answered the call when his team needed him the most. 

No, he didn't score in Trotz's debut against the Habs, but Ovechkin was a presence from a physical standpoint. And more importantly, he seemed hungry when competing for loose pucks in his own end. 

In Boston, he exploded for a pair of first-period goals in typical Ovechkin fashion, with both tallies coming after having the puck on his stick for less than a second. 

He's the captain and emotional leader of the Capitals, so when he's firing on all cylinders and playing with purpose in all areas of the rink, the rest of the team almost always follows. 

Grade: A-

Ovechkin should have finished at least one of his quality chances against Montreal, but he more than made up for his misfires two nights later. Trotz wants the three-time Hart Trophy winner to be more engaged in the defensive zone, and he's done so thus far. But clearly, he hasn't sacrificed his scoring touch.