Washington Capitals: 4 Possible Starting Line Combinations

With the opening of training camps all around the league, hockey is so close that all of us fans can almost taste it. 

One coping mechanism for fan-induced anxiousness is to dream up which three skaters will makeup the first line of the fan's favorite team. For some teams, the starting line has been set in stone since last season and it doesn't take much racking of a fan's hockey-deprived brain to figure out who will be on the ice in October. 

For other teams, like the Washington Capitals, the starting line is more of a gray area, with Ovechkin on the left wing being the only surefire position filled.

Therefore, let's take a look at four possible combinations for the starting line in Washington. 

8 Alex Ovechkin - 19 Nicklas Backstrom - 22 Mike Knuble

The starting line for most of last season saw Knuble and Ovechkin on the wing of Backstrom, who needs to prove once again why he deserves to be the first-line center. Overall, this line is tried-and-true and could very well be the one that hits the ice in October. 

8 Alex Ovechkin - 90 Marcus Johansson - 28 Alexander Semin

This line looks extremely exciting on paper, but strangely wasn't used on the ice at all last year. With Ovechkin and Johansson adding tremendous speed and Semin contributing with his outstanding individual skill, this line could be deadly.

Something tells me that the Caps won't be using this line come October though, as this combination isn't talked about very often. 

8 Alex Ovechkin - 19 Nicklas Backstrom - 28 Alexander Semin

This line has more pure skill than any other line in the NHL. Often used as a last resort to mount a comeback at the latter stages of a game, this line is also very prone to making defensive mistakes.

Sometimes the three best players on the team shouldn't be put on a line together.  

8 Alex Ovechkin - 90 Marcus Johansson - 22 Mike Knuble

Recently named the starting line for the first preseason game versus Nashville, this line apparently is one of the fastest the Caps can ice.

Knuble, who is often lovingly referred to as "Slownuble" (creative, huh?) or "Gramps" by Capitals fans, is apparently one of the fastest skaters coming into training camp. Yes, even faster than Ovechkin and Johansson.

Personally, this is the line I hope takes the ice for the first time in October.