Washington Capitals: Ranking Each Center's Chances of Making the Roster

With the Washington Capitals' training camp well underway, there is a heated battle raging amongst seven centers for four spots on the team's opening night roster, and just a couple of weeks remain for Bruce Boudreau and his staff to select which players will stick with the big club.  

Though four of the team's centers are all but assured roster spots, there are at least three centermen who are battling for the role on the third line, and Boudreau has a host of intriguing options to choose from.  

After three preseason games, the competition is still very wide open, and each of the candidates should be receiving at least one more opportunity to make their case before final cuts are made at the end of October.  

With that in mind, here's a look at each center's chances of making the Capitals' roster in preparation for the season opener on October 8th.   

1. Nicklas Backstrom

As probably the most talented center in franchise history, Nicklas Backstrom will be a lock to make the Capitals' roster every year he spends in Washington.  

Though he had a subpar campaign in 2010-11, he's one of the top 10 forwards in the game when healthy and effective, which is why he's considered one of the Capitals' building blocks for the better part of the next decade.  

A playmaking wizard, Backstrom will once again have the luxury of playing with one of the best goal scorers in the game, in either Alex Ovechkin or Alexander Semin, and he should be back in the 80-point range by season's end.  

If the Capitals are going to live up to the lofty expectations that lay before them this season, Backstrom will have to be closer to the 100-point player he was in 2009-10, but the sublimely-skilled Swede is perfectly capable of doing that.  

Chance of making the roster: 100 percent 

2. Marcus Johansson

After Nicklas Backstrom, Marcus Johansson is Washington's best playmaker down the middle, and he appears to be developing the sort of chemistry with Alex Ovechkin that the former demonstrated earlier in his career.  

Though Johansson started slowly in 2010-11, he had a strong second half, notching 20 points in his final 40 games and followed that up with six points in nine playoff contests.  

The 20-year-old Swede has the speed, skill and hockey sense to play with anyone on the Caps' roster, which is why he could center any of Washington's top three lines, though it's almost a certainty that he'll be a top-six forward for the entire season.  

While he isn't quite as talented offensively as Backstrom, his play in the defensive zone is remarkably good for a second-year player, and he should be an effective two-way center for the Caps for years to come.  

Chances of making the roster: 100 percent

3. Brooks Laich

Over the course of the last four seasons, Brooks Laich has established himself as one of the Capitals' most important players, for reasons that go far beyond his contributions on the scoresheet.  

Though Laich is far from a slouch offensively, as he's posted 50 points twice, his versatility, work ethic and leadership are what separates him from other top-six forwards on the roster.  

He's capable of playing on any of Washington's four lines and is a regular on the power-play and penalty kill units, which is why he was General Manager George McPhee's top priority going into the offseason.  

Going forward, he'll be centering one of the team's top three lines, unless coach Bruce Boudreau elects to move him back to the wing, which utilizes his speed and physical presence more effectively.  

Chances of making the roster: 100 percent (Though his chances of playing center are closer to 50 percent). 

4. Jeff Halpern

During Jeff Halpern's first stay in Washington, he became a fan favorite and not just because at one time he was the team's most productive player offensively.  

Halpern, a Washington-area native, became a role model for young hockey players throughout the region, and his return is a welcome sight for everyone associated with the organization.  

Since leaving the Capitals in 2006, Halpern has established himself as a very serviceable bottom-six forward on every team he's been a part of.  Though capable of chipping in 20-25 points, he'll be relied more heavily upon for his strong defensive play, and most importantly, to be the team's ace in the face-off circle.  

At this point, Halpern looks to be a virtual lock to be the man in the middle on the fourth line, and seems to be developing chemistry with Matt Hendricks, which is a good sign for the Capitals.  

Chances of making the roster: 100 percent (He's on a one-way deal, and the Capitals would not risk losing him via wavers). 

5. Mathieu Perreault

During his call-ups from Hershey to the big club in 2009-10 and 2010-11, Mathieu Perreault became a very popular player with the fans, players and coaching staff in Washington, but he hasn't yet been able to cement himself as a top-nine forward with the Capitals.  

Despite his impressive skills with the puck and creativity in the offensive zone, Perreault is at times ineffective on the defensive side of the puck due to his small stature, which is a big reason why he's still on a two-way contract.  

His 23 points in 56 NHL games show that Perreault is capable of reasonable offensive numbers at the NHL level, but it's still unclear whether he'll get the chance to truly prove himself as a Capital.  He'd likely be a top-nine forward on a weaker team, but with the Capitals stocked with talent up front, he may be on the outside looking in, at least to start the season.

Chances of making the roster: 40 percent.  He's got competition, but if he doesn't make the roster right away, he'll get a chance to prove himself later in the season.  

6. Mattias Sjogren

A month before unrestricted free agency opened, the Capitals signed 23-year-old Mattias Sjogren to a two-year deal, adding another defensively responsible Swedish centerman to their organization.  

Unlike the other two Swedes in the Capitals' lineup, Sjogren went undrafted, but he developed nicely during three seasons in the Swedish Elite League and was pursued by a number of NHL clubs early this Summer.  

While he doesn't possess the speed or offensive skills of Backstrom or Johansson, Sjogren could become a top-nine forward in Washington, but it may take time for him to adjust to playing the center position on North American ice.  

Sjogren has the size and hockey sense to become a solid two-way pivot for the Capitals, and during his preseason auditions he's performed well in the face-off circle, winning 16 of his 25 draws.  However, for him to cement his lineup spot, he'll have to outperform a couple of players who are more comfortable with the North American style of play.  

Heading into July, Sjogren appeared to be a near-lock to make the Caps' roster out of training camp, but after the team added Jeff Halpern and re-signed Brooks Laich, his chances decreased significantly.  He still has an opportunity to make the team, but he'll have to earn his ice time.  

Chances of making the roster: 50 percent.  The Capitals signed Sjogren to a two-year deal worth $1.8 million, so they must believe they have something in the young Swede, but he's on a two-way deal, so his lineup spot is written in pencil at this point, not pen.  

7. Cody Eakin

After four impressive seasons in the Western Hockey League, the Washington Capitals believe Cody Eakin will be a big part of their team at some point down the road, the only question is when.  

The 85th Overall Pick in the 2009 NHL draft, Eakin has blossomed into a high-level prospect over the last couple of years, but it's still unclear as to what kind of role he's capable of playing at the next level.  

He has the grit, speed and tenacity to be a very effective third-line center, but his numbers at the Major Junior level suggest there's a chance he could be a top-six forward eventually.  At 20, Eakin clearly still has developing to do, but if he outplays Sjogren, Perreault and Chris Bourque in the final week of preseason, he may earn himself a roster spot.  

Eakin has been skating on the Caps' third line for much of the preseason, but that's largely due to the fact that the organization wants to see how he performs in the role.  If he doesn't make the team out of training camp, he'll get the opportunity to prove himself in Hershey, which may not be such a bad thing for a player who's had so much success early in his career.  

He's a leader, which is a trait that the coaches and management team in Washington value heavily, but he'll have to beat out a few more experienced players in order to earn a roster spot this year.  In addition, if he does make the roster, it likely won't be as a center, so Eakin would probably best be suited to spend time in Hershey, at least to start the year.  

Chances of making the roster: 25 percent.  With Ovechkin, Backstrom, Knuble, Semin, Johansson, Laich, Brouwer, Ward, Chimera, Halpern and Hendricks in the lineup, there's only one spot in the lineup available at this stage.  

Washington will likely elect to go with a more experienced forward to round out their forwards, in order to give Eakin more ice time at the AHL level to develop.  He'll be monitored closely.