OFB starts a series of brief analyses of each player on the Caps’ big-league roster, discussing his game, what he brings to the ice, and some vague guesses as to how his season is going to work out.
Today’s player: Kris Beech
Kris Beech’s WashingtonCaps.com page
The Forecasters’ Take (via TSN)
Back story: The former first-round pick has bounced around in his career, but the Caps’ management showed that they see good things in Beech by including him in the return for Brendan Witt at the trade deadline.
How’s it look so far? So far this season, Beech is showing more foot-speed and more willingness to play the body than previously — I think it’s fair to consider how much being part of Hershey’s Calder Cup run boosted his confidence. Good thing, too, as this is likely his last shot at the NHL full-time.
Beech will never be fleet, but the increase in his speed will help, and his noted vision on the ice found him on the power play with the Alexanders late in the game against Carolina. He delivered with a pretty cross-crease assist on Semin’s hat-trick goal, which rewarded coach Glen Hanlon’s faith in him. For now.
In the future? The Caps’ emphasis on skating and stamina really helped out Matt Pettinger last year — will Beech be able to tap into that? If so, the way will be paved for Beech’s best NHL season. The Caps have a giant hole at second-line center, and if Beech can develop some chemistry with Alexander Semin (which doesn’t look impossible after early returns), then Beech is going to play big minutes; so far he has only six seconds less power play time than Zubrus does (who, in his defense, has a knee). If Beech keeps it up, he stays in the NHL. If not, it’s off to Europe.
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