Why Barry Trotz's plan to deploy Alex Ovechkin on left wing makes perfect sense

In two seasons tearing down the right wing under Adam Oates, Washington Capitals sniper Alexander Ovechkin won back-to-back Rocket Richard trophies with 83 goals in 126 games.

Not bad. Actually – really, really good. But Barry Trotz, the newly-minted head coach in Washington, believes he can get more out his inherited superstar with a simple swapping of wings. 

"Going into camp, I'd probably say I'm leaning more to left than right," Trotz said Thursday via NHL.com. "He moves his feet better on that side, he's able to go laterally better. I want to play him more on that side but I want to clean up some things in his own end to allow him to play that side."

Shifting a superstar out of his comfort zone may be an inauspicious concept, but when you look at the tape it makes perfect sense. 

Of the captain's league-leading 51 goals last season, 41 were either on the left wing or to the left of his center off the draw (with most coming from his typical power-play post on the left half wall). Furthermore, just five goals (FIVE) were scored from the right side and only two were manufactured with him entering the offensive zone on his right wing.

(Note for math experts: His five other goals came on either scrambles or breakaways).

That Barry. He's a thinker, alright.