Mike Green on Capitals' additions: 'If I was another team, I'd be a little bit worried'
Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green is pleased with the moves made by new general manager Brian MacLellan in the offseason. Green believes opponents should be concerned about playing his team.
“If I was another team, I would be a little bit worried, to be honest,” Green told CSN Washington. “The depth we have is incredible. Everybody could be the top pairing, right down to the bottom.”
The Capitals added depth to their blueline over the summer, signing former Pittsburgh Penguins Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik in free agency. Green says the moves take the pressure off the rest of the team.
"In the past maybe there was too much pressure on certain guys. It feels great to have the depth we do."
"It goes to show they believe we have the right tools and personnel in here and that we just needed a few more pieces to the puzzle, and the right pieces,” Green said. “[MacLellan] made some great pickups this summer and I think everybody feels comfortable now with their roles and positions."
Green had a respectable season from an offensive standpoint in 2013-14, scoring nine goals (including two game-winners) and adding 29 assists in 70 games. It was his best offensive output since he tallied 76 points in 2009-10.
New head coach Barry Trotz is looking forward to having Green in his lineup, but says his veteran defenseman has some work to do.
“He’s such a dynamic player and I’m quite excited to work with Mike. I think what we’re going to do as a team will be right up his alley, with handling pucks and moving pucks and getting up in the play and being an active part of the attack. The areas he needs to work on is around the cage, some of the boxing out. When he does that his skill set is phenomenal and we want to be able to emphasize those assets.”
Trotz and MacLellan were hired together in May, replacing Adam Oates and George McPhee respectively.