Stanley Cups: 0

2011-'12 record: 42-32-4-4, 92 points (2nd in Southeast, 7th in East)

2011-'12 playoffs: Def. Boston Bruins 4-3; lost to New York Rangers 4-3

Coach: Adam Oates (0-0-0, 1st NHL year, 1st team)

Top returning scorer: LW Alex Ovechkin (38 goals, 27 assists, 65 points)

Top returning goalie: Michal Neuvirth (13-13-5, 2.82, .903)

Key additions: C Zach Hamill; C Mike Ribeiro; RW Joey Crabb; D Jack Hillen; LW Wojtek Wolski.

Key subtractions: LW Chris Bourque; C Cody Eakin; G Tomas Vokoun; RW Alexander Semin; D Dennis Wideman; RW Mike Knuble; C Jeff Halpern; C Keith Aucoin.

Goaltending: Will be an interesting battle for playing time between Neuvirth and playoff hero Braden Holtby, who came up from the minors late in the season and took the reins. But there’s no veteran influence to aid either young netminder through the bumpy times.

Player to watch: G Braden Holtby. He turned in stunning numbers in playoffs (1.95 GAA, .935 save percentage) as he carried Caps to within a win of Eastern Conference final. Own just 21 games of NHL regular-season experience over the past two seasons.

Icing: Something to watch for — Oates has experimented with Ovechkin on RW during training camp . . . Ovechkin complained that previous coach Dale Hunter’s defensive style inhibited his ability to be creative. That shouldn’t be an issue under Oates . . . Will be challenging for new coaching staff to get their system in place with just five days of training camp and could leave team behind eight-ball to start season.

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