Nicklas Backstrom News

The chart above comes from Rob Vollman 's latest gift to the hockey world, his 2011-12 NHL Player Usage Charts , which you can download - for free - here .

Fansided's hockey community is participating in a mock-draft this spring . A Thus, it falls to Capitals Outsider to chime in for the 11th overall selection .

With Dale Hunter's exit, the Caps have a few big decisions to make heading into the offseason.

Hendricks entered the year in a role as a fourth-line role player and occasional fighter under Bruce Boudreau.

A professional athlete can go from face of the franchise to the trading block in a very short period of time - just ask Rick Nash or Roberto Luongo .

Under the current collective bargaining agreement, that means the Capitals can obtain negotiating rights by submitting a qualifying offer.

Right now, the NHL is in the midst of an era of remarkable parity. Even 20 years ago, a bad team was a BAD team.

Or any team, for that matter. [ 106.7 The Fan ] a- The World Championships are entering the quarterfinal rounds today.

From Alzner to Wideman, we're taking a look at and grading the 2011-12 season for every player who laced 'em up for the Caps for a significant number of games during the campaign, with an eye towards 2012-13. Next up, Nicklas Backstrom.

The Dale Hunter era in Washington came to an end on Monday when he announced that he will not be returning to the team for the 2012-13 season.

The 28-year-old winger, an unrestricted free agent this summer, has no intentions on signing a new contract with the team.

"Family is always in the first position. It's his decision," Alex Ovechkin said.

It will mark the 7th time the 2 teams have faced each other in the playoffs. In the 1986 Patrick Division finals, The NYR defeated the Caps in 6 games.

Pitt team makes Quick progress against skin cancer From shotguns to cigars, state leaders report range of gifts Amish leader Sam Mullet's attorney objects to 'smear' tactics Judge changes scope of lawsuit against Pittsburgh-based Education Management Corporation Indian court clears local S. Fayette teen of murder Speed blamed in Washington County ... (more)

A.J. Perez previously worked at USA Today , AOL and CBSSports.com covering beats ranging from performance-enhancing drugs to the NHL.

Caps' Beagle Doesn't Practice Friday : Jay Beagle did not practice Friday, Rob Carlin of Comcast Sportsnet reports.

After the 2-1 win last night, the seventh seeded Washington Capitals have forced a game seven against the top seeded New York Rangers in round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin said before last night's Game 6 here against the Rangers that he didn't want his season to end.

MAY 09: Jason Chimera #25 celebrates with Alexander Semin #28 and Karl Alzner #27 of the Washington Capitals after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers in the second period of Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on May 9, 2012 in Washington, DC.

Brooks Laich is one of the heart and soul kind of players on the Capitals roster.