Welcome to our new feature: SWOT analysis of the Washington Capitals based on what we have read by you, the experts, and our own in-game experience. SWOT analysis is a way of looking at the strengths and weaknesses of an organization and then considering the threats and opportunities. For us we will be considering the positive and not-so positive aspects of the team in the previous week and areas in which we think they could improve and the threats to winning if they don’t make some changes.
For the week of 6 to 12 November the Caps played the San Jose Sharks (at home), the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Carolina Hurricanes (away games.) Based on those games we offer the following analysis:
Strengths
Coach Trotz has a plan
Dmitry Orlov blocking & shooting
TJ Oshie can play any line
Daniel Winnik on the PK
Marcus Johansson is a scoring machine
Weaknesses
Defense in front of the net
Jumbled lines- inconsistency
John Carlson not fully himself
Threats to Scoring
Too many penalties
Travel with back-to-back games
Opponents trapping Ovechkin
Potential injury
Opportunities
Increase shooting and number of shots on goal
Tighten the defense
Increase power play goals (John Carlson)
Spread the scoring power across all lines
All-in-all the Caps are playing well. They had the five-game winning streak and were able to bounce back from the loss to San Jose with a narrow OT win in Chicago. Coach Trotz is flexible with the inter-changeability of the lines; he knows TJ Oshie brings energy to any line he plays and probably is one of the strongest assets to the team.
