Will Capitals emulate tenacity of legend Dale Hunter?

By Josh Brewster  |  Hockeytalk.biz

JANUARY 10, 2012 -- When Dale Hunter became the 15th coach in the history of the Washington Capitals on November 28, the club probably expected a bigger bounce than what they’ve achieved thus far.

Outgoing Caps coach Bruce Boudreau compiled a 12-9-6 record at the time of his dismissal. Hunter’s Capitals have gone 9-8-1. 

If they reached a plateau under Boudreau, they have yet to take off under Hunter, but the new coach--and certified Washington Capitals legend--needs time to make a full impression.  What former Capital Hunter brings in terms of personality, his record as one of the toughest modern NHL’ers and one of only four Washington players to have his jersey retired, is bigger than numbers.

Hunter (left) , one of the most tenacious (some might even say “dirty”) players of the modern era, has been entrusted by GM George McPhee with imparting his edgy quality on a supremely talented Caps club.

Hunter played for the Capitals from 1987 through 1999, and carries a mark of distinction as the only NHL player to score 1,000 points and amass over 3,000 penalty minutes.

The Capitals have dazzled their fans over the post-lockout years, led by Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin, winner of two Hart Trophies, two Richard Trophies (goals), the Art Ross Trophy (scoring), two Pearson (now Lindsay) Awards (MVP as judged by players) and the Calder Trophy (rookie).

But early playoff exits became a millstone which Bruce Boudreau (now coach of the Anaheim Ducks) couldn’t overcome. A famous episode during a win on November 1st against—ironically—Anaheim when Boudreau benched Ovechkin during an overtime (against Anaheim) also led to his dismissal. Stories were published (notably by Sports Illustrated’s Michael Farber) which raised the question of whether Ovechkin is a “coach killer.”

For this tough a situation, where superstar egos must be massaged while important and honest messages need to be imparted from a coach, McPhee looked toward the tough-as-nails Hunter as a suitably tenacious warrior who even stars like Ovechkin would respect.

Indeed, not only does Hunter’s number 32 hang from the rafters at their home games, the team’s practice facility features a larger-than-life poster over the rink on which the club skates.

Another reminder of who the current club plays for is this: When the Capitals retired Hunter’s number in 2000, one of their gifts to the honoree was the penalty box from their former home arena, the Capital Centre, since Hunter spent 3,565 minutes in that particular sin bin.

OVIE THE GR8, MEET DALE THE HUNTER

Somehow, it doesn’t appear that Ovechkin (left) will hurl profanity-laced invective at Hunter the way he’s reported to have toward the affable Boudreau, when Boudreau benched GR8 that fateful November day.

During the three seasons from 2007-08 through 2009-10, Ovechkin scored 65, 56, and 50 goals. He shot the puck 1,342 times (including 528 in 08-09).

This season, Ovechkin started slowly by his “GR8” standards, with seven goals and 14 points in his first 18 games.

Hunter, however, is enamored with Ovechkin, and appreciates his tenacity as much as his offensive prowess.

“Alex has been hot for us, getting shots,” Hunter told Hockeytalk. “But to be fair to the (star players), they get special attention. Every night, they go against the best checkers, the best defensemen, the best lines trying to shut them down. (Ovechkin) battles through it. One thing about Ovie, he finishes hits hard.

The new coach says that his superstar will be just fine, offensively, and his hard-hitting style is actually quite special, although it draws less attention than his statistics.

“As many shots as he gets, he usually gets his hits too. He plays a hard style of game, which is unique for a guy that scores like he does.”

If anyone is a connoisseur of hard hits, it’s Hunter.

The hardest-hit area of Hunter’s club, however, is the blue line, where former Norris Trophy nominee Mike Green has missed 24 games.

“We’ve been trying to get Green back in the lineup,” Hunter said. “He played a bit lately (against Calgary and San Jose). We’re slowly getting him back in. Green is an offensive defenseman, and needs to get his timing back.”

Hunter says that in the meanwhile, Dennis Wideman, Karl Alzner, John Carlson and Roman Hamrlik all have played well on his blueline.

The Capitals have lost 127 man-games to injury, coming into Monday’s action.

FROM LONDON TO D.C.

Shortly after his playing career ended during a 12-game stint with Colorado in 1998-99, Hunter and his brother, Mark, purchased the OHL’s London Knights major junior franchise. Thus began a new career for Hunter, and a successful one. His Knights won the 2004-05 Memorial Cup, featuring none other than last season’s MVP, Corey Perry. Hockeytalk caught up with Hunter during a recent game at Honda Center, during which his former protégée, Perry, scored a hat trick against Columbus.

During his time coaching London (2001-02 through his acceptance of the Caps job in 2011), Hunter coached current Caps defensemen Dennis Wideman and John Carlson; also, Patrick Kane, John Tavares and Rick Nash.

What is the biggest difference between coaching junior players and NHLers?

“When young guys are trying to make it,” Hunter told Hockeytalk, the coaches need to teach defensive zone coverage. “(With the) speed of the game and the size of the players (in the NHL), young players are going to figure out the offensive side, because they’re skilled guys coming out of junior, usually. But it’s the defensive side where the coaches are going to have to teach them how to play in their own end. How to play the neutral zone. I guess sometimes it just takes time for them to figure it out, and once they get it, they take off.”

Hunter says that he’s pleased with what he’s seen, mentally, from his NHL club.

“They’re playing hard. They’re blocking shots and doing the little things you need to do to win games. We’d like to score more goals, like every team in the whole League. Gotta start in our own and play good defense to create offense.”

Hunter also appreciates what he has in his depth ranks. Troy Brouwer has contributed 11 goals, Jason Chimera, 13. Brooks Laich, eight.  Marcus Johansson scored two against LA, for a total of nine.

“As much as you develop superstars who go on to win MVP’s (Perry) and scoring races, it’s your third- and fourth-liners who make a career out of doing the hard work,” Hunter said. “Finishing their hits, tiring out the ‘D’, cycling the puck, doing the little things and every team needs them. You’ll see, the Stanley Cup champions--Boston last year--had good role players and they had the stars. If the opportunity is there to finish their hits, and block shots, do the little things, and that’s how you win hockey games.”

As the second half of the season unfolds, whether Hunter can turn the Capitals into not only a more defensively-minded, but more physical and tenacious club, is one of the key stories in the nation’s capital.

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