NHL: Show Me the Greenback

Although Alex Ovechkin gets the spotlight in the nation's capital, few can argue the potential star power of teammate Mike Green. Green will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and given his success thus far, you can bet he will be in line for a hefty raise. McKeen's was on hand for a recent Washington Capitals game and files the following report on Green, along with notes on up-and-coming defenseman Jeff Schultz.

Mike Green D, Washington Capitals

(42-11-13-24) .. With 11 goals, Green is tied for first in the league among defensemen .. his 24 points are 19th among defensemen .. Green is an adequate defenseman who utilizes his stick-checking skills and coverage ability to breakup plays .. however, his offensive talents are what standout the most .. Green is a smooth and effortless skater with superior speed .. for example, he can dump the puck and retrieve it on his own, which is equivalent to making a pass to himself .. very comfortable bringing the puck up ice and even going end to end with it .. can be flashy with the rubber and penetrate the attacking zone almost at will .. shows good composure and control in tight situations, as well as under duress .. unlike some offensive defensemen, who will pinch but not over commit in the offensive zone, Green is not afraid to crash the net or setup a teammate with a precision pass in close .. possesses a human bobble head, as he continuously surveys his options, regardless of where he is on the ice .. in fact, he has a great head fake, which he can use to deke opponents and then move to open space for a quality shot on goal .. these attributes make him an extremely valuable asset on the PP.

Jeff Schultz D, Washington Capitals

(35-5-4-9) .. Like other behemoths in the NHL, Schultz will never win the "Most Graceful Skater" award .. nevertheless, he still gets the job done and is a productive skater for a player his size (6-6, 221) .. he is a quality contributor on the PK unit, as his imposing frame and tree-like reach eat up a ton of space in front of the net .. not an overly physical defenseman but he can hold up opponents along the boards and clear room in front of the netminder when necessary .. even though he does not possess great offensive skills, his physical strength allows him to boast a heavy slapshot, which he utilizes well.