I want the Capitals to not lose their identity

ARLINGTON, Va. Air Max 270 React Bauhaus AT6174-002 . -- Barry Trotz was late for an appointment because he was at the DMV, getting his first Virginia drivers license and plates. His son is enrolled in school, and hes lived in his new house long enough for the air conditioning to break down. Hes not a Tennessee resident for the first time in 17 years, and the life upheaval was such that he didnt take his usual summer vacation in British Columbia. And all that was more or less the easy part. Now he has to deal with Alex Ovechkin. Trotz is the new coach of the Washington Capitals, which means first and foremost he is the coach of the immensely talented three-time league MVP whose individual accolades have yet to translate into substantial playoff success. Things will be plenty different for everyone when training camp opens Friday, but what arguably matters most is how No. 8 takes to yet another attempt to change the way he plays. "Physically, hes a strong guy," Trotz said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But theres areas in his game he needs to grow in, and thats really my job, to help him grow his game." Trotz is Washingtons fifth coach since Ovechkin entered the league in 2005, but hes the first who has been a head coach elsewhere in the NHL. He led the Nashville Predators from inception to this year, with 1,246 regular season and playoff games under his belt. He has an established idea how he wants to run a team -- hes already rejigged the coaches meeting room with more cutting-edge technology and made it more of a "war room." He has so much cache that he was able to give owner Ted Leonsis a frank assessment of the Capitals deficiencies while interviewing for the job. "Its the culture," Trotz said. "I just think a little bit of the inmates were running the asylum, thats No. 1. I think theres good talent, and I felt it needed some order." Thats not a dig at one particular player or front office person, but Ovechkin, as team captain, would be a central figure in any sort of culture change. Trotz praised the Russian forwards passion, desire and individual accomplishments -- but said there needs to be more. "If Ovi is willing to listen," Trotz said, "hes going to have a chance to do some great team things. And he is willing to listen. I dont see any reason in my discussions (with him) that hes not willing to change. Now change is going to be sometimes difficult for people at times, but the willingness to change, I dont see that being a problem." Ovechkin led the NHL with 51 goals last season, but his plus-minus of minus-35 was third-worst in the league. Looking at the tape, Trotz sees too much staying in place. "Everybody goes after Ovi for probably his defensive game and some of those commitments, and, yeah, there can be improvement," Trotz said. "And Ive said to him, I just want him skating again. I always think hes just dynamic when hes skating. So I just asked him, be in really good shape, be ready to skate, because youre not dangerous when youre standing still." Trotz said he wants to retain the offensive potential shown by Ovechkin and the Capitals while introducing some of the defensive principles that worked well with the Predators. "I want the Capitals to not lose their identity of being able to score," Trotz said. "But I want them to add another identity that theyre hard to play against and theyre hard to score against. If we can add that to the repertoire, then wed be a pretty good team." Ovechkin was moved from left wing to right wing under previous coach Adam Oates. Trotz said he might use Ovechkin on both sides. "If hes playing the game that I envision him being able to play, then I can see him playing left wing -- and I can throw him on the right wing on another line," Trotz said. "To me, hes more dangerous on the left. ... Defensively, hes probably better on the right." No one would forgive the Capitals players for being fatigued with change, having switched systems several times in recent years under coaches Bruce Boudreau, Dale Hunter and Oates. Trotzs message: Get over it. "To be honest, a lot of times systems are a little bit of a cop-out," he said. "If youre a good player, it doesnt matter what system youre playing, you should be able to play it. I think they use it as an excuse. If youre at this level and you cant figure out your role, then you probably shouldnt be in this league." Air Max 270 Just Do It White . Mars announced Saturday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will join him as part of his halftime show. Super Bowl halftime performers often have collaborators. Nike Air Max 270 React Electro Green . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. 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Atallah said last week that a "piecemeal" agreement did not interest the players. The sides have discussed changes to the policy on substance abuse and driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol. A potential hang-up on that issue was the leagues desire to immediately discipline players -- as well as NFL owners, executives, officials, coaches and league office personnel -- arrested for DUIs. NFLPA President Eric Winston told The Associated Press last week that ignoring a players rights to due process would not be considered by the union. The NFLPA also is ppushing for neutral arbitration in the appeals process and is seeking higher thresholds for positive marijuana tests. Nike Air Max 270 Just Do It Black. But the key element could be a test for human growth hormone. HGH testing was agreed upon in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement that ended the lockout of the players. But the union has been uncomfortable with the science and the procedures for the testing, as well as how appeals would be handled. The league did agree to an appeal process several years ago. In marijuana testing, the union feels the leagues threshold for a positive test of 15 nanograms per millilitre is too demanding, citing the IOCs threshold of 150 nanograms, 10 times as high. The NFL threshold was collectively bargained. But as Winston said last Friday, anyone within the vicinity of people smoking marijuana without partaking themselves could wind up testing positive at such a low number. "The (potency) level is so much greater in marijuana now, the secondhand smoke can get a positive test," Winston said. "Just a guy who is around it second hand, then to have to go into the program? We dont want false positive. We have to move up the minimum to normal workplace standards." ' ' '