NHL.com is currently running a story outlining the most underrated signings of the 2009 free agency period. In other words, these are the signings that nobody is talking about but may have the most impact for their respective teams. The Capitals' signing of Mike Knuble tops this list. You can see the full list here http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=451159&navid=DLNHLHome. The Caps were in dire need of a net-presence to wreak havoc in the crease and score the ugly goals that are oh so important. Look, Alex Ovechkin isn't going to dazzle us every night with highlight reel goals, and Mike Green just may not connect on a bomb from the point. What the Caps needed was a player who isn't scared to park himself in the high traffic areas in front of the net. Mike Knuble is the perfect prescription to fix this problem. He has proven himself to be reliable and effective. Knuble has played all 82 games in three of his last 4 seasons and has scored more than 20 goals in seven of his last eight seasons.
You can expect to see Knuble on the top with Ovechkin and Backstrom. He will be the perfect compliment. This line will have dazzling scoring power from Ovechkin, the play making finesse of Backstrom, and a 6'3" 230lb winger to clog up the middle and score the ugly goals. One thing we know for sure; with Ovechkin almost guaranteeing 500 shots on a goal, there will be no shortage of rebounds for Knuble to scoop up. It is not my intent to diminish Knuble's goal scoring abilities by suggesting he only scores the ugly goals. He has a lethal wrist shot and will also find some time on the power play. The Caps have been on the wrong end of many Knuble strikes. Thankfully we'll be on the right side for the next two years.
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