This post is part of Capitals Day on PHT...
After yet another postseason disappointment, the Caps will try again with largely the same roster in 2016-17.
Which is to say, this isn’t a team with a bunch of openings for ambitious prospects.
But Madison Bowey could be an exception. The 21-year-old defenseman turned pro in 2015-16, and all things considered, his year went pretty well. He finished with four goals and 25 assists in 70 games for AHL Hershey, despite receiving “very, very limited power play time,” according to Bears coach Troy Mann.
The goal last season was to become a more responsible defender.
“For me, my defensive play has definitely developed,” Bowey told the Washington Post in May, “and I know just positioning-wise and feeling strong in my own end is definitely a huge key in my game right now, so I’m just trying to keep on building on that.”
It remains to be seen if Bowey can crack the Caps’ roster out of training camp. There are already seven defensemen under contract, and all of them require waivers to be sent down.
Even if he starts back in the AHL, it’s certainly possible that Bowey could make his NHL debut sometime next season, should there be an injury. And you can bet the likes of Nate Schmidt, Taylor Chorney and Dmitry Orlov know that he’s there, just waiting for his chance.
“For me, it’s just making sure that I’m getting better every time I step on the ice and every day and have a good summer,” said Bowey, “and you never know what could happen next year.”