Caps' Beech Getting Another Chance

Center Kris Beech had 28 points for the champion Hershey Bears in the AHL playoffs last season. (By Mitchell Layton -- Getty Images)

This is Kris Beech's best, and perhaps final opportunity. He knows it. His coaches know it.

As the Washington Capitals' training camp began yesterday in Ashburn, Beech, 25, found himself penciled in as the second-line center, which figures to be a hotly contested job over the next three weeks. If Beech has a strong training camp, his name likely will be written in ink on opening night. If he does not, it might be erased from the Capitals' roster.

The position opened up when Jeff Halpern signed with Dallas in July and No. 4 overall draft pick Nicklas Backstrom decided to stay in Sweden for an extra year of seasoning.

"It's time for me to move up," Beech said at Ashburn Ice House, where the Capitals are holding their camp. "I'm not going to improve at the lower level anymore. My game is the best it's been in my career. I feel confident."

Beech hasn't always felt that way. The Capitals drafted him in the first round in 1999 and traded him to Pittsburgh two years later. He played 79 games for the Penguins in 2001-02, but lost his full-time job the following season and has been looking for one ever since.

"After my first year in Pittsburgh, I expected to get another shot but it didn't happen, year after year," Beech said. "That was tough mentally."

The Capitals reacquired the swift-skating, 6-foot-3, 212-pound playmaker from Nashville when they traded Brendan Witt to the Predators in March, but sent him to the minor leagues. With the Hershey Bears, a strange thing happened -- something clicked. Beech scored 14 goals and finished with 28 points in 21 postseason games for the Bears, who won the American Hockey League championship.

Beech won something else: another chance.

"What Kris Beech needs is a coach who trusts him and gives him a good chunk of ice time here to prove himself," Capitals Coach Glen Hanlon said. "The biggest thing for him is to come in and enjoy the moment and not to put too much pressure on himself."

Beech doesn't need any more pressure, not with teammates Brooks Laich and Brian Sutherby -- each of whom played more than 70 games for the Capitals last season -- also wanting a crack at centering a line that likely will include capable scorers in Alexander Semin and Richard Zednik. Dainius Zubrus will continue to center the Capitals' top line, with Alex Ovechkin and Chris Clark skating on the wings.

"There are some guys who are going to be fighting for that spot, auditioning I guess," Sutherby said. "Hopefully I can have a really good camp and get a shot at some more ice time. Anyone would welcome more of a role. That's the next step for me -- to develop more of an offensive game."

Laich added: "There's a lot of guys who have their eyes on that spot, including myself. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't striving for that."

But it appears Beech is first in line. If he doesn't work out, the team will either turn to Laich or Sutherby, or go outside the organization altogether.

"I know I need to prove that my game is ready for this level," Beech said, "and if I give 100 percent effort and focus, I know I will be able to accomplish that."