Interview With Hanlon

I caught up with Coach Hanlon after this morning's development camp sessions. Here's what he had to say:

*Backstrom looks good, but he should look good in development camp. He's excited to see the 19-year-old Swede in training camp, when he's facing NHLers. That's when he'll really know where Backstrom is in terms of his development and where he'll fit in.

*He feels Francois Bouchard has improved a great deal expects that he'll get the opportunity to crack the lineup in training camp.

*On the offseason signings, he said: "It's nice to get centers. When you have some experienced centers, who have put up legitimate NHL numbers, it really gives you some different things to do. You can never have too many centers in your lineup. But not only those guys [Nylander and Kozlov], but the signing of Pollock and Boumedienne gives us two other offensive weapons.They have to make the hockey team, but they are offensive guys. With Pollock and Poti and Boumedienne, at least going into training camp, we've got three power play defensemen. And we've got a full six forwards now. It gives you some options."

Sounds like the Caps are going to have some tough decisions in September when sorting out the defense.