Young players please Capitals

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After a five-day development camp and a scrimmage, the Washington Capitals have seen definite signs the club is moving ahead.

For the most part, 32 players have left for home after the most talented group of prospects and young players ever assembled by the Caps were evaluated by management and staff.

"We had some skills guys last year, but I think the whole level of our skill has moved up a notch," coach Glen Hanlon said in something of an understatement. Of the 26 players on the ice for yesterday's final drill, 10 were drafted in the first round -- no guarantee of success but a better starting point than in the past.

"This is how we've positioned ourselves to be successful, and as far as the skill level goes, we're in good shape," Hanlon said. "As far as just plain skill and skating, we've improved."

But how far that improvement will carry this team remains to be seen. The players with some NHL games are inexperienced and will need time to gain maturity and wisdom at the big league level before they are truly competitive.

Team officials wouldn't say who stood out or who didn't measure up, but certainly left wing Chris Bourque, a smallish, early second-round pick, was the brightest of the budding stars -- a distinction he earned on the ice and not because he is the son of soon-to-be Hall of Famer Ray Bourque.

Close behind among forwards were Jonas Johansson, obtained from Colorado in the Steve Konowalchuk deal, and Jakub Klepis, obtained from Buffalo in the Mike Grier transaction.

Defensively, Steve Eminger, who has half a season of Caps experience, was the best of the lot. Other standouts were Mike Green, taken late in the first round with a pick obtained from Detroit for Robert Lang, and Clayton Barthel, a tough player taken in the third round with a pick obtained from New Jersey.

"We structured everything to bring out their strengths," Hanlon said. "We wanted to see their skill level. We chose flow drills as opposed to just skating. We felt these players were going to have a high skill level. [The camp] allowed them to see how the Caps will be playing, and that worked, too."

Hanging over the camp, just as it hangs over everything else in the league right now, is the prospect of a lockout in mid-September if no new collective bargaining agreement is reached. Because of that, players are unsure where they will be late this summer, and the team is unsure whether it will participate in a rookie tournament in Traverse City, Mich. The Caps haven't even firmed up a date for training camp to start, although it will be after Sept.15 unless an unexpected settlement is reached before that.

Some of the 32 will play in Portland, Maine, in the American Hockey League; some may end up in the East Coast Hockey League; others will return to their junior teams; and some are caught in a tangle of red tape that may force them to sit.

Notes -- Left wing Alexander Semin's sprained ankle mysteriously cleared up in time for him to get in one practice. ... Eric Fehr (wrist), Nolan Yonkman (knee), Owen Fussey (eye) and Brian Sutherby (groin) were not on the ice for the final practice.