Knuble gets better with age

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By Ryan O'Halloran

Mike Knuble joined the Boston Bruins' season-opening trip through the Western Conference in 2002 not anticipating a career-changing year.

"More of the same," he said.

Not a lot of ice time.

No power-play role.

Maybe one goal a month.

But then Sergei Samsonov underwent wrist surgery, and Knuble joined the Joe Thornton-Glen Murray line and scored 30 goals. And he hasn't looked back since, posting six straight 20-goal seasons for Boston and Philadelphia, a streak the Washington Capitals hope continues this upcoming season.

"Sometimes you need the chance, but at the same time, you have to prove you're worthy of the chance," said Knuble, who visited Kettler Capitals Iceplex for the first time Tuesday during a break from house-hunting. "I stuck with [Thornton and Murray], and my career went in a different direction."

The Caps signed Knuble, 37, to a two-year, $5.6 million contract during the opening day of free agency July 1.

Knuble could start the season on the Nicklas Backstrom-Alex Ovechkin line or with Brooks Laich and Brendan Morrison.

"We replaced a 13-goal scorer with a 27-goal scorer and got better as result," general manager George McPhee said when the Caps signed Knuble.