Courtesy: manitobahockeynews.com
The Washington Capitals were struggling to get anything going on their second line for quite a stretch of the first third of the 2013-14 regular season, but it appears as if they’ve found their missing link.
Eric Fehr returned to the lineup for the Capitals Nov. 23 after a three-week hiatus from the lineup as head coach Adam Oates labeled him as a healthy scratch. Some had to wonder what he was thinking after watching what Fehr has done as of late.
The 28-year-old is not a flashy player and will never pass the eye test in terms of skills like captain Alexander Ovechkin does. He does however, have something that not a lot of players have and that coaches can’t teach: effort.
Fehr has been fresh and obviously it has helped his play on the ice. After a Nov. 2 showdown with the Florida Panthers at home, Fehr disappeared from the lineup. Many questioned why he and Jay Beagle saw no game action for such a long time in favor of a struggling player like Martin Erat. In four games since his three-week absence from the lineup, he has two goals and an assist, while playing to a +1 rating.
Yes, the numbers aren’t staggering, but Fehr’s ability to create plays both offensively and defensively has been contagious for a second line that has been rearranged several times already and hasn’t shown it’s full potential. When teammates see a guy like Fehr forechecking, backchecking, grinding out tough shifts and jockeying for position in front of the net, it’s contagious and makes any coach happy that he doesn’t ever have to get on that particular player’s case for trying.
It’s hard to really describe Fehr’s game because it’s somewhat similar to Jason Chimera’s. He doesn’t care what he has to do to get on the ice, he just does it. Whether it’s beating a lazy defender to a 50-50 puck, wreaking havoc in front of the net and scrapping for loose pucks in the slot or any other task that a grinder normally partakes in, Fehr is the best man for the job.
Some may call him a role player, but Fehr is a player who can wear many hats and isn’t just limited to a particular skillset. That’s a hockey player. A guy who has played on each and every line at some point of his career. A guy who has performed on both special teams units and has seen success. Most importantly, Fehr is a guy who never gives up on anything.
Teams have off nights at times, but Washington has been guilty of having poor effort in games they shouldn’t lose this season. It’s been an Achilles heel of their organization since they’ve started winning with Ovechkin’s arrival. Fehr can play bad, but rest assured that he will never not try.
The Capitals need more of that. The Capitals need more Eric Fehr.
