It’s still very early in the NHL Season, but I wanted to take a look back at two teams that I thought were going to be much improved this season.

Washington Capitals - (3-2 Currently 7th in the Eastern Conference)

This is a team I like to make the playoffs as the Capitals ownership opened their pocketbooks and brought in some secondary scoring signing Michael Nylander and Viktor Kozlov.  They also added some offensive pop on the back end with Tom Poti who should provide All Star Alex Ovechkin with some scoring from the defense something that they haven’t had since Ovechkin has been a Capital.  With Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, who had 47 goals last year and rookie Nicklas Backstrom, the fourth-overall pick in 2006 who is finally ready to make an impact this season, I like this team to sneak into the playoffs in the East.

The Capitals got off to a great 3-0 start, but have dropped their last two games on the road to the New York Rangers and Buffalo (Two of the Best teams in the East).  So far I like what I’ve seen out of the Capitals and their improving team. 

Chicago Blackhawks - (3-2 Currently 7th in the Western Conference)

Jonathan Toews, Jack Skille (Skille has started off the season in Rockford of the AHL) and Patrick Kane.  Get used to those names, because they are the future of this Blackhawks team and all should make significant contributions in Chicago this season.  The Blackhawks struggled scoring beyond Martin Havlat who led the team with 25 goals last year.  GM Dale Tallon made some significant moves to help the offense bringing in veterans Sergei Samsonov, Robert Lang, Yanic Perreault and Kevyn Adams which should help the Hawks finish higher then 29^th in goals scored.  Chicago’s defense is young with top prospects Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Cam Barker and James Wisniewski all of which contributed a season ago.  They should take another step forward with veteran goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin between the pipes.  The Blackhawks could sneak into the playoffs depending on how well the new players develop chemistry with the new veterans.

The Blackhawks have beaten the Detroit Red Wings twice, lost 1-0 in Minnesota (The Wild are 5-0 currently) and lost to the San Jose Sharks.  All of whom should be in the Western Conference playoff picture by the end of the season.  So far so good for the Hawks.  If Martin Havlat’s shoulder does not require surgery, Chicago should make the playoffs from what I’ve seen out of the team this far.

These two teams are going to have significant value moving forward especially at home against the stronger teams in their conference as dogs.