From Off-Wing Opinion:
After a solid first year in the league, the Caps have rewarded center Dave Steckel with a one-year contract extension. This will keep Steckel in a Caps uniform through the ’09-’10 season.
Steckel was the top face-off winner for the Caps last season, and ranked 7th in the league. The Caps came into last season with questions in the face-off circle. Backstrom and Steckel were untested, and Kozlov and Laich aren’t known for their face-off prowess. Nylander was just below 50% when his season was ended by injury. Along with Boyd Gordon, Steckel was a pleasant surprise for the Caps this season at the dot.
Read the entire entry here.
Steckel understands his role with the Capitals, and that is as a depth forward who can take face-offs and use his size to his advantage. Clearly the Capitals liked what the saw last season, as Steckel was already under contract for next season; so there was no rush to get this done.
