It wasn't all that long ago that Washington Capital Mike Green was in the discussion for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman.
Sure, he may have lost out, but when you're defeated by guys like Zdeno Chara and Duncan Keith, there's absolutely no shame in your game.
Since then, Green has been mired in a miasma of injury-riddled campaigns and questionable defensive effort. Always more offensively-minded, Green's miscues on the back end were forgivable when he was putting up major points.
But since his offensive output has dried up, so has the forgiveness for his ineffective play in his own end.
Now, as the Capitals stand on the precipice of a new season with a new coach in Barry Trotz and a refreshed plan for how to get Green going, he is exactly where he and the team don't want him to be - sitting out practice with an injury.
Green sat out practice for the second straight day with an "upper body injury," according to The Washington Post. He is apparently day-to-day.
Last season, Green appeared in 70 of a possible 82 games, and led Washington's defensemen with 38 points, but the Capitals' poor performance overall and inability to make the playoffs left fans critical and wanting more.
Many were after Green because of his tentativeness, but he and others have attributed that to former coach Adam Oates' more restrictive system.
New coach Barry Trotz hopes to play to Green's strengths.
"We're going to work with Mike," Trotz said. "He's such a dynamic player. I'm actually quite excited to work with Mike. I think what we're going to do as a team will be right up his alley, right for his skill set, all the areas of handling pucks and moving pucks and getting up on the play and being active and being a part of the attack, that will all be a part of what we do."
"The areas he needs to work hard, around the cage, some of the boxing out, some of those areas around the net where he can get better. He does that. His skillset when he skates and with his hands are phenomenal," Trotz said.
Green, when he first burst onto the scene, became known for his puck handling and ability to move forward on the breakout. He's eager to get started in Trotz's system, which he sees as a perfect fit for his skills.
"[Trotz wants me] to get definitely up the ice. He's encouraged that so far and that excites me," Green said. "[My goals are] to have an absolutely great season, to get back to getting up in the play and producing like I used to and playing solid defense."
First, he'll have to get healthy and get back on the ice.
But once he is, it sure sounds like both coach and player think the sky is the limit.
