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  6. article_body => "<p>For the first time in a couple of years, the Caps will have some job openings when training camp opens in September. One\u2014maybe two\u2014of those openings could be in the bottom-six forward group.<\/p>\n<p>Asked on Tuesday to name some prospects he believes could seize a spot on the fourth line, Bears Coach Troy Mann didn\u2019t hesitate to say that he believes Nathan Walker is \u201cas close as anybody\u201d to being ready to make the jump from the minors to the NHL.<\/p>\n<p><em>RELATED:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/washington-capitals\/who-still-needs-goalie-possible-trade-destinations-philipp-grubauer\" id=\"media-card-link-1116226\" target=\"_blank\">Who still needs a goalie? Possible destinations for Grubauer<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Walker, the Caps\u2019 third round pick in 2014, is aiming to become the first Australian-born player to reach the NHL. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think when you look at our guys, Walker comes to mind,\u201d said Mann, who is running the Capitals\u2019 development camp this week. \u201cHe plays the game the right way. He\u2019s a 200-foot player. He gets in on the forecheck. He has good stick detail.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Walker posted 11 goals and 12 assists in 58 games for the Bears last season. Earlier this month, the 23-year-old winger signed a two-year, two-way contract extension that will pay&nbsp;him $650,000 per year in the NHL. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d love to see him slide into [Daniel] Winnik\u2019s spot, from my standpoint,&nbsp;because he\u2019s really grown here the last couple of years,\u201d Mann added.<\/p>\n<p>Winnik, who was the Caps\u2019 fourth line left wing last season, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Mann also mentioned forwards Chandler Stephenson, whom he believes is \u201cthe most physically NHL ready\u201d prospect in Hershey,&nbsp;as well as Riley Barber and Travis Boyd as being in the mix to challenge for a spot in Washington this fall. Stephenson played four games for the Caps in 2016-17, while Barber saw in action in three games.<\/p>\n<p><em>MORE CAPITALS:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnmidatlantic.com\/video\/craig-laughlin-scores-game-winner-alumni-game\" target=\"_blank\">Craig Laughlin scores game-winner in Alumni Game<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n"
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Capitals

Capitals

For the first time in a couple of years, the Caps will have some job openings when training camp opens in September. One—maybe two—of those openings could be in the bottom-six forward group.

Asked on Tuesday to name some prospects he believes could seize a spot on the fourth line, Bears Coach Troy Mann didn’t hesitate to say that he believes Nathan Walker is “as close as anybody” to being ready to make the jump from the minors to the NHL.

RELATED: Who still needs a goalie? Possible destinations for Grubauer

Walker, the Caps’ third round pick in 2014, is aiming to become the first Australian-born player to reach the NHL.   

“I think when you look at our guys, Walker comes to mind,” said Mann, who is running the Capitals’ development camp this week. “He plays the game the right way. He’s a 200-foot player. He gets in on the forecheck. He has good stick detail.”

Walker posted 11 goals and 12 assists in 58 games for the Bears last season. Earlier this month, the 23-year-old winger signed a two-year, two-way contract extension that will pay him $650,000 per year in the NHL.  

“I’d love to see him slide into [Daniel] Winnik’s spot, from my standpoint, because he’s really grown here the last couple of years,” Mann added.

Winnik, who was the Caps’ fourth line left wing last season, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  

 

Mann also mentioned forwards Chandler Stephenson, whom he believes is “the most physically NHL ready” prospect in Hershey, as well as Riley Barber and Travis Boyd as being in the mix to challenge for a spot in Washington this fall. Stephenson played four games for the Caps in 2016-17, while Barber saw in action in three games.

MORE CAPITALS: Craig Laughlin scores game-winner in Alumni Game