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Sports

Alex Ovechkin back at left wing as Capitals open camp under new coach Barry Trotz

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates during a drill at NHL hockey training camp, Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) (The Associated Press)

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    Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz looks on during NHL hockey training camp, Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) (The Associated Press)

ARLINGTON, Va. – Barry Trotz says "there's no coach on the planet" who can teach what Alex Ovechkin does when playing left wing.

The new Washington Capitals coach on Friday explained his rationale for moving the three-time league MVP back to the left side.

Ovechkin led the NHL with 51 goals playing mostly on the right last season, but the Capitals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

Speaking on the first day of training camp, Trotz said Ovechkin is better defensively on the right wing and added: "If he doesn't want to adjust defensively playing the left side, then we'll talk about maybe moving him back."

Ovechkin sounded willing to work on his defense, saying, "If you want to be good, you have to work on everything."