Everything's Sunny in D.C.

[der meister 3,132]

    The sun is shining, the days are still long enough to be noteworthy, and the air is just starting to bring that tinge of autumnal crispness on the edges of the wind. It's September, and Konstyantyn Shevchenko of the D.C. Dragons finally feels like he's started to arrive. For this season, it's too little too late for the team from the U.S. capitol, but team management has to be happy with the growth of their most recent first round pick.

   

    It's not easy to be optimistic about a team that's been at the bottom of the league table since day one. Whether it's their abysmal offensive production or their horrendous goals allowed, the Dragons have been a punching bag this season. This offseason will undoubtedly be a critical one, and there is a glaring need to add a number of blueliners to the mix. Adding some depth up front would not be amiss, either. In fact, the only position that seems to be reliable is in net, with goaltender Herald Benson posting surprisingly good individual statistics.

    

    Following a slow start, Shevchenko is said to have put in extra work off ice, frequently biking before and after practice, and hitting the weights in a big way. Reportedly, he has also cornered the team's video scouting staff and demanded additional time to focus on his play, revisiting what he accomplished successfully, and where he should make better decisions in the future. And now it's paying dividends.

    

    Having recently eclipsed the 20 goal mark, Shevchenko appears to not be satisfied being just another scoring winger. His physical play has ramped up considerably since first stepping on the ice with the Dragons, and his commitment to being a positive presence in the defensive zone cannot be understated. Add in his 6'8" frame and it's easy to see why scouts had him ranked so highly in his Draft class. It's obviously far too early in his career to predict, but what he has shown this season makes it much easier to picture Shevchenko being a candidate for various individual awards, such as the Scott Boulet Trophy for the VHL's best two-way forward.

    

    "I just try to play every shift like it could be my last," Shevchenko said, his command of the English language being yet another item to show noteworthy improvement.

    

    It hasn't been an easy journey for the massive Ukrainian. The plan to slot him on the Dragons' top line to start the season did not go as hoped, but he has been able to solidify himself as a two-way threat since shifting down a line. The forward trio of Shevchenko, Theo Allard, and Tom Dufour are all slated to return next season, with the first two both taking a massive pay cut in the way their contracts are structured. As of this moment, the Dragons are set to have nearly 80% of the maximum cap space available, which is frankly staggering. And Allard and Dufour aren't getting any younger, though they are only a handful of years Shevchenko's senior. But the possibilities, the pure, raw potential, of the D.C. Dragons cannot be ignored.

 

The D.C. Dragons: the home of the few and the brave