Capitals at a glance
	Camp schedule: Sept. 11-16: Piney Orchard Ice Arena (Odenton, Md.) Sept. 17-23: Euless StarCenter (Euless, Texas) Sept. 24: Piney Orchard Ice Arena Coach: Ron Wilson (5th season, 156-128-40-6) General manager: George McPhee (5th season)

The Penguins couldn't afford Jaromir Jagr. The Capitals, thanks to the deep pockets of owner Ted Leonsis, could. So Washington suddenly has the best -- yes, the best -- player in the league, and the Capitals suddenly have upgraded their offense from underpowered to potent. Jagr now will have to adapt from being around so many fellow Czechs in Pittsburgh to playing for a franchise that might have only one other Czech in uniform. Don't laugh; it's part of a comfort zone. Before Jagr arrived, the Caps' biggest problem was their over-reliance on Peter Bondra. A reawakening of the mercurial Dmitri Khristich also would help.

Southeast shame: Until the Hurricanes secured the final playoff spot in the East, the Capitals looked to be the only team from the horrible Southeast Division to make the postseason. What's this ineptitude mean? The Caps are a lock again to win the division and earn at least the third seed in the East, so that's a motivation issue. Ron Wilson should take advantage of the circumstances, convince Olaf Kolzig he doesn't need to play every darned game and to take more nights off.

Powered up: Despite their lack of offensive depth, the Capitals still had the fourth-best power play in the league last season, at 21.2 percent. With Jagr up front, it should get even better. And point man Sergei Gonchar, one of the most under-heralded players in the league, should get back over 20 goals again this season and might even lead the league's defensemen in scoring.

Daily update: The chances are only one in a million that part-owner Michael Jordan will come out of athletic retirement to play for the Capitals. But then he would have only football left.

Capitals 2001-02 preseason schedule
Date	Opponent	Time
Sat., Sept. 15	Philadelphia	Canceled*
Sun., Sept. 16	vs. Boston at Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine	Canceled^
Sat., Sept. 18	Philadelphia	7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 21	at Dallas	8:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 22	vs. Tampa Bay at Compaq Center, Houston	8:30 p.m.
Mon., Sept. 24	vs. Boston at Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine	7 p.m.
Tue., Sept. 25	at Philadelphia	7 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 28	at Carolina	7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 29	Carolina	7 p.m.
*Rescheduled for Sept. 18 ^Rescheduled for Sept. 24