Troy Brouwer will play on the same line as Alex Ovechkin on Monday night in exhibition play versus Columbus. Mike Knuble and Joel Ward have also seen action with Ovechkin, but the physical presence of Brouwer could give him an edge if that's a direction that coach Bruce Boudreau decides to take. Marcus Johansson appears to be the favorite to act as the Great Eight's center when the regular season begins, but Nicklas Backstrom shouldn't be counted out of the equation.