After first looks I fully expect Vrana not to make it.
Only spot we have left is "rotation". He isnt currently outplaying Milano or Protas out of the everyday lineup. Cristall is forcing their hand to give him extended look with the 9 games. Miro is looking good and ready to play bunch of hockey up this year. And then there is Frank, Sgarbossa who have to pass waivers, and are at the end of their journey with the Caps if they dont make it up. These guys just deserve it more and Vrana would need to be at his '18 level to actually outplay someone out of their top9 spot.
They do have cap space to run with 14 forwards if they still like Vrana too, but does that make any sense. Nostalgy would have been fun obviously, but unless Vrana really forces his way in Ill rather give the spot to the Hershey/prospect core that is gelling in for tomorrows.
Shepard has lost his momentum. He needed to have a monster camp and look solid as rock from the get go. He didnt look sharp against Flyers and Stevenson was better in his half. Thats fine. Shepard has nothing to prove at AHL-level anymore and I hope he gets his chance somewhere, but I like our goalies too much to feel bad for Hunter.
Defence is set in stone.
Ovie-Dubois/Strome-Mangiapane
McMichael-Strome/Dubois-Wilson
Milano-Lapierre-Cristall/Miro
Duhaime-Dowd-Protas
Raddysh
+ Frank / Sgarbossa / Trineyev
Fehervary-Carlson
Chychrun-Roy
Sandin-TvR
Alexeeyev
+ Iorio, McIlrath, HHA
Lindgren/Thompson
+ Stevenson
Quite a different view if you look 2 years back. There was a lot of rumbling and still is, but hey, they actually did rebuild on the fly. Leonard, Parascak, Hutson, Protas younger, Mateiko, Muggli, Funk, Chesley etc etc. Our pipe doesnt look like a perennial rebuilder, but it looks as there is a lot of support coming up the next few years.
Really excited for the new season! Either we are making a solid run for the playoff-spot again, or at worst case scenario we atleast have a lot of interesting pieces to A) sell and B) develope. Add in Ovechkin's record hunt. Getting the popcorns out.
Id love to see Oshie returning for playoffs.