I think your taking what I said a bit out of context.
We don’t have a 1st line, compared to other Cup contenders. It’s due in part because we don’t have a 100+ point star (that is in his prime) driving play from that line.
We do have two elite second lines. Protas PLD Wilson is an elite shutdown line because they are all elite in their own zone and also are great in the offensive zone. I don’t think they are D only but their skills there are most important in a playoff series.
We are leading the East because our top 6 are all having great years, defense is producing, and goalies are great
BUTTTTTT
The Caps are easily beat, the 3rd line is a problem, a few matchups here and there and it’s a lost series. The Ovechkin Strome whoever are soft in the D zone, they are a liability in a playoff series….even though they will produce offensively. And not to mentions our goalies really suck in heavy traffic.
There are tons of ways this good team can get better, better for a playoff series in particular.
There’s a lot of guys on this roster, McMichael, Lapierre, Mangipanie, 1sts, that I would trade for higher end talent. Another cup run at the expense McMichael and Lapierres career’s as Caps is a good trade