Speculation: Caps Roster General Discussion (Coaching/FAs/Cap/Lines/etc) | 2025-26 Summer Edition

[AlexModvechkin8]

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Pretty much what I thought. Strong enough results defensively but useless from an offensive perspective.

 

[stephenball]

I suspect the Stars would still like a Sourdif + Cristall +++. But yeah, someone will out bid us.

Maybe the offer sheet route is more doable, but is 4 unprotected 1st a good idea?

I’d feel fine about 4 unprotected firsts. Although I don’t think it’ll happen. I’ve been saying (warning) that it feels more likely that Washington trades for Pettersson than offer sheeting Robertson, whether we like it or not. But I also think they’re fairly likely done at forward this offseason.

 

[Calicaps]

With the acquisition of Kyrou, I suppose it's not impossible that GMCP could offer 18OA + Cristall + more futures for Hronek or something. Would folks want that or is AC too off limits?

 

[BMacs Burner]

With the acquisition of Kyrou, I suppose it's not impossible that GMCP could offer 18OA + Cristall + more futures for Hronek or something. Would folks want that or is AC too off limits?

I would not put Cristall in a package for Hronek personally. And if you did I'd try to keep that 1st and replace it with a Parascak-tier prospect instead. His upside is just too intriging as a super high IQ playmaker.

 

[DWGie26]

** Moved to trade thread **

 

[Rayquaza64]

Realistically I don’t think we had the assets to get Robertson anyways, unless we go the four firsts route I guess

 

[CapsSkins]

Should we call our old friend Mike Grier about Orlov?

 

[Holtbyisms]

Should we call our old friend Mike Grier about Orlov?

Maybe if Orlov learned to play right handed in his time away from DC.

 

[CapsSkins]

Maybe if Orlov learned to play right handed in his time away from DC.

D'oh I totally mixed him up with Matt Niskanen

 

[DWGie26]

I think (hope) there is more to come on forward side. Next transaction I’d like to see is Ethan Frank for a pick. Speed, NHL established, and will be valued higher up the lineup than in Washington. In this market I think he could fetch a third. I mean Malenstyn fetched a high second so maybe even that. We need to move a right shot out with Miro and Trineyev knocking on door as well.

 

[qcal1427]

I think (hope) there is more to come on forward side. Next transaction I’d like to see is Ethan Frank for a pick. Speed, NHL established, and will be valued higher up the lineup than in Washington. In this market I think he could fetch a third. I mean Malenstyn fetched a high second so maybe even that. We need to move a right shot out with Miro and Trineyev knocking on door as well.

I think Miro is a lot more likely to be moved, I'll be super specific and say it's to Calgary for Utah's 2nd rounder this year

 

[Rayquaza64]

I think Miro is a lot more likely to be moved, I'll be super specific and say it's to Calgary for Utah's 2nd rounder this year

why would we do that? I don’t think there’s a second rounder that would have the same upside as miro at this point. moving frank would make a little more sense as he’s likely nothing more than a bottom six speed guy but i don’t think either get moved for futures

 

[qcal1427]

why would we do that? I don’t think there’s a second rounder that would have the same upside as miro at this point. moving frank would make a little more sense as he’s likely nothing more than a bottom six speed guy but i don’t think either get moved for futures

Because there's no spot for Miro this year if Ovi comes back (which I think he will) and he loses waiver ineligibility

I also think Miro has very little upside left, basically just as an offensive bottom 6er who hits and can play up in spot duty if someone gets injured, which is functionally the same as Frank

 

[CapsSkins]

As scary as the East is, the big dogs are all in the Atlantic + Carolina.

Caps should finish either 1st or 2nd in the Metro this season. Win the first series and they have a puncher's chance to knock off the defending champs in the second round (wouldn't be the first time they've done that).

If they make the ECF, even if they lose to FLA/TBL/MON/whomever, they will be viewed as a team on the cusp that might attract a McDavid/other high-end player.

Chris Patrick needs to fill out this roster with Carolina in mind. Would be cool to see Ovie get past the second round one more time before he hangs them up, too.

 

[Rayquaza64]

Because there's no spot for Miro this year if Ovi comes back (which I think he will) and he loses waiver ineligibility

I also think Miro has very little upside left, basically just as an offensive bottom 6er who hits and can play up in spot duty if someone gets injured, which is functionally the same as Frank

i feel like we’re in disagreement over miro’s offensive upside but tbh i don’t think ovi’s coming back. if he does i hope and pray he isn’t glued to the 1LW spot (even if he does come back, we should still probably try and find another top six winger anyways)

 

[qcal1427]

i feel like we’re in disagreement over miro’s offensive upside but tbh i don’t think ovi’s coming back. if he does i hope and pray he isn’t glued to the 1LW spot (even if he does come back, we should still probably try and find another top six winger anyways)

Lines are looking like:

Leonard-PLD-Wilson
Protas-Protas-Kyrou
Beauvillier-Strome-???
???-Sourdif-Frank

I just don't know where the spot for Miro is either next year or long term. If Ovi comes back it's him at 3RW and if not I'd prefer Cristall there to Miro.

 

[CapsSkins]

i feel like we’re in disagreement over miro’s offensive upside but tbh i don’t think ovi’s coming back. if he does i hope and pray he isn’t glued to the 1LW spot (even if he does come back, we should still probably try and find another top six winger anyways)

I predict Ovie comes back at a salary number that is commensurate with middle-6/PP specialist deployment, and that will be his on-ice role for the farewell tour.

 

[CapsSkins]

Lines are looking like:

Leonard-PLD-Wilson
Protas-Protas-Kyrou
Beauvillier-Strome-???
???-Sourdif-Frank

I just don't know where the spot for Miro is either next year or long term. If Ovi comes back it's him at 3RW and if not I'd prefer Cristall there to Miro.

I'd run:

aPro-PLD-Kyrou
Ovie-iPro-Wilson
Cristall-Strome-Leonard
Miro-Sourdif-(Beauvillier/Frank/Triniyev/Lapierre)

They gotta move one of those bottom-6 wingers.

This way we have a real top line, Ilya has different kinds of veteran winger support as he takes on a top 6 center role, Strome drives a contending-caliber 3rd line, and Sourdif anchors the 4th line.

It would look a lot prettier with Larkin or another top end forward, but I can convince myself the above is pretty good.

 

[qcal1427]

I'd run:

aPro-PLD-Kyrou
Ovie-iPro-Wilson
Cristall-Strome-Leonard
Miro-Sourdif-(Beauvillier/Frank/Triniyev/Lapierre)

They gotta move one of those bottom-6 wingers.

This way we have a real top line, Ilya has different kinds of veteran winger support as he takes on a top 6 center role, Strome drives a contending-caliber 3rd line, and Sourdif anchors the 4th line.

It would look a lot prettier with Larkin or another top end forward, but I can convince myself the above is pretty good.

I think that second line would be a massive waste of Wilson's talents and asking a lot of iPro as a rookie. You'd also be putting at least one subpar (at minimum) defender on each line (Kyrou, Ovi, the entire third line, Miro) which makes deployments and matchups super tricky.

If Ovi comes back I just don't see how you can separate him from Strome and have the deployments work unless you put one of our actual top line forwards in aPro or Wilson on babysitting duty

 

[CapsSkins]

I think that second line would be a massive waste of Wilson's talents and asking a lot of iPro as a rookie. You'd also be putting at least one subpar (at minimum) defender on each line (Kyrou, Ovi, the entire third line, Miro) which makes deployments and matchups super tricky.

If Ovi comes back I just don't see how you can separate him from Strome and have the deployments work unless you put one of our actual top line forwards in aPro or Wilson on babysitting duty

Someone has to be sacrificed to make up for Ovie and Wilson as the veteran, captain-in-waiting is as good a choice as any. Ilya gets a 200 ft player power forward on one side and the greatest shot in history on the other. Teams respect Ovie and Wilson in different ways; I don't think it's putting too much on Ilya's plate.

But you don't acquire Kyrou to make him cover for Ovie and you don't want to stunt Leonard's offensive development either. Ergo, Wilson.

Meanwhile I really want Hronek. 28 years old (same age as Chychrun) locked up for another 5 years at $7.25M.

Chychrun-Hronek
Hutson-Roy
Fehervary-TvR

That looks pretty damn good.