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

[BMacs Burner]

We are now likely very high on the McDestination list for next summer

 

[kicksavedave]

I think a lot of folks think this is the trigger to get Ovi to come back... I'm of the mindset that this is the move you make to replace Ovi's goals when you're NOT expecting him to come back. I see ONE roster spot for a young winger, 3R/L W, without Ovi, and none if he comes back.

Simply, Ovi comes back, no room for Cristall, whom the Caps felt was almost ready last year and certainly earned a hard look with his production in Hershey. Maybe let Miro and AC fight it out for that last spot. Handing it back to 47 year old Ovi for a goodbye tour really blocks any kids from joining the lineup.

 

[Kalopsia]

Confucius, or Sun Tzu?

Probably Confucius. Sun Tzu was more of a baseball guy, known of course for his sabremetics book "The Art of WAR (Wins Above Replacement)"

 

[kicksavedave]

Probably Confucius. Sun Tzu was more of a baseball guy, known of course for his sabremetics book "The Art of WAR (Wins Above Replacement)"

Brilliant!

 

[qcal1427]

I think a lot of folks think this is the trigger to get Ovi to come back... I'm of the mindset that this is the move you make to replace Ovi's goals when you're NOT expecting him to come back. I see ONE roster spot for a young winger, 3R/L W, without Ovi, and none if he comes back.

Simply, Ovi comes back, no room for Cristall, whom the Caps felt was almost ready last year and certainly earned a hard look with his production in Hershey. Maybe let Miro and AC fight it out for that last spot. Handing it back to 47 year old Ovi for a goodbye tour really blocks any kids from joining the lineup.

I think one of the great things about these moves (and really how they have set up the entire roster the last couple of years) is that they’re completely Ovi agnostic. If he comes back, great. If he doesn’t, also fine.

 

[wickedwitch]

It would be extra nice if the Leonard extension was already inked (and ready to be filed) at a reasonable number, which is why they were okay going to $10.5m for Tuch.

 

[Threetrees]

We are now likely very high on the McDestination list for next summer

This is the biggest thing. The Caps needed to make themselves a more enticing destination for next year when McDavid and Matthews potentially become available. They did that. They also kept most of their assets as well. Overpaying for Robertson would have made that impossible.

 

[RedRocking]

I think a lot of folks think this is the trigger to get Ovi to come back... I'm of the mindset that this is the move you make to replace Ovi's goals when you're NOT expecting him to come back. I see ONE roster spot for a young winger, 3R/L W, without Ovi, and none if he comes back.

Simply, Ovi comes back, no room for Cristall, whom the Caps felt was almost ready last year and certainly earned a hard look with his production in Hershey. Maybe let Miro and AC fight it out for that last spot. Handing it back to 47 year old Ovi for a goodbye tour really blocks any kids from joining the lineup.

I sorta agree. But as someone who is a little squeamish about Ovi coming back (cause of these issues, and I don’t enjoy seeing him even more diminished), these moves would really push him down to true 3rd line minutes/PP specialist, which would make me more amenable to him returning.

 

[Langway]

Simply, Ovi comes back, no room for Cristall, whom the Caps felt was almost ready last year and certainly earned a hard look with his production in Hershey. Maybe let Miro and AC fight it out for that last spot. Handing it back to 47 year old Ovi for a goodbye tour really blocks any kids from joining the lineup.

On the other hand both Patrick and Mac did very recently warn against attempting to go too young. Whether it's Cristall or Lakovic I think they're going to have to knock their socks off to steal a regular spot going forward. Until then I'm assuming they'll have sky high thresholds to meet when it comes to all-around readiness (work ethic, strength, defense mainly) in addition to having sufficient offensive game. Maybe waiver exemption keeps Miro or Lapierre around as extras. We'll see. I wonder if either or both could help net something more valuable at RD?

 

[Holtbyisms]

On the other hand both Patrick and Mac did very recently warn against attempting to go too young. Whether it's Cristall or Lakovic I think they're going to have to knock their socks off to steal a regular spot going forward. Until then I'm assuming they'll have sky high thresholds to meet when it comes to all-around readiness (work ethic, strength, defense mainly) in addition to having sufficient offensive game. Maybe waiver exemption keeps Miro or Lapierre around as extras. We'll see. I wonder if either or both could help net something more valuable at RD?

I feel like these two moves spell the end for Lappy.

 

[Calicaps]

Cristall came on late in the season in Hershey and was very good. But he also was playing with iPro who blew everyone and everything out of the water. I don't have a problem with AC starting the year with the Bears and being asked to show that he wasn't just a product of Ilya. (I don't think he was.) There will be injuries and other opportunities for call-ups. Then it will be up to him to make himself indispensable.

 

[max21]

This is surprising to me tbh, I was assuming Leonard would take a jump in production next year and Cristall would join the club. This more or less block Cristall which kinda sucks in a way. They really took the not scoring thing serious and went and got the best scorers on the market lol

 

[Hivemind]

I think people forget how close Cristall was to making the team out of camp in each of the past two seasons, and how much he has outplayed more experienced competitors in the pre-season. He deserves to be on the roster this year, and he deserves to be getting minutes. His waiver status is the only thing working against him, but we'll see if they clear off guys like Lapierre or Miro in the coming months.

 

[Calicaps]

This is surprising to me tbh, I was assuming Leonard would take a jump in production next year and Cristall would join the club. This more or less block Cristall which kinda sucks in a way. They really took the not scoring thing serious and went and got the best scorers on the market lol

I think people forget how close Cristall was to making the team out of camp in each of the past two seasons, and how much he has outplayed more experienced competitors in the pre-season. He deserves to be on the roster this year, and he deserves to be getting minutes. His waiver status is the only thing working against him, but we'll see if they clear off guys like Lapierre or Miro in the coming months.

BMac literally said last week that they don't want to be too young. They aren't rebuilding and they want everyone (e.g. McDavid/Matthews/Thomas) to know it. If Cristall wants a spot he can earn it.

They're not gonna gift it to him, but they're also not gonna ice a lesser roster just because he's a youngster. No one is blocked. Beau and/or Frank can sit if AC is ready to rock.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Cristall came on late in the season in Hershey and was very good. But he also was playing with iPro who blew everyone and everything out of the water. I don't have a problem with AC starting the year with the Bears and being asked to show that he wasn't just a product of Ilya. (I don't think he was.) There will be injuries and other opportunities for call-ups. Then it will be up to him to make himself indispensable.

Yeah realistically I got about 1/2 of the Hershey home games live this year and the other half on Flo. I was super critical of him early on, he looked slow, weak and only able to collect points when he wasn't being tightly defended. A perimeter player. About halfway through the year it started to click though. He started beating guys one on one, going to dirty areas, taking hits and literally laughing in guys faces after. Inciting violence, which I loved. He rapidly took huge steps and made me eat my scouting report. That said, another year won't hurt him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the upper end of AHL scoring next year and I'd be surprised if he didn't lead the bears in points. He adapts to each level so quickly it's insane. If he can do that in the NHL the year after next we'll have ANOTHER top six forward and a great problem.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Tuch - Dubois - Wilson
Protas - Protas - Kyrou
Ovechkin - Strome - Leonard
Beauvillier - Sourdif - Frank

f*** it we ball.

Heady stuff...

We are all in, so let's also move Beauvillier, Frank, Lappy, and Chuckie ASAP for as much as possible in this high spend market.

Pool whatever we get plus 18 OA for Hronek or another top 1/2D.

Tuch - Dubois - Wilson
Protas - Protas - Kyrou
Cristall - Sourdif - Leonard
Miro - Strome - Ovechkin

Gives Miro and Cristall an open door to shine on a powerful squad, with Lakovic on deck in a couple of years. Need some creative youth here too.

This is close to the roll four lines scenario i have been hoping for

 

[Langway]

I think people forget how close Cristall was to making the team out of camp in each of the past two seasons, and how much he has outplayed more experienced competitors in the pre-season. He deserves to be on the roster this year, and he deserves to be getting minutes. His waiver status is the only thing working against him, but we'll see if they clear off guys like Lapierre or Miro in the coming months.

There's proximity from an offensive/energy/sense standpoint but some of it's just pre-season fumes IMO. I mean, we often saw Milano and Lapierre showing out during that span as well. There's going to be a strength/off-puck/defensive threshold he's got to consistently clear first and then he'll be undeniable and hit the ground running truly.

One thing in his favor is that neither Kyrou nor Tuch have historically been massive PP guys. Kyrou has one year of clearing 10 PPGs and Tuch has zero. If there's an iffy aspect to these adds it's that area, even if ultimately 5v5 is more important in comparison. That could help a dynamic PP talent like Cristall, although Ilya Protas stands to carve out a role and Aliaksei certainly could as well if he comes back leaner. Of the two I think Kyrou stands to be most helpful on the man advantage, operating in the bumper spot ala Oshie one would think. If Ovechkin does return then he's done with the two minute PPs you'd think. Not enough spots to go around otherwise between all of those other right shots now.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

It sucks for the prospects trying to make the team. They have been replaced. We have some spots open but it will be a try out.

If we add no one on D the lineup gets interesting.

 

[Holtbyisms]

Acted fast instead of waiting until they didn't have a seat like last year. Love the Kyrou trade, less enthusiastic about Tuch. Leans to the Ovi done side of things. RD still a massive hole.

I feel the opposite. I think this screams 8s coming back for a last hurrah.

 

[bacchist]

Probably would have said the same about Big Pros first 52 games and 13 points?

I forgot how awful he was.

 

[Holtbyisms]

I forgot how awful he was.

I had watched him in Hershey and thought he was a AHL star at best headed for the KHL at one point. Then he started clicking in Hershey and I saw it and started pumping his tires. Glad he made me look smarter than I am.

 

[CapsSkins]

Caps have $12.75M in cap space left to sign Ovie and a RD. Keep in mind Sandin's $4.6M will be on LTIR for the first half of the year and we can bury McIlrath's $850K in Hershey. We got plenty of room.

 

[g00n]

I forgot how awful he was.

Points-wise, yes. But you could see in his play he was going to be a force. He just wasn't scoring yet.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Caps are notorious for keeping their prospects on the slow cooker until they’re more than ready. If Cristall isn’t on the team this season, he’s likely Ovi’s replacement next season.