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

[bacchist]

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

Kyrou is not a subpar defender, though. I think people keep saying this because people keep saying it. He finished in the mid-20s in Selke voting last year, between Wilson and Protas. He got one Selke vote the year before, too!

 

[TheSmokingMan]

I wanted to put together a clear list of players under contract and their natural positions. If I got a position wrong, please feel free to correct. We need to get down to 23 and it looks to me like they still need to add a RD and a LW. Going to be some interesting decisions. I don’t think GMCP is done making moves.

Centers (5)
PLD
Strome
Sourdif
Lapierre (RFA / must clear waivers)
iPro

Left Wing (4)
aPro
Beauvillier
Miroshnichenko (must clear waivers)
Cristall

Right Wing (5)
Kyrou
Wilson
Leonard
Frank (must clear waivers)
Trineyev (must clear waivers)

Defense (9)
Chychrun (LD)
Hutson (LD)
Fehervary (LD)
Sandin (LD) (LTIR until mid-season)
Roy (RD)
Liljegren (RD) (must clear waivers)
Chisholm (RD) (must clear waivers)
Mcllrath (RD) (must clear waivers)
Chesley (RD)

Goalie (3)
Thompson
Lindgren
Stevenson (must clear waivers)

UFAs (3)
Ovechkin (LW)
Duhaime (LW)
TVR (RD)

———————-–————————-

I think they re-sign Ovi, Lapierre, and TVR.
My 23 on opening night:

C: PLD, Strome, iPro, Sourdif
LW: Ovi, aPro, Beauvillier, Miroshnichenko
RW: Kyrou, Wilson, Leonard, Frank
LD: Chychrun, Fehervary, Hutson
RD: Roy, TVR, Liljegren
G: Thompson, Lindgren

Scratches: Cristall, Lapierre, Chisholm
LTIR: Sandin
Hershey: Chesley, Trineyev, Mcllrath, Stevenson

Obviously, this could easily change if they make a move at LW (especially if Ovie retires). I think they are still actively looking to trade for a RD as well.

 

[strungout]

I actually don't think the Caps are overly interested in Robertson. They've made their top six move. They want to get faster, which Robertson will not help. Maybe a bottom six forward? Curious about 2RD, too.

There’s gotta be some young RD out there being squeezed out of regular lineup they could target perhaps via trade. No idea who.

Also liked what I saw from Coghlan in his limited time in Finals. Could be a easy UFA pick up.

 

[OV Rocks]

Can't be done yet Caps still need another high end LW - I like Elias Petterson

A. Protas - PLD - Wilson

• Elite shutdown line and all are capable of 25+ goals

Petterson - I. Protas - Kyrou

• A little bit more skill focused second line with creativity and if you can get 90% of high end Petterson and Kyrou you have two 30 goal wingers with a creative young center

Ovechkin/Miro - Strome - Leonard

• The someone has to play with Ovechkin line, but in all honesty this could work. Leonard has a lot of Oshie's qualities that he can compliment and Strome has some of Backstrom's. I don't think Ovi is playing every night and Miro can slide in to compliment when he is out

Beauvillier - Sourdif - Frank

• Speed, grit, defense first. Not our best 4th line ever but I am happy with it

 

[um]

I think they re-sign Ovi, Lapierre, and TVR.
My 23 on opening night:

C: PLD, Strome, iPro, Sourdif
LW: Ovi, aPro, Beauvillier, Miroshnichenko
RW: Kyrou, Wilson, Leonard, Frank
LD: Chychrun, Fehervary, Hutson
RD: Roy, TVR, Liljegren
G: Thompson, Lindgren

Scratches: Cristall, Lapierre, Chisholm
LTIR: Sandin
Hershey: Chesley, Trineyev, Mcllrath, Stevenson

Obviously, this could easily change if they make a move at LW (especially if Ovie retires). I think they are still actively looking to trade for a RD as well.

I gotta think they will acquire another RD more suited to a top 4 role.

With all the aggressive and savvy moves they've made over the past few years, why stop now?

 

[um]

Can't be done yet Caps still need another high end LW - I like Elias Petterson

A. Protas - PLD - Wilson

• Elite shutdown line and all are capable of 25+ goals

Petterson - I. Protas - Kyrou

• A little bit more skill focused second line with creativity and if you can get 90% of high end Petterson and Kyrou you have two 30 goal wingers with a creative young center

Ovechkin/Miro - Strome - Leonard

• The someone has to play with Ovechkin line, but in all honesty this could work. Leonard has a lot of Oshie's qualities that he can compliment and Strome has some of Backstrom's. I don't think Ovi is playing every night and Miro can slide in to compliment when he is out

Beauvillier - Sourdif - Frank

• Speed, grit, defense first. Not our best 4th line ever but I am happy with it

I do think Leonard can be a natural fit with Ovie.

He's got a good two-way game, he's got speed and skills to make entries and breakouts, and he's smart enough to keep up with Ovie.

 

[qcal1427]

Kyrou is not a subpar defender, though. I think people keep saying this because people keep saying it. He finished in the mid-20s in Selke voting last year, between Wilson and Protas. He got one Selke vote the year before, too!

I think the perception of coaches is that he’s a subpar defender. I would be surprised if Carbery is using him in a matchup role right off the bat.

 

[qcal1427]

I do think Leonard can be a natural fit with Ovie.

He's got a good two-way game, he's got speed and skills to make entries and breakouts, and he's smart enough to keep up with Ovie.

I don’t think he has a great two way game yet and whoever plays opposite Ovi is going to be forced into a puck retrieval role that I don’t think suits Leonard

 

[um]

I don’t think he has a great two way game yet and whoever plays opposite Ovi is going to be forced into a puck retrieval role that I don’t think suits Leonard

I do think he will be decent at that, at some point. He's not exactly weak or soft; it's just a matter of adjusting to the NHL level.

I think the damage done of putting a grinder like Beauvilier with Ovie and Strome is greater than putting an average puck retrieval player with them. Ovie and Strome want to make plays, often east-west. Beauvilier just couldn't keep up with that last year. It was awful to watch.

Protas and Wilson are also good choices to play with them.

 

[Kalopsia]

I do think he will be decent at that, at some point. He's not exactly weak or soft; it's just a matter of adjusting to the NHL level.

I think the damage done of putting a grinder like Beauvilier with Ovie and Strome is greater than putting an average puck retrieval player with them. Ovie and Strome want to make plays, often east-west. Beauvilier just couldn't keep up with that last year. It was awful to watch.

Protas and Wilson are also good choices to play with them.

Might not've looked pretty, but the numbers say Beauvilier worked better than the alternatives (who were mostly Protas and CMC).

Ovie+Strome w/ Beauvilier: 62.9 GF%, 52.6 xGF% in 405 minutes
Ovie+Strome w/o Beauvilier: 56.7 GF%, 46.9 xGF% in 299 minutes

 

[um]

Might not've looked pretty, but the numbers say Beauvilier worked better than the alternatives (who were mostly Protas and CMC).

Ovie+Strome w/ Beauvilier: 62.9 GF%, 52.6 xGF% in 405 minutes
Ovie+Strome w/o Beauvilier: 56.7 GF%, 46.9 xGF% in 299 minutes

Oh, I know why it was done.

But both Ovie and Strome performed way below what they are capable of. We did not get the best of those guys last year. They basically settled with Beauvilier.

Kind of like Kyrou. You can point to the fancy stats all you want, but there is another level here that the Blues did not get.

 

[895]

Rasmus Andersson might hit UFA instead of signing with Vegas as expected. In that case I am ready to overpay him. Fixes a gaping hole and we have cap space to spare.

 

[qcal1427]

Rasmus Andersson might hit UFA instead of signing with Vegas as expected. In that case I am ready to overpay him. Fixes a gaping hole and we have cap space to spare.

as much as I’m an Andersson skeptic I kind of think we should just do it, he’s the exact kind of player I would trust our pro scouts over myself on

 

[Kolzilla]

If that is the case, hopefully Andersson's poor play in this year's playoff is an outlier.

 

[Kalopsia]

RIP Hronek dreams.

 

[nogatco rd]

I wanted to put together a clear list of players under contract and their natural positions. If I got a position wrong, please feel free to correct. We need to get down to 23 and it looks to me like they still need to add a RD and a LW. Going to be some interesting decisions. I don’t think GMCP is done making moves.

Centers (5)
PLD
Strome
Sourdif
Lapierre (RFA / must clear waivers)
iPro

Left Wing (4)
aPro
Beauvillier
Miroshnichenko (must clear waivers)
Cristall

Right Wing (5)
Kyrou
Wilson
Leonard
Frank (must clear waivers)
Trineyev (must clear waivers)

Defense (9)
Chychrun (LD)
Hutson (LD)
Fehervary (LD)
Sandin (LD) (LTIR until mid-season)
Roy (RD)
Liljegren (RD) (must clear waivers)
Chisholm (RD) (must clear waivers)
Mcllrath (RD) (must clear waivers)
Chesley (RD)

Goalie (3)
Thompson
Lindgren
Stevenson (must clear waivers)

UFAs (3)
Ovechkin (LW)
Duhaime (LW)
TVR (RD)

———————-–————————-

I think they re-sign Ovi, Lapierre, and TVR.
My 23 on opening night:

C: PLD, Strome, iPro, Sourdif
LW: Ovi, aPro, Beauvillier, Miroshnichenko
RW: Kyrou, Wilson, Leonard, Frank
LD: Chychrun, Fehervary, Hutson
RD: Roy, TVR, Liljegren
G: Thompson, Lindgren

Scratches: Cristall, Lapierre, Chisholm
LTIR: Sandin
Hershey: Chesley, Trineyev, Mcllrath, Stevenson

Obviously, this could easily change if they make a move at LW (especially if Ovie retires). I think they are still actively looking to trade for a RD as well.

Nice write up. Chisholm is a lefty though, or are you thinking he’ll play his offside?

 

[Silky mitts]

There’s gotta be some young RD out there being squeezed out of regular lineup they could target perhaps via trade. No idea who.

The price tag of Liljegren suggests maybe there aren't

 

[marcel snapshot]

I wanted to put together a clear list of players under contract and their natural positions. If I got a position wrong, please feel free to correct. We need to get down to 23 and it looks to me like they still need to add a RD and a LW. Going to be some interesting decisions. I don’t think GMCP is done making moves.

Centers (5)
PLD
Strome
Sourdif
Lapierre (RFA / must clear waivers)
iPro

Left Wing (4)
aPro
Beauvillier
Miroshnichenko (must clear waivers)
Cristall

Right Wing (5)
Kyrou
Wilson
Leonard
Frank (must clear waivers)
Trineyev (must clear waivers)

Defense (9)
Chychrun (LD)
Hutson (LD)
Fehervary (LD)
Sandin (LD) (LTIR until mid-season)
Roy (RD)
Liljegren (RD) (must clear waivers)
Chisholm (RD) (must clear waivers)
Mcllrath (RD) (must clear waivers)
Chesley (RD)

Goalie (3)
Thompson
Lindgren
Stevenson (must clear waivers)

UFAs (3)
Ovechkin (LW)
Duhaime (LW)
TVR (RD)

———————-–————————-

I think they re-sign Ovi, Lapierre, and TVR.
My 23 on opening night:

C: PLD, Strome, iPro, Sourdif
LW: Ovi, aPro, Beauvillier, Miroshnichenko
RW: Kyrou, Wilson, Leonard, Frank
LD: Chychrun, Fehervary, Hutson
RD: Roy, TVR, Liljegren
G: Thompson, Lindgren

Scratches: Cristall, Lapierre, Chisholm
LTIR: Sandin
Hershey: Chesley, Trineyev, Mcllrath, Stevenson

Obviously, this could easily change if they make a move at LW (especially if Ovie retires). I think they are still actively looking to trade for a RD as well.

I think if they re-sign Lappy, it's not because of his play as a center, which has not been good (at least in the NHL). He looked useful as a wing toward the end of the year. If he stays, it's because the brass still sees some promise there.

 

[Langway]

Whoa nelly.

 

[Kazer]

I think if they re-sign Lappy, it's not because of his play as a center, which has not been good (at least in the NHL). He looked useful as a wing toward the end of the year. If he stays, it's because the brass still sees some promise there.

I've argued this before, but I believe some of Lappy's value at this juncture is as an organizational 5C. While we are deep down the middle (1 to 4), we don't have anyone in Hershey, particularly with Gastrin & CMM [in a pinch] traded, who you want filling as a C.

Hershey's best centers last year were I. Protas (probably NHL next year), Rybinski (group VI UFA), and their 3C slot was a revolving door but largely Bongiovanni (also a group VI UFA). In terms of prospects, I suppose the next man up would be either Mateiko (started the year as Hershey 4C before being injured) or Sikora (who knows). If they grab a Sgarbossa type, they can alleviate that concern, but I'd be fine keeping Lappy around as a 13F/14F.

And even if they get lucky and Command slips to 18, he won't be AHL ready for a while (let alone NHL ready).

 

[Marshall]

Hmmmm. Not a huge fan of Tuch at this point.

@Ridley Simon was stumping for Tuch, iirc.

 

[Langway]

Wonder if they'd move Miro in the process since spots would be loaded up. Or Frank.

It's just cap space I guess but, yeah, curious in terms of balance. Could be a hedge on Ovechkin not returning but wild to go potentially eight years here.

 

[Kolzilla]

Whoa nelly.

I would assume that if they pull this off, then this means Leno is being slotted at LW?

Leno - Strome - Kyrou
Protas - PLD - Wilson
Ovie - Ilya/Sourdif - Tuch

Ohhhh that's nasty!

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Would Tuch at $10 mil be curtains for Ovechkin coming back? Unless they don't plan to spend any more to add to the blueline...

Not sold on this being the best use of their cap but we will see.

 

[Kolzilla]

Would Tuch at $10 mil be curtains for Ovechkin coming back? Unless they don't plan to spend any more to add to the blueline...

Not sold on this being the best use of their cap but we will see.

It wouldn't. They could offer a bonus laden salary for Ovie and kick the caphit to the next year.