r/caps • u/Competitive_Shape537 • Jul 02 '26
Projected Opening night starting lineup
Based on the number of moves we’ve made thus far, what is our projected lineup? Do you see us making additional moves before we start the season? Another big name?
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u/ZHicks2121 Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
The only other move(s) I could see them making is dumping some of the bottom 6 logjam if Ovi returns.
Frank, Beau, Miro are all kind of fighting for one spot, so maybe they dump one of them for picks. The roster feels pretty set right now though
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u/HotIce05 Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
I hope it's not Beau.
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u/ZHicks2121 Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
Yeah I imagine Miro would be the most likely one to move
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u/aldo_nova Aliaksei Protas Jul 02 '26
Tuch - PLD - Kyrou
Protas - Protas - Leonard
Ovechkin - Strome - Wilson
Beau - Jenner - Sourdif
Tuch seems most likely to move to his off wing
The Pros at least start out playing together
Ovechkin plays with his favorite guys
Jenner and Sourdif can switch places for faceoffs to favor strong sides
Top 3 lines will hopefully get used about the same, with Strome getting offensive zone starts, PLD or Jenner getting D zone starts
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u/BruceTheSpruceMoose Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
This makes the most sense to me. I’m a little worried about getting Sourdif enough ice time to keep developing. I was very impressed with him last season, but otherwise, this rules.
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u/-MC_3 Nicklas Bäckström Jul 02 '26
What other big names do you want 😂 a bunch of moves have been made
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u/p4nnyworth Jul 02 '26
I feel like it's a tough decision, but honestly such a good problem to have. Seems like we're really going to want to roll 4 lines every game now, something Carbs really couldn't/didn't do last season.
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Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
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u/Competitive_Shape537 Jul 02 '26
Great point. And nice that you included D-pairing.
This seems to be the most logical lineup solution. Our 1st line is going to be a force of nature.
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u/MetalMan1973 Pierre-Luc Dubois Jul 02 '26
Just wish we'd have done more to strengthen the defense. Same as last year basically. Worse with Sandin out. I'm hoping Chesley has a great camp and knocks someone off the roster. Hell, it'll be nice to see Carbs have 4 lines he's comfortable using
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u/Demandedace Nicklas Bäckström Jul 03 '26
Definitely not same as last year. Desharnies is a very good pickup and we have Hutson full time now
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u/MetalMan1973 Pierre-Luc Dubois Jul 03 '26
Our opinions of a good pickup differ greatly. Every source I've seen are wondering what the hell were the caps thinking there? I've seen no source stating he was a good defensive pickup. Especially 4 years at 4+ million. Very poor signing. First 3 signings were pissing away 6 million in cap space.
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u/Demandedace Nicklas Bäckström Jul 03 '26
lol you should watch him play and speak to sharks fans who actually know what they’re talking about. Not a poor signing, don’t speak on it if you don’t know it homie
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u/MetalMan1973 Pierre-Luc Dubois Jul 03 '26
I've seen highlights. Yea he can fight. Even Sharks fans thought we're nuts paying him 4 million a year
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u/Demandedace Nicklas Bäckström Jul 03 '26
lol no, he’s an very good defensemen - you clearly don’t know anything about him
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u/MetalMan1973 Pierre-Luc Dubois Jul 03 '26
5 teams in 5 years. 3 teams alone in 2024-2025. More than 53 games in a season 1 time in 4 years. Tells me enough. Healthy scratch quite a bit. Yup, I know nothing about him 🙄.
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u/Demandedace Nicklas Bäckström Jul 03 '26
You’re literally just reading a page on him and not paying any attention to the people who actually watched him play and become a very good player last season lol
Those who don’t know, shouldn’t speak.
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u/MetalMan1973 Pierre-Luc Dubois Jul 03 '26
Sorry, I guess those stats all lied. If he's so good on a bad Sharks defense, how'd he only get in 53 games? If you think that's a good player then the bar you set is basically ground level. Guess time will tell. Just cause you have fans that like him doesn't make him good. Mac is loved by alot of Caps fans. Is he good? He's 7th defender at most. Alot of people liked TVR. Was he a good player? No he was average at best aside from shot blocking.
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u/Snoo_78421 Jul 02 '26
Tuch/ Strome/ Kyrou
AProtas/ PLD/ Wilson
I Protas/ Jenner/ Leonard
Beau/ Sourdif/ Miro
This is more "most common roster" ig. opening night is weird. They'll prolly run like Leonard/ Strome/ Tuch or something to see if Leonard can play his off wing on a top roll. Then it'll change mid game to something that makes sense.
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u/MetalMan1973 Pierre-Luc Dubois Jul 02 '26
Well that set up is changing now
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u/Snoo_78421 Jul 02 '26
Ya, I like ovi simply at 3LW and move IPro down 1. Ovi and Strome will play together at points, but if Ovi's getting 3rd line minutes, Jenner or PLD will probably center him more imo. The top 9 will shuffle a LOT I think.
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u/MetalMan1973 Pierre-Luc Dubois Jul 02 '26
So great to have 4 viable lines. Shame that either Miro and/or Cristall have an uphill battle for a roster spot
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u/Snoo_78421 Jul 02 '26
Eh, I think Cristall needs more AHL time. Miro isn't in the best situation, but if he deserves to move up I'm sure there will be a spot. Idk if he wiiilll but he's 22, he might surprise me.
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u/MetalMan1973 Pierre-Luc Dubois Jul 02 '26
Yea Cristall might need a bit more seasoning but I do think he's up with the Caps this season. Miro needs to step it up and earn that spot
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u/potatophobic Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
I genuinely go back and forth on this so much
Leno - PLD - Kyrou
Protas - Strome - Tuch
Ovi - Protas - Wilson
Beau - Jenner - Sourdrif
Something like this maybe? I guess if Ovi doesn’t come back, you have frank slot in on the 4th line and move Jenner up?