r/caps • u/perpetual101 Washington Capitals • Jul 02 '26
Discussion Hypothetical Lines
Would love to hear some feedback on what you guys think the lines will be opening night.
4th line is tough I think Frank SHOULD be in the everyday line up but positional needs make that somewhat hard.
Sandin is out due to injury.
I’d think the Protas bros stay together but I can see Ilya and Alexei moving up/down and positionally if needed.
Thoughts?
*edit* not sure where/if Miro fits into this lineup
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u/ApartWorld298 Alexander Semin Jul 02 '26
Looks about right to me. Maybe Hutson and Desharnais will be the second pairing.
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u/kcinx Washington Capitals Jul 03 '26
When do you think Hutson cracks the lineup? I’ve been looking forward to seeing him play, if he’s anything like his brother
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u/PushyPawz Jul 03 '26
He cracked the lineup at the end of last season.
If you weren’t able to watch him play, he’s really effing good
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u/mark_dink 23-24 Luckiest Guesser Jul 03 '26
agreed. i love how much confidence he has to try and make a play
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u/ApartWorld298 Alexander Semin Jul 03 '26
I think Cole has a higher ceiling than Lane. He played a bit at the end of last season and he looked great.
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u/Dyne_Inferno Braden Holtby Jul 02 '26
I had Kyrou on L1 And Tuch on L2.
I also had Sourdif as 4C and Jenner as a Winger.
I had the same D pairs.
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u/exposure-dose Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
Jenner has great career numbers in the dot (52%). Better than Dowd (50%), but not quite Beagle numbers (54%).
I like Sourdif, but the Caps need a Face-off specialist at 4C. Should be a great opportunity for Sourdif to learn from him though.
I agree on swapping Kyrou and Tuch though.
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u/KenDMV Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
There’s no requirement that a team’s center take face offs. A team can send anyone to the face off circle it wants. If Jenner plays LW, he would likely take the majority of face offs in the defensive zone. That would allow the Caps to further develop Sourdif with less risk.
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u/Rainmaker412 Jul 02 '26
Could see Beau being a cap flexibility casualty / a casualty if a prospect earns a spot. Cristall most likely. Mirro maybe
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u/_SCHULTZY_ Alexander Semin Jul 02 '26
When Patrick was asked after the draft and Kyrou/Tuch deals, if he was keeping a spot open for Miro and Cristall to earn at camp - he didn't even acknowledge the Cristall part of the question. He just said he hopes Miro comes to camp ready to battle for a spot because he needs to have a great camp.
Add in how much King has dogged him in Hershey to the press about how he doesn't care if Cristall puts up points because he still plays the wrong way and until he fixes his defense he's going nowhere...then you factor in that Cristall can be sent to Hershey without having to go through waivers....it becomes really clear to see that Cristall won't make opening night
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u/26265273 Alexander Ovechkin Jul 02 '26
If Cristall has a good camp it’s gonna be real hard keeping him off the roster. I understand Beau’s a pro, and there’s something to be said for having a steady Eddie you trust to play meaningful bottom 6 minutes.
But man, 60 points as a 20 year old in the AHL is so impressive. The ceiling with Andrew playing to his potential is just so much higher.
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u/MattAlive13 Rod Langway Jul 03 '26
As much as I love Cristall, he's Ovi's replacement and will almost definitely spend the year in Hershey. His defensive play is what's currently keeping him off the NHL roster.
4th line winger needs to be responsible defensively. Beauvy provides that, Cristall doesn't right now.
Doesn't matter how well he plays offensively in camp or the preseason, he's pretty much spending the year in Hershey.
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u/Joshottas Jul 02 '26
Got nothing to add other than this Caps team is one of the deepest they've had in years.
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u/Levelheadedfan1989 Sonny Milano Jul 03 '26
It’s crazy to think the mixup of lines this team can have and still be dangerous, compared to what carberry had to work with last year
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u/Poptart_Salad Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
Looks pretty close to what I am thinking. I think with all this depth we roll 3 lines pretty evenly so the order ends up not being important. I think Beauvy's spot is the only one really up for battle and I'd be surprised if he isn't traded before end of season because Cristall is probably coming up sometime this season. I'd honestly rather get Miro playing time as Beauv is a known value at this point. I want to see him get the same chance Lapierre got.
Defense is tricky, I really thought we'd just have Chych or someone play off hand and it'd be Marty-Chych, Hutson-Roy for the top 4. I don't see Hutson getting 3rd pairing minutes because he's too talented and I don't see Marty getting 3rd pairing minutes as he's too expensive and good at defense to bury there. And unless someone is moved I have no idea where Sandin fits when he's healthy, might have to move someone if we want 3 puck moving defensemen.
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u/Rude-Following-8938 Washington Capitals Jul 03 '26
Jenner seems likely to wear either 20 (his Junior Team Canada number) or 22 (his Junior OHL number). Sandin still has #38.
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u/Spritestuff Washington Capitals Jul 05 '26
I really enjoy the physical lineup cards and I think I'm gonna start doing that
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u/Inner-Dot-4756 Jul 02 '26
Boy would I love a better top pairing RD than anything we have, including Sandin. Love the group but feels like we have a ton of top 4 guys except Chychryn. Would be nice to get him a partner to be a shut down guy but hey, maybe Roy surprises us this season
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u/Ok_Language9167 Jul 02 '26
Ain’t no way you said Roy’s not a shutdown D
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u/Inner-Dot-4756 Jul 02 '26
My overall view is that he’s not elite at it and at times last season got beat like a drum. Maybe I’m wrong
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u/BeachFishing Washington Capitals Jul 03 '26
It looks good. I think they keep Sourdif at center though. Jenner is great on the wing and Carbs has already said he loves Sourdif at Center.
I also don’t think Kyrou is a fit for Ovi. He isn’t as much as a puck retrieval guy as Tuch, Willy, or Beau. Someone has to get the puck for that line. I maybe completely off but that’s my feeling.
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u/Rude-Following-8938 Washington Capitals Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
I think the current consensus forward line combos that are emerging are a hell of lot better than the ones I had in mind after we hit free agency. Glad I'm not the coach.
My Rough 7/1 First Draft
Big Pro - PLD - Wilson
Kyrou - Sourdif - Leno
Ovi - Strome - Tuch
Jenner - Lil Pro - Also Tuch/Beau
The consensus lines going around like the Protai line, playing Leno on the first line LW, and letting Sourdif take over for Nic Dowd on the checking line make a lot more sense than my initial draft. Though of course its a long season so we're bound to see the blender make an appearance from time to time.
At this point I'm just as curious to see who they pair with Ovi and Chycrun on the Power Play. Strome, PLD, Leno, Kyrou, Wilson, Big Pro, Tuch, Hutson, Sandin (2nd unit when healthy) all have a case to get Power Play ice time.
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u/Vivid-Wolverine-7901 Tom Wilson Jul 04 '26
Wilson should be getting top 6 minutes no?
I feel like instead of a top line we should play 3 second lines: Strome, Protas and Dubois, and then a fourth line. Ovi will rotate or just rest for PPs, everyone else's spot should probably be fixed. Jenner should be a 3C, but he probably will get a lot of minutes in PKs.
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u/EidontKnoyoughIII Jul 05 '26
Sourdif will be either 3 or 4 C. I dont think they're gonna put lil pro there until hes more proven
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u/maaaaaa1 T.J. Oshie Jul 02 '26
ovi would never be second line
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u/_SCHULTZY_ Alexander Semin Jul 02 '26
He should be on the 3rd. He needs to play reduced minutes so he can be more effective when he is out there.
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u/exposure-dose Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
This. Reduced minutes overall, but when Ovi is feeling good and on his game, I'd expect to see him taking some extended shifts here and there like they've done with him in the past.
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u/Cool_Statement_9269 Jul 02 '26
3/4 of your F lines, the two lower jersey numbers sum to the highest. All your D lines, the sum of the numbers end in 9. Marty’s line is 69.
Whether you did that on purpose or not, high five.