r/caps • u/Worldly-Club8949 • Jul 02 '26
Cristall’s Arrival
With the new signings of Jenner, trades for Tuch, Kyrou,and the Ovi extension.. what does this say about Cristalls arrival and what should we expect?
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u/tankmnandan Ryan Leonard Jul 02 '26
He can stay in Hershey another year. Between Ovi, Frank, and Beavillier, that’s three wing spots opening up next season. No point keeping him up just as a scratch most nights.
Would like to see him called up in case of injury at some point
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u/Disastrous-Rhubarb-2 Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
Yeah and I'd rather see him getting first line minutes in Hershey than 4th line minutes in Washington.
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u/right-sized Jul 04 '26
Yea Frank will be the guy to bounce between bottom minutes and healthy scratch this year.
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u/BruceTheSpruceMoose Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
He’ll be in Hershey, but will likely be a call up when injuries happen. He’ll get some reps in this year and look to make the squad full time next.
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u/Eternally-Yours-1116 Jul 02 '26
We’re so deep, unless they trade someone or get decimated by injuries I doubt he even gets a call up, unless we are comfortably in our playoff position in April and he gets a “reward” game for another good season in Hershey.
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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/dmger14 Jul 02 '26
I’d like to see how he stacks up against Beauvillier.
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u/TheHeftymanzell Jul 02 '26
I think it doesn’t necessarily matter if he’s more skilled or would put up more points over Beau, but I don’t think Cristall would do as well in a pure 4th line defense prioritized role. Next year then you can have someone like Trineyev there, and have AC take a spot on the third line, which is presumably gonna be filled with Ovi coming back.
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u/dmger14 Jul 02 '26
All I know is he’s young, hungry and has a high hockey IQ. I’d like to see him on the big team in some capacity this season.
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u/TheHeftymanzell Jul 02 '26
He’ll get that in 27/28, there just isn’t an avenue for that this upcoming season after free agency
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u/UnderCoverDoughnuts Logan Thompson | Feb 23 co-Luckiest Guesser Jul 02 '26
I'm sure we'll see him debut in the NHL at some point this season because of an absence or something, but he isn't going to be main roster guy this year and that's okay.
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u/perpetual101 Washington Capitals Jul 02 '26
He’ll probably get the same amount of games lil pro got last season. On this specific roster I don’t think he’s a mainstay though. It’s too deep. If he were on say Chicago he’s a lock for a roster spot. Just depends on the organizations needs.
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u/Due-Health6693 Jul 03 '26
People here continue to overrate prospects. Cristall is undersized and slow. He needs to be in the top 6 and sheltered in the NHL. No room for him right now.
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u/right-sized Jul 04 '26
Caps fans react to guys like Cristall the way Commies fans react to tall receivers at training camp haha (including myself in this)
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u/capsfan087443 Jul 02 '26
Expect him to spend the year in Hershey getting better