The Capitals opened training camp with a forward group that looks built to cause problems for whoever lines up against it.
Washington hit the ice on the first day of camp yesterday, and while the exact configuration can still change before Opening Night on October 3rd in Raleigh, head coach Spencer Carbery’s first look at the new combinations made one thing clear: there’s no easy way to sort out these forwards. Since the Capitals traded for Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou and added Boone Jenner in free agency this summer, the conversation has centered on who fits where. Day One offered a preview.
The top group had Alex Ovechkin between Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard. Leonard, fresh off signing an 8-year, $84 million dollar extension this week, slid onto the right side after a 20-goal season.
That trio gives Washington a mix of old and new: Ovechkin’s heavy shot and long résumé, Strome’s stability in the middle, and Leonard’s speed and edge. It may not be a traditional No. 1 line, but it sure looks like the one that could carry that label.
The second unit might be even more intimidating in a different way. Tuch, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tom Wilson bring size, skating and enough defensive ability to make life miserable for opposing top lines.
Dubois, who was described as arguably the best two-way center in the league, anchors a group that looks a lot like last season’s A. Protas-Dubois-Wilson trio in terms of matchup value.
The difference now is that Tuch replaces A. Protas, which could make the Capitals even deeper overall.
That depth shows up again on what appears to be the third line: Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Protas and Kyrou. It’s another combination with real offensive upside, but it also has the feel of a checking line that can chip in scoring.
Aliaksei Protas is a 60-point guy, and Kyrou fits that same mold. Ilya Protas has only four games of NHL experience, but he finished last season looking ready, with four points in those four games.
How he handles a first full season could decide how well that line works.
Then there’s the fourth line, which would be a luxury group for plenty of teams higher up the lineup. Anthony Beauvillier brings speed and defensive reliability.
Justin Sourdif, who re-upped with the Caps this week for 8 years, $6.5 million per season, already showed he can handle defensive-zone work and added 35 points in 78 games last season. Boone Jenner rounds it out with a blend of scoring and defense from his Columbus Blue Jackets days.
It’s the kind of bottom six that doesn’t really feel like a bottom six at all.
None of this is locked in. Injuries and uneven play will shake things up, and there are still young players trying to force their way into the lineup during camp. But Carbery’s first set of combinations says plenty about where Washington stands: this is a forward group with serious depth, and probably the best depth the Capitals have had in a long time.
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Capitals Camp Is Already Creating A Real Roster Battle
Training camp has already gotten lively for the Capitals, with a busy practice session that featured drills, ice battles and the kind of competition that usually starts sorting out a roster before the preseason gets going. Alex Ovechkin was on the ice, along with a group of younger names in Ryan Leonard, Andrew Cristall, Lynden Lakovic, Terik Parascak, Petr Sikora and Patrick Thomas, giving the session a little bit of everything as Washington tries to get its footing.
Pierre-Luc Dubois was one of the players who stood out in that mix, and coach Spencer Carbery singled him out for the way he has approached camp as he pushes for a full-time role. For a team that is still taking shape around its established core and a wave of prospects, those early impressions matter, and the battles in camp already have the feel of something Washington will be watching closely as the days go on. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Sourdif Just Became Part Of Washingtons Long Term Core
Justin Sourdifs rapid rise in Washington has now turned into something much longer term. After a rookie season that saw him score 15 goals and add 20 assists in 78 games, the Capitals moved to lock him in with a new deal, a clear sign that his first year did more than just answer a few questions about his fit.
For a team trying to build stability around young, useful pieces, Sourdifs versatility has quickly become part of the appeal. General manager Chris Patrick sounded pleased with how his development has tracked and with the role he already plays, and the extension gives Washington a fresh pillar to plan around as the roster keeps taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Camp Could Reshape More Of This Lineup Than Fans Expected
Training camp has a way of sorting out a roster quickly, but this Capitals group arrives with more moving parts than usual. Washington is bringing 29 forwards, 17 defensemen and seven goalies into camp, and the mix includes veteran captain Alex Ovechkin back for one more season alongside newcomers who could change the shape of the lineup. The organization also has a pair of younger pieces in Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif, both of whom have been locked up long term and are expected to be part of the teams next core.
What makes this camp especially interesting is how many spots still feel up for grabs before the first puck drops. The Capitals added Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, Boone Jenner and Vincent Desharnais, and each arrives with a different case to make as Washington tries to balance immediate help with a longer-term plan. For a team trying to stay competitive while also integrating younger talent, the early weeks of camp may end up revealing far more than just the opening-night roster. [Read more 🡒]