The Washington Capitals are walking into the 2026-27 season with a forward group that looks a lot different, and a center pipeline that suddenly has real shape to it.
The headline additions are obvious enough - Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner all join the mix - but the story doesn’t stop there. The Caps also expect Ilya Protas to take a major step, while Justin Sourdif and Ryan Leonard are set up for bigger roles in their second NHL seasons up front.
At center, Washington appears to have a clear plan. Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois are still lined up to anchor the top six, and both are coming into the year with bounce-back expectations. Dubois is fully healthy, while Strome is expected to have more speed around him.
The real intrigue starts behind them. Sourdif and Protas are both expected to settle in down the middle in the bottom six, giving the Capitals a lot more flexibility than they’ve had in recent seasons.
Sourdif already made a strong impression in 78 games, putting up 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points while also drawing votes for the Calder and Selke trophies. Even so, the organization wants him staying at center.
"I personally would prefer him as a center," general manager Chris Patrick said. "I like his game as a center more than the wing. That's where I have him positioned on my board."
Then there’s Protas, who is coming off a huge year with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. The 20-year-old won AHL rookie of the year honors after posting 29 goals and 37 assists for 66 points in 69 games. He also got a late-season call-up to Washington and chipped in a goal and three assists, enough to put him on the radar as someone expected to play for the Capitals from here on out.
He still has to earn the spot in camp, but the expectation is clear, and so is the position Washington wants him playing.
"Based on his body of work there at the end of the season... I think he showed that he can definitely play at this level, at a high level," Patrick said.
Jenner adds another layer to the picture, though he’s expected to begin on the left wing. Washington views him as a versatile piece who can move around the lineup and slide into center when needed.
Spencer Carbery said the minutes should be spread out more evenly this season, which changes the meaning of a third- or fourth-line assignment. In Washington, it won’t read like a demotion. It reads like depth - the kind the Capitals have been building toward as they push to get back into playoff position and make a real case as a contender.
In Other News...
Capitals Ratings Spark Debate Over Ovechkin And Washingtons Blue Line
Electronic Arts latest NHL 27 ratings gave the Capitals a mixed but mostly flattering review, with Logan Thompson standing out as one of the biggest winners. The goalie jumped from an 86 to a 90 overall, which puts him fifth among netminders in the game and underscores how much his stock has risen. Jakob Chychrun also moved up, going from 87 to 89, while Washingtons blue line group picked up enough recognition to keep the conversation going around a defense that has been one of the teams more interesting storylines.
The part likely to draw the most debate, though, is Alex Ovechkin sliding to an 89, a reminder that even a franchise icon is no longer being rated as one of the games untouchables. Martin Fehervary, Rasmus Sandin and Matt Roy also landed with their own individual ratings, giving the Capitals a fairly complete snapshot across the roster. Whether the numbers feel generous or a little stingy depends on where you sit, but Washingtons place in the game has clearly become a conversation piece rather than a simple roster update. [Read more 🡒]