Washington Capitals: Fourth Line Competition
Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Forward depth is a very good thing. For eight players, it gives them motivation to fight for a roster spot.
After a successful off-season, the Washington Capitals find themselves with a strong core of forwards. They arguably have the best forward depth that they’ve had in years. Their top nine forwards are all but set in stone, though the Washington Capitals are still looking to add a third line center.
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As of right now, the top three forward lines will most likely look like this, assuming Nicklas Backstrom recovers from his surgery in time to start the regular season.
Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – T.J. Oshie
Andre Burakovsky – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Justin Williams
Marcus Johansson – Jay Beagle – Tom Wilson
If the Capitals decide to add a third line center to the mix, things could get a bit crowded.
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Oshie
Burakovsky – Kuznetsov – Williams
Johansson – [UFA center] – Wilson
That would leave the fourth line wide open. We can assume that Beagle would be the fourth line center in this case. He’s a valuable member of their penalty kill and it’s no secret that the coaching staff thinks highly of him. To top it all off, he’s great at winning face offs. That leaves three spots open for a handful of hopeful competitors.
Washington Capitals: Fourth Line Left Wing
The Capitals are going to have several options as far as their fourth line left wing. The most likely candidate is Brooks Laich. Not only is he needed on the penalty kill after the departure of at least two of their best penalty killers, his $4,500,000 cap hit all but ensures that he will find his way into the lineup.
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Laich didn’t put up great stats in 2014-2015, but fans should be cautiously optimistic because he was among the Caps leaders in individual high danger scoring chances. He’s going to the right places to score. He just needs to finish. Laich seems committed to working on that this off-season, so next season could be a better one for him. Laich could also see some time on the third line if Backstrom isn’t healthy to start the season.
Jason Chimera will likely fight for that spot as well. He and Barry Trotz did not get off on the right foot, but down the stretch, Chimera started playing better for the Washington Capitals. He was one of their better players in the playoffs as well. Chimera might be on his way out of Washington if he isn’t willing to accept a 13th forward role. Teams like the Maple Leafs and Coyotes could express interest in him, as trading for him would be similar to signing someone to a one year deal and hoping to flip them at the trade deadline for a draft pick.
If you’re rooting for the long shot to win, look no further than Garrett Mitchell. The Hershey Bears think quite highly of him, as he has been one of their alternate captains for the past few seasons. He’s a vital member of their penalty kill and has worked his tail off to come back from a major knee injury.
Washington Capitals: Fourth Line Right Wing
The favorite to win the job as the fourth line right wing is probably Stanislav Galiev. Galiev, after a very slow start to his career with the Washington Capitals, had a rebirthing last season, as he went on to be a very productive forward for the Bears. He earned himself a late-season call up and even scored his first NHL goal in the last game of the season against the New York Rangers. He has a two-way deal, but he has to clear waivers to go through. That leads me to think that he’s most likely going to be given every opportunity to succeed with the Washington Capitals.
Michael Latta will fight for that position as well, though he’s probably the favorite to again be the 13th forward because he can play center or wing, which is valuable to the Washington Capitals. One aspect of his game that might give him a slight advantage over Galiev: his ability to kill penalties.
Chris Brown is another option after signing a two-way contract. He’s a bottom six forward who has shown hints of offensive potential in his game, but it has never translated at the NHL level. He is able to play either center or right wing, so that could give him an edge over the others.
If you enjoy rooting for the underdog, there’s Zach Sill. Sill is a former Pittsburgh Penguin and Toronto Maple Leafs forward. He is largely known as an enforcer but he could push Latta for playing time. If Backstrom isn’t healthy and a depth center is needed, Sill might be able to fight (pun intended) his way onto the opening night roster.
If you enjoy rooting for the Cinderella story, Chandler Stephenson is your man. Stephenson impressed this year during development camp coming off a frustrating first season in Hershey. He suffered a concussion and a lower body injury that significantly limited his effectiveness. However, when healthy, Stephenson is extremely good while shorthanded and plays a two-way game. Barry Trotz values forwards like that, so don’t rule him out.
I think the 13th forward spot will come down to Latta, Stephenson and Sill. Regardless of what happens with Galiev, I think the Washington Capitals will keep an extra center. Considering Sill and Stephenson are both waiver-exempt, my gut feeling tells me Latta will likely be the 13th forward.
The fourth line competition is going to be interesting to watch. Eight players will be battling it out for three spots. They say competition leads to greatness. If that’s true, that could be a great thing for the Washington Capitals and their fourth line.