Washington Capitals: Replacing The Departed

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Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Capitals Must Replace Ward

Joel Ward could be one of the bigger losses. He played a variety of roles on this team, on top of being one of the most popular players on the team to fans and players alike. Despite the fact that his play will decline in the near future, these are big shoes to fill.

RELATED: Joel Ward Tribute

Ward was an important penalty killer and saw time on the second power play unit as well. What made Ward so important was his versatility. Though he saw a bit of a decline statistically after having a career year in 2013-14, Ward was one of the only players who could be trusted to slot in anywhere in the lineup. Trotz made that clear when during the playoffs, Ward found himself opposite of Alex Ovechkin on the wing. This is after an entire season’s worth of shuffling different players in and out of that top line right wing spot. Though Ward fit best on a very tough third line, he could play just about any role.

The obvious choices for his now vacant third line right wing spot were Brouwer and Tom Wilson. With Brouwer gone, it is almost certainly Tom Wilson’s chance to move up in the lineup. Though he saw time on the Capitals’ first line last season, he was often relegated to the fourth line as he has for most of his young, shot career.

Wilson is going to have a great chance here in 2014-15. He is still extremely young, and seeing more ice time with better linemates will help him realize the potential that was evident when the Capitals drafted him back in 2012. He is almost certainly going to be playing with either Marcus Johansson or Burakovsky, and whomever the Capitals plug into the 3C hole. Whoever this center is will almost certainly be more capable offensively than Jay Beagle, unless Beagle is the one to fill that spot (which he really, really shouldn’t).

T.J. Oshie will likely take Ward’s spot on the PK, so Wilson won’t be asked to be too much. Oshie or Justin Williams will likely fill Ward’s spot on the second power play as well. A variety of players will have a chance to fill the roles that Ward has left.

Stanislav Galiev, who eats really weird things, will have something to say. He found his game again last season and even made it into the Capitals’ lineup for the first time in his career, scoring his first NHL goal in the process. If Galiev continues to improve and impress, he could find himself permanently in the NHL. Jakub Vrana is a highly skilled prospect who could shine during camp, but likely needs a year or more in Hershey to round out his game to really make an impact in the NHL when he gets there. Overall, this is Wilson’s spot to lose, at this point.

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