The Washington Capitals might have the deepest roster in the NHL. Capitals general manager Chris Patrick upgraded the roster this summer by acquiring forwards Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, and Boone Jenner. Now, the Caps are loaded to the point that it could end up causing problems. With the new additions, returning veterans, and promising young players all fighting for a roster spot, how will head coach Spencer Carbery and his staff weed through such a talented pool of players and determine what their line combinations will look like once they finalize their 23-man roster?
The Capitals forwards are an even distribution of older veterans, players in their primes, improving youngsters, as well as a number of younger prospects close to being NHL-ready. With so much talent, it’s inevitable that some deserving players will start the season elsewhere, either in Hershey, shipped off via trade, or claimed off waivers by another team. Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said last month he thinks he may have to move a player before training camp begins. There will still be plenty of talented players for Carbery to figure out what the Capitals lines will look like.
The Caps fourth line will probably feature Jenner, Justin Sourdif, and Anthony Beauvillier, which would be a very good 3rd line on most other teams. While most fourth lines in the NHL are checking lines are known for their defense, the Caps fourth line will play tough defense and put up points. The Capitals depth figures to spread out playing time more evenly, giving each player fresher, making the Caps’ lineup more effective as they wear down the other team with all four lines. But how those other lines will be structured will be harder to sort out.
Should Carbery keep Tom Wilson with brothers Ilya Protas (Little Pro), and Aliaksei Protas (Big Pro) together after they were so productive at the end of last season, or should he put Wilson and Big Pro on a line with Pierre-Luc Dubois to play against the other teams’ best players like he did at times the past two season? Should Dubois center a line with Tuch and Kyrou or should Kyrou play with Dylan Strome and Ovi to create more space and scoring chances for the greatest goal scorer in NHL history?
Maybe Wilson should play with Strome and Ovi, or is second year player Ryan Leonard a better fit? Imagine what a line with Tuch, Dubois, and Wilson would be like to play against. Holy cow! The Caps may not have lines numbered 1 through 4, but lines called “Oh no!”, “That Hurt!”, “Not Again!”, and “You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me!”
While so many good players on one roster may make the line combinations tough to figure out, it’s that kind of depth that championship teams need to make a run at the Stanley Cup. The Caps will have a number of top 6 players playing further down in the lineup. But Dan Holmi from “Locked on Caps” said it best. “Tom Wilson playing on the fourth line is not a demotion.” Not with the plethora of options on this team.
Carbery will have to wade through a deep pool of players to build his lines. Whatever he comes up with will make the Capitals a match up nightmare for opposing teams. But that’s their problem.
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