We’re (finally) getting down to “nitty gritty”, as they say. The deadline for teams to reduce their rosters to the 23-man maximum is set for 5:00 PM on the night before the start of the season. And even though the Capitals 23-man roster has been pretty much set since free agency began in July, there are still a couple of vacancies that could see a wide range of solutions.
With Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren assured two of the 23 spots, the Capitals could go with 14 forwards and seven defensemen or 13 forwards and eight defensemen for their final roster openings. And while the openings are scant, there are dozens of line permutations involved with the decision. Here’s a look at a few of the key variables.
14 FORWARDS, 7 DEFENSMEN
14 Forwards
The following is a breakdown of the forward’s general assignments. You can flip players and lines and the single open position, but the names are set.
Alex Ovechkin – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Connor Brown
Anthony Mantha – Dylan Strome – Conor Sheary
Marcus Johansson – Lars Eller – T.J. Oshie
Opening A – Nic Dowd – Garnet Hathaway
Opening B, Opening C [Extras, 13th and 14th Forwards]
Options For Openings: Connor McMichael, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Joe Snively, Aliaksei Protas, Brett Leason, Henrik Borgstrom.
In all actuality, “Opening A” could occur anywhere in the lineup, so a player that can play center or wing most likely has an edge.
Borgstrom and Leason are on the outside looking in, and will likely not get a spot on the roster. Unfortunately both Borgstrom and Leason, they will also require waivers to return to Hershey.
This leaves four players, McMichael, Jonsson-Fjallby, Snively and Protas competing for three spots. McMichael and Protas are waivers exempt. Snively and Jonsson-Fjallby would need to clear waivers to return to Hershey.
Here’s where the decision comes: Do you send McMichael and Protas to Hershey, because you can (they are waivers exempt and can be called up/down anytime), and thus, lessen the risk of losing a player like Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and/or Joe Snively on waivers? Do you keep one waivers-exempt player, say Protas, who could be returned to Hershey when Tom Wilson returns to the lineup? (Snively or Jonsson-Fjallby would then need to be waived when Wilson returns).
Of the four, Snively and Protas have made the best showing in the preseason, with one tuneup game remaining. However, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby might be the best natural fit to replace Hagelin, as he is excellent on the penalty kill, a solid back checker and has an excellent shot. McMichael has the most NHL experience, and can play center or wing.
7 Defensemen
The Capitals blueline has also been relatively set since the summer, with one open spot available.
Martin Fehervary — John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov — Nick Jensen
Open Spot — Trevor van Riemsdyk
Options For Openings: Matt Irwin, Lucas Johansen, Erik Gustafsson.
Knowing Laviolette and the importance of comfort and familiarity to him, Matt Irwin will likely get a spot on the roster, and he should. He was solid last season and preseason has shown much of the same. That leaves Lucas Johansen and Erik Gustafsson battling for the final spot.
Gustafsson has had the best training camp and looked the best in preseason action. Both Gustafsson and Johansen would need to clear waivers to make it to Hershey.
OR…
13 FORWARDS, 8 DEFENSEMEN
The other option for the Capitals would be to go with 13 forwards and 8 defensemen. The configuration would eliminate any decisions regarding the blueline, but require one additional forward to run the waivers gauntlet.
13 Forwards
Obviously the 13 Forwards option creates greater pressure on the final decision regarding forwards in training camp.
Alex Ovechkin – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Connor Brown
Anthony Mantha – Dylan Strome – Conor Sheary
Marcus Johansson – Lars Eller – T.J. Oshie
Opening A – Nic Dowd – Garnet Hathaway
The forwards discussion above under the 14 Forwards option applies, with the need to cut one more forward from the roster.
8 Defensemen
If the Capitals decide to go with 13 forwards and 8 defensemen, the blueline is set with who they have left in training camp.
Martin Fehervary — John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov — Nick Jensen
Erik Gustafsson — Trevor van Riemsdyk
Lucas Johansen- Matt Irwin
To (over)simplify things, the decision to go with 14-7 or 13-8 could be boiled down to one final decision. Is keeping Lucas Johansen worth more than the potential/likely loss of one of the aforementioned forward prospects.
So that’s where we sit with five days to go. There are tough decisions to be made over the next few days at Capitals HQ in Ballston.
Unless of course there is an injury (knocks on wood). Or a trade (dun, dun, dun!) Then all of this is out the window.
Which way are you leaning?
By Jon Sorensen
If it is my choice, CMC and AP are in Hershey playing big minutes at C…
Axel on the 4th line… Joe S fills in for TJ…
I still say, Eller moves out but not sure where and his money goes to the D…
The Eller move is something we’ve discussed quite a bit. I thought the Capitals would use camp to make sure one of the kids (C-Mac, Protas) is ready to take over a center position. Eller is in the final year of his deal, and will likely be dealt at some point (or they will get nothing for him at the end of the season). The question is when?
In Salary cap world 3.5 is not considered nothing!!!
I think what Jon was saying if they dont trade him before the trade deadline and he walks there is no compensation for the Caps. AS he is a UFA after the season I dont see them getting a lot of him but then again anything is better than nothing.
Hell also be 34 at the end of the year and had a steep decline in his advanced stats last year. Giving the coming salary crunch with Wilson coming off LTIR, eller needs to be cut or traded (sadly).
How about 15 F and 6 D?
I’d keep CMac, Protas, Snively, Borgstrom. Mojo would be available.
The defense needs sprucing up.
It would be unorthodox but certainly not impossible.
It would likely not be wise either as there’s always a defenseman injury. If team is on the road when that happens, what forward is stuck filling in on “D”?
It’s a bit of a problem. BMac must do his absolute best to not lose an impactful NHLer for nothing. A trade makes a lot of sense.
“Unless of course there is an injury (knocks on wood). Then all of this is out the window.”
Oshie? Orlov? I’d make decisions on what is best today leaning heavily on waiver status. 14/7
I think Osh is gonna be out for a bit and Orly is gonna be back soon
Waive mojo, trade Eller.
You sign him, just to waive him a few months later? Seriously?
Seriously. It’s very possible he was signed as an insurance policy, should the kids be deemed not ready to step in. If the kids are ready, what’s the point? If they aren’t ready, they are good to go.
While it would be unorthodox, Mojo adds next to nothing to this team and isn’t better than any of our younger cheaper options
Agree completely with this.
I’m trying to understand this. You sign a guy in July as a UFA, because you don’t know if the kids are ready. Two months later, after training camp, you decide the kids are ready, and waive MOJO. Is that correct?
I’m not buying it. The Caps signed him, because they expect him to be a Top 9 forward. Not saying I agree with that, but Capsanagement pretty obvious want him. He won’t be waived
You perceived correctly. If you are unsure about development pace of prospects, you sign an insurance policy and wait to conduct final decision in training camp.
So why not sign an insurance policy for league minimum, if you don’t expect to keep him? Why pay MOJO $1.1 million?
That’s practically league minimum, plus he’s a known commodity, knows the system.
$1.1 mill is NOT league minimum. $750 is minimum, and that’s a $350K difference.
I have a better idea. Why not sign a few players to PTOs? If you had wanted just an insurance policy, a couple three guys on PTOs would cost nothing.
You’re just reaching. Waiving Mojo is just wishful thinking.
Becuase those PTO players aren’t known quantities, don’t know the system.
Another thing you’re not thinking of. Johansson has a 6 year old daughter. So he signs with the Caps, moves his family back to DC, puts his little girl in school….just when the team waives him? What kind of dirt bags does the team look like then? Will agents trust the team again? Will they steer their free agents to a team that does THAT to their players?
OK, again you’re contradicting yourself. They want MOJO because he’s a known quantity, and they pay him $350K extra because of that, but at the same time they don’t want him, and intend on waiving him. YIKES!
Totally agree as that serves the team and its development of younger players best.
I like the 14-7; on D keep Gustafsson as Lucas Johansen just has not shown that he is ready to play 15-18 minutes a night at this level and I dont see anyone picking up Irwin so he can slide to Hershey and get called up if needed; as for the forwards yeah a few tough decisions have to be made so here goes:
Alex Ovechkin – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Connor Brown
Anthony Mantha – Dylan Strome – Conor Sheary
Aliaksei Protas – Lars Eller – Joe Snively
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby – Nick Dowd – Garnet Hathaway
Bench: Brett Leason, Henrik Borgstrom with CMM going to the minors and playing heavy minutes until Eller is traded. When Eller is traded CMM comes back and slides in to the 3rd line C. The problem arises when TJ is ready however there is no need to rush him back from his upper body injure especially after coming off core surgery this summer. As TJ only played in 44 games last year I feel that it is better to let him heal and stay on the IR for a time to ensure that come late winter and spring he is playing at top of his game. I would rather err on the side of caution with TJ than rush him back especially as he is 35 and injuries take longer to heal and we have some players who can cover his position, maybe not play like TJ, but can cover it for now. Ready for 10/12 and the Bruins!!
I like those lines Steven. I think McMike will stay and Protas to Hershey. I think they will do:
OV-Kuzy-Brown
Snively-Strome-Mantha
CMM-Eller-Oshie (mojo if IR)
Sheary-Dowd-Hathaway
Mojo-Leason (AJF if IR)
If my choice, CMM to Hershey, Protas takes Oshie spot if needed, but makes it either way. That type of training camp should be rewarded. Axel on 4th line and Snively your extra forward. If Oshie is healthy then Protas and Snively extra forwards.
With regard to defensemen, I’d keep Gustafsson and Johansen. I think Irwin clears waivers easier than Johansen.
Mainly because next year having 2 young cheap defensemen will allow us to spend all that money in other areas (Orlov, Jensen – if not them some other high-end defenseman or two. I also think they’ll lock up Jensen and TVR this season about 1/2 way through if they are playing well. Jensen will get a raise but will be fairly affordable (4m??) and TVR gets a little raise too. Orlov I think will take longer as I think he’ll want serious term, but he may cave to stay with Ovi…Next year is going to be so fun to see how the roster shakes out,
I’m willing to risk losing AJF and LJ. I think both are replaceable.
Also pertinent:
The LTIR stuff is nuts. Looks like the Caps will have some options.