ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals are roughly a month away from training camp, and there are a lot of questions surrounding the team entering their new season.
As we count down the days to 2024-25, we reopen the Capitals mailbag to answer your burning Capitals questions.
Editor's note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.
View the original article to see embedded media.
Should the Capitals temper their expectations for Pierre-Luc Dubois in his first season? - @_rydougg
There's no question that Pierre-Luc Dubois has quite a bit of work to do to get back to the form he was in a few years back. This is his fourth team in four years, and in his first year in L.A. after signing an eight-year deal and committing long-term to the Kings, he had just 40 points, struggled with inconsistency and ended up being dealt in the offseason.
However, there are several factors at play to remember. Dubois wasn't exactly being utilized as a top-6 center during his time in Los Angeles, and he's only 26 and has shown that he can be a 60-point player. He's a lot like Dylan Strome, who was also a third-overall pick who didn't reach his highest potential until getting to D.C.
So yes, there's reason to be optimistic. This is a fresh start for the 6-foot-4, 225-pound pivot, and he's expected to play top-6 minutes and get time on the power play. That bigger role should lead to some more confidence and boost some of that "extra motivation" he alluded to this offseason, and working with head coach Spencer Carbery, who has a track record for helping younger players get their game to the next level, should help, too.
That being said, though, it's also a lot to ask a new player who has to learn new team systems and bounce back while also feeling the pressure of critics. He'll definitely thrive with more ice time and opportunity, and though 60 points may seem like a lot, it's not impossible based on how Strome adjusted upon arriving in D.C.
I think we see a lot out of Dubois this year.
Related: Why Capitals Should Be Optimistic When It Comes To Dubois; First Impressions As He Continues To Skate In D.C.
Why did the Capitals bring in so many new players rather than giving a chance for some of the Hershey players to move up? - @you_cant_skate
The Capitals barely snuck into the playoffs last season. Now, they want to show that they not only belong there, but can tough it out for a long run.
With two years left on Alex Ovechkin's contract before he likely hangs up the skates, D.C. wants to stay a contender and go for another championship, and therefore, opted to retool on the fly rather than tear everything down and rebuild.
This past year gave several Hershey players the chance to step into bigger roles, as Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichenko got extended looks at the highest level. Now, the Capitals want to see what head coach Spencer Carbery can do with a stacked lineup.
Opportunities also came up to trade for players like the aforementioned Dubois, Jakob Chychrun and Logan Thompson, and former general manager Brian MacLellan didn't want to pass that up. So that's another reason he chose to go for the NHL-ready options rather than rely on Hershey players to carry all the weight.
Still, that's not saying Miroshnichenko, Ethen Frank and Bogdan Trineyev can't compete for NHL ice time. It'll all depend on how training camp plays out.
(Also bonus points for your handle, because I suck at skating).
Where do the Capitals stack up in the Metropolitan Division this season? - @ovibacky
I really think that D.C. did enough to be a team that can do serious damage in the Metropolitan Division, as it really improved while teams like the Carolina Hurricanes lost some key pieces.
Personally, I could see the Capitals going for second to third in the Metro and jumping up from being a Wild Card team.
Is T.J. Oshie headed for the LTIR? - @nOSHIEbettadont
Given the amount of moves that Washington made, the influx of forwards, the professional tryout signing of Jakub Vrana and the Capitals' lack of cap space, signs point to T.J. Oshie heading to the long-term injured reserve and not playing this season.
He said in July that he would not play if he didn't find a long-term solution to his chronic back pain, and he noted that list of solutions was dwindling. However, that definitive decision is expected to come before training camp, and Oshie loves the game, so I imagine he'd try to do whatever he can to see if a comeback is possible. Still, he is 37 years old and has a family, and his health is the most important thing.
Related: What Will The Capitals Leadership Group Look Like If Oshie Isn't Back? Candidates To Pick Up The Third 'A'
How will the logjam on defense in Hershey affect Vincent Iorio and Ryan Chesley? - @TunedOut6
The influx of defenders in the organization is a good thing, especially with Matt Roy on board now in D.C. for the next six years and the Capitals having a plethora of options in Hershey.
There are several left-hand shots, and Vincent Iorio is a right-handed defenseman, which moves him up on the depth chart. He's also one of the team's more promising prospects, so I expect him to be an early call-up option and to be just right behind Alex Alexeyev on the depth chart.
As for Ryan Chesley, I expect one more season at the college level for him before he's ready to go pro, and that's not just because of space, but because it's the best thing for his development.
READ MORE ON THE HOCKEY NEWS
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- What will the Capitals lineup look like for the start of 2024-25? Projected line combinations
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