After scoring just eight goals in their first six preseason games - and winning only one of them - the Capitals scored four and beat the Blues in their final preseason game. With a terrible summer and a concerning preseason behind them, the defending President's Trophy winners will look to defend their title beginning Thursday night in Ottawa.
Unfortunately, the incompetence of GM Brian MacLellan was on full display all summer long and the Capitals won't even be attempting to defend their title as the NHL's beset (regular season) team. This is really unfortunate because, in a results based business, no one really cares that they had the best team last year, or that they didn't choke at all in the Playoffs, but rather absolutely embarrassed the NHL's eventual Champions and lost in one of the most unluckiest results a seven game NHL series has ever seen.
Everyone just remembers that the Penguins won, but the Capitals did out-chance them by over 100 scoring chances across seven games, fully dominated six of seven games,and lost to a team whose back-up goalie played out-of-his-mind.
But sure, they chocked, because that is the convenient narrative.
Either way, it's all academic at this point because the Capitals gutted their roster and will be in a tough to just make the Playoffs this year.
The Capitals submitted their final roster, and as expected, it looks pretty top heavy and really, really bad on the bottom. The team plans to play certified dangerous idiot Tom Wilson on the third line, but can't because he has been suspended four games for boarding. This is Wilson's second suspension of this preseason.
This just goes to show what a joke the NHL player safety dept. is. If you get second PRESEASON suspension, just on principle, it should be ten games or something really, really harsh. I like Wilson (as a fourth liner) but he's out of control and is a supremely dirty player.
Perhaps while he's off he can get started on his new book "How to Ruin Your Promotion in Three Easy Steps."
It is suspected that while Wilson is suspended, the Capitals will give a contract to PTO tryout Alex Chiasson for some reason. This is a team that didn't even try to retain Daniel Winnik despite his not currently having a contract and his being one of the NHL's better 4th line centres. But sure, Chiasson is gonna help.
The Capitals last year had one of the best third and fourth lines in the NHL. Replacing Burakovsky on the third line with Wilson is a massive downgrade. What used to be Beagle-Winnick-Wilson is now Graovac-Beagle-Pelly Smith. Not good!
On defense, the Capitals sent down Madison Bowey, and will for some reason attempt to make the Playoffs with Taylor Chorny and Aaron Ness as their third pairing. Christian Djoos will be the seventh defenseman for some reason.
Nathan Walker and Chandler Stevenson also made the team. Who? What are you an owl?
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