Washington Capitals: Full line combination predictions for 2018-19

How will the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals line combinations look as they head into quest their to go back to back?

While a little more than a month remains until preseason hockey begins, it’s never too early to look at how the rosters may look when the regular season finally rolls back around in October.

For the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, not too much will likely change, and why should it? They brought the near identical roster to the one who just won the Stanley Cup, but there are some key roster decisions to be made during training camp and the preseason. Newly promoted head coach Todd Reirden will also show for the first time what his plan for this Capitals team will be.

The core is locked down, but it’s time for the prospects that have spent years gestating in Hershey to step up and make the roster now that there are a few openings. However, there isn’t enough room for all of them, and there is competition who can and will push them out if they don’t impress.

What does the ideal roster look like for Washington come opening night on Oct. 4? Who will fill out which spots, and can they stay there? Here are our predictions for how the Washington Capitals will look on opening night, and what could change over the course of the season.

Forwards

First line: LW-Alex Ovechkin, C-Evgeny Kuznetsov, RW-Tom Wilson

A line that should need no introduction. The greatest goal scorer of this generation, matched with an elite skilled playmaker, and rounded out with a pure power forward makes for one of the most well rounded lines in the entire league.

Alex Ovechkin is still going strong after winning yet another Rocket Richard trophy last season before leading the Capitals to their first ever Stanley Cup, and there is nothing that suggests that his reign of terror over goalies around the league will end anytime soon. Scoring 50 goals is absolutely still a possibility every season until proven otherwise, and a record-setting eighth Rocket Richard is his to lose.

Evgeny Kuznetsov has proven himself to be one of the most pure skilled based centers in the league. He already had his breakout season last year, but if he can continue his ridiculous pace from the post season, he could evolve into a bonafide superstar. If Kuznetsov went an entire regular season at his playoff scoring pace of 1.333 points per game, he would’ve scored 109 points.

Tom Wilson is a polarizing player, to say the least. After being mismanaged in an enforcer role and under developed during his prime growth periods by the Capitals organization, Wilson finally got his shot at an offensive role and delivered enough to stay with the top line. His role in the playoffs earned him an expensive six year contract. 35 points during the regular season may not seem like much at first glance, but if he continues growing his game and keeps up the .71 point per game pace from the playoffs, a 50 plus point season is easily on the horizon.

Second line: LW-Jakub Vrana, C-Nicklas Backstrom, RW-T.J. Oshie

Jakub Vrana was a needed revelation last year for the Capitals when they were looking for depth on offense with all their offseason departures. Vrana started his rookie season with a trial by fire with a role in the top six, and he did not disappoint. There were points during the year that Vrana looked as though he was a blooming superstar, but there were also points in the season when his play dropped off for stretches, but that’s normal for a rookie. With a full year of experience under his belt, and not to mention a Stanley Cup, Vrana should take a big step into a being permanent top six producer.

Even with a Stanley Cup to his name now, Nicklas Backstrom is still one of the most underrated players in the NHL. The eternal duo of Backstrom-Ovechkin was separated for a large portion of the season, but that didn’t stop Backstrom from being the backbone of this team. Backstrom is still as consistent as they come year after year, easily reliable for 70 plus points a year. His renowned playmaking ability is second to none across the league, and no matter what line he’s on, you can be sure that he’s the one controlling play on the ice.

TJ Oshie is a fan favorite in Washington for his contributions both on and off the ice. Oshie had a down season by his standards last regular season, during which he went on a bizarre slump and scored only one goal in nearly three months , but he erased all memories with a sensational playoff performance that helped lead Washington to the Stanley Cup. Surely his regular season production is bound to take a positive bounce, as long as he goes injury free.

Third line: LW-Andre Burakovsky, C-Lars Eller, RW-Brett Connolly

This third line for the Capitals could end up being one of the best depth lines in the league. Andre Burakovsky needs to be ready to have a breakout season as he enters the final season of his bridge deal. Injuries have hampered his play the last two seasons and stopped him from really finding his peak, but when he’s on a roll, there’s almost no stopping him. This will likely be Burakovsky’s last chance to prove himself with his two year bridge contract expiring at the end of the year, and if he wants to get paid now is the time to put all of those skills together and start really producing.

Lars Eller signed a five year extension amidst a career year, and locks down the third line center that Washington has been looking for for years. His stability as the third line center locks up one of the better center cores in the NHL, and takes the pressure off of Backstrom and Kuznetsov in front of him. His contributions will always go under the radar, but he is integral to another deep playoff run for Washington.

Brett Connolly got the fresh start that he needed in Washington, and has found his role on the Capitals third line as a consistent depth player. You’re likely getting at best an around 30 point a season scorer in Connolly, but with him beginning to enter his prime at 26, a career year could be coming soon.

The chemistry between these three has been on display for the past two seasons, and a breakout season from Burakovsky this season could elevate them all to another level. This is also the line that combined for the Stanley Cup winning goal in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final scored by Eller and assisted by Connolly and Burakovsky.

Fourth line: LW-Nathan Walker, C-Chandler Stephenson, RW-Devante Smith-Pelly

Like most teams, this line is very much up for debate with the amount of NHL ready depth the Capitals have available.

Along with being the first Australian to play in the NHL, Nathan Walker absolutely deserves a chance to earn a full time spot after never getting a fair shot last season. The stats might not show it with one goal in eight appearances, but he looked impressive every time he was out on the ice. Walker was waived last season and claimed by Edmonton, but he was later waived by Edmonton and re-acquired by the Capitals. When Washington had multiple roster players injured going into Game 6 against Pittsburgh, Walker got a shot in the biggest moment of them all and he delivered. A primary assist on the only regulation goal of the game, as well as showcasing his skills as power forward.

Chandler Stephenson played on the wing all last season, but he is naturally a center and was developed as one in Hershey. Stephenson goes unnoticed in what led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup, because if he didn’t emerge from nowhere, Washington would’ve had to rely on guys like Tyler Graovac to play full time. He didn’t even make the opening night roster, but was called up later and made the team full time. With all four center spots locked down, Stephenson was forced to the wing, but with Jay Beagle gone Stephenson can take over at a spot he was developed to play. If not Stephenson at center, the Capitals have Travis Boyd ready to emerge and Nic Dowd as insurance.

Devante Smith-Pelly was the playoff hero last postseason that emerged to push the Capitals over the top to the Stanley Cup. In 75 regular season games last year, Smith-Pelly scored seven goals.in 24 games in the postseason, Smith-Pelly matched his whole regular season production and scored seven goals, and all of them were goals in the clutch when Washington needed a hero most. Smith-Pelly went from forgotten fourth liner to a folk lore legend in Washington, and now that he’s found a home here, his regular season could take a swing upwards.