Washington Capitals 2024-25 NHL Season Preview | The Hockey Writers Roundtable
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Sep 17, 2024
Host Matthew Zator welcomes Jacob Billington to The Hockey Writers Roundtable to preview the upcoming 2024-25 season for the Washington Capitals. 0:00 Intro 1:31 New Additions: Pierre-Luc Dubois 3:30 New Additions: Andrew Mangiapane 5:24 New Additions: Brandon Duhaime & Taylor Raddysh 7:15 Capitals' Defense 11:31 Goaltending - Lindgren & Thompson 14:35 How do the Capitals stack up in the Metro Division? 16:49 Biggest Storyline or Question Mark 18:41 Breakout Stars 20:04 Bounce-Back Candidates 21:12 Potential X-Factors 22:20 One Rookie/Prospect That Could Make the Team 23:24 Prospects to Watch 25:01 Who will lead the team in scoring (forwards & defence)? 26:47 One Bold Prediction or Hot Take Follow The Hockey Writers:
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0:00
Hello, everybody
0:02
Welcome into another season preview show at the Hockey Writers' YouTube channel. I'm your host, Matthew Zattor, and we are up to the Washington Capitals here on our previews
0:11
And I've got Jacob Billington here filling in to cover the Capitals. He's normally a Senator's writer, but we have very limited writers that cover the Capitals here on the site
0:21
But we do have to have a preview for this team. So thanks, Jacob, for coming on
0:26
Absolutely. Thanks for having me. All right. Well, the Washington Capitals made it to the playoffs by the skin of their teeth very much
0:34
They made on the last day of the regular season. And they made it because they had the tiebreaker over the Detroit Red Wings who had the same amount of points
0:45
But they were quickly dispatched by the New York Rangers in the first round
0:49
So really, did they need to make the playoffs? I don't know. But they were pretty much done after the first bit
0:56
So going into this season, they had a lot of changes in the offseason
1:00
They made a few trades. They added some big name players that they're hoping can fit into the system
1:07
that they weren't fitting where they were before. So Jacob, let's start with our forward group here
1:13
And of course, still led by Alexander Ovechkin, still chasing the Wayne Gretzky goal total
1:19
which he's getting really close to. He's probably going to break it within the next bit here
1:23
So that's going to be a watch throughout the whole season here. but he's been joined by a few new additions
1:30
So let's start with probably arguably the biggest one right now, is Pierre Luc Dubois coming in from his second trade in like so many years here
1:40
coming in from the LA Kings, who he did not fit at all, not even a little bit in L.A
1:45
So what do you think about him joining the capitals? Because he's got another lease on life coming in here
1:53
I think it's a mistake. I mean, for the sake, I love the player, and I think that he has so much potential to be one of the best power forwards in the league, especially as a center
2:02
Usually when you look at power forwards, they're almost all winners. And so he could be a dominant center in the NHL
2:08
He could be a 75 point, extremely physical guy. And I really hope that that works
2:13
He's projected to be on a line with Andrew Mangiopani and Connor McMichael, two younger, speedier guys
2:20
I think Mangyipani is actually older. but just the speedier, faster game
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And I think that they could complement his game pretty well if he can play his game
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What we saw last year in L.A. It was Pierre L. Dubois just not sticking to what he's good at
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He's not getting physical. Elliot Freeman just on the 32 Thoughts podcast just said that even the general manager was on the ice
2:43
telling him he needs to play harder and teaching him how to play harder
2:47
Like Rob Blake, he knows how to play hard. He was showing Dubois how to do that
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and it just didn't click throughout the whole year. So I hope it can fit
2:56
Having Dubois and Tom Wilson on the same team is great if Dubois can be what he can be
3:03
100%. I mean, he's under such a big contract now because he was right away extended when he was in L.A
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thinking that he's going to be a long-term piece of this team. And he wasn't
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I mean, Blake was really quick to get rid of him because, like
3:20
well, this is not, this a mistake. So, I mean, the capitals will see how he kind of fits with those two guys
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who talked about, which is a good segue into the other, another edition that they made is Andrew Mountjapani
3:32
who he's a guy again, has not been able to bounce back to his 30 goal form
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Is there a one-time thing? Was that a flash in the pan with him? I don't know
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Because he hasn't been able to get back to that since then. Can he do it in Washington
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What do you think about him being added? I think so. Maybe not 30, but definitely higher than last year's 14
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I think he's going to be in a better position to play higher in the lineup. And while Calgary Flames did not have a fantastic team
4:01
I think he's just going to have a good chance here in a fresh start, maybe get back to 25 goals
4:07
He's a good 40-point guy every year. And he's good two-way as well
4:12
He just needs to be able to put it all together. And, I mean, there's no evidence to say that the 35 goal
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is going to be a recurring thing. But he does have this skill
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And, I mean, a year and a half ago, he was in conversations to be on the Canadian Olympic team
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He's not there anymore. That's not going to happen. But he does have this in him
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And it's more than just one season because everyone was like, well, it's all the skills that he showed building up to that 35 goal season
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And even after that, he had a 17 goal season with 43 points. And people were like, oh, well, it's just a little bit of a step back after a big year
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and then last year he took another step back with 14 goals and 40 points
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So I do think that he's going to bounce back up closer to 25 goals and 50 points
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I don't know. I could also see it going the complete opposite direction. And he just stays at what he is
5:05
Well, if he connects with Dubois, I think that's the biggest thing. If they can pass some chemistry together, it's going to help both forwards
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Like you mentioned with Dubois there. So I think if they can maybe connect with McMichael and be a really good second line
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for the capitals for sure. All right, they also added a couple depth pieces
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Brandon Du Hame and Taylor Radish. I mean, these guys aren't going to probably move the needle too much
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but what do you think they'll bring to the bottom six of the capitals? Well, I was really surprised that Chicago let go of Taylor Radish
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He had 37 points just two seasons ago. And I think he's still hesitant
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He's a good young player. I mean, he's 26 now, but he's still one of those players still trying to
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break into the league full time. He played two full, like, 70 plus game seasons in a row now
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but that was on a really struggling Chicago, but Black Ox team. Now that he actually needs to fight for his position on the team
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which he definitely didn't need to do with the Blackhawks, but he needs to fight for a position
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I think that's going to kind of light a fire under him and give him some more motivation to take another big step forward
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And as for Brandon Duques, I'd really like him as a bottom six edition. Again, like we talked about with Dubois and Wilson
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and it just adds more toughness to the lineup. And I just, he's not going to add much offense
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but he's just a solid fourth line guy, and there's nothing wrong with adding those
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For sure. And you're looking at a team that, again, made the playoffs
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but they didn't really compete in that first round. So they made some big changes throughout this forward group
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They're hoping that it'll kind of complement what they have already. And if things happen, right
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I mean, there's a lot of question marks in the fact with a lot of these guys. especially the two top ones
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But if they can all fit, I think that's a really good top six that the capitals have
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especially Ovechkin, who's still a 30 goal score in this league, even at his age
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So, yeah, I think this forward group is still pretty good one
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looking at the additions. And that's hopefully that they all kind of fit in with what the coaching staff has
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All right, moving to the defense. And we'll start with a guy here. very familiar with Jacob Chikrin who was traded again and the senators traded him after acquiring him not that long ago from the now defunct Arizona Coyotes So what do you think about him being added He now again a top pairing defenseman on the caps and pretty much similar role to what he was in Ottawa
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So is it going to fit in more in the capital system than he was in Ottawa
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Well, the capital system is a lot more heavy and bigger. And so they're not full of left-handed
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offensive defenseman like Ottawa was. And so he's in a much better position to play his true game
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With Ottawa last year, he was not as good defensively as he has been historically
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And his offense took a dip as well. I mean, the biggest positive benefit of his season was that he kind of threw the monkey
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off his back about the injury history. That was his first full season. Hopefully he can continue that into Washington
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He is in a contract year. So hopefully that also motivates him a little bit extra
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I'm assuming that they're going to pair him up with. with Matt Roy, who we're going to talk about in a minute
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And I think that that's a pairing that could make for a really good grade at both ends of
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the ice. And you see Ottawa just traded him for Matt Roy, not Matt Roy, Nick Jensen
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And a guy like Nick Jensen is or Matt Roy, who are pretty similar players, is somebody
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that Chikner needed to play with last year. If he had played with Nick Jensen last year in Ottawa, I think he's still in Ottawa because
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he would have done a lot better. So yeah, if he can get good chemistry with Matt Roy, who is stronger defensively
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I think that it could make it for a good pair. If they put them on the top pair with John Carlson, I don't think that's going to work very well
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Just two guys that are too offense focused and not strong enough defensively
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but also two guys that while they're offensively focused aren't putting up superstar points at this point in their careers
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so maybe they could turn that around this year. But as of now
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Chickren on the second pair with Matt Roy makes the most sense to me. Yeah, I think they'd fit a bit better as a pairing for sure
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Matt Roy is a guy that seemed like he was on the radar of a lot of teams in free agency
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to grab up from the L.A. Kings. So, I mean, the Kings obviously didn't resign him
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He's a guy that it brings a lot to the lineup. What do you think, how is he going to fit in Washington here
9:46
I think he's going to fit perfect. Like I mentioned with Jacob Chikrin, if he partners up with him, that's going to be a great pair
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If not, he's with Rasmus Sandin, also great mentor for Sandine to kind of let him thrive in the offense that he's shown flashes of in Washington so far, but also teach him some of the defensive strategies that he needs to focus on
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So Matt Roy can come in and be a good veteran leader, even though I think he's like the second youngest or third youngest on that blue line
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he's far from the oldest, but he can come in, and he played in a really good defensive system in L.A
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So he can bring some of that as well. And while obviously the coach dictates what the systems are like
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he can say, well, hey, listen, some teams do this, and this is how we can't enter it in L.A
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So he can also just pitch in on those strategies and stuff
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So while everybody dislikes the one three one system that L.A. played
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there are positives that come along with it outside of just the boring system. for sure
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I mean, he'll definitely be able to add that because he played in that a long time in L.A
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So he definitely knows it probably like the back of his hand at this point
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So me interesting to see how he kind of fits in a different system after playing that one so long
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You know, the defense, it's a good, I think a good group
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when you're looking at Rasmus Sandin of how he was able to kind of fit in right away
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when he came in from Toronto. And adding Roy and Chickren, I mean
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is some good additions. and to adding to the Martin Fair Vary, Trevor Van Riemes on the bottom pairing
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I think this is a pretty good group going into this season
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We'll see. Again, this is like, can they all fit from, especially the new additions
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All right, goalies. Goaltending again got a facelift, a little bit of one
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And that was Darcy Kemper moving on getting traded because, again, this is the guy apparently didn't fit after signing a big contract in free agency last year
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Charlie Lengren also joined the team last season. He is now, I don't know if he's the starter or 1A1B
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but Logan Thompson was also added from the Vegas Golden Knights. What do you think about this tandem
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Is it a 1A1B tandem? Is it stronger than last season? What do you think about it
12:03
I think it's definitely a 1A1B. And I would say that it's fairly equal to last year
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Logan Thompson versus Darcy Kemper doesn't move the needle for me. Charlie Lingren obviously had a fantastic year
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there was a legitimate argument to have him on Hart and Vesna ballots
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not because he was so outstanding, but because based on the expectations that people had of Charlie Lingren
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headed into the last year, and he's the only reason that they even came close to the playoff
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So, yeah, Charlie Lingren, he's a great goaltender, not among the league's best in any sense of the word
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but he is a great goaltender for this team, and it just works
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And sometimes you see that, like look at Vegas with 8th, Aiden Hill. Sometimes a goaltender just works with the team. And that's what you get with Charlie
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Lingren. I'm excited to see Logan Thompson head to Washington. Obviously, he wanted more of
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an opportunity than he was going to get in Vegas because they committed to Aden Hill. They said
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this is going to be our guy. And over the last couple years, I mean, he's played 100 games
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givers take with Vegas. But he's shown really good signs as well. He's got a career 912 save
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percentage. He's just not being given that full opportunity he feels he deserves and he knows
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he's not going to get it moving forward. I could very well see him take the reins in Washington
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with a true opportunity. But as of now, I think the tandem is great. And I wouldn't be surprised
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if they both stay healthy and we see 41 games each or very close to it. Kind of like we see
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with Olmerk and Swayman last year with Boston, almost no matter what, it was always
13:43
we're going to rotate every single game. We even saw that go into the playoffs and people were questioning it
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But that seems to be what worked for them. And I could see that working for Washington as well
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I see that too. I mean, Thompson, I think injuries have kind of worked against him too in Vegas
14:01
And then, of course, there's so many goalies. At the time, what, they had one point
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They had like four guys. And he played in that bit of carousel
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I think given a good, basically a solid point of saying as I'm either, I'm in this tandem
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I'm going to be playing. So I think he's going to be more better off in Washington than he was in Vegas
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And I could see that too being a split down the middle between the two, especially if both are playing well
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All right. Now this division that they are capital is in the metro is one of the tougher ones
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I don't know. I mean, maybe it's more top heavy. But where do you see the capital is kind of falling in this with all their new additions here
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Somewhere between third and seventh It very wide range Eighth is locked down by Columbus First and second is going to be Carolina and New York Rangers
15:01
And then everything else is just so wide open. It's all just going to be based on how these teams start the season, who fits in
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And it's really hard to predict because, like, Dubois is a big wild card
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Mangioponni is a big wild card. Chickren at this point is a bit of a wild card
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Your goal tending is a wild card. Like, I guess it would be fit. to say they make it in the wild card spot
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But I do see that being pretty realistic. I think the Atlantic division is going to be the better division this year
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and might pick up all five possible playoff spots in the division
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So that only leaves three spots in the metro. There's a good chance that they can sneak into that third spot
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I mean, Philadelphia is going to be a tough out. The Islanders, I think that the, I think the Islanders took a step back
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when the Capitals are a better team. I could see third or fourth in the division
15:54
Yeah, it's a very wide, I don't know, I'm not sure where they're going to fit either
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There's so many unknowns in all the divisions. The Atlantic, there's so many different teams
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that could be wildcard type teams, the Red Wings, the Senators, the Sabres
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I mean, all these teams are going to be right in there in that mix
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It's just going to depend on how they play during, I'd say the first half of the season
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because they could be out of it in the first few months of some of these teams
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because it's just going to be so tough throughout. Or the last dozen games of the same thing
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Because that was the biggest dictator last year. Detroit lost like eight of the last 11
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The Flyers lost like eight of the last 12. That's a mess of everything
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Yeah, very true. All those runs and where you have it during the season
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Right. All right. Let's move into our quick far around. These are all just quick questions here
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So let's start with our biggest storyline or question mark going into this season
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I think it's one of the biggest storylines in the league this year. And that's Alex Ovechkin chasing Wengretzky's record
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I believe he's 42 goals from taking the record on his own, which is very doable
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I mean, he's done that, what, 13, 14 times already in his career, maybe even more than that
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That's the storyline. That's why the Washington Capitals are adding right now is to get Ovechkin that record
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if it wasn't for Ovechkin, if he said today I'm done, I think that they sell everything off and do a bit of a rebuild
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They're long overdue for one. And I'm not saying that this team isn't good even without Ovechkin
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I just think that the time is nigh. They need to, they just need to blow things up sooner or later
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But as long as you have Ovechkin, you're going for the goal record. I don't even think the playoff
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I think the record is more important than playoffs this year for the scene. I have to agree with that, especially when he's pretty close
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I mean, he could hit, I don't know if he's going to hit 42 goals this season
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How much did he have last season? Like he had 31. 31, something like that
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And he started off really slow. Like, he was not scoring very much in the first bit of the season
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And then he kind of turned it on and got back to his 30 goal form
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But he's going to be good for at least 30. and then next season he would only have to score 12 goals to do it
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So that's doable for sure. So it's in this season or next season is this going to happen
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I mean, it's going to happen. But yeah, I agree with that
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I think they added because they want to add a good supporting cast around him
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so that he has some guys to maybe help him out to get to that goal record
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I agree. I think that's the biggest one going into this season for sure. All right
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Who's going to break out this season? I'm between two, Connor McMichael and Hendricks LaPierre
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Both are very young players, pretty similar players. And I don't know
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There's a lot of, I'm going to go Connor McMichael. He just, he has a bit more experience
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He had 33 points last year, I believe. And I think he can take another step full time on that second line, especially
19:13
And again, huge question mark. if Dubois and Mangiopani fit in well
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But yeah, I think he has a great opportunity. I mean, looking back to his world juniors, he had 15 points in his two years
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Like, he has a ton of skill. He had 100 points in the OHL
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two great seasons in the HAL. He has it in him to be a high end forward for this team
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And if Dubois doesn't work out, McMichael can move to center. He can take over that spot
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and maybe give the line of boost that they need. I don't know
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I do see him as a long-term winger, but he has played center quite a bit in his career up till now
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So, yeah, I'm going to go, I'm going to go McMichael. Yeah, it's a good one
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I mean, he's going to be playing with, well, on paper, two really good players, if they can fit is the question for sure
20:03
All right, someone that needs to bounce back from last season. I'm going to go with Tom Wilson
20:08
He just wasn't quite what he has been. just over the past decade, really
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Obviously, he's always been a good, like, 40-point guy with a ton of physicality, 20 goals
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And his points were right about there last year. He had 18 goals, 35 points
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But I feel like his physicality took a bit of a step back. I mean, his penalty minutes were right up there with his career average
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But I just, he wasn't as noticeable to me. And while admittedly, I don't watch every cast
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capitals game. I do my best to watch lots of games around the league, getting clips for everything and social media
20:50
I just didn't notice him as much. And the capitals really need him
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especially he's going to fit in on that first line and live up to that $6.5 million contract
21:00
Yeah, but that big money that he's got, I think he's got to be more of a factor for sure for the capitals
21:07
especially if they want to make the playoffs this season. all right someone or something that could be an X factor this season it's got to be
21:17
debaugh i mean um bouncing back from a 40 point season is going to be the biggest thing that
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can help this team um he like he showed that he can be a 60 point guy in two of his three years
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in Winnipeg um he signed a massive ticket at eight and a half million dollars for eight years
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he really really needs to be good this year um and if he's a massive ticket at eight and a half million dollars for eight years
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he really, really needs to be good this year. And if he's not, I mean, they just missed the window for the buyout for the one-third instead of two-thirds
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If you're stuck with $8.5 million of a 40-point player, it's game over
21:51
You're not getting rid of that contract if he has another 40-point season. Yeah, it is
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I mean, the thing is he's got to be, I want to say he's got to be an 80-point player
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I mean, I feel like he needs to be around that to really kind of
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justify the money you're paying him. Yeah. And he has the potential to do it
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especially if he's going to be on the power play, he will be, on the power play with Ovechkin
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I mean, come on. I mean, just pass the puck to him. He'll get an assist. So all right a rookie or a prospect that could surprise make the roster out of training camp here I going to go with Ivan Miro Shichenko
22:27
I don't know how that's not much of a hot take. I mean, he played 21 games with the team last year
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He struggled a little bit in his development, not necessarily on the ice
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but obviously with the cancer diagnosis in that battle that he had to go through
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But he made it over to the NHL and the North American hockey locker
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quicker than a lot of people projected. And he had good numbers in the
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HL, 25 points and 47 games. In the NHL, he wasn't as productive, six points in 21 games
22:57
but I think that he has a good chance of being being really impactful on the team
23:03
Yeah, I feel like he could definitely do that too. I mean, it probably wouldn't be a surprise
23:08
for him to make the roster, but now without these additions, there's less room for him
23:13
Like, we didn't talk about him in the forward group. so he could, to be a surprise, to be pushed one of these guys out for sure
23:23
All right, other than guys that could make the team, what other prospects should fans be watching this season
23:29
Ryan Leonard's my pick. I'm a huge fan of Ryan Leonard. I think he's going to be a guy that adding to Brandon Duhay and Pierre Leuke
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to Bois, Tom Wilson, he's going to suck to play against. He's a really good offensive player
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He had 60 points in the NCAA last year. and he's also very, very physical
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There's been lots of prospects in the NCAA that have said, like, this guy is my least favorite player to play against
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So that's going to fit in pretty well. He's committed to Boston College again for this season
24:02
But yeah, he's somebody that watching him is going to get Capitals fans excited
24:07
If you haven't watched him before, he's poised to take a huge step in his development again
24:11
He had, like, he had 60 points as a rookie in the NCAA. Yeah, that's pretty good
24:16
that's pretty good for a freshman for sure i he's i think again there's a few guys in the capital
24:23
system that they're next wave post ovechkin i mean they're they're kind of building it slowly
24:28
with some guys coming up here um and leoner's going to be a big part of that for a group too
24:34
in their next iteration of the core i guess yeah and i'll throw andrew crystal in there too
24:38
there's another keeping an eye on him like he's not as like super physical and um all that but
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he's like he's a really creative player um good hockey sentence and has a lot of offensive skills
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And he's the left winger, so he'll be following up underneath Ovechkin by the time he's retiring
24:52
So, yeah, lots of good prospects to keep an eye on. For sure
24:57
All right. This could be an easy one, probably from one of them at least. Who's going to lead the team in scoring on forwards and defense
25:05
I don't think either of these are easy. You don't think Ovechkin
25:10
I'll lead the... I don't think Ovechkin. I think I might go Ryan Strom
25:14
or Dylan Strom, sorry. just because he's going to be setting up more than just Ovechkin
25:20
I think Ovechkin's going to score 30 goals and 60 points. I think that Dillon's strong can beat that and hit 75 points or so
25:29
or even higher maybe. Ovetian's not as much of a playmaker, and he never has been
25:36
And now that his goal total is taking a step back, I don't see him leading the team. And so moving to defense
25:43
this isn't easy either. I'm going to go John Carlson just because it's his team. I mean, Chickren could do it just as easily
25:51
but John Carlson, he's just done it so many times. He knows that the team works
25:57
He's not new to the system. I mean, he's, how old is he, 35, 34 maybe
26:03
And he had 50 points last year, 51, I think. I don't think Chickren's going to hit that
26:10
He very well might. It's going to be pretty close to be between them, to be honest. but Carlson's hit the 70 point mark quite a few times in his career
26:17
So, yeah, now that the defense is a bit better shaped in Washington
26:22
I think that he's going to lead the team. I can't believe John Carlson is in his mid-30s already
26:28
I keep thinking that he's still a young guy, but he's not anymore. Yeah
26:32
He was drafted in 2008. It's a long time ago now. Yeah, it's always so many times just flying by
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All right. Last but not least in our preview here, a bold prediction or a hot take to the end to the season here
26:52
I kind of hinted at it earlier, but I'm going to say that they finish in a divisional playoff spot
26:56
And I do think that they're a better team than the Islanders
27:02
Who else is in the Metro? I think that they're pretty close with the Flyers, but I think they're better than them as well
27:07
I think that they take that spot in the division underneath the Rangers and the Hurricanes
27:12
I mean, it's wide open from there. So it's not a super hot take
27:17
It's just a 25% chance by my logic. But no, I do think that they took a bunch of huge steps forward
27:25
Their goaltending is better. Their defense is better. Their forwards are better. And I just think that all around, it's going to be a much better season
27:31
I mean, the mentality that some of these players have, I'll reference Elliot Friedman again
27:36
He was talking on his podcast and mentioned that Rasmus Sandin, in their exit meetings at the end of the season
27:44
He said, I don't want to talk to you right now to the coach and said, I'm going to call you in a few weeks and we'll talk that
27:49
I just want to sit on some things. And basically what he said was, I wasn't good enough
27:53
How can you make me better? And the coach said the exact same thing
27:57
He said, I know you weren't good enough. What can I do to help you better? And I think that that's a team mentality at this point
28:03
I don't think that's just Rasmus Sandin. So it's the mentality like that that I think gives players
28:10
motivation to thrive and make the playoffs and try and compete for the Stanley Cup because
28:17
you look at any roster in Lee, you look at San Jose or Anaheim or Chicago right now, all of those
28:22
players are trying their hardest to win the Stanley Cup this year. Every player does it. But when you have the mentality of, listen, we need to sit down, talk about how I can be better
28:31
what can you do for me, what can I do for you? That's when players really start to thrive
28:36
Yeah, I agree with that. I think especially the additions coming into
28:40
you're looking at guys that want to prove themselves, especially like Dubois and Manjipani
28:44
They both should be coming in saying, we need to be a lot better than we were last season
28:49
And I think if they're not coming in that way, they're not the right players to be on this team
28:54
Because you have to have that competitive drive to be better than what you were, especially with, you know
29:00
they were both really bad last season. So they definitely got to come in with more of a drive to be better
29:08
So, yeah, that's a good point for sure. All right. Well, there's the capitals as we continue our count down to the regular season
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Thanks, Jacob, for coming on and talking about the capitals here as we get to closer and closer to the regular season starting up
29:23
Training camps are pretty much, what, a week away or a week or two away here as they're recording this
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So make sure to check out everything at the hawkerers.com. We've got lots of preview content for every team, lots of general stuff too
29:36
and then of course check out the substack for the capitals and for all the other teams
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that gives you all the best articles as we go through here
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But until our next preview video, we'll see you next time
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