Washington Capitals Roster Battles 2025: Cristall, Lapierre, Sourdif & More Compete for NHL Spots

On today’s show, the youth movement and veterans on the bubble as we head into the 2526 season. Next on this edition of Locked on Capitals. [Music] You’re Locked on Capitals, your daily podcast on the Washington Capitals, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Well, hello and welcome into this edition of Locked On Capitals, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. My name is Dan Holy. I’ve covered the Capitals for the past three seasons for Locked On and various other outlets before that. I’m also the host of the weekly show called the Capitals Minute Cast available wherever you find podcasts. And as always, I want to thank you for making this your first listen of the day. So, in this edition of Locked On Capitals, we talk about the Caps as they head into the 202526 season. A bit different than we’ve seen in seasons before where it does appear that the Capitals are going to be leaning into the youth, trusting you, the youth far more than we have seen in quite some time. So, there are a lot of youth players, a lot of rookies that are looking for a job. which of those young players are ready for prime time. I’ll talk about that. And then a bit later, the veterans that are looking for their place. Now, listen, you’ve heard that Justin Sort of is going to have a place on the NHL. You’ve heard that Declan Chisum is going to have a spot on the NHL. It’s my belief that the young players, the youth within the Capitals organization are going to make it interesting. So, let’s get right into it here. talking about the Capitals and uh what we can expect in the 2526 season because like I say I think that the youth the Capitals they’re in the position now something they’ve talked about if you followed the team for a long time they’re when are they going to do that when are they going to trust the youth and year after year it seems like they are but then they acquire a bunch of veterans and you’re like okay they’re still going for the safe thing they’re trying to squeeze the most juice that they possibly can out of that rock the red era But now I think the time is right. Alex Ovetkin who is heading into his final year under contract and the question that his future is a bit up in the air, right? I think that he has said that he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. I tend to believe that he is going to retire. So now is the time to integrate to push along the youth within the organization, but there’s not going to be any gimmies. We’re not going to give a spot to a youthful player with a high trajectory just because of where they are. Uh it is going to be a fair battle and it’s going to be a fun one to watch, but this camp honestly I think feels a little bit different. Um leaning into the youth that isn’t just a token move like we did it, we’re going to try out Leonard and Crystal. This isn’t just one kid sneaking onto the fourth line for seven minutes a night. This feels to me um like an actual transition. And a lot of it, like I said, is born out of necessity that um you know, you can just keep kicking that proverbial can down the road again and again and again and just getting veteran player after veteran player after veteran player. And that in a lot of ways is how the Capitals got to be such an old team at one point or the Pittsburgh Penguins for that matter that I think that the tendency is is to go with the safe thing. And when I say safe, it’s the guys that have the accomplishments. They got the trophies. they’ve got all the, you know, awards that they’ve won throughout the season, but now it does appear that now is the time that they’re going to lean into the youth and Chris Patrick instead of going out and grabbing some veterans um like we’ve seen in the past, it does appear that we’re going to roll with the kids. Now, to be clear, we didn’t kick Wilson and Carlson and Ovatchkin. It’s just that you’re seeing this integration, more of an integration than just like I said off the top, not that token move like, hey, we brought in that one kid that we’re really hot on for years. No, I think we’re going to see multiple uh young players and I think that Chris Patrick is trusting the system and he’s trusting the development in Hershey. Um, and that’s a big thing. And it’s not like he shouldn’t. I mean, they accomplish great things year after year after year at the AHL level. And that’s a big deal because the Capitals have known to be a veteranheavy team for a long time. And that’s the chatter out there, guys. I’m here to tell you, or it was anyway, was that the Capitals were old and slow and well, part of that might still be true, but I think they are transitioning away from that. So now with a little more cap flexibility and uh you know what I’m going to say a big picture mindset, it’s clear Chris Patrick wants to see what the young guys can do. The perils of that, however, is say they’re not ready. I I don’t think that he’s dealing in that world right now. I think that he brought in veterans like Sort of and and Chisum. And when I say veteran, I mean Sort of is still he’s still a young player, but he has some miles on his odometer. Still still pretty ripe there. Um, but you also have Sunny Milano. Um, that you have guys like this. You have Ethan Frank. Uh, guys that don’t have, you know, Sunny Milano in that breath has the most experience, but you know, Ethan Frank, uh, had a pretty good glimpse, a long sip of coffee, if you will, with the Capitals last season that it’s going to be a battle. So, the top six, that’s pretty much locked in. I don’t think that’s going to change a whole lot. Ovatkin, Sterome, Wilson, Mcichael, Dubois, Leonard. Those names aren’t moving unless someone gets hurt. You notice who I lumped in there? Leonard. Yeah, he’s already a part of the pack. I really believe that, you know, he’s not going anywhere. He’s not going anywhere. His time with Boston College is over. We saw him in the latter part of last season and I think that we’re going to see him grow by leaps and bounds in the 2526 season. And what do I have that based on? just based on history, the guy is used to knocking it out of the park all the way up. You know, we’ve seen him knock it out of the park at Boston College on the international stage. I don’t believe that this is a flash in the pan. So, where’s the real the real action coming? It’s going to be the bottom six and the third line in particular, that’s where the fireworks are going to be. I think you’ve got Sunonny coming back from an injury riddled season. don’t injury just vague and ambiguous but trying to prove he’s still got something left in the tank and I don’t think and you know I don’t think that we should dismiss him. I’ve kind of done it not making the team but that’s just me. That’s an extremely early take. I’ve seen the footage at MedStar. It looks like the best Sunny Milano that we’ve seen before. So, a long shot, but you got to think that he is playing for his NHL future. And then you got a guy like Andrew Crystal. Yes, Andrew Crystal last year where the Capitals were just they didn’t know what to do. Were they going to cut him from the talking about burning that first year of his entry level contract and he had to play certain amount of games otherwise it would eat up the first year. So they did the safe thing and he went to Colona and then out to Spokane after that and just torched it. Um and big picture the right thing. I again I have people I talked to on YouTube and Twitter and they say maybe you learn bad habits playing in those teams but I think what was important is he got a lot of playing time. He was not going to get a lot of playing time last season with the Capitals. I really don’t think that’s the case and Hershey wasn’t even an option. So Crystal, I think he makes the team. I think there’s a distinct possibility. I’m saying early pick here, second line center. And uh like I said, he was right there last year. Almost made the roster, dominated, but just wasn’t there. And he’s probably sitting there thinking, “This is my time. Seize the day.” I think is the mindset of Andrew Crystal. Done the things he needs to do. Uh hired a skating coach. Uh bulked up a little bit. the things that he can address he’s done. other players in the mix. Again, there’s multiple battles. You want to keep it right here to locked on Capitals. You have Ivon Mirnesenko and Hendrickk Slap Pierre. First talking about Ivon Mirenko. He took his game to the next level last year in Hershey. He’s had multiple sips of coffee on the big team with the Capitals. But the thing there, not sustainable. And if you’re going to have a spot, if you expect to get a sweater each and every night, you need to bring it. You can’t be hot, you can’t be cold. I think this could be the season for Ivonne. Question is, the hard part is there’s only so many holes in the lineup. Can he can he kill it in camp? A lot of this is they’re putting himself in the driver’s seat. And then you’re talking about Hendricks Lopier, which we know signed that bridge deal. It’s always going to be the season for Hendricks Lopier, but never really is. Uh he was penciled in last season to be the third line center. Not sustainable. Uh, but the good thing about him, you know, and I don’t want to just dismiss him and sweep him into the corner. What did he do? He did the thing he needed to do. He went down to Hershey. He got his game right. And that’s big. Sometimes these younger guys, they’ll go down there and sulk like, “You know who I am. I I don’t need to do this.” I think that he did the mature thing. And I think he’s going to get an honest look at that third line center position. I know it’s going to be a battle with Conor Mcichael, but I think he’s going to get a look. Uh but as far as Yvon and Hendrickx are concerned, both of them want to put the AHL in the rearview mirror. Uh no more bus rides in Hershey. They want that NHL paycheck. And uh who can ultimately blame them? Those NHL minutes. Both of those guys um have skill. Both of those guys have the pedigree. Now it’s about proving that they can handle the grind of the NHL every night. And not to be forgotten in all of this as well is Ethan Frank. Oh yeah, you remember Ethan Frank? Uh the guy that with a need for speed, fastest skater in the AHL, uh put up big numbers for Hershey last season and um made it to the Capitals and all of a sudden Ryan Leonard came to town and were like, who? Ethan who? So I think that he is really going to have to do something to stand out and differentiate himself uh from the other players. He came up last year, brought speed, brought some energy, brought that forche, and yeah, he wants to play. Uh, but like I said with Leonard, a bunch of new faces like sort of entering the mix. It’s going to be an uphill climb for him. I’m not ruling him out. I think he’s got a good skill set, but he is going to have to bring it. Here’s the thing. Camp is going to be chaos. And I mean that in a good way. Because this kind of competition, it’s only going to breed success. It’s only going to make the team better. Uh you’re going to jobs every single day, every practice, every preeason game, every shift. They know what’s at stake. Unless you are one of the players I listed off the top, like the Ovetchkin, the Wilson, the Carlson, your job’s not safe. I’m here to tell you, you’re going to have to bring it. And if you’re not ready to bring it, there is the next wave of young players sprinkled in with some veterans that are ready to swoop in. And for a team like the Caps that are trying to balance the present and future and the competition is going to breed success for the Capitals next season. I really do believe it. All right, so coming up here after the break, we’ll talk about dark horses, some young players, and veteran battles. Straight ahead, the NFL season is here and FanDuel is making sure you’re ready for kickoff with a can’tmiss offer. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. It makes every game more exciting. Whether you’re watching your team or just keeping an eye on your fantasy lineup, it’s quick, it’s easy, and the best way to add a little bit more energy to Sundays. Now, listen, it’s already easy. The Commanders are playing or the Ravens win-win. you know, there’s some great football being played regionally, but if you want vested interest in all of the games to make, if you’re watching a Browns game, uh if you’re watching a team that’s maybe not revered as one of the better teams uh in the NFL, you can have vested interest in all of those games by opening up the FanDuel app, put a little money on the game. All of a sudden, they got that much more excited. So, are you ready to play? You should be. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com to get started. That’s fanduel.com to place your first $ five bet. All right, welcome back into this edition of Locked on Capitals, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. My name is Dan Holy. You can find me on Twitter. It’s Dan Caps 2 and8. You can find the show on Twitter, locks. So, in segment two, dark horses, the young players on the team that we’ve heard about for quite a few years. They made it to camp but never, you know, it didn’t really work out for this or that. And then veteran battles. That is what we’re going to dive into. There is a lot to get to. Thanks for sticking with me here. So, let’s dive into that uh in segment two here. And we’re talking about the guys that aren’t grabbing the headlines every day. They should be. If you’re a Capitals fan, you should know. um but could absolutely make some noise when camp opens. And first and foremost, not foremost, but in the mix of foremost is Bogdan Trenv. Big dude, 6’3″, 202 lb. Um plays a heavy game, blocks shots, kills penalties, wins puck battles. Now, this is a name that circulated around the Capitals for quite a long time. And if you’re not familiar with him within the Capitals, say you’re a Bears fan, you know Bogdan Trenov. He had 14 goals and eight assists in Hershey last year and then when the playoffs hit five goals in eight games. Uh that is big production in big moments. And um I think that you know like I say there is nothing written in stone that if Bogdan can bring it if he can bring it in camp he very well could make the team that he’s been rumbling in Hershey the name is out there uh and a prototypical capital as well 6’3 202 lbs a big dude that is the production in big moments that endear you to a team that you know when it’s the playoffs when it’s the big lights that is speaks volumes for you. But before Justin sort of came over uh in that trade, there was the feeling that Trenv um might be the guy to play the fourth line. That was a thought out there anyway, right? That you start to kind of pencil in who is going to go here and who is going to go there and you start to make connections. We saw that Mapane uh and and Radish were off to the next one and you started to see holes in the roster and you’re like, hm, I wonder how that player would work there. So, it’s going to be interesting that, you know, Justin Sort of came in. Um I still think with Capitals fans a bit of a headscratcher. He does have some good numbers to back him up, but I think that Bogdan’s like, I don’t care that you brought him in here. I’m going to fight. And uh now he’s got competition. Uh but here’s the thing. you’ve got that kind of size, that kind of physical edge, and you can chip in some offense, you’re always in the conversation. I think that if there’s any of those guys that happen to be listening or watching this show, you’re in it. As of right now, you’re in it. Um, are there favorites? Of course. That’s just the nature of things. You pick favorites on this or that, but you’re still in it. Uh, if he’s has a big camp, he’s going to make Spencer Carberry think long about where he fits. Speaking of other long shots and um maybe people already kind of had him pencil penciled in as well is Ilia Prous. Uh talking another big guy, a prototypical Capital. Uh that name should sound familiar. If it doesn’t, well, because his brother Alexe Pro, well, he plays with the Capital, so he’s not really little, I guess. But 6’5, 200 lb, and get this, just dropped 50 goals. 50 goals and 124 points in the OHL. Um, people would say, well, you know, that’s that’s not uh, you know, ECHL, AHL, or NHL, but still, 50 goals in the OHL is nothing to sneeze at. That’s not a typo. 50 goals. Then he added 25 points in 12 playoff games. And if you ask Alexe, he thinks that he could be a strong contender to join the team. And if he followed the track of his brother, uh, that he had the same thing. Hughes. I remember back Alex was going to join the Capitals and camp and everyone kind of like Bogn Trin and they’re going to they’re going to do their time and then they’re going to go down to Hershey. Oh, that wasn’t the case with Alexe. So, I I mean I I think it’s is it going to be a long shot for Ilia to join the team? Absolutely. Am I saying that he it’s impossible? Absolutely not. The kid can score big time. The only knock his skating um needs a little polish, but the hockey IQ, the vision, the playmaking ability, it’s all right there. So, if he’s not ready, these guys are just simmering. They’re marinating. They’re working on their game. And Hershey could be a force um that could force their hand and make them keep him longer than expected. I’m not saying it’s likely, but it’s not impossible either. Then, another name that should sound familiar, I’m assuming that if you listen or watch this show that you are familiar with some of the prospects and young players is Henrik Rabinski. Uh remember last year almost made the team out of camp where there was at least chatter of it. Uh went down to Hershey had a career-high 35 points. Uh got his first NHL call up in December, didn’t play, but that says something. He’s got the size, speed, uh he makes smart plays and he’s consistent. All positive attributes, you know, and those are attributes in the AHL. Um how is that going to to translate to the NHL? That’s what the camp’s about. That’s what the preseason games are about. Um, but for Carberry, an abundance of wealth, the kind of player you trust on your bottom six when injuries hit. So, that’s I think something to underline and circle back to as well that if these guys I mean, they’re not all going to make the team. I mean, it’s not like everyone gets a car, you get a car, you get a car, you get a car. This isn’t the Oprah show. It’s Some of these players are going to have spots. Some are going to go to Hershey. Some of these players might be waved, you know, reassigned, whatever the case you might want to look. They’re not all going to have a spot on the Capitals, whether it’s the big team, whether it’s down in Hershey, that kind of thing, that there is going to be winners, there’s going to be losers, and I think that Hershey is going to be the biggest uh team that benefits, you know, cuz like I say, all these teams are or all these players aren’t going to make the big team that I think Hershey’s is going to be a team to be reckoned with. Um, and like I said, Ethan Frank, man, his story was wild. started in Hershey, scored 20 goals in 35 games, got the cola, played 24 games for the cap, had seven points and uh when he was in the lineup, you noticed him. His speed, of course, the need for speed torched uh Mr. Wheels of the AHL, his forche is energy. Um but like I said, when Leonard signed and the roster tightened up, Frank disappeared into the press box with his fancy clothes. Uh didn’t see him in playoff time. Could go back to Hershey. excuse me, couldn’t go back to Hershey because he was not eligible. And I think the hope is there and you know, you run into this all the time with different players that are in camp. You know, I think we ran into this a little bit last year with Jacob Vera. Um that you know, what a good story that well, Jacob Veron, remember Jacob Veron, he’s going to come back here and oh my god, this is going to be so great. Um, you know, and I know I’m not saying those two players are comparable, but what I’m saying is is that there’s been high hopes uh for Ethan Frank for a long time, but like I say, there’s not going to be any gimmies. Um, so these guys are going to have to bring it. He’s got to bring something to stick around. Ethan Frank is kind of the guy that’s, you know, kind of like Sunny Milano getting lost in the mix. For me, it’s going to be Milano, it’s going to be Frank, and it’s going to be Lap Pierre. uh those guys are going to just need to bring their absolute agame. That is what I know for sure. Um there’s more at stake for certain players and I think uh some of the other players are almost resigned to the fact that they may uh get sent back down to Hershey. All right, so coming up here after the break, big questions and predictions straight ahead. Most people can’t name all their financial accounts or even what they’re worth. Whether it’s 401ks, properties, or investments. And when you don’t have the full picture, you can end up leaving money on the table. That’s where Monarch Money comes in. It’s an all-in-one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean, easy to use interface on your laptop or your phone. Monarch is built for people with busy lives. If you put off organizing your finances, Monarch is for you. Monarch does the heavy lifting. You can link all your accounts in minutes, see clear data visuals, get smart categorization of your spending, and finally feel in control of your money without ever touching a spreadsheet. That’s the thing I love about it. See where you’re spending your money wisely, where you could use some work, p uh plan your financial future together with your significant other. I know you’re going to love it. Don’t let financial opportunities slip through the cracks. Use code locked on NHL at monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That’s 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with the code locked on nh. All right, welcome back into this edition of locked on capitals part of the locked work team every day. The best way that you can help grow the show is to subscribe to Locked on Capitals on YouTube and comment anything down below. In the final segment of today’s show, we’re talking big questions and predictions. Yeah, that’s what you when you do these shows, you got to kind of make big predictions. Uh it is all part and parcel of doing a job like this. So, that’s what we’re going to talk about uh in the final segment of today’s show. So, here’s where things get interesting. Um because with all this competition, somebody’s going to get squeezed out. Let’s start with Sunonny Milano. I think, you know, and I’m just going to lay it out here clearly. The best Sunny Milano that we’ve seen. Bit of a question mark on why he missed all of last season three games with this injury that we still can’t really pin down. Uh last year was rough. Injury, setbacks, only three games played and when he was healthy, he didn’t impress. minus3 rating and uh got benched uh early on there. Not great, but now he’s in the last year of his deal. And contract years generally bring out the best in players. Think Anthony Mantha for example. Great season the last year as a capital. The year before not so much. So, I think with Sunny Milano, if he wants to continue to rake in the big money of playing in the National Hockey League and not getting sent down to AHL somewhere, he’s going to have to bring it. Um, so what happens if he doesn’t win a job? Uh, does he go on waiverss? Does he get traded? Does he go to Hershey? It’s possible. Uh, and then there’s the other guy, like I said, Hendricks Lierre. A lot of questions. So, you take a look at Sunny. Um, what happens with him? I mean, do the Capitals envision him uh with a long-term plan with the team or uh do the Capitals view Sunonny Milano as someone that should get sent out on greener pastures? Lot at stake. Hendrick Slop here, another player, Calder Cup MVP in Hershey. Uh the talent’s there, the skill is there. It’s about bringing it on the big stage in the National Hockey League. And can he finally grab a job in the NHL and keep it? There’s a job. there is an open sign uh there is a jobs wanted or there is you know inquire within posting uh for the third line center position that I think if he brings it it’s there you can see a path to success for Hendrick slopier will he sees the day uh this is a makeorb breakak year for him when he signed that one-year bridge deal uh Conor Mcichael like I said is the favorite he’s my favorite for the third line center uh along with a lot of other people But but if L Pierre lights it up in camp, things could get complicated in a hurry. It could make things very difficult for Spencer Carberry and Krisp Patrick about where do all these players go? I like them, but who do I like more? It is It’s an ideal situation. It is um uh I I it’s it’s one of those unique situations in life. I’ll leave it at that. But what about Justin Sort of? The Capitals gave up a couple draft picks for this guy. That tells you something. And that was the bad big head scratcher because when you heard a move, you know, you were thinking big name Marquee, you know, you I mean, you’re following the NHL, right? That all these big names are on the move in the Capitals. They’ve got to do something here sometime. Justin Sort of. And I I want honesty here. Be honest with me. How many you had to go Justin Sort of? Google Justin Sort of. Two draft picks for this guy. Um and if you look into it, uh some pretty good upside there. Good skater. Um, and what Chris Patrick said was that it was almost kind of like a bidding war that there were teams that were offering up one draft pick, so they felt the need that they had to put two in. Um, is that deal going to pan out? You know, those are the big moves that are attached to Chris Patrick right now. He did not go out and make the marquee name. He did not reel in Nikolai Eers. Is sort of going to be worth the two draft picks. I guess, you know, to be honest with you, they weren’t upper end draft picks, but was it worth it? Uh, that is the question here. Um, but he is he’s versatile. He can play center or wing. He’s quick, great hands, high hockey IQ. Center and wing. See where that could fit in third line. Boop. Boop. I think that is why they got him. So, they’re trying to plug holes um in case there’s any questions. Say Conor Mcichael doesn’t fill it. Say Hendrick’s Lop here. They’ve got plans A, B, C, in some cases D. And here’s the big thing. he’d have to uh clear waiverss to go to Hershey. So, I think he’s here to stay, right, guys? I I mean, unless they wanted to risk it. And given the fact that they gave up two draft picks, I don’t think that that is what they want to do. So, they definitely pushed their chips in on Justin sort of. Is he going to be on the big team or is he going to be a healthy scratch? Um it’s be interesting. Not to say that it’s impossible that the Capitals wouldn’t do, you know, wave him or something like that, but I I think highly unlikely. they would have to see a glaring deficiency uh that Chris Patrick and the amateur scouts didn’t see. Um it tells you they expect him to make the team. Last but not least, the blue line and Declan Chisum, another guy. Oh, the Capitals got deck trade for Declan Chisum. Wait, who? Uh Google Declan Chisum. Okay. And you take a look at his numbers as well. Why was he brought here? Depth on the blue line. The Capitals do not want to go into next season. They don’t want to go into the playoffs with any question marks on the blue line. No more questions. Is Declan Chisum going to answer all of those questions? That’s a lot of weight to put on a guy’s shoulders that I think most people had to Google search before he came here. The Capitals traded for him at the draft signed him to a two-year deal. Uh probably pencled in as depth. And what do we know? Farravari is already, you know, his knee is not 100%. So, some question marks, but if he pushes hard in camp, if he takes a step forward, he could grab a spot on the defensive group. I’m going to say that’s a long shot. So, here’s my bold prediction about who makes the team out of Crystal, Miro, Lapier, and Sort of. Two of these guys make the opening night roster. My gut says it’s Crystal and Sort of, you know, out out of the players that I mentioned there. Um but if L Pierre lights it up in camp, you know, watch out. And for veterans like Milano, this could be their last shot in DC. Um and when I say that, I think um Declan Chisum makes the team. I was just talking out of Crystal, Miral Lop here, and sort of that I think it is Crystal and Sort of. Um Miro and and I’m just basing that on consistent play. I think that Crystal did enough last season um at lower levels to prove it. And you know, Miro, uh, he does appear that he found his game last year. Put sustainability. I’ve, you know, we’ve been sold the bill of goods on Miro before. Uh, Lier is a long shot. You know, he signed the bridge deal. It’s a long shot. Again, I I don’t have faith in a person until I have reason to have faith in them. So, I think that he’s a long shot. Again, I would like for the best option, right? I’m just making an early pick that it’s Crystal and Sort of out of those players that I listed there. Um, but it’s a it’s an early pick, right? And things are subject to change. The one thing I know for certain is that the Capitals, they’re in a good position where it’s the young talent. They’ve got young talent. I think they need to embrace it. This is going to be some fun hockey in 2526. All right, once again, I want to thank you for joining me on this edition of Locked On Capitals, your only daily your own podcast covering the Capitals. And I want to thank all of you that listen on the audio side and watch this on YouTube. You are what makes this show successful. When you’re done here, head on over to Locked on NHL as they have you covered 5 days a week, available wherever you find your podcasts and on YouTube. All right, once again, I want to thank you for joining me on this edition of Locked On Capitals, part of the Locked On Network. It is your team every day. My name is Dan Holy and I’ll talk to you again next time.

The Washington Capitals are heading into the 2025-26 NHL season with a heavy dose of youth, as top prospects like Andrew Cristall, Hendrix Lapierre, and Ivan Miroshnichenko battle for roster spots alongside veterans Sonny Milano and new addition Justin Sourdif. General manager Chris Patrick is placing trust in the development pipeline, creating intense competition for bottom-six roles while injecting more speed, skill, and versatility into the lineup.

Beyond the big-name prospects, players like Bogdan Trineyev, Henrik Rybinski, and Ilya Protas add intrigue to training camp, as each looks to prove they belong in the NHL full-time. With Declan Chisholm strengthening defensive depth and several veterans facing make-or-break years, the Capitals’ camp will be one of the most competitive in recent memory—setting the tone for a season that blends experience with the promise of the next generation.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select

Exclusive content for Locked on Capitals insiders here:
https://joinsubtext.com/lockedoncapitals
Follow Dan on Twitter: https://x.com/dancaps218
Follow Locked on Capitals on Twitter: https://x.com/LockedOnCaps
Leave Dan a voicemail with your thoughts on the Capitals: https://www.speakpipe.com/LOCaps

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCapitals?sid=YouTube

Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL

For you next listen, check out out the Locked On NHL podcast, where the season never ends providing national expertise with a local perspective. Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

eBay Motors
For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotors.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.

FanDuel
FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. As playoffs wind down, the sports stop sporting like we want them to. But this summer, FanDuel is hooking up ALL CUSTOMERS with a boost or a bonus, DAILY! That’s right, there’s something for everyone, every day, all summer long! Visit FANDUEL.COM and add a big win to your summer bucket list!

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

#WashingtonCapitals #Caps #NHLHockey #allcaps #ovechkin

1 comment
Leave a Reply