Washington Capitals 2026-27 Roster Projection 1.0: New Wingers Create Line Chaos – Hockey Writers – Washington Capitals

It’s already been a busy season for Washington Capitals general manager Chris Patrick, who has overhauled the top end of the frontcourt while adding insurance to the defense. Ultimately, it will be the job of head coach Spencer Carbery to get the most out of his squad this season. As we approach the end of July, here’s a look at how the Capitals could fit in this fall.

Finding the Front Mix in Washington

It’s hard not to put the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, Alex Ovechkin, on the top line, but in reality, the 40-year-old Russian midfielder will likely rotate through the range as needed while Carbery reveals which players develop the best chemistry.

Last season, Ovechkin had Dylan Strome as his primary center, so we’ll keep that pairing intact in our 1.0 roster projections. Washington paid big to acquire (and extend) Alex Tuch this offseason, so he’s likely to get a chance to start in top minutes for the Capitals.

Pierre-Luc Dubois will seek a healthy campaign after missing 47 games in 2025-26 with an abdominal and adductor injury that required surgery earlier in the campaign. He returned to the lineup in early February and recorded 19 points in 29 games before breaking his hand in the second and final game of the season. Dubois, the third overall pick in 2016, will likely be paired with two players with different styles: the beefy 6-foot-6 Aliaksei Protas in left tackle and the speedy 6-foot-1 Jordan Kyrou in right tackle.

Another freshman will fill the pivot position on the third line. Boone Jenner, the former captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, may not be focused throughout the season, but there is an argument to start him given his 52.6% win rate in almost 400 games in his final season in Ohio. When it comes to the total number of tackles he’s taken in recent seasons, Jenner is winning more faceoffs than he’s losing, so look for him to be used in defensive situations.

Tom Wilson was relegated to third-line duties after the high-priced acquisitions of Tuch and Kyrou. That change could benefit the 13-year NHL veteran, allowing him to play his hard-hitting style next to a smart center (like Jenner) to collect the puck in the space he creates. Currently, Ryan Leonard is moving into the third line position for his side, as the 21-year-old does not seem ready for the top six minutes in this team.

Rounding out the forward unit is a group of youngsters led by Aliaksei’s brother, 6-foot-6 center Ilya Protas. The 2025-26 AHL Rookie of the Year performed well in his NHL debut at the end of last season, scoring four points in his first four games. Protas will be joined by another talented young player, Andrew Cristall.

Cristall, a 21-year-old winger, scored 20 goals for the Hershey Bears (Capitals’ American Hockey League affiliate) last season and could be ready to push for a roster spot after a full season in the minors. Justin Sourdif, a 24-year-old fourth-line government official, should provide much-needed information on the inspection line.

With this lineup, Carbery will have some skills reserved in the press box for Anthony Beauvillier and/or Ethen Frank. If Washington decides Cristall needs more time in the minors, either of these two forwards could step into the lineup and provide value in the bottom six role.

Capital’ Defense & Goaltending Tandem

Aside from trading star defenseman John Carlson at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, the Capitals look to be bringing back most of the same defensemen this fall. Jakob Chychrun led the league in goals by a defenseman last season with 26, three more than 2026 Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer. Chychrun focused on Matt Roy last season, and given their good results, there is no reason to disrupt that pairing to start 2026-27.

Martin Fehervary is joined in the second pairing by another newcomer, Vincent Desharnais. The 6-foot-7 defenseman joined Washington on a four-year contract after spending parts of two seasons with the San Jose Sharks. Desharnais had seven points in 53 games with the Sharks last season.

Cole Hutson may move up the defensive depth chart, but he’s likely to start the campaign on the third pairing with an NHL veteran in what is expected to be his first full season in the NHL. The 20-year-old defenseman provided a late-season boost with three goals and 10 points in the first 14 games of his NHL career last season, as the Capitals lost their playoff bid to the Philadelphia Flyers. If Hutson can continue to impress, he likely won’t be tied to Tim Liljegren on the third pairing for much longer.

Rasmus Sandin will start the season on injured reserve after undergoing surgery in April to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. The 26-year-old right-handed defender is expected to miss the start of the campaign, but could return in December or January if his recovery follows the estimated timeline of six to nine months. Sandin will be a big improvement on the right side when he returns.

Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren are the two goal scorers for the Capitals. Thompson took over last season and never looked back. The 29-year-old posted a 31-21-6 record, a 2.44 goals-against average, and a .912 save percentage.

The Capitals need a bounce-back season from Lindgren following a subpar campaign with a 9-8-3 record, 3.52 GAA, and .879% save percentage. A return to a GAA under 3.00 and a save percentage over 90% could put Washington back among the top teams in the Metropolitan Division next spring.

Washington opens the regular season against the defending Bowl champion Carolina Hurricanes on the road on Oct. 2. They host the Pittsburgh Penguins for their home opener on Oct. 7.