- Spencer Carbery plans to open camp with Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner on three different lines
- Tuch, Kyrou, Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin are all right wings, so somebody has to slide over
- Read below for what Carbery said about sorting out Washington’s new-look forward group
Spencer Carbery has spent most of his summer building line combinations in his head.
The Capitals coach told NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti that Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner will each open training camp on a different line. Carbery wants his three new forwards skating alongside returning players who already know how Washington plays.
That leaves a traffic jam on the right side. Tuch and Kyrou have spent most of their careers there, and so have Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin. Carbery said Tuch, Kyrou or Ryan Leonard will probably shift to the left wing instead.
Carbery talked about the conversations he has had with each new forward about where they are most comfortable playing.
“What wing do they like playing? What type of centerman? What shot? Just from being able to talk to guys about that and discuss some of those options that we have, just helps you make better decisions with line combinations.”
Washington has run this exact play before. Two seasons ago the Capitals folded seven offseason additions into the lineup and finished first in the Eastern Conference. Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Logan Thompson are all still here from that group.
Asked what he leans on from that season, Carbery pointed straight at his veterans.
“I absolutely think we’re leaning on those experiences. I also really push our leaders to do the same thing that they did two years ago of making Jakob Chychrun feel completely like he can just be himself and play his game and isn’t tentative or nervous or tiptoeing around.”
The mixing started weeks ago without a coach in the building. Check out who was already on the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in late August:
Carbery has other spots to sort out too. Rasmus Sandin is not expected back from April ACL surgery until around January, and rookies Cole Hutson and Ilya Protas are both in line for opening-night jobs after strong cameos last spring.
Camp opens in September. That is when Carbery finally gets to see his new line combinations on the ice instead of on paper.
