The Washington Capitals took care of one of the important items on their offseason to-do list early, shoring up their defensive depth ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
The Washington Capitals took care of one of the important items on their offseason to-do list early, shoring up their defensive depth ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Washington bolstered the blue line with a draft-day trade for Declan Chisholm, a rising left-hand shot from the Minnesota Wild. Chisholm has NHL experience and the attributes to be a solid depth defenseman who can also compete for ice time, and he's expected to start in the role of the seventh defenseman.
Chisholm replaces Alex Alexeyev, who the Capitals chose to part ways with this summer due to inconsistency and an inability to secure a full-time role over the course of his tenure in D.C. He went on to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Other than the addition of Chisholm, everything else will remain the same for Washington, who will maintain the same formation up front and have Dylan McIlrath, who re-signed with the Capitals back in March, as the other extra defender.
That said, here's what the defensive pairings should look like:
Beyond Chisholm, Washington's blue line will be the same as last season, with the same six rearguards leading the charge up front. Martin Fehervary, who underwent knee surgery at the end of the regular season, is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
It'll also be an interesting year for John Carlson, who's in the final year of his contract and in a "wait and see" situation regarding whether or not he'll extend his time in the District.
That said, here's what the defensive pairings should look like:
Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson
Martin Fehervary-Matt Roy
Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Extras: Declan Chisholm, Dylan McIlrath
When it comes to the depth chart beyond the NHL, a handful of Capitals prospects are moving up the pipeline, with Ethan Bear and Chase Priskie having departed this summer. Vincent Iorio is expected to lead the charge on the right side, and Ryan Chesley and David Gucciardi are expected to take on bigger roles with the AHL's Hershey Bears. Cam Allen is also a name to watch as he makes the pro jump.
This Coming Season Could Be A Pivotal One For Capitals' Vincent IorioThe Washington Capitals have done an impressive job building up their defensive depth going into next season, but when it comes to up-and-comers, keep an eye on Vincent Iorio.
Category: General Sports
