Washington’s projected 2026-27 lineup took shape after Alex Ovechkin returned on a one-year contract, capping an offseason that also brought in Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, Boone Jenner and Vincent Desharnais.
Pierre-Luc Dubois is projected to center a top unit with 21-year-old Ryan Leonard and Tuch, while Ovechkin is expected to stay with Dylan Strome and Kyrou in a sheltered scoring line.
A third line of Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Protas and Tom Wilson could be revived after posting 58.6% of shot attempts in a late-season sample, while the fourth line remains unsettled after Nic Dowd’s exit.
Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy are expected to remain the top defense pair after controlling 55.7% of expected goals together, with Martin Fehervary seeking a new fit after John Carlson left for Tampa Bay.
Logan Thompson is set to keep the No. 1 goaltending job after a 31-21-6 season and an NHL-best 29.3 goals saved above expected, underscoring Washington’s push to rebound from missing the playoffs.