""If it's not working or if we feel like the team is in a spot where we need to add a veteran guy, then we'll go out and be aggressive to do that," Patrick told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "But I think we need to see what we have with some of these guys and then make our decisions based off that. I feel pretty confident in the team around them.""
"At the beginning of July, Patrick highlighted several names that he believes are closest to making a full-time jump to the NHL, and the list included Ivan Miroshnichenko, Hendrix Lapierre, Ethen Frank, Bogdan Trineyev, and Henrik Rybinski. Other more recent draft picks like Ryan Leonard, Andrew Cristall, and Ilya Protas will also be looking to make their mark, with the latter two set for their professional debut seasons."
"The Capitals chose to go through a similar process last season when Lapierre made the club out of camp and was assigned the third-line center role by head coach Spencer Carbery. He struggled to find his footing, posting just eight assists in 27 NHL games before being sent back to the AHL's Hershey Bears. Lapierre's inability to stick in the league led to Patrick exploring the trade market and eventually re-acquiring veteran pivot Lars Eller from the Pittsburgh Penguins."
The Capitals made light offseason moves, acquiring Justin Sourdif and Declan Chisholm and re-signing Anthony Beauvillier while preserving roster flexibility. General manager Chris Patrick intends to evaluate young players and prospects during 2025 Training Camp and will only pursue veteran additions if the group cannot meet NHL needs. Top candidates for a full-time jump include Ivan Miroshnichenko, Hendrix Lapierre, Ethen Frank, Bogdan Trineyev, and Henrik Rybinski, with Ryan Leonard, Andrew Cristall, and Ilya Protas also pushing for roles. Lapierre previously earned a roster spot but struggled and returned to the AHL, prompting a veteran acquisition.
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