Do the Washington Capitals have the pieces for a playoff run?

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discussed whether the Washington Capitals have the pieces to make a playoff run this season.

Frank Seravalli: So, where do you fall on teams like the Caps? I mean so it’s the Caps and Sens that are the only other East teams that I think might even kind of be in the consideration.

Tyler Yaremchuk: The problem I have with the Caps is sure they should be healthier this year but they didn’t go out and get better this off-season Frank. Maybe Kuemper can drag them and keep them in the fight but I just don’t see enough on that roster.

Frank Seravalli: I’m with you and I would also say on top of that not only did they not really improve, there are still major question marks about the guys that they have on their roster. Kuznetsov, what are you getting out of him on a night-to-night basis?

Everyone’s saying, “oh Nicklas Backstrom is healthy.” Brian MacLellan was really clear, their GM at the end of the year saying he might be healthy, he might physically be able to play, but he seems to be a shell of himself as a skater given that hip resurfacing surgery. That’s been a pretty significant development. Anthony Mantha’s a guy to look at, how’s he helping you, what’s he doing. So, to me I look at all those things and those are three big holes on your team that could crater.

And they’re a team that was filled with injuries last year. John Carlson needs a big bounce-back year. What happens with all these guys that they have on defense that they essentially just brought back and kept that weren’t lighting the world on fire.

You can watch the remainder of the episode here: