Opening Night Line-up

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With Alzner signed I have decided to spend an slow, off-season Sunday compiling What I believe the opening night line-up will look like for the Caps.  I made this list under the fairly reasonable assumption that Sjogren will make the team.  Given the nature of his contract and his professional experience I think it's pretty unlikely that he won't.  I have also not touched the first line; Boudreau has toyed with it in the past, but let's be honest Ovie-Backstrom-Knuble is what we'll always come back to (unless #22 really starts feeling his age).  The first two line-ups are a bit redundant, but I thought the prospect of three young Sweetish centers was too compelling not to address.  That being said here is what I believe the opening-night line-up will be.  

MOST LIKELY 

FORWARDS

Alexander Ovechkin ($9.538m) / Nicklas Backstrom ($6.700m) / Mike Knuble ($2.000m)

Alexander Semin ($6.700m) / Brooks Laich ($4.500m) / Troy Brouwer ($2.350m)

Joel Ward ($3.000m) / Marcus Johansson ($0.900m) / Mattias Sjogren ($0.900m)

Matt Hendricks ($0.825m) / Jeff Halpern ($0.825m) / Jason Chimera ($1.875m)

Jay Beagle ($0.512m)

DEFENSEMEN

Mike Green ($5.250m) / Roman Hamrlik ($3.500m)

Karl Alzner ($1.285m) / John Carlson ($0.845m)

Jeff Schultz ($2.750m) / Dennis Wideman ($3.937m)

John Erskine ($1.500m)

GOALTENDERS

Tomas Vokoun ($1.500m) / Michal Neuvirth ($1.150m)

Cap Space: 1,722,372

Given Liach's contract and the obvious gap at second line center I think the team has no choice but to try him there. That being said, if he were up to the task we wouldn't have traded for Arnott only a few months ago, so I think his time there will be short lived and we'll see something closer to the second roster here.  I've put Chimera on the fourth line because I think his good North/West speed will make him a better energy line player than scorer especially if he can add a bit more snarl to his game.  

SWEETISH CENTERS

FORWARDS

Alexander Ovechkin ($9.538m) / Nicklas Backstrom ($6.700m) / Mike Knuble ($2.000m)

Alexander Semin ($6.700m) / Marcus Johansson ($0.900m) / Troy Brouwer ($2.350m)

Joel Ward ($3.000m) / Mattias Sjogren ($0.900m) / Brooks Laich ($4.500m)

Matt Hendricks ($0.825m) / Jeff Halpern ($0.825m) / Jason Chimera ($1.875m)

Jay Beagle ($0.512m)

DEFENSEMEN

Mike Green ($5.250m) / Roman Hamrlik ($3.500m)

Karl Alzner ($1.285m) / John Carlson ($0.845m)

Jeff Schultz ($2.750m) / Dennis Wideman ($3.937m)

John Erskine ($1.500m)

GOALTENDERS

Tomas Vokoun ($1.500m) / Michal Neuvirth ($1.150m)

Cap Sapce: 1,722,372

Brouwer and Liach would obviously be interchangeable between the second and third lines, I only put Liach on the third because I thought it spread out the talent a little more evenly and I like the idea of having the tough Troy Brouwer on the same line as Semin.  Sjogren and Johansson would be as interchangeable as Liach and Brouwer I only put Johansson higher because he's got a year of NHL experience under his belt.  Sjogren is a wing and center but has played more at center so assuming he can take a faceoff in this league he'll be put in his most comfortable position.  

EAKIN MAKING THE LINE-UP

FORWARDS

Alexander Ovechkin ($9.538m) / Nicklas Backstrom ($6.700m) / Mike Knuble ($2.000m)

Alexander Semin ($6.700m) / Marcus Johansson ($0.900m) / Troy Brouwer ($2.350m)

Mattias Sjogren ($0.900m) / Cody Eakin ($0.637m) / Brooks Laich ($4.500m)

Matt Hendricks ($0.825m) / Jeff Halpern ($0.825m) / Joel Ward ($3.000m)

Jay Beagle ($0.512m)

DEFENSEMEN

Mike Green ($5.250m) / Roman Hamrlik ($3.500m)

Karl Alzner ($1.285m) / John Carlson ($0.845m)

Jeff Schultz ($2.750m) / Dennis Wideman ($3.937m)

John Erskine ($1.500m)

GOALTENDERS

Tomas Vokoun ($1.500m) / Michal Neuvirth ($1.150m)

Cap Space: 2,959,594

<!--EndFragment--> I know, I know, this one is a little ridiculous, but possible.  Getting rid of Chimera's contract would give us some extra cap flexibility, but we could have this line-up with or without him.  I think having a player like Liach on the same line as Eakin is of real importance.  Ward and his 3 million dollar contract got dropped to the fourth line simply because that's where the player would fit best in this hypothetical situation, not the contract.  I would be surprised if this was our team going into the season, but not stunned.  

Anyway there's my useless speculation for the day, please feel free to share your thoughts!