The Washington Capitals top-6 got a big upgrade this summer, as general manager Chris Patrick worked to revamp the forward group with some big-name acquisitions like Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou.
And ultimately, Tuch's addition up front may be just what the team needs to further spark a line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome.
Ovechkin and Strome are no strangers to one another, with Strome becoming Ovechkin's main set-up man and go-to center over the last few seasons after the departures of Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov. No one has assisted on more Ovechkin goals — including his record-breaking 895th — than Strome over the last few years.
Looking back at last year, their chemistry was still evident, though it experienced a bit of a drop-off at times. Enter Tuch, who can complement that trio perfectly.
The 30-year-old winger who came over in a sign-and-trade with the Buffalo Sabres earlier this summer, is a proven game changer and top contributor who is coming off to back-to-back 30-goal campaigns and has hit that mark in three of the last four years.
It's not his consistency or stats, though, that makes him a strong fit to work on that line with Ovechkin and Strome. It's the way he plays.
Tuch does most of his damage at the net-front, and can use his speed, hands and hockey IQ to get to those high-danger areas and finish plays. He's also a utility player and a versatile piece who can make noise at 5-on-5 and special teams.
Last season, 66 of his 195 shots — which ranked in the 92nd percentile league-wide— came from high-danger areas in front of the net, 18 of those hit the back to the net and his 16.9 shooting percentage also ranked in the 86th percentile, per NHL EDGE.
Ultimately, having a player like that in the equation can add another spark to the Ovechkin and Strome 1-2 punch as coach Spencer Carbery evaluates potential combinations come training camp.
