Pierre-Luc Dubois is out for the foreseeable future with a possible surgery requirement, leaving the Washington Capitals scrambling at center ice. The Metro Division basement dwellers face a crisis that exposes GM Chris Patrick's failure to address roster depth during the offseason.

Dan Holmi breaks down how Dubois's absence creates matchup problems beyond the stat sheet, while analyzing Rasmus Sandin's return to full practice and what it means for the Capitals' defensive pairings. The discussion covers current line combinations featuring Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strom, and Tom Wilson, plus the team's power play struggles and Spencer Carberry's willingness to shake up the lineup. Key topics include criticism of Patrick's inactivity compared to predecessor Brian McClellan, the Corey Schueneman trade from St. Louis, and whether internal options like Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre can fill the void.

Can the Capitals climb out of the Metro Division cellar without making external moves, or is the panic button already within reach?

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