I still think we’re seeing an evolving team that just hasn’t put it all together yet AND also plays down to their opponent AND has quite a bit of Coast to their game right now. The D doesn’t look great but looks serviceable. Surprisingly it’s the vets that look like they’re not giving full buy-in or are simply making egregious small errors in critical moments that get amplified (Carlson and Orlov).
Jensen has actually started to turn a page somewhat, he looks a little like Nate Schmidt Very-Lite on occasion and the Caps can definitely benefit from another DMan that can carry the puck in the neutral zone 5-on-5, something Orlov and Carlson are only Good at (not Great). Jensen has actually been managing a few zone entries lately and relieving pressure by getting in ahead of the forecheck which is something the Caps have been missing for a while. If only he was 50LBs heavier he might actually be good. Dillon has looked like a Big New Guy with some questionable IQ but physicality that can erase SOME of his mistakes. Like a more-skilled, lower situational IQ Orpik. Overall the D is Okay.
The Fs have been and continue to be a Going Concern. Every one of them looks from game-to-game like “Oh shit, I had a terrible game last night I better show I’ve still got it today.” The past two games it’s been Kuzy and Backy, before that its been different guys on All Lines at times. OV8, Oshie, and Wilson are the only ones that have pretty consistently given a F all season.