I will never ever in my life understand you

You are too kind.

Basically, a lot has been made about how fast the Penguins were the last couple years, but this was also the first time in decades the Caps iced a bigger team by height and weight, and the first time in a long time that the Caps had more team toughness than the Penguins. Keeping Orpik and Wilson, and adding Nash and Franson increases all of those advantages, while also adding a couple guys who, when the mood strikes them, can put up a ton of points.

Vrana will develop more in 22 minutes a night in Hershey than in 10 minutes a night in Washington, and then if they find themselves in a series where they need a quick little speedster, they can still recall him and play him, and he'll be better, because of the extra experience. Copley, Samsonov, and Vanecek can still get cups of coffee, but Lehtonen guarantees that Holtby doesn't have to play over 50 games and get worn out before the playoffs. Does that help?

There is no chance Vrana is playing in Hershey next year, the guy was already driving play at the NHL level in top 9 and top 6 roles. He pretty much already cemented himself as the 2nd line LW playing with Backstrom. There is absolutely ZERO reason to play him in Hershey

Who's playing Vrana 10 minutes a night? Trotz is gone. Vrana will play in a top 6 role this year.

We beat Pittsburgh because we were the superior team this year. We trapped in the neutral zone, which negated their team speed, and had a lethal counter-attack. We didn't beat them because we were bigger and tougher than them. If that was the case, the Bruins and Kings would be playing each other in the Finals every year.

There is no reason to send Vrana to Hershey. He's a top 6 forward and going back to the AHL would only hurt his confidence.

Well, I'd hate to hurt his feelings, if he's a top six forward.... but... top six in what? Like, is there a stat, or is that just a way of pointing out that he was deployed on a line with Backstrom and Oshie for half of the playoffs?

Okay. Good points. Makes sense....

I'm not sure any coach is giving Vrana more ice time than Burakovsky after Burakovsky got as many points in half as many playoff games. So if the left wing depth chart lands at Ovechkin, Burakovsky, Vrana, Walker/Gersich/Stephenson, then I'd rather see Vrana and Gersich play top line in the AHL, develop chemistry together that will work in the NHL for the next decade, and learn to set each other up for a lot of goals.

(Edit: that also means Walker and Stephenson get 40-50 games apiece in the NHL to develop, and build value and confidence, so they can contribute with the Caps in the future or at least get traded for late picks, rather than just sitting on the bench all year, and then going off to play in Europe.)

Orpik was a big part of shutting teams down defensively at the end of games and on penalty kills, Nash was a first overall pick who lived up to the billing by playing a similar style to Ovechkin, and translating size, speed, and skill into three seasons of forty or more goals, most recently in 2014-15. The two of them together on the left wing, along with Burakovsky, would wear down opposing right defensemen with a combination of speed, size, skill, and tough checking. Maroon would add all of the above except for size. Vrana could totally score 20 goals next year in the NHL if he plays with Backstrom for 20 minutes a night, but Nash or Maroon would get thirty, and Vrana would get a lot better, by playing 22 minutes a night in the AHL, and having to be the main guy to lead the Bears' offense.