Will the 2019-20 Team be Better than the Cup-Winning Team?

Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty ImagesIs this upcoming season’s roster better than the Stanley Cup winning team in 2018? It’s hard to predict without seeing what the current team can do on the ice, but in trying to answer the question we can find out what this team might bring to the table.

First, let’s take a look at the teams over the last two seasons.

It’s odd to look back on that Cup-winning team and realize that they really weren’t that good, at least as the season began - but it’s worth remembering they made a full 180 once Michal Kempny was acquired. With him in the lineup, the Caps’ 5v5 xGF/60 jumped 9 spots to 2.29, their xGA/60 17 spots to 2.17, and their xGF% 15 spots to…