WASHINGTON (AP) — Last season: 43-30-9, missed playoffs.
COACH: Spencer Carbery (134-83-29 over three seasons).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 2 at Carolina.
DEPARTURES: F Connor McMichael, D Trevor van Riemsdyk, F Brandon Duhaime, F Hendrix Lapierre.
ADDITIONS: F Jordan Kyrou, RW Alex Tuch, F Boone Jenner, D Vincent Desharnais.
GOALIES: Logan Thompson (31-21-6, 2.44 goals-against average, .912 save percentage), Charlie Lindgren (9-8-3, 3.52, .879).
After fans and
even some opponents started saying their goodbyes to Alex Ovechkin late last season, the NHL's career goal-scoring leader decided to return for a 22nd NHL season. Now 41, Ovechkin won't be asked to carry the load on a Washington team that made significant additions in the offseason, especially at forward. The Capitals were the No. 1 seed in the East two seasons ago before missing the playoffs in 2025-26. That says a lot about the fine line between success and failure, but hopes are certainly high again in Washington.
The good: Thompson was one of the better goalies in the league last season, and Washington made the most of its flexibility under the salary cap in the offseason. The Capitals had five 20-goal scorers last season before adding Kyrou and Tuch, each of whom has reached 30 goals three times. There's also a decent amount of young talent, considering Washington hasn't had many high draft picks. And the Capitals have amassed quite a collection of big bodies. Tuch, Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Protas, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, Vincent Desharnais and Dylan McIlrath are all listed between 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-7.
The not-so-good: There are a lot of solid players on the team and perhaps no great ones. Ovechkin can still score goals but isn't the all-around force he used to be, and the Capitals traded longtime defenseman John Carlson late last season. The power play was surprisingly poor last season despite Ovechkin's presence. Washington cost itself valuable points by going 2-6 in shootouts, and the Caps haven't had a winning record in those skills competitions since 2021-22.
Keep an eye on 21-year-old forward Ryan Leonard and 20-year-old defenseman Cole Hutson. The Capitals would love to be able to build around them long term, and Hutson's presence likely made it easier to part with Carlson. Leonard had 20 goals and 25 assists in 2025-26, his first full season. The Capitals gave him one of the final eight-year contracts allowed before the new collective bargaining agreement went into effect. Leonard's $84 million deal starts in 2027-28.
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