Washington Capitals group preview: What’s to return for Alex Ovechkin?

They did not stroll away with a Stanley Cup, however the 2024-25 season must be thought-about successful for the Washington Capitals.

They completed high of the Metropolitan Division, first-place within the Eastern Conference, received a playoff spherical, and noticed breakout performances from some key gamers — together with Dylan Strome, who completed at a point-per-game clip for the primary time in his profession.

Oh, and their captain made some NHL historical past. Not a giant deal.

So moreover Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky’s objective report, the Capitals had a lot to rejoice.

Can they do it once more, although? Sure, it is attainable.

They already had an above-average PDO, nevertheless, and there isn’t any assure that gamers with profession seasons will carry out at that degree once more. Their core continues to age and it appears inevitable that the Capitals will likely be heading in the direction of some sort of transition someday quickly.

But, in the event that they have been going to go for broke, now can be the time to do it once more. After all, you by no means understand how lengthy you may have hockey’s best goal-scorer at your disposal.

Our penultimate 32 groups in 32 days cease lands in Washington as we preview how the Capitals will shake out this season.

The Capitals added a younger depth choice once they acquired Justin Sourdif from the Florida Panthers in trade for 2 draft picks, and in doing so, they might have provided the the 23-year-old his first actual probability as an on a regular basis NHLer. Sourdif has simply 4 NHL video games beneath his belt, three of which got here in 2023-24 — the remainder of his two-year tenure within the Panthers group got here within the AHL. Dropping a second-rounder, along with a sixth-round sweetener, for an inexperienced ahead raised some eyebrows on the time, however normal supervisor Chris Patrick insisted it was obligatory to amass a participant they’d been excessive on for some time.

“(The Panthers) had a bunch of people calling on him, so it got to be a competitive situation… we had to decide, ‘Do we want the guy, are we willing to pay up for it, or do we want to take a backseat?’” Patrick informed reporters in the summertime.

Sourdif developed a scoring acumen throughout his 149 AHL video games, with 35 objectives and 96 factors throughout three seasons and it seems Spencer Carbery will give the teen some reps on the fourth line alongside Nic Dowd and Brandon Duhaime. The Capitals aren’t anticipating him to guide their offence by any means, however with an $825,000 cap hit, Washington has a younger, low-risk depth choice of their pocket.

Buried amongst a number of the extra historic storylines for the Capitals final season was the meteoric breakout from ahead Aliaksei Protas. The 24-year-old had 30 objectives and 66 factors in 76 video games final season, demolishing his earlier profession highs of six and 29, respectively. Likely helping in his profession 12 months was the elevated alternative; Protas was enjoying within the high six for the primary time and located chemistry with Pierre-Luc Dubois, who additionally had a bounce-back 12 months in Washington.

Is it possible he replicates that degree of manufacturing this season? No. He completed the 12 months with a 21.1 capturing proportion and that’s certain to regress. But he’ll possible be paired up with Dubois as soon as extra and can get some reps on the second power-play unit — if he maintains a 20-goal tempo and supplies some stable, constant secondary scoring, he’ll be greater than price his $3.375 million wage.

Ryan Leonard bought his first style of NHL hockey final April, 9 video games of it when the Capitals have been first-place within the Eastern Conference and vying to lock in beneficial playoff seeding. Now, the 2023 eighth-overall decide is heading into his first full common season with the belief of his coach, who seems prepared to fit Leonard in on the highest six. The Hobey Baker finalist did not instantly mild it up after transitioning to the NHL — he had one empty-net objective and one playoff help throughout 17 complete video games — however that is to be anticipated.

There is profit to beginning his first full season in October when the slate is totally clear. He’ll have extra runway to ascertain himself, extra leeway to make errors and rectify them. Leonard scored no less than 30 objectives in each his Boston College seasons — he will not do this in his rookie season, however displaying he can cling with the Capitals’ high six will likely be greater than sufficient for his debut marketing campaign to be thought-about successful.

1. Will this be it for Alex Ovechkin?

The means Alex Ovechkin performed final 12 months, you’d suppose that the winger has a number of extra years of elite hockey left in his system. And which will very effectively be true, however let’s take a look at the details: He simply turned 40 years previous, he is already received a Stanley Cup, change into essentially the most prolific goal-scorer the NHL has ever seen and is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract. He has been eligible to signal an extension since July 1, if he so desired. So it is price asking, moreover making one other run on the Cup — which is what the Capitals take into consideration for this season — what else is left for the Great Eight to attain in his profession?

For his half, Ovechkin has indicated he needs to play out the 12 months earlier than making a call on his subsequent steps. He might, as an example, go for 1,000 objectives — doubtlessly achievable for him in three years or much less. Zdeno Chara performed his ultimate NHL sport at 45 in 2022, so it is not unbelievable that Ovi might nonetheless be lacing up the skates at 43. But retirement — no less than from NHL hockey — appears to nonetheless be on the desk. Will this be the ultimate season we see Ovechkin on NHL ice? Or will he deal with Capitals followers to yet one more run at NHL historical past?

2. Will Pierre-Luc Dubois hit 30 objectives?

Dubois has usually been one of the vital maligned forwards within the league. Perhaps for good purpose — the 2016 third-overall decide possesses expertise, however not essentially the penchant to point out it. The Capitals are his fourth group, and his newest touchdown spot after a quick and unsuccessful pit cease in Los Angeles. Dubois has managed to bounce again in his first season with the Capitals, scoring 20 objectives and 66 factors whereas suiting up for all 82 regular-season video games.

Throughout his eight-year profession, Dubois hasn’t discovered the consistency anticipated from a top-five decide and has greater than as soon as adopted up a promising season with a little bit of a dud. Still, the 27-year-old has flirted with the 30-goal mark up to now. He’ll be put in related conditions, with related linemates, in his second season in Washington. Can he comply with up a profession excessive in factors with a career-high in objectives, too?

In his first season with the Capitals, Logan Thompson shortly performed his means into the starter’s crease. Starting 42 video games final season, he completed the 12 months with a whopping 31-6 report, a career-best 2.49 goals-against common and a really respectable .910 save proportion. He was additionally enjoying with a chip on his shoulder, having been snubbed from Team Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster. He’ll enter this 12 months with an analogous grudge as he was snubbed from an invitation to Canada’s Olympic orientation camp.

Team Canada normal supervisor Doug Armstrong has indicated the goaltender spots are essentially the most vast open on their Olympic roster. With a powerful begin to the season, Thompson can’t solely put his NHL group in a fantastic place — he also can drive the eye of Olympic recruiters.