Aging Capitals think they can go on another long playoff run
2 years, 2 months ago

Aging Capitals think they can go on another long playoff run

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — Look no further than the extra gray hair on Alex Ovechkin’s head for evidence he and the Washington Capitals are getting older. I can say that because I’ve seen us do it before.” The Caps’ championship core remains, and general manager Brian MacLellan wasted little time during the offseason erasing the uncertainty in net by adding 2022 Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Darcy Kuemper. “There’s teams that have younger star players that are ahead of us, and then I think we’re with Pittsburgh and teams that are still good that could still pull it off,” he said. “He’s got size, he’s got a track record, he’s played on different types of teams, too: championship teams and non-playoff teams,” MacLellan said. “He’s got a wealth of experience that I think we’re all going to benefit from.” Kuemper is also the unquestioned starter with Charlie Lindgren the backup.

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History of this topic

Capitals are rolling along without Alex Ovechkin thanks to depth that has kept them a contender
1 week, 6 days ago

Capitals are rolling along without Alex Ovechkin thanks to depth that has kept them a contender

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin has not missed many games during his two decades in the NHL with the Washington Capitals, and that remarkable durability is one reason why he is fast-approaching Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record. “Ovi, he’s a legend, he’s special, he’s always going to probably lead the team in goals and we’re a better team with him, …

NHL Playoff Report: Wild and Capitals on the rise, Predators and Bruins falling off
1 month, 2 weeks ago

NHL Playoff Report: Wild and Capitals on the rise, Predators and Bruins falling off

New York Times  

Welcome to the NHL Playoff Report, a monthly look at the league through the eyes of each team’s chances of making the playoffs: who’s up, who’s down and why. The Jets are off to an incredible 11-1-0 start and while that’s done great things for their playoff odds, their jump in Net Rating has been a little more modest. Columbus’s …

Capitals hope offseason changes help them return to the playoffs as Ovechkin chases Gretzky
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Capitals hope offseason changes help them return to the playoffs as Ovechkin chases Gretzky

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON CAPITALS Last season: 40-31-11, swept in first round of playoffs. BetMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 66-1 What to expect After making the playoffs in their final game last season and getting swept by the New York Rangers in the first round, the Capitals underwent an offseason of significant change. Alex Ovechkin enters the second-to-last year of his contract having turned …

Capitals promote Chris Patrick to GM, Brian MacLellan remains president of hockey operations
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Capitals promote Chris Patrick to GM, Brian MacLellan remains president of hockey operations

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Washington Capitals named Chris Patrick as their general manager on Monday with longtime GM Brian MacLellan remaining president of hockey operations. “His vision, extensive experience, hockey acumen and player evaluation make him the perfect leader to drive our team forward.” MacLellan, 65, spent a decade as GM since taking over for George McPhee in 2014. “With …

Washington Capitals retool to keep their playoff-contending window open during Ovechkin era
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Washington Capitals retool to keep their playoff-contending window open during Ovechkin era

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the midst of overhauling the Washington Capitals this offseason, Brian MacLellan received Alex Ovechkin’s seal of approval. I mean, there’s a lot of pressure on Ovi to produce last year because we lacked the depth in that area, so hopefully he’s supported here more with a better overall team this year.” Ovechkin is 42 goals from …

Capitals’ T.J. Oshie hopes to play next season. He’ll only do so if his back problems are fixed
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Capitals’ T.J. Oshie hopes to play next season. He’ll only do so if his back problems are fixed

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — T.J. Oshie lingered on the ice long after many of his Washington Capitals teammates departed for the locker room following the loss that eliminated them from the playoffs. “I’d love to play next year, but I will need to come back with somewhat of a guarantee that my back won’t be — it’s hard putting everyone through …

Late-blooming, mustached goalie Charlie Lindgren carries the Washington Capitals into the playoffs
8 months ago

Late-blooming, mustached goalie Charlie Lindgren carries the Washington Capitals into the playoffs

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin scored a lot of goals down the stretch for the Washington Capitals, yet he is not the biggest reason they made the playoffs. “He’s really taken hold of it,” retired defenseman Karl Alzner said of Lindgren’s ‘stache, several years since they played together with Montreal and in the minors. “I have a lot of faith …

Capitals beat the Bruins 2-0 to move one win away from making the playoffs
8 months, 1 week ago

Capitals beat the Bruins 2-0 to move one win away from making the playoffs

Hindustan Times  

WASHINGTON — John Carlson scored another big goal, Charlie Lindgren stopped all 16 shots he faced and the Washington Capitals moved another step closer to the playoffs by beating the Boston Bruins 2-0 on Monday night. HT Image Nic Dowd sealed it with an empty-netter with 11.7 seconds left, and now a win at Philadelphia on Tuesday night would put …

Capitals beat the Bruins 2-0 to move one win away from making the playoffs
8 months, 1 week ago

Capitals beat the Bruins 2-0 to move one win away from making the playoffs

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Leaving the ice and seeing the results of other games around the NHL after beating the Boston Bruins 2-0 on Monday night, Washington Capitals players took turns telling each other that it doesn’t matter. After John Carlson scored another big goal, Lindgren made one crucial stop after another and Nic Dowd sealed it with an empty-netter with 11.7 …

Capitals beat the Lightning 4-2 to keep their playoff hopes alive
8 months, 1 week ago

Capitals beat the Lightning 4-2 to keep their playoff hopes alive

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — With the score tied and their season hanging in the balance, Charlie Lindgren made one big save after another to keep the Washington Capitals in a crucial game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. “We’ve got two games here left and obviously just lay it all out there.” Sonny Milano scored twice and Nic Dowd provided an insurance goal …

Capitals beat the Red Wings 4-3 in overtime in a crucial East playoff race matchup
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Capitals beat the Red Wings 4-3 in overtime in a crucial East playoff race matchup

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Dylan Strome has never gotten the chance to play playoff hockey in the NHL in front of sold-out crowds. “Maybe people didn’t peg us to be a playoff team at the start of the season, but I think we’re proving a lot of people wrong right now.” Strome and his teammates came to play in arguably the franchise’s …

Capitals put Evgeny Kuznetsov on waivers after he was cleared to practice again
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Capitals put Evgeny Kuznetsov on waivers after he was cleared to practice again

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Washington Capitals put Evgeny Kuznetsov on waivers on Saturday, a surprising move that came hours after the mercurial center was cleared by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to resume practicing. “It’s just an opportunity for our side, too, to start fresh and try to get him an opportunity to continue his career.” Kuznetsov struggled this season …

Washington Capitals bracing for changes ahead of the NHL trade deadline
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Washington Capitals bracing for changes ahead of the NHL trade deadline

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — Anthony Mantha has been traded before, just not like this. No one will be stunned if Mantha is moved this time, and he’s one of several Washington players in that category ahead of the March 8 NHL trade deadline. As for right now, they’re six points back of two different playoff positions — Metropolitan Division third-place Philadelphia, …

Capitals’ Evgeny Kuznetsov enters the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Capitals’ Evgeny Kuznetsov enters the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, and the team is now preparing for the stretch run of the season without him. So, for us, as organization, staff, players, it’s just supporting him and his family as he gets the help that he needs.” Kuznetsov missed practice Monday for what the team …

Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence from the Washington Capitals because of his hip
1 year, 1 month ago

Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence from the Washington Capitals because of his hip

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence from the team because of what he called an “ongoing injury situation” after a slow start to the season on his artificial left hip. He said he needs to “determine my next steps and viable options moving forward.” Backstrom, Washington’s career leader in assists, had hip …

Ovechkin resumes his NHL goals record pursuit as the Capitals open the season under a new coach
1 year, 2 months ago

Ovechkin resumes his NHL goals record pursuit as the Capitals open the season under a new coach

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON CAPITALS COACH: Spencer Carbery. Edmundson is already dealing with an upper-body injury after being dogged by back problems last season, and Pacioretty isn’t expected to play until at least November. Nicklas Backstrom is more than a year removed from hip resurfacing surgery and is being counted on to return to form as one of the top three centers along …

Penguins and the Capitals keep making moves to try to remain NHL playoff contenders
1 year, 4 months ago

Penguins and the Capitals keep making moves to try to remain NHL playoff contenders

Associated Press  

The Stanley Cup banners hanging in Pittsburgh and Washington aren’t collecting dust yet. New Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas and longtime Capitals GM Brian MacLellan are trying to jam open their teams’ contending window as long as possible — a difficult task in the NHL in the salary cap era. I think it’s important for Ovi, for all our veteran …

Capitals’ Reverse Retros? Alex Ovechkin trade? Sonny Milano regrets? Mailbag, Part 2
1 year, 6 months ago

Capitals’ Reverse Retros? Alex Ovechkin trade? Sonny Milano regrets? Mailbag, Part 2

New York Times  

In Part 1 of this month’s Capitals mailbag, I answered your questions on AHL Hershey’s playoff run, options at No. While it felt like Kuznetsov and the Caps had reached the end of the road a couple of months ago, I’m starting to get the sense that the team might now be leaning toward seeing how he responds to new …

Top Capitals prospects playing key role in AHL Hershey’s Calder Cup run
1 year, 6 months ago

Top Capitals prospects playing key role in AHL Hershey’s Calder Cup run

New York Times  

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Bears will begin their quest for an AHL championship in Coachella Valley, Calif., on Thursday when they face the Firebirds in Game 1 of the Calder Cup finals. Playoff point totals for Caps prospects Team rank Name Age Position Games Goals Assists Points Plus-minus 1 Aliaksei Protas 22 LW 13 5 7 12 6 6 …

Capitals, coach Laviolette part ways after missing playoffs
1 year, 8 months ago

Capitals, coach Laviolette part ways after missing playoffs

Associated Press  

Peter Laviolette won’t be back as coach of the Washington Capitals, who now have a big decision to make after missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. The Capitals parted ways with Laviolette on Friday, less than 24 hours after their season ended, a decision general manager Brian MacLellan described as mutual. We wish him all …

Capitals have new look after bevy of trade deadline changes
1 year, 9 months ago

Capitals have new look after bevy of trade deadline changes

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — When the Washington Capitals departed for a four-game road trip in late February, players knew change was afoot. Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals’ core remains in place to chase fading playoff hopes, but it’s also a rare period of transition in Washington after the organization’s first deadline selloff in more than a decade. Obviously, this time of …

Alex Ovechkin away from Capitals to attend to family matter
1 year, 10 months ago

Alex Ovechkin away from Capitals to attend to family matter

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin will be away from the Washington Capitals to attend to a family matter and the health of a loved one and is expected to be gone for at least the rest of the week, if not longer. Coach Peter Laviolette said he doesn’t envision Ovechkin will be back “in the foreseeable future.” “When it comes …

Washington Capitals are No. 25 in 2023 NHL prospect pool rankings
1 year, 11 months ago

Washington Capitals are No. 25 in 2023 NHL prospect pool rankings

New York Times  

Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2023 rankings of every NHL organization’s prospects. The good news is that their best prospect, Ivan Miroshnichenko, is by all accounts in good health and playing well, they’ve got two goalie prospects who look like they might become solid backups or No. Alexander Suzdalev, LW, 18 Suzdalev was a top player in Sweden’s junior ranks last …

Capitals, Flyers, Avalanche handling injury woes differently
2 years ago

Capitals, Flyers, Avalanche handling injury woes differently

Associated Press  

Long before training camp, the Washington Capitals knew they would be without Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom for at least the first few months of the season. They’re carrying a big load.” According to NHL Injury Viz, a site that tracks the impact of injuries around the league, Washington has the most man-games lost with 153 to Philadelphia’s 141 and …

Who are the Capitals? Maddeningly inconsistent, but playoff hopes still alive
2 years ago

Who are the Capitals? Maddeningly inconsistent, but playoff hopes still alive

New York Times  

SEATTLE — Peter Laviolette was fuming. “Not enough of the right things.” Too many turnovers kept the ice tilted in the Kraken’s favor for long stretches all night. I don’t think we deserved to win.” Conor Sheary scored the Caps’ second goal, on the power play, to open an early 2-0 edge late in the first period. Credit to them …

How Capitals’ Marcus Johansson is proving to be one of the team’s biggest bargains
2 years, 1 month ago

How Capitals’ Marcus Johansson is proving to be one of the team’s biggest bargains

New York Times  

Seven games in, Marcus Johansson has been one of the Capitals’ most effective players. “He’s done an excellent job on entries through the neutral zone,” coach Peter Laviolette said. Marcus Johansson PP stats since Oct. 15 Statistic Total Team Rank Zone entries 4 2nd OZ possession 0:59 3rd OZ passes 27 2nd Slot passes 3 1st Assists 3 T-1st “Marcus …

Ovechkin, banged-up Capitals return to ice for start of camp
2 years, 3 months ago

Ovechkin, banged-up Capitals return to ice for start of camp

Associated Press  

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Washington Capitals opened training camp Thursday without two of the team’s top players. “They’re key players for us,” Ovechkin said after the first on-ice session of camp. “Training camp and exhibition games are going to mean a lot.” They don’t mean much for Ovechkin, who at 37 still doesn’t look like he has lost much. “We’re …

Capitals overhaul roster most of any contender in the East
2 years, 5 months ago

Capitals overhaul roster most of any contender in the East

Associated Press  

Several hours into NHL free agency, the Washington Capitals had two new goaltenders and a replacement for the defenseman they lost to Seattle. While the New York Rangers made a splash by adding Vincent Trocheck and the Columbus Blue Jackets did the same by signing Johnny Gaudreau, no Eastern Conference contender overhauled its roster more than the Capitals. Top right …

Caps out in 1st round for 4th time since winning Cup in 2018
2 years, 7 months ago

Caps out in 1st round for 4th time since winning Cup in 2018

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin thinks it’s pretty messed up that the Washington Capitals haven’t won a playoff series since hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2018. “We have it, but we just blow it away,” Ovechkin said Friday night after his team’s Game 6 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. “The last couple of years we’ve been down, and teams have …

Ovechkin injury clouds Capitals’ outlook week from playoffs
2 years, 7 months ago

Ovechkin injury clouds Capitals’ outlook week from playoffs

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin missed a game because of injury for just the 25th time in his 17-year NHL career. Ovechkin was ruled out of the Washington Capitals’ game Tuesday night against the New York Islanders, and his status moving forward is unclear with the start of the first round less than a week away. “It depends on how things …

Nicknames, first goals, team meals and wins: The Capitals’ exciting rookies are savoring it all together
3 years, 1 month ago

Nicknames, first goals, team meals and wins: The Capitals’ exciting rookies are savoring it all together

New York Times  

LOS ANGELES — When Hendrix Lapierre scored his first NHL goal in the Capitals’ season opener, it was a fun storyline. Since Lapierre’s goal, in fact, fourth other rookies— Martin Fehérváry, Connor McMichael, Brett Leason and Garrett Pilon — have followed suit, each scoring their first NHL goals. Capitals Rookies Statistics Player Games Goals Assists Points Time on Ice/game Connor …

Capitals’ options to fill in for Nicklas Backstrom, from Connor McMichael to by committee approach
3 years, 2 months ago

Capitals’ options to fill in for Nicklas Backstrom, from Connor McMichael to by committee approach

New York Times  

Training camp is nearly a week old and there’s been no sign of Nicklas Backstrom, at least not in public view. Here’s what the opening night lineup might look like with McMichael in it: Left wing Center Right wing Alex Ovechkin Evgeny Kuznetsov Anthony Mantha Daniel Sprong Lars Eller Tom Wilson Conor Sheary Connor McMichael T.J. Oshie Carl Hagelin Nic …

The Capitals’ 5 most intriguing prospects: Washington’s assistant GM weighs in
3 years, 5 months ago

The Capitals’ 5 most intriguing prospects: Washington’s assistant GM weighs in

New York Times  

The Washington Capitals don’t have a pick in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft on Friday, having sent it to Detroit in the deal that brought Anthony Mantha to Washington and sent Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik to Detroit. Connor McMichael Position: Center Hometown: Ajax, Ontario Age: 20 Height/weight: six-feet, 183 pounds Shoots: Left Draft: First round in …

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