Capitals
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Washington Capitals, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Justin Sourdif, Declan Chisholm
Key Departures: Andrew Mangiapane, Lars Eller
Overview
Last season was all about Alexander Ovechkin’s pursuit and ultimate passing of Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all-time goal leader (894). Ovi finished the season with 44 goals and pushed his NHL career total to 897. There is growing speculation that this will be the swan song for “The Great 8”, who is entering his 20th season and in the final year of his contract.
Offense
The Capitals scored 286 goals (2nd overall) in the 2024-25 season, an increase of 70 goals from the prior season with their games having a combined average of 6.34 goals per game (seventh-highest). Ovi’s 44 goals led the Caps and were 13 more than he had in 2023-24. It marked the 14th time in his 20 seasons that he has scored 40 or more goals and easily cashing his preseason goal prop of 29.5.
It was a breakout season for Aliaksei Protas who had 30 goals and 66 points and a bounce back season for Pierre-Luc Dubois who recorded his fifth 20- goal season to go along with a career best, 66 points. Dylan Strome led the team in scoring with 82 points and for the fourth consecutive season, Strome increased both his goal and point totals. Tom Wilson’s 33 goals were more than the 31 goals he scored in the two prior seasons combined.
Defense
The Capitals’ 229 goals surrendered were tied for eighth-fewest in the NHL. Washington went from a (-37) goal differential in 2023-24 to a +56-goal differential last season. Not only did Washington as a team tighten things up defensively, but offensively, their blue line went from 30th in offense (2023-24) to fourth last season.
John Carlson led Washington defenseman 51 points and newcomer Jakob Chychrun had his first 20-goal season to go along with a career high 47 points. Chychrun’s six game winning goals were second to only Alexander Ovechkin on the team and his five power play goals led all Capitals defensemen.
Goaltending
The acquisition of Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights couldn’t have worked better for Washington. Thompson’s 31 wins, a career best and the most by a Capitals goalie since Braden Holtby (32 wins) in 2018-19. Though there were signs that Thompson may have tired down the stretch, giving up three or more goals in nine of his last 12 starts.
For those like yours truly, betting the Over on the opposition’s team total (usually posted at 2.5) was a big money maker. Twenty-one of Washington’s last 27 games saw them give up three goals or more. As the No. 2 goalie, Charlie Lindgren did what was necessary, earning wins in 20 of his 38 starts.
Player to Watch
Connor McMichael played a handful of games last season at his natural center position. McMichael behind Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois has the potential to be one of the better trios down the middle in the Eastern Conference. I like to refer to the center position as the “spine” of your team. McMichael, the Capitals first-round draft pick in 2019, had a career-best 26 goals and 57 points last season. He had just 27 goals in his previous 155 games.
Outlook
Washington is not going to catch anybody by surprise this season, nor will they have the motivation of Ovechkin’s goal chase to pass Gretzky’s record. Sportsbooks are anticipating regression for the Capitals this season with a projected point total of 96.5. I am with the sportsbooks that Washington has a drop-off, but my best bet is Alexander Ovechkin Over 60.5 points (-115). Only twice in his career has Ovechkin put up fewer than 65 points and those were in shortened seasons due to Covid and a labor dispute.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 96.5
To Make the Playoffs: -250
To Miss the Playoffs: +190
To Win the Metropolitan Division: +500
To Win the Eastern Conference: +1600
To Win the Stanley Cup: +3000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 51-22-9, 111 points (1st Metropolitan Division)
Over/Under: 39-38-5
Home Favorite: 19-10 // Home Dog: 7-4
Road Favorite: 11-6 // Road Dog: 12-10
Win Score 4 or more: 36 of 51 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 20 of 31
Puck Line Wins: 35 of 51 // Puck Line Losses: 18 of 31
Front End Back-to-Back: 9-4 // Back End Back-to-Back: 7-6
Points Leader: Dylan Strome – 82
Goal Leader: Alex Ovechkin – 44
Assist Leader: Dylan Strome – 53
Shots on Goal Leader: Alex Ovechkin – 237
Blocked Shots Leader: Trevor Van Riemsdyk – 151
Depth Chart
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin / Dylan Strome / Anthony Beauvillier
Aliaksei Protas / Pierre-Luc Dubois / Tom Wilson
Sonny Milano / Connor McMichael / Ryan Leonard
Brandon Duhaime / Nic Dowd / Justin Sourdif
Defense
Jakob Chychrun / John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin / Matt Roy
Martin Fehervary / Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Goalies
Logan Thompson / Charlie Lindgren
Power Play Unit 1
Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, Jakob Chychrun, Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson
