2023-24
Record: 40-31-11 — 91 points — 4th in Metropolitan (2nd Wild Card)
Playoffs: Lost in First Round to New York Rangers
Key Losses
Darcy Kuemper (G), Beck Malenstyn (F), Nick Jensen (D), Max Pacioretty (F), Nicolas Aube-Kubel (F), TJ Oshie (F – LTIR), Nicklas Backstrom (F – LTIR)
Key Additions
Pierre-Luc Dubois (F), Andrew Mangiapane (F), Logan Thompson (G), Jakob Chychrun (D), Matt Roy (D), Brandon Duhaime (F), Taylor Raddysh (F)
2024-25 Preview
Going into the 2024-25 season, the Washington Capitals come in as a different team. With changes done at all three positions, the Capitals brass is hoping that these changes can push the team into the playoffs for a deep run. Also, the brass hope that it will take pressure off of star forward and captain Alex Ovechkin as he continues his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, which sees Ovechkin sit 42 goals from breaking the record.
Forwards
Starting on offense, the Capitals would move on from forwards Beck Malenstyn (trade with Buffalo), Nicolas Aube-Kubel (signed with Buffalo), and Max Pacioretty (signed with Toronto), and enter the season with both TJ Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom on long term injured reserve (LTIR). Coming to DC would be forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois (trade with Los Angeles), Andrew Mangiapane (trade with Calgary), Brandon Duhaime (free agent signing), and Taylor Raddysh (free agent signing).
When looking at these new additions it’s rather simple to see where these four will fit into the lineup. Both Duhaime and Raddysh will comprise the new fourth line with Nic Dowd at center. As for Dubois and Mangiapane, that’s where things can become interchangeable. Mangiapane, who I’ve always liked from his time with the Calgary Flames, is a suitable replacement to Oshie and will be able to fill that right wing spot very well throughout the lineup.
Now for Dubois, who Elliotte Friedman had been reporting as part of a trade with the Los Angeles Kings for goalie Darcy Kuemper since January, he is an interesting factor. Dubois has all of the talent in the world, but I’m not one hundred percent sure with him. He’s projected to be the number one center, but I can see him be on the second line too. We saw the magic head coach Spencer Carbery did with Anthony Mantha last season. Will Carbery be able to do it again this season with Dubois?
Defense
On defense the Capitals shipped Nick Jensen to the Ottawa Senators for Jakob Chychrun, and then signed Mat Roy via free agency from Los Angeles. Roy is definitely a top four pairing shut down defenseman, and will help with the penalty kill. For Chychrun, he becomes the second player the Capitals picked up that only lasted a season with their new team. Questions will surround Chychrun like they do with Dubois, but we shall see how he fits into the mix.
One thing I will say though is that it will be interesting to see how Alexander Alexeyev and Ethan Bear will fit into things. Alexeyev really showed promise during the later part of the season when injuries hit the Capitals defensive core. For Bear, he is looking to re-establish himself after having a really difficult 2023-24 season that saw him miss the beginning of the season due to shoulder surgery, then after 24 games played, he would enter the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program to help him with depression and anxiety. I’m really pulling for Bear. I want this season to be a great one for him.
Goaltending
Moving between the pipes, Charlie Lindgren solidified himself as the number one goalie for the Capitals, and with Kuemper being traded to Los Angeles for Dubois, the brass had a decision to make. Do they let Hunter Shepard and Clay Stevenson battle it out to be Lindgren’s backup, or do they go outside the organization? They chose to go outside the organization and picked up Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights.
Thompson, who won the Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023, comes to the Capitals already familiar with the organization having previously played for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL in the Capitals farm system. Thompson also gives the Capitals a credible 1B option to split time with Lindgren so neither goalie gets overworked. I personally view this as a win0win scenario for the Capitals, and with both goalies entering the final season, the competition between the two of them will be fun to watch.
Projected Lineup
Forwards
| 8 – Alex Ovechkin | 80 – Pierre-Luc Dubois | 43 – Tom Wilson |
| 29 – Hendrix Lapierre | 17 – Dylan Strome | 88 – Andrew Mangiapane |
| 15 – Sonny Milano | 24 – Connor McMichael | 21 – Aliaksei Protas |
| 22 – Brandon Duhaime | 26 – Nic Dowd | 16 – Taylor Raddysh |
Defense
| 6 – Jakob Chychrun | 74 – John Carlson |
| 38 – Rasmus Sandin | 3 – Matt Roy |
| 42 – Martin Fehervary | 57 – Trevor van Riemsdyk |
Goalies
| 79 – Charlie Lindgren | 48 – Logan Thompson |
Additional Players
| 63 – Ivan Miroshnichenko (LW) | 27 – Alexander Alexeyev (D) |
LTIR
| 19 – Nicklas Backstrom (C – Hip) | 77 – TJ Oshie (RW – Back) |
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