Last Word on Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2025-26 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team’s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We’ll also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the 2025-26 Washington Capitals.
2025-26 Washington Capitals
2024-25 Season
The Caps went into last season with one thing on their mind. Would Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky‘s all-time goals record? Ovechkin did just that, scoring his record-breaking 895th goal in early April. Ovi’s historic season inspired the rest of the Capitals’ team. The team went 51-22-9, winning the Metropolitan Division and earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Furthermore, the Capitals won their first playoff series since 2018 before eventually being eliminated in the second round.
Ovechkin led the Caps with 44 goals. Dylan Strome led the Caps in assists (51) and points (77). Between the pipes, Logan Thompson led the team with 31 wins, as well as leading in goals against average with 2.49.
2025 Off-Season
The Capitals’ off-season began by saying goodbye to two core members of the team. T.J. Oshie announced his retirement after 16 seasons in the NHL. Nicklas Backstrom announced he would be returning home to Sweden to continue his hockey career closer to home.
Aside from the departure of two key Capitals, it was a relatively quiet summer. The most notable move the team made was re-signing forward Anthony Beauvillier to a two-year contract. For the most part, the Capitals are running back the same team for the 2025-26 season.
Projected Lineup
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Anthony Beauvillier
Aliaksei Protas – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Ryan Leonard
Ivan Miroshnichenko – Connor McMichael – Tom Wilson
Brandon Duhaime – Nic Dowd – Justin Sourdif
Top Six
The Caps’ top line can generate offence quickly. Ovechkin has not scored fewer than 30 goals since the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. He can be counted on for another 40+. Stome has had three-straight seasons with 60+ points, including 82 points last season. Playing alongside Ovi has significantly increased Strome’s assist total, as he had 53 assists last season. Beauvillier may be the wild card on this top line, entering his first full season with the Caps after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. Beauvillier’s career-high in goals is 18, something he should be able to reach on this top line.
This line has a mix of size, skill, and youth. Dubois is the centerpiece, an intense two-way center who can drive play and set the tone physically and is coming off a 20-goal season in his first year in Washington. Protas complements him with his big frame, smart puck protection, and ability to work the cycle game, which should give Dubois plenty of support in puck possession. However, we cannot forget Protas’s ability to put the puck in the net, as he had 30 goals last season. Lastly, Leonard, a promising young winger, adds speed, tenacity, and a finishing touch. With only nine games of NHL experience on his resume, we know very little about the 20-year-old. However, what we do know suggests he can be a strong fit for the Caps’ top six.
Bottom Six
The third line blends offensive upside with a strong two-way foundation. McMichael is the playmaker down the middle, using his skating and vision to transition the puck and create scoring chances. Miroshnichenko, another player with limited NHL experience, brings a pure goal scorer’s mentality, characterized by a quick release and an instinct for finding open ice, which makes him a dangerous finishing option for the line. Wilson rounds things out with physicality and leadership, opening up space for his younger linemates while still being capable of producing offense himself, as evidenced by his 33 goals scored last year.
This line projects as a classic shutdown unit with some upside in energy. Dowd continues to be one of the league’s most underrated bottom-six centres, excellent in defensive assignments, faceoffs, and penalty killing. Duhaime adds a relentless forecheck and physical presence. Sourdif, yet another youngster with limited NHL experience, provides speed and creativity, which gives this line an extra gear compared to a traditional grind-only fourth line.
Defence
Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Jakob Chychrun – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Top Four
The top pair balances shutdown ability with high-end puck movement. Carlson remains the Capitals’ premier defenceman, driving offence from the back end with his vision, passing, and heavy shot from the point. Fehervary complements him with mobility, defensive awareness, and a willingness to play physically. The pairing works well because Carlson can take risks knowing Fehervary’s speed and defensive instincts provide a safety net. Together, they offer Washington a potent mix of offence and reliability.
The second pair offers a steady two-way presence. Sandin thrives when given the freedom to move the puck and join the attack, utilizing his skating and passing skills to facilitate a smooth transition of play. Roy, meanwhile, is more of a stay-at-home defenceman, excelling in positioning, board battles, and penalty killing. His defensive stability allows Sandin to lean into his offensive strengths without the pair becoming too vulnerable in their own zone. This duo is dependable and should help balance the ice for the Capitals.
Bottom Pair
The third pair provides a unique blend of upside and versatility. Chychrun brings an offensive punch from the blue line, with his strong shot, ability to quarterback the power play, and confidence in carrying the puck. Van Riemsdyk offers balance with his defensive reliability and adaptability, capable of playing both sides and providing steady, low-risk play. If used properly, this pairing could be a mismatch advantage—Chychrun driving offence. At the same time, Van Riemsdyk keeps things safe and straightforward. However, their effectiveness will depend on usage, as Chychrun’s risk-taking may require careful management at even strength. What both bring to the table is leadership and experience. This is especially true for Van Riemsdyk, who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2015.
Goaltending
Thompson joined the Caps last season after four seasons in Vegas. Thompson would go on to have a career season, posting 31 wins and helping the Caps earn the top seed. Furthermore, Thompson finished fourth in the Vezina Trophy voting. The 28-year-old has posted decent numbers in the past, but the question will be whether he can repeat last season’s success. If he can, it will mean great things in the Nation’s Capital.
Lindgren is just a season separated from finishing eighth in Vezina voting and 12th in Hart Trophy voting. It may be unfair to call Lindgren the “backup,” as he has really been more like a “1B.” Regardless, Lindgren will look to continue his success this season. He will look to improve his save percentage, which dropped noticeably from .911 in 2023-24 to .894 in 2024-25. His shutout totals dropped as well, from six to just one. With Thompson excelling between the pipes, Lindgren will need to take advantage of the opportunities he receives.
Players to Watch
Alex Ovechkin
How is Ovechkin not the answer? He enters the season just three goals away from 900. At 40 years old, Ovechkin already did the seemingly impossible by beating Gretzky’s record. The question is now, can Ovechkin score 1,000 goals? This is an unprecedented number that no star in any sport has achieved. Barry Bonds “only” hit 762 home runs. Tom Brady “only” threw for 677 touchdowns. What Ovechkin has been doing is unprecedented. With his future in question, we should make the most of it while we have it.
John Carlson
Carlson may be getting up there in age, but he is still a productive defenceman. He has recorded 50+ points in each of the last two seasons. If there is one thing the Capitals want to see improve this year, it is his performance on the power play. Two seasons ago, Carlson scored six power-play goals. Last year, he only scored one. His assist totals remained the same, but the Caps would love to see that scoring production return on the power play.
Predictions for the 2025-26 Washington Capitals
The Capitals will be putting essentially the same team back on the ice as last season. Should we expect a division title and the top seed? Both should still be considered, but we will have to play the games to determine the outcome.
We should not be surprised to see the Capitals return to the same position they held last season. On the other hand, we should not be surprised if we see them take some steps back. The team also features some aging players alongside some youngsters still trying to find their footing. Should the goaltending struggle, that would further complicate the team’s situation. However, Thompson has been a consistently strong goalie for several seasons, so no one should worry about his capability. Furthermore, any holes that appear on the team could be filled via trade during the season.
When we look at the division, the only competition for the division title is the Carolina Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils. At worst, the Capitals should finish third in their division, which would still secure them a spot in the playoffs. Expect the Capitals to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
Main Photo: Geoff Burke- Imagn Images
The post Puck Drop Preview: 2025-26 Washington Capitals appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.