Sep. 30, 2024 13:58 PM EST

Capitals Hope Offseason Changes Help Them Return To The Playoffs As Ovechkin Chases Gretzky

By The Associated Press
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates during the third period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Nick Wass, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates during the third period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) skates with the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets left wing James Malatesta (67) during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren reaches for the puck during the third period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Washington. The Blue Jackets won 8-4. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates on the ice before a preseason NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates after his goal during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Last season: 40-31-11, swept in first round of playoffs.

COACH: Spencer Carbery (second NHL season, 40-31-11 in first year with Washington).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 12 vs. New Jersey.

DEPARTURES: G Darcy Kuemper, D Nick Jensen, RW T.J. Oshie, LW Max Pacioretty, LW Beck Malenstyn, F Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

ADDITIONS: C Pierre-Luc Dubois, G Logan Thompson, D Jakob Chychrun, D Matt Roy, RW Andrew Mangiapane, F Brandon Duhaime, F Taylor Raddysh.

GOALIES: Charlie Lindgren (25-16-7, 2.67 goals-against average, .911 save percentage) and Thompson (25-14-5, 2.70 GAA, .908).

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 39 and in hot pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. Ovechkin is 42 away from breaking Gretzky’s mark. Washington’s hope is Dubois helps Ovi get there sooner than later. If Dubois bounces back from a dreadful season in Los Angeles, the revamped blue line works out as planned and the goaltending holds up, this team should be in the mix for a wild-card spot.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Ovechkin remains a threat to score the power play and at even strength, coming off a torrid second half that got him to 31 goals last season. The additions should also take some pressure off No. 1 defenseman John Carlson, who skated more minutes a game than anyone else in the league and is now 34. Having Chychrun and Roy around is expected to boost the penalty kill after ranking 19th at 79% last season. Carbery showed in his first season as an NHL head coach that he’s able to adjust and get the most out of a team.

The not-so-good: The Caps are gambling that a tandem of Lindgren and Thompson in net is good enough. The pair comes cheap at a combined salary cap hit under $2 million, and it would be unfair to expect them to steal games like Lindgren did down the stretch last spring to get the Caps in. The center position is also a major question. Can Dubois, Dylan Strome, Hendrix Lapierre and Nic Dowd produce consistent offense? Washington scored 2.63 goals a game last season, by far the lowest output of any playoff team and better than just four others.

Players to watch

Dubois enters year two of an eight-year, $68 million and figures to start with Ovechkin on his left wing. If that does not help him get his career back on track, the Caps could be in trouble. Without Oshie, the pressure is on Tom Wilson, Mangiapane and the other wingers to fill the void. Now six years removed from helping this franchise win the Stanley Cup for the first time, Carlson is trying to play his way on to the U.S. roster for the 4 Nations Face-off in February and the Olympics in 2026.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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