Ovechkin is back, and the Capitals added significant talent in the offseason after missing playoffs

Last season, Washington Capitals finished 43-30-9 and missed the playoffs. Head coach Spencer Carbery guided the team, which included departures such as Connor McMichael, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Brandon Duhaime, and Hendrix Lapierre. The team made significant offseason acquisitions, including F Jordan Kyrou, RW Alex Tuch, F Boone Jenner, and D Vincent Desharnais. Goalies Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren were also added to the roster.

Returning after missing the playoffs, 41-year-old Alex Ovechkin announced his decision to play a 22nd NHL season. Despite being asked to carry the load on a team that made significant additions, especially at forward positions, Ovechkin remains the NHL's career goal-scoring leader. The Capitals entered the season as the No. 1 seed in the East, missing the playoffs the previous season.

The good news for the Capitals is that their goaltending has improved, with Thompson being one of the better goalies in the league last season. Additionally, the team added five 20-goal scorers, including Kyrou and Tuch, both of whom have reached 30 goals three times. Washington also boasts a collection of big bodies, with players like Tuch, Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Protas, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, Vincent Desharnais, and Dylan McIlrath all ranging between 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-7 in height.

On the downside, there are no standout players on the roster, and Ovechkin, while still capable of scoring goals, is no longer the all-around force he once was. The Capitals traded longtime defenseman John Carlson, and the power play was notably poor last season, going 2-6 in shootouts. The team's 2-6 record in shootouts has not yielded a winning record since the 2021-22 season.

Keep an eye on rookies Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson, as the Capitals would like to build around them long-term. Leonard posted 20 goals and 25 assists in his first full season, and his $84 million deal begins in 2027-28.