Originally posted by TXHT Hockey. Read the original: 2026-27 Team Preview: Washington Capitals.
2025-26
Record: 43-30-9, 95 points, 4th in Metropolitan Division
Playoffs: Missed Stanley Cup Playoffs
Key Losses
F – Sonny Milano (SC Bern – NL), F – Connor McMichael (Trade w/ STL), D – Trevor van Riemsdyk (PIT), F – Brandon Duhaime (TOR), F – Hendrix Lapierre (Trade w/ PIT), Declan Chisholm (Trade w/ NJ)
Key Additions
F – Jordan Kyrou (Trade w/ STL), F – Alex Tuch (Trade w/ BUF), F – Jonny Brodzinski (Signed via FA), D – Justin Holl (Signed via FA), D – Vincent Desharnais (Signed via FA), F – Boone Jenner (Signed via FA)
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2026-27 Preview
Looking for a Bounceback
After narrowly missing the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Capitals wasted little time reshaping their roster. With the backing of owner Ted Leonsis, Washington invested roughly $30 million during the offseason, acquiring forwards Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch—the latter via a sign-and-trade—while also signing free-agent forwards Boone Jenner and Jonny Brodzinski, along with defensemen Vincent Desharnais and Justin Holl.
Those additions significantly strengthened the roster, giving the Capitals more scoring depth, added grit, and veteran leadership. On paper, Washington emerged as a much more formidable team, not only in the Metropolitan Division but across the Eastern Conference.
The aggressive offseason also convinced captain Alex Ovechkin to return for a 22nd NHL season, signing a one-year contract to remain in Washington.
Beyond the personnel changes, the Capitals did a minor overhaul to their coaching staff by hiring a new power-play coach in hopes of revitalizing a unit that has struggled in recent seasons.
The biggest question heading into the season is whether Washington can replicate the success of its 2024-25 retool. If lightning strikes twice, the Capitals have the talent and depth to establish themselves as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
Ovechkin’s Role
Heading into the 2026-27 season, Alex Ovechkin is expected to take on a different role than he has for most of his career with the Capitals. At 41 years old, Ovechkin will no longer be counted on as the team’s primary goal scorer or offensive catalyst following Washington’s aggressive offseason makeover.
The additions of Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou bring two proven 30-goal scorers to the lineup, easing the offensive burden on the longtime captain. Meanwhile, highly touted rookie forwards Ilya Protas and defenseman Cole Hutson are expected to inject more skill and creativity into the lineup, while second-year forwards Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif will be looking to build on promising rookie campaigns.
With the Capitals becoming younger and deeper, Ovechkin could see more time in a third-line role. Reduced even-strength minutes could ultimately benefit him, helping keep him fresh over the course of the newly expanded 84-game regular season and positioning him to be more effective when the games matter most.
The biggest question surrounding Ovechkin’s role may come on the power play. He is almost certain to remain a fixture on the top unit, but it remains to be seen whether he will continue to receive the full two-minute opportunity or transition into a more limited role. Given the emergence of the Capitals’ younger talent and the significant improvement the power play showed late last season, a reduced workload for Ovechkin seems like a realistic possibility. Regardless of how the minutes are distributed, his shot and experience should ensure he remains an important part of Washington’s power-play attack.
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Projected Lineup
Offense
Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Alex Tuch
Aliaksei Protas – Ilya Protas – Tom Wilson
Ryan Leonard – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Jordan Kyrou
Ivan Miroshnichenko – Justin Sourdif – Boone Jenner
Defense
Martin Fehérváry – Jakob Chychrun
Cole Hutson – Matt Roy
Timothy Liljegren – Vincent Desharnais
Goalies
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren
Scratches/LTIR
D – Rasmus Sandin (LTIR), F – Ethen Frank, F – Anthony Beauvillier, D – Dylan McIlrath, D – Justin Holl, G – Clay Stevenson
