Alex Ovechkin’s Quest: A Promise Kept by the Capitals
When Alex Ovechkin decided to re-sign with the Washington Capitals, he had a few conditions. He wasn’t interested in being a “third-line guy playing 8 to 10 minutes a game,” nor did he want to be a player the team “trotted out on the power play” just to pad his goal totals. Most importantly, Ovechkin wanted to avoid playing for a rebuilding team. Before signing a five-year contract extension in 2021, he asked Capitals owner Ted Leonsis to ensure the team remained competitive, promising in return to stay in shape and focus on winning another Stanley Cup for Washington.
Leonsis assured Ovechkin that the Capitals would not enter a rebuild while he was on the roster. “To me, a rebuild is when you look the players, the coaches, the fans in the eye and say we’re gonna be really, really bad. And if we were really, really bad, I don’t think Alex would break the record,” Leonsis told ESPN in 2022.
Fast forward to the fourth year of Ovechkin’s contract extension, and it seems everyone has kept their promises. The Capitals’ captain has exceeded expectations for a 39-year-old player, scoring 17 goals in 20 games before a broken leg interrupted his season. With 21 goals in 30 games, he’s just 21 goals away from becoming the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring leader.
Rather than field a lackluster roster, the Capitals have emerged as the NHL’s best team after 46 games, boasting a .728 points percentage. Under first-year coach Spencer Carbery, Washington was a surprise playoff entrant last season. An aggressive offseason roster enhancement has propelled them to the top of the league.
“There has to be an expectation that we’re going to win,” forward Tom Wilson said. “That’s a culture that’s been built. The new guys came in this year and complemented that.”
Breaking the Mold: A New Approach to Contending
Unlike teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have struggled to maintain competitiveness, the Capitals have managed to stay at the top. Since Ovechkin entered the NHL in 2005-06, the Capitals have the third-best points percentage as a team (.608) behind the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins. The Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, and rather than waiting for Ovechkin to retire, they have continued to build a competitive team.
The Capitals’ Winning Formula
Over the past 42 years, the Capitals have had four general managers. The line of succession has been internal, with Chris Patrick taking over as GM last offseason. “It’s pretty similar to how we’ve interacted over the years. I’m just making more phone calls now and dealing with agents at the NHL level than I was before,” Patrick told ESPN.
Assistant general manager Ross Mahoney, team president Dick Patrick, and Leonsis have been constants in the organization. Mahoney believes there are three key areas for building a team: drafting and developing, signing free agents, and making trades. The Capitals have excelled in all three areas.
- In July 2021, Ovechkin re-signed for five years ($47.5 million). The team’s core, including Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, and John Carlson, were also signed long-term.
- The Capitals have made strategic trades, acquiring players like Dylan Strome and Rasmus Sandin.
- They have also added young talent like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jakob Chychrun.
These moves have given the Capitals cap flexibility, allowing them to remain competitive. The clarity provided by Backstrom’s health situation has also helped the team make informed decisions.
Spencer Carbery: The Coach Behind the Success
Spencer Carbery, 43, has been a critical hire for the Capitals. After the team parted ways with head coach Peter Laviolette, Carbery was brought in to lead the team. Under his guidance, the Capitals have improved significantly, ranking second in goals per game (3.57) and third in goals against (2.43) this season.
Carbery’s communication skills and willingness to go against conventional thinking have been praised by the organization. He has been able to connect with both NHL veterans and the next wave of prospects, ensuring the team’s continued success.
The Future Looks Bright
The Capitals’ draft strategy has been a cornerstone of their success. Mahoney, who has run the Capitals’ draft for 27 years, believes the past few drafts could be as fruitful as some of the best of the Ovechkin Era. Prospects like Cole Hutson and Ryan Leonard have shown great promise, with Leonard captaining Team USA to gold at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships.
The Capitals’ prospect pipeline remains strong, with players like Vincent Iorio, Ivan Miroshnichenko, and Hendrix Lapierre on the way. The team’s success in the AHL with the Hershey Bears has also been vital to player development.
In conclusion, the Capitals have kept their promise to Ovechkin, building a competitive team around him while preparing for a future beyond his career. With a strong roster and a promising pipeline, the Capitals are poised for continued success.
Originally Written by: Greg Wyshynski
