The NHL is now at the Olympic break, and all 32 teams will be off for three weeks. The Washington Capitals are currently 29-23-7 with 65 points, as they’ve had their ups and downs throughout the season. Let’s take a look at how the Capitals have fared in 2025-26 so far.
Top Players This Season
The Capitals have had their fair share of top scorers this season. Tom Wilson is at the top of that list with 49 points, including 23 goals and 26 assists. Wilson will now get to compete for Team Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
Jakob Chychrun has been a quality addition to the Capitals since being acquired via trade in 2024. This season, the 27-year-old leads all NHL defensemen with 21 goals. He also became the second Washington defenseman and first since Larry Murphy to register back-to-back 20-goal campaigns.
The Capitals also have a pair of strong rookies in Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif. Leonard made his NHL debut late last season and has made his presence known. The 21-year-old is fast on the ice and has 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) through 52 games.
As for Sourdif, he’s the main acquisition from last summer’s offseason. The 23-year-old has been moved around the lineup after starting the season as a fourth-line winger. In 55 games played, Sourdif has recorded 12 goals and 14 assists. Since Dec. 24, he has led all NHL rookies in scoring with nine goals and 17 points through 18 games.
In net, Logan Thompson has been playing like a possible Vezina Trophy candidate. Through 39 games, he is 19-16-4 with a 2.45 goals against average (9th in NHL) and .912 save percentage (T-9th). Thompson will join Wilson in playing for Team Canada in the Winter Olympics.
Alex Ovechkin’s 21st Season
Ovechkin has been serviceable in his 21st NHL season. In 59 games, he has 22 goals and 26 assists. One highlight for The Great 8 was being the first NHL player to surpass 900 goals. He now has 919 total tallies and counting as he may not be done yet.
However, it seems that age is catching up to the 40-year-old. He hasn’t been as productive as he’s usually been in previous seasons. In Thursday’s 4-2 win over Nashville, Ovechkin had only 13:15 of ice time. That’s the lowest he’s ever skated in a game where he wasn’t hurt/ejected.
The Capitals have tried to avoid putting him in the defensive zone when possible. Instead, the team has been limiting his legs and using him in spots where he can showcase his offensive abilities.
For now, Ovechkin will get some rest as Russia won’t be participating in the Winter Olympics. He previously suited up for his native country in 2010 and 2014.
Injuries and Inconsistencies
A couple big issues for the Capitals this season have been injuries and inconsistencies. The biggest absence this year has been forward Pierre-Luc Dubois. The 27-year-old’s last game had been Oct. 31, as he underwent adduction surgery and missed 47 games. However, he finally returned in Thursday’s win vs. Nashville, where he recorded his first pair of points this season.
But Dubois isn’t the only Capitals player who missed time. The team has also dealt with missing Wilson, Leonard, and Sourdif in the lineup due to ailments. Most recently, Charlie Lindgren was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
The Capitals have also had issues playing consistently each period. In one frame, they will look like the best team on the ice. But in the next, they just fall flat. The team will play good enough to win and bad enough to lose. Head coach Spencer Carbery has mixed up his forward lines in games to see who will have the most chemistry. Some lines have worked, but others didn’t. It hasn’t been the easiest season for the defending Jack Adams Trophy-winning Carbery.
Possible Trade Deadline Moves
The Capitals have still yet to make a roster move with the NHL trade deadline coming March 6. The biggest name the team had been linked to was forward Artemi Panarin. However, the 34-year-old was traded from the New York Rangers to Los Angeles. According to multiple sources, the Rangers asked for Leonard in return for Panarin, but the Capitals said, “No.’
With Leonard being untouchable, who could the Capitals give up for another high-scoring winger? Perhaps Brandon Duhaime? He tends to spend a lot more time being in the penalty box than scoring goals. Perhaps one of the prospects? Chris Patrick will have some big decisions to make once trades resume on Feb. 22.
Can They Still Make the Playoffs?
Right now, the Capitals are tied with Columbus with 65 points in the East. They are also four points behind Boston for the final Wild Card spot in the conference. With Dubois returning and helping the Capitals regain their form, perhaps the team could make a late playoff push. That is if no one else suffers a major injury and the team looks more consistent.
Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for Sportsnaut. He also contributes to the sites … More about Harry Lichtman