| Washington Capitals | |
|---|---|
 2025–26 Washington Capitals season | |
 | |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Metropolitan |
| Founded | 1974 |
| History | Washington Capitals 1974–present |
| Home arena | Capital One Arena |
| City | Washington, D.C. |
 | |
| Team colors | Red, white, blue[1][2] |
| Media | |
| Owner | Monumental Sports & Entertainment (Ted Leonsis) |
| General manager | Chris Patrick |
| Head coach | Spencer Carbery |
| Captain | Alexander Ovechkin |
| Minor league affiliates | |
| Stanley Cups | 1 (2017–18) |
| Conference championships | 2 (1997–98,2017–18) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 3 (2009–10,2015–16,2016–17) |
| Division championships | 14 (1988–89,1999–00,2000–01,2007–08,2008–09,2009–10,2010–11,2012–13,2015–16,2016–17,2017–18,2018–19,2019–20,2024–25) |
| Official website | nhl |
TheWashington Capitals (colloquially known as theCaps) are a professionalice hockey team based inWashington, D.C. The Capitals compete in theNational Hockey League (NHL) as a member of theMetropolitan Division in theEastern Conference. The team is owned byTed Leonsis, throughMonumental Sports & Entertainment, and initially played its home games at theCapital Centre inLandover, Maryland, before moving toCapital One Arena in Washington, D.C., in 1997.
The franchise was founded in1974 as an expansion team, alongside theKansas City Scouts, and struggled throughout its first eight years of existence. Beginning in 1982, with a core of players such asMike Gartner,Rod Langway,Larry Murphy, andScott Stevens, they became a regular playoff contender for the next 14 seasons. After purchasing the team in 1999, Leonsis revitalized the franchise by drafting star players such asAlexander Ovechkin,Nicklas Backstrom,John Carlson,Braden Holtby,Evgeny Kuznetsov andTom Wilson. In the2009–10 season, the Capitals won the franchise's firstPresidents' Trophy for being the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. They won it a second time in2015–16, and for a third time the following season in2016–17. In addition to 14 division titles and three Presidents' Trophies, the Capitals have reached theStanley Cup Final in1998 and2018, winning the latter in five games against theVegas Golden Knights.
The Capitals have retired the use of four numbers in honor of four players. In addition, the team holds an association with a number of individuals inducted into theHockey Hall of Fame. The Capitals are affiliated with twominor league teams: theHershey Bears of theAmerican Hockey League and theSouth Carolina Stingrays of theECHL.[3]
The NHL awarded an expansion franchise to the city of Washington on June 8, 1972, and the Capitals joined the NHL as anexpansion team for the1974–75 season along with theKansas City Scouts. The Capitals were owned byAbe Pollin (also owner of theNational Basketball Association'sWashington Bullets/Wizards). Pollin had built theCapital Centre in suburbanLandover, Maryland, to house both the Bullets (who formerly played inBaltimore) and the Capitals.[4] His first act as owner was to hireHall of FamerMilt Schmidt as general manager.[5] The team name was decided via a contest in which 12,000 entries were given to Pollin. Other names included the Comets, Cyclones, Streaks, and Domes.[6]Jim Anderson was hired as head coach prior to the inaugural season.[7]
With a combined 30 teams between the NHL and theWorld Hockey Association (WHA), the available talent was stretched thin. The Capitals had few players with professional experience and were at a disadvantage against the long-standing teams that were stocked with veteran players.[8]
The Capitals' inaugural season in1974–75 set records for the NHL. They finished with the worst record in the league at 8–67–5; their 21 points were half that of their expansion brethren, the Scouts. The eight wins are the fewest for an NHL team playing at least 70 games, and the .131 winning percentage is still the worst in NHL history. They also set records for most road losses (39 out of 40), most consecutive road losses (37), and most consecutive losses (17). Head coach Jim Anderson said, "I'd rather find out my wife was cheating on me than keep losing like this. At least I could tell my wife to cut it out."[9] Anderson was fired 54 games into the season and replaced by head scoutRed Sullivan. Sullivan, after a 14-game losing streak, resigned citing stomach issues. Schmidt had to take over the coaching reins for the remainder of the season.[7]
In1975–76, Washington went 25 straight games without a win and allowed 394 goals en route to another horrendous record: 11–59–10 (32 points).[10][11] In the middle of the season, Schmidt resigned and was replaced as general manager byMax McNab and as head coach byTom McVie.[12][13] After the season, along with the Scouts, both teams would travel toTokyo andSapporo, Japan for four exhibition games for the NHL's first games in an Asian country.[14] For the rest of the 1970s and early 1980s, the Capitals alternated between dreadful seasons and finishing only a few points out of theStanley Cup playoffs; in1980, for instance, they were in playoff contention until the last day of the season.[15] In 1978, the Capitals made a trade to acquireDennis Maruk who would score 50 goals during the 1980–81 season and 60 goals in the1981–82 season.[16][17][18] Thanks to the subpar seasons, the Capitals were able to draft playersMike Gartner andBobby Carpenter.[19][20] However, McNab and coachGary Green were fired in November 1981.[21]Roger Crozier took over as GM for the remainder of the season, but he too was fired in August 1982.[22] One of Crozier's decisions included the hiring ofBryan Murray.[23]
By the summer of 1982, there was serious talk of the team moving out of the U.S. capital due to an amusement tax that affected their rink.[24] The fans started the "Save the Caps" campaign and on November 4, 1982, the tax measure was defeated.[25]
In August 1982, the team hiredDavid Poile as general manager.[26] As his first move, Poile pulled off one of the largest trades in franchise history on September 9, 1982, when he dealt captainRyan Walter andRick Green to theMontreal Canadiens in exchange forRod Langway (named captain only a few weeks later),Brian Engblom,Doug Jarvis andCraig Laughlin.[27] Another significant move was the drafting of defensemanScott Stevens during the1982 NHL entry draft (the pick was made by Crozier, prior to Poile's hiring).[28] The result of both acquisitions helped the team get a third-place finish in thePatrick Division, which resulted in their first playoff appearance. Although they were eliminated by the three-time defending (and eventual) Stanley Cup champion Islanders three games to one, the Caps' dramatic turnaround ended any talk of the club leaving Washington.[29][30]
In the1983–84 offseason, the Capitals traded a first round draft pick forDave Christian.[31] They also traded Dennis Maruk to theMinnesota North Stars for a second round draft pick.[32] The regular season had the Capitals gain over 100 points for the first time in their history. The Capitals also made a trade with theLos Angeles Kings sending Engblom andKen Houston forLarry Murphy.[33] They also made it to the second round of the playoffs, after defeating thePhiladelphia Flyers in a three-game sweep. However, they were defeated by the Islanders in the second round.[34] The Capitals matched their point total thefollowing season, but had a two-game series lead in the first round disappear against the Islanders as Washington lost the next three games to lose the series.[34] In1985–86, the team had their best record yet, winning 50 games and earning 107 points.[34] After defeating the Islanders in a three-game sweep, the Capitals were defeated by theNew York Rangers in six games.[35]
The1986–87 season saw the team trade Bobby Carpenter and a second round draft pick forBob Crawford,Kelly Miller, andMike Ridley.[36] However, the season ended with a loss to the Islanders in the division semifinals. The Capitals had a 3–1 series lead, but the Islanders came back to force game seven which would be known as theEaster Epic. In the fourth overtime, at 1:56 am on Easter Sunday 1987,Pat LaFontaine scored, giving the Islanders a 2–1 victory, ending the Capitals season.[37]
At the1987 NHL entry draft, the Capitals tradedGaetan Duchesne,Alan Haworth, and first round pick (who would becomeJoe Sakic) forDale Hunter andClint Malarchuk.[38] The Capitals were unable to move past the second round for another season in1988, losing the division finals against theNew Jersey Devils.[39] For the1989 playoffs push, Gartner and Murphy were traded to theMinnesota North Stars in exchange forDino Ciccarelli and defensemanBob Rouse.[40] However, they were eliminated in the first round by the Philadelphia Flyers.[41]
In the1989–90 season, Bryan Murray was fired and replaced by his brother, the assistant coach,Terry Murray.[42] As they approached the deadline, the Capitals acquired goaltenderMike Liut who assisted in their playoff push.[43] The Capitals finally made the conference finals in1990, but went down in a four-game sweep at the hands of the first-place Boston Bruins.[44] The next two seasons were undone by thePittsburgh Penguins who defeated Washington both seasons in the playoffs.[45] It included a series where the Capitals had a 3–1 series lead in1992 only to lose the next three games and the series.[46] Their final season with Langway did not end well for himself nor the Capitals. He was limited to 21 games in the1992–93 season due to a torn cartilage injury.[47] In the playoffs, they lost in six games to the Islanders in the division semifinals. In game six of the series, Dale Hunter hitPierre Turgeon after Turgeon scored the 6–1 goal for the Islanders. Hunter was given a 21-game suspension as a result.[48]
At the1993 draft,Craig Berube was acquired from theCalgary Flames in return for a fifth round draft pick.[49] In1993–94, the Capitals struggled throughout the first half of the season which culminated in Terry Murray's dismissal as head coach andJim Schoenfeld announced as his replacement.[50] Approaching the trade deadline, the Capitals acquiredJoe Juneau.[51] Although the Capitals defeated the Penguins in the conference quarterfinals,[52] they were defeated in five games by the Rangers in the conference semifinals.[53] At the1994 NHL entry draft, Mike Ridley was traded along with a first round pick forRob Pearson and the tenth overall pick,[54] which was used to selectNolan Baumgartner.[55] However, theirrival, the Penguins, would defeat them in the first round of both the1995 and1996 playoffs. Both series had the Capitals leading the series, including a 3–1 series lead in 1995—the 1996 series ended with a game six fourth overtime goal by Pittsburgh forwardPetr Nedved.[46] In the1996–97 season, David Poile completed a blockbuster trade with the Bruins to acquire forwardsAdam Oates andRick Tocchet along with goaltenderBill Ranford forJason Allison,Jim Carey,Anson Carter, and two draft picks.[56] However, the team was unable to make the1997 playoffs, and as a result, Poile was fired along with Schoenfeld.[57]
In1997–98, the Capitals hired general managerGeorge McPhee as well asRon Wilson as the next head coach.[58] Midway through the season, they moved toMCI Center, now Capital One Arena, their current home arena.[59]Peter Bondra led the team with 52 goals in the regular season.[60] In the1998, the Caps got past the Boston Bruins,[61]Ottawa Senators,[62] andBuffalo Sabres en route to the team's firstStanley Cup Final appearance.[63] However, the team was outmatched by the defending champions, theDetroit Red Wings, who won in a four-game sweep.[64] During the game two of the series,Esa Tikkanen forced Detroit goaltenderChris Osgood out of position but slid the puck past the open net, which led to the Red Wings' comeback in the game.[65] That same season, Oates,Phil Housley, and Hunter all scored their 1,000th career point, the only time in NHL history that one team had three players reach that same milestone in a single season.[66]
After their 1998 Stanley Cup run, the Capitals finished the1998–99 season with a record of 31–45–6 and failed to qualify for the playoffs.[67] They also traded out Ranford,[68] Berube, Juneau, and captain Dale Hunter.[69] During the season, the team was sold to a group headed byAmerica Online (AOL) executiveTed Leonsis.[70]
The Capitals went on to win back-to-backSoutheast Division titles in 2000 and 2001, yet both years lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Penguins.[71][46] The2000–01 season also saw the Capitals acquireTrevor Linden andDainius Zubrus from theMontreal Canadiens.[72] However, after the playoffs,Adam Oates demanded a trade, feeling he was no longer an important part of the team with Linden playing.[73] Management refused to trade Oates and stripped him of his team captaincy.[74]
In the summer of 2001, the Capitals landed five-timeArt Ross Trophy winnerJaromir Jagr through a trade with the Penguins.[75] Jagr was then signed to the largest contract ever in NHL history — $77 million over seven years at an average salary of $11 million per year (over $134,000 per game) with an option for an eighth year. During the2001–02 season, Linden was dealt to theVancouver Canucks.[76] Oates finally received his trade request, going to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a prospect and three draft picks.[77] The Capitals failed to defend their division title and missed the playoffs in 2002 despite a winning record.[78] Jagr's point total also dropped from 121 the season prior to 79. Ron Wilson was fired as head coach.[75]
Before the2002–03 season, the Caps made more roster changes, including the signing ofRobert Lang as a free agent, a linemate of Jagr's from Pittsburgh.[75] The Capitals also hiredGrand Rapids Griffins coachBruce Cassidy as head coach.[79] Washington returned to the playoffs in2003, but lost in six games to theTampa Bay Lightning after starting off with a two-game lead.[80]
In the2003–04 season, the Caps unloaded much of their high-priced talent. It started with Jagr moving to the New York Rangers forAnson Carter. As a stipulation of the trade, agreement Washington agreed to pay $20 million of Jagr's contract.[75] This was quickly followed by Peter Bondra departing for the Ottawa Senators.[81] Not long after, Robert Lang was sent to the Detroit Red Wings,[82] as well asSergei Gonchar to the Boston Bruins.[83] The Capitals fired Cassidy and replaced him withGlen Hanlon;[84] Washington ended the year 23–46–10–3.[85]
In the2004 NHL entry draft, the Capitals won the draft lottery, moving ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who held the NHL's worst record, and selectedAlexander Ovechkin first overall.[86] During theNHL labor dispute of 2004–05, which cost the NHL its entire season, Ovechkin stayed in Russia, playing forDynamo Moscow.[87] The Capitals' 2005 off-season consisted of making D.C.-area native Halpern the team's captain.[88]
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The Capitals finished the2005–06 season with a 29–41–12 campaign.[89] In his rookie season, Ovechkin led all 2005–06 rookies in goals with 52 and points with 106. Ovechkin became the first player sinceTeemu Selanne to score at least 50 goals in his rookie season.[90] His efforts won him theCalder Memorial Trophy.[91] Despite missing the playoffs, the Capitals had an 11-point improvement over the prior season.[92]
In the 2006 off-season, Halpern left the Capitals to join theDallas Stars;Chris Clark subsequently became the Capitals' new captain.[93]Richard Zednik returned to the Capitals in2006–07,[94] but was later dealt at the trade deadline to the New York Islanders after an injury-plagued season.[95] Despite the transactions, the Capitals finished with the same point total (70) in 2006–07 as they did the year before, although they won one fewer game.[96] Ovechkin was the Capitals' lone representative in the season'sAll-Star Game.[97] Washington's campaign also saw the breakout ofAlexander Semin, who notched 38 goals in only his second NHL season.[98]
In the2007–08 offseason, the Capitals signed Swedish forwardNicklas Backstrom, the fourth overall pick in the2006 NHL entry draft, to a three-year entry-level contract.[99] They also signed 19-year-old goaltenderSemyon Varlamov to a three-year entry-level contract.[100] After starting the season 6–14–1, the Capitals fired head coach Glen Hanlon and replaced him withHershey Bears head coachBruce Boudreau.[101] On January 10, 2008, the Capitals signed Ovechkin to an NHL-record $124 million contract extension at 13 years, the second-longest term of any contract in the NHL after New York Islanders goaltenderRick DiPietro's 15-year contract.[102] Aided by key acquisitions at the trade deadline (Matt Cooke,Sergei Fedorov, andCristobal Huet),[103] Ovechkin's NHL-leading 65 goals,[104] andMike Green's league defensemen-leading 18 goals,[105] the Capitals won the Southeast Division title for the first time since the2000–01 season, edging out theCarolina Hurricanes for the division title on the final game of the season. Washington's remarkable end-of-season run included winning 11 of the final 12 regular season games. The Capitals became the first team in NHL history to make the playoffs after being ranked 14th or lower in their conference standings at the season's midpoint.[106] For the postseason, the Capitals played against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round and managed to force a game seven after being down three games to one in the series. However, they ultimately lost to the Flyers 3–2 in overtime.[107] The accolades for the team continued to grow after the end of the season. Ovechkin won theArt Ross Trophy, theMaurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, theHart Memorial Trophy, and theLester B. Pearson Award, becoming the first player in NHL history to win all four awards in the same season.[108] Nicklas Backstrom was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, but ended up second to the Chicago Blackhawks'Patrick Kane.[109] In addition to player awards, head coach Bruce Boudreau won theJack Adams Award for the NHL's coach of the year.[110] However, at free agency, the leading Capitals goaltender in games played, wins, save percentage, and shutouts, Olaf Kolzig left the team to join theTampa Bay Lightning.[111]
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The2008–09 season was highlighted by the play of Mike Green and Ovechkin. Green led all NHL defensemen in goals and points, also setting the record for the longest consecutive goal-scoring streak by a defenseman with eight games.[105] Ovechkin won his second Hart Trophy, his second Lester B. Pearson Award, and his second Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.[112] The Capitals finished the regular season with a record of 50–24–8 and a team-record 108 points, and they won their second consecutive Southeast Division title.[113][114] They then overcame a 3–1 series deficit against the New York Rangers in the first round of the2009 playoffs.[115] The Capitals were then defeated by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the conference semifinals in seven games.[116]
The Capitals finished the2009–10 season first in the NHL with 121 points, thereby winning thePresidents' Trophy. Ovechkin led the team in points with 109.[117] Backstrom finished with 101 points, fourth-most in the NHL.[118] Once again, Mike Green led all defensemen in points, finishing with 76.[105] DefensemanJohn Carlson made his NHL debut this season as well.[119] Despite having a top-ranked regular season, the Capitals were defeated by the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs, giving up a 3–1 series lead in the process.[120] Backstrom was given a ten-year contract extension after the season.[118]
The2010–11 season saw the Capitals repeat as the Southeast Division champions and as the top team in the Eastern Conference with 107 points.[121] The season was highlighted by their participation in the2011 Winter Classic, where they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 atHeinz Field.[122] However, in theplayoffs, after defeating the New York Rangers in five games in the conference quarterfinals,[123] they were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the conference semifinals.[124]
The Capitals started the2011–12 season with a record of 7–0, but they only won five of their next 15 games. As a result, general manager George McPhee fired head coach Boudreau, hiring Capitals legend Dale Hunter as his replacement.[110] By the end of the 2011–12 season, the team's top two goaltenders,Michal Neuvirth andTomas Vokoun, were injured and the Capitals were required to lean on their goaltending prospectBraden Holtby to help the team into the2012 playoffs.[125] The Capitals finished with the seventh overall seed in East, drawing the defending champion Boston Bruins in the first round. The Capitals defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion and second-seeded Boston Bruins in seven games on an overtime goal byJoel Ward. Every game in the series was decided by a one-goal margin; previously, no single series in the Stanley Cup playoffs had ever gone as far as six or seven games while neither team ever held more than a one-goal lead.[126] The Capitals then advanced to the second round to face the top-seeded New York Rangers. The series went seven games, ending with a 2–1 Rangers victory atMadison Square Garden.[127] Following the season's end, head coach Dale Hunter announced he would step down.Adam Oates was later named head coach of the team.[128]
Thelockout-shortened2012–13 season saw the Capitals off to a rocky start, as they managed just two wins in their first ten games.[129] The team rebounded to win the Southeast Division, earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference for the2013 playoffs.[130] However, in the playoffs, the Capitals' fell to the Rangers in seven games for the second consecutive season.[131]
In the2013–14 season, the Capitals struggled to stay in a playoff spot and ultimately missed the playoffs by just three points in the standings, resulting in them missing the playoffs for the first time since2006–07.[132]Evgeny Kuznetsov made his NHL debut during the season.[133] On April 26, 2014, 15 days after the regular season ended, the Capitals announced they would not renew general manager George McPhee's contract and that they had fired head coach Adam Oates.[134]
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On May 26, 2014, the Capitals announced the promotion ofBrian MacLellan from director of player personnel to general manager and the hiring ofBarry Trotz as the new head coach.[135] In Ovechkin's 691st NHL game on November 4, 2014, he became the Capitals' all-time points leader during a game against theCalgary Flames, surpassingPeter Bondra.[136] On January 1, 2015, the Washington Capitals defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3–2 in the2015 Winter Classic atNationals Park in Washington, D.C.[137] In the2015 playoffs, the Capitals defeated the Islanders in seven games in the first round.[138] In the second round, the Capitals held a 3–1 series lead over the New York Rangers. However, for the fifth time in their history, they gave up the series lead, as the Rangers defeated the Capitals in game seven.[139]
During the offseason of the2015–16 season, Mike Green left in free agency andJustin Williams was acquired in free agency.[140][141] The Capitals also tradedPheonix Copley andTroy Brouwer forT. J. Oshie with theSt. Louis Blues.[142] the Capitals finished in first place in the league with a record of 56–18–8 and 120 points.[143] After defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round,[144] they faced theirrival, the Pittsburgh Penguins, for the first time since 2009. The Penguins would win the series in six games.[145]
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Ovechkin reached the 1,000-point milestone on January 11, 2017, with a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ovechkin was the 84th NHL player to reach the 1,000-point milestone, the fourth Russian-born player and the 37th player to reach the milestone while playing for one team throughout their NHL career.[146][147] The Capitals won their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy, becoming just the seventh team in NHL history and the first time since theVancouver Canucks in 2010–11 and 2011–12 to win back-to-back Presidents' Trophies.[148] Ovechkin finished the 2016–17 season with 33 goals, leading the Capitals in goals for the twelfth straight season.[149] Nearing the trade deadline, the Capitals traded with the Blues to acquire former Washington goaltender Pheonix Copley and defensemanKevin Shattenkirk.[150] In the2017 playoffs, the Capitals defeated the eighth-seededToronto Maple Leafs in six games in the first round to set up a second consecutive showdown with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.[151] After falling behind 3–1 in the series, they battled back to force a game seven at home, where they were eliminated 2–0, and lost their series 4–3.[152]
After the 2017 playoffs, the Capitals were unable to retain a number of players, losingKevin Shattenkirk andJustin Williams to free agency, and defensemanNate Schmidt to the2017 NHL expansion draft.[153] In addition, after signing Kuznetsov to long-term contract, the Capitals shippedMarcus Johansson to theNew Jersey Devils to assist with the salary cap restrictions.[154]
Despite a slow 5–6–1 start to the2017–18 season,[155] which extended out to 10–9–1, the Capitals went on a 10–2–2 run in December,[156] and were able to clinch the Metropolitan Division for a third consecutive season on April 1.[157] In the2018 playoffs, the Capitals battled back from a 2–0 series deficit against the seventh-seededColumbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the playoffs, winning four straight and beating the Blue Jackets in six games.[158] They faced the Penguins again in the second round, and this time, they defeated the Penguins with an overtime goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov in game six. It marked the first time in 20 seasons that the Capitals made the conference finals and the first time in 24 seasons that they had defeated the Penguins in playoff series.[159] The Capitals advanced to the2018 Stanley Cup Final on May 23, after beating the top-seededTampa Bay Lightning in seven games.[160] They then faced the expansionVegas Golden Knights and overcame them in five games, including a 4–3 win in the decisive game five. Not only was it the Capitals' first Stanley Cup victory, but it was also the first championship for a Washington, D.C. team in one of the four major North American sports leagues since theWashington Redskins defeated theBuffalo Bills 26 years beforehand inSuper Bowl XXVI.[161] Shortly after the Stanley Cup Final, Barry Trotz resigned as the head coach of the Capitals, after negotiations for a contract extension fell through.[162] Assistant coachTodd Reirden was named as Trotz's replacement on June 29.[163]
During the2018–19 season, the Capitals clinched their fourth straight Metropolitan Division title.[164] In the2019 playoffs, the Capitals efforts to repeat as champions ultimately fell short, as they were eliminated in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games.[165]
In the2019–20 season, prior to theCovid-19 pandemic pausing the season, Ovechkin led the league in goals with 48 and scored his 700th goal on February 22, 2020.[166] The Capitals clinched the division title at the time of the pause,[167] but lost to the New York Islanders in the first round of the2020 playoffs.[168] Following the loss, Reirden was fired and replaced byPeter Laviolette.[169] The Capitals also lost Braden Holtby to free agency,[170] but gained veteransHenrik Lundqvist andZdeno Chara.[171][172] Lundqvist would not play a game with the Capitals due to a heart condition.[173]
During the regular season of the2020–21 season, the team made a trade with the Detroit Red Wings to acquireAnthony Mantha, trading outRichard Panik,Jakub Vrana, and two draft picks.[174] However, in the2021 playoffs, they lost to the Boston Bruins in five games of the first round.[175] In the2021–22 season, the Capitals reacquired Marcus Johansson, tradingDaniel Sprong and two draft picks.[176] In the playoffs, they matched against thePresidents' Trophy-winningFlorida Panthers in the first round, but fell to them in six games.[177] The2022–23 season saw the Capitals play against the Carolina Hurricanes in the2023 NHL Stadium Series atCarter-Finley Stadium inRaleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes defated the Capitals 4–1.[178] Washington would also miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.[179] Following the season, the team and Laviolette agreed to mutually part ways.[180] The Capitals hired 41-year-oldSpencer Carbery to be their new head coach on May 30, 2023.[181]
In December 2023,Monumental Sports & Entertainment founder and team ownerTed Leonsis engaged in a non-binding partnership with Virginia governorGlenn Youngkin to move the Capitals andWashington Wizards to a planned arena inPotomac Yard inAlexandria, Virginia, by 2028.[182][183] The structure would be part of an arts and entertainment district at the site, which would include a practice facility, restaurants, an esports venue, concert hall, and a new headquarters for Monumental.[184] In March 2024, after officials in Alexandria announced that the $2 billion entertainment and sports complex plans were scrapped, Washington mayorMuriel Bowser announced she had signed a deal with Leonsis, to keep the Capitals and Wizards in the District "at least until 2050."[185] The Capitals clinched the2024 playoffs by beating the Philadelphia Flyers on April 16, finishing with a 40–31–11 record and the second wild card spot.[186] They were swept by the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the first round.[187] On July 8, 2024, the Capitals announced thatChris Patrick would be promoted to general manager, with MacLellan retaining his position as president of hockey operations.[188]
During the2024–25 season, Ovechkin brokeWayne Gretzky's regular season goal record of 894, with his 895th career goal in a 4–1 loss to the New York Islanders on April 6, 2025.[189] The Capitals also clinched their sixth Metropolitan Division title and the first seed in the Eastern Conference.[190] In the playoffs, they were triumphant over the Montreal Canadiens before being defeated by the Hurricanes in the second round.[191][192] Following the season, Nicklas Backstrom left the team to rejoinBrynas IF of theSwedish Hockey League.[193]
The Capitals took to the ice in red, white and blue jerseys featuring contrast-colored shoulders and stars on the chest and sleeves based on theflag of the United States. The original logo crest underwent a few modifications throughout the jersey's history.[1]
Prior to the start of the1995–96 season, the team abandoned its traditional red, white and blue color scheme in favor of a blue, black, and copper palette with an American bald eagle with five stars as its logo. The alternate logo depicted theCapitol building with crossed hockey sticks behind.[194] For the1997–98 season, the team unveiled a black alternate jersey, devoid of blue with copper stripes on the ends of sleeves and at the waist. The crest on the white and blue jerseys were the bald eagle logo, while the crest on the black jersey was the Capitol logo. Initially, the team name was placed along the bottom black stripe, but was removed on the white jersey in 1997, while it remained on the blue jersey until its retirement. Prior to the2000–01 season, the team retired its blue road jersey in favor of the black alternate jersey, but still kept the white jersey for home games.[1]
The Capitals unveiled new uniforms on June 22, 2007, which coincided with the2007 NHL entry draft and the new league-wide adaptation of theReebok-designed uniform system for2007–08. The change marked a return to the red, white and blue color scheme originally used from 1974 to 1995.[195] The new primary logo is reminiscent of the original Capitals' logo, complete with a hockey stick formed by the letter "t"; it also includes a new feature not present in the original logo in the form of three stars representingDC,Maryland andVirginia.[196] The stars are a reference to theflag of Washington, D.C., which is in turn based on the shield ofGeorge Washington's family coat of arms. The new alternate logo used an eagle in the shape of a "W" with the silhouette of the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol building in the negative space within and below.[1]
For the2011 Winter Classic, the Capitals wore a white jersey honoring the franchise's past with the original logo. The jersey resembled the one the franchise wore from 1974 to 1995. Instead of wearing the combination of blue pants and white helmets the team used when it played at theCapital Centre, the Capitals chose red pants and helmets for the New Year's Day game. The Capitals wore the same jersey, minus the NHL Winter Classic patch, on February 1, 2011, to honor Hockey Hall of Fame wingerDino Ciccarelli.[197]
The Capitals announced on September 16, 2011, that they would wear a third jersey modeled after the Winter Classic jersey for 16 road games during the2011–12 season.[1]
For the2015 Winter Classic, which took place on New Year's Day at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., the Capitals wore a newly designed jersey intended to pay homage to hockey's outdoor roots. The primary color of the jersey was a vintage deep red. The addition of stripes on the shoulders, waist and legs brought in elements of Washington's professional hockey jerseys from the 1930s, predating the Capitals franchise's formation in the 1970s. A large "W" on the front of the jersey, topped with the common three stars, offset in blue to contrast the white "Capitals" wordmark.[198]
Starting with the2015–16 season, the Capitals wore their throwback red third jerseys, replacing the white Winter Classic thirds.[1]
Prior to the2017–18 season, the NHL announced a new partnership withAdidas, and the Capitals unveiled new uniforms with minor changes. There were no third jerseys during that season, but the return of the program in the2018–19 season saw the return of the Capitals' red throwback uniforms as their alternates.[1]
For the2018 Stadium Series, the Capitals used newly designed navy uniforms, honoring the fact that the game was held at theU.S. Naval Academy. The chest logo was based on the regular stylized "Capitals" logo, but shortened to "Caps", the nickname commonly used for the team. There were also features honoring various aspects of D.C., as well as the presence of a slightly altered W logo from the 2015 Winter Classic on the pants.[199]
In 2021, as part of Adidas' "Reverse Retro" uniform series, the Capital unveiled a recolored version of their blue "screaming eagle" uniform used from 1995 to 2000. The base color is red with dark blue accents.[1] The Capitals also replaced their throwback red alternates with a dark blue third jersey; this design featured three red stars and a uniquely-designed white "W" with theWashington Monument triangle in the middle. The uniform also features white/red/white stripes on the waist and sleeves and a white shoulder yoke.[200]
In 2022, a second "Reverse Retro" uniform was released, this time featuring a black version of the "screaming eagle" uniform with blue and copper accents.[201] This uniform was restored as the team's alternate ahead of the2024–25 season, updated to theFanatics template.[202]
For the2023 Stadium Series, the Capitals unveiled a white uniform centered around the alternate "Weagle" logo, with its navy wings extending towards the sleeves with white numbers.[203]
Prior to the 2025–26 season, the Capitals redesigned the "screaming eagle" alternate, now recolored to a red base with dark blue and silver accents. The white shoulder yoke and dark blue and white stripes were a visual nod to the original red uniforms.[204]
Since 2006, the Capitals have practiced in theBallston neighborhood ofArlington County, Virginia. The practice facility is known as theMedStar Capitals Iceplex.[205]
Since 1995, the Capitals' mascot has been Slapshot, a bald eagle that wears the number 00.[206] He was named by a fifth grader who won the naming contest.[207]
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Capitals. For the full season-by-season history, seeList of Washington Capitals seasons
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses/SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 36 | 15 | 5 | 77 | 191 | 163 | 2nd, East | Lost in first round, 1–4 (Bruins) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 44 | 26 | 12 | 100 | 275 | 245 | 4th, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 2–4 (Panthers) |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 | 255 | 265 | 6th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 91 | 220 | 257 | 4th, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 0–4 (Rangers) |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 51 | 22 | 9 | 111 | 288 | 232 | 1st, Metropolitan | Lost in second round, 1–4(Hurricanes) |
Updated October 22, 2025[208][209]
The Washington Capitals hold an affiliation with a number of inductees to theHockey Hall of Fame, including nine inductees from the players category and one from the builders category, five of whom played at least five seasons with the club (Gartner, Oates, Stevens, Langway, and Murphy).
In addition to players, members of the localsports media have been honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2007, Dave Fay, a sports journalist forThe Washington Times, was a recipient of theElmer Ferguson Memorial Award.[210] In 2010,play-by-play radio broadcasterRon Weber was awarded theFoster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hall of Fame for his contributions to hockey broadcasting.[211]
Players[212]
Builders
The Capitals haveretired four numbers: 5, 7, 11, and 32. The NHL retiredWayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its member teams at the2000 NHL All-Star Game.[213]
| No. | Player | Position | Career | No. retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Rod Langway | D | 1982–1993 | November 26, 1997[214] |
| 7 | Yvon Labre | D | 1974–1980 | November 7, 1981[215] |
| 11 | Mike Gartner | RW | 1979–1989 | December 28, 2008[216] |
| 32 | Dale Hunter | C | 1987–1999 | March 11, 2000[217] |
Reference:[218]
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These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history.[222] Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
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Monumental Sports Network (MSN) has carried Capitals games locally since its founding as Home Team Sports (HTS) in 1984.[223] The channel was later rebranded into Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (CSN) from 2001 through 2017, and then NBC Sports Washington from 2017 to 2023.[224] MSN's commentators areJoe Beninati,Craig Laughlin, "Inside-the-Glass" reporterAlan May, and rinkside reporter Al Koken.[225][226][227]
The Capitals' flagship radio station isWJFK-FM (106.7 FM); commentators areJohn Walton andKen Sabourin. The team's radio network consists of stations in Washington,Virginia,Maryland,West Virginia,Pennsylvania, andNorth Carolina.[228]
Mike Vogel has been covering the team online for the Washington Capitals on its website since the 1995–96 season, writing daily game stories and analysis. Vogel, who also participates in podcasts and in-stadium video presentations as well as guesting on various Washington DC radio and television programs, has been described as "the most interesting man in Caps media".[229]
June 22, 2007: The Capitals show off their new uniforms at a draft day party held at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. The new threads harken back to the team's original red, white and blue color scheme with a modernized version of the original logo.
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