Transformational Times: A Look at the Washington Capitals As They Enter Season 18 of the Alex Ovechkin Era

Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports

The Washington Capitals are about to enter the 18th season with Alex Ovechkin, the franchise’s greatest player and a man on the cusp of more history to add to his already-Hall of Fame-bound career. And while The Great Eight has by no means shown signs of slowing down as he begins his 18th season at the age of 37 (September 17), the Caps are also a team preparing for a new period of hockey in the future.

Since [finally] winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, exorcising a hoard of demons that had seen the face of the franchise bear the burden of his team’s shortfalls in the playoffs, the Capitals have yet to advance beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, despite a core of players that has remained largely untampered since. Inconsistencies and injuries from some, stops in play due to an unforeseen pandemic, and other factors have played some part, however General Manager Brian MacLellan and his team revamped the roster this offseason, noticeably improving the lineup in the wake of the pending absences of Nicklas Backstrom (offseason hip surgery) and Tom Wilson (surgery to repair torn ACL).

Prior to the team’s personnel moves in free agency, MacLellan stated his intention to allow some of the team’s young prospects to compete for spots in the lineup to fill needs. And while that youth movement has been delayed somewhat by the additions from outside the organization, the play by several of the team’s youth last season highlights the flip-side of the team’s pursuit of another Stanley Cup in the Alex Ovechkin era.

The debuts of top picks Connor McMichael (2019) and Hendrix Lapierre (2020) the past two seasons gave Capitals fans a glimpse of the team’s future core, and the ceiling for both players leaves plenty to be excited about. While McMichael has had a more limited role thus far at the NHL level, as he gains more experience and develops (he is still just 21-years old) he will surely be entrusted in more situations by the Caps’ coaching staff. Likewise Lapierre, who has iterated his intent to arrive to training camp looking to work for a roster spot, has time and room to address flaws in his game and adapt to professional game.

On the blueline, Martin Fehervary (23 on October 6) showed flashes of a strong two-way game last season, his first full campaign in the NHL, recording 17 Points (eight goals) in 79 Games Played, along with averaging nearly 20 minutes (19:39) of ice time a night for Head Coach Peter Laviolette. Looking to build upon his offensive contributions in 2022-23, Fehervary is a solid core piece on the backend going into the next few seasons, with fellow youngsters such as Alexander Alexeyev and Lucas Johansen likely to make an appearance at some point as well.

The point? When Alex Ovechkin signed his five-year contract prior to last season, an insurance that he will finish his career as a lifetime Capital, the team’s M.O. was clearly to try and put together another winning lineup that could capture Lord Stanley’s chalice once again. And while the team’s veteran core has still produced, there will come a time in which the Caps must begin to hand the reins to their young players as the final seasons of the Ovechkin era close. The interval between then and now offers a perfect opportunity for them not only to chase another championship and get the most out of their current core, but also allow the next wave of Washington Capitals to develop and prep for the mantle they will one day hold.

I believe the team is markedly better than it was a season ago and by no means am suggesting the likes of TJ Oshie, Ovechkin, and co. are regressing. It is merely an examination of the time the Capitals are in as a team and the balance they must find as the next few seasons come and go. Perhaps the team will take a similar approach as the Calgary Flames did this summer, or perhaps MacLellan and his staff will have something different entirely in mind.

By Michael Fleetwood