This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on this collectibles blog and my personal one, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being underway, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key Exits: Connor McMichael (C), Trevor van Riemsdyk (D), Brandon Duhaime (RW), Hendrix Lapierre (C), David Kämpf (C), Sonny Milano (LW), Brett Leason (RW/C), Milton Gastrin (C), Declan Chisholm (D)
Key Arrivals: Alex Tuch (RW), Jordan Kyrou (RW), Boone Jenner (C), Vincent Desharnais (D), Jonny Brodzinski (C), Josh Dunne (C), Justin Holl (D)
Top prospects: Cole Hutson (D, 20), Ilya Protas (C, 20), Oliver Suvanto (C, 18), Andrew Cristall (LW, 21), Lynden Lakovic (LW, 19), Terik Parascak (LW, 21)
The Washington Capitals have nearly completely overhauled their roster in the past two or three years, and most of those moves are net gains and pure positives, including and possibly starting with the addition of Pierre-Luc Dubois for the 2024-25 season, as he is thriving in this giant-sized forward lineup that includes brothers Ilya and Aliaksei Protas, Tom Wilson of course, Tuch, and long-tiem legendary captain playing his farewell season, Alexander Ovechkin.
What makes their odds look good:
This forward group can skate, bang, chase, bruise and plow through any team they come across, scoring 3 or 4 goals per game on most nights, with young guys like Ryan Leonard improving year by year and a highly-rated prospect group. Logan Thompson is the best Canadian goalie by a wide margin, and Charlie Lindgren is more than capable of handling backup duties. On defense, Hutson is looking like the real deal and worthy of sharing his older brother Cole's last name, while Jakob Chychrun has reached borderline elite status. GM Chris Patrick has the golden touch, and head coach Spencer Carbery looks like the second coming of Jon Cooper.
Question marks:
Are they satisfied with a 60-point #1 centre in Ryan Strome, or will they look to upgrade to knock the Carolina Hurricanes off the Metropolitan Division's top peg?
Outlook:
In the past 20 years, the Caps employed the best goal scorer in NHL history, a guy whose shot was so perfect that while everyone in the arena knew where it would come from, no team could nor goalie could defend; they won the Stanley Cup in 2018, then proceeded to bring youth in the team every year while always remaining good enough to either make the playoffs or come really close, without ever even thinking of going into a rebuild. As of now, they could stay put until their veterans all retire and will remain relevant for the next decade-plus. Not every expert has agreed with their moves, but the fact is that they have mostly worked out.
Prediction:
2nd in the Metropolitan Division.
The Norris Trophy gets a lot of flak for usually getting awarded to the highest-scoring defenseman instead of "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position", which would be its official definition, but that isn't exactly true - sure, Erik Karlsson got it for a 100-point season with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23, as did Paul Coffey with the high-flying Edmonton Oilers and lockout season Detroit Red Wings (58 points in 45 hames), but Tyson Barrie won the scoring title with the Oilers in 2020-21 and didn't get a single Norris vote (as a matter of fact, he has never received a single vote in his entire career), and Evan Bouchard had 95 points in 2025-26 and didn't end up a finalist either.
Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom won it seven times from 2001 until 2011, and one could argue he was more "perfect" than "offense-minded". Chris Pronger (1999-2000, St. Louis Blues) and Zdeno Chara (2008-09, Boston Bruins) were menaces in their own end as well as cannons from the blue line offensively, so I would consider them two-way "complete" defensemen, just like Zach Werenski (2025-26, Columbus Blue Jackets), Cale Makar (2022 and 2025, Colorado Avalanche), Victor Hedman (2017-18, Tampa Bay Lightning), Duncan Keith (2010 and 2016, Chicago Blackhawks), Scott Niedermayer (2003-04, New Jersey Devils) and Chris Chelios (1988-89, Montréal Canadiens, as well as 1993 and 1996 with the Blackhawks).
Drew Doughty (2015-16, Los Angeles Kings) is much more defensive than offensive, but not as much as Rod Langway (1983 and 1984, with the Capitals). The Secretary Of Defense was swift on his feet, despite standing at 6'3" and 218 pounds, and could end a play with a poke check, forcing an opponent against the board with steady positionning, or a clean hit. He was also one of the last players to be grandfathered in and be allowed to play without as helmet, as seen on card #197 from Pro Set's 1991-92 Parkhurst set, which he signed in blue sharpie:
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