Washington Capitals

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Lore & Background

The Capitals struggled throughout their first eight years of existence. Beginning in 1982, with a core of players such as Mike Gartner, Rod Langway, Larry Murphy, and Scott 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 as Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Braden Holtby, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson. In the 2009–10 season, the Capitals won the franchise's first Presidents' Trophy. They won it a second time in 2015–16, and for a third time the following season in 2016–17. In addition to 14 division titles and three Presidents' Trophies, the Capitals have reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1998 and 2018, winning the latter in five games against the Vegas Golden Knights.

In Their Own Story

The Capitals entered the 2022–23 season aiming to extend their playoff streak, but the campaign took a decisive turn on April 4, 2023. That night, the Florida Panthers beat the Buffalo Sabres 2–1, mathematically eliminating Washington from playoff contention. It was the first time since the 2013–14 season that the Capitals missed the postseason, ending an eight-season streak. The team also saw its run of 15 consecutive winning seasons come to a close, a streak that only eleven other NHL teams have ever matched. The regular season schedule had been released on July 6, 2022, and the team's future prospects were shaped at the 2022 NHL entry draft, held July 7–8 at Bell Centre in Montreal.

Reader's Guide

The Capitals have retired the use of four numbers in honor of four players. The team holds an association with a number of individuals inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Capitals are affiliated with two minor league teams: the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League and the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.

Did You Know?

• The Capitals set NHL records in futility in their inaugural 1974–75 season, finishing with an 8–67–5 record and a .131 winning percentage, the worst in NHL history.
• The team was nearly moved out of Washington in 1982 due to an amusement tax, but fans started the 'Save the Caps' campaign and the tax measure was defeated on November 4, 1982.
• The 1987 Easter Epic saw the Capitals lose to the Islanders in the fourth overtime at 1:56 am on Easter Sunday, after holding a 3–1 series lead.

A Historic Playoff Drought Returns

The 2022–23 campaign marked a significant downturn for the Washington Capitals, concluding their forty-ninth year of existence since their founding on June 11, 1974. For the first time since the 2013–14 season, the franchise failed to secure a postseason berth, ending an impressive eight-year consecutive playoff streak. This elimination occurred on April 4, 2023, triggered indirectly when the Florida Panthers defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2–1, mathematically removing Washington from contention. This specific failure represented only the second instance of missing the playoffs since the team rebranded to a more patriotic color scheme following the 2006–07 season. Furthermore, this disappointing finish halted a remarkable run of fifteen consecutive winning seasons, a feat achieved by only twelve teams in NHL history.

Roster Turnover and Financial Strategy

Throughout the 2022–23 season, the Capitals engaged in extensive roster management through various transactions. These financial decisions highlight the organization's strategic approach to salary cap management while attempting to acquire new talent or future assets. The season also saw a clear distinction between incoming and outgoing personnel, with specific annotations indicating players who were no longer with the team by the season's end. Additionally, the roster included several athletes who had spent time with other franchises before joining Washington, with their statistics reflecting only their tenure in the nation's capital.

Youth Development and Draft Selections

Looking toward the future, the Capitals actively participated in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft to replenish their talent pipeline with young prospects. Held at the Bell Centre in Montreal from July 7 to 8, 2022, this annual event provided Washington with new selections intended to bolster the franchise for years to come. Alongside these draft picks, the team managed various contract signings, some of which were entry-level agreements designed to integrate young players into the professional system immediately. Other contracts were structured to take effect in the subsequent 2023–24 season, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to roster construction.

The End of an Era

The conclusion of the 2022–23 regular season signaled the definitive end of a golden era for Washington hockey. By missing the playoffs, the team broke a streak of fifteen consecutive winning seasons, a statistical anomaly that placed them among an elite group of only twelve NHL franchises to ever achieve such longevity in success. This collapse was particularly poignant given the team's history; since returning to their traditional red, white, and blue color scheme after the 2006–07 season, they had missed the postseason just once prior to this year. The elimination on April 4, 2023, following a game between Florida and Buffalo, served as a harsh reality check for an organization that had become synonymous with playoff consistency over the previous eight years.

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