In this Summer Coolers edition of NHL Wraparound, Neil Smith and Vic Morren head to the nation's capital to break down the Washington Capitals, a team coming off a quietly dominant 2024–25 regular season... and a playoff run that ended just as quietly.

Washington finished with 111 points, 1st in the Metro, and 2nd overall in the NHL—yet fizzled in the second round against Carolina after dispatching Montreal in five games. But with no major offseason additions, the OV goal chase behind them, and multiple players coming off career seasons, is this team poised for a step forward—or a step back?

🧊 IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] 111 points in 2025: Best in East, 2nd in NHL

[00:45] First playoff series win since 2018… but Carolina exposed their pace

[01:15] Quiet offseason: No notable adds, re-signs only Blais & LaPierre

[01:45] Notable exits: Mantha, Raddysh, Eller, Alexeyev

[02:15] Farewell to T.J. Oshie (retired) & Nick Backstrom (Sweden)

[02:45] OV hits 900 goals — record-breaking moment, but costly distraction?

[03:30] Spencer Carbery wins Jack Adams — can he do it again?

[04:00] The overachievers: Strom, Lapierre, Wilson, Dubois, Chičhryn, McMichael

[04:45] Regression incoming? Expectation vs. reality for 2025–26

[05:30] Capitals identity: More Tom Wilson than Alex Ovechkin?

[06:00] Defense: Martin Fehérváry extension, Chychrun, Carlson aging

[07:00] OV's twilight years — now what?

[08:00] Final verdict: Still a playoff team, but not chasing the President’s Trophy again

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The OV chase is finally over. With the Gretzky record broken in 2025, Washington can now shift full focus back to team hockey — and they’ll need to.

Last season's success came from 8 career-best performances. That kind of lightning rarely strikes twice, especially with an aging core.

Chychrun looked like a Norris candidate, and Strom emerged as a true #1 center — but can they sustain it?

Carbery coached a masterclass in 2025. But with no new weapons and the league now targeting the Caps, coaching will be tested more than ever.

Capitals' identity has changed. It’s less about the OV slapshot now, and more about the grit and leadership of Tom Wilson.

🎯 FINAL WORD:

The Washington Capitals proved everyone wrong in 2025 with a dominant regular season—but can they recreate the magic without the motivation of history chasing them?

Expectations are higher, but age is creeping in. If they fall short, the story of 2026 may be the end of an era—not a deep playoff run.

🔗 RESOURCE LINKS:

📺 YouTube: NHL Wraparound Channel

🐦 X (Twitter): @NHLWraparound

🎤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil

📘 Vic Morren: Vic on LinkedIn

📸 Instagram: @NHLWraparound

🎵 TikTok: @NHLWraparound

👍 Facebook: NHL Wraparound Facebook

🏒 HASHTAGS

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