As calendar year 2025 draws to a close, so too does one of the most memorable years in Washington Capitals history.
While not quite to the level of the Capitals’ Stanley Cup run of 2017-18, the 2025 calendar year featured Alex Ovechkin passing Wayne Gretzky atop the NHL’s goal-scoring mark, Washington finishing atop the Eastern Conference standings as well as their first playoff series win in seven years.
The image of Ovechkin sliding across the ice at UBS Arena after recording Goal No. 895 on April 6 will remain one of the most iconic in Capitals history, but the early part of the year will be defined by Washington’s captain returning from a broken leg and towards the mark, running up to his two-goal record-tying effort on April 4 at home against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Ovechkin ended up scoring 27 goals in the 2025 portion of last season, including a hat trick against the Oilers in February.
While Ovechkin hasn’t quite had the production in the early part of this season, he still recorded his first hat trick as a 40 year old in November in Montreal, which is Washington’s only hat trick so far this season.
Eastern Conference contenders
Beyond individual milestones, the Capitals solidified their status as an Eastern Conference contender, finishing last season atop the Eastern Conference, and continuing to be in the playoff mix this season as we reach the halfway point of the season.
The Capitals were 26-12-6 in the 2025 portion of last season, capping a 51-win campaign that recorded Washington’s highest point total since 2016-17, and finished second overall in the NHL standings to the Winnipeg Jets.
Washington also recorded its first playoff series win in seven years, beating the Montreal Canadiens in five games, before bowing out to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.
Capitals Olympic candidates
While the first part of this season hasn’t been quite as successful so far, it has seen the emergence of three players likely onto the national stage, as goaltender Logan Thompson, forward Tom Wilson and defenseman Jakob Chychrun made strong cases for their inclusion onto Team Canada for the Olympics in February.
After a solid season last year, Thompson took over the starting role for the Capitals and ran with it, posting a .915 save percentage in a year where he has gotten a bulk of the starts. At times, Thompson has kept the Caps in contests with some spectacular saves, and after a year where he nearly split the starts evenly with Charlie Lindgren, Thompson has emerged in the starters’ role as a contender for both a spot on the roster for the 2026 Olympics as well as the Vezina Trophy following a year where he finished fourth in voting.
Wilson recorded his first 30-goal campaign of his career thanks to 19 goals scored in the 2025 portion of last season, and matched that total in the first 38 games of this season to lead Washington in goals so far this season and score nearly 40 in the calendar year. Wilson, who was considered a bubble candidate for the Canadian Olympic team likely made his mark and a roster spot thanks to a strong 2025.
Chychrun also has emerged this year with one of Washington’s strongest offensive displays by a defenseman in recent history, scoring 15 goals in 38 games so far this year, just five short of last season’s total. The Capitals have found success this season when the defense is activated, and he is a big part of that effort.
Carbery wins the Jack Adams
Washington coach Spencer Carbery also brought home some hardware in 2025, capturing the league’s Jack Adams Trophy as top coach in the league for finishing atop the Eastern Conference standings. Washington’s retooling effort has taken flight since he arrived in Washington two summers ago, with the Caps qualifying for the playoffs both seasons with a reworked roster, and in position to make another playoff run this spring.
Capitals rookies: Leonard and Hutson
Washington also has seen the emergence of two of its top prospects in recent years in 2025, as Boston College’s Ryan Leonard arrived in April and has integrated himself in the lineup, while Boston University’s Cole Hutson was the top scorer at the 2025 World Junior Championship and has been one of the best blueliners in college hockey this season.
While it will be tough for 2026 to top 2025 in terms of Capitals history, the past year certainly saw history and transition towards the future for the Capitals as they look to build on the past year in the new calendar year.
