“It’s going to be so crazy. Get some beer. Get some whatever. Start celebrating. We’re the Stanley Cup champions,” declared Alex Ovechkin following the Washington Capitals’ triumph in the 2018 Stanley Cup. In the wake of this victory, the Caps have experienced a rollercoaster of performances, yet this season appears to be a resurgence for them, as they currently stand as the frontrunners in the NHL.
What is the reason for that? One only needs to examine their statistics! The Caps have participated in 63 games, achieving 41 victories, suffering 22 defeats, and recording 8 overtime losses. Their accumulated total of 90 points has secured them the top position in the Eastern Conference. The anticipation among Caps fans is palpable this season, especially with the NHL trade deadline now behind them, leaving an exhilarating roster to eagerly anticipate.
Alex Ovechkin hunting down Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record
For those who closely follow the NHL, it’s hard to miss the fact that Alex Ovechkin is in pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s legendary all-time goal record. As of March 8, 2025, he stands a mere 10 goals shy of etching his name in the annals of hockey history. Gretzky netted 894 goals throughout his NHL career, while Ovechkin currently stands at 885. What are his statistics for the current season?
The Russian NHL star has participated in 47 games, achieving an impressive tally of 32 goals, 17 assists, and a total of 49 points. However, pursuing this historic hockey achievement has attracted considerable criticism, with many detractors labeling him as an “empty net merchant who never cared about winning. Only cared about his own stats and trophies.” What caused such outrage among the people?
Recently, several of his goals have come from empty nets, particularly when the opposing team is fully committed to offense. During the backlash, Tom Gulitti stepped in to defend Ovechkin, noting, “Ovechkin holds the NHL record with 63 empty-net goals. He broke Wayne Gretzky’s record of 56 empty-net goals last season.” Certainly, while some of his goals may come from open nets, it’s worth noting that many elite scorers in the game, including Gretzky, have similar statistics in their records. It’s merely an aspect of the competition!
Do you recall what the Great One himself stated regarding Ovi? “He’s human. He’ll get a little bit nervous near the end,” Gretzky remarked a few months into the 2024-25 season. The Canadian hockey icon has navigated the path to greatness previously, and he is well aware of what Ovechkin is about to encounter in the days ahead. Hockey transcends mere goals, doesn’t it? It’s also about those who prevent the puck from finding the back of the net.
Goalie duo keeping up the Caps’ net safe
Yes, I am referring to Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson. In June of the previous year, the Capitals executed a trade, sending two third-round selections to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Thompson. In his 37 appearances, he boasts an impressive save percentage of .917. Now, that’s truly intriguing! Indeed, in light of these statistics, a contract extension was offered to him. What was the deal?
Thompson officially inked a six-year deal worth $35.1 million, featuring an average annual value of $5.85 million. That’s certainly significant for the goaltender. What did he have to say about his future with the Caps? “We got [the deal] done pretty quick and finalized it this morning. Really happy to be here for many more years to come. I’ve loved my time here and just thankful for the opportunity that the Capitals gave me,” stated the 28-year-old goaltender.
Let’s turn our attention to Charlie Lindgren. This season, he has participated in 28 games, achieving a save percentage of .897. Nonetheless, numerous speculations emerged after Thompson’s contract, raising inquiries about Lindgren’s future with the Caps. He did, however, sign a three-year, $9 million contract with a $3 million AAV a few days ago. What was his response?
“I think you guys all know how I feel about this place and the people here from the trainers, the staff, [Ralph] Ricer’s security, teammates, it’s just a home run organization. I’m really happy to sign the deal,” stated Lindgren. The Caps certainly understand the importance of their players! But did the franchise really not make any trades before the deadline? Not really.
The deal prior to the NHL trade deadline
The Washington Capitals maintained an eerie silence as the NHL trade deadline approached. There was a widespread belief that they would have assembled a squad poised to pursue the Stanley Cup by now. In a stunning turn of events, a last-minute trade was executed involving the Pittsburgh Penguins. What transpired?
In a notable trade, Anthony Beauvillier has moved to the Capitals, while the Penguins secured a 2025 2nd-round draft pick as part of the deal. The trade caught many off guard, as there had been little to no speculation regarding the former Penguins forward. At this moment, Beauvillier has yet to release any formal comments concerning the trade. Nonetheless, it’s clear that the forward will welcome the opportunity to be part of a team pursuing the Stanley Cup this season.
Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals squad locked for the Stanley Cup
Forwards
Nicklas Backstrom
Nic Dowd
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Lars Eller
Ethen Frank
Connor McMichael
Aliaksei Protas
Michael Sgarbossa
Dylan Strome
Anthony Beauvillier
Andrew Mangiapane
Sonny Milano
Alex Ovechkin
Brandon Duhaime
T.J. Oshie
Taylor Raddysh
Tom Wilson
Defensemen
Alexander Alexeyev
John Carlson
Jakob Chychrun
Martin Fehervary
Dylan McIlrath
Matt Roy
Rasmus Sandin
Trevor van Riemsdyk
Goaltenders
Charlie Lindgren
Logan Thompson
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