The Washington Capitals have improved in the offseason for two reasons. They want a better finish than last season, when they were swept in the first round. They also want Alex Ovechkin to beat Wayne Gretzky’s goal scoring record. He is currently second in NHL history with 853 goals and 42 away from breaking Gretzky’s record. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery expects that record to be broken this year.
“Do I think he can score 42 goals this year? Yes, I do,” Carbery told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. “I absolutely believe he’s capable of doing that.”
Ovechkin has scored 42 goals 13 times in his remarkable career. He last scored 42 goals in 2022-23, when he reached that exact number in 73 games. This season is his 20th year in the league, all with the Capitals, and he will be 39 years old on opening night. According to Statemuse, Gordie Howe leads the way with 39 goals among 39-year-olds. He is the only player with over 30 goals.
It’s hardly unreasonable to believe that Ovechkin can score 42 goals this season. Although he only did that at age 37, his season at age 38 was one of his worst. His 31 goals were the fewest in a non-shortened season of his career. The Capitals still made the playoffs, but he was not an impact player in their four games.
Ovechkin will need to stay healthy and impress on the power play to break the record this season. The Capitals have brought in center Pierre-Luc Dubois and defenseman Jacob Chycrun to feed Ovechkin the puck both at even strength and on the power play.
Expectations for Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals this season
The main expectation of Capitals fans is to see an Alex Ovechkin goal scorer on the screen every game. The closer he gets to his 894th goal, the more games will be on national television and the more cameras will be on Ovechkin. Every goal he scores will gain more and more traction on social media.
Aside from Ovechkin, the Capitals are likely to make the playoffs this season. They have dramatically improved their defense and forward ranks with their offseason trades. Charlie Lindgren is now the undisputed starter after trading Darcy Kuemper for Dubois.
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Logan Thompson came to Washington from Vegas to replace Kuemper between the posts. Although he has been a starting goalie in the past, the Capitals were expected to let Lindgren take the top job. He took the position from Kuemper and led them to the playoffs last year, and his great play was one of the reasons the Capitals were able to make the playoffs.
The New Jersey Devils are almost certain to earn a playoff spot after their disappointing season. It’s easy to replace the Capitals in the NHL’s playoff predictions, as they only scored 91 points in the regular season and went winless in the playoffs. The Capitals can prove those predictions wrong by dominating on offense.
With one of the best goal scorers of all time on their side, the Capitals always have “boom” potential offensively. Last season they were 28th as a team in goals scored and will need to improve to make the playoffs.
