Kategoria:
NHL Blogi
Capitals:Navigating Uncertainty After a Disappointing Year
Last season's performance by the Washington Capitals was a testament to how the wheel of fortune can turn in the NHL. From standing tall as former Stanley Cup champions few years ago to missing out on the playoffs, it was indeed a fall from grace. The Capitals are now at a crossroads, and as they gear up for the upcoming season, several questions remain unanswered.
2022-2023: A Season to Forget
With only 80 points, landing at 6th in the Metropolitan division, the Capitals would want to erase the previous season from memory. What was particularly confounding was that, as per ESBC Power AI metrics, the team's performance in the first half of the season was commendable. However, the latter half witnessed a steep decline, paradoxically coinciding with the return of a few injured players. This raised eyebrows and led to discussions questioning the coaching staff's competence.
Amidst this, injuries were another major blow, with indispensable defensemen like John Carlson and Dmitri Orlov sitting out crucial games.
Recognizing the impending bleak end to their season, the Capitals astutely traded away players like Hathaway, Orlov, Johansson, Gustavsson, and Eller to bolster their future assets.
Offseason: A Blend of Departures and New Faces
The Capitals' offseason activity was marked by intrigue. While they bade goodbye to forwards like Connor Brown, Conor Sheary, and Craig Smith, along with defenseman Matt Irwin, they welcomed newcomers such as Joel Edmundson, Matthew Phillips, and most notably, Max Pacioretty.
Pacioretty's signing is the embodiment of a gamble. If fit, he's a goal machine, easily capable of hitting the 30-goal mark. However, given his injury track record and a starting position on the IR-list, relying heavily on him might be a tall order.
In a major shakeup post the dismal season, Peter Laviolette exited as head coach, paving the way for Spencer Carbery, former assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Carbery's tenure will be closely watched, especially considering his relative inexperience at the helm.
Goalkeeping sees a continuation, with Darcy Kuemper expected to shoulder most of the game starts, and Charlie Lindgren as his deputy.
2023-2024: Charting the Unknown
Predicting the Capitals' trajectory next season is akin to reading tea leaves. While the team was plagued with injuries and sold-off assets impacting their last season's performance, there's an undeniable fact that the core group is on the older side. Moreover, an unproven coach further muddies the waters.
While teams around them are bolstering their ranks, the Capitals might find the road to the playoffs steeper than before. A realistic expectation for them, considering all variables, would be just shy of 90 points, possibly leading to another playoff miss.
In Conclusion
The Capitals are at an inflection point, with legacy players aging and a new coach at the helm. While the heart of the Capitals' faithful would want a playoff berth, the head might see another challenging season ahead. Only time will tell if the Capitals can defy the odds or if a phase of restructuring and rejuvenation is in the offing.
(Please read our Disclaimer for NHL Team Points Distribution Histograms.)
Here you can find all our (so far revealed) team previews
Uutiset ja blogitekstit RSS-syötteenä