5 Washington Capitals players and personnel detrimental to roster retool after falling short in playoffs feat. Alexander Ovechkin

The Washington Capitals successfully retooled their club last offseason, leading them to the Eastern Conference’s top seed this past season.

The Caps won 51 games and accrued 111 points, a clear 12-point difference over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metro Division.

But after barely breaking a sweat against the Montreal Canadiens in the first round, the Capitals ran into a brick wall in the second round against the Hurricanes. The Caps were bounced and left with an empty feeling of what could have been.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five Washington Capitals team members who could stand in the way of another successful roster retool this summer.

5 Washington Capitals players and personnel detrimental to roster retool after falling short in playoffs

#5 Spencer Carbery

Spencer Carbery will face pressure to lead the Caps past Round 2 next season - Source: Imagn

Spencer Carbery had a superb second season at the helm in Washington. He led the Caps to a fourth-place finish in 2023-24, then followed that up with a 20-point jump this past season.

However, Carbery and the Washington Capitals have fallen short twice in the playoffs during his tenure, suggesting that Carbery may need to do more to lead the Caps in the postseason. That is why Carbery will be under the microscope this season to make the right roster and lineup decisions to get the team over the hump next season.

#4 John Carlson

John Carlson has been a franchise staple for the Washington Capitals. The 35-year-old has played his entire NHL career in Washington, suiting up for 1,088 games, scoring 156 goals and 725 points.

The issue is that Carlson is entering the final year of his current deal, with an AAV of $8 million. While Carlson’s current AAV is not a problem, his future contract will be. The Caps have over $9 million to spend this summer.

But this summer’s decisions could impact the cap space available for next season and beyond, making Carlson’s next contract a potential burden for the team. The Caps may have no other choice but to let Carlson walk in free agency next summer.

#3 Chris Patrick

The Capitals will be looking for another successful offseason retool in 2025 - Source: Imagn

Washington Capitals GM Chris Patrick has done a remarkable job of building a perennial contender. His decisions have led the team to remain relevant even after the departure of key team members from the Caps’ 2018 Stanley Cup run.

Patrick will be hard-pressed this summer to figure out how to retool the roster once again but with limited cap space. He’s got several key free agents in Anthony Beauvillier, Lars Eller, Andrew Mangiapane, and Taylor Raddish to re-sign, plus a handful of RFAs.

As a result, Patrick’s summer won’t be easy as tough choices lie ahead. The wrong ones could derail the Capitals’ season next year.

#2 Pierre-Luc Dubois

The Washington Capitals made a controversial trade in taking on Pierre-Luc Dubois, and his bloated contract, last summer in exchange for Darcy Kuemper.

While Dubois had a solid year, scoring 20 goals and adding 66 points, his totals are not reflective of his $8.5 million cap hit. Moreover, Kuemper went on to earn a Vezina Trophy nomination with the Los Angeles Kings.

Dubois’ cap hit until 2031 and his full no-movement clause for the next three seasons makes his contract onerous for the Capitals.

If Dubois can’t live up to expectations, the Caps may be stuck with an albatross around their necks for the foreseeable future.

#1 Alexander Ovechkin

Several key decisions hinge on Ovechkin's future with the Capitals - Source: Imagn

Alexander Ovechkin is hardly a problem for the Capitals. But his future is. Ovechkin, who’ll turn 40 during training camp next fall, is entering the final year of his current deal.

Again, Ovechkin’s contract or cap hit are not issues. The problem is that Ovechkin has not signaled he wants to retire or continue playing.

If he retires following this upcoming season, the Capitals will have an additional $9.5 million to spend next summer. But if Ovechkin plans to continue playing, the team will have to determine his cap hit and contract term.

Until Ovechkin provides clarity on his future, the Caps’ hands will be tied as they’ll need to keep cap space open for his next deal.

About the author

Nestor is an NHL and MLB writer at Sportskeeda with over 10 years of experience. Growing up in Toronto, he became an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, but also admires the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Dodgers for their dominance in the 80s. Holding an Economics and Education major, Nestor’s passion for writing and sporting events led him to take up reporting about the sport professionally.

Nestor credits the Leafs’ playoff runs in the early '90s as having a lasting impact on him. His favorite players are Doug Gilmour and Mike Bossy, as he feels they were tough, talented leaders, while Pat Burns is his favorite coach of all time for always preaching a fast-paced game.

Growing up in Canada, it was natural for Nestor to become interested in ice hockey and he played Minor Hockey as a teenager, which has given him a unique perspective on the sport. Nestor has mastered the art of how to best present facts and he also has a knack for knowing which sources can be trusted, and which can't for stories.

When he is not writing about Canada’s national passion, Nestor enjoys running and hiking.

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Edited by Nestor Quixtan