Washington Capitals facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washington Capitals |
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| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Metropolitan |
| Founded | 1974 |
| History | Washington Capitals 1974–present |
| Home arena | Capital One Arena |
| City | Washington, D.C. |
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| Colors | Red, white, blue |
| Media |
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| Owner(s) | Monumental Sports & Entertainment (Ted Leonsis) |
| General manager | Chris Patrick |
| Head coach | Spencer Carbery |
| Captain | Alexander Ovechkin |
| Minor league affiliates |
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| Stanley Cups | 1 (2017–18) |
| Conference championships | 2 (1997–98, 2017–18) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 3 (2009–10, 2015–16, 2016–17) |
| Division championships | 14 (1988–89, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2024–25) |
The Washington Capitals, often called the Caps, are a professional ice hockey team from Washington, D.C.. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team is owned by Ted Leonsis through Monumental Sports & Entertainment. The Capitals first played their home games in Landover, Maryland, at the Capital Centre. In 1997, they moved to Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The team started in 1974 as a new expansion team. For their first eight years, they had a tough time winning games. In 1982, David Poile became the general manager and helped turn the team around. With key players like Mike Gartner, Rod Langway, Larry Murphy, and Scott Stevens, the Capitals became a team that regularly made the playoffs for the next 14 seasons.
After buying the team in 1999, Ted Leonsis brought in new star players. These included Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Braden Holtby, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson. In the 2009–10 season, the Capitals won their first Presidents' Trophy. This award goes to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. They won it again in 2015–16 and 2016–17. The Capitals have won 14 division titles and three Presidents' Trophies. They reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1998 and 2018. In 2018, they won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.
The Capitals have retired four jersey numbers to honor special players. Many individuals connected to the team have also been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Capitals also have two minor league teams: the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League and the South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL.
Contents
Team History
Starting Out (1974–1982)
The NHL decided to add a team in Washington on June 8, 1972. The Capitals joined the NHL in the 1974–75 season, along with the Kansas City Scouts. Abe Pollin, who also owned the National Basketball Association's Washington Bullets/Wizards, owned the Capitals. Pollin built the Capital Centre in Maryland for both teams. He hired Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt as the general manager.
At that time, there were many hockey teams, so good players were spread thin. The Capitals had few experienced players. Their first season was very difficult, with only 8 wins, 67 losses, and 5 ties. This was the worst record in NHL history for a team playing at least 70 games. They also set records for most road losses and most consecutive losses.
In the 1975–76 season, Washington went 25 games without a win. They allowed 394 goals, which is a lot! Max McNab took over as general manager. For the next few years, the Capitals either had very bad seasons or just missed the playoffs. However, McNab drafted many talented players like Mike Gartner and Bobby Carpenter. These players would become very important for the team later on. By 1982, there was talk of the team moving, and fans started a "Save the Caps" campaign.
The Gartner–Langway Era (1982–1993)
In August 1982, David Poile became the new general manager. He made a big trade, bringing in Rod Langway, who became the team captain. Langway's strong defense helped the team allow fewer goals. Players like Dennis Maruk, Mike Gartner, and Bobby Carpenter scored many goals. The team also drafted defenseman Scott Stevens. These changes helped the Capitals improve a lot. They made their first playoff appearance in 1983. Even though they lost to the New York Islanders, the team's big improvement stopped any talk of them leaving Washington.
Making the Playoffs (1983–1996)
The Capitals made the playoffs for 14 years in a row. They were known for starting slow but playing much better in January and February. However, they often struggled in the playoffs, usually losing in the first or second round. In 1985–86, they had their best season yet with 107 points and 50 wins. They beat the Islanders in the first round but lost to the New York Rangers in the second.
In 1990, the Capitals finally reached the conference finals. But they were swept by the Boston Bruins in four games.
The Bondra–Gonchar Era (1993–2005)
From 1990–91 to 1995–96, the Capitals continued to lose in the early rounds of the playoffs. They missed the playoffs entirely in 1996–97.
First Stanley Cup Final (1998)
In the 1997–98 season, the Caps moved into their new home, the MCI Center (now Capital One Arena). Peter Bondra scored 52 goals, and goalie Olaf Kolzig played very well. The Caps beat the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Buffalo Sabres to reach their first Stanley Cup Final. They won six overtime games on their way there! However, they were swept by the defending champions, the Detroit Red Wings, in four games.
Tough Times and Rebuilding (1998–2004)
After their amazing 1998 run, the Capitals had a losing record in 1998–99 and missed the playoffs. During this time, America Online (AOL) executive Ted Leonsis bought the team. The Capitals won their division in 2000 and 2001 but lost in the first round of the playoffs both times.
In 2001, the Capitals acquired star player Jaromir Jagr. He signed the biggest contract in NHL history at the time. However, Jagr didn't play as well as expected. The team missed the playoffs in 2002. In 2003, they made the playoffs but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning after being up 2–0 in the series.
In the 2003–04 season, the Caps traded away many of their expensive players, including Jagr, Bondra, and Robert Lang. This was a sign that their plan to win with veteran stars hadn't worked. The Capitals finished with one of the worst records in the league.
In the 2004 NHL Draft, the Capitals won the draft lottery and picked Alexander Ovechkin first overall. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, which canceled the entire season, Ovechkin played in Russia.
The Ovechkin–Backstrom Era (2005–Present)
Building a Strong Team (2005–2007)
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In the 2005–06 season, the Capitals finished near the bottom of their division again. However, Ovechkin's first season was incredible! He led all rookies in goals, points, and shots. He finished third in the entire NHL for scoring. Ovechkin won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie, beating out Sidney Crosby.
Many other Capitals players had their best seasons. Goalie Olaf Kolzig won his 250th game. In the 2006 off-season, Jeff Halpern left, and Chris Clark became the new captain. The team signed Donald Brashear. Despite these changes, the Capitals had a similar record in 2006–07. Ovechkin was the only Capital in the All-Star Game, and Alexander Semin had a great season with 38 goals.
Playoff Returns and First Presidents' Trophy (2007–2015)
The Capitals signed young stars Nicklas Backstrom and Semyon Varlamov. They also added experienced players like Tom Poti and Michael Nylander. This gave fans a lot of hope for the 2007–08 season.
After a slow start, the Capitals fired their coach and hired Bruce Boudreau. On January 10, 2008, Ovechkin signed a huge 13-year contract. Boudreau led a remarkable turnaround. With help from new players and Ovechkin's 65 goals, the Capitals won their division for the first time since 2001. They became the first NHL team to make the playoffs after being near the bottom of their conference halfway through the season. They lost in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games. After the season, Boudreau won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year. Ovechkin won several major awards, including the Art Ross Trophy (most points) and the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP).
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The 2008–09 season was great for Mike Green and Ovechkin. Green led all defensemen in goals and points. Ovechkin won his second Hart Trophy. The Capitals finished with a team-record 108 points and won their division again. They beat the New York Rangers in the first round of the 2009 playoffs but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games.
In the 2009–10 season, the Capitals finished first in the entire NHL with 121 points, winning the Presidents' Trophy. Ovechkin led the team with 109 points, and Backstrom had 101 points. However, they were upset by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs, even after being up 3–1 in the series.
The 2010–11 season saw the Capitals win their division and be the top team in the Eastern Conference again. They played in the 2011 NHL Winter Classic and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins. But their playoff struggles continued, as they were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round.
In the 2011–12 season, the Capitals started strong but then struggled. Coach Boudreau was fired and replaced by Capitals legend Dale Hunter. With their top goalies injured, Braden Holtby stepped up. The Capitals made a strong push and upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins in seven games in the 2012 playoffs. Every game in that series was decided by just one goal! They then lost to the New York Rangers in another seven-game series. Hunter stepped down after the season, and Adam Oates became the new coach.
The 2012–13 season was shorter due to a lockout. The Capitals had a rough start but recovered to win their division. However, they lost to the Rangers in seven games in the 2013 playoffs. In 2013–14, the Capitals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007. General manager George McPhee and coach Adam Oates were let go.
In May 2014, Brian MacLellan became the new general manager, and Barry Trotz was hired as head coach. On November 4, 2014, Ovechkin became the Capitals' all-time leading scorer. On January 1, 2015, the Capitals beat the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park. The Capitals finished second in their division in 2014–15. They beat the New York Islanders in a tough seven-game series in the first round of the playoffs. They then faced the Rangers again in the second round. All seven games were decided by one goal! The Capitals had a 3–1 series lead but lost the next three games, including game 7 in overtime.
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Winning the Stanley Cup (2015–2018)
In the 2015–16 season, the Capitals finished first in the entire league with 120 points, winning their second Presidents' Trophy. In the 2016 playoffs, they beat the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. In the second round, they faced the Pittsburgh Penguins. After winning game 1, the Capitals lost three straight. They won game 5 to stay alive but lost the series in six games. The Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup.
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Ovechkin reached 1,000 career points on January 11, 2017. The Capitals won their second Presidents' Trophy in a row, becoming one of only a few teams to do so. Ovechkin led the team in goals for the 12th straight season. In the 2017 playoffs, they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games. This set up another match against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Capitals fell behind 3–1 in the series but fought back to force a game 7 at home. However, they lost 2–0 and were eliminated again.
After the 2017 playoffs, the Capitals lost several key players. Despite this, they started the 2017–18 season slowly but then played very well in December. They clinched their division for the third straight year and made the 2018 playoffs.
In the 2018 playoffs, the Capitals came back from a 2–0 series deficit against the Columbus Blue Jackets to win in six games. They faced the Penguins again in the second round. This time, on May 7, 2018, they finally beat the Penguins in game 6 with an overtime goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov! This was the first time in 24 seasons they had beaten the Penguins in a playoff series. The Capitals then advanced to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final on May 23, after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. They faced the new Vegas Golden Knights and won the Stanley Cup in five games! Lars Eller scored the winning goal in game 5. This was the Capitals' first Stanley Cup win and the first championship for a Washington, D.C. team in a major sport since 1992. Shortly after, Barry Trotz resigned as head coach, and Todd Reirden took over.
Recent Playoff Challenges (2018–Present)
In the 2018–19 season, the Capitals won their fourth straight division title. This made them only the second NHL team to win four division titles twice in their history. However, in the 2019 playoffs, they were eliminated in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games, losing game 7 in double overtime.
In the 2019–20 season, the Capitals won another division title but lost to the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2020 playoffs. The next season, 2020–21, they finished second in their division but lost to the Boston Bruins in five games in the first round of the 2021 playoffs.
The 2021–22 season started strong, with the Capitals holding first place through Christmas. They ended up in a wild card spot and faced the top-ranked Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2022 playoffs, losing in six games.
The 2022–23 season saw the Capitals miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014. After the season, coach Peter Laviolette left, and Spencer Carbery was hired as the new head coach on May 30, 2023.
In December 2023, team owner Ted Leonsis explored moving the Capitals and Washington Wizards to Alexandria, Virginia. However, in March 2024, those plans were canceled. Washington mayor Muriel Bowser then signed a deal to keep the teams in D.C. until at least 2050. The Capitals made the 2024 playoffs by beating the Philadelphia Flyers on April 16. They were swept by the New York Rangers in the first round.
On July 8, 2024, Chris Patrick was promoted to general manager. During the 2024–25 season, Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's NHL regular season goal record, scoring his 895th career goal on April 6, 2025. The Capitals also clinched their sixth Metropolitan Division title and the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Team Information
Logos and Jerseys
When the Capitals first started, they wore red, white, and blue jerseys. These jerseys had stars on the shoulders and sleeves, inspired by the flag of the United States. They originally had different colored pants but soon only used blue ones.
In 1995, the team changed its look to blue, black, and copper colors. Their new main logo was a bald eagle with five stars. An alternate logo showed the Capitol building with hockey sticks. In 1997, they added a black alternate jersey.
On June 22, 2007, the Capitals introduced new uniforms. They went back to their original red, white, and blue colors. The new main logo looks like the first one, with a hockey stick in the letter "t." It also has three stars that represent DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The new alternate logo is an eagle shaped like a "W," with the Washington Monument and Capitol building hidden inside.
For the 2011 NHL Winter Classic, the Capitals wore a white jersey that looked like their original 1974–1995 jerseys. They also wore this jersey for some road games in the 2011–12 season.
For the 2015 NHL Winter Classic, the Capitals wore a new deep red jersey. It had stripes and a large "W" on the front, with the three stars. This design honored older hockey jerseys from the 1930s. Starting in 2015–16, they used these red throwback jerseys as their alternate uniforms.
In 2017, the NHL partnered with Adidas, and the Capitals' uniforms had small changes. In 2018, for the 2018 NHL Stadium Series, the Capitals wore new navy uniforms. These honored the game being held at the U.S. Naval Academy. The logo on the chest was "Caps," their nickname.
In 2021, the Capitals brought back a red version of their "screaming eagle" uniform from 1995–2000. They also introduced a dark blue third jersey with three red stars and a "W" logo. In 2022, a black version of the "screaming eagle" uniform was released. This black uniform became the team's alternate jersey for the 2024–25 season. For the 2023 NHL Stadium Series, the Capitals wore a white uniform with their "Weagle" alternate logo.
Practice Facility
For many years, the Capitals practiced at a rink in Maryland. After Ted Leonsis bought the team in 1999, he planned a new practice facility. In 2006, the new facility opened in Ballston, Virginia. It's called the MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
Mascot
Since 1995, the Capitals' mascot has been Slapshot. He is a bald eagle who wears the number 00. Slapshot drives his car on the ice before games to get the fans excited. He also attends many team and community events.
Season-by-Season Record
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Capitals. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Washington Capitals seasons
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses/SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 36 | 15 | 5 | 77 | 191 | 163 | 2nd, East | Lost in first round, 1–4 (Bruins) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 44 | 26 | 12 | 100 | 275 | 245 | 4th, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 2–4 (Panthers) |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 | 255 | 265 | 6th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 91 | 220 | 257 | 4th, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 0–4 (Rangers) |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 51 | 22 | 9 | 111 | 288 | 232 | 1st, Metropolitan | Lost in second round, 1–4 (Hurricanes) |
Players and Team Staff
Hall of Fame Honorees
Many people connected to the Washington Capitals have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. This includes nine players and one builder (someone who helped build the team). Five of these players played at least five seasons with the Capitals.
Also, sports journalists and broadcasters who covered the team have been honored.
Players
- Zdeno Chara
- Dino Ciccarelli
- Sergei Fedorov
- Mike Gartner
- Phil Housley
- Rod Langway
- Larry Murphy
- Adam Oates
- Scott Stevens
Builders
- David Poile
Retired Numbers
The Capitals have retired four jersey numbers: 5, 7, 11, and 32. This means no other player on the team will ever wear these numbers again. The team has also not used Olaf Kolzig's number 37 since he retired. The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all teams in 2000.
| No. | Player | Position | Career | No. retirement |
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| 5 | Rod Langway | D | 1982–1993 | November 26, 1997 |
| 7 | Yvon Labre | D | 1974–1980 | November 7, 1981 |
| 11 | Mike Gartner | RW | 1979–1989 | December 28, 2008 |
| 32 | Dale Hunter | C | 1987–1999 | March 11, 2000 |
Team Captains
- Doug Mohns, 1974–1975
- Bill Clement, 1975–1976
- Yvon Labre, 1976–1978
- Guy Charron, 1978–1979
- Ryan Walter, 1979–1982
- Rod Langway, 1982–1992
- Kevin Hatcher, 1992–1994
- Dale Hunter, 1994–1999
- Adam Oates, 1999–2001
- Steve Konowalchuk and Brendan Witt, 2001–2002 (co-captains)
- Steve Konowalchuk, 2002–2003
- Jeff Halpern, 2005–2006
- Chris Clark, 2006–2009
- Alexander Ovechkin, 2010–present
General Managers
- Milt Schmidt, 1973–1975
- Max McNab, 1975–1981
- Roger Crozier (interim), 1981–1982
- David Poile, 1982–1997
- George McPhee, 1997–2014
- Brian MacLellan, 2014–2024
- Chris Patrick, 2024–present
Head Coaches
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- Jim Anderson, 1974–1975
- Red Sullivan, 1975
- Milt Schmidt, 1975
- Tom McVie, 1975–1978
- Danny Belisle, 1978–1979
- Gary Green, 1979–1981
- Roger Crozier, 1981
- Bryan Murray, 1981–1990
- Terry Murray, 1990–1994
- Jim Schoenfeld, 1994–1997
- Ron Wilson, 1997–2002
- Bruce Cassidy, 2002–2003
- Glen Hanlon, 2003–2007
- Bruce Boudreau, 2007–2011
- Dale Hunter, 2011–2012
- Adam Oates, 2012–2014
- Barry Trotz, 2014–2018
- Todd Reirden, 2018–2020
- Peter Laviolette, 2020–2023
- Spencer Carbery, 2023–present
First-Round Draft Picks
- 1974: Greg Joly (1st overall)
- 1975: Alex Forsyth (18th overall)
- 1976: Rick Green (1st overall), Greg Carroll (15th overall)
- 1977: Robert Picard (3rd overall)
- 1978: Ryan Walter (2nd overall), Tim Coulis (18th overall)
- 1979: Mike Gartner (4th overall)
- 1980: Darren Veitch (5th overall)
- 1981: Bob Carpenter (3rd overall)
- 1982: Scott Stevens (5th overall)
- 1984: Kevin Hatcher (17th overall)
- 1985: Yvon Corriveau (19th overall)
- 1986: Jeff Greenlaw (19th overall)
- 1988: Reggie Savage (15th overall)
- 1989: Olaf Kolzig (19th overall)
- 1990: John Slaney (9th overall)
- 1991: Pat Peake (14th overall), Trevor Halverson (21st overall)
- 1992: Sergei Gonchar (14th overall)
- 1993: Brendan Witt (11th overall), Jason Allison (17th overall)
- 1994: Nolan Baumgartner (10th overall), Alexander Kharlamov (15th overall)
- 1995: Brad Church (17th overall), Miika Elomo (23rd overall)
- 1996: Alexandre Volchkov (4th overall), Jaroslav Svejkovsky (17th overall)
- 1997: Nick Boynton (9th overall)
- 1999: Kris Beech (7th overall)
- 2000: Brian Sutherby (26th overall)
- 2002: Steve Eminger (12th overall), Alexander Semin (13th overall), Boyd Gordon (17th overall)
- 2003: Eric Fehr (18th overall)
- 2004: Alexander Ovechkin (1st overall), Jeff Schultz (27th overall), Mike Green (29th overall)
- 2005: Sasha Pokulok (14th overall), Joe Finley (27th overall)
- 2006: Nicklas Backstrom (4th overall), Semyon Varlamov (23rd overall)
- 2007: Karl Alzner (5th overall)
- 2008: Anton Gustafsson (21st overall), John Carlson (27th overall)
- 2009: Marcus Johansson (24th overall)
- 2010: Evgeny Kuznetsov (26th overall)
- 2012: Filip Forsberg (11th overall), Tom Wilson (16th overall)
- 2013: Andre Burakovsky (23rd overall)
- 2014: Jakub Vrana (13th overall)
- 2015: Ilya Samsonov (22nd overall)
- 2016: Lucas Johansen (28th overall)
- 2018: Alexander Alexeyev (31st overall)
- 2019: Connor McMichael (25th overall)
- 2020: Hendrix Lapierre (22nd overall)
- 2022: Ivan Miroshnichenko (20th overall)
- 2023: Ryan Leonard (8th overall)
- 2024: Terik Parascak (17th overall)
- 2025: Lynden Lakovic (27th overall)
Team Awards and Honors
Awards and Trophies
Lester B. Pearson/Ted Lindsay Award
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy
Frank J. Selke Trophy
- Doug Jarvis: 1983–84
King Clancy Memorial Trophy
- Al Jensen and Pat Riggin: 1983–84
- Braden Holtby: 2016–17
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
- Bryan Murray: 1983–84
- Bruce Boudreau: 2007–08
- Barry Trotz: 2015–16
- Spencer Carbery: 2024–25
All-Rookie Team
- Scott Stevens: 1982–83
- Jim Carey: 1994–95
- Alexander Ovechkin: 2005–06
- Nicklas Backstrom: 2007–08
- John Carlson: 2010–11
NHL All-Star Teams
Second Team All-Star
- Pat Riggin: 1983–84
- Rod Langway: 1984–85
- Larry Murphy: 1986–87
- Al Iafrate: 1992–93
- Sergei Gonchar: 2001–02, 2002–03
- Alexander Ovechkin: 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
- Braden Holtby: 2016–17
- John Carlson: 2018–19
Top Scorers in Franchise History
These are the top ten players with the most points in Capitals history. The numbers are updated after each NHL regular season.
- * – current Capitals player
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
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Broadcasters
Monumental Sports Network (MSN) has shown Capitals games locally since 1984. The commentators are Joe Beninati, Craig Laughlin, Alan May, and Al Koken.
The Capitals' main radio station is WJFK-FM (106.7 FM). The commentators are John Walton and Ken Sabourin. The team's radio network includes stations in several states.
Mike Vogel has covered the team online for the Washington Capitals' website since 1995–96. He writes daily game stories and analysis.
Past Broadcasts
WTOP-TV (channel 9) showed some Capitals games for the first three seasons. Later, WDCA (channel 20) took over, offering more live coverage. In 1995–96, the games moved to WBDC (channel 50). All 82 games were televised for the first time in the 2001–02 season. The Capitals have not aired games on local over-the-air TV since 2005–06.
WTOP (1500 AM) was the Capitals' first radio home until 1986–87. Ron Weber was the first announcer and never missed a game until he retired in 1996–97. WJFK-FM started airing playoff games in 2008. WFED (1500 AM) remained the main station until 2012, when WJFK took over all coverage. WFED still broadcasts games as a network affiliate.
In 2016–17, WJFK-FM decided not to air Capitals games, leaving WFED as the only option. However, WFED's signal was not good in all areas at night. The team responded to fan complaints by making a temporary deal to put games on WWDC-HD2. The Capitals returned to WJFK-FM for the 2017–18 season.
See also
In Spanish: Washington Capitals para niños
- Capitals–Flyers rivalry
- Capitals–Penguins rivalry
- Capitals–Rangers rivalry
- Sports in Washington, D.C.
