The Washington Capitals are unlikely to make the playoffs. HockeyViz says they've got an 18 percent chance; Dom Luczyszyn has them at 10 percent; Moneypuck says it's 2 percent. This season's sputtering campaign is the not-entirely-unpredictable result of a dual strategy by Capitals GM Brian MacLellan to a) execute a low-key rebuild, while also b)…
We are only a month into the 2023-24 season and already the preseason power rankings have been blown to smithereens. Projected contenders have morphed into pretenders. Potential also-rans are making a run at the playoffs. There is still time for the hockey world to right itself, at least as we saw it a month ago, […]
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman offered his first reporting and opinions on the Nicklas Backstrom situation during Friday's episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast. Backstrom, earlier in the week, announced that he would be stepping away from the Capitals due to his lingering hip issues, but would not be retiring. The Sportsnet commentator thinks that behind…
I'm dumbstruck about how to discuss the 2023-24 Washington Capitals. A lot has already been said in our team's extensive preseason coverage, culminating in a big dose of hopium as we entered the season. But the one game played was both disappointing and too insubstantial for us to say anything with confidence. Playing 36-year-old TJ…