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Washington Capitals: Upcoming milestones

By CJ Witt

BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 19: Nicklas Backstrom #19 and Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals chat on the bench during an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on February 19, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 19: Nicklas Backstrom #19 and Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals chat on the bench during an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on February 19, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Games Played

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 18: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on April 18, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 18: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on April 18, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Nicklas Backstrom will hit 900 career games played

It’s just a matter of time for this one. Even serious injury shouldn’t really effect on this one. Backstrom has played 895 career games. Even a serious injury very early in the season Backstrom should be able to return late in the season and get in a couple of games.

It’s not one thousand, but it’s still impressive. He’ll also be celebrating 900 career points. Not bad being about a point per game player over thirteen plus seasons.

Lars Eller will hit 700 career games played

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: Lars Eller #20 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with John Carlson #74 after scoring an empty net goal in the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: Lars Eller #20 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with John Carlson #74 after scoring an empty net goal in the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

It’s hard to believe but Eller will already be going into his fourth season with the Capitals. In each season with the Caps so far Eller has played in eighty-one games. Three straight seasons with eighty-one games played.

He won’t need that many to hit a GP milestone. Eller sits on 685 currently. So early next season we’ll be getting a graphic for Mr. Eller congratulating him on 700 (which could be a lucky number this season for Washington apparently).

T.J. Oshie can hit 800 career games played

washington capitals
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 13: Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) prepares for a face off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second period on April 13, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

We’re going to have to go back into the can department. Oshie right now has 734 games played, putting him sixty-six away from the 800 milestone. The problem here is Oshie tends to get a least one injury a year that makes him miss a period of time.

Then again, Oshie hasn’t played fewer than sixty-eight games in a season in the last six seasons. Sixty-six could be very possible, and if it is, it’s a nice moment for a fan favorite in D.C.

Tom Wilson can hit 500 career games played

RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals skates for position on the ice in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals skates for position on the ice in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Wilson is currently at 454 so five hundred should be very doable. That being said Wilson does play a physical game and he could get hit with injuries or suspensions. Injuries are just bad luck but if Wilson were to get suspended again who knows how long it could be.

Wilson’s last suspension was for twenty games before it got reduced to fourteen. Another big/bad hit could be a big one. Five Hundred games should be accomplished this season but I’m not ready to guarantee it.

John Carlson will hit 700 career games played

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals and Micheal Ferland #79 of the Carolina Hurricanes battle for the puck in the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: John Carlson #74 of the Washington Capitals and Micheal Ferland #79 of the Carolina Hurricanes battle for the puck in the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

On top of hitting a goals milestone Carlson will also hit a pretty good games played milestone. Carlson is just twelve games away from the milestone having played 688 games.

It’s just another key player for the Caps who 700 will have a special meaning this season.

Dmitry Orlov will hit 500 career games played

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 13: Dmitry Orlov #9 of the Washington Capitals skates with puck against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 13: Dmitry Orlov #9 of the Washington Capitals skates with puck against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

It’s pretty amazing, Orlov used to be one of those guys who couldn’t stay healthy or got hit with multiple injuries pretty quickly. Now he has a pretty good streak going playing in all eighty-two games in each of the last four seasons.

Staying healthy would be good for Orlov this season because that would give him 500 games played. Going into the season Orlov has 447 games played. He needs just 53 games and he’ll get to 500 towards the end of the season.

Related Story. Can Alex Ovechkin become the greatest goal scorer of all time?. light

There you have it. There are some milestones to look forward to from Capitals players next season. Who’s are you most excited for?

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