Washington Capitals: Top 3 reasons to get excited for 2019

WASHINGTON DC - JUNE 4: Capitals fans stand cheer the their team taking the ice for the start of the game during the Washington Capitals defeat of the Vegas Golden Knights 6 - 2 in game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals to lead the series 3 game to 1 in Washington DC on June 4, 2018. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON DC - JUNE 4: Capitals fans stand cheer the their team taking the ice for the start of the game during the Washington Capitals defeat of the Vegas Golden Knights 6 - 2 in game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals to lead the series 3 game to 1 in Washington DC on June 4, 2018. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 10: Caps fans with signs before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals on January 10, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 10: Caps fans with signs before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals on January 10, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Washington Capitals fans, August is over. We’ve made it.

September has begun and training camp, the preseason and, ultimately, opening night is so close you can just taste it. The Washington Capitals enter a highly anticipating season looking to get back to win another Stanley Cup.

There are several interesting storylines and even more burning and lingering questions as the Capitals embark on a highly anticipated and all-important 2019-20 season.

The offseason began way too early than Alex Ovechkin and the fans would’ve liked. Having just won the Cup, Washington bowed out in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes in a double overtime contest that could’ve gone either way.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 14: A fan of the Washington Capitals watches warm-ups against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 14, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 14: A fan of the Washington Capitals watches warm-ups against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 14, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Washington said goodbye to Brett Connolly, Andre Burakovsky, Matt Niskanen and Devante Smith-Pelly from their Cup-winning squad and said hello to more defense. They extended the contract of Carl Hagelin. They upgraded their defense. In addition to Nick Jensen, they added Radko Gudas. The Capitals also added bottom six depth in Garnet Hathaway, Brendan Leipsic and Richard Panik.

https://twitter.com/Capitals/status/1167100437717311494

Overall, the Capitals look like a quality team on paper that should once again vie for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. Of course, there’s bigger goals than that. They upgraded defensively and if the offense stays afloat, look out!

Here are our top 3 reasons to get excited for 2019 Caps fans!