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Washington Capitals: Top 3 reasons to get excited for 2019

By Michael Marzzacco |
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!

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 29: (L-R) Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils, Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals, coach Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Justin Faulk #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes and coach Paul Coffey react from the bench area during the Metropolitan Division and Pacific Division match-up of the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Staples Center on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 29: (L-R) Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils, Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals, coach Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Justin Faulk #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes and coach Paul Coffey react from the bench area during the Metropolitan Division and Pacific Division match-up of the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Staples Center on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#3 Alex Ovechkin continues to chase greatness

Alex Ovechkin continues to defy both age and father time. Many fans across the NHL wonder if the Great Eight will do the same in 2019-20. As we’ve seen both across the DMV and globally when Ovechkin was recently in China, he’s made an impact across hockey fans worldwide.

Ovechkin will turn 34 at the start of the preseason. His son Sergei is already a year old. Father time is undefeated but Ovechkin is in an epic death match with it. And winning.

49 goals before leading Washington to the Stanley Cup and adding a Conn Smythe Trophy to his name and then a 51 goal season the next year, expect Ovechkin to continue to lead the Capitals in what could be the last full year with the strength of the core.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 06: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) takes off his jersey to give to a young girl after the final game of the season as part of the Fan Appreciation Game after the New York Islanders vs. the Washington Capitals NHL game April 6, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 06: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) takes off his jersey to give to a young girl after the final game of the season as part of the Fan Appreciation Game after the New York Islanders vs. the Washington Capitals NHL game April 6, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

With 658 career goals and numbers rising up, it’s looking more and more likely that it’s possible Ovechkin can catch Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894. It looks unbreakable on the surface but maybe not at the rate Ovechkin is going.

Expect to see Ovechkin continue to lead the next two seasons and enjoy the ride. It could be the last time we see him, Nicklas Backstrom and Braden Holtby on the same roster. A core we grew up with could be splitting up as soon as next summer.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals and Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes shake hands after the Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 4-3 in the second overtime period in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals and Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes shake hands after the Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 4-3 in the second overtime period in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#2 The competition got better

This also causes our collective stress levels to skyrocket but better competition within the Metropolitan Division makes for must see TV this fall more than any drama or sitcom.

There’s no reason to think the Washington Capitals won’t win the metro division. On paper, the team looks stacked. But their rivals got better too. Well, except maybe the ones from Pittsburgh.

The New Jersey Devils drafted Jack Hughes with the top pick in the NHL Draft, traded for P.K. Subban and signed Wayne Simmonds. The New York Rangers drafted Kaapo Kakko with the second pick and signed Artemi Panarin.

The Philadelphia Flyers have Matt Niskanen now and more than just Gritty. The Pittsburgh Penguins are still the Penguins with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Co. The Carolina Hurricanes have rekindled a rivalry with the Caps after those “Bunch of Jerks” ended their season on home ice.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20: Washington Capitals fans prepare for Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 20, 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)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20: Washington Capitals fans prepare for Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 20, 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) /

It’s not just the Metro Division that’s good either. The Tampa Bay Lightning are determined to win a Cup after getting humiliated in the first round of the playoffs. The Florida Panthers now have Sergei Bobrovsky. The Boston Bruins are always a challenge especially now that they’re coming off an Eastern Conference title.

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 03: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 03: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals looks on against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#1 This could be the year of the Holtbeast

I know you might be sick of hearing about him but Braden Holtby could have a memorable season in Washington and it’ll be exciting to follow. We don’t know if 2019-20 will be his last season so it’s important to soak every moment of him in a Capitals sweater.

What kind of a year could Holtby have? With an upgraded defense he has a shot to get back to his Vezina form of winning over 40 games. He needs just 45 to pass Olaf Kolzig for first in wins in franchise history.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20:Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) make a save during the second period of Game Five of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20:Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) make a save during the second period of Game Five of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, April 20, 2019. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

I have a feeling we’ll see the best of Holtby in 2019-20 which will make it tough to re-sign him when he enters next summer as an unrestricted free agent (UFA). Even so, he’ll be fun to watch throughout the season.

Holtby struggled the last two seasons but did help the Caps to a Stanley Cup in 2018. There’s no reason to think he’ll struggle for the third year in a row. As a matter of fact, despite the Capitals coming up short in Game 7 to the Carolina Hurricanes, Holtby played well.

light. Related Story. Top 3 predictions for Braden Holtby in 2019

Those were our top 3 reasons to get excited or 2019. Caps fans, what are your top 3 reasons?

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