Stars and Sticks
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Capitals: Selecting the 2010’s all-decade roster

By Michael Marzzacco

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 12:Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) sprays the crowd with a beverage as Washington Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) hoists the Stanley Cup after a parade on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in honor of the team winning the NHL Stanley Cup.(Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 12:Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) sprays the crowd with a beverage as Washington Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) hoists the Stanley Cup after a parade on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in honor of the team winning the NHL Stanley Cup.(Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

2nd line

Johansson-Kuznetsov-Wilson

Marcus Johansson

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 21: Marcus Johansson #90 of the Washington Capitals controls the puck against the Calgary Flames in the third period during an NHL game at Verizon Center on March 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 21: Marcus Johansson #90 of the Washington Capitals controls the puck against the Calgary Flames in the third period during an NHL game at Verizon Center on March 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Marcus Johansson was a 2009 first rounder that spent seven seasons with the Caps. He recorded 290 points during that timeframe (102 goals, 188 assists) and scored a career-high 24 goals in the 2016-17 campaign, which turned out to be his final season with the team. It was a Capitals career that ended sooner than him and the fans would’ve liked. During that complicated summer of 2017 where they had to shed salary for more cap space, one of the players they had to ship out was Johansson, who has since played on three different teams. Currently he’s on the Sabres.

Evgeny Kuznetsov

WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 21: Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Capital One Arena on December 21, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 21: Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Capital One Arena on December 21, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Similar to Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov is a magician with the puck. He also was the biggest impact player in Washington’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2018, leading the team with 20 assists and 32 points to go along with 12 goals. It was his breakaway goal in overtime that got the Caps finally past their nemesis from Pittsburgh.

Tom Wilson

DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Washington Capitals Right Wing Tom Wilson (43) unsuccessfully argues a penalty call in the regular season NHL game between Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings on November 30, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Washington Capitals Right Wing Tom Wilson (43) unsuccessfully argues a penalty call in the regular season NHL game between Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings on November 30, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Tom Wilson is still just 25 years old but already has plenty of NHL experience. The way his game progressed over the last few seasons, going from a hard hitter that plays a physical game to an offensive threat in the top six. After scoring 14 goals in Washington’s Cup season, he followed that up with a career-high 22 goal season last year. There’s a strong possibility he could beat that number this season as he already has 12 goals.

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