The Washington Capitals are largely the same team that they were last season. However, if there is one thing that the Caps have lost, it’s some physicality on the back-end.
With the departure of Zdeno Chara and Brenden Dillon it’s no secret that Peter Laviolette’s team lost two big bodies. Chara and Dillon ranked 2nd and 6th respectively on the Caps when it came to hits. Some have questioned if the Capitals will miss those two, as the team’s physicality has been a strength for years.
Martin Fehervary is a solid defender with a big-frame that looks to slot in nicely on the blue-line but even if Fehervary doesn’t live up to expectations the Caps are in a good position physically. It’s also not a secret that the Washington Capitals have plenty of players who can still throw the body around. Unfortunately for the other teams in the Metropolitan Division, the Capitals will remain one of the most physical teams in the 2021-2022 season.
Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, Dmitry Orlov, Garnet Hathaway, and Nic Dowd were 5 of the team’s top 7 players in hits from a season ago. They all will return and play significant roles for the 2021-2022 team. Here’s a look back at some of the most memorable hits from each player’s respective careers.