Washington Capitals: Three Biggest Questions as we Approach the Regular Season

With the preseason officially underway, the Washington Capitals are a team of few questions. The line combinations that Peter Laviolette will likely begin the season with are going to be very similar to the lines we discussed back in the beginning of August.

With the divisions back to normal, a full 82-game schedule, and a fully vaccinated team, it’s about time we get back to some normality. Winners of the Metropolitan Division dating back to the 2015-2016 season, it’s no secret the Capitals are going to be a very competitive team in the Metro this year regardless of how things shake out over the next couple of weeks.

With that said, the Washington Capitals are coming off three straight first-round exits from the playoffs after their magical Stanley Cup win in 2018 and many are starting to wonder if the Capitals’ window is closed. The short answer is a resounding: no. The long answer is a bit more complicated and it ultimately will come down to two things: health and goaltending.

A season ago, the Capitals limped into the playoffs. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Lars Eller, Vitek Vanecek, Ilya Samsonov and Justin Schultz all missed time either late in the regular season or during the first round matchup with the Boston Bruins. It was clear that the Washington Capitals’ core was far from 100 percent. A year later, the Capitals’ biggest questions heading into the season are mostly injury related.