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3 things the Capitals should carry over into 2022

By Michael Marzzacco

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Connor McMichael, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Connor McMichael, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

#2 Youth infusion

I heard you guys all summer. I understood your concerns. The Caps were entering the season as the one of the oldest teams in the league. The team also did nothing in the offseason to address that issue and that goal of getting younger. But I did note before the season started that there was still a chance at the team getting younger, they would just have to look from within.

The latest rookie with the chance to live out their NHL dream came on New Years Eve with defenseman Lucas Johansen. The 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft was the 11th rookie to play for the Caps this season. He’s also the eighth different Caps player to make his NL debut. 10 of the 11 rookies to play for the Caps were drafted by Washington.

It also marked the fourth time in Capitals franchise history that the team has had eight or more players debut within the first 40 games of a season. The other teams were 1974-75: 11, 1981-82: 10, 1979-80: 10.

My favorite rookies this season have been Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre. Lapierre made a splash with a huge goal against the New York Rangers and it’s been cool to watch McMichael’s progress this season after writing about him in the 2019 NHL Draft. As long as the Caps keep the youth movement going in 2022, watch out.

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