It was not subtle when all through March and April of 2025 the Capitals first lines were burning every last tank of nitro they had to get their captain across the blue line of a nearly incomparable achievement.
It was worthwhile and dominated the NHL news cycle - along with all of the big networks - that had your day-to-day football fan asking you "Is 895 a lot?"
But it was not the Stanley Cup.
All the sacrifices you expect out of a team at the end of the season in pursuit of the nearly unattainable were there, including big hits, Strome's root canals, and Tom Wilson's now t-shirt famous chipmunk cheek.
I suppose we can count Fehervary's knee, and subsequently Alex Alexeyev's teeth, in the playoff column, but it actually reinforces my point that our guys were not at their best in those crucial close of season games, and were run over by a metaphorical Zamboni of freshly fueled Cup hopefuls in the form of the Carolina Hurricanes. The Caps had more losses in April than in any other month of their 24-25 season with a 4-5-0 record, and that was only a 9 game month. They were out of steam.
Sure they were tired; we're all tired in April. And kind of edgy. And eating considerably more gummy bears than is suggested by the Surgeon General (just me?). But, when they left it all out there in minute 7 at an away Islanders game on April 6 it was the culmination of the Capitals putting their bodies between their captain and anything that stood in the way of his slapshot - to the point of curating exactly what kind of shot 895 was going to be. (As a fan, the empty net would have been a let down, but were I Duhaime's ribcage, I think I'd feel differently). It's also worth noting they lost that game.
There were simply more turnovers, more injuries, and more losses after Ovechkin got that weird giant sculpture thing. But there shouldn't be a doubt in anyone's mind that this team can bring it. In 2025 they brought it, everyone got a slice, and all that was left is that piece with too much icing that is kind of tipping over. But they can bake. And there aren't any distractions this year.
I'd really like to see what Ryan Leonard can do when he isn't holding hands with Lane Hutson. His 100% FO% out of one is super cute, but I think he'll be more fun to watch with a bit more prep than being dropped in like the little yellow Google Maps man onto a moving train.
All this to say - the Capitals aren't the second round team they appear to be. Unless the stats factor in that this team steps up for one another like no other, and how they'll leave all the enamel on the ice when called to action, it's naive to count them out as top Cup contenders in the upcoming season.