By Sports and Coffee ☕ | NHL

It’s no secret that the Washington Capitals have gotten off to a slower-than-expected start this season. For many teams, winning nine of your first 15 games would be considered a positive. But for a Washington team that entered the 2027 season with Stanley Cup aspirations, it simply isn’t good enough.

The keyword to watch in Washington is consistency.

It feels like the Capitals are playing every four days, making it difficult for a team to find its rhythm, build chemistry, and get comfortable with its line combinations. Washington has also played the majority of its games at home during the opening month and a half of the season. While that might sound like an advantage, there’s something to be said about spending time on the road.

Road trips give teammates an opportunity to bond outside the rink. Staying in the same hotels, going out to restaurants, and spending time together can help build relationships that eventually translate onto the ice. Sometimes, getting away from home is exactly what a team needs.

But scheduling isn’t the only concern.

The Stars Aren’t Producing

The biggest disappointment has been the start to the season for future Hall of Famer and arguably one of the greatest players to ever play the game, Alex Ovechkin.

Through the first 15 games, Ovechkin has just one goal. This is an unusually slow start for a player who has built his career around finding the back of the net. It’s almost hard to believe considering the standards he’s set throughout his career.

But he’s not the only one struggling.

One of the most important players in the Capitals organization is Tom Wilson. The power forward has recorded just five points in 15 games and was ejected in the previous game against the Florida Panthers following an illegal hit to the head of Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis.

This has been a recurring theme for Wilson early in the season. Unnecessary penalties have put Washington in difficult situations, leaving the team shorthanded for two minutes or, in some cases, the remainder of a game.

Wilson is one of the most valuable players in the NHL because of his ability to play a complete 200-foot game. Washington needs him to bring that physical presence without putting his teammates at a disadvantage.

Another player who needs to find his scoring touch is Aliaksei Protas. The Capitals have counted on him to be a 20-plus-goal scorer, but he’s managed just two goals through the first 15 games.

And then there’s the goaltending.

Vezina Trophy-caliber goaltender Logan Thompson has been what the kids would call mid to start the season. He’s currently 6–4 with a 3.20 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage.

Those aren’t the numbers Washington expected from its starting goaltender.

However, there’s reason to believe things could be turning around. Thompson put together a solid performance against Florida, stopping 27 of 30 shots. He’ll look to carry that momentum into Tuesday’s matchup against Ottawa.

It’s Not All Bad in Washington

This article has been pretty negative toward the Capitals, so let’s give credit where credit is due.

There are some legitimate positives on this roster.

Washington currently leads the league in production from its new arrivals, and three players in particular have helped keep this team competitive.

Alex Tuch has been everything Washington could have hoped for, recording 11 goals in 15 games. Jordan Kyrou has added 14 points in 15 games, while Boone Jenner has contributed six goals.

Those three have provided a significant portion of Washington’s offensive production and have been some of the biggest bright spots early in the season.

There’s also reason to be excited about the younger players.

Rookie defenseman Cole Hutson has been a promising addition, while second-year forward Ryan Leonard continues to show why Washington has so much confidence in his future.

The Capitals have talent. There’s no question about that.

So, What’s Next?

I believe it’s only a matter of time before this team starts putting things together.

As the schedule opens up and Washington gets more opportunities to play consistently, the coaching staff will have a better chance to establish line combinations and develop chemistry throughout the roster.

There is simply too much talent on this team for the current struggles to be the expectation moving forward.

But talent alone doesn’t win championships. Washington needs its veteran leaders to produce, its goaltending to stabilize, and its entire lineup to find some consistency.

The question isn’t whether the Capitals have the players to compete. It’s whether they can get everyone playing their best hockey at the same time.

What do you think is going wrong in Washington? Is it the schedule, the lack of production from the veterans, or something bigger?

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Until next time, grab a coffee and let’s talk sports. ☕