The Washington Capitals shocked much of the hockey world during the 2024–25 season by finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference — a major leap forward in head coach Spencer Carbery’s second year. This surge was largely driven by a series of impactful offseason acquisitions that addressed the team’s lack of depth and bolstered the roster significantly.
Despite their regular-season success, the Capitals fell short in the playoffs, exiting earlier than expected. Now, they head into what could potentially be the final offseason of Alex Ovechkin’s storied NHL career. With that urgency in mind, hockey insider Chris Johnston expects Washington to once again be highly active in the trade market — just as they were last summer.
“This is probably the last real run with Ovi, most likely, so I think that will shape how they approach the offseason,” Johnston told Julian McKenzie on The Chris Johnston Show. “I think they’ll be aggressive and explore what kind of trades are out there.”
Last offseason, Washington made bold moves, acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, Logan Thompson, and Jakob Chychrun through trades. They largely stayed away from expensive free agent signings and may adopt a similar strategy this year, given a thin free-agent class and rising contract demands under a higher salary cap. As of now, per PuckPedia, the Capitals have $9.375 million in cap space and 20 of 23 roster spots filled.
“They’ve shown they’re open to unconventional moves,” Johnston added. “And in a year where the free agent market is weak, they might be more inclined to make deals again.”
Capitals general manager Chris Patrick echoed this sentiment during his end-of-season press conference, hinting that a major trade is on the table.
“We’re going to look at everything,” Patrick said. “If we go big, it could be really big. With the cap going up, prices are rising — we saw that at the deadline. It might continue into free agency. We’ll evaluate what we can afford and try to stay competitive if the right opportunity comes along.”
Patrick also indicated the team would be open to moving their 2025 first-round pick (27th overall) for the right return. “You have to stay open-minded… we’re going to try to be creative,” he said.
Several intriguing young players are rumored to be available on the trade market this offseason — names that would align with Washington’s push to remain competitive while infusing youth into the lineup. Potential targets include Elias Pettersson (Vancouver), JJ Peterka (Buffalo), Marco Rossi (Minnesota), Morgan Geekie (Boston), and Jason Robertson (Dallas).
Patrick highlighted two key goals for the Capitals this summer: improving the third line and adding a high-skill player. Despite re-acquiring Lars Eller midseason, the third line remained a weakness throughout the campaign. Internally, the team may address the issue by shifting Connor McMichael back to center or giving Hendrix Lapierre a chance to earn the role in training camp.
As the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers nears its conclusion, trade rumors and offseason speculation are expected to intensify. The 2025 NHL Draft begins on June 27, followed by the start of free agency on July 1.
