3 questions facing Washington Capitals

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, three important questions facing the Washington Capitals.

1. Will the Capitals trade for a top-six forward?

Washington went into the offseason hoping to upgrade its top two forward lines and still is hoping to make a trade to address that need. Other than forward Alex Ovechkin, who tied for ninth in the NHL with 42 goals last season, center Dylan Strome (23 goals) was the only other Capitals player to reach 20.

"We had a few discussions at the draft that may, may not carry forward, but we're comfortable with where we're at," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. "We'd still like to make a change, but we'll see where it goes here from (training) camp."

Washington signed Max Pacioretty to a one-year contract July 1, but the six-time 30-goal scorer won't be ready for the start of the season while completing his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.

2. What impact can first-time NHL coach Spencer Carbery have?

Carbery faces the challenge of trying to get the Capitals back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs after failing to qualify last season for the first time since 2014, and at the same time also infusing some youth into a veteran lineup that includes Ovechkin, who turns 38 on Sept. 17; forward T.J. Oshie, 36; center Nicklas Backstrom, 35; defenseman John Carlson, 33; and center Evgeny Kuznetsov, 31.

Carbery, who was hired May 30 after Washington mutually parted ways with Peter Laviolette, has experience working with skilled players from when he was the assistant that oversaw the Toronto Maple Leafs power play the past two seasons. The 41-year-old also knows most of the Capitals' young players, including 22-year-old forwards Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas, from coaching their American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey during the three seasons prior.

"Obviously it's a process for young players and there's a learning curve to it without question," Carbery said. "But that's where the coaching staff and our leadership group will take a large role in getting them up to speed as quickly as possible and helping them integrate into the group as quickly as possible."

3. What can Ovechkin do in his 19th NHL season?

Though there are questions about whether Backstrom, who had hip resurfacing surgery in June 2022, and Oshie, who had a minor procedure on his back at the end of last season, can return to being top forwards, the expectations for Ovechkin remain high because of his consistency. He set an NHL record last season by scoring at least 40 goals for the 13th time and moved past Gordie Howe (801) into second in League history with 822.

Ovechkin trails Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 894 goals by 72, so he'll likely have to wait until 2024-25 to break that, but he can move within striking distance with another productive season. He needs 15 points to become the 16th NHL player to reach 1,500, and is one power-play goal away from becoming the first with 300.

"The one thing about Alex, and I will get to feel that for the first time first-hand, is just him being a physical freak of nature," Carbery said. "And the age, and defying that age, is just part of what makes him special."