Washington Capitals
· 2026-06-25
The Washington Capitals have made a splash in the off-season, acquiring Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues and signing Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres.
The Capitals traded forward Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin, and the 16th overall pick to the Blues for Kyrou.
They also sent a third-round pick and centre David Kampf to the Sabres in the Tuch sign-and-trade.
These moves boost the team's offence, with Kyrou and Tuch joining a roster that already includes Alex Ovechkin, who is set to turn 41 in September.
Ovechkin's status remains unknown, with the Capitals expecting to hear a decision from him after July 1.
The Capitals still have a comfortable $12.7 million in cap space, per PuckPedia, with just one roster spot to fill.
Winger Brandon Duhaime is the team's only other pending unrestricted free agent, while forward Hendrix Lapierre is in need of a new deal as a restricted free agent.
The team is currently on a W4 streak, with a 43-30 record and standing 9th in the Eastern Conference as of June 25, 2026.
The Capitals' general manager, Chris Patrick, has been looking to improve the team's offence, having made a serious run at landing Nikolaj Ehlers on the free agent market last summer.
Patrick also tried to land Artemi Panarin on the trade market earlier this year.
The team's recent moves have sparked speculation about Ovechkin's future with the franchise.
But with the Capitals' current cap space and roster, they are well-positioned to make more moves in the off-season.
The Blues, on the other hand, are open for business, with four first-round picks in the upcoming draft.
Doug Armstrong, the team's president, is waiting for teams to give him a call, with all options on the table, from making a trade for a current NHL player to using the picks to move up in the draft.
The Capitals' fans will be watching closely to see what happens next, with the team's off-season moves already generating significant buzz.
And with the NHL draft just around the corner, the Capitals may make more moves to bolster their roster.
So far, the team's off-season has been marked by significant signings and trades, setting them up for a strong season ahead.
The Capitals' current standing and record are a testament to their strength as a team, with a 43-30 record and 9th place in the Eastern Conference as of June 25, 2026.