Many experts have the Washington Capitals regressing next season

The Washington Capitals finished the 2024-25 regular season with a record of 51-22-9, for a total of 111 points, winning the Metro Division by 12 points, the highest differential of any 1st place division team.

Yet, for the Capitals to have had the successful 2024-25 season, plenty had to go their way, despite the obvious distractions of The GR8 Chase.

Ale Ovechkin surpassed Gretzky's all-time goals record in only 65 games, and scored 44 goals, despite a major injury, for which he missed 16 games. That scenario could have gone horribly wrong, given his age.

So what went right for the Caps in 2024-25? For one thing, Jakob Chychrun had a fantastic year, a career year, in fact, scoring 20 goals, his best ever, and 27 assists, tying his best, for a career best 47 points. He also scored 6 game-winning-goals, good for 60% of his career total of 10.

P-L Dubois, Logan Thompson, Connor McMichael and Protas all had very good seasons too, when any one them not doing so would have likely impacted the Caps' success negatively.

Perhaps the biggest question the Capitals are asking themselves is, Can Ovechkin stay healthy in 2025-26? At 40 years of age in September, and coming off a serious injury this season, another injury is not an improbability.

For the Caps to get better next season, however, or at least not regress, they will need for Logan Thompson to continue his stellar play, and for Lindgren to be a solid 1B option. Chychrun needs to replicate last season's success, while McMichael and Protas will need to continue to improve within the teams structure and style of play.

Strome, Wilson and Dubois also will need career years
again, if the Caps hope to improve on last season. With some good additions to the team and continued growth, success is possible.