Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Betting Odds
For the Washington Capitals, the main reason for their current existence is for Alex Ovechkin to break the all-time NHL goal scoring record. That is what keeps fans buying tickets and the lights on. Washington’s days as a serious Stanley Cup championship contender are clearly over. The team is too old, and the depth is too thin. Since their 2018 Stanley Cup championship, the Capitals have suffered four consecutive first-round exits. But all is not lost. Washington did acquire Stanley Cup championship goalie Darcy Kuemper from the Colorado Avalanche. Kuemper was the headline grabber of a quality offseason haul by general manager Brian MacLellan. But is it enough? Gamblers and fans are not buying into it.
Washington Capitals at a Glance
2022-2023 Stanley Cup Odds: +4000 (Aug, 2022)
Eastern Conference Odds: +2032 (Aug, 2022)
Last year the Washington Capitals finished with a record of 44-26-12 to finish 4th in the Metropolitan Division. The Caps ranked 10th in the NHL for goal scoring, 23rd for power play efficiency, 13th for goals against, and 12th for penalty killing.
General manager Brian MacLellan was a journeyman NHL player before moving on to an executive career. MacLellan was named general manager on May 26, 2014, after serving as a Washington scout, director of player personnel, and assistant general manager. He was GM for the Caps' only Stanley Cup championship team in 2018.
Head coach Peter Laviolette was also a journeyman role player, mostly in the minor leagues, before becoming a coach. He led the Carolina Hurricanes to the 2006 Stanley Cup championship. He also led the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers and 2017 Nashville Predators to the Stanley Cup Final. Laviolette has a career record of 717-466-165.
Whatever is said about Alex Ovechkin, it is never enough. The Great Eight is the savior of the Capitals franchise and the greatest goal scorer of the modern era. Ovechkin enters the 2022-23 season with 780 career goals. He is chasing Wayne Gretzky for the all-time record of 894 goals. Gordie Howe is second with 801 career goals. Last year Ovechkin scored 50 goals with 40 assists.
Right wing TJ Oshie is one of the most popular players in Washington. Oshie is coming off an injury-plagued 2021-22 season. He scored 11 goals with 14 assists in 44 games.
Defenseman John Carlson is an elite blueliner. The two-time All-Star scored 17 goals with 54 assists in 2021-22.
Washington Capitals Seasons
| YEAR |
RECORD |
PLAYOFFS |
| 2021-22 |
44-26-12 |
Lost First Round |
| 2020-21 |
36-15-5 |
Lost First Round |
| 2019-20 |
41-20-8 |
Lost First Round |
| 2018-19 |
48-26-8 |
Lost First Round |
| 2017-18 |
49-26-7 |
Won Stanley Cup |
| 2016-17 |
55-19-8 |
Lost Second Round |
| 2015-16 |
56-18-8 |
Lost Second Round |
| 2014-15 |
45-26-11 |
Lost Second Round |
Washington Capitals History
The Caps were founded as an expansion franchise with the Kansas City Scouts in 1974. They have long had a reputation for being playoff chokers before finally exercising those demons in 2018 with their only Stanley Cup championship. The Capitals were languishing in half-empty buildings with no real passion from fans until the arrival of Alex Ovechkin.
Indeed, The Great Eight has proven to be one of the most transformational athletes in sports history. In Washington, he did what seemed impossible; he made the Capitals cool. The Capitals were a losing franchise with low attendance until the early 1980s when they finally became a regular playoff team. Attendance improved significantly, and the franchise developed a following. But years of heartbreak in the Stanley Cup Playoffs took their toll. Fans were tired of the annual failures, and the team regressed on the ice. Finally, in 1999 they found a new owner.
The Washington Capitals were again a nothing franchise before the arrival of owner Ted Leonsis and left wing Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals were not even on the radar when Leonsis took command.
Washington was a football town and paid no attention to its mediocre hockey team with no identifiable star. In those days, the thought that the Capitals would develop a passionate following and sellout crowds was unfathomable.
Alex Ovechkin was the first overall pick of the 2004 NHL Draft. Washington yawned upon his arrival as nobody cared about the Caps. As a rookie in 2005-06, Ovechkin scored 52 goals, and fans noticed. The team started to win, and the arena became packed with fans rocking the red.
NHL Teams
Eastern Conference - Atlantic
Eastern Conference - Metropolitan
Western Conference - Central
Western Conference - Pacific
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