Regression is setting in for the Capitals

It’s been a slow start for the Washington Capitals, going 6-5-1 through their first 12 games of the 2025-26 season, including four straight losses dating back to Oct. 25.

Expectations were high for a team that finished 51-22-9 with 111 points last season, winning the Metropolitan Division and making it to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While it’s still early, some are wondering if we’re seeing major regression from a Washington group that’s trying to find success in what could be Alex Ovechkin’s last NHL campaign.

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discuss the Capitals’ struggles and what’s causing them to slump early in the season.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Ovechkin had 44 goals in 2024-25. With his age and the goal chase and all the emotions that go into that … I still think you can get 25 or 30 from him, but you won’t get 40. Tom Wilson scored 33, which was a career year, but he shot nearly 20%, way more than he’s ever done. Aliaksei Protas – is he a 30-goal scorer or a 20-goal guy?

There were reasons to be concerned going into the season. What’s kind of funny is that Wilson and Protas are scoring just fine, with Wilson on a 40-goal pace and Protas on a 30-plus pace, but Ovechkin has just two goals, and neither have been on the power power.

I felt like there were reasons to be more concerned about this Washington team, and so far this year, I think that’s all coming to fruition.

Carter Hutton: I think you forecasting that isn’t a bad bet. This was a team that coming into last season was the outlier: When we looked at the Metropolitan Division last year, no one had the New York Rangers missing the playoffs, then Washington stepped into their place.

There is more that comes when there’s expectations, and that’s something that is important in this situation. Last year, it felt like the Caps were playing with house money. Now all of a sudden, expectations are higher.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…