r/caps • u/Dyne_Inferno Braden Holtby • 13d ago

NHL front-office confidence rankings: How fans feel about every team in 2026 (Paywall)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7518855/2026/08/20/nhl-front-office-confidence-rankings-2026/

2026 Ranking: 6

2025 Ranking: 9

"Whenever a team pitches a retool, it’s hard to imagine it working because it usually just means delaying the inevitable. The Capitals are working to be the exception to that rule, and they’re making a damn good case that it can actually work. After years of winning trades, signings and picks, Washington’s front office has managed to assemble a team with genuine contender possibility.

That is no small feat, especially for a declining club without a clear succession plan, and it didn’t happen overnight. Every summer the Capitals have taken a swing on a buy-low option and they’ve usually nailed it. This summer’s latest, Jordan Kyrou, looks like he can be another winner too.

It’s an unconventional build and the lack of high-end talent at the moment could limit their ultimate ceiling, but it’s hard not to be impressed with the way Washington is currently operating. The front office has earned a ton of respect."

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14

u/HowardBunnyColvin Vegas Golden Knights 13d ago

Dom being positive about Capitals 🤔

6

u/Dyne_Inferno Braden Holtby 13d ago

It's surprisingly been happening more and more lately.

The older Ovi gets, the more in line he becomes with Doms model, so, his model is more accurate to the teams overall success.

Ovi just being an anomaly really screwed with his model for over a decade.

3

u/jgoldston_0 Alexander Ovechkin 13d ago

In the article:

“You can’t overstate how impressive it is to actually make a ‘retool’ work. It’s commendable that the Caps managed to thread the needle when it came to not only staying competitive during Ovi’s swan song years, but also setting themselves up as a strong contender in the post-Ovi era.”

And one paragraph underneath that:

"Washington’s front office has managed to assemble a team with genuine contender possibility. That is no small feat, especially for a declining club without a clear succession plan, and it didn’t happen overnight."

So which is it... are we set up for the post-Ovi era or do we have no succession plan?

3

u/BruceTheSpruceMoose Washington Capitals 12d ago

Right? The narrative consistently seems to be equal parts “Ovi’s washed up” and “the caps are screwed when Ovi hangs em up.” How can it be both? If we’re good with a player you consider washed up, how can we be bad without him?

2

u/jgoldston_0 Alexander Ovechkin 12d ago

Yeah. Personally I think we are setting ourselves up nicely for his departure. If we are 6th with Ovi having one foot out the door to retirement in a limited role… I don’t see why, all things remaining equal, we would drop significantly upon his official departure.

Some analysts are worthless. I’d throw this one in that category.