2021-22 Washington Capitals Preview: Running it back in DC

Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty ImagesIt was a rather uneventful off-season for the Washington Capitals, opting to mainly stick with the team they have, and for good reason — over their last five seasons, they haven’t finished below second place in their division, only having finished in second place this previous season when they shifted to the East Division, per the NHL’s temporary division realignments due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, they also have been unable to escape the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the last three seasons. With the Great 8 himself, Alexander Ovechkin, re-signing for five seasons, time will tell if the team formerly known as “Sharks…