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No Extension Talks Between Capitals, John Carlson

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Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Washington Capitals have a pair of franchise legends heading into unrestricted free agency. There’s been a lot of speculation about Alex Ovechkin’s playing future after this season, but there hasn’t been as much regarding defenseman John Carlson.

Earlier today, Greg Wyshynski of ESPN provided the first meaningful update to the extension negotiations between the Capitals and Carlson, or lack thereof. Wyshynski reported that Carlson hasn’t been contacted yet regarding an extension, and quoted Carlson saying, “I think anybody would probably love security. I think that’s a normal thought to have. But I’m not thinking about it.”

It’s been a few years since Carlson was a consistent contender for the Norris Trophy voting. He remains a valuable offensive defenseman, although his defensive skills have slightly declined in recent years.

Since missing half of the 2022-23 season due to injury, Carlson has scored 15 goals and 103 points in 161 games with the Capitals from 2023 to 2025, averaging 24:45 of ice time per game. He’s continuing to block shots, as evidenced by his 325 total over that stretch.

Last season, Carlson achieved a career-high CorsiFor% at even strength with a mark of 53.6%, following a season in which he matched a career low of 47.0%. Although that’s a dramatic increase, it’s important to remember how much better Washington performed last season compared to the 2023-24 season. His on-ice save percentage at even strength has steadily declined since the 2017-18 season, nearly reaching a career-low last season with an 88.7%.

If Carlson wants to remain with the Capitals beyond this season, there shouldn’t be much hesitation from the organization. Washington had multiple defensemen poised for free agency this summer, but signed each one to an extension during last year’s regular season.

There’s no word if Carlson is unwilling to engage in extension negotiations throughout the regular season, though there shouldn’t be too much to work through. The 2025-26 campaign will be Carlson’s 17th with the Capitals, and a new deal would only be his fourth with the team.

Capitals’ Mitch Love Placed On Leave

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The Washington Capitals have announced that assistant coach Mitch Love has been placed on “team-imposed leave” pending the results of an investigation conducted by the NHL. The Capitals added that they would refrain from commenting further on the situation until the league’s investigation is complete.

The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported that the NHL “began to investigate” the matter earlier in the offseason, “around the time” Love was interviewing with other NHL clubs about available head coaching roles. Love was a reported contender for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ head coaching job, but the Capitals’ longtime rival ultimately elected to hire Dan Muse from the New York Rangers.

Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post provided additional context on the situation. Citing a person in the league familiar with the matter, Johnson reports that the league’s investigation began during this past summer, “when the NHL received a letter that contained allegations relating to Love’s personal conduct.” She added that both the league and a team that was at the time considering Love for its head coaching vacancy received the letter.

Johnson also reports that the NHL has not shared details on the situation with the Capitals “beyond the existence of the allegations and the subsequent investigation.” Love was also not present for the team’s development camp in July, and Johnson reports that he was instead “engaged in interviews with NHL personnel as part of the investigation.”

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reported that the letter that prompted the investigation details “a situation that predates his tenure with the Capitals,” while The Athletic’s Josh Yohe added that “NHL teams were aware of this possibility in April and May,” and that he believes it is a “good reason why” Love was not hired as a head coach anywhere despite being in the mix for so many of the vacancies.

Capitals Not Setting Any Expectations For Milano's Return

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  • After being limited to just three games during the 2024-25 season due to an upper-body injury, Washington Capitals forward Sonny Milano is continuing to work his way back to the team’s lineup. The Capitals aren’t setting any hard guidelines for the quality of his play when he returns, only hoping that he eventually does return. Tom Gulitti of NHL.com shared a quote from head coach Spencer Carbery, saying, “The way I look at Sonny right now is I’m looking at it from a standpoint of him just getting back into practice and game action and going from there. There’s no unrealistic expectations of him. Not putting any pressure on him. We just want him to get into camp, feel good health-wise and just take it from there.“

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Martin Fehérváry Resumes Skating

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  • In late April, the Washington Capitals lost defenseman Martin Fehérváry for their entire playoff run on the last game of the regular season due to knee surgery. There were concerns at the time that Fehérváry may miss a few games of the 2025-26 season, but that no longer appears to be the case. Sammi Silber of the DC Backcheck reported that Fehérváry skated today, but was still donning a non-contact jersey. The Capitals are taking his recovery slowly, which is fairly typical for the summer months, with the hope that he’ll return on time for the upcoming campaign.

    [SOURCE LINK]

Satan To Play In OHL This Season

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  • Capitals prospect Miroslav Satan has changed teams as OHL Saginaw recently announced that they’ve signed him for the upcoming season. The 19-year-old forward was a seventh-round pick by Washington in 2024, going 204th overall but struggled considerably at the USHL level last season in his first taste of playing in North America.  In 45 games combined between Sioux Falls and Omaha, Satan managed just three goals and one assist while he also suited up in three games for the Slovaks at the World Juniors.  Washington has until June 1st, 2028, to sign him so there’s still lots of time for Satan to turn things around; he’ll hope a different league will help make that happen.

Poll: Who Is The Early Favorite To Win The 2026 Calder Trophy?

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The hockey world was treated to a true gift by the race for the 2025 Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s top rookie. The class lived up to years of expectations, headlined by Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson tying Larry Murphy for the most assists by a rookie defender. He took home the Calder ahead of San Jose Sharks top center Macklin Celebrini and Calgary Flames starting goaltender Dustin Wolf – who both managed star-studded and historic performances of their own. The heap of talent left players who could have won the trophy outright in seemingly any other year – options like 26-goal-scorer Matvei Michkov. A rookie class so strong will be impossible to follow up, but the group in 2025-26 seem to have a great chance to come close.

Early predictions will have the Calder Trophy staying put through in 2026. The Canadiens are set to award star rookie Ivan Demidov with his first NHL season, after he led KHL super-club SKA St. Petersburg with in scoring with 49 points in 62 games last season. He was a sheer force at Russia’s top level, showing a pace, strength, and finesse that was unmatched by his competition. Demidov finished the year with five points in six Gagarin Cup Playoff matchups, before scoring four points in his first seven games with Montreal.

Demidov is now set to assume a key role in the Canadiens’ lineup. It’s hard to imagine he won’t play true top-line minutes. He offers the in-tight skill and low-zone grit to perfectly complement spot-shooter Cole Caufield and playmaking, two-way center Nick Suzuki. The stars will be Demidov’s ceiling if he gets a full year to such talented players. He nearly recorded a 20-30-50 season in the KHL – a league often lauded as near-equal to the NHL. That standing could set him up for 60, or even 70, points in his first year with Montreal.

It will be a tight race to catch up to, and overcome, Demidov. A slew of star collegiate players signed their entry-level contracts at the end of the season, and could easily be set for major minutes of their own. Sam Rinzel fills a need for right-shot defense for the Blackhawks and Oliver Moore seemed to bring his slick-passing to Chicago, Gabe Perreault looked like a strong utility player with the New York Rangers, and Ryan Leonard showed an ability to match the Washington Capitals’ pace.

And yet, all four could be outdone by Minnesota Wild defenseman Zeev Buium, who managed an impressive 98 points in 83 games at the University of Denver. He appeared in four Stanley Cup Playoff games, but only managed one assist. Also atop the defense charts is top KHL defender Alexander Nikishin, who ended a stalemate when he finally joined the Carolina Hurricanes for the playoffs. Nikishin ranked second on SKA St. Petersburg with 46 points in 61 games, and matched Buium’s postseason statline.

Even still, the OHL could emerge. Sam Dickinson served as the star of the 2025 Memorial Cup-winning London Knights, and seems well-primed for a big role with the desolate San Jose Sharks. He could be joined by the reigning ’OHL Player of the Year’ Michael Misa, who managed an incredible 62 goals and 134 points in 65 OHL games last season. Misa was drafted second in this year’s class, with New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer the only selection before him. The smooth-moving, sharp-eyed Schaefer could be another Calder candidate, though he hasn’t played a season-game since sustaining a broken collarbone during the World Junior Championships last December.

It will be hard for any player to rival the record-breaking heights that Hutson reached last season, but the list of candidates looking to follow him up seems endless. Any one of the aforementioned players could find their way into a star role, or the award could go to someone entirely different – like 2025 Hobey Baker Award-winner and Edmonton Oilers winger Isaac Howard.

With so much talent on the board, who do you think will win the 2026 Calder Trophy? If you choose ’Other’, comment your pick below!

Mobile users click here to vote.

Aliaksei Protas Believes Brother, Ilya, Set For Success

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  • Washington Capitals’ forward Aliaksei Protas is coming off of a breakout campaign where he posted 30 goals and 66 points. However, he is just as focused on the continued development of his brother, Ilya Protas, who is working his way through Washington’s system. Speaking with the Belarus-based newspaper Vitbichi, the older Protas said he believes his brother, who was selected in the third round of the 2024 draft (75th overall), is primed for a strong season after working hard this offseason. Ilya put up monster numbers last year with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, posting 50 goals and 124 points in 61 games. His 50 goals and 74 assists last season both finished third in the OHL, while his 124 points trailed only Michael Misa’s 134. “He is already an adult and he himself understands perfectly well that in order to get into a stronger league, you need to work hard in the locker room and on the ice,” Aliaksei said.

Fehervary's Recovery From Knee Surgery Not Going As Planned

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After missing all of the playoffs following knee surgery, the hope was that Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary would be ready to start the season.  However, he recently told Sportnet in Slovakia (video link) that he is still dealing with some inflammation and that the knee is still hurting him.  As a result, he hasn’t been able to get onto the ice yet when he was supposed to resume skating about a month ago.  It’s unclear if Fehervary – who signed a seven-year extension last month – will be ready for training camp or the start of the upcoming season since he is now well behind in his recovery.

Afternoon Notes: Savage, Milano, ECHL

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Center prospect Red Savage is set to sign a two-year deal with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, per hockey insider Ken Campbell. The Detroit Red Wings relinquished Savage’s player rights on August 15th, after choosing not to sign the 2021 fourth-round pick to his entry-level contract.

Savage’s decision to turn pro comes on the heels of a long-term shoulder injury, sustained from an awkward fall into the boards in a January matchup against the Michigan Wolverines. The injury ended what was Savage’s first season as captain of the Michigan State Spartans, and limited him to just 11 points in 20 games on the season. He concludes his collegiate career with a combined 68 points in 125 games – split 30 points coming with Miami University of Ohio and 38 with the Spartans. Savage was lauded as a responsible, two-way center for both clubs and should find some immediate impact with the Americans, assuming he returns well from injury.

A move to Rochester will mark a reunion with head coach Michael Leone, who served as an assistant coach over Savage’s two years at the U.S. NTDP. Leone led Rochester to a 42-22-8 record and Division Final loss in his first year of pro coaching last season.

Other notes from around the league:

  • Washington Capitals forward Sonny Milano is back on the ice after an upper-body injury ended his season in November. He has been taking part in informal practices with his teammates recently, shares Sammi Silber of The Hockey News. Silber adds that Milano hopes to make a push back onto the Capitals roster at training camp. Milano was in the midst of earning a daily lineup role when he suffered his injury. He scored an encouraging 40 goals and 90 points in 179 games in three seasons between 2021 and 2024 – though each year was limited by injury. Questions remained about Milano’s durability and defensive acumen. He didn’t have a chance to dissuade those concerns last year, but seems to be getting an early jump at proving he can stick in the NHL this season.
  • The ECHL has announced the approval of an expansion team in Augusta, Georgia set to begin play in the 2027-28 season. This marks a return to The Garden City for the ECHL. Augusta previously served as home to the Augusta Lynx, who folded after 10 seasons in 2008. The new team will be owned by former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, in partnership with David Hodges and Hodges Management Group, LLC. No team name or logo has been announced. The ECHL is also set to expand to New Mexico in the 2026-27 season. The league will grow to 32 clubs once both teams break ground, putting them on level-playing field with the AHL and NHL. That should allow for full partnership between three leagues. The Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets were the only clubs without an ECHL affiliate in the 2024-25 season.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Washington Capitals

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Navigating the salary cap is one of the most important tasks for a front office.  Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful.  Those who don’t often see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2025-26 season.  This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL.  All cap figures are courtesy of PuckPedia.  We’re currently covering the Metropolitan Division, last up are the Capitals.

Washington Capitals

Current Cap Hit: $91,375,000 (below the $95.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Ryan Leonard (two years, $950K)

Potential Bonuses
Leonard: $1.5MM

As expected, Leonard joined the Capitals once his college season came to an end and while he was largely a regular moving forward, they limited his minutes.  That probably won’t be the case this season as a middle-six role seems likely.  That should give him a chance to maybe hit one or two of his ‘A’ bonuses worth $250K apiece.

Signed Through 2025-26, Non-Entry-Level

D John Carlson ($8MM, UFA)
F Brandon Duhaime ($1.85MM, UFA)
F Hendrix Lapierre ($850K, RFA)
F Connor McMichael ($2.1MM, RFA)
F Sonny Milano ($1.9MM, UFA)
F Alex Ovechkin ($9.5MM, UFA)
D Trevor van Riemsdyk ($3MM, UFA)

After a rough first half in 2023-24, Ovechkin was better down the stretch that year and carried it over into last season where he went back over a point per game and broke Wayne Gretzky’s goal record.  Even at this stage of his career (he’s 39), he still provided above-average value on his contract, something he has largely done even as the most expensive winger in NHL history in terms of total earnings.  There has been plenty of speculation as to whether Ovechkin will want to play beyond the upcoming season and if he did, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Capitals ponder offering a deal with some incentives if they wanted to try to load up for one last kick at the end.  Alternatively, returning to finish his career back home in Russia is a very realistic possibility as well.

McMichael had to settle for a bridge deal last season with cap space pretty tight for a Capitals team that spent all of the year in LTIR.  The good news is that he had a career year and remains a key part of their long-term plans.  With arbitration rights next summer, he’s well on his way to tripling his current price tag if he winds up around the 55-point mark again.  Milano missed most of last season due to injury and ran hot and cold in the first year of the deal.  As a bottom-sixer counted on to produce as a secondary scorer, that’s a hard niche to maintain.  Barring a 15-goal, 30-point season or somewhere thereabouts, Milano could find himself making closer to half of this on his next contract.

Duhaime’s first season with the Capitals was a successful one as he locked down a bigger role and set a new personal best in points.  He’s still someone who is more of an energy player than a scorer though which won’t help his value.  That said, as an effective bottom-six checker, he should be able to push past the $2MM mark on his next agreement.  Lapierre didn’t do much in limited action last season and if it weren’t for the fact he’s now waiver-eligible, he’d probably be on the outside looking in at a roster spot.  But waiver eligibility should give him a long leash and now it’s up to him to establish himself as an every-game regular.  If he can do that, doubling this contract could be realistic.

Carlson continues to be an above-average offensive performer who can still be counted on to play big minutes.  It’s telling, however, that GM Chris Patrick indicated back in the spring that there were no plans to hold offseason extension talks.  He’ll be 36 when his next deal starts and while a decline is bound to happen at some point, he still could get a multi-year pact in the $6MM or so range.  With what they have tied up in their back end already, perhaps that’s not something they’re willing to do just yet.  As for van Riemsdyk, he has fit in well on their third pairing for the last several seasons.  Being a right-shot defender, the side that’s always highly coveted, a small increase even heading into his age-35 year seems reasonable.

Signed Through 2026-27

F Anthony Beauvillier ($2.75MM, UFA)
D Declan Chisholm ($1.6MM, UFA)
F Nic Dowd ($3MM, UFA)
D Dylan McIlrath ($800K, UFA)
F Justin Sourdif ($825K, RFA)

Dowd has been a slow developer but he has worked his way from a depth player to a trusted checker who has reached double-digit goals in five straight years.  That was enough to more than double his current AAV in exchange for a reasonable two-year term at 35.  It would be surprising to see him beat that in 2027 unless the point production heads more toward the 40s than the mid-20s.  Beauvillier rebounded a bit after a tough 2023-24 campaign and his playoff showing certainly helped his marketability as well.  Barring him getting back to the 40-point threshold, it’s difficult to see his market being too much stronger two years from now.  Sourdif is an interesting case with just four NHL games under his belt.  The Capitals paid a fairly high price for him (a second-round pick plus a sixth) so they clearly feel he’s capable of being a full-time contributor.  If he is, he’ll have arbitration rights in 2027 which would set him up nicely for his next contract.

Chisholm came over from Minnesota at the draft and quickly signed with Washington looking to avoid an arbitration hearing.  Last season was basically his first as being a regular so he didn’t have a great case to make for a big raise.  But he looks like a late bloomer and if he continues as a regular with the Capitals, he could move past the $2MM mark next time.  McIlrath has primarily been an AHL player in recent years, leading to this price just above the minimum.  He’s likely to be in a reserve role this season once again which should keep the cost low moving forward.

Signed Through 2027-28

G Charlie Lindgren ($3MM, UFA)
F Dylan Strome ($5MM, UFA)

It took a few years for Strome to establish himself but he has turned into quite the center in recent years for the Capitals, posting a point-per-game showing last season.  That type of production for the price of a second liner is quite the bargain.  If he can stay around this level of points over the next three seasons, his price tag could move more into the $8MM to $9MM range on his next contract.

Lindgren didn’t have the best of seasons in 2024-25 but his body of work with Washington has been that of an above-average backup.  This price comes in a little below the top of the backup market so if he can bounce back a bit relative to last season, Washington should do fine here.

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