The Washington Capitals are fresh off a middling season. They finished snuck into the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s second wild card and then promptly lost in the first round.
Alex Ovechkin continues to dominate in all areas of the ice but, unfortunately, this is a team that is one of the oldest in the league at 29.92. On top of that, they have injuries plaguing them before the season has even started.
Those who bet online might want to fade this team in terms of futures bets. At least right now, it does look like the right time to be bullish on their NHL betting odds.
Let’s check the latest NHL picks, stats, injury reports and NHL predictions. We’ve plenty of NHL expert picks for you to consider.
Washington Capitals Odds
- To win Stanley Cup +3500
- To win Eastern Conference +1800
- To win Metropolitan Division +750
- To make playoffs Yes -150 / No +120
Player to Watch
Dylan Strome is likely the one player that Washington fans should keep an eye on this year.
Strome was a new offseason addition to the Capitals after the Chicago Blackhawks opted not to hand him a qualifying offer, sending him into unrestricted free agency.
Strome had 48 points last season with a career-high 22 goals in just 69 games. Shockingly, he was even a healthy scratch for 13 out of the first 39 games for the Blackhawks.
Strome could have a much bigger role with the Capitals on one of the top two lines and might be able to prove to the league why he deserved a qualifying offer initially.
He’s still on a prove-it, one-year, $3.5 million deal. Another big season can lead to a bigger, longer contract for him.
Player to Watch: C Dylan Strome
Breakout Player
Connor McMichael looks primed to take the next step in his development this season. He averaged just 10:28 in ice time throughout his rookie season, a year in which he appeared in 68 total games.
However, he was able to post 18 points with nine goals and nine assists during that stretch. The 21-year-old has incredible potential moving and he’s just had an entire offseason to get adjusted to the pro level.
If he plays with confidence, he will be an immediate boost to the Capitals’ roster when they start this season. His potential as a No. 2 center can also back up the claim that he’s ready to break out in 2022.
Breakout Watch: C Connor McMichael
Capitals Outlook
There certainly isn’t any worry that they are lacking offensive talent. Both Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov were excellent last season and are going to be tasked to do exactly the same thing moving forward.
When these guys are fully healthy throughout the season, this is a Stanley Cup contender at their best. However, injuries are really damaging them right now and could hold them as a fringe playoff team at the most.
Nicklas Backstrom was ruled out indefinitely after resurfacing surgery on his hip while Tom Wilson underwent surgery of his own to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
In preseason action, T.J. Oshie has been banged up. Combined with the fact that the Caps were barely a playoff team last season, it’s hard to see where the vast improvement comes from.
If you’re betting this team’s odds in the sportsbook, be cautious. For now, it’s hard to be bullish, but keep in mind that things could prove to be much better than we expect.
If they get healthy, if Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren form a strong duo in net and if Father Time goes easy on this team, the Capitals could be an underrated option on the nightly moneylines.
However, in terms of long-term futures, it’s hard to take them with your NHL picks to win the division, conference or Stanley Cup.
