The professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C., known as the Washington Capitals or simply the Caps, competes in the NHL as part of the Metropolitan Division within the Eastern Conference.
Ted Leonsis, through Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owns the team, which initially played its home games at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. In 1997, the team transitioned to its current home, the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Team History and Evolution
Founded in 1974 as an expansion team alongside the Kansas City Scouts, the Capitals faced huge challenges during their initial eight years.
A turning point came in 1982 with the hiring of David Poile as general manager, leading to a marked improvement in performance.
With key players like Mike Gartner, Rod Langway, Larry Murphy, and Scott Stevens, the team became a consistent playoff contender for 14 consecutive seasons.
After acquiring the franchise in 1999, Leonsis spearheaded a resurgence by drafting standout players such as Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Braden Holtby, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson.
The team clinched its first Presidents’ Trophy during the 2009–10 season for having the highest regular-season point total, a feat they repeated in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons.
The Capitals have also achieved 13 division titles and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998 and 2018, winning the championship in the latter year with a five-game victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Honors and Affiliations
The franchise has retired four jersey numbers to honor past players and maintains a connection with several individuals enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Additionally, the Capitals are affiliated with two minor league teams: the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League and the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.
