The Washington Capitals have officially concluded a season full of highs and lows. For just the second time in 10 seasons, they will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While that is disappointing for both fans and players, there are still some incredible moments and players to reflect on. Where some usual stars fell short, others stood out as the best of the best in Washington. Here are my three stars for the Capitals’ 2025-26 season.
Third Star: Ryan Leonard
Rookie Ryan Leonard had an impressive showing for a newbie. Fans knew that he was going to be fun to watch and an offensive force to be reckoned with after a 30-goal, 49-point season with Boston College and a 10-point showing at the World Junior Championship the year prior. Leonard did not disappoint this season, scoring 20 goals and registering 25 assists in 75 games.
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He became one of just eight rookies in franchise history to score at least 20 goals in a season, joining the likes of Chris Valentine, Bobby Carpenter, and Alex Ovechkin. He and his fellow rookie, Justin Sourdif, were only the third pair of newcomers in franchise history to score at least 15 goals each. He landed fifth in rookie scoring league-wide.
At just 21 years old, Leonard has many years left in the league and lots of ability to grow and develop his game. As his time with the team goes on, he can only improve and is shaping up to be a future history-maker for the franchise.
Second Star: Logan Thompson
It is no secret that the Capitals could not have had the same level of success without the help of their primary goaltender, Logan Thompson. He makes seemingly impossible saves look easy and keeps his skaters in the game from puck drop to the final whistle. He recently played his 100th game with the franchise and posted four shutouts throughout the season.
Thompson reached the thirty-win mark for a second consecutive season and finished fourth overall in the league in wins, topped only by Jake Oettinger, Karel Vejmelka, and Andrei Vasilevskiy. His .912 save percentage (SV%) was better than that of Oettinger (.899) or Vejmelka (.897). He finished the season averaging just 2.44 goals against.
It’s also notable that the goalie was selected to Canada’s Winter Olympic squad and was one of three Capitals representing their home nations. While he only played one game in the tournament, as he was a backup netminder, he posted a .960 SV% in that game and got a win that helped Canada continue to advance through the competition. The Capitals rely on and value Thompson heavily, and his presence is paramount to their success.
First Star: Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson is a Capitals superstar through and through. While his reputation precedes him across the league, the organization, players, and fans know that Wilson is invaluable to the team’s success. This season was certainly no exception, as he finished with 30 goals and 62 points, second only to Ovechkin (32 goals, 64 points). This was his second consecutive 30-goal season and his second career season with 30 or more assists.
His offensive performance has skyrocketed in the last two seasons, and Wilson has shaped up to be a well-rounded player. His physical presence and pure force on the ice make him a dangerous skater to face and he contributes to the team’s defensive game, as well. He registered 179 hits and 53 blocked shots this season.
While the numbers don’t lie, the forward also makes an impact in immeasurable ways, too. He is willing to defend any of his teammates when needed and is willing to take penalties and stir the pot to avenge wrongdoings against his fellow skaters. This leadership quality stands out, and he has been an alternate captain for four seasons running.
Wilson is valued as a person off the ice, too. Other members of the team speak highly of his character, leadership, and spirit. Dylan Strome, for example, called him the “bus driver”, saying, “when he’s going, we’re all going…he goes out there and leads by example.” He added, “I think he’s a tremendous player, a unicorn in hockey, and I’m really glad that he’s on our team.”
Jakob Chychrun noted that Wilson is “…the heart and soul guy, working hard, doing all the little things right, and just going out and leading by example. He does it just about every night for us.” Whether on the ice, in the locker room, or in the community, Wilson is invaluable to Washington. They would not have the same level of success without the forward as part of their core.
While the Capitals’ season may have come to an end, fans and players can reminisce on the highs and learn from the lows that came throughout. The team will likely end up with a high first-round draft selection, as well, so there is more to look forward to in the future. It will be interesting to see how the roster takes shape in the offseason, but expect to see these three in the lineup yet again in the 2026-27 season.
