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Published on:

11th Sep 2025

2025 NHL Summer Cooler - Washington Capitals

In this Summer Coolers edition of NHL Wraparound, Neil Smith and Vic Morren head to the nation's capital to break down the Washington Capitals, a team coming off a quietly dominant 2024–25 regular season... and a playoff run that ended just as quietly.

Washington finished with 111 points, 1st in the Metro, and 2nd overall in the NHL—yet fizzled in the second round against Carolina after dispatching Montreal in five games. But with no major offseason additions, the OV goal chase behind them, and multiple players coming off career seasons, is this team poised for a step forward—or a step back?

🧊 IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] 111 points in 2025: Best in East, 2nd in NHL

[00:45] First playoff series win since 2018… but Carolina exposed their pace

[01:15] Quiet offseason: No notable adds, re-signs only Blais & LaPierre

[01:45] Notable exits: Mantha, Raddysh, Eller, Alexeyev

[02:15] Farewell to T.J. Oshie (retired) & Nick Backstrom (Sweden)

[02:45] OV hits 900 goals — record-breaking moment, but costly distraction?

[03:30] Spencer Carbery wins Jack Adams — can he do it again?

[04:00] The overachievers: Strom, Lapierre, Wilson, Dubois, Chičhryn, McMichael

[04:45] Regression incoming? Expectation vs. reality for 2025–26

[05:30] Capitals identity: More Tom Wilson than Alex Ovechkin?

[06:00] Defense: Martin Fehérváry extension, Chychrun, Carlson aging

[07:00] OV's twilight years — now what?

[08:00] Final verdict: Still a playoff team, but not chasing the President’s Trophy again

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The OV chase is finally over. With the Gretzky record broken in 2025, Washington can now shift full focus back to team hockey — and they’ll need to.

Last season's success came from 8 career-best performances. That kind of lightning rarely strikes twice, especially with an aging core.

Chychrun looked like a Norris candidate, and Strom emerged as a true #1 center — but can they sustain it?

Carbery coached a masterclass in 2025. But with no new weapons and the league now targeting the Caps, coaching will be tested more than ever.

Capitals' identity has changed. It’s less about the OV slapshot now, and more about the grit and leadership of Tom Wilson.

🎯 FINAL WORD:

The Washington Capitals proved everyone wrong in 2025 with a dominant regular season—but can they recreate the magic without the motivation of history chasing them?

Expectations are higher, but age is creeping in. If they fall short, the story of 2026 may be the end of an era—not a deep playoff run.

🔗 RESOURCE LINKS:

📺 YouTube: NHL Wraparound Channel

🐦 X (Twitter): @NHLWraparound

🎤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil

📘 Vic Morren: Vic on LinkedIn

📸 Instagram: @NHLWraparound

🎵 TikTok: @NHLWraparound

👍 Facebook: NHL Wraparound Facebook

🏒 HASHTAGS

#WashingtonCapitals #NHLWraparound #TomWilson #PresidentTrophy #SpencerCarbery #CapitalsPodcast #NHLPlayoffs #OV900 #JackAdams #OVGoalRecord #StanleyCupPush #HockeyPodcast #SummerCoolers #EasternConference #NHL2026 #AnthonyBeauvillier #HendrixLapierre #AndrewMangiapane #TaylorRaddysh #LarsEller #AlexanderAlexeyev #TJOshie #NicklasBackstrom #MartinFehervary #SpencerCarbery #DylanStrome #AliakseiProtas #ConnorMcMichael #PierreLuc-Dubois #JakobChychrun #NicDowd #LoganThompson #AlexOvechkin #WayneGretzky #RyanLeonard #JohnCarlson


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About the Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast
Neil Smith & Vic Morren
Breadth and depth.
Contemporary and historical.
Straight-forward and experienced.
The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League.

Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past.

With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed.


Bio’s
Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years.

Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings.

Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager.

A graduate of William Paterson University, Morren skated for three seasons with the Pioneers hockey club and became the first statistical analyst to apply his craft to telecasts working New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games from 1984-87. He co-authored two NHL-based statistics books within that span before moving to ESPN in 1987 and working the final season of the original deal the network had with the NHL.
After departing in 1990, Morren worked as a studio producer for SportsChannel America’s NHL coverage and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before returning to ESPN that fall where he worked all 12 seasons on the second ESPN/NHL deal and the first season of the most recent contract in 2021-22. Morren has also earned a Sports Emmy for his work on Sunday Night Football coverage in 2003.

His relationship with Neil Smith dates back 33 years through their mutual friendship with the late ESPN/ABC commentator John Saunders. Morren looks forward to NHL Wraparound and collaborating with Smith with the goal to provide an experience of contemporary viewpoints, historical spin and an overall enriching podcast experience.