Where Did Former 2025-26 Washington Capitals Land?

Carlson played in Anaheim for the rest of the season and throughout their two-round playoff run. He became a free agent at the end of last season and signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is expected to be an important part of their blue line this season.

Declan Chisholm

Declan Chisholm is another defenseman who will not be with the Capitals this season. He played more of a substitute role with the team, filling in on the blue line when needed. He was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick. He has one year left on a two-year contract worth $1.6 million annually.

Nic Dowd

Nic Dowd was another trade deadline move. The longtime Washington center was sent to the Vegas Golden Knights for goalie prospect Jesper Vikman, a 2027 third-round draft pick, and a 2029 second-round draft pick. Dowd is in the second year of a two-year, $6 million contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at the end of this season.

Dowd played with the Golden Knights throughout the remainder of last season and their playoff run, making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. He has kept his position as a fourth-line center and will be a valuable member of the team this season.

Brandon Duhaime

Brandon Duhaime spent two seasons with the Capitals as a bottom-six player. He became a free agent at the end of last season and signed a three-year, $7.8 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He will likely play on their fourth line and could be “complementary to a player like Teddy Blueger, in theory,” per Jon Steitzer of The LeafsNation.

Beyond his hockey skills, he is known to be an asset to any team’s locker room culture. He brings positivity, joy, and reminds his teammates what they are playing for night after night. The Maple Leafs may be looking to add more players like him to their roster to boost locker-room energy. He could be a good fit in Toronto.

David Kampf

We did not get to see much of David Kampf last season. He was acquired at the trade deadline from the Maple Leafs, but faced visa issues that prevented him from playing for some time. The forward played just two games and did not register any points. He became a free agent at the end of last season.

He did not sign with any NHL team, but rather opted to play internationally. He signed a three-year deal with HC Litvinov of the Czech Extraliga. The team and league are excited about his arrival. In a translated article, the team’s chairman, Jiří Šlégr, said, “This is a huge boost for us and great news not only for Litvínov, but for the entire Extraliga. Acquiring a player of David’s stature, who is coming from the NHL in his prime, is extremely valuable for us.”

Hendrix Lapierre

Forward Hendrix Lapierre was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. He spent five seasons in the Capitals organization between Washington and the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears.

He signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract with the Penguins. The team’s general manager, Kyle Dubas, indicated that he was desirable because of his speed and versatility, especially compared to other young players in their organization. If he can establish consistency in his performance, he will be an elite young forward for the team.

Connor McMichael

Connor McMichael was part of the trade for Jordan Kyrou. He was dealt to the St. Louis Blues alongside prospect Milton Gastrin and a first-round pick in the 2026 draft. McMichael spent six seasons in the Capitals organization, making the full-time jump to the NHL in the 2023-24 season.

He signed a six-year, $40.5 million contract with the Blues. Notably, he opted for jersey number 77 as a not-so-subtle nod to his former teammate, TJ Oshie. Oshie started his career with the Blues before joining the Capitals, where he wore the same number. McMichael is a talented two-way forward who will bring elite skills to his new team for many seasons to come.

Trevor van Riemsdyk

Trevor van Riemsdyk was a defenseman for the Capitals who became a free agent at the end of last season. He will still be teammates with Lapierre, as he signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Penguins. He spent six seasons on Washington’s blue line and became a staple of the back end. He is a defensively-minded defenseman who will be a critical part of the Penguins this season.

While it is always sad to see players leave a team, it is also thrilling to see new members of the squad and how the team takes shape throughout the offseason. Washington has four new faces to get excited over: Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, Vincent Desharnais, and Boone Jenner. These players will help create a playoff-caliber team that is ready for whatever comes their way. They start their season on Oct. 2.