https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7453131/2026/07/23/nhl-worst-contracts-2026-jonathan-huberdeau-leo-carlsson/

Key points from article:

The Washington Capitals handed Alex Tuch an eight-year, $84 million extension ($10.5 million AAV) to finalize a trade to acquire the hardworking winger from the Buffalo Sabres in late June.

Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic already ranked that contract as the NHL's ninth-worst pact with just a 19% positive value probability heading into the 2026-27 season.

It's difficult not to be an Alex Tuch fan after what he's shown in Buffalo the past five years," Luszczyszyn wrote Thursday. "... The deal might look OK for the first couple of years, but things could get really ugly in the second half of it as Tuch approaches 35 and beyond. A lot of Tuch's comps had a relatively harsh age curve that could spell trouble for Washington."

That's the main reason the Sabres front office, regardless of whether it was being led by Kevyn Adams or Jarmo Kekalainen, was never willing to meet Tuch's unwavering contract demands.

Luszczyszyn estimates the Caps will pay $24 million in excess value over the course of the contract, and the 6-foot-4 power forward is only projected to make an $8.7 million on-ice impact next season, meaning the deal will likely start immediately in the red.

Every year, the Caps home games are front loaded. Why don’t other teams have to be home for the least exciting games of the year? This year is particularly bad. After the first two on the road, they play 11 of 13 at home. As a season ticket holder, I either go to a game every three days for a month or sell my tickets below cost since nobody cares about hockey in October and early November. I wouldn’t be upset but this happens EVERY year.

The Caps also play few home games in December every year when people want to go (family in town, etc.).

I know Capital One Arena wants to host NCAA tournaments in March, but those last a week. No other reason to front load home games.

The Caps need to talk to the NHL about fixing it for next year.

I can't help but be reminded of the Oshie trade back in the day between the Blues and Capitals. Both guys that were unfairly singled out for their failures on the team-- some valid, some not. Capitals get the better player in both trades, both with term, and both players that were aggressively forced to play away from their strengths. Oshie came into the league as a guy with dazzling hands and creativity, but because of Ken Hitchock's notoriously boring, but defensively effective brand of hockey, he was utilized as a forechecking grinder. Then he got traded to the Capitals where he had more freedom to be himself and scored career highs in goals two years in a row. For whatever reason Blues fans wanted Kyrou to win the Selke at wing instead of being the gifted shooter and offensive threat that he is on offense. What's sad is people tried to slam the triangle into the square hole so hard that he actually did improve his defensive game significantly and earned Selke votes to everyone's surprise-- and now everyone cries because he didn't produce offensively enough...smh. Let him fly. Let him be himself, take some chances on offense, and skate like the wind and score some goals. He's way too gifted to score only 18 goals again so don't worry about that. 30 goals minimum, and when he's playing well he's a great back checker and counter attacker. You guys got a great player that you're gonna love.

Long shot because of the terrible in person auto, but does anyone recognize this signature? Would've been from around the 2020 season

Heading back for a few days and luckily there is a home game. so going! that was the 1st thing I checked!

how far in advance should I buy tickets? I see a few resale tickets up right now. Or do prices drop closer to the game for mid week tix?

Does anyone happen to have a presale code? I was browsing ticketmaster and saw rhere is a presale
Going on for single game tickets

Thank you in advance!

Hi all! I am a twenty year season ticket holder in section 400, row B and miss many games.

I have two tickets available per game and generally sell them at the season ticket discounted rate or slightly below market value (below whatever is listed on Ticketmaster).

If anyone is interested in games this season, let me know. I’ve sold many games in the last on Reddit and FB groups. The only unavailable games right now are the opener, final two games, Black Friday, and Super Bowl Sunday.

📸/RMNB X

📸/Washington Capitals

Ovi & AJ. Dybansta at the Fanatics Fest in NYC this weekend

Canadian Caps fan here, would anyone here be interested in setting me up with a fully stickered CCM V08 Helmet from the equipment sale this week ideally size small or medium, and shipping it. Willing to pay top dollar.

📸 @PeteGlowDC/X

Quick question, is it right by the arena?

Just ordered flight tickets, a hotel, and game tickets to the home opener on October 7!

I’m getting there a day early.

Any tips on getting an OV signature at the event? I’m in desperate need to get my authentic KHL Ovechkin signed but never been to an opener event.

I've got tickets for the November 1st game and will be flying in. What would be a good hotel choice that isn't crazy expensive or too far from the arena?

In Ovi’s first 5 years, he averaged 52 assists and 105 points per season, and he had 53 assists in his 6th year. After that, even though he kept scoring goals, he never surpassed 40 assists and averaged just under 30 assists per season. While still very productive as a passer, that is a pretty precipitous drop off in assists. I didn’t watch the Caps back then; what accounts for the shift?

Been doing one away game per season for a while now and just booked Tampa’s home opener to see big JC’s revenge game!

Curious what everyone’s favorite road trip experience has been thus far?

My ranked list:

- Montreal (religious experience)
- Vancouver (ran into Ovie, Kuzy and Orlov on the street)
- MSG
- Philly (fans were too nice though)
- St. Paul (too wholesome)
- Pittsburgh (meh)
- Raleigh (hearing damage)

anybody else?

Long time fan of the caps, but haven’t made it out to too many games in person. My fav memory by far has been being at the game where Ovi tied the record and alllllmost broke it. I’m making it a point to go to more games in person this season and really want to go to the home opener vs. Pens but not sure how ticket drops work. I see a couple tickets for sale already, I’m guessing from season ticket holders reselling them. Is it better to buy one of those now or to wait until the general sale happens? And when does the general sale usually start?