NHL Today: The Caps Showing Cracks

/ By / Hockey, NHL Today
Tom Wilson has evolved into a hell of a player for the Washington Capitals.
Tom Wilson is enjoying a career season. (Dan Hickling)

This week, we learned that Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes (LBI) will miss the 4 Nations Face-Off; conversely, Sidney Crosby (arm) will suit up for Canada at the tournament; and Alex Pietrangelo (undisclosed injury) has been replaced by Drew Doughty, who just made his season debut in late-January. Other Fantasy hockey related stories we’re tracking include…

Tom Wilson’s Evolution

The Washington Capitals have been among the more pleasant surprises in the NHL so far this season, but cracks in their game are starting to show a bit. They had lost three of six heading into action Sunday, and probably deserved a worse fate than that, so it wasn’t exactly a major upset when the Caps lost in a shootout to Utah on Sunday.

Still, Washington remains the top team in the East as we begin the 4 Nations Face-Off break. The Caps enjoyed a surprising bounce back last season, making it back to the playoffs after missing out the season before, but what the team has done this season (36-11-8) through 55 games is nothing short of shocking. It seems every offseason move they made has paid dividends.

With Washington, it’s virtually all about Alex Ovechkin all the time, and generally that’s justified (especially now with the record in sight), but can we just talk about how freaking good Tom Wilson has been this season?

Wilson’s journey from feared and hated thug who rarely scored to a player who has not only overcome serious injuries, but is also much more valuable staying out of the sin bin has been an incredible story. With another two goals (and a helper) on Sunday, he’s now potted four tallies in four games this month (despite seeing less ice time) to run his season total to 24. That total matches his career high from 2021-22 and puts him on pace for 36 markers this season.

The veteran winger has become a must-own Fantasy asset and has been a force on the power play, scoring 10 of his goals on the man advantage – twice as many PPGs as he’s had in a season before. Hell, he’s even potting shorties (see video below). Wilson, now an alternate captain for the Caps, is finally making headlines for something other than injuring his opponents. He’s still as tough as nails, and realistically should have his picture in the dictionary under “power forward,” but has evolved into so much more, so small wonder he was being considered for Team Canada’s 4 Nations roster.

Connor McDavid’s Regression

For the past several seasons, the Edmonton Oilers have been building towards their first Stanley Cup victory since 1989-90. Last season, despite a less impressive regular season than 2022-23, they took the Panthers to seven games in the Final before going down.

This season, Edmonton looks stronger than any time since its 1980s dynasty version. The Oilers didn’t enter the break on fire, but good enough to claim a slim lead in the Pacific division with a 34-17-4 mark.

In the final game before the break (a 5-4 loss to Colorado), Connor McDavid took a rare goose egg (and -3) on the scoreboard despite seeing a ton of action and firing five shots on net. He had posted points of eight of nine before that, so this was just a blip for the superstar.

Last season, we were pretty certain that McDavid would win the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP if Edmonton prevailed, but instead he became a rare recipient despite playing on the runner up.

His playing time has been rising as the season has progressed, but for the second straight season, his production has declined. In 2022-23, McDavid enjoyed a career best effort with 64 goals and over 150 points, but last season, his goal total dropped in half, and while he reached the century mark in helpers for the first time, he still saw his point total dip by 21.

This season, he’s only averaging an assist per game with 71 total points in 49 games, putting him on pace to barely get over 100 points – a number almost any player would kill to reach, but seems almost pedestrian for a generation talent like this.

Even so, is there a player more likely to take home MVP at the 4 Nations Face-Off? FanDuel doesn’t think so, listing him as the favourite at +650.

McDavid has found himself on the top line for Team Canada, skating with wingers Mitch Marner and Sam Reinhart – a unit that will strike serious fear into their opponents. The rest of Team Canada’s roster:

Waiver Wire Pickup of the Week

Cole Perfetti, C, Winnipeg Jets (ESPN: 20.9 per cent; CBS: 52 per cent): Perfetti earned himself a nice raise based on his breakout in 2023-24, but he got off to a slow start this season. Well, he’s rolling now, with a goal and five helpers over a five-game point streak, coming off a hat trick two games before that. Perfetti’s PT is up this month, and his +/- has risen each season. He went 10th overall in 2020 for a reason, so as his superb offensive skills develop further, he should be a stellar asset down the stretch.

RotoRob Tune of the Day

As part of the British new wave movement, Depeche Mode released their first album in 1981. As its name suggests, Black Celebration, their fifth album, is darker; among the deep album tracks is “Here Is the House.”

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