The playoffs were a tough ending to an up and down season for the Capitals. After being eliminated in just four games, it was disappointing but good to see the young guys like McMichael and Lapierre step up and play well under the high pressure of the postseason. This team exceeded expectations considering the roster turnover from the start of the season, evolving in a way we couldn't have anticipated. But in the end, it presented an opportunity for the next generation of Capitals to gain valuable experience.

The status of veterans like Oshie remains unclear, as his back problems may force him to reconsider returning. He's been a core leader on and off the ice, bringing energy and compete, so it's impressive what he's done for himself and the organization over the years. We'll give him time and support whatever decision he makes about his future. Offense will need to come from within and from new additions, with Ovechkin penciled in for 42 goals at age 38 but not able to carry the team alone anymore. More speed and size on defense could help too.

It was a transition year with ups and downs but opportunities emerged for youth to develop. The early playoff exit stings but can serve as motivation to improve this offseason. Externally and internally, we'll look for ways to build on the positives and address the weaknesses to come back stronger next season.

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Tom Wilson is a critical piece of the Washington Capitals' present and future success. As one of the team's alternate captains and a veteran at just 30 years old, Wilson provides invaluable leadership on and off the ice. His rare blend of physicality, offensive production, and intangibles make him a keystone player. This past season, despite injuries and lineup shuffles, Wilson still produced at a high level with 18 goals and 35 points in 74 games while making his second All-Star appearance. With Alex Ovechkin entering the twilight of his illustrious career in Washington, Wilson's role as a leader will only expand. His seven-year contract extension begins next season, perfectly aligning with the need for Wilson to step up as the face of the next era of Capitals hockey. Nicklas Backstrom's uncertain playing future also opens the door for Wilson's voice to grow louder. Wilson has earned high praise from teammates for his work ethic, accountability, and team-first mentality. The Capitals will lean heavily on these traits as Wilson guides and mentors the organization's young core. His experience overcoming adversity this past season, including losing Backstrom and having to adapt to Evgeny Kuznetsov's departure, has only strengthened Wilson's leadership abilities. He is ready and eager to embrace being the heart, soul, and identity of the Capitals. With his rare power forward playing style and growing intangibles, Tom Wilson is clearly indispensable to everything Washington is building towards now and into the future.

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TJ Oshie's future in the NHL remains uncertain as he continues to battle chronic back issues that have plagued him in recent seasons. Oshie acknowledged that it would be difficult to definitively say he is retiring, expressing a desire to continue playing if he could get some assurance that his back problems can be resolved. The lingering pain has been his biggest obstacle to playing at 100%, making it a challenge just to get his body ready for games. Things reached a breaking point this past season when, after only playing 8 games, Oshie suffered a hard hit from Artemi Panarin in the playoffs that required him to urgently fly his doctor in to get ready for Game 3. Adding insult to injury, he then took a dangerous hit into the boards from Matt Rempe that broke his left hand. As excruciating as that was, Oshie insisted that a broken hand was like a mere hangnail compared to the constant agony from his back problems. He has tried solutions like a double ablation procedure but it provided only temporary relief, as there are multiple issues plaguing his back. The pain has deteriorated his quality of life, leaving him sometimes unable to even get off the floor to go to the bathroom and requiring him to resort to using water bottles. For Oshie, playing through pain is nothing new after over a decade in the NHL. But he longs for the simpler days when all it took was some coffee and a hot tub to get ready for a game, not the exhaustive treatments he now needs just to make it onto the ice. While Oshie remains unsure if he will officially retire, his fate rests largely on whether doctors can find a way to resolve his back troubles. If he can get healthy again, his passion for hockey still burns strongly enough that he would love to return for another season. Dan then talks about the future of Nick Backstrom on the Capitals and former Caps coach Peter Laviolette's kind words about the team

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