The Washington Capitals were established in 1974 as an expansion team, joining the National Hockey League alongside the Kansas City Scouts ¹⁾

The team’s nickname was chosen through a fan contest that received over 12,000 entries, including suggestions like “Pandas,” “Cheetahs,” and “Comets” ²⁾

The Capitals played their first NHL game on October 9, 1974, suffering a 6-3 defeat against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden ³⁾

In their 1974–75 inaugural season, the Capitals recorded only 8 wins in 80 games, resulting in a .131 winning percentage that remains the worst in NHL history ⁴⁾

From 1974 to 1997, the Capitals played their home games at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, known for its unique saddle-shaped roof ⁵⁾

The team’s first victory came on October 17, 1974, when they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 at the Capital Centre ⁶⁾

Jim Hrycuik scored the first goal in franchise history during the team's opening night game against the New York Rangers ⁷⁾

In 1982, owner Abe Pollin nearly sold or moved the team until the “Save the Caps” campaign successfully rallied local fans to buy season tickets ⁸⁾

The 1982 trade for Rod Langway is credited with saving the team; Langway won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman in 1983 and 1984 ⁹⁾

Following the arrival of Rod Langway, the Capitals qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in the 1982-83 season ¹⁰⁾

In 1987, the Capitals and Islanders played the longest Game 7 in NHL history, a four-overtime thriller that didn't end until nearly 2:00 AM on Easter Sunday ¹¹⁾

The Capitals reached their first Stanley Cup Final in 1998, led by star goaltender Olaf Kolzig, though they were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings ¹²⁾

In December 1997, the team moved from Maryland to downtown Washington, D.C., opening the MCI Center, now known as Capital One Arena ¹³⁾

The Capitals selected Alex Ovechkin with the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, a move that revitalized the franchise’s global popularity ¹⁴⁾

In his first NHL game in 2005, Alex Ovechkin scored two goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets, immediately living up to his “Great Eight” hype ¹⁵⁾

The Capitals won their first Presidents' Trophy in 2010, finishing the regular season with a franchise-record 121 points ¹⁶⁾

The Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in 2018 by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games ¹⁷⁾

Alex Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the 2018 playoffs after scoring 15 postseason goals ¹⁸⁾

On December 23, 2022, Alex Ovechkin scored his 802nd career goal to pass Gordie Howe for second place on the NHL’s all-time goals list ¹⁹⁾

In early 2025, Alex Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer ²⁰⁾

The Capitals retired Rod Langway’s number 5 jersey in 1997, honoring the “Secretary of Defense” for his leadership in the 1980s ²¹⁾

Yvon Labre’s number 7 was retired in 1981; he was an original member of the 1974 team and a former captain ²²⁾

The franchise retired Mike Gartner’s number 11 in 2008, recognizing one of the most consistent goal scorers in hockey history ²³⁾

Gritty center Dale Hunter’s number 32 was retired in 2000, commemorating his grit and his iconic 1988 Game 7 overtime winner ²⁴⁾

Slapshot, a large bald eagle wearing number 00, has been the official mascot of the Capitals since his debut on November 17, 1995 ²⁵⁾

Washington hosted the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park, where Troy Brouwer scored with 12.9 seconds left to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks ²⁶⁾

In Game 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, Braden Holtby made a miraculous stick save on Alex Tuch that is considered the most iconic save in team history ²⁷⁾

The 2015-16 Capitals set the franchise record for the most wins in a single season with 56 victories ²⁸⁾

The team’s secondary “Weagle” logo features an eagle spread to form a 'W' with the silhouette of the U.S. Capitol building at the bottom ²⁹⁾

The Capitals practice at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia, which is uniquely located on the top floor of a public parking garage ³⁰⁾

In the 2014 Winter Olympics, Capitals star T.J. Oshie gained international fame by scoring four times in a single shootout against Russia ³¹⁾

The Capitals are one of the few teams to win consecutive Presidents' Trophies, doing so in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons ³²⁾

In 2022, Nicklas Backstrom became the first player in franchise history to record 1,000 career points entirely as a member of the Capitals ³³⁾

The Capitals are part of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Washington Wizards (NBA) and the Washington Mystics (WNBA) ³⁴⁾

On February 5, 1994, Peter Bondra scored five goals in a single game against Tampa Bay, setting a franchise record for goals in a game ³⁵⁾

In 2018, the Capitals defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in an outdoor game held at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis ³⁶⁾

Devante Smith-Pelly scored three goals in the final three games of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, becoming an unlikely hero in the championship run ³⁷⁾

John Carlson became the franchise's all-time leader in points by a defenseman in 2023, surpassing longtime star Calle Johansson ³⁸⁾

The team popularized the “Rock the Red” slogan starting in the late 2000s to encourage fans to wear red home jerseys, creating a distinct home-ice atmosphere ³⁹⁾

Peter Bondra holds the Capitals' franchise record for the most career shorthanded goals with 32 ⁴⁰⁾

In early 2026, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was officially named to the roster for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, his fifth selection ⁴¹⁾

Current NHL coaches like Mike Sullivan and Jon Cooper have frequently cited the Capitals' organizational stability as a model for the league ⁴²⁾

In 1995, the team underwent a radical rebranding, switching from their original red, white, and blue to a “Screaming Eagle” logo in blue and bronze ⁴³⁾

The Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation has raised millions for local D.C. charities, focusing on social justice and youth hockey accessibility ⁴⁴⁾

Tommy Williams led the original 1974-75 Capitals in scoring with 58 points, a bright spot in their historically difficult inaugural season ⁴⁵⁾