What to look for in Caps-Bruins series after Game 1

By Joe Pohoryles The Capitals opened the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins last night, where goals from Tom Wilson, Brenden Dillon and Nic Dowd pushed the Caps to a 1-0 series lead. Despite the positive start, a tough series lies ahead. The biggest concern comes in net, as Vitek Vanecek had toContinue reading “What to look for in Caps-Bruins series after Game 1”

First impressions from the Caps’ opening back-to-back

Capitals hockey is finally back, and the team now sits 2-0-0 after a back-to-back with the Buffalo Sabres to open the season. This was the team’s first action since getting bounced by the New York Islanders in the 2020 postseason. A sluggish, frustrating performance in the NHL bubble led to a lot of questions surroundingContinue reading “First impressions from the Caps’ opening back-to-back”

The Pohory-list: 2021 Top 25 under 25

A year ago, in one of the first dozen posts in The Wildcard’s history, I listed my Top 25 DC sports players under the age of 25. In what I am now establishing as a new annual tradition, this list will provide a glimpse at where the young talent among the four major DC sportsContinue reading “The Pohory-list: 2021 Top 25 under 25”

Assessing the Caps roster with the Chara, Sheary additions

With the additions of Conor Sheary, Zdeno Chara and possibly Craig Anderson, the Capitals are putting the final moves in place before the 2020-21 season begins. As it stands, the team is more than $3.5 million over the salary cap (according to CapFriendly), but more on the cap situation later. For now, Chara becomes theContinue reading “Assessing the Caps roster with the Chara, Sheary additions”

Rafter Watch: Which numbers are most likely to be retired next?

Nothing immortalizes a player like a number retirement. In doing so, a franchise essentially declares, “this player was so incredible that anyone who wears this number after him would be insulting his legacy.” Ok maybe not that extreme, but it does signify a player who had a legendary impact on the franchise. As of rightContinue reading “Rafter Watch: Which numbers are most likely to be retired next?”

Capitals Free Agency Review

NHL Free Agency opened last Friday, and although the Capitals did not have much cap space to work with, the team made several key signings while also making one tough goodbye. While other deals will trickle in until the start of the season, including a likely trade of one of the team’s blueliners, the bruntContinue reading “Capitals Free Agency Review”