Capitals are winning again, but it's not Alex Ovechkin leading the way

For the Washington Capitals, all the attention in recent years has been on Alex Ovechkin's chase of Wayne Gretzky's historic goals record.

Thus far this season, though, Ovechkin has only lit the lamp five times in 20 games, on pace for the lowest output of his career. Yet the Capitals, who missed the playoffs in 2022-23, are winning again anyway.

They can thank their younger players for this, along with new head coach Spencer Carbery's willingness to give those players opportunities that his predecessor Peter Laviolette did not. Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas, both 22, have emerged into roughly half-point-per-game contributors, while Rasmus Sandin, Matthew Phillips, Martin Fehervary, Beck Malenstyn and Alex Alexeyev, all 25 or younger, are regular members of the lineup.

They're not all regularly adding to the score sheet, but their speed and agility allow the Capitals to play a much more modern style of hockey. It's paying off, as despite Ovechkin's scoring decline as well as injuries to T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom (the latter of whom may not return), the Caps (12-6-2) are currently in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 26 points.

Of course, they still need someone to provide that rugged physicality and veteran leadership, and that's where Tom Wilson — who earned his first career hat trick on Thursday night to carry the Caps over the Anaheim Ducks — comes in. Wilson has been known as an enforcer throughout his career and carries a checkered reputation, but he may be the most important player on the Capitals right now.

Wilson is the one player on the team who is a member of the old core but also a face of the next generation. He was made an assistant captain this season in lieu of Backstrom's and Oshie's absences and could become the next captain once Ovechkin is no longer on the team. 

He's cleaned up his controversial actions as of late, too, with no suspensions in more than two years. Meanwhile his scoring output has become high enough that he must be respected by opponents as much or more than just an enforcer, all while still being someone whose teammates know he'll always be there to protect them.

Wilson may not ever become the best goal-scorer in the league like Ovechkin has been (although...), but his leadership both on and off the ice is crucial. The Capitals have returned to playing playoff-level hockey this season, and Wilson and the youngsters are the biggest reason why.