It’s been a season Washington Capitals fans will talk about for years. It’s had everything, from coming out of nowhere to post a 51-21-9 record, good for 111 points and a Metropolitan Division championship. Then, it was onto watching franchise icon Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky‘s goal record, something many thought impossible. Things keep improving as the Washington Capitals lock up forward Nic Dowd to a two-year deal and an average annual value of $3 million. This deal keeps a key piece of the Capitals roster around for the foreseeable future.
Dowd Career and the Extension Impact on the Capitals
Dowd is in the middle of a career season. Through 81 GP, he’s registered 14 goals, 13 assists, for 27 points. His goal and point totals are new career highs, while he’s three assists away from matching his career high, which he set back during the 2016-17 season with the Los Angeles Kings. His production is why Washington’s bottom six has been so effective this season. Scoring isn’t the only area where Dowd is succeeding. He also made an impact in the face-off circle, posting a 49.8 FO%. The best mark he’s had since the 2022-23 season.
Dowd has also been one of Washington’s best penalty killers. He currently centres the top penalty kill and averages 2:35 of shorthanded ice time. This ranks third on the Capitals and 30th in the entire NHL. He’s helped the Capitals put up an 82.3 penalty kill percentage, fourth best in the entire league. Dowd has also given the Capitals’ penalty kill some offensive production. He has found the back of the net twice when shorthanded. This is tied for second on the Capitals and tied for 18th in the league.
What Does Dowd Bring to the Caps
While Dowd does not have the name recognition of players like Ovechkin and Pierre-Luc Dubois, he’s still crucial to the Capitals’ success. In today’s game, depth is extremely important. Being able to rely on the bottom six as much as the top six, can give your team a more balanced attack. Teams can’t stifle your production if the entire roster can produce. Now that the Washington Capitals have locked up forward Dowd, it keeps their bottom six stable for the foreseeable future. It allows them to keep the strategies and game plans that have worked so well this season for the future. With Dowd signed, the Capitals can keep building towards sustained success.
Main Photo Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
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