In Fitting Fashion At The Fountains, Capitals Icon T.J. Oshie Calls It A Career

The fan favorite helped lead the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018.

WASHINGTON — It’s the end of an era for the Washington Capitals, as fan favorite T.J. Oshie has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey after 16 NHL seasons.

Oshie, who often grew emotional durign his farewell speech, shared the news in fitting fashion, gathering hundreds of fans at the fountains at Washington Harbour, where he and his teammates swam seven years ago to the day in celebration of the Capitals’ first-ever Stanley Cup Championship.

“The moment my skattes touched the ice, I gave (it) everything I had,” Oshie said.

The 38-year-old couldn’t play this past season amid ongoing issues with his back, which he said would have him “literally on the floor” in pain. He had searched for a permanent fix or solution, but was unable to find one.

Despite remaining on long-term injured reserve, he remained around the team and did what he could to support the group off the ice. His last game came on April 28, 2024, a home loss to the New York Rangers in Game 4 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Oshie had originally been drafted 24th overall by the St. Louis Blues and played with them for seven years, but made his mark in D.C. following his trade to the Capitals in the 2015 offseason.

Over nine years in the District, Oshie made his mark as a high-energy forward and leader who set the example on and off the ice. He put up 192 goals and 193 assists for 385 points, the ninth-most in franchise history, and his 76 power-play goals in D.C. are ranked fifth all-time among Washington skaters. He had 21 points in 24 games during the 2018 run to lead the Capitals to their first championship.

Oshie appeared in a total of 1,010 career NHL games, posting 302 goals and 393 assists for 695 points. He also earned recognition for his heroics in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, when he scored four shootout goals to power Team USA past Russia.

While Oshie’s time on the ice has come to an end, his legacy remains in the District.