What To Know & Where Things Stand For The Capitals As Olympic Roster Freeze Takes Place
The Capitals still have quite a bit to reflect on as they prepare for the Olympic Break.
The Washington Capitals were quiet as the NHL Olympic Roster Freeze went into effect at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Besides sending Bogdan Trineyev back to the AHL’s Hershey Bears, general manager Chris Patrick stood pat, choosing not to make a trade or move ahead of the freeze, which goes through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
During the freeze, no moves can be made. Waiver-exempt players can be sent down only if they a) haven’t appeared in 16 of the team’s final 20 NHL games before the freeze or b) weren’t on the NHL roster for 80 days prior to Jan. 21.
Players can still be placed on waivers. If any Capitals go on waivers after Thursday, they do not have to report to their new team until Feb. 17.
The Capitals were said to have been in the running for Artemi Panarin’s services, but the New York Rangers star ultimately went to the Los Angeles Kings, his preferred destination per ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.
Washington is still searching for a “higher-end skilled winger” that can provide more consistency and offense, and the team is also open to an option that could be a short-term boost to help crack the playoffs with potential to stick around, too.
And ultimately, a new piece could be the spark D.C. needs. After a rough go through the month of January, the Capitals have won three of their last four games, but still have work to do. They sit four points out of a tie for third in the Metropolitan Division and five points out of a Wild Card spot.
While Washington’s shown more of the urgency and identity it’s been looking for of late, goal scoring and inconsistency up front have been glaring issues, and adversity and injuries haven’t helped, either. Since Dec. 4, the team has the seventh-worst goals-for percentage (45.99) at all strengths and have struggled to execute and finish, though the chances have been there.
Just because Panarin fell through, though, doesn’t mean more names aren’t out there, and more are expected to emerge going into the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, which is on March 6.
