The Washington Capitals added six players this offseason and are arguably the NHL’s most improved team. However, there are more opportunities for improvement from within to help the team make further steps forward this season. NoVa Caps picks five Capitals who need to have a much better 2024-25 campaign:

1. LW Andrew Mangiapane

The 28-year-old was acquired from the Calgary Flames on June 27 and could start the season on Washington’s second- or third-line.

Mangiapane had the lowest goal total (14) in his five full NHL seasons in 75 games, which is understandable considering Calgary sold off Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, and Chris Tanev last season. He had at least 17 goals and 30 points in each of his previous four, including a 35-goal season in 2021-22.

Mangiapane is entering the final year of a contract that counts $5.8 million against the salary cap, a bit steep for the production he has executed since a big breakout a couple of years ago. Washington acquired him to be a top-six forward and he needs to reassure the organization of their faith in him.

2. D Rasmus Sandin

The 24-year-old, who will be in the first season of a five-year contract worth $4.6 million per, did not pick up where he left off to finish the 2022-23 season after getting acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs as he posted three goals, 23 points, a -13 rating, .4612 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4606 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .47 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 68 regular-season games, where he averaged 21:07 per game (second), including 1:24 on the power play (second). He appeared in only one first-round game due to injury and it was apparent that the Capitals missed Sandin as they allowed 11 goals over the three games he missed.

While it is understandable that Sandin’s play would decline from his time with a Stanley Cup contender in Toronto on a squad that was rebuilding for the last couple seasons, Washington gave up a first-round pick to acquire him less than 18 months ago. Sandin could also be playing with a better two-way defenseman after the Capitals signed Matt Roy in free agency, which should help.

3. RW Tom Wilson

In his first full season after tearing his ACL, the 30-year-old saw his production decrease from the past few seasons as he finished with 18 goals and 35 points (both his lowest in a full season since the 2017-18 season) in 74 games, particularly underwhelming for a top-line forward.

The additions of Mangiapane and center Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Capitals’ top-six forward group should help but Wilson needs to be better, especially in the first season of a seven-year contract that will pay him $6.5 million annually and has been under a lot of scrutiny outside of Washington. Though, he improved in the postseason where he tallied two goals and three points in four games.

4. D John Carlson

Similar to Wilson, Carlson missed significant time in 2022-23 due to a fractured skull and severed temporal artery.

The 34-year-old saw a dip in his offensive production with 10 goals and 52 points in 82 games, where he averaged a league-high 25:54 per game (including 3:22 on the power play to lead Capitals blueliners and 2:46 on the penalty kill, which tied Nick Jensen for the most) and tallied a .4752 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4876 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4953 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage.

With the additions of Roy and Jakob Chychrun, he is expected to start the season with a more seasoned partner and will not be relied upon as much, which may benefit both Carlson and the team.

5. Dubois

Dubois, who signed an eight-year contract worth $8.5 million against the salary cap following a trade to the Los Angeles Kings in June 2023, earned only 16 goals, 40 points, and a .497 faceoff-winning percentage in 82 regular-season games and added a goal in five postseason games before getting dealt to Washington for Darcy Kuemper in June.

Dubois had scored at least 27 goals and 60 points, respectively, three times in his first six NHL seasons prior to landing in SoCal.

Though he had a disappointing year in Los Angeles, Dubois averaged just 15:42 per game (eighth among Kings forwards), including 2:07 on the power play (sixth), suggesting that he did not get as much opportunity due to Los Angeles’ center depth of Anze Kopitar, Quinton Byfield, and Philipp Danault.

With Dubois expected to get time next to Wilson and Alex Ovechkin this season, he should be better. However, Dubois has yet to prove he is worth $8.5 million per season in the NHL yet and their top-six center duo was considered a weakness for the Capitals last season. The team needs Dubois to at least regain his form from his time with the Winnipeg Jets. A breakout year from Dubois would be huge for the team.