Okay, NHL Nation, the Washington Capitals’ season is a rollercoaster, and it’s not all about Alexander Ovechkin’s history chase anymore. Sure, Ovechkin is tantalizingly close to making history with only 12 goals needed to topple Wayne Gretzky’s mythical 894 record. But while the hockey community has been obsessed with this storyline, the Caps are have continued to win games… in an entirely risky manner. And surprise, surprise—head coach Spencer Carbery is not sugar-coating his words.

On March 1st, the Capitals released a clip from an interview with Carbery on X, and let’s just say—he did not hold back. “We have been able to come back in games even when we do fall behind, but as I’ve said many times, even after being successful in those situations and winning games in those situations, you are playing with fire in the National Hockey League if you play from behind,” he said. In other words, the Capitals’ habit of chasing games is not sustainable, and he knows it.

Carbery pointed out the simple reality—defensive lapses are killing them. “Little things inside of the game, whether it’s positioning on our forecheck, not getting beat up by the first goalie… terrible awareness from five guys on the ice. Every single guy plays a role in that goal, and we all looked at each other and went, I had no idea. Every single guy said I had no idea Broberg was on the back side. That’s not good enough.”

The Capitals did exhibit some problems after losing in consecutive games at the Capital One Arena. The St. Louis Blues defeated Washington 5-2 on Thursday. Just a bit earlier, on Tuesday, the Flames defeated them 3-1, although Alexander Ovechkin scored his 883rd career goal in the process.

The team’s got serious awareness issues, and while they’re dealing with it well enough in the regular season, the postseason is a different beast. Once it’s time for the playoffs, the Caps need to sort out these problems or risk facing an early exit—an exit that would really put a damper on what has been a fairytale season so far.

The Washington Capitals face a reality check

Spencer Carbery’s bluntness isn’t just frustration—it’s a signal that Washington’s front office, led by GM Chris Patrick, has some decisions to make with the March 7 trade deadline fast approaching. Patrick recently admitted that defensive depth is always a priority for playoff teams, saying, “I think, in general, for the playoffs, you can always use more [defensemen], 10-12 [defensemen] in your organization.” Right now, the Capitals have 11 in the organization, which, according to Patrick, is not a bad spot to be in. But Carbery’s public frustration with defensive awareness could push Patrick to add another experienced blueliner, particularly someone with playoff seasoning, to solidify the group.

Patrick also made it clear that the Capitals were open to any kind of move—buyer or seller—depending on how the team performed in the lead-up to the deadline. With Washington being a Cup favorite, Patrick said, “I think we have to be open to anything.” That flexibility could mean adding a depth forward as well, especially someone with a strong two-way game who could help address some of the defensive lapses that Carbery highlighted.

The chemistry factor will also weigh heavily in any deal. Patrick stressed that this group has built a strong bond this season, and any addition needs to complement what’s already working. “That’s kind of always a thing [chemistry] we’re concerned with, so just like any point in the year, it’s an important factor now,” he said.

In short, Spencer Carbery’s comments are a reality check, not just for the players but for management, too. While Alexander Ovechkin’s record chase dominates headlines, the Capitals’ ability to tighten up defensively and possibly bring in outside help will ultimately decide whether this team is a real playoff threat—or just a historic sideshow. What do you think? Comment below!