Before the season began, I asked you dear readers to share your predictions for how 2026-27 might go. This exercise complements the Happiness Survey, telling us how we’re all feeling in a snapshot of time – but it also promises us a future opportunity to make fun of ourselves.
Enough time has passed for us to share the results – and we already know one of them was correct. My own predictions are all the way at the bottom.
The Capitals are going to make the playoffs
A humble 99 percent of you think the Caps will make the playoffs. Only two people who said the Caps won’t make the playoffs offered their names, which I’m listing here for future shame and bullying purposes: Landru, RW LI.
Standings-points predictions
Your average prediction for the Caps’ standings-points total was 107. The Caps earned just 95 last season, an abnormally high amount for a non-playoff team and which would pro-rate to about 97 points under an 84-game schedule. The team has not passed 100 points since 2024-25, when they earned 111.
The team pages on RMNB now include both points pace and and pre-season predictions by respected analysts. The team’s current pace is 105 – so pretty close there. The average prediction by the experts is 100 points.
(Incidentally, the experts’ average prediction for the Philadelphia Flyers is 92 points, precisely 50 more than they’re currently on pace for.)
And the Caps are going to go deep
You believe the Caps will make it to the conference final before elimination, with 11.1 wins.
Predictions for Caps playoff wins in 2026-27
Despite the overwhelming confidence to make the playoffs, just 30 percent of respondents think the Caps win the Cup. Moneypuck has it at 2.9 percent, right now, so as a group we are somewhat optimistic.
No one predicted getting swept in the second round, which reflects human nature to ignore nightmare scenarios.
One person predicted the Caps will win 196 games in the playoffs, a reminder to all the survey makers out there to tighten up your data validation.
Alex Ovechkin will set the record for goals by a 42-year-old
Currently held by Gordie Howe, who scored 23 goals in 1970-71, the record for most goals by an old head will be transferred to Ovechkin, who will score 31, according to your predictions.
predictions for Ovechkin Goals in 2026-27
Ovechkin scored 32 goals last season – with a career-low of 5 coming on the power play, where his ice time per game is currently down 28 percent from last season. Just some context to provoke you all.
Don from DC thinks Ovechkin will score 107 goals this season, shattering Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 92. 107 looks suspiciously like a standings-points prediction, Don from DC, a field you left blank. You gotta slow down and double-check your work Don from DC.
This is Alex Ovechkin’s final season (CONFIRMED)
Well, this is an easy one. 82 percent of you said 2026-27 will be the last of Alex Ovechkin‘s NHL career, and he confirmed precisely that.
At RMNB , we believe in accountability. Here are the names of people who were wrong:
- Peter H (Editor’s note: fuuuuuuuu)
- Max L
- ryan leonard (probably not the actual Ryan Leonard)
- Crunch
- Chuckie T
- James
- Stephen
- Philblah
- DP
- Nick A
- DW
- MrBonn
- Brendan
- James
- Jakey
- Eli
- Brandon
- Lucas
- DAVID M
- Travis T
- Mattsie J
- Jacob
- Felix
- Jon B
- JT
- Zach
- Karine D
- Aaron O
- A Rich
- Zach G
- Michael
- Nathan
- Art
- Matt V
- Pichael
- Joe
- TylerS
- Pascal
- Dan
- El
- JP
- Tom O’B
- ASK
- Jeff
- Alejandro
- MattyIce
- Matt
- John M
- Gavin
- GB44
- mike B
- gsb
- Evan
- Aaron
- Mike C
- Craig
- Ovi
- Roderick
- Chew
- Henry
- Jack
- Ren
- Dallas
- Scott
- Ian
- BenJamin
- Scott
- Chris
- Dave H
- DJ
- Kyle
- mike
- Greg
- Mason N
- Marinus
- Marc Bethel
- Anton
- Brian
- Capsfan2018
- Jolene
- Vincent H
- Joe
- Lauren
- Reagan
- Roxy
- Stephen M
- Cedric Diggory
- Karri
- Charles
- Anita
- Nick
- Steve
- Garvey
- mefiona
- Jay D
- Jed
- Dan
Shame on them.
Logan Thompson will remain the team’s workhorse
Vezina snub goalie Logan Thompson appeared in 58 games last season, a career high. You think that’ll basically repeat – with 57 games in this upsized season. Tough break for emotional-support barn goat, Charlie Lindgren, who should at least get starts in those 14 games on the back half of b2bs.
There was lots of disagreement on this prediction, because one person guessed 100 and another predicted 850 games, both of them anonymously, as is the wont of cowards and visionaries alike.
The Caps power play will improve dramatically
With a 17.8 conversion percentage, the Capitals ranked 25th in the power play in 2025-26. That was maybe low enough to cost the team a playoff appearance and definitely low enough to cost Kirk Muller his job.
You think the Caps will rocket up the rankings to 13th place, where the PP% would be somewhere around 21 percent.
Despite his lowered ice time so far this season, Alex Ovechkin remains the team’s most-used PP skater. Close behind him are Chychrun, Strome, Wilson, Leonard, and Tuch.
Right now they’re 19th place, with a 19-percent conversion rate – 4 goals on 21 opportunities. Only the Flames have fewer PPGs, only four teams have had fewer power-play opportunities.
(You didn’t make predictions on it, but the PK so far is middle of the pack.)
The Caps goal leader will be a new face
But not the one I bet you’re thinking of now. Your preseason prediction to lead the Caps in goals was Jordan Kyrou (28 percent of votes), who has two goals in eight games.
Kyrou is a fascinating case. The party line on his time in St Louis was that he was underused, that his skill set and offensive talent were being squandered while he played just 15.7 minutes per night. Interesting hypothesis, and Spencer Carbery is testing it by playing him even less: 13.5 minutes.
The Caps are currently being led in goals by Alex Tuch. One goal behind him is turgid Boone Jenner. One goal behind him is Ryan Leonard.
In your predictions, Tuch came second (20 percent), Ovechkin third (17 percent), and Wilson fourth (16 percent).
Alex Ovechkin currently has one goal. His 11 shots on goal ranks him eighth on the team, fifth if going by total shot attempts.
The Colorado Avalanche will win the Stanley Cup
I’m excluding the Caps from the ranking because obviously you chose them first. You’re a bunch of homers. I pity and admire you at the same time.
You have the Panthers behind them. I was worried about that pick, but if Alexander Barkov is only out for a couple months with his injury, then maybe it’ll work out.
At the other end of the standings you have the Vancouver Canucks, destined for DFL status by a wide margin, receiving 36 percent of votes. That could work out – they’re currently 29th, tied with the Flyers. The Kings and Flames are worse somehow, but it’s just October.
Ted will not buy a baseball team
Eighty-five percent of you probably want me to stop asking the question. I’m not going to stop asking the question until he buys a baseball team. I voted no this time.
But it’s gonna happen. Eventually.
Peter’s predictions (already mostly bad)
- Yes, the Caps will make the playoffs.
- The Caps will win six postseason games, getting eliminated in the second round.
- The Caps will win 106 standings points.
- Alex Ovechkin will score 41 goals, leading the team.
- It will not be his final season. (Critical note: It is his final season.)
- Logan Thompson will play 60 games.
- The Caps power play will be ranked 14th.
- The Colorado Avalanche will win the Cup.
- The Calgary Flames will finish 32nd.
- No, Ted will not buy a baseball team. Darn it.
Sorry.
How did we do?
