Craig Laughlin, the beloved color commentator for Monumental Sports Network’s Washington Capitals broadcasts, made his triumphant return to the booth on Sunday for the team’s matinee tilt with the Buffalo Sabres. The 67-year-old had been absent for 71 days since departing to undergo open-heart surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic valve and a blocked left anterior descending artery in January. He was recovering and rehabbing away from the ice before announcing his return on Friday.
During Capitals pre-game coverage, the in-studio crew chatted with Locker and his longtime play-by-play partner, Joe Beninati, as part of “The Crossover” segment.
“Locker, welcome back. How are you doing? You look great,” studio host Alexa Landestoy asked.
“I feel fantastic,” Laughlin answered. “You know, it’s been a long journey. it’s been mentally and physically challenging, but I feel like I’ve been set up for this date and I wanted to come back. It’s worked out just perfectly with the doctors and everybody that surrounds me in my recovery.”
The network and the team honored Locker with several touching tributes. Ahead of the game, the Capitals posted a video to social media where multiple players recorded well wishes for Laughlin from morning skate.
The Monumental broadcast opened with shots of Locker exiting the Capital One Arena elevator and being greeted by players, staff and head coach Spencer Carbery before making his way back to his perch in the booth.
“All of Caps nation rejoices on the recovery Locker,” Beninati said to open things Sunday. “Coaches, fellow announcers, the players. It’s a big game for everybody. Bless his heart.”
“It’s been physically and mentally challenging over these last eight weeks or so, but it’s been a journey that I sort of treated like it was an injury in hockey,” an emotional Laughlin explained of his approach to recovery. “I had this date in my mind that I was going to battle back and be able to sit next to you for this game against Buffalo. So excited to be back.”
Locker also expressed his gratitude to fans, calling their passion for his recovery “absolutely terrific.”
“The support has been unreal. The fans have been supportive with love and encouragement,” he said, adding appreciation for his family who were spotted in the stands. “I have fantastic support, family, friends, fans, Monumental, all the people involved here.”
Feels so great to be back… and I hope that GR8 chase goal counter changes behind me today! @MonSportsNet @Capitals#ALLCAPS #LockerStrong pic.twitter.com/y0V1XygcjG
— Craig Laughlin (@Laughlin18) March 30, 2025
At the first stoppage during the first period, the team honored Laughlin with an emotional video tribute narrated by Capitals PA announcer Wes Johnson. This was followed by a loud standing ovation from fans in attendance.
“Wow, that caught me off guard,” Locker said as the raucous applause subsided. “It did catch me off guard today.”
Locker, who teared up multiple times during the broadcast, took time to shout-out studio analyst Alan May who stepped up to fill-in during his recovery, saying he “answered the bell.”
“He was amazing. And like he likes to say, he was absolutely spectacular,” Locker said, crediting his colleague and fellow Capitals alum for recommending the procedure that ultimately led to his heart surgery. “Number one, he arguably saved my life with Life Guard Imaging. And number two, I’m saying to him, he’s a tremendous analyst. He’s tremendous what he does. And I tell him right now, when I retire in 15 years, he’ll probably take this seat away.”
Appropriately, Laughlin got to be a part of an historic Alex Ovechkin goal call after the Capitals’ captain scored for the 890th time in his career, bringing him within five of breaking the NHL’s all-time goals record.
“He scores!” Beninati said. “He can see the mountaintop from here, we’re at defcom five!”
“Brings chills to me being in the building here today to watch this, Alex Ovechkin on the board,” Laughlin added. “A beautiful deflection right in front of the net and there it is, 890 for the Great Eight… he’s got five to go to get to Gretzky.”
Laughlin has been in the booth for Capitals games since 1990 and has been Beninati’s partner since 1994. His analysis and heart for the team has become synonymous with Caps hockey and Sunday’s reception shows just how many lives he’s touched over the last three-decades.
