Collection: Washington Capitals Hockey Cards

Washington Capitals hockey cards highlight Alex Ovechkin, one of the most popular and collectible modern NHL stars. Ovechkin's Young Guns rookie card is a grail item for collectors, while rookie cards for Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom also have appeal. Autographed Ovechkin cards, jersey patches, and SP Authentic releases are highly sought after by investors and fans alike.

The Washington Capitals, founded in 1974, endured early struggles before becoming perennial contenders and eventually capturing the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2018. After setting records for futility in their inaugural season, the Capitals gradually improved behind stars like Mike Gartner, Rod Langway, and goaltender Al Jensen, reaching the playoffs regularly in the 1980s. The 1990s brought forward Peter Bondra, one of the NHL’s top goal scorers, and the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1998, though they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. The arrival of Alex Ovechkin in 2005 as the first-overall pick transformed Washington into one of the NHL’s elite teams, with Ovechkin becoming one of hockey’s greatest goal scorers, earning multiple Hart Trophies and surpassing 800 career goals while leading the Capitals to numerous Presidents’ Trophy seasons. Despite regular-season dominance, playoff success proved elusive until 2018, when Ovechkin, goaltender Braden Holtby, center Nicklas Bäckström, and coach Barry Trotz led Washington to its first Stanley Cup, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Ovechkin’s Conn Smythe-winning performance and iconic Cup lift ended decades of frustration for Capitals fans. Recent seasons have kept Washington competitive with stars like John Carlson, T.J. Oshie, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, though the team is transitioning toward a younger core as Ovechkin chases Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record. From early struggles to modern championships, the Capitals’ history blends superstar brilliance, playoff redemption, and one of the NHL’s most passionate fan bases.