Skip to content
The Hockey Writers
  • Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metro Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL News
  • Season Previews
  • NHL Rumors
  • Substack
  • Archives
  • More…
    • 2025 NHL Draft
    • Trade Deadline
    • HockeyPedia
    • NHL Prospects
    • World Juniors
    • PWHL
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • NHL Salary Cap Information
    • Milestone Tracker
    • Merch Shop
    • CHL
      • OHL
      • QMJHL
      • WHL
    • Columns
    • Podcasts
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Season Previews
    • Books
    • NHL History
    • Write for us
    • THW on YouTube
    • 2024 NHL Draft Guide
The Hockey Writers
  • Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metro Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL News
  • Season Previews
  • NHL Rumors
  • Substack
  • Archives
  • More…
    • 2025 NHL Draft
    • Trade Deadline
    • HockeyPedia
    • NHL Prospects
    • World Juniors
    • PWHL
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • NHL Salary Cap Information
    • Milestone Tracker
    • Merch Shop
    • CHL
      • OHL
      • QMJHL
      • WHL
    • Columns
    • Podcasts
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Season Previews
    • Books
    • NHL History
    • Write for us
    • THW on YouTube
    • 2024 NHL Draft Guide

Ben Lutz

Ben covers the Washington Capitals at the hockey writers. He has been blogging about the NHL since March 2013. Follow him @DCSportsDork

Can Vrana Deliver for the Capitals?

Ben Lutz | December 1, 2016

Tonight has the potential to be well remembered in recent Capitals history. That’s because this date will be recognized as the start of Jakub Vrana’s NHL career. At 20-years old,…

Categories Capitals Prospects, Washington Capitals

Has Trotz Finally Found the Right Combinations?

Ben Lutz | November 20, 2016

Even though the Washington Capitals have only played 17 games, it already feels like three different seasons have been played. The first season occurred when head coach Barry Trotz had…

Categories Advanced Stats, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin & Backstrom: A Decaying Tandem?

Ben Lutz | November 4, 2016

Coming into last weekend, the Washington Capitals were in the middle of a season-wide slump, to the tune of a 3-2-1 record. If that doesn’t look like an overreaction, I…

Categories Advanced Stats, Washington Capitals

Beginning of the End for Capitals?

Ben Lutz | October 13, 2016

Every year, there is nothing like the pressure of becoming a Stanley Cup contender. Everybody wants to be one of the elite, yet not everyone is at the top of…

Categories Capitals Management, Washington Capitals

Washington’s Projected Scratches and Call-Ups for 2016-17

Ben Lutz | October 7, 2016

With the NHL season upon us, every team is slowly making the necessary cuts to fit 23 players into their opening day roster. While all the focus will be on…

Categories Capitals Prospects, Hershey Bears, Washington Capitals

Nerdin’ it Out: 2016 RIT Hockey Analytics Conference

Ben Lutz | September 20, 2016

Slowly but surely, another NHL season is upon us that will bring many storylines. While some journalists will cover the games, some hardworking men and women will gather as much…

Categories Advanced Stats

Why Is Ross Mahoney So Important to the Capitals?

Ben Lutz | August 9, 2016

A few weeks ago, reports came out that new Las Vegas General Manager George McPhee sought Washington’s permission to interview Ross Mahoney for the vacant assistant general manager position. Considering…

Categories Capitals Management, Washington Capitals

Washington’s 2016 Offseason Preview

Ben Lutz | June 24, 2016

By Sunday, it will be two weeks since the Stanley Cup Playoffs finally came to an end with the Pittsburgh Penguins winning the Championship. While fans from one city are…

Categories Capitals Management, Washington Capitals

Washington’s 5 Most Important Free Agents in 2016

Ben Lutz | May 27, 2016

Now that the Washington Capitals have had a few weeks pass since their latest playoff elimination, the team will now gear up towards a prospectively less eventful, but still important,…

Categories Advanced Stats, Free Agents, Trending, Washington Capitals

Stanley Quips: What Does Postseason Failure Really Look Like?

Ben Lutz | May 13, 2016

Another season, another playoff disappointment. That’s what almost everyone will remember of the 2015-16 Washington Capitals and not the fact that they had their second greatest regular season in franchise…

Categories Advanced Stats, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals

Stanley Quips: Uncovering Matt Murray and Trotz’s Greatest Flaw

Ben Lutz | May 6, 2016

With Pittsburgh’s overtime win last Wednesday, they have now grabbed a three games to one advantage that will be difficult for them to lose. Of the 82 situations in Stanley…

Categories Advanced Stats, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals

Can the Capitals End Mike Sullivan’s Success

Ben Lutz | April 28, 2016

It was December 12th when Pittsburgh decided to go a different direction by firing head coach Mike Johnston and replacing him with assistant Mike Sullivan. It was a move general…

Categories Advanced Stats, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals
Older posts
Page1 Page2 … Page5 Next →

Editor’s Choices

Canadiens’ Dach, Demidov and Laine Experiment a Disaster in Waiting

Kyle Connor Extension Talk, Roslovic Update & More NHL Rumors

4 Potential Destinations for Connor McDavid if He Leaves Edmonton

Latest from THW

Bruins Need Centers and Prospects to Step Up in 2025-26

Winnipeg Jets’ First-Round Draft Misses Since 2016

Oilers Trade Tree: From Yakupov to Skinner

Guy Lafleur: The Last of the Great Habs Skaters

Nicolas Roy Could Be the Maple Leafs’ Most Underrated Weapon

Reviewing the Sabres’ First Two Days of Training Camp

From Desharnais to Desharnais: The Oilers’ Tallest & Shortest Players Ever

Latest Rankings & Lists

Every NHL Team’s Top Prospect – 2025-26 Preseason Update

The NHL’s Best Farm Systems Ranked – 2025-26 Preseason Update

The NHL’s Top 100 Prospects – Preseason Update

Search THW

Links

  • Write for THW
  • Masthead
  • Substack Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Writers’ Login

About THW…

Founded in 2009, and 100% Canadian-owned, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read millions of times every month.

Popular Posts

Salary Cap Information
Hockey 101
The Ultimate Hockey Dictionary
NHL Team Origins
Teams That Never Won the Stanley Cup
The Original 6
Jerseys from Defunct NHL Clubs
The Gordie Howe Hat Trick
Our Wayne Gretzky Quiz
© 2025 The Hockey Writers
  • Home
  • NHL Teams
  • THW Headlines
  • Season Previews
  • NHL News
  • Latest NHL Rumors
  • THW Substack
  • THW Archives
  • 2025 NHL Entry Draft
  • NHL Prospects
  • Trade Deadline
  • HockeyPedia
  • PWHL
  • Milestone Tracker
  • Team Salary Cap Info
  • Write for THW
  • NHL Entry Draft
  • THW on YouTube
  • THW Bluesky
  • THW Twitter
  • THW Facebook
  • THW Mastodon

Recent Posts

  • Bruins Need Centers and Prospects to Step Up in 2025-26
  • Winnipeg Jets’ First-Round Draft Misses Since 2016
  • Oilers Trade Tree: From Yakupov to Skinner
  • Guy Lafleur: The Last of the Great Habs Skaters
  • Nicolas Roy Could Be the Maple Leafs’ Most Underrated Weapon