Three ways the Capitals can bounce back next season

For the first time since 2014, the Washington Capitals (35-37-9) will not play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Their season will end after they host the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

The Capitals are at a crossroads with an aging core and a title window that seems to have closed. However, as long as they have Alex Ovechkin, Washington will aim to compete for the postseason. Here's how they can do that again next season:

1. Replace Peter Laviolette

When Washington fired Todd Reirden after the 2020 season, they wanted an experienced, proven head coach for a team in "win-now" mode. Three years later, their hire of Laviolette — who's now 58 — has proven to be a mistake. He's a relic from a bygone era.

Several former Capitals have expressed frustration with some of Laviolette's coaching decisions, namely his insistence in valuing veteran, physical players over youth and speed. The Capitals are old and slow, and need a new, younger bench boss who will coach a more modern style.

2. Commit to the youth movement

Several of the Capitals' best prospects, such as Connor McMichael, Alex Alexeyev and Hendrix LaPierre, struggled to get playing time. Instead, the team has played low-upside, free-agency pickups such as Matt Irwin, Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Trevor Van Reimsdyk.

Those three Capitals prospects must be full-time NHL players next season. Other young players, such as defenseman Rasmus Sandin and forward Alexei Protas, have also shown promise. Play them all.

3. Shake up the Cup core

This is going to be the hardest pill for the Capitals to swallow, but it seems necessary. Washington dealt Dmitry Orlov and Lars Eller, mainstays from the 2018 Stanley Cup team, at this season's trade deadline. Similar moves could follow this summer.

A combination of Nicklas Bäckström, John Carlson, T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov probably won't be Capitals next season. Kuznetsov has been named in trade rumors and seems most likely to go.

The focus of many Washington fans the next two seasons will be on Ovechkin's chase of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record. Ovechkin has 822 goals, 72 behind Gretzky.

Management must build a competitive roster around its star, preferably with as many younger players as possible. It's a delicate balance, but it's the best approach.