One of the biggest questions facing the Washington Capitals’ top brass heading into the 2025-26 season is where to play 24-year-old forward Connor McMichael. The team’s 2019 first-round pick had a breakout 2024-25 campaign, recording new single-season career highs in goals (26), assists (31), and points (57).
“It depends on the hour right now,” GM Chris Patrick said Saturday, when asked where he believes McMichael will fit in. “We’ve moved him all around in our heads, but ultimately, again, that goes to Spencer and his staff. I would guess he’s probably going to start him in the middle and see how it looks, but if he has to make an adjustment, he will.”
McMichael himself was very open about moving back to center during his Breakdown Day media availability in May and still sees himself as a pivot despite how well he has adjusted to playing wing.
“I think I want to be a center for sure,” McMichael said. “I think that’s where I’m most comfortable. For me, it’s just wherever Carbs wants me to play, I’m fine with it. The benefit of playing wing for me this year was playing up in the lineup.”
With the Capitals’ only moves so far this summer addressing defensemen or depth on the wings, namely Justin Sourdif and Anthony Beauvillier, the plan to start with McMichael down the middle seems realistic. The club’s only other notable reported involvement during free agency to this point was regarding Nikolaj Ehlers, a top-six winger who opted to sign with the Carolina Hurricanes over the Caps.
McMichael primarily played center while under Carbery’s guidance on the Hershey Bears during his first pro season (2020-21). The then-teenage McMichael led the Bears in scoring with 27 points (14g, 13a) in 33 games. Hershey won the AHL’s only trophy handed out that season, the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the league’s top regular-season team.
While McMichael is likely penciled in for a return to a similar role, Patrick has left open the potential for a trade this summer or even during the season, which could impact the decision-making. The Capitals went with a nearly identical plan this past season when Hendrix Lapierre was given a chance to secure a permanent NHL role before Patrick ultimately decided to trade for Eller.
