The Washington Capitals’ defense for the 2024-25 season is going to be pretty solid with depth. John Carlson leads the way; along with other returning blueliners like Rasmus Sandin, Martin Fehervary, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Ethan Bear, and Alexander Alexeyev. Then, there are new additions that former GM Brian MacLellan made this summer in trading for Jakob Chychrun and signing Matt Roy to a long-term deal in free agency. That is a lot of players who can suit up on the backend for the Capitals.
One of the defenders looking for more games to play in 2024-25 is Alexander Alexeyev. The 24-year-old was drafted by Washington in the first round (31st overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. It will be interesting at the end of training camp where Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery and his staff place Alexeyev. Does he start out the season in Washington’s lineup or is he a healthy scratch? How everyone performs in both training camp and preseason will help determine where Alexeyev slots on the defensemen depth chart for the club.
Alexander Alexeyev’s Previous NHL Campaigns
Alexander Alexeyev originally joined the Washington Capitals’ system for the 2019-20 campaign. He played in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Capitals’ affiliate Hershey Bears. Alexeyev suited up in 58 games for the Bears. In that span, he scored three goals and notched 18 assists for 21 points.
Alexeyev’s 2020-21 campaign was split between Hershey and in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Salavat Yulaev Ufa. He mainly suited up in the KHL. Alexeyev scored eight goals and registered eight assists for 16 points in 55 games. When he was with Hershey, he totaled nine points in 12 games (two goals and seven assists).
The Capitals debuted Alexeyev in their lineup during the 2021-22 season. He played in one game and went without a point in it. He played 10:35 of ice time, a good amount for someone just starting out in his first game in the NHL. However, that was the only Capitals game Alexeyev was a part of that season. He was with the Bears for 68 games and tallied a goal and produced 18 assists for 19 points. He also suited up in three postseason games, where he got an assist.
2022-23 is when Alexeyev started to play more NHL games. He only played in Hershey for four games during the 2022-23 AHL regular season. Meanwhile, he was in the lineup for Washington in 32 games. Alexeyev had five assists during those games. He followed that up last season with three points in 39 games. One of those three points was his first NHL goal. In total, at this point in time, Alexeyev has a goal and seven assists for eight points in 72 career games with the Capitals.
Figuring Out Where Alexander Alexeyev Fits
Looking at all of the names who are under contract for the Washington Capitals, it is hard not seeing Alexeyev as the extra defender at least in 2024-25. The locks for the Capitals on the blue line are John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, Rasmus Sandin, Matt Roy, and Martin Fehervary. I would think Trevor van Riemsdyk is someone who will be on the bottom pair defensive unit for a good amount of games this season. Carbery could always switch him and Alexeyev in and out of the lineup. Then, though, there is Ethan Bear. The Capitals signed Bear to a two-year contract back on December 28, 2023. How much do the Capitals use Bear? Does one of these three get sent to the Hershey Bears? Carbery, new GM Chris Patrick, and other Capitals staff will have to see who fits where for the best defensive lineups they can put out there.
I have said this multiple times already, but this is another case of training camp and the preseason will determine where Alexeyev goes. Making a prediction, I think Alexeyev is one of two extra defensemen heading into the 2024-25 campaign. I think the other is Trevor van Riemsdyk. I think Ethan Bear might start the beginning of the season in the AHL with Hershey. This isn’t necessarily what will actually happen though. That bottom pairing and extra defender battle on the roster is going to be intriguing. No matter how it shakes out, Alexeyev benefits in that he is only 24 years old. He has time to grow into a consistent blueliner, whether that be for the Capitals or for another NHL club. This will be a competition in training camp to keep an eye on.
