Appreciating T.J. Oshie as Capitals stalwart's future in flux

The Washington Capitals' loss in Game 4 of their first-round series against the New York Rangers on Sunday may have signaled the end of more than just their season.

Longtime veteran T.J. Oshie, one of the few remaining Capitals from the 2018 Stanley Cup-winning squad, might be forced to call it a career.

The 37-year-old Oshie, who suited up for the game with a broken hand , admits he probably won't play next season unless he can ensure he'll be at full strength. Given his bevy of injuries in recent years, it seems the writing is on the wall.

If this is it for Oshie, he deserves to be recognized as an all-time Capitals legend. He's been in D.C. since the 2015-16 season, scoring 192 goals and accumulating 385 points in his 567 regular-season games with the team, as well as 29 goals and 60 points in 76 playoff games.

He's been a fan favorite in Washington throughout his tenure due to his high level of play on the ice and everyday personality off of it. He once rode the metro with fans to a Stanley Cup Final game in 2018, and he's always carried a sentimental appeal as well, most notably when he scored a hat trick in his first game after his father died in 2021.

Oshie has given it his all for Washington through thick and thin, and no words can fully describe how crucial his presence has been. He's not an iconic superstar like Alex Ovechkin or a feared enforcer like Tom Wilson, but without him, the core structure that has defined the Capitals for the past decade would not be complete.

Should Oshie hang up his skates, that would leave only Ovechkin, Wilson and defenseman John Carlson as the remaining holdovers from the 2018 team (this is also assuming the currently inactive Nicklas Backstrom doesn't return). It's always tough to say goodbye, but it's perhaps even tougher to watch a player deal with recurring pain that prevents them from being their best self.

So, assuming this is the end — and even if it isn't — it's safe to say a moment of appreciation is in order for No. 77. On behalf of all Capitals fans: Thank you, T.J. Oshie, for everything.