Liz Barr

Alex Ovechkin has been absolutely tearing up the league in January, earning himself First Star of the Month honors, but he is not the only one on the Washington Capitals doing great things. John Carlson, who took the hockey world by storm for the first half of the season, is continuing to have a Norris Trophy-worthy season. His 65 points lead both the Capitals and all NHL defensemen, which makes him 10th in the NHL in points.

Ilya Samsonov, the Washington Capitals’ highly touted first-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and presumptive goalie of the future, finally got his chance in the NHL this season. The rookie is every bit the goaltender that the franchise had hoped for, and he has worked himself into consideration for the Calder Trophy. Not only has Samsonov had a successful first season, it has been a historic one. Recently, he rolled off 11 consecutive decisions with a win, which went back to Nov.

Sammy Solís and the Law Firm have been able to sit back with their shades on while the rest of the Nationals bullpen has been in and out of a revolving door. The bullpen has been less than consistent this year, not just in its performance, but in its personnel. Due to injuries, call-ups, and players being designated for assignment, the supporting cast has been changing all year. The question is, after everyone is properly healthy, who should stay?