Thank You, Osh: A Farewell to a Capitals Legend

I remember being 10 years old on February 14, 2014, watching the United States vs. Russia Olympic Hockey game. We were supposed to meet our friends that afternoon. I can’t remember what those plans were, but I do remember we were late because we were watching a 27-year-old forward named T.J. Oshie dominate the shootout, scoring on four of his six attempts to win the game for the United States. I remember loving him as a player from that day on and wished he were on the Washington Capitals. 

A year and a half later, I got my wish, as Oshie was traded from the St Louis Blues to the Capitals and became the heart and soul of the team. After spending a decade in Washington – which included 567 regular-season games, 385 points, 192 goals, 193 assists, as well as 60 points in 76 postseason games with the Capitals and finally the Stanley Cup in 2018 – Oshie has decided to retire and end his unbelievable career. 

Oshie was one of those players who you can’t help but love. His passion and drive to play the game are something I will always be thankful that I got to see. I have several friends who root for rival teams but still cheer for him. Because Oshie didn’t just play the game—he lived it. Whether it was fighting through injuries, delivering clutch goals, playing a game a couple of days after his father passed away, or showing up for teammates on and off the ice, he gave everything he had every single shift. 

What made him so special wasn’t just the goals or the highlight-reel plays—it was the way he carried himself. That shootout performance in the 2014 Olympics showed the world what Caps fans would come to see for a decade: calm, clutch, and completely committed. When he came to Washington, he became more than just a great player—he became the heartbeat of the team.

After they lost to the Penguins in 2017, I thought he would leave in free agency because the team was going to get blown up. But little did anyone know how committed Oshie was to the Capitals and how much he wanted to stay. Here is a quote from his retirement speech:

“​​I wanted to do something a little different and do a small gesture to show how much I wanted to remain a Washington Capital. I got a paper towel from the bathroom and a Sharpie. And on it, I wrote something along the lines of, ‘I, TJ Oshie, hereby agree to sign an extension with the Washington Capitals for blank years at blank dollars.’ I then signed the paper and underlined a spot for Mac to put his signature in. I guess my agent might have gotten involved because those blanks were filled in with maybe a little bit more than I deserve, but the gesture was pure. I wanted to remain in Washington Capital. I wanted to stay here for a lot of reasons, but mostly because of my teammates.”

That quote really says it all about T.J. Oshie. He didn’t just play for the Capitals—he wanted to be here. In a league where players bounce from team to team, Oshie chose to stay in D.C. because it mattered to him. Not for the money, not for attention—but for the guys in the locker room and the fans in the stands. That paper towel contract says more than numbers ever could.

Oshie’s legacy isn’t just about points or wins—it’s about heart. For me, and probably for a lot of Caps fans my age, he’s one of the biggest reasons we fell in love with this team. He made it fun. He made it meaningful. He gave everything he had every time he put on that jersey.

So if you ever find this blog post, all I have to say is: Thank you, Osh. Thank you for the goals, the shootouts, the grit, the emotion, the Cup, and for staying when you didn’t have to. You’ll always be a Capital, and in my book, you belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame.