Washington Capitals


1974-75
The NHL enters the U.S. capital in 1974 with the birth of the Capitals, who wear patriotic uniforms of red, white and blue. Early on, the team wears white pants with their red jerseys. That proves to be a bad move, and those pants are quickly retired.


1975-77
After experimenting with white, red and blue pants, the Capitals finally settle on blue pants to be worn with both jerseys.


1977-79
The red away jerseys gain names on the back, with the NHL requiring names on all jerseys.


1979-80
The names change to one color with no trim.


1980-83
The word WASHINGTON shrinks in size, and the stars become slightly larger.


1983-85
The sleeves now contain just four stars each, instead of five, which had been the case since the team's inaugural season.


1985-87
The fifth star is restored on both sleeves, and the stars on the front move closer together.


1987-95
The trim on the names returns.


1995-97
The team completely changes its look, ditching red and blue in favor of black, bronze and a lighter shade of blue.


1997-2000
The word CAPITALS disappears from the white jersey -- but not the blue jersey. Also, a black alternate jersey is introduced.


2000-07
The black jersey becomes the new road (and later home) jersey, and the names on the back of those black jerseys straighten out.


2007-11
Red, white and blue are restored as the team's official colors, and the uniform's new design pays tribute to its original look.


2011-12
The uniforms the Capitals wore in the previous season's Winter Classic in Pittsburgh are resurrected as the team's new alternate road uniform.


2013-15
The Capitals changed the color scheme on their primary home and away socks.


2015-17
The Capitals change their alternate uniform to their original red uniform so that they could wear them at home. The word "WASHINGTON" is in white; whereas on the originals, it was blue.


2017-18
The Capitals carry over their uniform designs to the new Adidas Adizero system and retire their throwback alternates.


2018-20
The Capitals reistate their alternate uniform from two seasons ago -- this time in the Adidas Adizero system.


2021-present
The Capitals introduce a new alternate uniform, based in part on their 2018 Stadium Series uniform.


Special Event Uniforms

2011 Winter Classic
The Capitals beat the Penguins, 3-1, while wearing replicas of their original white uniform at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field.


2015 Winter Classic
The Capitals hosted the Blackhawks in the 2015 Winter Classic, beating them 3-2 at Nationals Park.


2018 Stadium Series
The Capitals hosted the Maple Leafs at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, on March 3, 2018. The Caps beat the Leafs, 5-2.


2021 Reverse Retro
The Capitals dusted off their late 1990s road uniform, recoloring it in their current color palette.


2022-23 Reverse Retro
The Capitals break out the screaming eagle yet again -- this time in black with blue and bronze trim.


2023 Stadium Series
The Weagle grows in size in a big way as it finally goes front and center on the Capitals' 2023 Stadium Series jersey.