2018 Stanley Cup Champion Alex Chiasson Joins Capitals as Full-Time Scout
The Washington Capitals are keeping another member of their 2018 Stanley Cup championship team in the organization, as former forward Alex Chiasson has joined the Capitals as a full-time scout.
Chiasson worked with Washington as a consultant last season before moving into the full-time role, according to a report from Monumental Sports Network’s Tarik El-Bashir. The former Capitals forward has already been working with the organization’s young players during Washington’s 2026 Rookie Camp at McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis.
The move continues a trend of Washington finding roles for members of its championship-era teams after their playing careers. Chiasson joins an organization where former Capitals Brooks Orpik and Olie Kolzig are already involved in player development, giving Washington’s prospects access to people who understand both the organization and what it takes to win at the NHL level.
Chiasson Already Working With Capitals Prospects
Chiasson’s presence at rookie camp has provided an early look at what he can offer Washington beyond traditional scouting.
The Capitals opened their three-day rookie camp Sunday in Annapolis with 21 players, including 17 Washington draft picks. The development staff working on the ice included Steve Richmond, Jim Slater, Orpik, Kolzig and Chiasson, along with Hershey Bears goaltending coach Juha Lehtola.
Chiasson was not simply observing from the side of the rink.
One of the most interesting examples involved 2025 first-round pick Lynden Lakovic. Washington’s official website reported that Chiasson spent time helping Lakovic with details along the boards, including rim pickups and adjusting his stick blade to better control pucks coming around the wall.
Those may appear to be minor details, but they are exactly the type of skills that can determine whether a young player successfully transitions from junior hockey to the professional level. Chiasson spent more than a decade learning how to survive and contribute in the NHL, making his experience particularly valuable for prospects trying to make the same transition.
Lakovic specifically credited Chiasson with helping him understand those details during the Annapolis session. The work showed that Chiasson’s new position could extend beyond evaluating players and include helping Washington develop them.
Chiasson was also involved with Washington’s prospects during development camp earlier this summer. He worked alongside Orpik and Kolzig during portions of those sessions, another indication that the Capitals had already begun integrating him into their development operation before his move to a full-time position.
From Stanley Cup Champion to Capitals Scout
Chiasson will always have a special place in Capitals history because of his role on the 2017-18 championship team.
Washington initially brought Chiasson to training camp on a professional tryout before signing him to a one-year contract on Oct. 4, 2017. He proceeded to establish himself as a useful depth forward, appearing in 61 regular-season games and recording nine goals and nine assists for 18 points.
His biggest contribution came during Washington’s historic postseason.
Chiasson played 16 games during the Capitals’ run to their first Stanley Cup championship, finishing with a goal and an assist. His lone goal of the postseason came during Washington’s second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the opponent that had repeatedly ended Capitals championship hopes in previous seasons.
Washington finally eliminated Pittsburgh in six games before defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final. The Capitals then defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five games to capture the Stanley Cup.
Chiasson became part of one of the most celebrated teams in Washington sports history.
An 11-Year NHL Career
Chiasson’s hockey experience extends well beyond his one season with Washington.
The Dallas Stars selected him with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2009 NHL Draft. He eventually played 651 NHL regular-season games across 11 seasons, recording 120 goals and 113 assists for 233 points.
His NHL stops included Dallas, the Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Capitals, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings.
Chiasson enjoyed his best offensive season immediately after leaving Washington. He joined Edmonton for the 2018-19 season and established career highs with 22 goals and 38 points while becoming an effective power-play contributor.
His ability to continually earn NHL opportunities could prove particularly useful in evaluating prospects.
Chiasson was never a superstar or high draft pick expected to automatically receive an NHL roster position. Although Dallas selected him relatively early, he built his career by adapting to different organizations, coaches, systems and roles. He played throughout lineups, contributed on special teams and learned how to remain valuable even when he was not producing significant offensive numbers.
That experience gives him a perspective that can be difficult to replicate through analytics or traditional scouting alone.
Retirement Opens the Door to a New Career
Chiasson officially announced his retirement from professional hockey in January 2025.
He finished his NHL career with 651 games and the distinction of being a Stanley Cup champion. His final NHL action came with Detroit during the 2022-23 season, when he scored six goals and recorded nine points in 23 games. He later attended Boston Bruins training camp on a professional tryout but was released before the 2023-24 regular season.
Rather than completely leaving hockey, Chiasson eventually found his way back to Washington.
Working as a consultant provided an opportunity for both sides to determine whether the relationship made sense long term. His promotion into a full-time scouting position suggests the Capitals liked what he brought to the organization.
It also gives Chiasson an opportunity to begin building a second career in hockey.
Capitals Continue Keeping Former Players Around
There is considerable value in having former players remain connected to an organization, particularly players who experienced its greatest achievement.
Orpik has become heavily involved in Washington’s player-development operation following his retirement. Kolzig, one of the most important players in franchise history, also remains involved in player development. Jim Slater is another member of the development staff.
Chiasson now adds another perspective.
He understands what playing for Washington is like, but more importantly, he understands what successful NHL depth players look like. NHL organizations need stars, but championship rosters are built with much more than first-line forwards and top-pair defensemen.
Washington’s 2018 team demonstrated that perfectly.
Chiasson was one of several players who accepted specific roles and provided the Capitals with the depth necessary to survive four difficult playoff rounds. Washington can now use that experience when evaluating the next generation of players who could potentially fill similar roles.
The timing is also significant.
Washington has assembled an increasingly interesting prospect pool featuring players such as Cole Hutson, Andrew Cristall, Ilya Protas, Lakovic and Terik Parascak. The Capitals brought 21 players to Annapolis for rookie camp before the organization transitions into its main training camp later this week.
Several of those players could become important pieces of Washington’s future.
Chiasson will now have an opportunity to help the Capitals identify which players possess not only NHL talent, but the details, adaptability and mentality necessary to remain there.
MSB Take
This is exactly the type of move the Capitals should continue making. Alex Chiasson understands the organization, understands what it takes to make an NHL roster and, most importantly, knows firsthand what it takes to win a Stanley Cup in Washington.
Not every great scout needs to have been a great NHL player. In some ways, Chiasson’s career makes him especially interesting for this position because he had to fight for jobs throughout his career and constantly adjust his game. He knows what separates a talented prospect from a player a coaching staff can actually trust in an NHL lineup.
Seeing him already working directly with Lynden Lakovic on small details during rookie camp is encouraging. Washington is not merely bringing back a popular member of the 2018 team for nostalgia. The Capitals appear to be giving Chiasson a legitimate opportunity to contribute to the future of the franchise.
The Stanley Cup connection makes the story special, but Chiasson’s hockey knowledge is what could make the hiring valuable. A player who once helped Washington reach the top of the NHL will now have a hand in finding and developing players the Capitals hope can eventually take them there again.
