Capitals owner Ted Leonsis to receive Lester Patrick Trophy
The NHL announced Tuesday that the Capitals owner and Board of Governors chairman will be honoured for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis is the NHL’s choice for the 2026 Lester Patrick Trophy, which recognizes outstanding service to hockey in the United States. The league announced the award Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Leonsis, the controlling owner of the Washington Capitals since 1999 and founder, chairman, managing partner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, will be honoured Nov. 30 in Washington as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction celebration. He was unanimously elected chairman of the NHL's Board of Governors on Sept. 22.
The Hall of Fame class of 2026 is Phil Kessel, Amanda Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Ryan Suter and longtime USA Hockey athletic trainer Stan Wong.
Under Leonsis, the Capitals won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2018 and took the Presidents' Trophy three times (2009-10, 2015-16, 2016-17). They have won 13 division titles. Since the start of 1999-2000, Washington has 1,085 regular-season wins and 2,435 points, both third-most in the league over that span.
The league also pointed to his work off the ice. The Capitals' Future Caps Learn to Play program, launched in 2016, has introduced more than 12,000 players to the sport, and the club has built or refurbished 14 outdoor street and inline rinks. USA Hockey registration in Washington rose by more than 220 percent from 2005-06 through 2025-26.
"Ted Leonsis epitomizes the essence of effective leadership," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "He turns inspired vision into groundbreaking results through flawless execution. Hockey in the United States, particularly in and around Washington, D.C., has been among the primary beneficiaries of that dynamic combination."
The Rangers presented the trophy to the NHL in 1966 to honour Lester Patrick, who spent 50 years in hockey as a player, coach and general manager. Ray Shero won it last year; previous winners include Sam Rosen (2024) and Joe Bertagna (2023).
