Nic Dowd

Nic Dowd

34-Year-Old CenterC
Washington Capitals
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Dowd is simply a fourth-line center, though he's more productive than some of his peers in that role. Last year, he produced 22 points, 118 hits and 72 blocked shots over 64 regular-season contests. Dowd has reached the 70-game mark just once in his career, but even when injuries crop up, he's still good to chip in a point roughly once every three games. What you won't get from him is power-play production, as he is purely a defensive player for the Capitals, albeit one who has the trust of the organization. He can help in formats that count faceoffs, but his fantasy usefulness is low in other formats. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a three-year, $3.9 million contract extension with the Capitals in November of 2021.
Deposits goal in win
CWashington Capitals
November 19, 2024
Dowd scored a goal on three shots in Monday's 6-2 win over Utah.
ANALYSIS
Dowd finished off a quick play at 7:56 of the first period, just 10 seconds after Dylan Strome got the Capitals on the board. The goal ended a six-game slump for Dowd, who has been effective in a fourth-line role this season. The veteran center is at five goals, two helpers, 24 shots on net, 34 hits, 19 blocked shots, 14 PIM and a plus-5 rating through 18 contests. He's averaging a career-high 16:01 of ice time -- by that measure, he's more like a middle-six forward, though his ceiling is likely in the 25-30 point range.
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NHL Stats
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2024 NHL Game Log
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    15:58
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:06
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    2:31
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
13:21
0:01
2:22
2023–24
15:12
0:04
2:16
2024–25
15:58
0:06
2:31
Capitals Depth Chart
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Capitals Power Play Depth Chart
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
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2022
2021
2020
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2017
Dowd enjoyed a career year of 13 goals, 25 points, 62 shots on goal and 136 hits in 65 contests with the Capitals last season. He ended the campaign on the shelf and underwent core surgery in the offseason, but it's expected he'll be ready for camp. There's nothing sexy about Dowd's game -- he's a fourth-line center with solid defensive instincts and physicality, but there's little room for his offense to grow in his age-33 campaign. As long as he stays healthy, Dowd should be a fixture in the Capitals' lineup this year, though he's also never exceeded 70 games in a single season.
It may not have been enough to make him an option in standard fantasy leagues, but Dowd posted a career-high 10 goals and 24 points in 64 games last season. He added a plus-10 rating and 139 hits, proving to be a valuable fourth-liner piece for the Capitals. Dowd has three years remaining on a contract extension signed in November 2021 which pays him $1.3 million annually, so the 32-year-old will return to his usual role with Washington. That won't translate to much fantasy production, however.
Dowd took a significant step forward in his career during the 2020-21 campaign. The 31-year-old enjoyed breakout success as a goal-scorer, posting career highs in goals (11) and shooting percentage (16.2%), which was the driving force behind his 15 points in 56 games. Just as notably, the 31-year-old -- anchoring Washington's potent fourth line with Carl Hagelin and Garnet Hathaway-- emerged as one of the league's better faceoff specialists, winning 56.3% of 768 faceoffs taken. Entering the final year of his contract, the Alabama native has become arguably the most important defensive player on the Capitals and should get plenty of usage as a result. Those in deeper leagues that track faceoff prowess might find some value in the 31-year-old, but the lack of offensive upside limits Dowd's fantasy appeal in standard leagues.
Dowd featured fairly consistently on the Capitals' fourth line in 2019-20, accruing 15 points and 117 hits in 56 contests. A physical force, Dowd has decent scoring for a fourth-liner, but that isn't going to cut it in the fantasy game. The Alabama-born Dowd will likely have a similar 15-point output in 2020-21, even if his ice time doesn't noticeably tick up from the 10:50 per game he played last year. He'll also have to fend off challenges from the likes of Shane Gersich to retain his job.
Signed to anchor the fourth line after Jay Beagle's departure in free agency, Dowd proved to be a capable pivot in Washington's bottom six during the 2018-19 season, posting a career high in goals (eight) while tying his career high in points (22) in 64 games. The 29-year-old is expected to reprise his role as the fourth-line center but is unlikely to match the 17 percent shooting rate from last campaign, so keep fantasy expectations in check for the defensive forward.
Dowd appeared in 40 games with the Canucks last season as a fourth-line center, scoring three goals and averaging 11 minutes per game, but he was not re-signed. Instead, the veteran latched on with the Capitals on a one-year deal where he'll play a similar role at age 28. He's capable of winning faceoffs and provides some value as a big bodied player who shoots right, but won't be anything more than a depth filler. Dowd provides some jump and grit but otherwise isn't expected to make any significant contributions.
Dowd's first full NHL season took place in 2016-17, and he posted a respectable six goals and 22 points through 70 games in a depth role. The 27-year-old center took advantage of his power-play opportunities -- 1:34 of ice time per game -- with eight power-play points, and he could build on last season considering his career trajectory through the lower levels. Dowd registered 89 points over his last 133 games in the AHL, and he also improved offensively in each season at St. Cloud State during his collegiate career. Dowd's fantasy upside is still limited, but if he receives an opportunity to climb into a top-six role, his playmaking ability could click immediately.
More Fantasy News
Tallies in blowout win
CWashington Capitals
November 2, 2024
Dowd scored a goal on two shots in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Blue Jackets.
ANALYSIS
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Deposits empty-netter
CWashington Capitals
October 29, 2024
Dowd scored an empty-net goal in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Rangers.
ANALYSIS
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Scores again Wednesday
CWashington Capitals
October 23, 2024
Dowd scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Flyers.
ANALYSIS
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Pots short-handed goal
CWashington Capitals
October 22, 2024
Dowd tallied a short-handed goal, two shots and a plus-2 rating during Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Flyers.
ANALYSIS
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Offers helper in win
CWashington Capitals
October 16, 2024
Dowd logged an assist, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Likely out through trade deadline
CWashington Capitals
March 6, 2024
Dowd, who's missed the last six games with an upper-body issue, likely won't play before Friday's trade deadline, which means he shouldn't be expected to suit up against Pittsburgh on Thursday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Dowd has been practicing since Friday, but he has yet to be cleared for contact. Even though he's currently injured, the 33-year-old forward, who's picked up 16 points through 45 contests this season, could be traded ahead of Friday's deadline.
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