The aftermath of the Capitals' early playoff exit has an unfamiliar feeling this time.

No longer could players fall back on learning from the latest loss, to the Penguins in seven games in the second round, because some if not many of them won't be back next season. With forwards T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams and defenseman Karl Alzner among the unrestricted free agents and several players set to eat up bigger chunks of the salary cap, changes are coming to Washington after back-to-back Presidents' Trophies and a decade of playoff failures.