Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second straight year in the second round of the playoffs. Today, the players are conducting their final meetings with the press before going home for the summer.
We’ll be updating this post all day long.
Justin Williams
Justin Williams: "I don't think I'll be done processing this for a while."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Williams said this one hurts the most. Because of where he is in his career, a missed opportunity.
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Williams: "This team, albeit very successful, just hasn't been successful in the right way."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Williams said he'd like to be back, but just saying something doesn't mean it'll happen. Felt he had a big role here.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
Williams added that he was playing a prominent role on the Stanley Cup favorite, and that that doesn't come around too often.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 12, 2017
Justin Williams on if he had any injuries: Everyone is playing through something, but nothing serious for him.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 12, 2017
Whoa, this quote from Justin Williams: "I wanted to be celebrating with a trophy, but now my memories of this team here are disappointing."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Williams: "The actual images are guys sitting in stalls wondering what happened. That's what I didn't want for this team."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Alex Ovechkin
Alex Ovechkin waits his turn to talk with reporters one last time this season. As Justin Williams said: They were sure wouldn't be this soon pic.twitter.com/WhGZoYkCWj
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) May 12, 2017
Ovechkin confirmed he had knee and hamstring injuries during playoffs. Knee injury from the Kadri hit. Hamstring in Game 3 vs. Pens.
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Doesn't expect to need surgery. Just rest.
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Ovechkin said he took injection couple times. Sometimes he felt he needed it. Others played without.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Ovechkin will go to Miami for a few days with his parents and wife and then come back to DC.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Ovechkin said of his knee "It was nothing big injured." It sounds like the hamstring was the bigger problem.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Alex Ovechkin was asked if he'd watch the playoffs now: "Probably not." Said he will see the results and try to clear his mind.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 12, 2017
"It's always tough." pic.twitter.com/TFYDjg11A3
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) May 12, 2017
TJ Oshie
T.J. Oshie said he's not sure what the future holds as UFA but he'd like to come back. "I don't like change too much."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Oshie said his agent had a very brief chat with MacLellan, just to ask if he likes it here. Oshie said he loves it here.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
"It feels like a bad dream right now." – TJ Oshie, who says he hasn't thought about free agency even since #Caps were eliminated.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Oshie says he dealt with shoulder injury during season but not in playoffs, isn't 100 percent now but doesn't expect to have surgery
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Oshie on Ovechkin needing pain-numbing ejections to play in playoffs: "He wasn't the only one."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Oshie: "Right now I'm a. Capital and I feel like that's where I'll be and if something changes it changes."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Oshie: "It felt like we had all the ingredients. It was just mentally we didn't find a way to win. We didn't find a way to win Game 7."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Oshie on Ovechkin as a leader: "I think he does a good job. He leads by example."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Oshie: "This team's leaders are O and Nick."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
"I love it here." pic.twitter.com/96ryScKztx
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) May 12, 2017
btw, T.J. Oshie won the Dave Fay award for how accommodating and professional he was with the media. We forgot to tell him, so yep.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
Oshie: "In our minds, we were going to be playing until mid to end of June. It feels like a bad dream right now."
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Evgeny Kuznetsov on Game 7: "It felt like a totally different team played that game."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Kuznetsov: "I don't feel that they beat us. We lost that game."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Kuznetsov. "The moment everybody need us we didn't step up. … I don't know why that happened."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Kuznetsov said he wishes Ovechkin could go to worlds so they can have a beer together in Germany (he heard beer is good there)."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Kuznetsov on RFA status: "I like this team. I feel comfortable." Added that he feels like he has unfinished business here. #Caps
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) May 12, 2017
Brooks Orpik
Orpik said Caps last two seasons will be remembered as "we didn't get the job done, underachieving."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Orpik: "Even if we had less free agents, I think any time you underachieve at what you're trying to do, there's going to be changes."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Kevin Shattenkirk
Kevin Shattenkirk excited about free agency, wants to talk to #Caps first but will also discuss with other teams. Intrigued by Vegas.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Shattenkirk on the #Caps' postseason burden: "Yeah, you can feel it." From fans, media, players.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) May 12, 2017
Kevin Shattenkirk: "These guys here are working through a lot of pain and a lot of history."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
UFA Kevin Shattenkirk wants a bigger role somewhere. "I know I'm not Shea Weber … but I've kind of done it all before."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Daniel Winnik
Winnik said Caps have bigger things to think about in free agency than him. But he'd like to be back.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
Karl Alzner
Karl Alzner: "This was the most realistic chance we had at winning, and guys are still trying to process that."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Karl Alzner says a lot of #Caps players haven't shaved because they almost hope this was a joke and there's a chance they're still playing.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Karl Alzner broke a bone in his right hand on a "harmless" shot block in the first round. Doesn't need surgery.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Pending UFA Karl Alzner on #Caps changes coming: "This is a pretty good window that we had here, and unfortunately it's not there anymore."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Marcus Johansson
Marcus Johansson said he broke a finger during the first game of the Pittsburgh series and that it made it hard to shoot.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 12, 2017
As far as if he will need surgery, Johansson said: "I hope not."
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 12, 2017
Nicklas Backstrom
Nicklas Backstrom said the last couple days have been "terrible."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Nicklas Backstrom, asked how much needs to change: "obviously it's not working."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Backstrom plans to go to the World Championships.
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Backstrom: "It sucks, obviously, that we have to go through this again."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Backstrom said he's going to worlds to play for country & try to end season on a positive, but said Caps' loss will stay with him long time.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Backstrom visibly mad. "We should be angry. You shoud be mad."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Brett Connolly
Brett Connolly says his agent and Caps GM Brian MacLellan talked before playoffs about him returning. Connolly is a RFA.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 12, 2017
Brett Connolly said he would love to be back next year, thinks it was a great fit even with how playoffs went for him.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 12, 2017
Lars Eller
Eller and Shattenkirk chat with the media. pic.twitter.com/7hWaYseVDC
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) May 12, 2017
Eller said he's still deciding if he will go to World Championships and play for Denmark.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
John Carlson
#Caps' John Carlson says he's tired of these playoff losses. "Mentally we have to get over it and stop crumbling in certain situations."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
So much sad pic.twitter.com/b5Zf85WY3p
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) May 12, 2017
Carlson says "rightfully so" the talk is about continued failures: "You just can't shy away from those things, you've got to go after them."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Carlson: "I just think mentally we have to just get over it and stop crumbling in certain situations."
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
John Carlson: "You just can't stop thinking of how much it hurts."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Nate Schmidt
Schmidt said he thinks Vegas will have a great home record. He's intrigued by how expansion draft will turn out.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
Schmidtuation pic.twitter.com/FQXrhrOFbn
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) May 12, 2017
Schmidt says he hopes he will be in the 'ever elusive' top four for #Caps next season.
— JJ Regan (@JJReganCSN) May 12, 2017
Schmidt said he feels ready to step into that "ever elusive" top-four role. Thinks he proved himself in the playoffs and made an impact.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
Nate Schmidt on today's mood at the Capitals' facility: "Pretty dazed and confused…And not like the movie. Good movie, though."
— Alex Prewitt (@alex_prewitt) May 12, 2017
Philipp Grubauer
Philipp Grubauer going to play for Germany at worlds in Cologne. RFA says he's ready to be a No. 1 NHL goaltender. Had heard Vegas rumors.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Braden Holtby
The beard is gone too soon pic.twitter.com/icpO3L6KKA
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) May 12, 2017
Beardless. But still Holtbeast. pic.twitter.com/0wSPm0UARJ
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) May 12, 2017
Braden Holtby: "We need to find a way to do different because it didn’t work, it hasn’t worked."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
#70: "It’s not the performance we wanted in a big game like that. It wasn’t what we worked for. It wasn’t what we fought to get there for."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Matt Niskanen
Niskanen: 'The time for talking and fluff is done. We need results.' #Caps
— JJ Regan (@JJReganCSN) May 12, 2017
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) May 12, 2017
Niskanen says he dealt with a neck injury and a slight MCL injury in a knee during season but is healthy now.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Niskanen didnt hesitate when asked if there's a mental hurdle for this team. Answered yes immediately. Suggested major changes needed. #Caps
— JJ Regan (@JJReganCSN) May 12, 2017
Niskanen very strong on the leadership of Backstrom. Said he thought Backy was 'outstanding' #Caps
— JJ Regan (@JJReganCSN) May 12, 2017
Niskanen was impressed by Orlov this year. Called him a 'stud.' Said he was often the team's best Dman. #Caps
— JJ Regan (@JJReganCSN) May 12, 2017
Andre Burakovsky
Bura giving his take on the season. pic.twitter.com/Gbv6tYEzPX
— Amanda Bowen (@AmBo3990) May 12, 2017
Barry Trotz
Trotz says he knows changes are coming because of cap situation. "The window doesn't close, it just changes a little bit."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
"It was very tough after the game because our expectations are so high." Emotions raw; Trotz's eyes a bit misty. (Pic via @capsbigbossman) pic.twitter.com/hCEUcrWABk
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) May 12, 2017
Barry Trotz said incessant talk of past failures is "becoming a joke to the guys," something they laugh at. I…do not believe that.
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) May 12, 2017
Trotz said it's become a "bad question" from the media and a joke inside the room
Seems most of us only ask about it when they're repeated https://t.co/LQcZtZCmX3
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Trotz said he had brief conversations w/ players today. He'll have deeper, more substantive discussions later, once the hurt subsides a bit.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) May 12, 2017
Trotz certainly more positive about #Caps going in right direction than players. Coach says, "I'm not upbeat, I'm determined."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
I asked Trotz if he expects changes to come on the coaching end. Said it's a better question for MacLellan.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
Trotz sounded more optimistic that Caps will break through than players, but said, “Put it this way, I haven’t slept for two friggin’ days."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Trotz: "Do I think we’re going in the right direction? Yes, and I’m positive of that. But we haven’t broken through."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Trotz: "You can roll up in a ball and feel sorry for yourself. I don’t. I get angry and I’m going to try to fix the problem."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Trotz cont: "I’m going to try to get better because if I don’t then we’re not going to get better."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 12, 2017
Jay Beagle
Jay Beagle on another early playoff exit given how much change is coming to #Caps: "it's awful."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Jay Beagle on Game 7: "I don't even have an answer. I can't process it." Wonders if allowing 2 late goals in Game 6 carried over.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 12, 2017
Jay Beagle on how the Capitals of Game 6 were completely different from the Capitals in Game 7: "How does that happen? I don't know."
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 12, 2017
Beagle said he was completely healthy. A few of us found that hard to believe, but there it is.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson: "There's a lot of what-ifs and that's never a good thing."
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) May 12, 2017
Tom Wilson said he felt like he didn't want to be seen out in public after Game 7 loss #Caps
— JJ Regan (@JJReganCSN) May 12, 2017
Wilson said he was impressed with what Dumoulin was able to play through. Told him so in the handshake line.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 12, 2017
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