The Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena 3-2 on Monday. Two days later, they remain in the Buckeye State. And it’s by choice, too.
The team is spending four days — Monday through Thursday — in Ohio to get to know each other better. Team building is usually something that makes normies in office day jobs cringe, but the Capitals seem to have a lot of fun with it.
Last year, the Caps spent time before the season on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, eating crabs, hanging out at local breweries, and playing golf.
This year, they’re golfing again, even when they’re not supposed to be golfing. This was evidenced by a video posted by TJ Oshie on Tuesday night of Trevor van Riemsdyk putting in what appears to be a banquet hall.
“Do the @capitals have fun,” Oshie wrote. “@tvanriemsdyk6 with the 60 ft. putt through the middle of team dinner. #Rieeeeemeeeerrr”
Van Riemsdyk, as the entire remaining Capitals Training camp roster looks on, hits a golf ball into a clear plastic cup at the other end of the venue. The team goes wild — “OHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” — as TVR celebrates by putting his putter back in an imaginary sword holster on his belt.
The Capitals defenseman then gets high-fives from Alex Ovechkin and Dylan McIlrath and a long, loving embrace from Tom Wilson.
What’s the full context of the putt, you ask? Who knows. But like Osh said, this team sure knows how to have fun. And that’s why I’m writing.
What little we do know about the trip in general is courtesy of Monumental Sports Network analyst Craig Laughlin, who said the following during the September 30 Capitals-Blue Jackets game.
“A little team building, gotta love that,” Laughlin observed. “A little golf expedition [Tuesday]. Some big team dinners, team building. Excellent way to spend this week.”
Sounds like a great time, and hopefully, even more silly videos get posted to the internet as a result.
