Chris Cerullo

About Chris Cerullo (@CJC_95)

Cerullo, a graduate of Catholic University's business school, has been with RMNB since 2016 and was once only known as "Chris From The Comments". He now is one of the main faces of RMNB's gameday coverage and the man behind the "numbers for the morning after" series. You can normally find him on social media tweeting about professional wrestling or his hockey card collection. Follow Chris: Twitter

Evgeny Kuznetsov has worked with a psychologist for the last four years: ‘This was one of the best decisions in my life’

Before heading back to DC for the start of Training Camp, Evgeny Kuznetsov was a guest on Slippery Ice, a Russian-language hockey show co-hosted by former Capitals forward and team amateur scout (per Elite Prospects) Andrei Nikolishin.

After discussing his 2019 NHL-levied, three-game suspension for inappropriate conduct related to a positive drug test, Kuznetsov was asked by the hosts in the tell-all interview if he started talking to a psychologist during that low period of his professional hockey career.

Kuznetsov confirmed that he did and he has worked with that same psychologist for the last four years. At first, the services were being paid for by the league and team, but Kuznetsov chose to continue them on his own dime after seeing how helpful they truly were.

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By Chris Cerullo 4 days ago

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Sonny Milano is excited about his Capitals’ Chia Pet giveaway: ‘Everyone back home loves it. For sure I’ll keep it.’

Washington Capitals forward Sonny Milano dressed for the team’s first preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.

Milano’s on-ice talent was on full display as he scored a goal both in regulation and in the shootout. But it was his excitement about the Capitals’ upcoming Chia Pet giveaway that proved to be most memorable.

On January 11, 2024 against the Seattle Kraken, the Capitals will give all fans in attendance a “Milano Chia.” The terra cotta clay head is carved to look like the Capitals forward. If fans spread seeds on the top of Sonny’s clay head, a flowering plant will grow on the top of its head, emulating Milano’s real life curly hair.

The team announced the giveaway in their 2023-24 promotional calendar release in late August.

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By Chris Cerullo 4 days ago

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Trevor van Riemsdyk leaves Capitals-Sabres preseason game after taking slap shot to the hand

The Washington Capitals went down a defenseman due to injury late in their first preseason game.

Trevor van Riemsdyk, who was one of the team’s alternate captains for the afternoon matchup with the Buffalo Sabres, took a slap shot to his right hand and left for the locker room during the third period.

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By Chris Cerullo 4 days ago

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Evgeny Kuznetsov says Bill Daly wanted to give him a much harsher suspension for his conduct related to a positive drug test

Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov was suspended three games by the NHL in 2019 for “inappropriate conduct.” The league determined that Kuznetsov had misled officials regarding a video that had circulated on social media showing him near a table with two lines of white powder.

Kuznetsov denied using cocaine, the supposed substance in the video, and explained that he had left the room soon after seeing the “strange substances on the table.” The Russian center would later test positive for cocaine while representing the Russian national team at the 2019 World Championships.

Kuznetsov spoke with Russian outlet Slippery Ice about the suspension process and revealed that NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly initially wanted to keep him out of 20 games even though cocaine use is not prohibited in the NHL. The conversation was transcribed into Russian by sports.ru.

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By Chris Cerullo 5 days ago

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Evgeny Kuznetsov speaks frankly on trade request in Russian language interview: ‘Rumors don’t just come out of nowhere’

Last March, a Russian report dropped from outlet Match TV saying that Evgeny Kuznetsov had requested a trade from the Washington Capitals for consecutive seasons. After six months with little new information, we have finally received some clarity from the man himself.

Before returning to DC for Training Camp, Kuznetsov sat down with former Capitals forward and team Russian amateur scout (per Elite Prospects) Andrei Nikolishin and the rest of the Slippery Ice crew. In the Russian-language interview (and the transcription by sports.ru,) he reveals that he never directly requested a trade but did have a lengthy, honest chat with general manager Brian MacLellan.

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By Chris Cerullo 5 days ago

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Capitals believe Connor McMichael is ready for full-time jump to NHL, plan to eventually make room for him at center

Connor McMichael is primed for his fourth season as a professional hockey player after being drafted by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. The Caps opened their Training Camp on Thursday and have made it clear that they believe the 22-year-old forward is finally ready for the full-time jump to the NHL.

Both new head coach Spencer Carbery and general manager Brian MacLellan have spoken about McMichael’s growth as a player. They have also acknowledged his natural position of center which he has rarely gotten the opportunity to play in the NHL.

The praise comes after McMichael took a bit of a step back last year as he got into just six NHL games compared to the 68 he played in his rookie season. But, under a new, more familiar coaching regime, McMichael appears to be set up for more long-term success.

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By Chris Cerullo 5 days ago

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Spencer Carbery to modify Capitals power play so teams ‘don’t know what’s coming’ and can’t neutralize Alex Ovechkin

The Washington Capitals opened a new era this week when head coach Spencer Carbery and the rest of his staff stepped out onto the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex for Training Camp. The Caps hired Carbery in June after they failed to make the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons.

One of the contributing factors to that postseason absence was the performance of the team’s power play unit. The Caps have seen their once vaunted power play drop to the 20th best unit in the NHL.

Carbery, in his previous two seasons as an assistant for the Toronto Maple Leafs, was the mastermind behind the team’s power play that sat at or near the top of the league.

While the Caps’ power play hasn’t run drills yet, Carbery will experiment during the preseason as he considers bigger systematic changes versus smaller modifications.

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By Chris Cerullo 6 days ago

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Spencer Carbery’s first lines and pairings as Capitals head coach

The Washington Capitals hit the ice for their second, full on-ice session of 2023 Training Camp on Friday. The Capitals’ roster may be split into three separate groups during their skates, but the team’s new lines and defense pairings appear to already be emerging under new head coach Spencer Carbery.

Unlike Peter Laviolette who would tinker near daily with his lines, Carbery has remained consistent early as the team learns his new system and strategies. And for good reason.

The Capitals’ first preseason game is on Sunday while their season-opening matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins is only two weeks away.

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By Chris Cerullo 6 days ago

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Evgeny Kuznetsov says there were ‘a lot of bad thoughts in my head’ last season, calls Spencer Carbery a ‘perfect match’

Thursday marked the official on-ice start of the Spencer Carbery Era in Washington as Capitals’ Training Camp got underway. After serving two years in Toronto as an assistant, Carbery, formerly head coach of both the Hershey Bears and South Carolina Stingrays, will lead a veteran-laden Caps group that missed the playoffs for the first time nine years.

One player that will hold special significance on if Carbery succeeds or struggles early is Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov, 31, is headed into his eleventh season with the Caps and is coming off of his worst-scoring campaign (55 points) since his sophomore year in the league.

The Caps are hoping that a youthful, energized head coach like Carbery will be able to push the reset button on Kuznetsov and get him producing at the level he has shown he can in the past.

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By Chris Cerullo 7 days ago

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Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom reunited on line to start Training Camp: ‘It feels like back in the day’

The Washington Capitals officially opened Training Camp on Thursday as they took the ice for their customary skating test. The team then got in their first practices under new head coach Spencer Carbery and staff.

Group A players were the first to take the ice, giving us a first possible look at Carbery’s line combinations.

Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom were notably reunited on the first line, with Anthony Mantha joining them on the right wing to complete the trio.

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By Chris Cerullo 7 days ago

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About Chris Cerullo (@CJC_95)