Donya Abramo

About Donya Abramo (@virtual_don)

Alex Ovechkin to Nicklas Backstrom during interview: ‘You gonna sign six more years and then I’ll sign for five more years’

With Nicklas Backstrom entering the final year of his 10-year contract, and Alex Ovechkin in the penultimate year of his own 13-year contract, conversation has naturally turned to whether the duo will be looking to re-sign with the Capitals. With Backstrom already stating that it “felt like it was yesterday” that he signed his last contract, and Ovi wanting to “play until I can’t play,” the pair have dropped several strong hints that they have a desire to remain in Washington.

While on the Capitals Talk podcast with Rob Carlin, Backstrom reiterated his stance that Ovi could catch Gretzky’s record, and Ovechkin also teased that the two could potentially sign their next contracts to expire together.

And what is it they say? Once is luck, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern.

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By Donya Abramo 4 weeks ago

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Todd Reirden looking for big year from Jakub Vrana on second powerplay unit

On Tuesday, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden spoke to the media about changes he intends to make to special teams for the 2019-20 season. Of particular note was that Jakub Vrana, who signed a two-year, $6.7 million bridge contract with the Capitals over the summer, should see more time on the power-play.

“I think obviously Jakub’s done a lot of damage offensively five-on-five,” Reirden said. “I think for him to be able to contribute to special teams would be (good). The second unit, that would allow us to get some more production out of them.”

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By Donya Abramo 4 weeks ago

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Injury report for the Capitals’ third game of the preseason

It’s a 2019 playoff rematch tonight, as the Washington Capitals host the Carolina Hurricanes at Capital One Arena for their third preseason game of the 2019-20 season. It is also the final preseason game they will play at home before hitting the road.

The Capitals have several players that are dealing with injuries and are out day-to-day.

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By Donya Abramo 1 month ago

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Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael score in first game back with junior teams

On Thursday, the Washington Capitals made their first round of roster cuts from Training Camp. Amongst the players cut were Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael, both forwards drafted by the Capitals in 2019 who each put up an impressive performance in Development Camp, the Prospect Showcase, and the preseason. McMichael and Protas were loaned back to their respective junior teams; the London Knights of the OHL for McMichael and the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders for Protas.

That offensive momentum followed them to the WHL and OHL, as both players scored goals in their first games after returning to the junior league.

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By Donya Abramo 1 month ago

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Nicklas Backstrom trolls William Nylander in ridiculous Swedish ‘interview’

Nicklas Backstrom’s friendship with William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs is one that has been well-documented over the years. Dating back to father Michael Nylander’s time as a Washington Capital, Backstrom and the young Nylander spent a lot of time challenging each other to ping-pong matches. They lost touch after William’s father was traded to the Rangers, but reconnected when William was drafted to the NHL by the Leafs in 2014.

In more recent history, the two interviewed each other in a totally natural and completely candid Sportsnet feature, which was sweet, if a little awkward. But now they’ve topped with with a new interview.

In video posted by NHL Sweden on Friday, Backstrom was back in the interviewer’s chair as he asked Nylander a series of increasingly ridiculous questions, which have been translated to English by RMNB’s Magnus Cadelin. You really need to experience this in all of its wonderful, trolling glory.

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By Donya Abramo and Magnus Cadelin 1 month ago

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Connor McMichael’s playmaking ability impresses Capitals: ‘His offensive reads and feel for the game [are] very strong’

On Thursday, the Washington Capitals made their first round of cuts from Training Camp. The Capitals’ first round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft (25th overall), Connor McMichael, was one of the players cut, despite impressing the organization with his play.

McMichael was in the running for a spot on the opening night roster – with Evgeny Kuznetsov suspended for the first three regular-season games and Lars Eller out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

“I liked him a lot [in Sunday’s] inter-squad game, made a couple really good plays,” head coach Todd Reirden said to the AP’s Stephen Whyno. “For him, it’s about the maturity and whether the right decision is for him to continue to stay here or [keep] going with his junior career and continue to build on what he did last year. All those type of things go into the equation of when to let those guys go back and play or continue to keep them here and an opportunity to stay here.”

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By Donya Abramo 1 month ago

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Hershey Bears announce 2019 Training Camp schedule

On Thursday, the Hershey Bears announced the full schedule for their 2019 Training Camp. All of the Bears’ practices will be free and open to the public. The AHL 2019-20 regular season kicks off on October 5th for the Bears, against rivals Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

During the 2018-19 season, the Hershey Bears went on a historic point streak that led to career seasons for several players. They qualified for the 2019 Calder Cup playoffs after missing them for only the 13th time in their 80-year history during the 2017-18 season, but were ultimately bounced in the second round by the Charlotte Checkers.

With several new additions to the squad, including veteran Matt Moulson, as well as key returning pieces from the Bear’s successful 2018-19 season, they will be looking to recapture that same success and improve on it as they head into the new season.

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By Donya Abramo 1 month ago

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‘I thought she was going to faint’: TJ Oshie surprises Caps fan with photo to celebrate birthday

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin wasn’t the only person celebrating their birthday at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Tuesday. Young Capitals fan Ava, who turned 11, was also in attendance to watch Training Camp and root on her favorite player, TJ Oshie.

Ava brought a hand-made sign that she created using stickers and held it up. The poster read Hey Oshie!! It’s my birthday!! Can I meet u?

Not only did TJ oblige, but so did several other star Capitals players.

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By Donya Abramo 1 month ago

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Reminder: Tom Wilson will never play against the St. Louis Blues in the preseason again

On Monday, Tom Wilson donned the A and suited up against the Chicago Blackhawks with a roster made up mostly of Capitals rookies. Here’s one of the reasons why: he refuses to play against the St. Louis Blues in the preseason. The Capitals will face the Blues twice in the preseason this year, leaving Wilson eligible to play in just four games.

With the Capitals taking on the Blues on Wednesday, Andy Strickland, the Blues Rinkside Reporter for Fox Sports Midwest, reiterated Wilson’s comments to him from the 2018-19 season.

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By Donya Abramo 1 month ago

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Tom Wilson scores highlight-reel goal to secure 4-3 preseason win against the Blackhawks

The Washington Capitals opened their preseason campaign with a 4-3 win in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena. Things were even on the scoresheet and in shots, with the deadlock broken by the good guys in OT.

Your Caps goal scorers in regulation were Damien Riat, Travis Boyd, and Aliaksei Protas. Tom Wilson won it in overtime.

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By Donya Abramo 1 month ago

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Posts by Donya Abramo

About Donya Abramo (@virtual_don)