Blaine Forsythe has a new gig.
The former longtime Capitals assistant has landed in Tempe after being tabbed by the Arizona Coyotes to work on André Tourigny’s coaching staff, presumably to work on the power play.
The news was first reported by PHNX’s Craig Morgan and announced by Tourigny himself as he spoke about Forsythe’s hiring during a one-on-one interview.
ARLINGTON, VA — Washington Capitals’ 2022 first-round pick, Ivan Miroshnichenko, was one of three Russian-speaking players at Development Camp this summer, joining forwards Bogdan Trineyev and Alexander Suzdalev on the ice. While all three talented prospects are Russian born, only one of the players, Miroshnichenko, has drawn comparisons to Alex Ovechkin due to his goal-scoring talent and the fact he plays on his off wing just like the Capitals’ captain (shoots right, plays left wing).
That might explain why on Monday, you could have easily mistaken Miroshnichenko for The Great Eight when he took the ice for the team’s afternoon session. Miroshnichenko rocked yellow laces with his CCM skates.
ARLINGTON, VA — Washington Capitals’ 2023 first-round pick Ryan Leonard was described in a pre-draft feature story by The Athletic as a “bulldog”, and compared to Tom Wilson by analysts during ESPN’s draft night coverage.
This is a man with muscles in his face. He’s mean, said one analyst.
Scouts are combing the world for another Tom Wilson and Jamie Benn-like player, said another.
Leonard appears fast, physical, and feisty like Wilson, but his most unique attribute might just be his shot and just how he fast he can whip the puck at the net.
“It’s elite,” defense prospect Ryan Chesley said matter-of-factly during Capitals’ Development Camp.
The Washington Capitals last major free agent of the summer is now signed.
The Capitals announced that Martin Fehervary has agreed to a three-year extension worth $2.675 million per season. The Slovakian defenseman was a restricted free agent.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman put a bow on the 2022-23 season with his final 32 Thoughts Podcast episode of the summer. In it, he and fellow insider Jeff Marek analyzed every team’s free agency moves and what they believe might be next for them.
Friedman echoed what Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said during his press conference over the weekend: the Capitals are still looking to make a deal to try and improve their top six.
He also gave some more background to his previous reporting that the Caps and Nashville Predators discussed a possible Evgeny Kuznetsov trade.
The Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been league powers over the last decade-plus, but the two rival teams both missed the playoffs last season as the average age of their rosters were 30-plus.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said his goal was to make the Capitals younger over the offseason, but his only significant moves on the first day of free agency were bringing in two injury-prone players who are 30 or over. The Capitals signed 34-year-old Max Pacioretty, who will not be healthy for the start of the season, and dealt two draft picks for 30-year-old defenseman Joel Edmundson, who missed 21 games last season and has never played in more than 69 games in a single campaign.
“I think we’ve had an aggressive approach at the draft and nothing’s panned out,” MacLellan said of making a bigger, impactful trade like moving Evgeny Kuznetsov or Anthony Mantha. “We’ll continue to have the conversations going forward. I’m assuming you get to mid-July and things will quiet down and then back in the training camp things might pick up again.”
With their aging core one year older and none of their major issues addressed as of now, the Capitals will enter training camp much like last year — with no open center spot for top prospect Connor McMichael to slide into and few open spots for developing minor league players who just won the Calder Cup in Hershey.
Garnet Hathaway is returning to the Metropolitan Division.
The former Capital signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers on the first day of free agency that will pay him $2.375 million per season.
Not only do the Flyers get a shutdown forward that has some scoring pop, but their team goonery and chippiness levels will now be off the charts.
By Ian Oland 3 months ago
Mason Morelli was one the Hershey Bears’ best players during their Calder Cup championship run.
Now, after five years toiling in the minors, the undrafted forward has earned his first NHL deal at age 27.
Morelli signed a two-year contract with the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights worth $775k per season. He will make the same amount in the pros or minors.
According to Darren Dreger, Morelli had multiple NHL offers.
By Ian Oland 3 months ago
Lars Eller scored the Capitals’ Stanley Cup-winning goal in 2018. Now, he is joining the Caps’ biggest rival: the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On the first day of free agency, Eller signed a two-year deal with the Pens that will pay the Danish center $2.45 million annually.
By Ian Oland 3 months ago
Washington Capitals 2016 third-round draft pick, Garrett Pilon, is moving on after helping the 2022-23 Hershey Bears reach immortality.
Pilon signed a one-year, two way deal with the Ottawa Senators on the first day of free agency. The contract will pay him $775k at the NHL level and $200k in the AHL.
The Mineola, NY native is a versatile, two-way player, who can suit up on both the wing and center.
By Ian Oland 3 months ago
