Katie Adler

About Katie Adler (@russianmachine)

Evgeny Kuznetsov limps after first Capitals Training Camp practice, suggests he played injured last season

ARLINGTON, VA — Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov hit the ice with his teammates for the first day of Training Camp, but did not look like himself as he conducted his first press conference of the season.

Kuznetsov admitted to reporters Thursday that he was dealing with an injury after favoring one leg during his speed test and limping to the podium.

Kuznetsov further indicated that he played through an injury last season, though declined to offer specifics.

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By Katie Adler 21 hours ago

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Nicklas Backstrom says he feels ‘100%’ after hip resurfacing surgery: ‘I’ve got nothing more to say about it’

ARLINGTON, VA– After suiting up in 39 games last year, Nicklas Backstrom is attempting to become the first player in NHL history to play a full season after having hip resurfacing surgery.

While returning from this procedure in the first place is a significant achievement (only he and Ed Jovanovski have done so), Backstrom’s future has remained in question for much of the offseason, with general manager Brian MacLellan previously stating that the 35-year-old center would “have to make a decision on his career.”

By the first day of 2023 Training Camp, however, Backstrom’s answer is definitive. He’s back, he’s playing, and he feels good. And now, with more than a year of recovery under his belt, Backstrom now wants to put concerns about his hip to rest.

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By Katie Adler 1 day ago

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Ryan Leibold grew up a Washington Capitals fan. Now he’s playing in the team’s organization. His ‘OMG’ moment was meeting Nicklas Backstrom.

Plenty of kids dream about joining their favorite NHL team, but far fewer actually make it happen.

Ashburn, Virginia native Ryan Leibold was one of the lucky ones on Saturday, donning the crest of his hometown team at the start of Capitals’ Rookie Camp

Leibold, 24, grew up a huge Washington Capitals fan during the Alex Ovechkin era and played on the team’s Little Caps program as a teenager.

Even as he pursues a pro career of his own, Leibold admitted he was still in awe upon meeting one of his childhood idols. The forward prospect spent much of the summer in the area, participating in Development Camp in July and training at MedStar Capitals Iceplex during the summer. After so much time around the team, most of the jitters had gone away.

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By Katie Adler 5 days ago

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Connor Bedard scores hat trick in first appearance with Chicago Blackhawks

Training camps haven’t even started yet, but Connor Bedard is already making headlines.

Bedard won’t make his regular-season debut for Chicago until October 10th, but he joined fellow prospects in St. Paul, Minnesota for the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. He notched a hat trick Saturday in his very first game in a Blackhawks uniform in Chicago’s 5-0 victory over St. Louis.

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By Katie Adler 6 days ago

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Mike Babcock’s job may be in question following new findings in Blue Jackets phone controversy

Mike Babcock’s tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets might end before he coaches a single game. After reports emerged of Babcock asking to see photos on his players’ phones, the NHL and NHLPA both launched an investigation into the matter.

Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh and assistant executive director Ron Hainsey took the next step in that investigation on Thursday with a trip to Columbus to speak to several Blue Jackets players. The PA is set to meet with league officials on Friday to discuss their findings, and Babcock’s job could be on the line.

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By Katie Adler 1 week ago

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Monumental Sports Network, formerly NBC Sports Washington, to officially debut September 20

The broadcast home of the Washington Capitals is about to debut a new look.

Monumental Sports Network will formally launch on Wednesday, completing a rebrand of NBC Sports Washington that was announced earlier this summer.

Besides broadcasting Capitals games, Monumental Sports Network also holds the TV rights for the Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, and various other local teams. Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) fully acquired NBCSWSH last September.

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By Katie Adler 1 week ago

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Spencer Carbery says that Capitals will emphasize playing entry-level players: ‘They need opportunity, time, and they will develop’

When Spencer Carbery gets behind the Washington Capitals bench this season, he will find a roster with a veteran core joined by a crew of young players early in their careers. Carbery emphasized incorporating those developing players in his introductory team press conference and continued to do so in a recent episode of the Capitals’ Mike Vogel’s Break the Ice podcast.

The rookie bench boss spoke with Vogel about the value of bringing that youth into the lineup, as well as his expectations for the still-developing players. With several familiar faces from earlier in Carbery’s career when he was the head coach of the Hershey Bears, many of those relationships have head starts.

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By Katie Adler 1 week ago

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Spencer Carbery on Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha: ‘I have great belief that they’re going to come in, be highly motivated’

As Spencer Carbery starts his first season in Washington, he’ll attempt to revitalize a team that failed to make the playoffs this spring for the first time in nine years. The Capitals’ bounce-back will depend in part on forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha, who both struggled last year. Though Kuznetsov and Mantha were apparently on the trade block this offseason, no trades have yet materialized.

Carbery spoke on the pair during a podcast interview on Mike Vogel’s Break the Ice, where he walked through his plan to help both players return to form.

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By Katie Adler 1 week ago

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Former Capital Zach Fucale on playing with Alex Ovechkin: ‘I learned a lot from being around him’

Alex Ovechkin is one of the NHL’s greatest players. As he chases the record for most goals in league history, Ovechkin leaves another impact on his teammates around him. Former Capital Zach Fucale didn’t spend long playing behind the Great Eight, but the experience left an impact all the same.

Fucale, who served as the Hershey Bears’ backup goaltender during their Calder Cup run, signed with the KHL’s Traktor Chelyabinsk over the summer and made his KHL debut earlier this month.

He spoke on his time with Ovechkin during an interview with Russian outlet Metaratings.ru.

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By Katie Adler 2 weeks ago

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Pittsburgh native Logan Cooley on someday playing against childhood idol Alex Ovechkin: ‘I might be a little starstruck’

ARLINGTON, VA — The Washington Capitals’ practice facility played host to dozens of the NHL’s best prospects last week for the NHLPA Rookie Showcase. For Logan Cooley, the third overall pick in 2022, the event also meant a chance to skate on the ice where his childhood idol plies his trade.

Cooley grew up in Pittsburgh but was enamored by Alex Ovechkin’s play from a young age. Despite learning to skate through Sidney Crosby’s Little Penguins youth program, he became a rare Caps fan deep in rival territory.

Now, he could soon face off against both Crosby and Ovechkin as a member of the Arizona Coyotes.

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By Katie Adler 2 weeks ago

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About Katie Adler (@russianmachine)