2016-17 Training Camp

The Capitals get fancy at the Media Luncheon (Photos)

The Washington Capitals hosted their annual Media Luncheon on Tuesday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex following practice. The media was treated to lunch before the players joined in on the afternoon reception. Interviews on camera followed, and one-on-one chats off screen filled the rest of the afternoon. Our own Chris Gordon — and Evgeny Kuznetsov — joined the CSN crew for a chat on the upcoming regular season.

Each Caps player was dressed to impress. From Alex Ovechkin in his (in)famous shiny light blue suit, to Braden Holtby, who prepared a sublime plaid two piece with a yellow pocket square. Meanwhile, we dressed like we just got out of bed.

Take a look and enjoy your fancy Caps as they met with the media following the luncheon.

(more…)

By Amanda Bowen 7 years ago

0 Comment

Capitals practice prior to Media Luncheon (photos)

On Tuesday the Capitals hosted practice prior to their annual Media Luncheon. With the season opener happening Thursday Night, and the full roster already set, this was the first practice of the season we’ve covered with a full roster attendance.

The boys were ready to work, but also were able to have some fun towards at the end of the skate. With both Braden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer in their respective nets, the rest of the team practiced one-on-one shootout attempts. Each miss for a shooter meant a set of pushups, and each score earned bragging rights.

Check out the boys in action at KCI to get you ready for Caps-Pens.

(more…)

By Amanda Bowen 7 years ago

0 Comment

The Caps’ latest line combinations look great

On Thursday, the Caps used lines that look reasonably close to what could be an opening night lineup. And indeed, assistant coach Todd Reirden confirmed that the lines are a potential preview of how the Caps will line up when the season opens:

On these lines, Reirden basically said they're legit (and they'll continue experimenting) https://t.co/MVU3KGLN0R

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) September 29, 2016

While plenty can change between now and the start of the season, and the lines will certainly change throughout the season, the particular lines the Caps used Thursday can help give a glimpse into a lineup the coaching staff is thinking of using this season.

(more…)

By Patrick Holden 7 years ago

0 Comment

Caps announce first training camp cuts

The Capitals announced the first large group of cuts to the training camp roster on Thursday. The cut players will report back to their junior hockey teams, to AHL camp in Hershey, or if they were on a professional tryout they will just be released.

(more…)

By Chris Cerullo 7 years ago

0 Comment

Russians Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Dmitry Orlov return to Capitals after stinging defeat in World Cup of Hockey

Alex Ovechkin stepped onto the ice Wednesday afternoon, as usual, in a red sweater. But instead of saying Россия, his jersey said Washington Capitals. As the both captain of Team Russia and a nationalist, Ovechkin didn’t want to be in Arlington, Virginia, skating at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Instead, he wanted to be playing for a champion at the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto along with Capitals teammates Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov.

But the Russians ran into Canada in the semifinals, resulting in another international defeat. Back with the Capitals, Ovechkin tried to move past the loss.

“You can talk about what if, what if,” he said. “It was fun. It was nice to represent my country out there and we do our best.”

(more…)

By Chris Gordon 7 years ago

0 Comment

With Jason Chimera gone, Andre Burakovsky looks to regain his power play spot

Washington Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky scored 14 goals after New Years last season in 45 games, good for nearly 30 goals at an 82 game pace. He did this all without being a regular on the power play and playing just over 14 minutes a game. Now he’s likely got get a renewed chance at racking up points on the man-advantage. Last season only one of his 17 goals came on the power play. He finished second in even-strength goals, behind only 50-goal scorer and Rocket Richard winner Alex Ovechkin.

Burakovsky, 21, started the season on the power play, but lost his spot to Jason Chimera, who had four PP goals and five PP assists, after 14 games due a poor start, which included time in the press box. In Burakovsky’s first 32 games of the 2015-16 campaign, he had just two goals and six assists.

“In the beginning you just want to do everything so properly and the right way,” Burakovsky said of first full season in the NHL. “[I] was trying to bring everything full speed. Sometimes you just slow down the game and think a little bit more than you act. That was kinda what I did at the end [of last season] there. When I had the puck I felt more comfortable. I could hold it a little bit more and find an open lane for my teammates. I think it worked out pretty good for me.”

(more…)

By Chris Gordon 7 years ago

1 Comment

The Washington Capitals have ads on their practice jerseys now

The Capitals debuted new practice jerseys at the start of training camp on Friday. Following the lead of other NHL, NFL and NBA teams, the Caps now have ads on the corner of their non-game threads. Washington announced this thrilling news in a tweet with multiple exclamation points.

(more…)

By Chris Gordon 7 years ago

0 Comment

The Caps new training camp t-shirts: WILL OVER SKILL

On Thursday, Capitals players Andre Burakovsky, Tom Wilson, Taylor Chorney, and Nate Schmidt debuted what appear to be the team’s shirts for this year’s training camp.

You know Barry Trotz (or someone on his staff) came up with this because they are valuing an intangible over talent. Don’t even get me started on that. It’s cool, whatever.

(more…)

By Ian Oland 7 years ago

0 Comment