From going to the Smithsonian to the US Open, Washington Capitals players have been active during Labor Day weekend. Sunday, two of the team’s biggest stars went to Nationals Park to watch the Nats take on the Miami Marlins.
Nicklas Backstrom and Braden Holtby were both spotted by fans in the lower bowl. Backstrom even obliged on a photo request from reader DJ.
Braden Holtby returned to DC and started skating suicides a few weeks ago. Wednesday, he spoke to reporters for the first time about the upcoming season–the last on his current five-year contract.
“This is all I know here,” Holtby said, as reported by JJ Regan for NBCSW. “I’d love [to re-sign]. I think that’s pretty clear. But you don’t worry about that stuff. I’m lucky enough to be here for at least right now so happy for that.”
By Brennin Weiswerda 4 months ago
Braden Holtby returned to DC last week to start gearing up early for the upcoming hockey season, and that includes getting some new art on his goalie mask.
On Wednesday, the Capitals posted photos from the Capitals’ informal practice, which contained a sneak peek at Braden’s new bucket.
By Elizabeth Kong 4 months ago
The NHL Network has released its list of the top 20 centers, wingers, and defensemen. A Capitals player has been ranked on every list so far, and that doesn’t stop now. Braden Holtby was ranked the seventh best goaltender in the NHL. He sits behind Andrei Vasilevskiy, Sergei Bobrovsky, Ben Bishop, Carey Price, Tuukka Rask, and Marc-Andre Fleury.
By Cara Bahniuk 4 months ago
Braden Holtby is the latest star Capitals player to return to DC. On Thursday, Holtby took to the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex to participate in the team’s informal skates.
And you guys, he went hard. The Holtbeast participated in suicides in full goalie gear.
There’s dedicated and then there’s Braden Holtby.
By Cara Bahniuk 4 months ago
The Washington Capitals have two of its biggest stars in franchise history going into the final years of their deals this season. Nicklas Backstrom is at the end of a 10-year, $67 million contract that pays him $6.7M annually while Braden Holtby, who has an AAV of $6.1M, is at the conclusion of a five-year, $30.5 million deal. Both players are deserving of raises.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan talked to NHL.com earlier this week and said he will be aggressive about speaking to both Backstrom and Holtby about new contracts as soon as he gets backs to DC in September. MacLellan is currently at his summer home in Minnesota and plans to return after Labor Day weekend.
The Tampa Bay Lightning announced that they signed star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to an eight-year extension worth $9.5 million per season Monday morning.
The $76 million contract is made up of $45M in bonuses.
By Ian Oland 5 months ago
Sergei Bobrovsky signed a seven-year, $70 million contract with the Florida Panthers on the first day of free agency. The deal has two long-term consequences: securing a top-tier replacement for Roberto Luongo, and setting the market for Braden Holtby’s next contract.
The Capitals’ beloved starting goaltender is in the final year of five-year, $30.5 million contract that has an annual average value of $6.1 million.
To bring Holtby back beyond this season, Brian MacLellan may have to offer Holtby a contract with $10 million AAV or more — unless the tortoise owner takes a hometown discount.
By Ian Oland 6 months ago
Capitals fan Tyler Chambers has been bringing his Braden Holtby jersey with him to the Capital Pride Parade hoping for one thing: to get the jersey signed by Holtby.
Earlier this June, Holtby walked in DC’s Capital Pride Parade for the third time, having only missed one parade in the past four years–when he and the Capitals were busy celebrating their 2018 Stanley Cup championship.
Chambers, who is a member of a Facebook group called “G-Caps” for LGBTQ fans of the Capitals, was absolutely determined to catch Holtby’s attention this year.
By Elizabeth Kong 6 months ago
Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan made a rare appearance in front of the media on Thursday to discuss all the happenings of the team from injuries to the NHL Draft.
The most interesting part of the discussion came when Mac took questions on the team’s philosophy on moves this summer and beyond. The Capitals have a glut of middle and bottom six forwards that are free agents including Jakub Vrana, Andre Burakovsky, Brett Connolly, and Devante Smith-Pelly. Braden Holtby and Nicklas Backstrom are also unrestricted free agents the summer of 2021 and can begin negotiations on a new deal as soon as July 1.
We wrote about how the Capitals would like to bring back Andre Burakovsky, but are listening to offers. Here’s what MacLellan had to say on the others.
