NHLPA Rookie Showcase

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 3 weeks ago

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Leafs’ Matthew Knies calls Auston Matthews ‘best overall player’ in the NHL, says Spencer Carbery is ‘deserving’ of Capitals job

ARLINGTON, VA– This year may be Matthew Knies’ rookie campaign, but the Toronto Maple Leafs forward has already had a taste of NHL hockey.

After reaching the NCAA Championship in his sophomore year with the University of Minnesota, Knies joined the Leafs for the tail end of the regular season, suiting up in three games. He would record four points (1g, 3a) in seven playoff appearances — including an assist on John Tavares’ series-winning OT goal — before a collision with Florida’s Sam Bennett prematurely ended his season.

During his brief tenure with the Leafs, Knies got to know both then-assistant coach Spencer Carbery — now head coach of the Capitals — and superstar Auston Matthews.

Knies spoke on coach and player alike on Tuesday at the NHLPA/Upper Deck Rookie Showcase.

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By Katie Adler 3 weeks ago

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Connor Bedard thinks Alex Ovechkin will break NHL goals record in two years, has studied Ovi’s one-timer

ARLINGTON, VA — The Washington Capitals’ practice facility, MedStar Capitals Iceplex, played host to the 2023 NHLPA Rookie Showcase on Tuesday.

The event brought many of the league’s best prospects and rookies to the DC area so that Upper Deck could take photographs of the players for their first NHL trading cards. 2023 Connor Bedard, the first overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft, headlined the event.

During his session with the press, Bedard, who idolizes Sidney Crosby, took several questions on the Penguins captain’s longtime rival, Alex Ovechkin. Bedard believes Ovi will eventually pass Wayne Gretzky and capture the NHL’s goals record.

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By Ian Oland 4 weeks ago

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NHLPA Rookie Showcase returning to MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Connor Bedard and Vincent Iorio highlight participants

The NHLPA Rookie Showcase is returning to the area in September.

According to PHNX’s Craig Morgan, the 13th iteration of the event will be held on on September 5 at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia.

Thirty-five NHL prospects and rookies are scheduled to attend, highlighted by first overall pick Connor Bedard, the Blue Jackets’ Adam Fantilli, and Sabres’ prospect Matthew Savoie. The Capitals’ lone representative will be 2023 Calder Cup champion defenseman with the Hershey Bears, Vincent Iorio.

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By Ian Oland 1 month ago

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Behind the scenes of the 2022 NHLPA Rookie Showcase featuring Owen Power, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Shane Wright

The NHLPA and card manufacturer Upper Deck held their annual Rookie Showcase event at Medstar Capitals Iceplexy. Tuesday, 29 of the league’s top rookies gathered for a series of photo and media opportunities, which helps Upper Deck with the creation of this season’s trading cards. They also acquired signatures for those card sets.

Players dressed in full team equipment cycled through different stations throughout the day, striking poses for Upper Deck photographers, doing social media interviews, signing hundreds of autographs, talking to media, and taking phone calls from the NHLPA.

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By Alan Dobbins 1 year ago

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Hendrix Lapierre calls playing with Alex Ovechkin last year ‘a dream come true literally’

Hendrix Lapierre participated in the NHLPA Rookie Showcase at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

Not only did the 20-year-old rookie reveal the first real-life example of the Capitals’ new jersey ad, but he also dished more on his experience playing with his childhood idol, Alex Ovechkin, last season.

“It was great,” a smiling Lapierre said to the media, including RMNB. “Yeah, he’s my teammate, but he’s still my idol pretty much. I grew up watching him. As you guys saw, I had a poster of him and a bunch of jerseys and stuff. Being with him on a daily basis for 30 [days] last year was awesome.”

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Hendrix Lapierre becomes first Capitals player to rock team’s new jersey ad

The NHLPA Rookie Showcase is being hosted at MedStar Capitals Iceplex this year and Hendrix Lapierre is the Washington Capitals’ lone representative. Before taking the ice on Tuesday, Lapierre spoke with the media, including RMNB, about his excitement for the event and how his summer has gone.

But the most notable thing about the conversation was arguably what Lapierre was wearing. The prospect center rocked the Capitals’ authentic jersey for the upcoming 2022-23 season, which includes the franchise’s inaugural NHL jersey ad sold to Caesars Sportsbook.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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MedStar Capitals Iceplex will host NHLPA Rookie Showcase, Hendrix Lapierre to participate

The National Hockey League Players’ Association will brings its 12th annual Rookie Showcase to MedStar Capitals IcePlex. The Capitals’ practice facility in Arlington will host more than 30 prospects and rookies from around the league on September 6.

The lone Caps player representative will be Hendrix Lapierre. He’ll join a group that includes the last two number one overall draft selections, Juraj Slafkovsky and Owen Power.

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By Chris Cerullo 1 year ago

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