Pheonix Copley

Capitals cut Pheonix Copley from Training Camp roster, place goaltender on waivers

A day after debuting his new Capitals’ mask design for the 2021-22 season, Pheonix Copley was cut by Washington and put on waivers with the intent of being sent down to AHL Hershey.

Copley, who served as Braden Holtby’s backup during the 2018-19 season, is in the final year of a three-year, $3.3 million contract he signed in 2019.

The Bears’ first day of Training Camp was held on Monday. Earlier in the day, the Capitals lost Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, who was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Sabres.

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By Ian Oland 2 months ago

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Pheonix Copley debuts ‘clean’ new Capitals goalie mask design featuring repeating Screaming Eagle logo

Capitals goaltender Pheonix Copley is entering the final season of a three-year, $3.3 million contract he signed with Washington in 2019. The mask he will wear might feature the best design he’s ever had since first arriving in the organization during the 2014-15 season.

Painted by Robert Howell of Sun God Graphics, Copley’s new bucket is minimalistic and based on the team’s Reverse Retro jersey.

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By Ian Oland 2 months ago

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Craig Anderson appears to be the starter for Game Two as injured Vitek Vanecek misses morning skate

It appears the Capitals will turn to 39-year-old Craig Anderson to start in goal for Monday’s Game Two against the Boston Bruins.

It will be Anderson’s first start in a playoff game since May 25, 2017, when he helped lead the Ottawa Senators to the Eastern Conference Final. Ottawa fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven.

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By Ian Oland 7 months ago

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Capitals make three roster moves

The Washington Capitals announced three roster moves on Monday as Justin Schultz, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Ilya Samsonov returned to practice.

The most notable move was the Capitals re-assigned Pheonix Copley from Hershey to the team’s taxi squad after a less-than-stellar relief outing by Craig Anderson.

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By Ian Oland 10 months ago

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Capitals option two players to Hershey ahead of what was supposed to be their season opener

The Washington Capitals made two roster moves ahead of what was supposed to be the Hershey Bears’ season opener on Friday.

The Bears sent top defense prospect Martin Fehervary and veteran goaltender Pheonix Copley to AHL Hershey. Both players have spent a majority of the season on the Capitals’ taxi squad.

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By Ian Oland 10 months ago

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Brian MacLellan anticipates Ilya Samsonov starting, Vitek Vanecek backing up during 2020-21 season

Henrik Lundqvist’s shocking announcement that he would not play this season due to a heart condition rocked the Capitals organization and the NHL community as a whole. But inside the walls of MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Hank’s exit also represented, as sad as the circumstances, an opportunity for the team’s young goaltenders who have been in a fierce and friendly competition for NHL playing time over the last few years.

Wednesday, Brian MacLellan confirmed that Ilya Samsonov would be the Capitals’ starting netminder next season during the Capitals general manager’s first press conference since Lundqvist’s announcement was made.

Mac added that while the team was open to possibly adding a veteran goalie via free agency or trade, they were also content with their depth at the position.

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By Ian Oland 11 months ago

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Pheonix Copley’s new goalie mask features oversized Weagle wings

Monday, the debut of new goalie masks continued as Pheonix Copley’s 2021 bucket was released by Swedish airbrusher David Gunnarsson.

The dominant features of Copley’s design combine white stars, oversized Weagle wings, and the Capitals’ wordmark for a bold red and blue look. The chin also features two crossed candy canes symbolizing Copley’s home of North Pole, Alaska.

“The new Caps mask creation for my friend Pheonix Copley was a joy to create,” Gunnarsson wrote. “It is crisp and clean on a distance, all built on the awesome team logos. It lives and breathes Washington Capitals with the red bottom and crisp white details, and when you come closer the 3️⃣-D FX delivers… Thanks Pheonix for the paint ride!”

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By Ian Oland 12 months ago

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Beck Malenstyn and Pheonix Copley will be black aces for the Capitals if the 2019-20 restarts

The Hershey Bears’ season officially ended on Monday after the AHL canceled the rest of the 2019-20 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic, but at least two Bears players could still have more hockey to play.

The Washington Capitals have notified forward Beck Malenstyn and goaltender Pheonix Copley that they will be black aces for the team if the NHL season ever restarts. A black ace is a term for players recalled from the AHL for their NHL team’s playoff run.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Pheonix Copley clears waivers, loaned to Hershey Bears

The Capitals have dodged another bullet. The team’s former backup goaltender, Pheonix Copley, has cleared waivers and loaned to the American Hockey League’s Hersey Bears.

Copley was put on waivers on Wednesday afternoon as the Capitals announced their 2019-20 roster. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov was awarded the backup position.

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By Cara Bahniuk 2 years ago

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Ilya Samsonov will back up Braden Holtby as Capitals place Pheonix Copley on waivers

In a shocking move, the Washington Capitals placed Pheonix Copley on waivers Wednesday. Copley signed a three-year contract last season to keep him in DC until 2022.

“It was a really difficult decision for us organizationally,” head coach Todd Reirden said. “To have to put Copley on waivers was something organizationally, that we had to do and with where we’re at in today’s cap world, it was a tough one, especially with his work ethic, who he is as a person, how good he is in our locker room. It was a real tough day to inform him yesterday that he wasn’t coming on this trip and ultimately putting him on waivers.”

The move indicates, either due to the salary cap or the longterm future of the team, that the Capitals will go with Ilya Samsonov as the team’s backup goaltender moving forward where he continue his rapid development. The aggressive move also suggests Braden Holtby’s future with the team beyond this season is in question. Holtby is a UFA at season’s end and is likely due a contract with an annual average salary of around $10 million.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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