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Capitals Officially On Ryan Leonard Watch, Boston College Eliminated From NCAA Tournament
Capitals In Midst Of Locker Room Prank War: 'It Doesn't Matter Who You Are, No One's Safe'
BREAKING: Capitals Sign Ryan Leonard To Entry-Level Contract, NHL Debut Likely vs. Boston
A Prankster, A Fighter & A Guy Who's 'Got That Dog In Him': Brandon Duhaime Does It All For The Capitals
Capitals Prospect Report: Hutson & Leonard Shine To Start NCAA Tourney, What's Next For Chesley, Protas Surges In Game 1
What The McIlrath Extension Means For The Capitals, Alexeyev
Carbery Explains Ovechkin's Lack Of Playing Time Through First Two Periods vs. Sabres, Demands More From Top-6
What's It Like To Skate Beside Gr8ness? Alex Ovechkin's Linemates Over The Years Will Tell You It Wasn't Easy, But It Was The Ultimate Reward
Ryan Leonard Moves In With Pierre-Luc Dubois To Start Capitals Tenure: 'He's Treated Me With The Most Respect'
GOTTA SEE IT: Alex Ovechkin Has Classy Final Gesture For Marc-Andre Fleury, Calls Capitals Back From Room To Shake Hands
Capitals Notebook: Where Ryan Leonard Will Draw In For Debut, McIlrath Replaces Roy
Capitals Notebook: Beauvillier Draws Out & Roy Returns vs. Blackhawks, Lindgren Starts With Thompson Out For 'A Bit'
Capitals Notebook: Carbery Hopes Power Play Tweak Ignites Spark, Lineup Changing Down Stretch
Capitals Notebook: Ryan Leonard Expected To Sign, Team Ponders Changes To Top-6
Capitals Lose Logan Thompson To Upper-Body Injury Against Hurricanes
Ryan Leonard Talks Overnight Jump To Capitals, Debut & Hanging With Alex Ovechkin: 'Not Something You Can Put Into Words'
Hurricanes' Chatfield Won't Receive Supplemental Discipline For MMA-Style Takedown Of Capitals' McMichael
Capitals Sign Gucciardi To Entry-Level Contract, Will Also Sign Chesley
Ovechkin Talks Being Asked Constantly About The Record & Evolving His Game Over Time
Takeaways: Leonard Brings Boom In NHL Debut, Capitals Edge Bruins To Snap Skid
Capitals Officially On Ryan Leonard Watch, Boston College Eliminated From NCAA Tournament
The Washington Capitals are officially on Ryan Leonard watch.
Leonard's sophomore season with Boston College officially came to an end on Sunday, as the Eagles fell to the Denver Pioneers, 3-1, in the regional final. It was a repeat of last year's crushing loss to Denver in the title game, but there are different implications this time around as B.C. sees an earlier exit and Leonard more likely pro-bound.
The 19-year-old appears to be ready to make the full-time NHL jump, and now that his season is over, he can officially sign his entry-level contract. The plan for general manager Chris Patrick, who planned around his pending arrival at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, was to reach out and start talking with his camp when his season ended, and he could arrive in D.C. sooner rather than later.
Leonard, who was taken eighth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, finished his sophomore year with an NCAA-leading 30 goals and 19 assists for 49 points in 36 games, while earning Hobey Baker consideration and making headlines with his grit, speed and scoring prowess.
Having Leonard join the mix would be a major addition for the Capitals, who have lost three straight games and are looking to find their consistency again with nine games to go in the regular season and a long Stanley Cup Playoff run within the realm of possibility.
When it comes to where he would slot into the lineup, Leonard could start on the bottom-6 and work his way up, but he may also have to wait for his opportunity with the Capitals also planning to play Ethen Frank down the stretch and having to figure out which veterans would take a seat over Leonard.
Regardless, joining the pro ranks will be a major plus for the up-and-comer, who has been compared to Tom Wilson, T.J. Oshie and other top names and has shown what he can do.
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Capitals In Midst Of Locker Room Prank War: 'It Doesn't Matter Who You Are, No One's Safe'
ARLINGTON, V.A. — Before Brandon Duhaime went to sit down in his stall, he noticed that his seat cushion was soaked in water. He stalked off to get a towel, and then cleaned up the mess before quickly pointing out the culprit.
"Matt Roy," he called out.
Duhaime is the latest Capitals player to fall into the latest locker room antics, which include an all-out prank war.
Though the 27-year-old is one of the more humorous characters in the room, he wouldn't take credit for starting things on Saturday.
"No, no, I got roped in," Duhaime said. "I don't even know what today was about. I think Matt Roy's upset about something... he said he spilled it, but it just seems a little targeted to me."
While Duhaime's innocent on Saturday's front, Tom Wilson said that he's behind quite a few of the antics.
"He keeps everybody on their toes," Wilson laughed.
Wilson wouldn't dive into specifics — "I'm not snitching," he insisted with a grin — though he did say that he's often a target of Duhaime's antics.
How come?
"He's an easy target," Duhaime said. "It snowballs on the things you can attack him for. It's fun to poke him a little bit. Not too far, you don't want him seeing red, but it's fun to get on him."
Besides Duhaime, Aliaksei Protas and Logan Thompson have also played their share of jokes on their teammates, with Protas appearing to be the one who taped Andrew Mangiapane's hat near the ceiling. As for Thompson, he's hidden his share of hockey sticks from Taylor Raddysh.
Still, it's all in good fun and just another way the tight-knit group stays connected.
"It doesn't matter who you are, no one's safe," Wilson said with a smile.
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BREAKING: Capitals Sign Ryan Leonard To Entry-Level Contract, NHL Debut Likely vs. Boston
It's official: Ryan Leonard is a Washington Capital.
The Capitals signed Leonard to a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday, general manager Chris Patrick announced. His deal carries an average annual value of $950,000, and he appears set to make his NHL debut on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins.
Leonard just finished his sophomore season at Boston College, scoring an NCAA-leading 30 goals through 37 games. The Eagles were eliminated by the Denver Pioneers in the regional final of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. He finished his collegiate playing career with 109 points (61 goals, 48 assists) through 78 games.
Washington selected Leonard eighth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old is known for his speed, scoring prowess and grit, and has been compared to the likes of T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson, among others.
Leonard should provide a major boost to Washington's forward depth heading into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Right now, it's unclear where he'll slot in to start his NHL career, though he's expected to make quite a bit of noise.
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A Prankster, A Fighter & A Guy Who's 'Got That Dog In Him': Brandon Duhaime Does It All For The Capitals
ARLINGTON, V.A. — As the Washington Capitals wait to take the ice and stand in the tunnel before warmups, you'll often hear barking echoing through the halls. It's coming from "Doggy..." also known as "Dewey..." also known as Brandon Duhaime.
There are multiple monikers for the Capitals tough guy, and yet, despite all of his nicknames, it's not easy for Tom Wilson to describe what Duhaime's come to mean to the group.
"I don't think you can really put it into words," Wilson said of sharing the room with Duhaime.
That's because Duhaime is one of a kind.
The 27-year-old joined Washington on a two-year contract this offseason, expected to bring grit and physicality to the mix while replacing Beck Malenstyn as Nic Dowd's go-to winger on the fourth line. He's embraced that role, and then some.
Duhaime has picked up a career-high nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points through 74 games this season. He's a hard-working winger who's not afraid to drop the mitts or stick up for his teammates, he kills penalties and he'll play whatever role is asked of him.
"It's hard to have a bad day with this job," Duhaime said, adding, "You come in with the same attitude every day. And it should be a positive attitude. Every day, coming here and doing what we do is a privilege."
Despite all he does on the ice, it's Duhaime's character and off-ice presence that's made him stand out.
"It's interesting every day, in a really good way. He's just one of the teammates that I'll remember for probably the rest of my career," Nic Dowd said.
First and foremost, Duhaime is known for his keen sense of humor and quick wit, which have taken the locker room by storm. He's a prank master who — though he denies it — is the catalyst behind an ongoing prank war in the District.
"When he gets himself with the prank, that's probably his best (trick), just to try to get himself clear of no one thinking that it's him," Taylor Raddysh said. "Like if he's putting a water cup under someone's helmet, he'll do it to himself as well, just so no one knows it was him."
Wilson, who is most frequently on the end of Duhaime's pranks, noted that the Florida native "keeps you on your toes."
"Some of the stuff that he comes up with is crazy," Wilson said, adding. "My first impression was like, 'Oh, this is going to be a long year, he's going to tire me out,' because he was coming after me from Day 1. Since then, it's just been one of those things that makes you want to come back to the rink every day."
Of Wilson, Duhaime shrugged it off. "He's an easy target."
"It's fun to poke him a little bit. Not too far, you don't want him seeing red," Duhaime joked.
Still, even though he'll pick on his teammates, he's firmly always in their corner, a team guy through and through.
"I think he's just as happy to watch his own teammates have success as he is to have personal success, which I think is hard to come by in professional sports," Dowd said.
"He's every guy's biggest cheerleader," Wilson smiled.
That optimism and positivity are contagious, and it's enough to overshadow the constant hijinks. In fact, it's his "can-do" attitude that has brought an already-close locker room even closer.
"The season can really wear on you, and the ability for him – regardless of what's going on with him — he's able to keep the rest of our teammates light, which I think is a pretty special trait of a guy at this level," Dowd said, adding, "If we're struggling with something, whether it's on the ice or off ice, Dewey maintains a positive attitude regardless... You can really tell a lot about a person when things potentially aren't going well individually or as a team, and (he's) still able to maintain that positivity."
But what really makes his teammates "respect the crap out of him" is his work ethic.
"He can have fun off the ice and he's hilarious, but when it comes to game time, he's a guy that's working his butt off every single shift," Charlie Lindgren explained.
Duhaime, a fourth-round pick who worked his way up the ranks himself, lives by the notion of "doing it the right way," which he defines as trusting the process, paying your dues and working hard. He calls the process "doing it the right way."
"Just a hard, honest game," Duhaime explained, adding, "We build offense through staying under pucks and coming up as a unit of five."
"He's just this consistent energy... he just has another level," Dylan McIlrath said, adding, "He makes everyone gravitate towards him."
Growing up, Duhaime joked that he wanted to be like Alex Ovechkin, but at the end of the day, he's "Dewey" — and that's more than enough for the Capitals.
"Dewey's just... he's in his own group," Dowd smiled.
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Capitals Prospect Report: Hutson & Leonard Shine To Start NCAA Tourney, What's Next For Chesley, Protas Surges In Game 1
The Washington Capitals are watching a handful of their top prospects as the playoffs get underway in multiple leagues — and they haven't disappointed.
First, both Cole Hutson and Ryan Leonard shined in their respective playoff-opening games for Boston University and Boston College in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Hutson put on a show in the No. 8 Terriers' opening game of the tournament against No. 9 Ohio State, putting up a goal and three assists en route to an 8-3 win over the Buckeyes on Thursday.
Boston University advanced to the NCAA Regional Final, where it will face the No. 16 Cornell Big Red, which stunned Capitals prospect David Gucciardi and No. 1 Michigan State in the final seconds of regulation.
Hutson has been a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the ice, but it's his puck-moving ability, smooth skating and finesse that makes him stand out the most. Washington traded Beck Malenstyn to the Buffalo Sabres in order to trade up in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft for the 18-year-old blueliner.
Meanwhile, Leonard picked up his NCAA-leading 30th goal of the season, a game-clinching empty-net goal, in No. 1 Boston College's 3-1 win over No. 4 Bentley on Friday. He is the first player since Cam Atkinson in 2011 to post back-to-back 30-goal seasons at the NCAA level.
Leonard is expected to sign his entry-level contract and make the jump to Washington after his run with the Eagles comes to an end, which will provide D.C. with a major boost come playoff time thanks to Leonard's goal-scoring prowess, grit and speed. BC will face either Denver or Providence in the next round.
The Capitals are also waiting to see what's next for Ryan Chesley, whose season ended with the Minnesota Golden Gophers seeing an early first-round exit at the hands of the UMass Minutemen.
Chesley was the subject of a controversial non-call, as he was tripped up in overtime while carrying the puck, which led to a turnover and the subsequent OT winner.
In addition to NCAA action, the OHL playoffs are underway, and Ilya Protas has continued to surge. The younger brother of Capitals star Aliaksei Protas had four assists in the Windsor Spitfires' 7-2 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in Game 1 of the OHL playoffs.
Protas finished his regular season as one of the CHL's top players, putting up 124 points in just 61 games.
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What The McIlrath Extension Means For The Capitals, Alexeyev
The Washington Capitals started their Thursday off with more outstanding business, inking defenseman Dylan McIlrath to a two-year, $1.6 million extension.
It's a one-way deal that pays the rearguard an AAV of $800,000.
McIlrath made the full-time jump to the NHL this season with Washington, appearing in 11 games and picking up two assists while spending most of the time as the team's seventh defenseman. Prior to this season, the 32-year-old captained the Hershey Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024. He has been in the Capitals organization since 2021.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound blueliner is not only a physical, capable defenseman who provides depth, but he is one of the veteran leaders in the locker room. He plays a similar role as Matt Irwin, who was the team's seventh defensemen back during Peter Laviolette's tenure.
Though McIlrath doesn't play a lot, he knows his role and enjoys it, and he's happy to do what he can to provide whatever the organization asks of him.
"It's
just the situation; I'm at peace with it. It doesn't make it easy, but
it's something that I know I just got to focus on myself. I've been at
it long enough to be a pro, and I know I got to be ready when my time
(comes)," McIlrath said, adding, "So (I'm) really taking advantage of a
full team practice and making sure I'm keeping that pace as the other
guys and treating it as if it were a game."
With McIlrath signed now and the team having all six of its regular defensemen under contract through next season, it appears this could be the end of the road for Alex Alexeyev, who becomes an unrestricted free agent in July.
Alexeyev has appeared in just five regular season games. He was a first-round pick in 2018, and though he's shown that he can play in the big leagues, he hasn't solidified himself as a regular defenseman in the lineup for D.C.
That said, the 25-year-old, who still has plenty of upside, could look to sign elsewhere this offseason and go to a team where he can get consistent playing time rather than being a healthy scratch.
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Carbery Explains Ovechkin's Lack Of Playing Time Through First Two Periods vs. Sabres, Demands More From Top-6
WASHINGTON — Despite Alex Ovechkin moving within five goals of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, coach Spencer Carbery said that the Washington Capitals need to see a lot more from the top-6 going forward.
Ovechkin got just 10 shifts through the first 40 minutes of Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, skating a team-low 7:43 minutes over that span, including under three minutes overall in the second.
Carbery explained it was the result of numerous defensive zone starts and the team having to kill penalties, while also saying that Ovechkin's line needed a change after a lackluster start.
The Capitals captain picked it up in the third period after he moved to a line with Pierre-Luc Dubois, scoring his 890th career goal while ending the night with three points. He ultimately finished the night with 16:55 minutes of ice time.
However, the Capitals bench boss said that the team needs more from its top two lines amid a three-game losing skid.
"We were fighting to stay in that game. I didn't like any of our top-6 again tonight, those two lines over the last two games, we've been okay, but no production from them," Carbery said. "They get the late goal in Winnipeg, but it just hasn't looked great. Their underlying numbers haven't been great the last two games from our top-6."
Washington will be back in action on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins and could see a new-look lineup with nine games to go and Ethen Frank drawing back in down the stretch, as well as the potential addition of Ryan Leonard.
That said, Carbery wants to see D.C. return to its identity, especially with the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs right around the corner.
"We get what we deserve tonight. I don't know if it's a mental block with our group, there's just something that when they see a team like this, they want to play their style of game and it goes south on us," Carbery said. "That's not who we are, and it's disappointing."
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What's It Like To Skate Beside Gr8ness? Alex Ovechkin's Linemates Over The Years Will Tell You It Wasn't Easy, But It Was The Ultimate Reward
MIKE KNUBLE KNEW WHEN he signed his two-year contract to join the Washington Capitals in July 2009 that he was there for one primary reason: to play opposite Alex Ovechkin, the young-gun Russian superstar who – while not in the same conversation as Wayne Gretzky at the time – was in his prime and piling up goals.
Knowing his role was one thing, but it was entirely another to actually line up on the ice alongside Ovechkin. And in that first game, Knuble, who was 37 at the time and made a career out of complementing guys and making a home for himself around the net, had one thought.
Don’t screw this up.
“The biggest thing, OK, there was a couple things, but the No. 1 thing was, you don’t want to slow him down,” said Knuble with a laugh. For Knuble, it wasn’t as simple as just taking on a key role; he was filling big skates. The last linemate Ovechkin had was countryman Viktor Kozlov, who, while not scoring as many goals himself, clicked well with No. 8 and helped Ovechkin to seasons of 65 goals in 2007-08 and 56 goals in 2008-09.
The pressure was on for the veteran Knuble going into a year where Washington was expected to make significant strides. “He’s trending as a 100-point guy, and you’re playing with him.” Knuble said. “You’re linked to him. You don’t want his percentage to go down. If now he’s down to 80 points, you’re like, ‘Who are they going to point the finger at?’ ”
But when the puck dropped, it was business as usual. Knuble felt the pressure melting away with each stride, as he and Ovechkin benefitted greatly from their time together on that deep 2009-10 Capitals squad. Over those first two seasons, playing primarily with each other, Ovechkin and Knuble combined for 135 goals and 287 points.
While there are obviously benefits to playing on a line with arguably the greatest goal-scorer ever – who sits four goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894 – there’s a lot more that goes into being Ovechkin’s linemate.
But what, exactly, is that?
Well, first of all, you couldn’t simply ride the opposite wing and hope the goals would just happen thanks to the star power on your left. Knuble had been around long enough to know that. It takes a lot of grit to play that role with Ovechkin. “You had to get him the puck when you could,” Knuble said, “and do some of the legwork.”
For the Toronto-born right winger, that meant winning board battles, finding the open man and then getting to the front of the net in case of a rebound or deflection chance.
At the same time, while the goal was obviously to get Ovechkin the puck as much as possible, that wasn’t Knuble’s sole purpose. Despite having made a living out of crashing the crease and getting to the dirty areas, Knuble had to take matters into his own hands when he could. When he had the puck, he’d have to make the right decision rather than automatically passing it to ‘Ovi.’ “As a player, you had to be very careful that you didn’t defer to him too much,” Knuble said. “You knew what he could do, but it wasn’t like, ‘Force it. Force it. Force it to him all the time,’ ” Knuble said. “When you had a chance and you were in a high-percentage scoring area, you had to shoot the puck. You can’t look (for him). You couldn’t defer all the time.”
As Knuble’s time with the Caps wound down, Washington brought in another right winger to help add scoring depth and leadership and further add to Ovechkin’s arsenal, acquiring 2010 Stanley Cup champion Troy Brouwer. The big winger from Vancouver moved around the lineup but often found himself opposite Ovechkin during his four years in D.C.
"YOU HAD TO WORK HARD TO BE ON HIS LINE, BUT YOU SAW THE BENEFITS OF IT AS A TEAM."
The first thing Brouwer recalled when it came to playing alongside Ovechkin was how “demanding” of a role being on his line was. “It was a lot of fun to watch him do what he does, but it was also a lot of work to be on his line to make sure that you were able to help somebody and contribute,” Brouwer said. “He would go. He’d hit. He’d score highlight-reel goals. He’d do all that kind of stuff, but he was a demanding linemate. He was one of those guys that was like, you know, ‘Get me the puck and I’ll make you look good.’ ”
Despite the difficulties of playing that role, Brouwer embraced it and even relished it as he saw it pay off in his production. From 2011-12 to ’14-15, he had two seasons of 20-plus goals and 40-plus points with the Capitals. “You had to work hard to be on his line, but you saw the benefits of it as a team,” Brouwer said. He then added with a laugh: “And also selfishly, if you got (the puck) to him, you had a great chance to get an assist and a point, and the team would score a goal.”
It wasn’t just at 5-on-5 that it was a challenging role; the power play was a beast of its own, and Brouwer played an entirely different role. Ovechkin has been the face of the Caps’ power play since he entered the league in 2005, and no one has scored more on the man advantage than ‘The Great 8,’ who has 321 PP goals – and counting – through 20 seasons.
When it comes to lining up at 5-on-4 or 5-on-3 with Ovechkin, there was one primary rule: no going into Ovechkin’s ‘office,’ which is famously located at the top of the left faceoff circle. “He wasn’t going to move, and he was going to stand in his spot,” Brouwer joked. “He was dangerous.”
Brouwer was primarily the screen man, going to the top of the crease and blocking the goalie’s eyes while looking for a dirty goal in front. And for a young Brouwer, he had to take a certain approach when Ovechkin teed up for a one-timer – which averaged 90-100 miles per hour. “You get pretty good at understanding where he’s trying to shoot depending on where the pass is coming from and where the defenders are,” Brouwer said. “You try and create a screen as much as you can, but at the end of the day, he’s got such a good shot that you just try not to get in the way, because he can beat a goalie clean from where he shoots from.”
"IT’S A LOT OF FUN TO PLAY WITH HIM. YOU JUST WANT TO GET HIM THE PUCK AS MUCH AS YOU CAN."
As time went on, Ovechkin’s career evolved. He embraced his role as captain, and while the goals continued to pile up, so did his desire to lift the Stanley Cup. All the while, his linemates continued to change.
He played with just about anyone – from Joey Crabb to Jay Beagle.
But there was one constant: Nicklas Backstrom as his center. No player has assisted on more Ovechkin goals than No. 19, who had done it 279 times before stepping away from the game in 2023 due to chronic hip issues. “Every time you get a chance to practise or play with Ovi, it’s amazing,” said Backstrom in 2023. “Ovi’s Ovi. He’s always going to get it done, you know? That’s the kind of player he is, and that’s who he is.”
In 2017-18, Evgeny Kuznetsov took the reins from Backstrom as Ovechkin’s center, while Tom Wilson stepped into that hardworking role on the other wing. The trio combined for a lot of success, and after a 49-goal season for Ovechkin, he added 15 more in the playoffs to pave the way to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
For Wilson, playing on a line with Ovechkin is something special. “Organized chaos” is what Wilson would come to term it. “We could just (go out) guns-a-blazing, flying all over the ice,” Wilson said, “and the center would kind of slow us down and create some space out there.”
The M.O. was the same for Wilson as it was for his predecessors: get Ovechkin the puck and good things would happen. “It’s a lot of fun to play with him,” Wilson said. “You just want to try and get him the puck as much as you can, and obviously, he’ll find the back of the net.”
Eventually, the departures of Backstrom and Kuznetsov left Ovechkin in need of a new permanent first-line center, and he’s found that in Dylan Strome, who came to D.C. on a one-year deal in 2022. He’s since become a staple down the middle for the Caps and has signed an extension through the 2027-28 season.
For Strome, there’s added responsibility there, especially with Ovechkin now 39 years old and on the verge of making history. However, the chemistry between the two has been natural from the get-go, and a lot of that is due to how Strome approaches his role.
That means not just putting the puck on a platter, as Knuble mentioned; it means being prepared for anything because Ovechkin can dish the puck just as well as he can shoot it. “He obviously wants the puck in an area to shoot, but you got to be ready for the puck at all times,” Strome said. “He’s a great passer. I feel like people don’t give enough credit for how good of a passer he is. It looks like he’s going to shoot, draws four or five guys to him somewhere, then passes it. So you gotta give him the puck when he’s loaded up. That’s when he wants it. “If he’s open, you’re going to want to pass to him, but you also have got to trust yourself and trust your shot and your instinct at the time. He’s happier than anyone when someone else scores.”
As Ovechkin continues to chip away toward 895, he’s had a revolving door of other wingers on a stacked 2024-25 Capitals team, playing with the likes of Andrew Mangiapane, Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael on his other side while trying both the left and right wing.
At the end of the day, though, when it comes to skating alongside the Caps captain, so much of the role comes down to trusting your gut. “If your instincts are the guy that has (891) goals is open, you’re probably going to want to pass the puck to him,” said Strome with a laugh.
The rest should take care of itself.
This story is published in the Playoff Edition of The Hockey News magazine.
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Ryan Leonard Moves In With Pierre-Luc Dubois To Start Capitals Tenure: 'He's Treated Me With The Most Respect'
ARLINGTON, V.A. — To start the week, Ryan Leonard was sleeping in a twin-sized bed in his Boston College dorm room. Now, the Washington Capitals rookie has the entire third floor of Pierre-Luc Dubois' D.C. home to himself.
Leonard, who signed his entry-level contract with the Capitals on Monday, has been embraced by his new teammates, and with him needing a place to live, Dubois, who is in the midst of his first year in Washington, readily offered his house to the 20-year-old.
"He's awesome," Leonard said. "He's treated me with the most respect. Took me grocery shopping, just really trying to make me feel at home."
Leonard spent the off day on Thursday with Dubois, who took him around D.C. and gave him free roam of the entire third floor of the house, which for No. 9, is a major upgrade over the B.C. dorms. The two also watched the Boston Bruins take on the Montreal Canadiens.
"He doesn't want to force anything, he wants me to be comfortable. If I'm hungry or thirsty, just do whatever I need," Leonard said. "It's definitely a little bit of an adjustment and takes some time to get used to, but it's a lot of fun."
Leonard will play in his third NHL game on Friday when the Capitals play host to the Chicago Blackhawks.
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GOTTA SEE IT: Alex Ovechkin Has Classy Final Gesture For Marc-Andre Fleury, Calls Capitals Back From Room To Shake Hands
As the Washington Capitals made their way down the tunnel to the dressing room at Xcel Energy Center, wanting to put a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild behind them quickly, captain Alex Ovechkin frantically sprinted over and called his teammates back to the ice.
Because for Ovechkin, it was important for each and every one of the Capitals to line up and shake Marc-Andre Fleury's hand in what is likely the last time that the goaltender will face the team in his historic career as he's set to retire at the end of the season.
Ovechkin and Fleury hugged and shared words before the rest of Washington's roster followed suit.
It's been a 20-year rivalry between Ovechkin and Fleury, two respective first-overall picks who are arguably the best in their respective positions.
From Washington's early rivalry days with the Pittsburgh Penguins to Ovechkin's Capitals finally besting Fleury and the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup in 2018 to their final meeting earlier this season where Ovechkin scored and they exchanged sticks postgame, there have been all kinds of memories between the two over the years.
"He's one of the best goalies to ever play," Ovechkin said of Fleury pregame, adding, "I hope he's going to sign one more year. It was a pretty good battle out there between me and him."
Ovechkin faced Fleury a total of 47 times, the most he's played any goalie, scoring 28 goals — also the most he's had on a single netminder.
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Capitals Notebook: Where Ryan Leonard Will Draw In For Debut, McIlrath Replaces Roy
The Washington Capitals will see a special NHL debut in Boston, as Ryan Leonard is set to play in his first game against his hometown Bruins on Tuesday.
Leonard signed his entry-level contract on Monday after his NCAA career came to an end over the weekend. The 19-year-old led all collegiate skaters with 30 goals through 37 games.
Coach Spencer Carbery told reporters that Leonard will play on the second line with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas, and Taylor Raddysh will draw out of the lineup in order for Leonard to slot in. Alex Ovechkin, meanwhile, will play with Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Here are the projected combinations:
Alex Ovechkin-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas-Dylan Strome-Ryan Leonard
Andrew Mangiapane-Lars Eller-Connor McMichael
Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Anthony Beauvillier
Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson
Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary-Dylan McIlrath
Charlie Lindgren
Logan Thompson
The 19-year-old met up with the team on Monday, going out to dinner with Ovechkin and the rest of the group in order to get situated.
In addition to Leonard, Washington will also make a lineup change on the backend; Matt Roy is not on the trip due to family reasons, so Dylan McIlrath will draw back in on defense. It will be his first game since Dec. 23.
Charlie Lindgren gets the start in net. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at TD Garden.
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Capitals Notebook: Beauvillier Draws Out & Roy Returns vs. Blackhawks, Lindgren Starts With Thompson Out For 'A Bit'
ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals will see some lineup changes on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, as Anthony Beauvillier will take his turn as a healthy scratch with rookie Ryan Leonard remaining in the lineup.
Beauvillier, along with Ethen Frank, took part in the scratches' skate after practice, as Taylor Raddysh will get the opportunity to draw back in after sitting out the last two games.
Matt Roy, who missed the last two games due to personal family reasons, will also make his return to the lineup as Dylan McIlrath slots back out. Alex Alexeyev remains the other scratch on defense.
Charlie Lindgren will start in goal with Logan Thompson set to "miss a little bit of time" due to an upper-body injury he suffered in the first period of Wednesday's loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Hunter Shepard is up from the AHL's Hershey Bears to back up Lindgren, who now gets the "opportunity" to see some extended time in net with Thompson on the shelf.
Here are the projected combinations:
Alex Ovechkin-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas-Dylan Strome-Ryan Leonard
Andrew Mangiapane-Lars Eller-Connor McMichael
Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Taylor Raddysh
Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson
Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary-Matt Roy
Charlie Lindgren
Hunter Shepard
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena. All eyes are on Alex Ovechkin, who is three goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record.
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Capitals Notebook: Carbery Hopes Power Play Tweak Ignites Spark, Lineup Changing Down Stretch
ARLINGTON, V.A. — After a day off following a less-than-ideal road trip up north, the Washington Capitals got back to work with a busy practice on Saturday, one where they engaged in quite a few battle drills and evaluated a change to their power play.
Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson continue to make up that first unit, but on the second unit, Rasmus Sandin and Jakob Chychrun are the two defensemen, while Ovechkin takes Taylor Raddysh's place up front. Andrew Mangiapane and Connor McMichael round out that group.
For coach Spencer Carbery, it's a tweak that the man advantage, which has gone 0-for-18 over the last 10 games, needs.
“When you have 2 D on that second unit it lets the second unit continue to attack even as that power play expires," Carbery said, adding, "(Another benefit is) getting Chychrun on his one-timer flank; that's something we have used on that past. We want to keep him handling pucks over there, shooting it from over there and continue to have that in our back pocket of him being really, really comfortable on that half wall."
The power play saw more movement against the Minnesota Wild, but there's still room for improvement and the team needs to start figuring out ways to convert with power-play goals able to make or break a game come playoff time.
"I mean, there’s a lot that goes into it. Finishing is one of the parts of the power play, for sure, but there’s a lot that goes into creating those opportunities," As long as you’re generating a high amount of quality looks whether they’re going in or not… you’re going to be a top-5 power play," Carbery said, adding, "It's all about the process, not the finish. Okay, so how do you generate more looks? O-zone time, entries, secondary chances; there’s all sorts of stuff that goes into it.”
The Capitals could also start to see some lineup changes with 10 games remaining in the regular season and D.C. having already clinched a playoff berth and home ice. Washington returns to action at home with a Sunday matinee against the Buffalo Sabres, where one of the regular healthy scratches in Alex Alexeyev, Dylan McIlrath or Ethen Frank could slot back into the mix.
"We should see some guys (getting) into the lineup," Carbery said.
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Capitals Notebook: Ryan Leonard Expected To Sign, Team Ponders Changes To Top-6
ARLINGTON, V.A. — After Boston College was eliminated at the hands of Denver on Sunday, Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery reached out to prospect Ryan Leonard, letting him know he was impressed with what was yet another successful NCAA season.
It was a "quick exchange," but one that the coach felt was important as the 20-year-old appears set to make the NHL jump.
"I'm proud of him, of the season that he’s had but also the way he’s conducted himself," Carbery said. "The year that he’s had with the world juniors and another really strong season for him at B.C. Anytime you don’t win the last game, it’s a tough feeling, especially having played college hockey. You put a lot into that, and those one-and-done scenarios are tough. So, just there for him and we’ll see where it goes."
Per multiple sources, Leonard is expected to sign with Washington at some point on Monday and could make his NHL debut in his hometown of Boston on Tuesday when the Capitals visit the Bruins.
As the Capitals head up north, they are also pondering lineup changes, as Carbery again expressed concerns surrounding the top-6's play and chemistry of late.
Anthony Beauvillier was promoted to the top line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Alex Ovechkin back on Sunday, and though Carbery liked what that trio could do, he'll take a look at other potential combinations going into Tuesday.
"We're asking our top six to do a little bit more... I'm moving things around," Carbery said. "Just feel like the chemistry there's been a little bit off, so we'll try to find some combinations that we feel good about."
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Capitals Lose Logan Thompson To Upper-Body Injury Against Hurricanes
The Washington Capitals found themselves in unfamiliar territory on Wednesday in Raleigh, trailing the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 after a rough opening 20 minutes of play, and to make matters worse, Logan Thompson sustained an upper-body injury and is doubtful to return.
Thompson gave up three goals on the first 10 shots he faced against the Hurricanes, as Sean Walker, Jackson Blake and Seth Jarvis all converted within the first 13:21 minutes of play. Blake and Jarvis' tallies came on the power play. It is unclear when he sustained an injury, though a hard shot early on did knock his mask off, and he was also hit up high by Taylor Hall.
Thompson finished the night with nine saves on 12 shots through the first. Charlie Lindgren, who played the night before in Boston, took over the crease to start the second period.
Thompson had recently been named the Capitals' starter down the stretch, though of late, his play hasn't been what he hoped. He surrendered seven goals back in Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres and has given up at least three goals in his last four outings, including Wednesday.
Still, the 27-year-old has had a strong season, putting up a .912 save percentage through 42 games before Wednesday's showdown, along with a record of 31-5-6.
Thompson signed a six-year contract extension with Washington back in January.
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Ryan Leonard Talks Overnight Jump To Capitals, Debut & Hanging With Alex Ovechkin: 'Not Something You Can Put Into Words'
Ryan Leonard's last 48 hours are enough to give someone whiplash.
On Sunday, he and his teammates at Boston College were playing in the regional final, where they saw their season come to a disappointing end at the hands of Denver. Then, on Monday, he woke up in his dorm room, and business unfolded, as he was faxed over papers for his entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals.
As he went to clean out his locker stall and put pen to paper, his phone buzzed: a text from Alex Ovechkin came up, as Washington was en route to Boston for a Tuesday meeting with the Boston Bruins.
"He asked if I wanted to get sushi once they landed," Leonard said. "I read it in the locker room.... (my teammates were) like 'What? I'm not sure if you should respond to it.' And I was like, 'I kinda have to.'"
Later that night, Ovechkin and the team met Leonard at the Circle, a bar in Boston, where the group listened to "Bandz A Make Her Dance" and shared some food, drinks and words of wisdom.
"Just to go to dinner with those guys and meet all those guys I'm really just trying to embrace the moment and spend quality time with those guys," Leonard said. "It's not often you get to go to dinner with one of the greats."
Then, Tuesday morning hit. Leonard made his way to TD Garden and had his first NHL morning skate with the Capitals. There, he swapped sticks with Ovechkin — who took a dislike to his lower flex — and got to know his teammates a bit more.
He also learned he'd be playing on the top-6 and making his NHL debut against the Bruins in his hometown.
"A dream come true... Just thinking about being here at BC and then turning the page and being a pro, it's pretty weird to think about, but it's pretty cool," Leonard said.
The nerves are building a bit for the 20-year-old as he plays his first NHL game in front of family, friends and BC teammates, but he's taking things one step at a time and just trying to keep things simple.
"This is the only debut I'll have, it's pretty cool. Not really something you can put into words when something you really dream about comes true," Leonard said. "Just trying to go out there and have fun."
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Hurricanes' Chatfield Won't Receive Supplemental Discipline For MMA-Style Takedown Of Capitals' McMichael
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield will not face any supplemental discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety for his takedown of Washington Capitals forward Connor McMichael on Wednesday.
In the dying minutes of the Capitals' 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes, frustration boiled over for McMichael, who dropped the gloves with Chatfield. After wrestling, Chatfield swept McMichael's leg from behind him and spun the forward around before slamming him hard onto the ice.
McMichael appeared to feel the back of his head before getting back up. From there, the officials broke up the fight and sent both players off for fighting with game misconducts. McMichael was also given an extra roughing minor.
The play led to some questions and controversy, with critics citing a potential intent to injure with the MMA-style move. Postgame, coach Spencer Carbery didn't address the incident, though he did say there were "dangerous plays" that resulted in "temperatures rising" to end the game.
Washington and Carolina combined for 114 penalty minutes and eight misconducts through the final 7:02 minutes of regulation, as tensions flared and fights broke out between both sides.
The Capitals will get the chance to respond to Chatfield and the Hurricanes when they pay a visit to D.C. next Thursday.
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Capitals Sign Gucciardi To Entry-Level Contract, Will Also Sign Chesley
ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman David Gucciardi to a two-year, entry-level contract and plan to sign Ryan Chesley to a three-year, entry-level deal, the team announced on Monday.
Gucciardi's contract starts next season and carries an AAV of $855,000 at the NHL level and $82,500 at the AHL level. He is expected to sign an amateur tryout with the Hershey Bears this season and begin his pro career in the minors, as is Chesley.
The 22-year-old defenseman just finished his NCAA career with Michigan State. In 37 games in his senior season, he recorded a career-high six goals, 10 assists, 16 points, 88 shots and plus/minus rating of plus-21. Gucciardi helped the Spartans secure a consecutive Big Ten Conference Tournament title.
Gucciardi
recorded career highs in goals (6), assists (10), points (16),
plus-minus (+21) and shots (88) in 37 games with Michigan
State (NCAA) this season. The fourth-year senior ranked second on the
Spartans in plus-minus, third in blocked shots (39) and tied for first
among the team’s defensemen in goals. The 6’1”, 200-pound defenseman
helped Michigan State claim its second straight
Big Ten Conference Tournament title and earn its second consecutive
NCAA Tournament bid.
Washington selected Gucciardi in the seventh round (No. 213) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Chesley, who was taken in the second round (No. 37) in the 2022 NHL Draft, just finished his NCAA tenure with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
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Ovechkin Talks Being Asked Constantly About The Record & Evolving His Game Over Time
As Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin inches closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record, it's a consistent subject matter brought up in interviews, as he's brought out day after day to discuss the "GR8 Chase."
And for him, it's grown a bit tedious answering the same questions regarding the record, but he took the time to joke about it when chatting with reporters in Minnesota on Thursday.
"How many years, it's been like, two years already, right?" Ovechkin said when asked how long he's been tired of talking about the record. "Two years. But you just get used to it."
Ovechkin sits at 889 career goals and is on a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists) entering Thursday's contest against the Minnesota Wild.
While he's still finding ways to put the puck in the net, the 39-year-old has also been showcasing his playmaking ability and playing a versatile role of late, and for Ovechkin, it's just part of how he's evolved his game over the years.
"When you get older, you try to not run around, you know?" Ovechkin said. "Try to find the right spot and obviously, it's five players out there right? Everybody have to be on the page, everybody have to do their job and obviously someone have to score."
That said, he's still the same Ovechkin, throwing his weight around as a "wake up call" and firing pucks nonstop at the net.
"Everything have to work out well," Ovechkin said of his game.
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Takeaways: Leonard Brings Boom In NHL Debut, Capitals Edge Bruins To Snap Skid
It was a busy night in Beantown for the Washington Capitals; not only were they trying to snap a three-game losing streak, but they were also welcoming Ryan Leonard to the mix. And ultimately, D.C. made the most of its Tuesday up north.
Alex Ovechkin continued his pursuit of history, Dylan Strome had a multi-point outing and Leonard made the most of his debut in a 4-3 win over the Bruins.
Here are all the takeaways from the victory.
Capitals Start Strong, Ovechkin Hits 891
Washington played more to its identity to kick things off against the Bruins, with the offense humming and the team making smart plays all around.
Nic Dowd got things started with the Capitals' second shorthanded goals in as many games, thanks to a strong play from Brandon Duhaime. It would set the tone for D.C., who then went on to score on a subsequent power-play chance.
Alex Ovechkin got to the front of the crease on the power play and buried a feed from Dylan Strome to make it a 2-0 game with his 891st career NHL goal. He is now four away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, and he has goals in back-to-back games.
Strome Helps Capitals Recover From Lack Of Discipline & Consistency; D.C. Survives Late Rally
Though Washington got off to a promising start in Beantown, it wasn't sustainable, as the team came out a bit flat in the second, which proved costly.
First, a bad turnover in front came back to bite the team as Vinni Lettieri swept home the loose puck to cut the score in half. Then, some undisciplined play down the stretch led to a power-play opportunity and subsequent David Pastrnak goal, tying the game up.
Boston was able to tilt the ice in the middle frame, but the Capitals would recover in the third, with Dylan Strome getting to the front of the net and burning a rebound off a wide shot from Aliaksei Protas.
Strome is now at 72 points on the season, and Protas has points in seven of his last eight games. Meanwhile, Ryan Leonard was also on the ice for that goal, and played a key role in it despite not getting on the scoresheet.
Later in the frame, Tom Wilson added some insurance, as his pass to Trevor van Riemsdyk on an odd-man rush went off of a defender in front and past Jeremy Swayman to restore the two-goal lead. It marked Wilson's 32nd goal of the season.
Right after, though, D.C. had to step up defensively, with Pastrnak pulling his team back within one. Washington put up a strong showing in its own end, and Charlie Lindgren came up big to secure the two points.
Leonard Brings Boom With Solid NHL Debut
The Capitals didn't set any expectations for Ryan Leonard in his NHL debut, just telling the forward not to overthink, to play his own game and not worry about systems or making mistakes.
He did just that, and then some, not holding back in front of family and friends in his hometown. The 20-year-old was moving his feet and skating well, making smart plays at both ends of the ice in order to put his team in a good spot.
Leonard logged 14:14 minutes in his debut, leading the team with three hits and posting a plus/minus rating of plus-1.
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ECHL Roundtable Community
Capitals Officially On Ryan Leonard Watch, Boston College Eliminated From NCAA Tournament
The Washington Capitals are officially on Ryan Leonard watch.
Leonard's sophomore season with Boston College officially came to an end on Sunday, as the Eagles fell to the Denver Pioneers, 3-1, in the regional final. It was a repeat of last year's crushing loss to Denver in the title game, but there are different implications this time around as B.C. sees an earlier exit and Leonard more likely pro-bound.
The 19-year-old appears to be ready to make the full-time NHL jump, and now that his season is over, he can officially sign his entry-level contract. The plan for general manager Chris Patrick, who planned around his pending arrival at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, was to reach out and start talking with his camp when his season ended, and he could arrive in D.C. sooner rather than later.
Leonard, who was taken eighth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, finished his sophomore year with an NCAA-leading 30 goals and 19 assists for 49 points in 36 games, while earning Hobey Baker consideration and making headlines with his grit, speed and scoring prowess.
Having Leonard join the mix would be a major addition for the Capitals, who have lost three straight games and are looking to find their consistency again with nine games to go in the regular season and a long Stanley Cup Playoff run within the realm of possibility.
When it comes to where he would slot into the lineup, Leonard could start on the bottom-6 and work his way up, but he may also have to wait for his opportunity with the Capitals also planning to play Ethen Frank down the stretch and having to figure out which veterans would take a seat over Leonard.
Regardless, joining the pro ranks will be a major plus for the up-and-comer, who has been compared to Tom Wilson, T.J. Oshie and other top names and has shown what he can do.
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Capitals In Midst Of Locker Room Prank War: 'It Doesn't Matter Who You Are, No One's Safe'
ARLINGTON, V.A. — Before Brandon Duhaime went to sit down in his stall, he noticed that his seat cushion was soaked in water. He stalked off to get a towel, and then cleaned up the mess before quickly pointing out the culprit.
"Matt Roy," he called out.
Duhaime is the latest Capitals player to fall into the latest locker room antics, which include an all-out prank war.
Though the 27-year-old is one of the more humorous characters in the room, he wouldn't take credit for starting things on Saturday.
"No, no, I got roped in," Duhaime said. "I don't even know what today was about. I think Matt Roy's upset about something... he said he spilled it, but it just seems a little targeted to me."
While Duhaime's innocent on Saturday's front, Tom Wilson said that he's behind quite a few of the antics.
"He keeps everybody on their toes," Wilson laughed.
Wilson wouldn't dive into specifics — "I'm not snitching," he insisted with a grin — though he did say that he's often a target of Duhaime's antics.
How come?
"He's an easy target," Duhaime said. "It snowballs on the things you can attack him for. It's fun to poke him a little bit. Not too far, you don't want him seeing red, but it's fun to get on him."
Besides Duhaime, Aliaksei Protas and Logan Thompson have also played their share of jokes on their teammates, with Protas appearing to be the one who taped Andrew Mangiapane's hat near the ceiling. As for Thompson, he's hidden his share of hockey sticks from Taylor Raddysh.
Still, it's all in good fun and just another way the tight-knit group stays connected.
"It doesn't matter who you are, no one's safe," Wilson said with a smile.
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BREAKING: Capitals Sign Ryan Leonard To Entry-Level Contract, NHL Debut Likely vs. Boston
It's official: Ryan Leonard is a Washington Capital.
The Capitals signed Leonard to a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday, general manager Chris Patrick announced. His deal carries an average annual value of $950,000, and he appears set to make his NHL debut on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins.
Leonard just finished his sophomore season at Boston College, scoring an NCAA-leading 30 goals through 37 games. The Eagles were eliminated by the Denver Pioneers in the regional final of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. He finished his collegiate playing career with 109 points (61 goals, 48 assists) through 78 games.
Washington selected Leonard eighth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old is known for his speed, scoring prowess and grit, and has been compared to the likes of T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson, among others.
Leonard should provide a major boost to Washington's forward depth heading into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Right now, it's unclear where he'll slot in to start his NHL career, though he's expected to make quite a bit of noise.
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A Prankster, A Fighter & A Guy Who's 'Got That Dog In Him': Brandon Duhaime Does It All For The Capitals
ARLINGTON, V.A. — As the Washington Capitals wait to take the ice and stand in the tunnel before warmups, you'll often hear barking echoing through the halls. It's coming from "Doggy..." also known as "Dewey..." also known as Brandon Duhaime.
There are multiple monikers for the Capitals tough guy, and yet, despite all of his nicknames, it's not easy for Tom Wilson to describe what Duhaime's come to mean to the group.
"I don't think you can really put it into words," Wilson said of sharing the room with Duhaime.
That's because Duhaime is one of a kind.
The 27-year-old joined Washington on a two-year contract this offseason, expected to bring grit and physicality to the mix while replacing Beck Malenstyn as Nic Dowd's go-to winger on the fourth line. He's embraced that role, and then some.
Duhaime has picked up a career-high nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points through 74 games this season. He's a hard-working winger who's not afraid to drop the mitts or stick up for his teammates, he kills penalties and he'll play whatever role is asked of him.
"It's hard to have a bad day with this job," Duhaime said, adding, "You come in with the same attitude every day. And it should be a positive attitude. Every day, coming here and doing what we do is a privilege."
Despite all he does on the ice, it's Duhaime's character and off-ice presence that's made him stand out.
"It's interesting every day, in a really good way. He's just one of the teammates that I'll remember for probably the rest of my career," Nic Dowd said.
First and foremost, Duhaime is known for his keen sense of humor and quick wit, which have taken the locker room by storm. He's a prank master who — though he denies it — is the catalyst behind an ongoing prank war in the District.
"When he gets himself with the prank, that's probably his best (trick), just to try to get himself clear of no one thinking that it's him," Taylor Raddysh said. "Like if he's putting a water cup under someone's helmet, he'll do it to himself as well, just so no one knows it was him."
Wilson, who is most frequently on the end of Duhaime's pranks, noted that the Florida native "keeps you on your toes."
"Some of the stuff that he comes up with is crazy," Wilson said, adding. "My first impression was like, 'Oh, this is going to be a long year, he's going to tire me out,' because he was coming after me from Day 1. Since then, it's just been one of those things that makes you want to come back to the rink every day."
Of Wilson, Duhaime shrugged it off. "He's an easy target."
"It's fun to poke him a little bit. Not too far, you don't want him seeing red," Duhaime joked.
Still, even though he'll pick on his teammates, he's firmly always in their corner, a team guy through and through.
"I think he's just as happy to watch his own teammates have success as he is to have personal success, which I think is hard to come by in professional sports," Dowd said.
"He's every guy's biggest cheerleader," Wilson smiled.
That optimism and positivity are contagious, and it's enough to overshadow the constant hijinks. In fact, it's his "can-do" attitude that has brought an already-close locker room even closer.
"The season can really wear on you, and the ability for him – regardless of what's going on with him — he's able to keep the rest of our teammates light, which I think is a pretty special trait of a guy at this level," Dowd said, adding, "If we're struggling with something, whether it's on the ice or off ice, Dewey maintains a positive attitude regardless... You can really tell a lot about a person when things potentially aren't going well individually or as a team, and (he's) still able to maintain that positivity."
But what really makes his teammates "respect the crap out of him" is his work ethic.
"He can have fun off the ice and he's hilarious, but when it comes to game time, he's a guy that's working his butt off every single shift," Charlie Lindgren explained.
Duhaime, a fourth-round pick who worked his way up the ranks himself, lives by the notion of "doing it the right way," which he defines as trusting the process, paying your dues and working hard. He calls the process "doing it the right way."
"Just a hard, honest game," Duhaime explained, adding, "We build offense through staying under pucks and coming up as a unit of five."
"He's just this consistent energy... he just has another level," Dylan McIlrath said, adding, "He makes everyone gravitate towards him."
Growing up, Duhaime joked that he wanted to be like Alex Ovechkin, but at the end of the day, he's "Dewey" — and that's more than enough for the Capitals.
"Dewey's just... he's in his own group," Dowd smiled.
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Capitals Prospect Report: Hutson & Leonard Shine To Start NCAA Tourney, What's Next For Chesley, Protas Surges In Game 1
The Washington Capitals are watching a handful of their top prospects as the playoffs get underway in multiple leagues — and they haven't disappointed.
First, both Cole Hutson and Ryan Leonard shined in their respective playoff-opening games for Boston University and Boston College in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Hutson put on a show in the No. 8 Terriers' opening game of the tournament against No. 9 Ohio State, putting up a goal and three assists en route to an 8-3 win over the Buckeyes on Thursday.
Boston University advanced to the NCAA Regional Final, where it will face the No. 16 Cornell Big Red, which stunned Capitals prospect David Gucciardi and No. 1 Michigan State in the final seconds of regulation.
Hutson has been a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the ice, but it's his puck-moving ability, smooth skating and finesse that makes him stand out the most. Washington traded Beck Malenstyn to the Buffalo Sabres in order to trade up in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft for the 18-year-old blueliner.
Meanwhile, Leonard picked up his NCAA-leading 30th goal of the season, a game-clinching empty-net goal, in No. 1 Boston College's 3-1 win over No. 4 Bentley on Friday. He is the first player since Cam Atkinson in 2011 to post back-to-back 30-goal seasons at the NCAA level.
Leonard is expected to sign his entry-level contract and make the jump to Washington after his run with the Eagles comes to an end, which will provide D.C. with a major boost come playoff time thanks to Leonard's goal-scoring prowess, grit and speed. BC will face either Denver or Providence in the next round.
The Capitals are also waiting to see what's next for Ryan Chesley, whose season ended with the Minnesota Golden Gophers seeing an early first-round exit at the hands of the UMass Minutemen.
Chesley was the subject of a controversial non-call, as he was tripped up in overtime while carrying the puck, which led to a turnover and the subsequent OT winner.
In addition to NCAA action, the OHL playoffs are underway, and Ilya Protas has continued to surge. The younger brother of Capitals star Aliaksei Protas had four assists in the Windsor Spitfires' 7-2 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in Game 1 of the OHL playoffs.
Protas finished his regular season as one of the CHL's top players, putting up 124 points in just 61 games.
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What The McIlrath Extension Means For The Capitals, Alexeyev
The Washington Capitals started their Thursday off with more outstanding business, inking defenseman Dylan McIlrath to a two-year, $1.6 million extension.
It's a one-way deal that pays the rearguard an AAV of $800,000.
McIlrath made the full-time jump to the NHL this season with Washington, appearing in 11 games and picking up two assists while spending most of the time as the team's seventh defenseman. Prior to this season, the 32-year-old captained the Hershey Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024. He has been in the Capitals organization since 2021.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound blueliner is not only a physical, capable defenseman who provides depth, but he is one of the veteran leaders in the locker room. He plays a similar role as Matt Irwin, who was the team's seventh defensemen back during Peter Laviolette's tenure.
Though McIlrath doesn't play a lot, he knows his role and enjoys it, and he's happy to do what he can to provide whatever the organization asks of him.
"It's
just the situation; I'm at peace with it. It doesn't make it easy, but
it's something that I know I just got to focus on myself. I've been at
it long enough to be a pro, and I know I got to be ready when my time
(comes)," McIlrath said, adding, "So (I'm) really taking advantage of a
full team practice and making sure I'm keeping that pace as the other
guys and treating it as if it were a game."
With McIlrath signed now and the team having all six of its regular defensemen under contract through next season, it appears this could be the end of the road for Alex Alexeyev, who becomes an unrestricted free agent in July.
Alexeyev has appeared in just five regular season games. He was a first-round pick in 2018, and though he's shown that he can play in the big leagues, he hasn't solidified himself as a regular defenseman in the lineup for D.C.
That said, the 25-year-old, who still has plenty of upside, could look to sign elsewhere this offseason and go to a team where he can get consistent playing time rather than being a healthy scratch.
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Carbery Explains Ovechkin's Lack Of Playing Time Through First Two Periods vs. Sabres, Demands More From Top-6
WASHINGTON — Despite Alex Ovechkin moving within five goals of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, coach Spencer Carbery said that the Washington Capitals need to see a lot more from the top-6 going forward.
Ovechkin got just 10 shifts through the first 40 minutes of Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, skating a team-low 7:43 minutes over that span, including under three minutes overall in the second.
Carbery explained it was the result of numerous defensive zone starts and the team having to kill penalties, while also saying that Ovechkin's line needed a change after a lackluster start.
The Capitals captain picked it up in the third period after he moved to a line with Pierre-Luc Dubois, scoring his 890th career goal while ending the night with three points. He ultimately finished the night with 16:55 minutes of ice time.
However, the Capitals bench boss said that the team needs more from its top two lines amid a three-game losing skid.
"We were fighting to stay in that game. I didn't like any of our top-6 again tonight, those two lines over the last two games, we've been okay, but no production from them," Carbery said. "They get the late goal in Winnipeg, but it just hasn't looked great. Their underlying numbers haven't been great the last two games from our top-6."
Washington will be back in action on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins and could see a new-look lineup with nine games to go and Ethen Frank drawing back in down the stretch, as well as the potential addition of Ryan Leonard.
That said, Carbery wants to see D.C. return to its identity, especially with the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs right around the corner.
"We get what we deserve tonight. I don't know if it's a mental block with our group, there's just something that when they see a team like this, they want to play their style of game and it goes south on us," Carbery said. "That's not who we are, and it's disappointing."
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What's It Like To Skate Beside Gr8ness? Alex Ovechkin's Linemates Over The Years Will Tell You It Wasn't Easy, But It Was The Ultimate Reward
MIKE KNUBLE KNEW WHEN he signed his two-year contract to join the Washington Capitals in July 2009 that he was there for one primary reason: to play opposite Alex Ovechkin, the young-gun Russian superstar who – while not in the same conversation as Wayne Gretzky at the time – was in his prime and piling up goals.
Knowing his role was one thing, but it was entirely another to actually line up on the ice alongside Ovechkin. And in that first game, Knuble, who was 37 at the time and made a career out of complementing guys and making a home for himself around the net, had one thought.
Don’t screw this up.
“The biggest thing, OK, there was a couple things, but the No. 1 thing was, you don’t want to slow him down,” said Knuble with a laugh. For Knuble, it wasn’t as simple as just taking on a key role; he was filling big skates. The last linemate Ovechkin had was countryman Viktor Kozlov, who, while not scoring as many goals himself, clicked well with No. 8 and helped Ovechkin to seasons of 65 goals in 2007-08 and 56 goals in 2008-09.
The pressure was on for the veteran Knuble going into a year where Washington was expected to make significant strides. “He’s trending as a 100-point guy, and you’re playing with him.” Knuble said. “You’re linked to him. You don’t want his percentage to go down. If now he’s down to 80 points, you’re like, ‘Who are they going to point the finger at?’ ”
But when the puck dropped, it was business as usual. Knuble felt the pressure melting away with each stride, as he and Ovechkin benefitted greatly from their time together on that deep 2009-10 Capitals squad. Over those first two seasons, playing primarily with each other, Ovechkin and Knuble combined for 135 goals and 287 points.
While there are obviously benefits to playing on a line with arguably the greatest goal-scorer ever – who sits four goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894 – there’s a lot more that goes into being Ovechkin’s linemate.
But what, exactly, is that?
Well, first of all, you couldn’t simply ride the opposite wing and hope the goals would just happen thanks to the star power on your left. Knuble had been around long enough to know that. It takes a lot of grit to play that role with Ovechkin. “You had to get him the puck when you could,” Knuble said, “and do some of the legwork.”
For the Toronto-born right winger, that meant winning board battles, finding the open man and then getting to the front of the net in case of a rebound or deflection chance.
At the same time, while the goal was obviously to get Ovechkin the puck as much as possible, that wasn’t Knuble’s sole purpose. Despite having made a living out of crashing the crease and getting to the dirty areas, Knuble had to take matters into his own hands when he could. When he had the puck, he’d have to make the right decision rather than automatically passing it to ‘Ovi.’ “As a player, you had to be very careful that you didn’t defer to him too much,” Knuble said. “You knew what he could do, but it wasn’t like, ‘Force it. Force it. Force it to him all the time,’ ” Knuble said. “When you had a chance and you were in a high-percentage scoring area, you had to shoot the puck. You can’t look (for him). You couldn’t defer all the time.”
As Knuble’s time with the Caps wound down, Washington brought in another right winger to help add scoring depth and leadership and further add to Ovechkin’s arsenal, acquiring 2010 Stanley Cup champion Troy Brouwer. The big winger from Vancouver moved around the lineup but often found himself opposite Ovechkin during his four years in D.C.
"YOU HAD TO WORK HARD TO BE ON HIS LINE, BUT YOU SAW THE BENEFITS OF IT AS A TEAM."
The first thing Brouwer recalled when it came to playing alongside Ovechkin was how “demanding” of a role being on his line was. “It was a lot of fun to watch him do what he does, but it was also a lot of work to be on his line to make sure that you were able to help somebody and contribute,” Brouwer said. “He would go. He’d hit. He’d score highlight-reel goals. He’d do all that kind of stuff, but he was a demanding linemate. He was one of those guys that was like, you know, ‘Get me the puck and I’ll make you look good.’ ”
Despite the difficulties of playing that role, Brouwer embraced it and even relished it as he saw it pay off in his production. From 2011-12 to ’14-15, he had two seasons of 20-plus goals and 40-plus points with the Capitals. “You had to work hard to be on his line, but you saw the benefits of it as a team,” Brouwer said. He then added with a laugh: “And also selfishly, if you got (the puck) to him, you had a great chance to get an assist and a point, and the team would score a goal.”
It wasn’t just at 5-on-5 that it was a challenging role; the power play was a beast of its own, and Brouwer played an entirely different role. Ovechkin has been the face of the Caps’ power play since he entered the league in 2005, and no one has scored more on the man advantage than ‘The Great 8,’ who has 321 PP goals – and counting – through 20 seasons.
When it comes to lining up at 5-on-4 or 5-on-3 with Ovechkin, there was one primary rule: no going into Ovechkin’s ‘office,’ which is famously located at the top of the left faceoff circle. “He wasn’t going to move, and he was going to stand in his spot,” Brouwer joked. “He was dangerous.”
Brouwer was primarily the screen man, going to the top of the crease and blocking the goalie’s eyes while looking for a dirty goal in front. And for a young Brouwer, he had to take a certain approach when Ovechkin teed up for a one-timer – which averaged 90-100 miles per hour. “You get pretty good at understanding where he’s trying to shoot depending on where the pass is coming from and where the defenders are,” Brouwer said. “You try and create a screen as much as you can, but at the end of the day, he’s got such a good shot that you just try not to get in the way, because he can beat a goalie clean from where he shoots from.”
"IT’S A LOT OF FUN TO PLAY WITH HIM. YOU JUST WANT TO GET HIM THE PUCK AS MUCH AS YOU CAN."
As time went on, Ovechkin’s career evolved. He embraced his role as captain, and while the goals continued to pile up, so did his desire to lift the Stanley Cup. All the while, his linemates continued to change.
He played with just about anyone – from Joey Crabb to Jay Beagle.
But there was one constant: Nicklas Backstrom as his center. No player has assisted on more Ovechkin goals than No. 19, who had done it 279 times before stepping away from the game in 2023 due to chronic hip issues. “Every time you get a chance to practise or play with Ovi, it’s amazing,” said Backstrom in 2023. “Ovi’s Ovi. He’s always going to get it done, you know? That’s the kind of player he is, and that’s who he is.”
In 2017-18, Evgeny Kuznetsov took the reins from Backstrom as Ovechkin’s center, while Tom Wilson stepped into that hardworking role on the other wing. The trio combined for a lot of success, and after a 49-goal season for Ovechkin, he added 15 more in the playoffs to pave the way to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
For Wilson, playing on a line with Ovechkin is something special. “Organized chaos” is what Wilson would come to term it. “We could just (go out) guns-a-blazing, flying all over the ice,” Wilson said, “and the center would kind of slow us down and create some space out there.”
The M.O. was the same for Wilson as it was for his predecessors: get Ovechkin the puck and good things would happen. “It’s a lot of fun to play with him,” Wilson said. “You just want to try and get him the puck as much as you can, and obviously, he’ll find the back of the net.”
Eventually, the departures of Backstrom and Kuznetsov left Ovechkin in need of a new permanent first-line center, and he’s found that in Dylan Strome, who came to D.C. on a one-year deal in 2022. He’s since become a staple down the middle for the Caps and has signed an extension through the 2027-28 season.
For Strome, there’s added responsibility there, especially with Ovechkin now 39 years old and on the verge of making history. However, the chemistry between the two has been natural from the get-go, and a lot of that is due to how Strome approaches his role.
That means not just putting the puck on a platter, as Knuble mentioned; it means being prepared for anything because Ovechkin can dish the puck just as well as he can shoot it. “He obviously wants the puck in an area to shoot, but you got to be ready for the puck at all times,” Strome said. “He’s a great passer. I feel like people don’t give enough credit for how good of a passer he is. It looks like he’s going to shoot, draws four or five guys to him somewhere, then passes it. So you gotta give him the puck when he’s loaded up. That’s when he wants it. “If he’s open, you’re going to want to pass to him, but you also have got to trust yourself and trust your shot and your instinct at the time. He’s happier than anyone when someone else scores.”
As Ovechkin continues to chip away toward 895, he’s had a revolving door of other wingers on a stacked 2024-25 Capitals team, playing with the likes of Andrew Mangiapane, Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael on his other side while trying both the left and right wing.
At the end of the day, though, when it comes to skating alongside the Caps captain, so much of the role comes down to trusting your gut. “If your instincts are the guy that has (891) goals is open, you’re probably going to want to pass the puck to him,” said Strome with a laugh.
The rest should take care of itself.
This story is published in the Playoff Edition of The Hockey News magazine.
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Ryan Leonard Moves In With Pierre-Luc Dubois To Start Capitals Tenure: 'He's Treated Me With The Most Respect'
ARLINGTON, V.A. — To start the week, Ryan Leonard was sleeping in a twin-sized bed in his Boston College dorm room. Now, the Washington Capitals rookie has the entire third floor of Pierre-Luc Dubois' D.C. home to himself.
Leonard, who signed his entry-level contract with the Capitals on Monday, has been embraced by his new teammates, and with him needing a place to live, Dubois, who is in the midst of his first year in Washington, readily offered his house to the 20-year-old.
"He's awesome," Leonard said. "He's treated me with the most respect. Took me grocery shopping, just really trying to make me feel at home."
Leonard spent the off day on Thursday with Dubois, who took him around D.C. and gave him free roam of the entire third floor of the house, which for No. 9, is a major upgrade over the B.C. dorms. The two also watched the Boston Bruins take on the Montreal Canadiens.
"He doesn't want to force anything, he wants me to be comfortable. If I'm hungry or thirsty, just do whatever I need," Leonard said. "It's definitely a little bit of an adjustment and takes some time to get used to, but it's a lot of fun."
Leonard will play in his third NHL game on Friday when the Capitals play host to the Chicago Blackhawks.
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GOTTA SEE IT: Alex Ovechkin Has Classy Final Gesture For Marc-Andre Fleury, Calls Capitals Back From Room To Shake Hands
As the Washington Capitals made their way down the tunnel to the dressing room at Xcel Energy Center, wanting to put a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild behind them quickly, captain Alex Ovechkin frantically sprinted over and called his teammates back to the ice.
Because for Ovechkin, it was important for each and every one of the Capitals to line up and shake Marc-Andre Fleury's hand in what is likely the last time that the goaltender will face the team in his historic career as he's set to retire at the end of the season.
Ovechkin and Fleury hugged and shared words before the rest of Washington's roster followed suit.
It's been a 20-year rivalry between Ovechkin and Fleury, two respective first-overall picks who are arguably the best in their respective positions.
From Washington's early rivalry days with the Pittsburgh Penguins to Ovechkin's Capitals finally besting Fleury and the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup in 2018 to their final meeting earlier this season where Ovechkin scored and they exchanged sticks postgame, there have been all kinds of memories between the two over the years.
"He's one of the best goalies to ever play," Ovechkin said of Fleury pregame, adding, "I hope he's going to sign one more year. It was a pretty good battle out there between me and him."
Ovechkin faced Fleury a total of 47 times, the most he's played any goalie, scoring 28 goals — also the most he's had on a single netminder.
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Capitals Notebook: Where Ryan Leonard Will Draw In For Debut, McIlrath Replaces Roy
The Washington Capitals will see a special NHL debut in Boston, as Ryan Leonard is set to play in his first game against his hometown Bruins on Tuesday.
Leonard signed his entry-level contract on Monday after his NCAA career came to an end over the weekend. The 19-year-old led all collegiate skaters with 30 goals through 37 games.
Coach Spencer Carbery told reporters that Leonard will play on the second line with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas, and Taylor Raddysh will draw out of the lineup in order for Leonard to slot in. Alex Ovechkin, meanwhile, will play with Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Here are the projected combinations:
Alex Ovechkin-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas-Dylan Strome-Ryan Leonard
Andrew Mangiapane-Lars Eller-Connor McMichael
Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Anthony Beauvillier
Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson
Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary-Dylan McIlrath
Charlie Lindgren
Logan Thompson
The 19-year-old met up with the team on Monday, going out to dinner with Ovechkin and the rest of the group in order to get situated.
In addition to Leonard, Washington will also make a lineup change on the backend; Matt Roy is not on the trip due to family reasons, so Dylan McIlrath will draw back in on defense. It will be his first game since Dec. 23.
Charlie Lindgren gets the start in net. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at TD Garden.
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Capitals Notebook: Beauvillier Draws Out & Roy Returns vs. Blackhawks, Lindgren Starts With Thompson Out For 'A Bit'
ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals will see some lineup changes on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, as Anthony Beauvillier will take his turn as a healthy scratch with rookie Ryan Leonard remaining in the lineup.
Beauvillier, along with Ethen Frank, took part in the scratches' skate after practice, as Taylor Raddysh will get the opportunity to draw back in after sitting out the last two games.
Matt Roy, who missed the last two games due to personal family reasons, will also make his return to the lineup as Dylan McIlrath slots back out. Alex Alexeyev remains the other scratch on defense.
Charlie Lindgren will start in goal with Logan Thompson set to "miss a little bit of time" due to an upper-body injury he suffered in the first period of Wednesday's loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Hunter Shepard is up from the AHL's Hershey Bears to back up Lindgren, who now gets the "opportunity" to see some extended time in net with Thompson on the shelf.
Here are the projected combinations:
Alex Ovechkin-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas-Dylan Strome-Ryan Leonard
Andrew Mangiapane-Lars Eller-Connor McMichael
Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Taylor Raddysh
Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson
Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary-Matt Roy
Charlie Lindgren
Hunter Shepard
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena. All eyes are on Alex Ovechkin, who is three goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record.
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Capitals Notebook: Carbery Hopes Power Play Tweak Ignites Spark, Lineup Changing Down Stretch
ARLINGTON, V.A. — After a day off following a less-than-ideal road trip up north, the Washington Capitals got back to work with a busy practice on Saturday, one where they engaged in quite a few battle drills and evaluated a change to their power play.
Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson continue to make up that first unit, but on the second unit, Rasmus Sandin and Jakob Chychrun are the two defensemen, while Ovechkin takes Taylor Raddysh's place up front. Andrew Mangiapane and Connor McMichael round out that group.
For coach Spencer Carbery, it's a tweak that the man advantage, which has gone 0-for-18 over the last 10 games, needs.
“When you have 2 D on that second unit it lets the second unit continue to attack even as that power play expires," Carbery said, adding, "(Another benefit is) getting Chychrun on his one-timer flank; that's something we have used on that past. We want to keep him handling pucks over there, shooting it from over there and continue to have that in our back pocket of him being really, really comfortable on that half wall."
The power play saw more movement against the Minnesota Wild, but there's still room for improvement and the team needs to start figuring out ways to convert with power-play goals able to make or break a game come playoff time.
"I mean, there’s a lot that goes into it. Finishing is one of the parts of the power play, for sure, but there’s a lot that goes into creating those opportunities," As long as you’re generating a high amount of quality looks whether they’re going in or not… you’re going to be a top-5 power play," Carbery said, adding, "It's all about the process, not the finish. Okay, so how do you generate more looks? O-zone time, entries, secondary chances; there’s all sorts of stuff that goes into it.”
The Capitals could also start to see some lineup changes with 10 games remaining in the regular season and D.C. having already clinched a playoff berth and home ice. Washington returns to action at home with a Sunday matinee against the Buffalo Sabres, where one of the regular healthy scratches in Alex Alexeyev, Dylan McIlrath or Ethen Frank could slot back into the mix.
"We should see some guys (getting) into the lineup," Carbery said.
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Capitals Notebook: Ryan Leonard Expected To Sign, Team Ponders Changes To Top-6
ARLINGTON, V.A. — After Boston College was eliminated at the hands of Denver on Sunday, Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery reached out to prospect Ryan Leonard, letting him know he was impressed with what was yet another successful NCAA season.
It was a "quick exchange," but one that the coach felt was important as the 20-year-old appears set to make the NHL jump.
"I'm proud of him, of the season that he’s had but also the way he’s conducted himself," Carbery said. "The year that he’s had with the world juniors and another really strong season for him at B.C. Anytime you don’t win the last game, it’s a tough feeling, especially having played college hockey. You put a lot into that, and those one-and-done scenarios are tough. So, just there for him and we’ll see where it goes."
Per multiple sources, Leonard is expected to sign with Washington at some point on Monday and could make his NHL debut in his hometown of Boston on Tuesday when the Capitals visit the Bruins.
As the Capitals head up north, they are also pondering lineup changes, as Carbery again expressed concerns surrounding the top-6's play and chemistry of late.
Anthony Beauvillier was promoted to the top line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Alex Ovechkin back on Sunday, and though Carbery liked what that trio could do, he'll take a look at other potential combinations going into Tuesday.
"We're asking our top six to do a little bit more... I'm moving things around," Carbery said. "Just feel like the chemistry there's been a little bit off, so we'll try to find some combinations that we feel good about."
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Capitals Lose Logan Thompson To Upper-Body Injury Against Hurricanes
The Washington Capitals found themselves in unfamiliar territory on Wednesday in Raleigh, trailing the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 after a rough opening 20 minutes of play, and to make matters worse, Logan Thompson sustained an upper-body injury and is doubtful to return.
Thompson gave up three goals on the first 10 shots he faced against the Hurricanes, as Sean Walker, Jackson Blake and Seth Jarvis all converted within the first 13:21 minutes of play. Blake and Jarvis' tallies came on the power play. It is unclear when he sustained an injury, though a hard shot early on did knock his mask off, and he was also hit up high by Taylor Hall.
Thompson finished the night with nine saves on 12 shots through the first. Charlie Lindgren, who played the night before in Boston, took over the crease to start the second period.
Thompson had recently been named the Capitals' starter down the stretch, though of late, his play hasn't been what he hoped. He surrendered seven goals back in Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres and has given up at least three goals in his last four outings, including Wednesday.
Still, the 27-year-old has had a strong season, putting up a .912 save percentage through 42 games before Wednesday's showdown, along with a record of 31-5-6.
Thompson signed a six-year contract extension with Washington back in January.
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Ryan Leonard Talks Overnight Jump To Capitals, Debut & Hanging With Alex Ovechkin: 'Not Something You Can Put Into Words'
Ryan Leonard's last 48 hours are enough to give someone whiplash.
On Sunday, he and his teammates at Boston College were playing in the regional final, where they saw their season come to a disappointing end at the hands of Denver. Then, on Monday, he woke up in his dorm room, and business unfolded, as he was faxed over papers for his entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals.
As he went to clean out his locker stall and put pen to paper, his phone buzzed: a text from Alex Ovechkin came up, as Washington was en route to Boston for a Tuesday meeting with the Boston Bruins.
"He asked if I wanted to get sushi once they landed," Leonard said. "I read it in the locker room.... (my teammates were) like 'What? I'm not sure if you should respond to it.' And I was like, 'I kinda have to.'"
Later that night, Ovechkin and the team met Leonard at the Circle, a bar in Boston, where the group listened to "Bandz A Make Her Dance" and shared some food, drinks and words of wisdom.
"Just to go to dinner with those guys and meet all those guys I'm really just trying to embrace the moment and spend quality time with those guys," Leonard said. "It's not often you get to go to dinner with one of the greats."
Then, Tuesday morning hit. Leonard made his way to TD Garden and had his first NHL morning skate with the Capitals. There, he swapped sticks with Ovechkin — who took a dislike to his lower flex — and got to know his teammates a bit more.
He also learned he'd be playing on the top-6 and making his NHL debut against the Bruins in his hometown.
"A dream come true... Just thinking about being here at BC and then turning the page and being a pro, it's pretty weird to think about, but it's pretty cool," Leonard said.
The nerves are building a bit for the 20-year-old as he plays his first NHL game in front of family, friends and BC teammates, but he's taking things one step at a time and just trying to keep things simple.
"This is the only debut I'll have, it's pretty cool. Not really something you can put into words when something you really dream about comes true," Leonard said. "Just trying to go out there and have fun."
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Hurricanes' Chatfield Won't Receive Supplemental Discipline For MMA-Style Takedown Of Capitals' McMichael
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield will not face any supplemental discipline from the NHL Department of Player Safety for his takedown of Washington Capitals forward Connor McMichael on Wednesday.
In the dying minutes of the Capitals' 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes, frustration boiled over for McMichael, who dropped the gloves with Chatfield. After wrestling, Chatfield swept McMichael's leg from behind him and spun the forward around before slamming him hard onto the ice.
McMichael appeared to feel the back of his head before getting back up. From there, the officials broke up the fight and sent both players off for fighting with game misconducts. McMichael was also given an extra roughing minor.
The play led to some questions and controversy, with critics citing a potential intent to injure with the MMA-style move. Postgame, coach Spencer Carbery didn't address the incident, though he did say there were "dangerous plays" that resulted in "temperatures rising" to end the game.
Washington and Carolina combined for 114 penalty minutes and eight misconducts through the final 7:02 minutes of regulation, as tensions flared and fights broke out between both sides.
The Capitals will get the chance to respond to Chatfield and the Hurricanes when they pay a visit to D.C. next Thursday.
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Capitals Sign Gucciardi To Entry-Level Contract, Will Also Sign Chesley
ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman David Gucciardi to a two-year, entry-level contract and plan to sign Ryan Chesley to a three-year, entry-level deal, the team announced on Monday.
Gucciardi's contract starts next season and carries an AAV of $855,000 at the NHL level and $82,500 at the AHL level. He is expected to sign an amateur tryout with the Hershey Bears this season and begin his pro career in the minors, as is Chesley.
The 22-year-old defenseman just finished his NCAA career with Michigan State. In 37 games in his senior season, he recorded a career-high six goals, 10 assists, 16 points, 88 shots and plus/minus rating of plus-21. Gucciardi helped the Spartans secure a consecutive Big Ten Conference Tournament title.
Gucciardi
recorded career highs in goals (6), assists (10), points (16),
plus-minus (+21) and shots (88) in 37 games with Michigan
State (NCAA) this season. The fourth-year senior ranked second on the
Spartans in plus-minus, third in blocked shots (39) and tied for first
among the team’s defensemen in goals. The 6’1”, 200-pound defenseman
helped Michigan State claim its second straight
Big Ten Conference Tournament title and earn its second consecutive
NCAA Tournament bid.
Washington selected Gucciardi in the seventh round (No. 213) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Chesley, who was taken in the second round (No. 37) in the 2022 NHL Draft, just finished his NCAA tenure with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
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Ovechkin Talks Being Asked Constantly About The Record & Evolving His Game Over Time
As Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin inches closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record, it's a consistent subject matter brought up in interviews, as he's brought out day after day to discuss the "GR8 Chase."
And for him, it's grown a bit tedious answering the same questions regarding the record, but he took the time to joke about it when chatting with reporters in Minnesota on Thursday.
"How many years, it's been like, two years already, right?" Ovechkin said when asked how long he's been tired of talking about the record. "Two years. But you just get used to it."
Ovechkin sits at 889 career goals and is on a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists) entering Thursday's contest against the Minnesota Wild.
While he's still finding ways to put the puck in the net, the 39-year-old has also been showcasing his playmaking ability and playing a versatile role of late, and for Ovechkin, it's just part of how he's evolved his game over the years.
"When you get older, you try to not run around, you know?" Ovechkin said. "Try to find the right spot and obviously, it's five players out there right? Everybody have to be on the page, everybody have to do their job and obviously someone have to score."
That said, he's still the same Ovechkin, throwing his weight around as a "wake up call" and firing pucks nonstop at the net.
"Everything have to work out well," Ovechkin said of his game.
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Takeaways: Leonard Brings Boom In NHL Debut, Capitals Edge Bruins To Snap Skid
It was a busy night in Beantown for the Washington Capitals; not only were they trying to snap a three-game losing streak, but they were also welcoming Ryan Leonard to the mix. And ultimately, D.C. made the most of its Tuesday up north.
Alex Ovechkin continued his pursuit of history, Dylan Strome had a multi-point outing and Leonard made the most of his debut in a 4-3 win over the Bruins.
Here are all the takeaways from the victory.
Capitals Start Strong, Ovechkin Hits 891
Washington played more to its identity to kick things off against the Bruins, with the offense humming and the team making smart plays all around.
Nic Dowd got things started with the Capitals' second shorthanded goals in as many games, thanks to a strong play from Brandon Duhaime. It would set the tone for D.C., who then went on to score on a subsequent power-play chance.
Alex Ovechkin got to the front of the crease on the power play and buried a feed from Dylan Strome to make it a 2-0 game with his 891st career NHL goal. He is now four away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, and he has goals in back-to-back games.
Strome Helps Capitals Recover From Lack Of Discipline & Consistency; D.C. Survives Late Rally
Though Washington got off to a promising start in Beantown, it wasn't sustainable, as the team came out a bit flat in the second, which proved costly.
First, a bad turnover in front came back to bite the team as Vinni Lettieri swept home the loose puck to cut the score in half. Then, some undisciplined play down the stretch led to a power-play opportunity and subsequent David Pastrnak goal, tying the game up.
Boston was able to tilt the ice in the middle frame, but the Capitals would recover in the third, with Dylan Strome getting to the front of the net and burning a rebound off a wide shot from Aliaksei Protas.
Strome is now at 72 points on the season, and Protas has points in seven of his last eight games. Meanwhile, Ryan Leonard was also on the ice for that goal, and played a key role in it despite not getting on the scoresheet.
Later in the frame, Tom Wilson added some insurance, as his pass to Trevor van Riemsdyk on an odd-man rush went off of a defender in front and past Jeremy Swayman to restore the two-goal lead. It marked Wilson's 32nd goal of the season.
Right after, though, D.C. had to step up defensively, with Pastrnak pulling his team back within one. Washington put up a strong showing in its own end, and Charlie Lindgren came up big to secure the two points.
Leonard Brings Boom With Solid NHL Debut
The Capitals didn't set any expectations for Ryan Leonard in his NHL debut, just telling the forward not to overthink, to play his own game and not worry about systems or making mistakes.
He did just that, and then some, not holding back in front of family and friends in his hometown. The 20-year-old was moving his feet and skating well, making smart plays at both ends of the ice in order to put his team in a good spot.
Leonard logged 14:14 minutes in his debut, leading the team with three hits and posting a plus/minus rating of plus-1.
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Follow all ECHL news at https://thehockeynews.com/echl/GraemeNov 29, 2024
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