The Capitals and Utah are both looking to take the next step in their development.
Only two weeks remain until the Utah Hockey Club kicks off training camp with a trip to Los Angeles and the Rookie Face-Off Tournament.
And while the focus remains on what could be this season for Utah, another team in the Eastern Conference is in that same position.
That would be the Washington Capitals, who took a big step forward in rallying into the playoffs under new coach Spencer Carbery, who also has top-12 odds in the league to win the Jack Adams Award, like Utah coach Andre Tourigny, who is ninth.
Most eyes will obviously be on Alex Ovechkin, who is 42 goals from tying Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record of 894, this season, but the youth of this Capitals core should not be understated.
One player in particular to watch is Hendrix Lapierre, the 22-year old who scored 22 points in 51 appearances last season. Lapierre also tallied his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal against the New York Rangers, and showed flashes of what he could develop into this year.
He'll be going up against Josh Doan, who is also in the running for the Calder Trophy, given to the rookie of the year in the league.
Doan has been tearing it up on the lake this summer, but he'll be looking to have a breakout season on the ice, as will Lapierre.
Doan, like Lapierre, showed glimpses of what he can bring, totaling nine points in just 11 games last season, including five goals; one of them being a game-winner.
It'll be fun to see these two battle each other on the rink; it could provide a preview of what the future holds for these two teams.