Stay tuned for live updates from Capitals training camp in Arlington.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — Washington Capitals hockey is back.
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals are officially back on the ice, with training camp kicking off with skate tests and practices between three groups to open on Thursday. And The Hockey News has you covered.
We will be running our first-ever live blog to keep you posted live from camp, with notable moments, highlights and much more content.
For more information and the official guide to training camp, check out THN's first-ever Capitals Training Camp Primer, which features insight into all 63 skaters, top storylines, dark horses and names to watch, injury updates and much more.
READ MORE ON THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals Training Camp Primer
Capitals Training Camp Live Updates
3:30 p.m. — Group C is finishing up. 2023 seventh-rounder Brett Hyland has been impressing since rookie camp with his strong skating. Missed the final part of last season with a knee injury and subsequent surgery, and looks very strong. Pierrick Dube also a name to watch in this group; signed his ELC with Washington this summer.
1:30 p.m. — Group B practice is over. Up next are the prospects and up-and-comers in Group C. Hunter Shepard and Charlie Lindgren both looked very strong in net in Group B. Andrew Cristall also held his own against the NHLers during that practice.
12:30 p.m. — Tom Wilson is by far the standout from Group B. Led the way in testing, flying up and down the ice and making outstanding plays.
12:00 p.m. — General manager Brian MacLellan speaks with the media. He says that Washington is still looking at options for a top-6 trade, but it's been frustrating. Also discusses Kuznetsov's trade request and says there's no concrete timetable for Pacioretty.
11:49 a.m. — Evgeny Kuznetsov and Group B are skate testing. Tom Wilson leads the first pack. Kuznetsov is trailing a bit in the skate tests.
11:15 a.m. — Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals spoke to the media. A lot of contagious positive energy.
11:00 a.m. — Braden Holtby is here, and he caught up with Darcy Kuemper post practice, too.
10:36 a.m. — Practice is physical today. Some intense board battles and aggressive skaters who want to come out flying. Ovechkin and Backstrom look strong, also some wheels from Phillips. Beck Malenstyn also using his size to his advantage.
10:00 a.m. — The first practice of Capitals camp is rigorous. There are lines being tested out, 2v2 drills and a lot of passing and small-area battles.
First lines of camp:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Mantha
Miroshnichenko-Sgarbossa-Phillips
Malenstyn/Limoges-Dowd-Protas
Rybinski-Hofer-Suzdalev
Sandin-Carlson
Haman Aktell-Priskie
Alexeyev-McIlrath
Ness-Day
9:30 a.m. — Skate testing is officially over for Group A. Mantha, Protas, Limoges and Alexander Suzdalev were top performers, with Phillips and more also stepping up.
Here's a full recap of the action.
9:16 a.m. — Alex Limoges also among the standouts in these early groups.
9:12 a.m. — Washington's second group consisted of Beck Malenstyn, Aliaksei Protas, Rasmus Sandin, Matthew Phillips and Ivan Miroshnichenko. Protas finished at the front, with Phillips also standing out at the front.
9:06 a.m. — Mantha was among the top names from that first group, finishing at the front of the pack.
8:55 a.m. — Skate testing is officially underway. First group is Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Anthony Mantha, Nic Dowd and John Carlson.
8:47 a.m. — Alex Ovechkin has officially taken the ice for camp.
8:15 a.m. — Max Pacioretty (torn Achilles) will not be at camp today due to a previously scheduled doctor's appointment. He has officially joined the team, though. Pacioretty's not expected to be ready for the season opener but said in July he expects to be ready shortly before the season starts.
8:10 a.m. — We're en route to MedStar Capitals Iceplex. It's exciting for me; I've been waiting for hockey to come back and missed coming out to the rink and covering in person.
Washington's camp will start with Group A's skate test at 9 a.m. There are three groups to start camp, with the team's 63 skaters split in the following way:
Group A
Forwards: Nicklas Backstrom, Nic Dowd, Ryan Hofer, Alex Limoges, Beck Malenstyn, Anthony Mantha, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Alex Ovechkin, Matthew Phillips, Aliaksei Protas, Henrik Rybinski, Michael Sgarbossa, Alexander Suzdalev
Defensemen: Alex Alexeyev, John Carlson, Logan Day, Hardy Haman Aktell, Dylan McIlrath, Aaron Ness, Chase Priskie, Rasmus Sandin
Goalies: Garin Bjorklund, Darcy Kuemper, Clay Stevenson
Group B
Forwards: Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Andrew Cristall, Ethen Frank, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Hendrix Lapierre, Connor McMichael, Sonny Milano, T.J. Oshie, Joe Snively, Dylan Strome, Riley Sutter, Bogdan Trineyev, Tom Wilson
Defensemen: Joel Edmundson, Martin Fehervary, Vincent Iorio, Nick Jensen, Lucas Johansen, Benton Maass, Jake Massie, Trevor van Riemsdyk
Goalies: Charlie Lindgren, Hunter Shepard
Group C
Forwards: Pierrick Dube, Jimmy Huntington, Brett Hyland, Jake Karabela, Julian Napravnik, Garrett Roe, Matthew Strome, Patrick Thomas, Mike Vecchione
Defensemen: Michael Kim, Nick Leivermann, Jon McDonald, Colin Swoyer
Goalies: Mitchell Gibson, Antoine Keller