A few Washington players lived "the suite life" this season -- and it has quite a few ups and downs.
ARLINGTON, V.A. -- For Sonny Milano, his 2022-23 season with the Washington Capitals was filled with hotels. So many hotels.
The 26-year-old, who signed with the team just a few days after the regular season kicked off, was originally assigned to the Hershey Bears to get a few games under his belt before joining the big club. It was a whirlwind of a process, and after a few games and some time near Hersheypark, he made his way up to D.C. and checked into a hotel.
"I figured I get called up and maybe, who knows what my future's gonna look like?" he explained. "So I packed light. I'm also right in New York, so I don't have any furniture or anything. Just clothes and speaker and stuff like that, but nothing crazy."
Hotel life isn't a rare thing across the NHL, especially for mid-season additions. It happened on a few occasions in D.C. this season, as Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who was claimed off waivers in November, stayed in a hotel before his wife helped find a more stable living situation for them. Trade deadline acquisitions Rasmus Sandin and Craig Smith also lived "the suite life" from March until the end of the campaign.
While there are perks to living in a hotel, including free wifi and other amenities, it's not as fun as it seems.
When on the road, hotels are often a source of entertainment for players. They can get together to play video games or hang out and often take the time away to go out for dinners, explore or just rest. The stints away from home also aren't that long, but when a hotel is home, it can be more difficult to deal with.
For one, the isolation can take a toll. Charlie Lindgren, who has stayed in quite a few hotels over the last six years as a call-up, said that was one of the downsides, as he didn't have neighbors or teammates close by.
"It could get a little bit tough and lonely a little bit just hanging out in a hotel room by yourself all the time," he explained.
Not only that, but players also don't have all of their things with them, and there's no opportunity to bring in furniture, pack heavy or make yourself feel too at home.
Craig Smith, who only had his passport and six days' worth of clothes following his trade from the Boston Bruins, was able to return to Massachusetts to get a few things but didn't have a lot of space to bring much. He spent the rest of the year in a hotel but never really got acclimated to the area.
"I don't think you ever really feel completely adjusted or at home at any point," Smith said. "But you do the best you can."
Oftentimes, there's also only so much to do in the spare time away from the rink: TV, workouts in the gym, maybe time in an indoor pool.
Taking that and the repetition of being in the same, confined room and living the road life at home all year long into account, the late additions to the Capitals made do, and their teammates also helped them feel more comfortable and at home. Having longer trips in the second half of the year also made things easier.
"We go out to dinners, we had the father's trip, which was a great way to get the guys acclimated... it's definitely tough not having a home base in your own place and a normal condo or house, but you just have fun when you're together at the rink."
Milano, who signed a three-year extension in February, is excited to move into a place of his own now that he has stability. He grew fond of Georgetown while exploring the city and getting time away from the hotel, and he's ready to find somewhere close and convenient to call home.
He's also excited to decorate his own place -- though he doesn't plan to build furniture.
"I built a lamp once, that's about it," he joked. "Turned out pretty good. It was a little loose, just a teeny bit wobbly. But yeah, 'give me light,' that's what matters."
Aube-Kubel, who signed a one-year extension in March, found a place in Arlington and thanked his teammates for helping him acclimate after playing for four teams in the last two seasons.
"It's been better. I also have experience moving a lot in the last year, so it got easier... team is really nice and helped me fit in here," Aube-Kubel said.
Meanwhile, Sandin, who hopes to sign a long-term extension, will hunt for a new place and stressed how eager he was to leave the hotel.
"I can't wait to get out," Sandin laughed.