The Capitals blueliner has been waiting seven years for this moment.

Lucas Johansen was on the ice for practice when Spencer Carbery called him out in front of the rest of the team. And then, yelling and stick taps from his teammates took over as he got the news he'd been waiting seven years to hear: he made the Washington Capitals.

Johansen, who was originally taken in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, has been through ups and downs over the course of his tenure in D.C., from injuries to setbacks to camps where he almost broke through but didn't do enough to remain up at the NHL level. This time, though, things are different, as he did everything right to impress the coaching staff and stick with the big club.

"You name it, he's probably been through it, but he just kept pushing and grinding and trying to find a way every day to get better, and I had a front-row seat to that," Carbery said, adding, "[He] rode a long time on buses and grinded and still kept [his] eye on this moment. It's pretty special."

The 25-year-old said that this is the most confident he's felt since arriving in the District as a top defensive prospect, and that this was the best training camp yet.

"I feel like my game is at a great level right now, and I think I still got a long way I can improve and be even more impactful," Johansen told The Hockey News. "That's really exciting for me. I know that if I keep working really hard and learning and getting used to the NHL game, I can be a really impactful player."

Johansen got two games up with Washington last year but spent most of his time in Hershey, where he had spent years as a mainstay on the blue line. This past season, though, he truly broke out as he helped lead the Bears to the Calder Cup.

For Johansen, that run to the championship made all the difference and fueled the fire he brought to training camp this fall.

"It's those games, they were tough games and they're critical games, and it was really a lot of fun playing in them and winning was obviously a great experience for all of us," Johansen said. "But just being in those critical moments, though high-pressure situations, everybody would say on our team, it was just an extremely valuable experience... I think a lot of guys that were playing those games have carried it over to this year, which is great."

Knowing that this would be his best chance at the NHL yet, Johansen spent his short summer on fine-tuning different aspects of his game. Ultimately, though, he admitted that his mental approach to the year had the biggest impact on his training and camp.

"As you go older and you go through some things... you just get experience of what you need to do. And for me, it's more mental than anything and just focusing on what i need to do and making sure that I put in the work every day," Johansen said. "I know it sounds really cliché, but it's true. You really have to improve all the time, constantly. That was my focus, just take it one day at a time."

Johansen did just that to win a spot, and even his teammates noticed a difference as they watched him impress in the preseason and win a spot.

"Luke's camp has been unbelievable. I've had the pleasure of playing with Jo for a long time, and I think this past year, the playoff run really highlighted his best hockey. And I think he's rolled that right through the summer and into training camp," longtime teammate and friend Beck Malenstyn, who was also taken in the 2016 NHL Draft, said. "He looks like the best version of himself, sacrificing his body, moving pucks, showing his poise, showing his skill. I hope all the best for him. He's had an amazing training camp and definitely think earned a chance."

The Capitals still have some paper moves to make, but they will reveal their final 23-man roster on Wednesday. Johansen, though, is safe, and he's ready to get started with the Capitals in what will be his rookie NHL season.

"It's a long grind, but it's a lot of fun... you're trying to prove to the coaches and your teammates that you deserve to be here and that you can contribute to the team's success. So that's what I tried to do, and I think it's gone well," he said, adding, "I try to just leave it all on the ice... I'm confident."