The Capitals got down to business to open training camp.
The Capitals got down to business to open training camp.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — There's a different kind of intensity that comes with the start of Washington Capitals training camp. No matter how much work goes into preparing for Day 1, the start of camp is a beast in its own right.
And it all starts with the skate test.
"You can prepare, we've done it once or twice a week for the past month (at captain's skates). You feel good, and the day comes, you don't feel good. Nobody feels good," Pierre-Luc Dubois joked. "It's never easy, but it's behind us now."
"It's definitely different than anything you go through in the summer," Jakob Chychrun added.
The skate test has players skate goal line to goal line, as they get the chance to showcase their speed and stamina to the coaching staff. And several of Washington's skaters took that first test as a chance to show what they could do.
Ivan Miroshnichenko and Jakub Vrana led their respective groups in their skate tests, while Dubois, Chychrun (who appeared to have an issue with his skate blade as it was winding down), Lapierre, Protas, Roy and Mangiapane were strong, too.
In Group A, Miroshnichenko was among the standouts, playing with speed and ferocity. It's clear he put in work to get stronger and faster this offseason, and his shot is as strong as ever, too.
That first group also offered a first look at who Dubois will play with, as he centered Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael. The fourth line of Brandon Duhaime, Nic Dowd and Tayor Raddysh also got its first look, and on defense, Jakob Chychrun was paired with John Carlson while Ethan Bear paired up with Hardy Häman Aktell.
In the second group, Alex Ovechkin, who is "nicked up" per head coach Spencer Carbery, skated with Dylan Strome and Andrew Mangiapane. Alex Limoges interchanged on that line with Spencer Carbery wanting to manage Ovechkin's ice time as he deals with an injury.
Hendrix Lapierre was skating with Ethen Frank and Vrana, who stood out and looked great in Group B.
The Czech forward, who is attending camp on a professional tryout, is gong all out to win an NHL roster spot and was moving well, breaking away, finding open space and getting pucks on net. His speed continues to be one of his greatest assets, too.
On defense in Group B, Matt Roy worked with Alex Alexeyev, who appears to be a placeholder for Rasmus Sandin. Sandin is having visa issues and therefore, has yet to return.
Washington returns to the ice on Friday for Day 2 of camp.
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