For Garnet Hathaway, watching Beck Malenstyn with the Washington Capitals is like looking in a mirror.
WASHINGTON — For Garnet Hathaway, watching Beck Malenstyn with the Washington Capitals is like looking in a mirror.
Malenstyn, the Capitals' hard-hitting freshman, has taken on Hathaway's role since being promoted to the NHL roster, as he's been a staple on Nic Dowd's wing while throwing his weight around, killing off penalties and being the ultimate utility player.
It's more than Malenstyn's play that reminds Hathaway of himself, though; the two had similar paths to the pros, as each had to work their way up the ranks to prove themselves.
"It’s tough to play the role you’re gonna play in the NHL and the minors. Games are different, people get points a lot for call-ups," Hathaway said. "You need an organization that see you in a certain role and knows you can succeed without putting you up against that tough competition of the NHL every night day in and day out."
Hathaway was there as Malenstyn was trying to establish himself in a series of call-ups, teaching. And now, the teacher has become the master.
Malenstyn leads all Capitals forwards in blocks (66) and ranks second in hits (164), and he's also first over the boards on the penalty kill. He credits Hathaway for being instrumental in helping him come into his own at the highest level.
"He was an amazing mentor for me getting to come up here and play with him and Dowder a lot of the time and just the way both of them were able to take me under their wing and kind of show me what it takes to grasp that role as a physical winger that can penalty kill and things like that," Malenstyn said. "He was always super welcoming to me, willing to teach me a lot of different things. Obviously, those kinds of players are tough to play against... nothing but great things to say about him as a person. He did nothing but really nice things for me."
For Hathaway, while it's difficult to see someone else taking on a role he played for over four years alongside one of his best friends in Dowd — and even more difficult having to line up against him — he couldn't be happier for Malenstyn.
"We talked a lot about consistency and that kind of whenever I chatted with him, and that’s what you’ve seen this year. It’s not by mistake he got called up. People saw what he could do, and he’s a tough competitor," Hathaway said of Malenstyn. "...It’s one of those guys that you know every shift, you’re gonna get his best.”