The former Capitals center got to see some of his former teammates at practice on Friday.
As Nic Dowd posed for the Vegas Golden Knights team photo, he heard the cameraman telling Alex Ovechkin, trying to photo-bomb, to move out of the shot. It brought a smile to the former Washington Capitals center's face, and it was just like old times as he then reunited with his former club on Friday.
It was a special moment for Dowd, who was traded to Vegas ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline for picks and goaltending prospect Jesper Vikman. Both teams are set to play each other on Saturday.
"It's good to see the guys just from a non-hockey standpoint. It's good to see them, I've been with some of those guys for eight years and knowing some of those guys for longer, it's nice to see familiar faces," Dowd said, adding, "The shock value has worn off of being kind of blindsided by the trade. Now we're here, we're settled... tomorrow will be business as usual."
While Dowd has been adjusting well to Vegas and his new team, he did admit that it's still a lot to process from an emotional standpoint. He and his wife had to officially withdraw their son, Louie, from school back in Virginia, on Friday morning.
"That tugs at your heartstrings a little bit," Dowd noted.
Ultimately, though, the Dowds feel they're settling in well, which mas made the transition easier.
With the Capitals in town, Dowd will take more time to catch up with his old teammates, whether it be through more sightings at the rink or dinner on the road.
That said, all friendships are off the table for Saturday's game, where Dowd will try to use his knowledge of D.C.'s systtems to help the Golden Knights to two points.
"I'll be trying to use all my secrets against them and see if i can push it in the right direction. It's just good to see the guys," Dowd joked, then quipped, "I can't give (those secrets) to you (reporters), because then you guys will share that with them and they'll change their stuff."
"They have a lot of really good leaders... from a hockey standpoint, we have to make them defend just like any other team."