Filip Forsberg Scores Beautiful Breakaway Goal, Game-Winner (Video)

On March 15, 2013, In Caps Prospect, Video, By Fedor Fedin

filip-forsberg-scores-two-goals

Photo credit: dt.se

After winning the HockeyAllsvenskan’s regular-season championship, Leksands IF and Caps prospect Filip Forsberg secured a place in the Kvalserien — a 10-game round-robin tournament featuring the four best Allsvenskan teams and two worst Elitserien teams. The franchises duke it out to decide which two clubs will play in the top-tier Elitserien next season.

Leksand got a few weeks of rest before tourney while other teams fought for wildcard spots. The break sure seemed to help Leksand, who beat Sodertalje SK and the Nylanders 3-1 in the Kvalserien’s first game in front of a sizable crowd (6,772). Forsberg showed off his skill and speed, scoring twice in the win. His second goal was the game-winner.

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Prospects Jaynen Rissling, Tom Wilson Have Big Games

On March 9, 2013, In Caps Prospect, Video, By Fedor Fedin

Jaynen Rissling chases down Erik Benoit. (Photo credit: Kevin Hiscock/Calgary Hitmen)

As the CHL regular season winds down, a few Caps prospects are heating up. Three of four are playing on powerhouse teams and will be looking to make a splash come playoff time.

Recently, Caps prospects Jaynen Rissling (a seventh round pick in the 2012 draft) of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen and Tom Wilson (first-round selection in 2012) of the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers, each posted big performances.

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Steve Oleksy Found Out about His Call-Up after Watching Jack the Giant Slayer

On March 5, 2013, In Caps Prospect, News, By Ian Oland

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Photo credit: Sweetest Hockey On Earth

Since leaving Lake Superior State (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) after the 2008-09 season, gritty defenseman Steve Oleksy has been the epitome of a journeyman, playing for seven different minor league teams in five years. He’s played for the Port Huron Icehawks of the IHL; the Las Vegas Wranglers, the Toledo Walleye, and the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL; and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Hershey Bears of the AHL.

Monday night, with the Capitals needing a right-handed shooting defenseman in Mike Green’s absence (i.e. #brittlegroin), Oleksy got the call that young players dream about.

But he had his phone off.

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SHOE’s Perspective on New Capitals Signing Steve Oleksy

On March 4, 2013, In Caps Prospect, News, By Peter Hassett

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Photo credit: Kyle Mace of SHOE

News broke on Monday night that the Caps have signed their second fighter in a week. This time it’s Hershey’s 27-year-old defender, Steve Oleksy.

Sweetest Hockey on Earth superstar Kyle Mace writes about Steve Oleksy all the time, so we’re giving him the floor to introduce us to the new Caps’ latest acquisition:

Steve Oleksy (pronounced OH-lexi) is one of the team leaders for the Hershey Bears. This call up is his first shot at the NHL. He leads the Bears in penalty minutes, mostly due to fights caused by sticking up for his teammates. Off the ice, Oleksy is one of the most down-to-earth players you will meet. Very involved on Twitter, Oleksy is the founder and president of Eastside Elite Hockey, a summer hockey league that helps players stay in shape.

The Chesterfield, Michigan native will be a good addition to the Caps blue line. Oates watched Oleksy earlier this season as an assistant to Mark French during the lockout. Don’t be surprised to see Steve throw his body around. Despite being only six feet tall and weighing just 190, he is still a big force on the ice.

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Riley Barber Helps Miami Win CCHA Regular Season

On March 4, 2013, In Caps Prospect, By Fedor Fedin

Riley Barber attacks Buckeyes’ goal. (Miami University Athletics).

Caps sixth-round draft pick Riley Barber has continued the same strong play that earned him a spot on the 2013 USA WJC team. As part of Miami (OH) University, Barber beat intrastate rival Ohio State, securing victory in the CCHA regular season. In the last game of the season, Barber scored a goal and assisted another, endangering the Buckeyes’ net each time he and linemates Austin Czarnik and Curtis McKenzie hit the ice.

Take a look at Barber’s highlights and stats after the jump.

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Caps Prospect Filip Forsberg Named HockeyAllsvenskan’s Best Under-20 Player

On February 28, 2013, In Caps Prospect, News, Translations, By Ian Oland

Filip Forsberg

Photo credit: hockeyallsvenskan.se

Washington Capitals 2012 first round pick, Filip Forsberg, received a prestigious honor today. The forward was named the best under-20 player of the season in the HockeyAllsvenskan. Forsberg, who finished the season with 14 goals, 17 assists, and a plus-minus of plus-14, also captained the Swedish World Junior Championship team which won the silver medal this year and did the Gangnam Style dance multiple times to utter perfection.

“Lots of players have played well in the league, but of course I’m really happy to win the award,” Forsberg was quoted by the league and translated by friend-of-the-blog Jake Ware. “I’m a bit shocked as the competition was tough. I though Mikael Wikstrand was the favorite with all the points he’s put up.”

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Evgeny Kuznetsov Survives Chelyabinsk Meteor, Scores Goal in Final KHL Regular Season Game

On February 17, 2013, In Caps Prospect, News, By Fedor Fedin

Photo credit: Vitaly Gubin / HC Traktor

Two days after a meteorite struck his hometown of Chelyabinsk, the normally-talkative Evgeny Kuznetsov was quiet. The Washington Capitals prospect and 20-year-old forward made no statement on Twitter. On Sunday, Kuznetsov let us know he was okay with a big breakaway goal in Traktor Chelyabinsk’s final game of the regular season, a 4-1 win over their biggest KHL rival, Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

Video below the jump.

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Former Capital Michael Nylander Plays in Game with 16-Year-Old Son William, Filip Forsberg Spoils It with Goal

On February 13, 2013, In Caps Prospect, News, Video, By Fedor Fedin

Michael and William Nylander. (Photo credit: Scanpix)

Michael Nylander appeared in only parts of four seasons with the Washington Capitals, but he’s remembered by fans both for his play and the way he left the organization. The talented Swedish center played on the early 2000′s Capitals teams with Peter Bondra, Olie Kolzig, and Jaromir Jagr. He also helped mentor Nicklas Backstrom in a second tour with the team from 2007-2009.

But after signing a four-year $19.5 million contract to be the top center of the Caps in 2007, Nyles tore his rotator cuff and was never the same. With the Capitals near the top of the salary cap and Nylander unhappy with his role, they loaned the Swede to the Detroit Red Wings organization in 2009-10 (who then assigned him to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL) and then to the Florida Panthers during the last year of his contract in 2010-11 (who later assigned him to Rochester). Nylander, who broke his neck 7 games into his stint with the Americans, then continued his career in Europe the next season in the Swiss National League A.

Since then, the 40-year-old Nylander has returned to his native home of Sweden to finish his career in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan. And for a good reason.

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Patrick Wey and Boston College Win Fourth Straight Beanpot Tournament

On February 12, 2013, In Caps Prospect, Video, By Fedor Fedin

Photo credit: Boston College

The senior class of the Boston College hockey team, including Washington Capitals top defensive prospect Patrick Wey, has become the first in university history to win all four of their Beanpot tournaments.

The tournament — which decides Boston’s top hockey school among Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, and Northeastern — has been held annually since the 1952-53 season. Overall, Boston College has won the tournament 18 times, while rival Boston University has won it the most (29).

Yesterday, Boston College, led by high-scoring sophomore Johnny Gaudreau, beat Northeastern University 6-3 en route to its fourth-straight title.

Highlights of the game are past the jump.

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Tom Wilson Collects Career-High Four Points Against Owen Sound, Has Seven Points in Two Games

On February 11, 2013, In Caps Prospect, Video, By Fedor Fedin

Photo credit: Plymouth Whalers

Caps 2012 first-round pick Tom Wilson (aka “The Ten Train”) has been a big factor in his team’s success of late. After coming back from a five-game suspension, Wilson — second on his team in points per game (1.19) — has been playing some inspired hockey.

Skating mostly on the first line with World Juniors gold medalists Vincent Trocheck (drafted by Florida) and Ryan Hartman (potential 2013 first-round selection), Wilson has tallied seven points in two games (three goals and four assists). In total, the Whalers’ first line has scored eight of the team’s 12 goals during that span and combined for 20 points overall. They are doing this without the services of one of their biggest stars, Rickard Rakell, who has played four games with Bruce Boudreau’s Pacific Division leading Anaheim Ducks.

Follow me past the jump, to check out video of Wilson’s monster games.

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