Stanislav Galiev is certainly full of personality. (Photos by Addison Huber)

Day 3 was a busy day for the draftees and invitees at Capitals Development Camp. Both Group A and Group B were on the ice in the morning, and the whole squad took the ice in the afternoon for a scrimmage. The additional activity made for an extremely long day, one that not only left me exhausted, but also (and more importantly) left me feeling like a full-time member of the media. I also increased my attempts at multi-tasking: interspersing periods of photography with Tweets, especially during the afternoon scrimmage. Day 3 also provided a glimpse into the world of the best PR staff in the NHL when Nate and Kelly  invited all the bloggers in attendance to a roundtable to discuss ideas and innovations.

Group A Observations

Both groups were put to their first quantitative evaluation today, with the coaching staff giving the prospects a battery of skating tests, including blue-line-to-blue-line skating, straight-line speed, and S-curves. Because of the nature of the early part of the day, there was a notably decreased media presence around the Kettler practice rink. Evgeny Kuznetsov remained the class of Group A, using long, confident strides to fly around the ice. Dmitri Orlov also displayed impressive handling and speed, but did so by utilizing compact, powerful, quick steps. The Swede in Group A, Anton Gustafsson, looked a bit less confident than many other members of the group, was not as fast as expected, and almost fell several times. The biggest members of Group A, Joe Finley and Jake Hauswirth, both succumbed to gravity and took hard falls during the S-turn speed test. After the testing concluded, several players, including Kuznetsov, stayed on the ice to play keep away and shoot the puck around. Kuznetsov looked like a kid in a candy shop, skating with a smile stretching from ear to ear as he deftly moved the puck around the ice – clearly the kid loves to play hockey.

Group B Observations

Shortly after Group A finished their testing, Group B had their chance to show off for the coaches and assembled fans. As expected, Marcus Johansson was far and away the best skater from Group B, clearly having benefited from the increased level of competition in the Swedish Elite League. Johansson’s skating style is almost technically flawless, which allowed him to sail through all the tests with an easy grace. In addition to Johansson, Stanislav Galiev also put on quite a skating clinic and Dustin Stevenson displayed better than average speed (for a defenseman). On a slightly less positive note, Trevor Bruess did not leave a terribly good impression, especially for a prospect who has spent some time in the AHL. Bruess was not as fast as some of the other prospects and seemed a little hesitant at times through the corners in the turning speed test.

Scrimmage

The highlight of Development Camp day 3 was the first official scrimmage of the summer. The two groups ditched their color coordinated line jerseys for sharp-looking red and white team threads with gray highlights and piping on the sides. The two sides fought to a stalemate, leading Coach Boudreau to quip to the assembled bloggers: “next time we’re going to a shootout.” The MVP of the scrimmage was 2010 draft pick Kuznetsov, who potted two goals and an assist – while just missing a hat trick. His first tally was a Knublian deflection off a shot from the point that he garnered by holding a spot at the top of the crease. The physical play of several prospects stood out during the scrimmage: Stefan Della Rovere was throwing his body around, landing several crunching hip checks; Sean Wiles made some sacrifices blocking shots; and Cody Eakin played way bigger than his size, holding the puck and winning battles along the boards. The goalies were also fairly solid, stopping all the penalty shots except one. Most notably, Phillip Grubauer displayed good positioning, astute awareness, and keen anticipation of the puck. The most exciting moment of the scrimmage came after all-around nice guy Joe Finley crushed Zach Miscovic at the half-wall, leading to an exchange of pleasantries with fellow bruiser Anthony Pisano (Bridgewater, MJAHL). The two heavyweights calmly discussed the incident and ended with a hug, leaving all satisfied.

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Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitri Orlov & Cody Eakin stood out in Group A today. (Photos by Addison Huber)

Group A Observations

Group A was the second group to take the ice on Day 2, and arrival onto the ice was delayed over fifteen minutes because the coaching staff was unhappy with the ice conditions after Group B skated earlier in the morning. Of the Group A players, Eakin, Kuznetsov, and Orlov were by far the most impressive and polished. Kuznetsov was the class of the group, displaying noteworthy hustle and speed as well as solid shooting ability from the point and deft, light hands in close around the net. Two college invitees also showed flashes of brilliance. Sean Wiles, a junior forward from the University of Alaska Anchorage, threw his body around, landing several big hits and crashing the net well. Additionally, Andrew Cherniwchan, a sophomore forward from Northern Michigan University, put on a puckhandling show, leading Comcast Sports Net’s play-by-play announcer Joe Beninati, an unexpected visitor to camp, to label him a “dangler.”

Group B Observations

Evgeny Kuznetsov watches Group B practice.

Group B was on ice for the early skating session of day 1. The players in Group A were put through the paces by the coaching staff, participating in mostly skill-based drills, including crashing the net, long-range shooting, and saucer passes. The practice culminated with a brutal set of Herbies, leaving just about all the players, including the well-conditioned Marcus Johansson, gasping for air on their knees. Before his legs were ruined by the sprints, Johansson was by far the most impressive player on the ice in Group B. Johansson’s well-practiced footwork led to an easy stride that enabled him to quickly float around the ice with ease. His puck control was also solid, a result of what the Caps PR staff described as a core that is stronger than comparable Swede, Nicklas Backstrom. Much like the Disney character Mary Poppeins, Johannson is “practically perfect as a prospect”.

The other player to watch in this group was Russian draftee Stanislav Galiev. Galiev flaunted a smooth stride that allowed him to speed around the ice and unleash his accurate wrist shot. The only potential negative about Galiev (as well as fellow Russian Kuznetsov) is that he sports a very lanky frame (6’1″, 178lbs) and could benefit from some extra time in the weight room to ensure he will be able to fight for pucks in the corners.

A Budding Friendship?

Group A partners Cody Eakin and Evgeny Kuznetsov seemed to strike up a real rapport both on the ice and on the bench. In addition to skating well together, the pair was constantly together and joking around, exchanging jabs in both English and Russian.

Improving Foreign Relations

It is clear that the Russian draftees are very comfortable with the spotlight into which they have been thrust in Washington. They seem to relish the attention given to them by the fans and media alike, often mugging for the camera along the glass and always willing to sign autographs for the fans. According to Washington Post beat writer Tarik El-Bashir, Evgeny Kuznetsov has “already signed more than [Alex] Semin did all last year.”

Welcome to the Media

The members of the media who cover the Capitals are definitely like members of one big fraternity. After being ignored by most members of the media during my first day covering Development Camp, my appearance the second day must have convinced them that I was at least somewhat legitimate. Over the course of the day I got to know, speak with in-depth, and get coffee with the bloggers from Caps Snaps (who provided our translations), Fight for Old DC, and Rock the Red. One of my proudest moments was when the sports reported from ABC7 came over and thanked me for the lead I had generated by talking to Nate Ewell about Chris Bond and his interaction with his mom on Day 1.

Interview Highlights

Stanislav Galiev

On what he wants to show the coaches: “What I can do and [that I can] do my best.”

On which Washington player he most wants to me: “Every one.”

Personal goals for camp: “Gain some upper body strength.”

Cody Eakin

“[I feel] more prepared and more comfortable the second day [of camp].”

On how he scored so many goals last season: “I was shooting the puck [more].”

Joe Finley speaks about Dmitri Orlov

On his day 2 defensive partner, Orlov: “He’s a fun player, a lot like John Carlson or Mike Green, [so] I’m real comfortable playing with him. He’s got great hockey sense. The communication is a little difficult, but hockey is a common language.”

On how it feels to have come to so many development camps: “This year is a fresh start.”

Final Thought

Listed on the development camp roster at 6’8″, 247lbs, veteran camp attendee Joe Finely seems even bigger than that in person (if such a thing is possible). While interviewing Finely after the second group, I found myself having to crane my head upward to meet the hulking defenseman’s gaze. Moreover, I think his crushing handshake after the interview concluded broke a few bones in my hand.

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Yes, the impossible has happened: The Capitals have given us a credential.

Day 1 (View All Of Addison’s Photos)

Walking into Kettler Capitals Iceplex this morning, a chill flickered across my skin as I admired the clean sheet of ice that stretched in front of me; not only because the rink was 30-plus degrees cooler than the humid July air outside, but also because of the fresh start that this development camp represented. After the crushing first-round defeat in the 2010 playoffs that sent the Caps home early, development camp is the first milestone on the path to the 2010-2011 season. It seemed many other people had the same idea. During both sessions, there was a good number of spectators in the stands – probably 75 or so – definitely a good turnout for a weekday.

The goosebumps on my arms were complimented by butterflies in my stomach – as a rookie journalist, today I would be passing through the heavy metal gate separating players and press from the general public on the back side of the practice rink. After meeting the Caps PR staff and receiving my press pass, my nervousness abated somewhat, until about a minute later, when I walked into the press room and found myself surrounded by Tarik El-Bashir, Mike Vogel, Brett Leonhardt, Corey Masisak, Dan Steinberg, and all the other big name journalists who cover the Capitals.

Observations – Group A

Group A pays close attention to Bruce Boudreau

Group A featured Kuznetsov, Eakin, Gustafsson, Della Rovere, Finley, Orlov, Dunn, and Holtby. Cody Eakin was by far the most impressive member of Group A in terms of skill. He looked confident handling the puck and was strong enough to keep from getting pushed off it. The feisty redhead also displayed impressive speed and endurance during the end of session Herbies. Kuznetsov was also impressive, showing off some nifty stick work during the session, and was certainly one of the quicker prospects during wind sprints. Listed on the roster at 6′ 170lbs, Kuznetsov actually looked a little smaller than that. He would probably benefit from some weight room sessions to add bulk to his frame. On the flip side, Joe Finley is absolutely monstrous and used his size to his advantage, throwing a few monster hits and generally burying people into the side boards. Finley, however, did get caught out of position a few times on 2-on-1 drills. Dmitri Orlov also played with a physically pleasing edge and looked generally solid. After the official end of the session, Della Rovere, Eakin, and Kuznetsov stayed on the ice to practice shooting, culminating in a full-ice long shot contest.

Observations – Group B

George McPhee looks on from above.

Group B showcased Johansson, Galiev, Bruess, Stevenson, Wey, and Grubauer. This group was also composed of a large number of invitees. In this group, the spotlight was squarely on top prospect Marcus Johansson, the Caps first round pick (24th overall) from the 2009 NHL Draft. According to Capitals PR Director Nate Ewell, the team is taking a serious look at Johansson to start with the NHL club this season to provide depth at center. Johansson displayed remarkable poise and skill centering a line with another highly regarded prospect, Russian Stanislav Galiev (3rd round, 86th overall 2010 NHL Draft), on the wing. Johansson was by far the quickest of all attendees in Group B, and according to Coach Boudreau he might even be a better skater than fellow Swede Nicklas Backstrom. Along with Johansson, Galiev was also impressive, showing off his puck handling and shooting skills for the duration of the Group B session.

Touching Rookie Moment of the Day

Chris Bond, an invitee from Centreville, VA and part of Group A, came over to the gate to greet his mother, who had been taking pictures while he was on the ice. A quick peck on the cheek from his mom left Bond with a thoroughly embarrassed look on his face. That look, however, was quickly replaced my pure mortification when his mom leaned over and exclaimed: “Honey, I brought your swimsuit for you!” To which Bond quickly replied: “Mom, I told you, I don’t need a swimsuit.”

Interview Highlights

Bruce Boudreau

On Marcus Johansson: “He will let us know he is ready [for the NHL] by the quality of his play.”

On upgrading the team: “We have a great team in Hershey, they won two Calder Cups… Tomas Fleischman can play 2C, so can Brooks Laich.”

Evgeny Kuznetsov (translation from Caps in Pictures)

“It is nice to be on a team with Russians.”

“The Capitals are like a finely tuned machine.”

Stanislav Galiev

“I like North American-style hockey… it is faster, better, they hit harder.”

On the thing he misses most while in North America: “Friends.”

On goals: “[I want to] make the [Russian] World Junior Team.”

On being on the Caps: “It is incredible to be on a team with the best players in the world.”

Marcus Johansson

“It feels like [the Capitals] believe in me.”

“I try to bring my A-game every night.”

“You can’t go out there and fake it: you’re good or you’re not.”

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