Welcome to the 3rd annual “Capys” Award Show, presented by Nova Caps! It’s that time of the year again, when NoVa Caps hands out its awards (Capys) for a wide array of achievements this season.
The Washington Capitals had another great regular season in 2016-17. The Capitals clinched the Metropolitan Division and won their 2nd straight Presidents’ Trophy, as they racked up 118 points.
Besides team-based achievements, individual players with the club deserve some of their own special awards for this regular season. Who had some of the regular season’s top moments for the Washington Capitals?
Without further ado, let’s hand out the Capys Awards and recognize the individual achievements for the 2016-17 regular season! [If you would like to re-live last season’s Capys Awards that highlighted the the 2015-16 regular season, feel free to click here.]
JOCKSTRAPPER AWARD – EVGENY KUZNETSOV
In a game against Montreal in January, Evgeny Kuznetsov showed off some silky mitts as he danced around Habs forward Max Pacioretty and defenseman Jeff Petry.
BEST ASSIST AWARD – LARS ELLER
This assist for Lars Eller was one of his best as a Capital. Andre Burakovsky could not have had an easier goal here. Every Blue Jacket on the ice was caught staring at Eller’s fine moves behind the net.
OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER DUPLICATED HAIRDO AWARD – ANDRE BURAKOVSKY
In last year’s Capys, Justin Williams received the awesome hairdo award. You can try all you want, Andre, but you will never be able to duplicate what Justin Williams can do to his hair for Capitals team-picture day. It was a good attempt though.
BEST HIT AWARD – DMITRY ORLOV
Usually, this award would have Tom Wilson’s name written all over it. But Dmitry Orlov claims the Best Hit Award this year, after he delivered an earth-shattering back body drop to Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene.
BEST SAVE AWARD – BRADEN HOLTBY
Braden Holtby preserved his shutout against the Red Wings in November by making a Braden Holtby type save. This is why he has been nicknamed “Holtbeast.”
CELEBRITY LOOKALIKE AWARD – KEVIN SHATTENKIRK AND ANDY KAUFMAN
It’s very rare when an NHL club can actually have celebrity lookalikes. But newest Capital Kevin Shattenkirk looks like actor/comedian/professional wrestler Andy Kaufman.
BEST GR8 TAUNT AWARD – ALEX OVECHKIN
In a game in Columbus late in the season, Alex Ovechkin had to defend himself from notable Blue Jackets goon Josh Anderson. After the brawl concluded, the Great 8 made a hand motion to Anderson, telling him to wipe the blood off his face.
STEVE OTT FACE BASHING AWARD – BROOKS ORPIK
Notable NHL pest took many punches to the face from Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik in a game against Detroit in February. Orpik does not do this often, but he held his own very well in this scrap with Ott.
DON’T JUST STAND THERE, BUST A MOVE AWARD – MARCUS JOHANSSON’S DAD, LARS
Runner up in this category? Lars Johanssen for his dance the night before!
This award was handed out last year to Justin Williams, who gave us some great dance moves on the bench. This year, Marcus Johansson’s Dad, Lars, was excited after a Capitals road victory against the Blues on the Capitals annual Dads’ Trip.
YOU’VE BEEN A BAD BOY, SHATTY AWARD – KEVIN SHATTENKIRK
Last year, we handed out the “You’ve Been A Bad Boy, Mojo Award” to Marcus Johansson for a silly suspension that he earned. In this year’s edition of the Capys, there was a nasty hit delivered by newest Cap Kevin Shattenkirk during a frustrating Western road trip. Shattenkirk delivered a variation of AJ Styles’ Phenomenal Forearm to LA Kings defenseman Kevin Gravel in March and, as a result, earned himself a 2-game suspension.
BLATANT GOALIE INTERFERENCE AWARD – DAN O’HALLORAN
In a game against the New Jersey Devils in March, NHL zebra and noted Capitals hater Dan O’Halloran tried to buy the Devils a goal in their matchup. It is unclear as to why O’Halloran tried to block Braden Holtby from getting back into his crease. Since Braden likes to be involved and move the puck in most plays, O’Halloran should know better than to venture in and around the trapezoid area while Holtby is trying to push the puck up the ice.
MICK FOLEY HARDCORE CHAMPION AWARD – WES JOHNSON
I got my Swattah! Where’s YOURS? pic.twitter.com/jSBy2JqShS
— Wes Johnson (@WesJohnsonVoice) April 7, 2017
Wes Johnson is loved by all Capitals fans for his enthusiasm over the microphone at Capitals games. His creativity with the use of a baseball bat and barbed wire pays homage to the Attitude Era in pro wrestling.
MIKE GREEN “ROCK THE HAWK” AWARD – NATE SCHMIDT
Mike Green was probably the most notable Capital to ever rock a mohawk. This year, Nate Schmidt may or may not have lost a bet and received a nice hair cut from Braden Holtby. It was one of the funniest Capitals locker room stories of the year.
MILESTONE AWARD – KARL ALZNER
Karl Alzner has truly been an ironman for the Capitals. He has not missed a regular season game in many seasons. In mid-January, he played his 500th consecutive game for the Capitals. Most NHL defenseman in today’s game are not that durable, but Alzner has been very consistent and has been a trooper for the club for many years now.
BEST SOCIAL MEDIA MEME AWARD – CSN – CIVIL WAR JOHANSSON
Marcus Johansson showed up to Verizon Center for Game 2 between the Capitals and Penguins wearing what looked like a coat fit for a Civil War general. So CSN’s Capitals account took it from there. This meme is still making the rounds, with new variations throughout the season. May it never die.
Dearest Abigail,
Men from Fort Pitt have come to battle. I must fight.
With love,
General Johansson #CapitalsTalk pic.twitter.com/eV1Bo3NMGJ— CSN Capitals (@CSNCapitals) April 30, 2016
BEST “ZIG-ZAG” FINISHING MOVE AWARD – JUSTIN WILLIAMS
Welcome back, gruesome, gruesome hockey pic.twitter.com/a2ffHKRfqv
— Mike Tunison (@xmasape) October 14, 2016
When someone slashes Braden Holtby after the whistle, the Capitals will usually respond. Here is Justin Williams executing Dolph Ziggler’s “zig-zag” finishing move on Evgeni Malkin in a game back in October.
BEST BROMANCE AWARD – VITEK VANECEK AND JAKUB VRANA
BEST CANINE CALENDAR PHOTOSHOOT OUTTAKE AWARD – DMITRY ORLOV AND EVGENY KUZNETSOV
BEST LITTLE CAPS FAN AWARD – PENGUINS ‘POOPY FACE’ KID
We met a lot of great Capitals fans at Kettler this season, but none more adorable than this little guy. We asked him what he thought of the Pittsburgh Penguins and captured his immediate expression. His reply: “Penguins are poopy”. We asked for his name, and his reply – “Holtby”. Game over.
BEST MAJOR LEAGUE BEARD IN THE MINOR LEAGUES AWARD – COLTON SAUCERMAN
Colton was with the Bears a very short time, but it was long enough to take home the ‘Best Beard in the Minor’s’ award.
BEST EFFORT TO GIVE A FAN AN AUTOGRAPH AWARD – JAY BEAGLE
BEST CUDDLE AWARD – ALEX OVECHKIN AND ANDRE BURAKOVSKY
The boys were stuck on a tarmac in New Jersey on a very cold day this past winter. Leave it to Ovi and Andre to find the heat.
BEST PANCAKE AWARD – TOM WILSON
MOST EXHAUSTED AT A CAPITALS PRACTICE AWARD – 7-YEAR-OLD SETH PARISH
BEST WINTER CLOTHING MODELING AWARD – ‘JOE B’ AND ‘LOCKER’
And last but not least,
BEST ‘JUST KILLING TIME’ POSE AWARD – JUSTIN WILLIAMS AND NICKLAS BACKSTROM
By: George Foussekis and the NoVa Caps crew.
