It’s nearly the end of August and that means Capitals players are moving back to their respective DC-area homes and returning to Kettler Capitals Iceplex to prepare for the season ahead. Several Capitals players, one Devils player and a couple of young prospects have already begun informal workouts this week. Here are the highlights from Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday.
SCENES FROM KETTLER
Phillipp Grubauer, Braden Holtby, Nathan Walker, Jonas Siegenthaler, John Carlson, and Vitek Vanecek are the first players to begin workouts at Kettler. The lone Devils player? You guessed it, Marcus Johansson.
Highlights:
Some defense by Jonas Siegenthaler pic.twitter.com/VMSyO966VR
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) August 23, 2017
Jonas Siegenthaler showed some great defense on this play. With a couple of vacant spots opening up on the blueline, Siegenthaler is working hard to try to earn a spot on the Opening Night roster.
A young hockey player just scored on Gruby pic.twitter.com/bJZXSaVvoa
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) August 23, 2017
After each player got some reps on both sides of the full rink, the unofficial practice would shift to short-rink work the rest of the way. I don’t know who this amateur hockey player is, but he must’ve had the thrill of his life scoring on Philipp Grubuaer. I laughed when I saw this response from our fellow writer Luke Adomanis.
I feel his pain. It’s like when the player that can’t skate in beer league somehow scores on you. Brutal. https://t.co/zOpKTSCEmJ
— Luke Adomanis (@LukeAdomanis) August 23, 2017
Holtby gets in on the short rink fun pic.twitter.com/kuJ076xyQw
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) August 23, 2017
Grubauer would get a breather and in would come the Holtbeast. Braden Holtby looked strong between the pipes as he gears up for another big season.
Gruby with the save pic.twitter.com/Qii9pUHmFY
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) August 23, 2017
The two main Caps goalies did the switcheroo once again and Gruby redeemed himself.
Quick leg stop by Vitek Vanecek pic.twitter.com/U2DleQQusO
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) August 23, 2017
Bears fans and our very own Julie Beidler, I haven’t forgotten about you guys either. Vitek Vanacek looked good this morning as well.
MoJo! Is that you?!
Yes Marcus Johansson was out on the ice working out with his former teammates. Johansson still lives in the area, for now at least. He was skating with his traditional Capitals practice jersey and his white #90 helmet. The only difference was the gloves he sported, which were Devils’ red.
Something different about MoJo’s gloves. pic.twitter.com/xDUCOZVWlJ
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) August 23, 2017
Check back on NoVaCaps.com for more content including player previews, division previews and more scenes from Kettler as we embark on another season of Capitals hockey.
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo