Washington Capitals‘ winger T.J. Oshie took a break from his pre-training camp workouts this week to join teammate Braden Holtby for a quick trip to New York City. The two-day sojourn was part of the NHL’s annual media tour. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman detailed a portion of an interview with T.J. Oshie in his latest column, in which Oshie spoke about the challenge of ending the Capitals post-season disappointment.

Friedman noted that the Washington players no doubt get tired of answering the same pre-season questions, but that he loved listening to Oshie (respond) about it. Oshie stated “Maybe it’s just the way I’m wired, but I get excited to be back in the challenge of ending the story, the disappointment.”

Oshie continued, “Obviously it’s going to be a hard challenge. The league gets better and better, we have a tough division. But I see a lot of fun in the process, in finding a way to get over the hump. I guess I don’t really know any other way. I’m not a guy who gets too stressed. I don’t see how it would be fun living your life. Especially doing something that you love, why you would approach that in a negative way?”

Friedman asked Oshie, who will be 38 at the end of his current deal, if he thought he had signed his last NHL contract this summer.  “I understand that it seems like it’s getting harder and harder for players to (play longer). I do realize the possibilities with my style of play and sometimes being a little reckless that your body could wear down. But I think I’ve set myself up with my training and how responsible I’ve gotten with nutrition and stuff off the ice. I haven’t seen the light at the end of the tunnel. The worst thing you would ever hear is the Zamboni coming out and the driver opening up the doors. I’ll stay out there as long as I can. They will have to kick me off.”

Oshie and the Capitals will once begin a new campaign to end post-season dissapoinememts this Friday when the team kicks off their 2017 training camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

By Jon Sorensen