Amidst the buzz that has been generated by the Capitals’ re-signing of defenseman John Carlson to an eight-year, $64 million contract, the team released information about the team’s annual Development Camp, in which draft picks and invited free agent prospects work with coaches and instructors to improve aspects of their game, as well as to give team management and the coaching staff a look at the team’s draft picks.
The 2018 Development Camp will be held form June 26-30 and will feature all seven of the team’s draft picks in 2018, including first-round pick Alexander Alexeyev. All four of the team’s draft picks from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft will also be in attendance.
NOTABLE NAMES
The most notable name among this year’s attendees is forward Shane Gersich, who has two games of NHL experience under his belt. 2016 first-round pick, defenseman Lucas Johansen, 2015 first-round pick Ilya Samsonov, and Chevy Chase, Maryland native Patrick Giles (a free agent invitee) will also be in attendance.
The most notable absentees are goalies Pheonix Copley and Vitek Vanecek, along with Swiss forward Damien Riat. Nathan Walker will also not attend. It will also be interesting to see which coaches attend. With the departure of Barry Trotz and Troy Mann in Hershey, who ran the camp last year, it will be interesting to see who is in charge. It will also be interesting to see if Lane Lambert and goalie coaching guru Mitch Korn attend, as they have been rumored to be joining Trotz in New York.
SCHEDULE
The Caps also released a fully detailed guide to the Development Camp on their website, which can be found here. The week will conclude with the annual Fan Fest on Saturday, June 30, which features an equipment sale, public skate, and photo opportunity with the Stanley Cup. The full schedule is as follows:
CAMP SCHEDULE
Tuesday, June 26
9 a.m.: Defense on ice (Public rink)
9 a.m.: Forwards on ice (Capitals rink)
2:15 p.m.: Goalies on ice (Capitals rink)
3 p.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
4 p.m.: Media availability
6:30 p.m.: Washington Capitals Alumni
Summer Classic
Wednesday, June 27
Capitals Fan Fest
11 a.m.: On-ice testing (Public rink)
11 a.m.: Goalies on ice (Capitals rink)
12 p.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
1 p.m.: Media availability
5 p.m.: All players at Kids Clinic
Thursday, June 28
9:15 a.m.: Defense and goalies on ice
(Capitals rink)
9:15 a.m.: Forwards on ice (Public rink)
10 a.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
4 p.m.: 3-on-3 Tournament
5:15 p.m.: Media availability
Friday, June 29
10:15 a.m.: Defense on ice (Capitals rink)
10:15 a.m.: Forwards on ice (Public rink)
11:15 a.m.: All players on ice (Capitals rink)
12:15 p.m.: Media availability
Saturday, June 30
10 a.m.: Intrasquad scrimmage
Post-Scrimmage: Media availability
*All practice times and media availability
sessions are approximate and subject to
change.
The Development Camp will conclude with an intra-squad scrimmage and Capitals Alumni will play a game on Tuesday (June 26).
By Michael Fleetwood
Time for Michael Fleetwood to update his bio. “First and only Stanley Cup Final” has been superseded.
Good catch, Louise, I will be sure to let him know 🙂
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