While the Capitals have retained most of their pending free agents, there is at least one that will be leaving town. When news broke yesterday that longtime Capital and fan favorite Jay Beagle was expected to sign elsewhere, Capitals fans all over the DMV expressed their disappointment, frustrations, and best wishes. In this piece, NoVa Caps takes a look at some of the many reactions of fans, local media members, and others on the pending departure of Beagle.In his career with the Caps, Beagle played 471 games after working his way through the organization as an undrafted free agent. Beagle established himself as one of the league’s best faceoff men, and also as an extremely hard-working player, which made him a fan favorite. But what truly endeared himself to fans was his generosity and attitude off the ice. Beagle always took the time to sign autographs for every fan waiting outside Kettler Capitals Iceplex after practices and was also a favorite among local media members.

At Caps’ breakdown day, shook Beagle’s hand and wished him luck with everything. Beagle: “Why are you saying bye? I’ll see you in September.”

Think he wanted to return, but he wasn’t going to get that deal with the Caps considering their cap constraints. Glad he’s getting paid.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) June 29, 2018

While the departure of any fan favorite is difficult for fans to digest, it is also something that happens often in today’s sports world, where a player staying with one team for his or her entire career is rare, with money and salary cap constraints limiting teams to what they can spend.

Below are a number of fan reactions to the news that Beagle is (likely) leaving town:

Jay Beagle was consistently one of the most amazing players I’ve ever met. He’s kind, sweet, always up for anything, and insanely down to earth. And although his squinty face never ceases to make me laugh, the news that he wouldn’t be returning to Washington broke my damn heart. pic.twitter.com/usj7gDzmeM

— reilly the positive sign girl (@burakovskyeet) June 29, 2018

Went to Kettler one day in 2016 and Jay Beagle came out. Everyone was distracted by Willy so I saw him and the first words out of my mouth were “What’s good, Jay Beagle”. Couldn’t be any nicer of a guy. Best of luck, Beags! pic.twitter.com/CdkrIALayG

— em #WriteInNimmo (@e_munson) June 29, 2018

Izzy’s favorite Capital, Jay Beagle is rumored to be leaving. Izzy sad. pic.twitter.com/9EJb22jlFI

— Josh Tessler (@TesslerJosh) June 29, 2018

It will be sad but if Jay Beagle leaves because he was offered a more lucrative deal I can live with that. If he leaves because he wasn’t offered a deal with the Caps, well that’s a whole other story #ALLCAPS

— Lisa Desabrais (@LisaDesabrais) June 29, 2018

While these are just several of many reactions to the loss of one of the Capitals’ most popular players, it is clear that no matter where he ends up, Beagle has the support of every Capitals fan in the DMV. And as many have said, Once A Capital, Always a Capital!

by Michael Fleetwood