Prospects from around the NHL, including Washington Capitals defenseman Alexander Alexeyev, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowem Byram, participated in the NHL Prospects Showcase at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia on Sunday. The showcase, sponsored by the NHL Players Association, gave the media, EA Sports, and trading card and memorabilia company Upper Deck the opportunity to get photos and video of players in their new uniforms.

The prospects also held a media availability and did promotions for the NHL and NHL Network on both rinks at MedStar. Each player posed for camera shots in their hockey equipment by the entrance. There were grins all-around as players made their “debut” as their respective teams’ top prospects and got a taste for the media frenzy that surrounds NHL players who are likely to be stars in just a few short years.

#ALLCAPS Alexandar Alexeyev at #NHLProspectsShowcase pic.twitter.com/fa7JzIhSb1

— Harrison Brown (@HarrisonB927077) August 25, 2019

UpperDeck had the prospects sit to sign hockey cards.

Jack and Quinn Hughes signing Upper Deck hockey cards: pic.twitter.com/YGKwsUKqkk

— Harrison Brown (@HarrisonB927077) August 25, 2019

After eating lunch and talking to the media, the players skated around the ice, made passes with each other, and shot the puck on the net to allow photographers to capture phots and videos. The mood was light and the players enjoyed their first big introduction to the NHL as they prepared for their first training camps in just a few weeks.

The prospects also got to be scanned by EA Sports to get put into NHL 20, which will be released on September 13.

Coming to you in 2021: @Alexeyev04 in video game form! @EASPORTSNHL pic.twitter.com/MZWlqQTap5
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 25, 2019

Prior to a final informal scrimmage for the cameras, all the players posed together for a group picture.

Photo: @Capitals

Even though the scrimmage wasn’t a competitive one, it’s worth noting for Capitals fans that Alexeyev scored twice on two shots during the contest.

By Harrison Brown