Washington Capitals defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler thinks that the competition on a crowded blueline is “a good thing [because it] keeps you on [your] toes every practice.” He feels like there is “a pretty healthy competition here right now.”

The 23-year-old said that he has not been told what he needs to do to earn a regular spot in the lineup after the Capitals signed Zdeno Chara but “you want to play as [many] games as you can.”

On his reaction to the Capitals signing Chara, Siegenthaler told the media that “I was excited, to be honest.” He thinks that the 43-year-old’s experience can bring a lot to the team. “That’s huge for us,” he said, “He’s experienced everything [that] you can [in] hockey.”

Siegenthaler feels like “I still have a lot to show” and he has room to improve. He thinks that “For a player, you can never stop improving.”

He believes goaltender Ilya Samsonov’s English “has gotten better every day,” and thought that spending the offseason in Washington was good for him. “He understands us perfectly,” he added.

By Harrison Brown