Capitals’ Garnet Hathaway: “I Think The Small Details Are Something That’s Helped Me Get In The League And Stay In The League”

On Wednesday, Washington Capitals forward Garnet Hathaway spoke to the media following today’s practice. He discussed practicing on the first line and why small details in his game are resulting in his solid start to the season.

Head coach Peter Laviolette shook up line combinations this morning. Hathaway practiced on the first line with captain Alex Ovechkin and center Evgeny Kuznetsov. “Just another practice, really,” Hathaway said on being in the top-six. “I mean, obviously, it’s with two really special players, so it’s fun to be there and [I’m] just trying to pick up as much as I can [with] who I’m playing with.”

Capitals with some interesting lines today:

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Hathaway
Sheary-Eller-Wilson
Hagelin-Dowd-Leason
Sprong-McMichael/Sgarbossa-Protas

Fehervary-Carlson
TvR-Jensen
Irwin-Schultz
Kempny-Cholowski

*No Oshie, Backstrom (non-Covid illness), Orlov (upper body)

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) January 5, 2022

The lineup is always changing, but if Laviolette does keep today’s lines for Friday’s game at the St. Louis Blues (8 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington, NHL Network), Hathaway mentioned he would love to play on a line with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov and bring that physicality.

“I feel like my game is pretty detail-oriented…to focus on those things that can help me make a difference,” he said on Laviolette praising the right-winger’s play lately. “The skill in this league is so small between guy-to-guy…I think the small details are something that’s helped me get in the league and stay in the league.”

He noted that “the mindset of a faceoff,” “any fifty-fifty puck battle,” and “being defensively reliable” are just some of the little details that make a big difference.

“I always want to keep getting better…that’s what helps guys stay in the league. I’ve set kind of incremental goals for myself throughout my career even when I was playing in college or high school—just trying to get to that next step… I hope I’m still on the rise. I hope I am throughout my entire career.”

Hathaway has recorded twelve points, including seven goals in twenty-nine games played.

“I always want to keep getting better – that’s what helps guys stay in the league … I hope I’m still on the rise. I hope I am throughout my entire career.”

Garnet Hathaway talks about the strong start to his season to date after today’s practice.#ALLCAPS | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/scgu8rGiWM

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 5, 2022