Photo: NHL Players Association/@NHLPA
On Tuesday, the Washington Capitals hosted the Upper Deck NHL Players’ Association Rookie Showcase at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, the team’s practice facility in Arlington, Virginia. Capitals forward Hendrix Lapierre was among the next wave of NHLers in attendance.
The showcase was held for the league’s top prospects and rookies for the 12th consecutive year and, per the NHLPA’s official website):
“…provides Upper Deck, the official trading card partner of the NHLPA and the NHL, with an opportunity to capture photographs and videos of many of the game’s top young prospects and rookies in their official NHL team uniforms. The content collected will be used for upcoming Upper Deck trading cards and related promotional materials.”
In addition to Lapierre (the Capitals’ first-round pick in 2020), other notable attendees included 2021 and 2022 first overall picks Owen Power (Buffalo Sabres) and Juraj Slafkovsky (Montreal Canadiens), and 2022 first-round pick Shane Wright (Seattle Kraken).
Below are some scenes from the day’s proceedings.
JERSEY ADVERTISEMENTS
Beginning this season, NHL teams are eligible to showcase advertisements on their uniforms. The Capitals were the first team to strike an advertisement deal, partnering with Caesar’s Sportsbook, a sports betting branch of the Caesar’s entertainment company.
Lapierre, who was the Capitals’ representative at the event, gave the first glimpse of the Capitals’ players with the Caesar’s Sportsbook patch displayed on the upper-right chest.
The NHL jersey ad, as modeled by @Capitals Hendrix Lapierre pic.twitter.com/WZwLSCgeSz
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) September 6, 2022
Not all of the league’s 32 clubs will be donning such looks this season, with mixed results in terms of sales as recently as July. However, a handful of the attendees could be seen with their respective teams’ sponsors adorning their jersey.
Sam Poulin of @penguins with their jersey ad pic.twitter.com/fGDjIIYwxJ
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) September 6, 2022
Dylan Guenther of the @ArizonaCoyotes with their jersey ad pic.twitter.com/RY0jwPr6mC
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) September 6, 2022
MEET THE PRESS
The Showcase attendees also spoke with the press corps covering the day’s events at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
Shane Wright meeting with the media at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase pic.twitter.com/CGdZYB43KR
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) September 6, 2022
Marco Rossi says he’s “more than 100%” and “better than before” since recovering from a long absence because of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/IfFb6OWMau
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) September 6, 2022
NHLPA Rookie Showcase happening today at MedStar. @Capitals Hendrix Lapierre meeting with the media #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/3eFI4Vfhu1
— Alexa Landestoy (Shaw) (@alexalandestoy) September 6, 2022
LIGHTS, CAMERA, SLAPSHOT
The rookies were photographed in a variety of ways for the future use of their image on Upper Deck trading cards and promotional purposes. The photo shoots included on and off-ice sequences.
Jack Quinn and Owen Power are going through the gauntlet at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase.
Started with autographs. Now posing for the first of many Upper Deck photos. pic.twitter.com/HxwARBl1Sg
— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) September 6, 2022
2022 No. 1 draft pick Juraj Slafkovsky doing some on-ice work at NHLPA Rookie Showcase this morning. pic.twitter.com/nsDJtoUNZM
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) September 6, 2022
Lukas Reichel, Matt Boldy, Thomas Bordeleau and Brendan Brisson doing some photo shoots pic.twitter.com/GzMwfclGw6
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) September 6, 2022
The 2022-23 NHL season gets underway at the end of the month, with the host Washington Capitals opening their training camp on September 22, 2022.
By Michael Fleetwood
Don’t like the ads.
Sell outs!
Let’s get to the hockey!