We are less than two weeks away from the start of Washington Capitals training camp. Capitals rookie camp is just five days away, with many of the Capitals prospects already making their way to D.C. for informal skates prior to the start of the camp on Thursday.
Prospects who have already made their way to MedStar Capitals Iceplex include Aliaksei Protas, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Lucas Johansen, Alex Alexeyev, Hendrix Lapierre, Vincent Iorio, Joe Snively and Clay Stevenson. The official roster for next week’s rookie camp is expected to be released in the next 2-3 days.
And while the unsupervised summer days continue to wind down at MedStar, other prospects are in the thick of preseason games and training activities with their junior teams. Here’s the latest Capitals prospect news from this week:
Ryan Chesley and the Minnesota Golden Gophers opened training camp and held their first practice on Friday. The Capitals second round pick in this year’s draft is entering his first season in the NCAA. Sources tell NoVa Caps that the 18-year-old defenseman will be on hand for next week’s rookie camp.
Some first practice pics to bless your TL 📸#PrideOnIce pic.twitter.com/ANMCtrnaUn
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) September 9, 2022
Bogdan Trineyev continues to start at left wing on the fourth line for KHL’s Dynamo Moscow. He’s recorded two assists (his first points in the KHL – tied for team high in assists) in four games, all in limited 4th line minutes. Trineyev remains on pace to report to Hershey at the end of the KHL season (March) and be a full-time resident of Choclatetown next September.
Alexander Suzdalev continued workouts and intrasquad games with the Regina Pats, who opened preseason games on Friday night. Suzdalev started at left wing on the top line on Friday night, in a game which saw phenom Connor Bedard a healthy scratch. Suzdalev would dent the twine early in third period.
Excellent first shift of the third period for Alexander Suzdalev. Keeps the puck alive in the zone, then finishes for his first preseason tally. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/jh6amaYSHc
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) September 10, 2022
Suzdalev scored a pair of goals in the team’s rookie scrimmage at the beginning of the week. His second goal came on a penalty shot that showed off a bit of his one on one inventiveness. More on Suzdalev’s week here.
#ALLCAPS Alexander Suzdalev’s second goal of the game came on a penalty shot. He faked between the legs and tucked a backhander past Sam Fontaine to give Team Blue a 5-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/RZCs6ycPMz
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) September 5, 2022
Long time no see! Also from Regina Pats camp, former Capitals prospect Connor Hobbs made an appearance on Regina Pats social media earlier in the week. Hobbs, drafted by the Capitals in the 5th round of the 2015 draft, retired from professional hockey back in 2020.
🗣️ Pats alum Connor Hobbs has a PSA, only this one’s not about pulled pork!#ItsGoTime
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) September 8, 2022
Jake Karabela and the Guelph Storm played their fourth OHL preseason game on Friday night against the Oshawa Generals. Karabela moved from the top line to the second line for the game and would score late in the third period to tie it, 3-3.
Cam Allen with the shot/pass to find Jake Karabela for the tip in front. 3-3 with 5 minutes left in the third.
— Tony Saxon (@SaxonOnTheStorm) September 10, 2022
The 18-year-old is beginning his second season with the Storm. He is also expected to attend Capitals Rookie Camp next week.
Joaquim Lemay and the Nebraska-Omaha opened training camp this week. Lemay, 20, is entering his first season of collegiate hockey. The Capitals fourth round draft pick in 2021 is also expected to attend Capitals rookie camp next week.
Small area games.. where the creativity can flow freely🤌🤘#EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaHKY pic.twitter.com/inSACncx4f
— Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) September 8, 2022
Ryan Hofer and the Everett Silvertips opened their 2022 preseason schedule on Friday night. Hofer started the game centering the first line.
The Silvertips wrapped-up training camp this past weekend with an intrasquad scrimmage. The game was highlighted by a standout performance from veteran (free agent cc: Capitals) ’02-born forward Jackson Berezowski, who netted a pair of goals in the game. Hofer also played well, recording a goal and two assists on a line with Berezowski and ’06-born forward Jesse Heslop, who also had a goal and two helpers.
It’s like Ryan Hofer never left, crashing the net and cashing in rebounds.#TipsCamp x @bodieskneaded pic.twitter.com/xFTbACRJXf
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) September 2, 2022
“The competition is healthy,” noted Hofer after the game. “Everyone’s working their hardest. The atmosphere and the culture with the Silvertips shows and everyone was going as hard as they can. It was a good game.” More on Ryan Hofer here.
Dru Krebs and the Medicine Hat Tigers opened preseason action on Friday night at the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Krebs was not in the lineup.
#ALLCAPS Dru Krebs sitting out tonight’s tilt. https://t.co/SAI30VeaWV
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) September 10, 2022
Oskar Magnusson began the preseason at left wing on the second line for AIK, but was been dropped to the third line for the last couple of tuneups. He did score in their last pre-season game, so maybe things are starting to get going for Magnusson.
By Jon Sorensen
Updated prospect roster:
It will be interesting to track Suzdalev in games he plays without Bedard. That will be a better gauge of how he is doing.
Agree. Last nights “stand alone” game (without Bedard) was insightful.
Trineyev looking like a late round find so far.
Looks like we have a good bunch of Caps prospects to follow this year.
Thanks for all the work you guys do on the prospects. Truly a one-of-kind resource.
Thank you for the kind words. 🙏