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Washington Capitals

Weekend Wrap: Backstrom, Hagelin Updates, Capitals Prospects, NHL Rumors

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Capitals Nicklas Backstrom and Carl Hagelin

Heading into training camp, the Washington Capitals are seeing quite a few headlines surrounding their roster players and up-and-comers after a busy weekend.

Carl Hagelin is back on the ice, and all the while, Nicklas Backstrom has said that hip resurfacing surgery has made a major difference for him. In other news, the younger players in the system are thriving.

Across the NHL, trade talk and free agency rumors continue to brew going into the 2022-23 campaign.

Here are all the latest news and notes from D.C. and across the league:

Washington Capitals

  • Nicklas Backstrom opened up about his surgery and also admitted that hip pain had made it difficult to do things like tying his shoes. (WHN)
  • Carl Hagelin skating is a positive sign, but No. 62 returning to the lineup may force the Capitals to make some decisions and moves. (WHN)
  • Oskar Magnusson won bronze with Sweden at the 2022 World Juniors — and made quite an impact, too. (WHN)
  • Alex Ovechkin mislabels his hockey bag with No. 69, and there’s a good reason why. (WHN)
  • Washington prospect Alexander Suzdalev will join the Regina Pats this upcoming season. (WHL)

NHL Links

  • The IIHF announced that Russia and Belarus will continue to be barred from international competitions in 2023. (WHN)
  • Now that the Calgary Flames made some moves, another Metropolitan Division could be next to explore the market. Pittsburgh Penguins (PHN)
  • There haven’t been contract talks between the Bruins and David Pastrnak, but the young star isn’t too concerned. Boston Bruins (BHN)
  • Could Tyler Bertuzzi be on the trade block? Detroit Red Wings (DHN)
  • With a Mason McTavish goalline save and Kent Johnson golden goal, Canada topped Finland, 3-2 in overtime, for the gold medal at World Juniors. (CBC)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

  • Speaking of Team Canada, Connor Bedard will be Suzdalev’s teammate in 2022-23 as both lace ’em up for the Pats. Should be exciting to see them work in tandem.
  • Capitals prospect Bogdan Trineyev got to skate with Ovechkin at Dynamo Moscow’s exhibition game, a fun moment. Ovechkin sported No. 32, the same number he wore for the club previously.

  • And on the topic of familiar faces and teammates reuniting, Jakub Vrana, Vitek Vanecek and Martin Has all played together in a Czech exhibition game.

  • After Backstrom’s latest interview, I don’t think he’s played his last game with Washington.
  • The Capitals defensive situation is interesting; they’re deep, but mainly on the left side. After TVR, there’s not another RHD immediatley available to step up. Will be interesting to see what’s done — if anything is done — there. Worth noting: Vincent Iorio is a right-hand shot.