Sammi’s Daily: Capitals Close Out Camp, Free Agency Rolls On, Rumors

The Washington Capitals brought hockey back to Capital One Arena on Friday, as the prospects took the ice for a scrimmage to close out their 2022 development camp.

Some key prospects stood out in the tournament, while others surprised.

All the while, free agency continues, and so does the rumor mill.

Here are the latest news and notes from the District and the NHL:

Capitals Links

• Here are all the takeaways and what to know from the Capitals Development Camp scrimmage, where Hendrix Lapierre and Peter Laviolette III led the way as Team Red topped Team White, 5-3. (WHN)
• In NHL free agency news, Washington was reportedly in on Mason Marchment and Ilya Mikheyev before they signed elsewhere. (WHN)
• Speaking of signings, a couple of Swedish prospects got signed, as 2022 third-rounders Alexander Suzdalev and Ludwig Persson inked three-year, entry-level deals with the Capitals. (WHN)

NHL Links

• With the Calgary Flames losing Johnny Gaudreau to Columbus, they learned a few lessons — and should feel more pressed to lock up Matthew Tkachuk. (CHN)
• Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher failed to make a splash in free agency, so is the team in for a tank in 2022-23? (PHN)
• Could Nazem Kadri be on his way to the New York Islanders with several big names off the market and GM Lou Lamoriello missing out on Gaudreau? (NYIHN)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• Development camp was an absolute blast, and several names stood out. A full report is coming, but a couple of names caught my eye beyond Lapierre and Vinny Iorio: Brent Johnson looked great, as did David Gucciardi and more.
• Ivan Miroshnichenko made his first visit to Capital One Arena on Friday as he signed autographs and took in the scrimmage alongside Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Alexeyev. He looked like he was having a great time and taking it all in.
• Per Sportsnet’s Dan Riccio, the Vancouver Canucks want to keep J.T. Miller on board. That takes another big center off the board. Ultimately, the Capitals brought in Dylan Strome at $3.5 million, and I think that’s the better route. Especially given Nicklas Backstrom‘s planned return this season.