Sammi’s Daily: Eller Coaches For First Time, Ovechkin Cup, Miller, Kadri News

With training camp and the preseason roughly a month away, the Washington Capitals are seeing some of their key players still getting in work this offseason, as well as taking to the ice to help others.

Lars Eller has been in North America and home in the DMV. This past week, headed to Ashburn Ice House to teach and coach young players for the first time. He skated with Coldrush Hockey, started by his skating coach, Wendy Marco. Eller’s father, Olaf, is a former player and coach.

This week I had the opportunity to coach some young hockey players for the first time. Both groups were eager to learn and gave it everything they had. It was a great but also humbling experience.
Thanks for having me@coldrushhockey @ashburnicehouse pic.twitter.com/Z7gaeRlwj5

— Lars Eller (@lellerofficial) August 13, 2022

Meanwhile, overseas in Russia, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was on the ice again, skating and leading the festivities at the annual Alex Ovechkin Cup. It was an on-ice tournament that featured not only the Great 8 but other NHLers and teammates in Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Kovalchuk, youth players, social media stars and more.

Beyond the fun times, there is still a lot going on in the hockey world. Free agency continues, and Nazem Kadri remains unsigned as his potential landing spot appears less and less clear. At the same time, young and upcoming prospects are making their mark at the 2022 World Juniors, which are still going strong.

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

Washington Capitals Links

• Ovechkin has been skating with social media influencers and stars and also bought a Twitch streamer $11k worth of goalie equipment for the Ovechkin Cup. (WHN)
• Dylan Strome tied the knot on Thursday, marrying his girlfriend Tayler McMahon, and he also shared some great daughter and dog stories, as well as words of wisdom, with the NHLPA (WHN)
• Speaking of Eller, Washington shouldn’t be in any hurry to trade him — at least not right now.

NHL Links

• J.T. Miller shared more on the trade rumblings surrounding him and the Vancouver Canucks, and also discussed whether or not he wants to remain with the club. (VHN)
• Are the chips starting to fall into place for Nazem Kadri, and will the Stanley Cup champion finally sign with just weeks to go until the puck drops on the 2022-23 campaign? (DHN)
• Connor Bedard is making noise at the 2022 World Juniors, and he’s on track to be the next big Connor in the NHL — right after that other guy… (Sportsnet)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• Oskar Magnusson and Haakon Hanelt have looked good so far in the WJC, showcasing their speed, two-way play and power on the forecheck. Magnusson is skating on Sweden’s fourth line, while Hanelt is on the third line for Germany. Both haven’t been able to find the scoresheet yet, but have several games ahead. Sweden is coming off a big 6-0 win over Austria on Friday, and Germany will face Switzerland on Saturday.
• Earlier this week, DaveArt sent out new goalie masks to four different teams, one of them being Washington. Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren are both clients of DaveArt. Clay Stevenson also recently got his new helmet from the artist.

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• Some scenes from the Ovechkin Cup:

   

  (Instagram/nastyashubskaya)

(Instagram/mashanahapetova)