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Sammi’s Daily: Capitals Connections, Stanley Cup Media Day & NHL Rumors

Published

2 years ago

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It was a busy day around the NHL, as the Stanley Cup festivities kicked off the Mile High City with media day, the NHL rumor mill continued to churn and the Washington Capitals saw some familiar faces make some strides.

Here’s a wrap-up of the latest news and notes from across the NHL:

Capitals Links:

  • Andre Burakovsky is going for his second Stanley Cup and is the first member of the Capitals Cup-winning club to get another shot at a title. Here’s what Burakovsky had to say about Washington’s 2018 run and how he’s writing a new story with the Avalanche. (WHN)
  • Speaking of the Capitals’ Cup-winning club, former Washington bench boss Barry Trotz will get free beer for life if he takes over the helm for the Winnipeg Jets. (WHN)
  • Here’s a look back at Dmitry Orlov’s 2021-22 campaign, where he appeared to take a couple of key steps forward. (Japers’ Rink)
  • And, in the Washington prospect department, here’s more on how goaltender Chase Clark did this past season. (NoVA Caps)

NHL Links:

  • Former Capitals bench boss and ex-Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy will take over as the new coach of the Vegas Golden Knights. He went just eight days without a gig (Vegas Hockey Now).
  • Speaking of Boston, the team isn’t looking at buyouts as the Bruins faces a busy offseason ahead of them.
  • Looking at the NHL rumor mill, Alex DeBrincat is one of the biggest names on the market. Here’s what a potential trade may look like for the Hawks.
  • Logan Cooley had a fun 1-on-1 draft interview with our Marco D’Amico, and had an interesting answer for his favorite team: Washington. And of course, the player he idolized? Alex Ovechkin.

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

  • The John Gibson trade talk has been debunked, as Gibson’s agent Kurt Overhardt told Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos there was no truth to the Anaheim Ducks netminder requesting or discussing a trade with the club. So, any potential for him to come to D.C. appears said and done for now.
  • Taking that into account, there’s still work to do for the Capitals in net as they face a tough decision between Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek. We discussed the Capitals goaltending situation recently and which goalie the team may take over the other. If I had to choose one for Washington to hold onto, it’d be Vanecek. But that’s just me.
  • Happy birthday to former Capitals winger and Stanley Cup champion Devante Smith-Pelly and longtime Hershey Bears forward Joel Rechlicz. And, looking back at Rechlicz’s career, today is also the 12-year anniversary of the Bears’ Calder Cup championship.

  • Also, stick taps to Jake Thibeault. The former Milton Academy player suffered a devastating spinal cord injury during a game that left him in a wheelchair. However, after nine months of rehabilitation and hard work, he kept his promise and walked across to accept his diploma at his high school graduation. Absolutely inspiring.

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