Sammi’s Daily Mix: Capitals Prepare For Start Of Camp, Canadiens React To Kotkaniemi

The Washington Capitals are ready to get to work, announcing their official start dates for rookie and training camp. Meanwhile, the rest of the NHL is preparing for its own season, including the Montreal Canadiens as they move forward without Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

Here are all the latest news and notes from across the league to catch up on.

Capitals Links

• Garnet Hathaway is coming off one of the best years of his career, and a lot of it has to do with his work ethic and physicality. Here’s how his play makes the Capitals’ fourth line among the best in the NHL. (Washington Hockey Now)
• Tom Wilson is back in the District. Ian Oland has more on No. 43 and his return to the ice for informal skates. (Russian Machine Never Breaks)
• What can we expect from Washington this season? J.J. Regan and Andrew Gillis make their bold Capitals predictions for 2021-22. (NBC Sports Washington)

NHL Links

• As the Habs look to follow up on their Stanley Cup Final appearance from 2020-21, they’ll make another run without their 2018 first-round pick following the NHL’s first successful offer sheet since 2007. James O’Brien shares more on how Nick Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli reacted to Kotkaniemi’s departure. (Pro Hockey Talk)
• TNT announced its NHL team for the upcoming season, and it’s pretty stacked. Here’s a look at their roster, which includes Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonette and a familiar Capitals friend and longtime reporter Tarik El-Bashir. (Associated Press)
• The Columbus Blue Jackets replaced assistant coach Sylvian Lefebvre with Steve McCarthy after Lefebvre refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Greg Wyshynski breaks down the team’s decision. (ESPN)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• Alex Ovechkin is in Chicago for the NHL Media Tour before returning to D.C. for training camp. Training camp starts with player physicals and testing on Wednesday, Sept. 22, and media day is Sept. 23.
• Washington will release its rookie camp roster later today. According to the team, the roster will include several prospects and recent draft picks, as well as undrafted and free-agent amateur players. Rookie camp is being held Sept. 18-20 at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
• The Carolina Hurricanes announced that they have reached a 100 percent vaccination rate across the board. According to Johns Hopkins data, one in 500 Americans has died from COVID-19.

Protecting ourselves. Protecting each other. Doing our part. pic.twitter.com/Xx1iQdtXyx

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) September 14, 2021