Sammi’s Daily: Capitals, Tom Wilson Updates, J.T. Miller Trade Talk Returns

The Washington Capitals are still making their way back to the District and taking the ice ahead of training camp in September, and several names have taken steps to improve.

Lars Eller, Hendrix Lapierre and more took the ice on Friday with fine-tune their skating going into the season with one of the best coaches around. Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin, who plans to return from Russia within the next few weeks, spoke a little bit more on this past season and the upcoming year.

All the while, free agency and trade rumors continue to brew, and talk concerning a certain star Vancouver Canucks center has picked back up again.

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

Washington Capitals Links

• Several Capitals took the ice with Wendy Marco on Friday to work on their skating, and several have made major strides forward with her — literally. (WHN)
• Alex Ovechkin shared more about his call with Evander Kane last season and what he thinks of Washington’s new additions this summer. (WHN)
• This right here is why the Capitals should be excited for Dylan Strome — just watch. (WHN)

NHL Links

• Per Vancouver Hockey Now’s Rob Simpson, two Metropolitan Division teams are in on J.T. Miller, and the chatter is starting up again. Vancouver Canucks (VHN)
• Phil Kessel ripped the Arizona Coyotes apart in his Vegas Golden Knights press conference… (WHN)
• Mat Barzal’s actually a pretty good actor. Like, maybe Oscar-worthy? New York Islanders (NYIHN)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• No, I don’t think that Washington is one of the two Metropolitan Division teams in on Miller. Miller’s name had previously been linked to the Capitals, but they already made upgrades this summer and likely want to see how things play out with what they have rather than bring in a big-name center before the season. Plus, there’s not really space to do so — cap or lineup wise — unless you’re just instantly trading away Eller.
• Shout out to new Washington video coordinator Emily Engel-Natzke for speaking at the Women in DC Sports panel on Nationals Ladies Night on Friday. Engel-Natzke is the first full-time woman coach in NHL history.

Shoutout to @E_EngelNatzke on representing the Caps last night as part of the Women in DC Sports panel for @Nationals Ladies Night!#ALLCAPS x #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/5gMQyYisj7

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 27, 2022

• Taylor Pischke and Tom Wilson are getting married in D.C., and the date appears to be this weekend. Wilson also just got his haircut in Ballston.