Weekend Wrap: Ovechkin Update, World Juniors Drama, Capitals Fun Times

Although the 2022-23 season gets closer, the offseason is still going strong — and heating up in more ways than one for the Washington Capitals and other teams around the NHL.

Alex Ovechkin had a busy, fun few days full of more summer hockey tournaments, as did Dmitry Orlov. All the while, the World Juniors continue to roll on in Edmonton and are filled with drama and intensity. And, of course, free agency is still very much alive, and stars are still looking for their next landing spots.

Here is everything to know from an action-packed weekend for D.C. and the rest of the league:

Washington Capitals Links

• Ovechkin hosted the annual Ovechkin Cup and had a blast skating with social media stars, Orlov, Ilya Kovalchuk and more, and he also dulled out quite a bit of cash for goalie equipment for his team. (WHN)
• Meanwhile, the Great 8 and Orlov also spoke on Ilya Samsonov and their thoughts on the end of his time in Washington.
• Ovechkin and Orlov also plan to return from the U.S. in the coming weeks, and don’t expect trouble leaving Russia.
• Capitals prospect Haakon Hanelt is continuing to impress and had a beautiful game-winning goal for Germany on Saturday.
• Tom Wilson also shared fun stories about strange autograph requests and what he finds odd to sign. (WHN)

NHL Links

• Mason McTavish and Kent Johnson got into a heated exchange and small fight at Team Canada‘s WJC practice. (WHN)
• From Phil Kessel to Evan Rodrigues, there are still several top NHL free agents in need of homes with the start of the season just weeks away. (PHN)
• J.T. Miller had quite a few things to say about the NHL trade rumors that have followed him over the last several months. (VHN)
• Could Milan Lucic return to the Boston Bruins as they get the band back together? (BHN)
• Here are the NHL’s top-20 centers heading into 2022-23. (NHL.com)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• Oskar Magnusson has been promoted to the top line for Sweden after starting the tournament on the fourth line.
• A great mailbag from The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir, where he explains how it seems unlikely that Nicklas Backstrom will be back for the regular season. Given his surgery, it needs to be rehabilitated properly and fully before any attempted return to game action. Wishing him the best.
• In personal news, closed out my hockey season yesterday – shout out to my amazing teammates for a heck of a campaign. We fought until the end.
• Lars Eller coached for the first time with skating coach Wendy Marco and helped out with Coldrush Hockey at Ashburn Ice House. Shoutout to No. 20 for giving back and following in his father, Olaf’s, footsteps as a coach.
• Expect an update on Carl Hagelin soon, as he’s scheduled to have that final checkup in August to see how he’s progressed and give a timeline on a possible return.