Washington Capitals as Star Wars characters

Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Niskanen: Lando Calrissian

Another obscure reference. Lando Calrissian was known as the guy who betrayed Han Solo, but also known as the guy who winds up saving Princess Leia and leading the attack on the second Death Star. He went from being hated among Star Wars fans to being beloved. Matt Niskanen has gone a similar path during his career. He went from being hated as a member of the Penguins to seeing that light and joining the Washington Capitals.

Lando was slimy guy when he was bad. Niskanen was thought of similarly as a member of the Penguins. But once he came over to the good side, Washington Capitals fans and players have embraced him. They appreciate what he does and he’ll go down in history on a positive note.

Capitals fans might have hated Niskanen at first. He seemed like a shady guy and it almost felt like he was a mole sent by the Penguins to destroy the Caps. With his heroics and his stellar play for the Caps, Capitals fans are willing to overlook and ignore his past transgressions.

It’s fitting that Niskanen is Lando Calrissian. Lando’s a bit underrated as a Star Wars character and is the only character who changes from evil to good in the first six Star Wards movies. Niskanen’s a bit underrated too. It suits him well.

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