Updates on Nic Dowd and Tom Wilson
On Thursday the Washington Capitals returned to practice to prepare for a big second half of hockey ahead. Tom Wilson skated on the ice ahead of practice. He did not join the rest of his teammates for practice. Nic Dowd wasn’t there either.
Peter Laviolette said that Wilson is still day to day. Dowd is progressing toward a return and apparently he skated for a bit this morning. There is still no update on John Carlson as his return is “off in the distance.”
Here were the forward lines at practice while the defensive pairs were the same, per Sammi Silber of Washington Hockey Now:
Ovechkin-Strome-NAK
Sheary-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Johansson-Backstrom-Milano
Hathaway-Eller-Mantha
Nicolas Aube Kubel, Sergei Ovechkin’s favorite player, moved up to the top line with his dad Alex. Anthony Mantha moved down to the fourth line. When Wilson was on the ice, he was taking things slow and being cautious. Dowd remains on injured reserve after suffering a lower body injury on Jan. 16.
There is no further update on John Carlson at this time.
Today they practiced once again at MedStar Capitals Iceplex before they begin a back to back set to kick the second half into high gear. There were no changes to the lines. First up is the Boston Bruins. Then the Caps return home on Super Bowl Sunday when they’ll host the San Jose Sharks.
The Caps re signed forwards Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano during the All Star break. They extended the contracts of two of their top eight goal scorers this season. Strome’s deal is five years and $5 million AAV. Milano’s is a three year deal worth a $1.9 million AAV.
Strome is 25 and has recorded 36 points through 52 games with Washington which included 11 goals and 25 assists. Milano is 26 and has recorded 22 points in 40 games with the Caps this season with 11 goals and 25 assists.
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Wilson and Dowd did not practice today either. Wilson is still day to day while Dowd is on IR.