Washington Capitals Media Day 2024 quotes that stood out
The Washington Capitals media day is underway and there's a lot of changes in the air
The Washington Capitals begun their 2024 media day on Thursday September 19 as we get closer and closer to the season beginning. Here are the top 3 quotes that stood out.
Before we do let's get to the first part, per Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network, Alex Ovechkin skated but is "a litle bit nicked up right now" according to coach Spencer Carbery. He added that the Caps need to be "smart" about the 39 year old's workload to start training camp.
Alex Ovechkin skated today but is “a little bit nicked up right now” according to Coach Carbery, who added that the #Caps need to be “smart” about the 39-year-old’s workload to start training camp.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) September 19, 2024
Jakub Vrana is motivated
The Caps made an interesting move at the end of August as Jakub Vrana was signed to a PTO as a chance to make the team. El-Bashir notes that after struggling the last few years, "I want to be part of this team. I love this team." V also added that winning the Stanley Cup in 2018 is "something that will always be stuck in your heart... but we also have to look forward.
Jakub Vrana, on a PTO in #Caps camp, says his off-the-ice struggles are a thing of the past and he aims to prove he can still play in the NHL. “I want to be part of this team. I love this team.” Winning the Cup is “something that will always be stuck in your heart…but we also…
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) September 19, 2024
The on ice activities of course kicked off with the skate test and in case you missed it, El-Bashir along with John Walton and the Monumental squad previewed the upcoming season and you can stream it right here.
Welcome back, @JohnWaltonPxP! 😍
— Monumental Sports Network (@MonSportsNet) September 19, 2024
Watch him and @Tarik_ElBashir talk all things @Capitals on Rink Report LIVE from #ALLCAPS Media Day.
🔗: https://t.co/5fsgQFtg4T pic.twitter.com/YO8JqX38jx
Quotes from John Carlson on the GR8 Chase
John Carlson was asked if it was possible that if Ovechkin could break Wayne Gretzky's record. Carlson said this:
Yeah. I think we all would love that. You know, for him, the weight off his shoulders. For us, 40 goal scorers don't grow on trees. I think one thing I've learned is not to doubt him and his goal scoring capability. So we'd love him to get that this year.
Carlson skated with Jakob Chychrun in this morning's session. He added this on the Great Eight
I think it's just a monumental kind of that we don't really (comprehend). Being around him so much you don't really think about it as much as maybe the outside world does, but at one point, I'm sure we'll all catch up to that.
“It’s great to take on new challenges and I think we’re a lot better team after the changes. I think that’s exciting for us.”
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 19, 2024
John Carlson speaks to the media during Training Camp after a busy offseason full of trades and transactions.#ALLCAPS | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/jQNcVlnNDR
Ovechkin still takes things one shift and one game at a time which is exactly what a captain does. Carlson added the following:
I don't know how it couldn't honestly. I think we can all, I'm sure you asked him, some days he might give you something. Some days you might say it's not, and maybe that's true, but as anybody could imagine, there's a lot that weighs on him every day, being the captain of the team, being the Hall of Fame that he is, and even being in the conversation of that, you know, every time he steps on the ice, everyone's thinking the same thing: 'Is he gonna score?' And if he doesn't, it's, 'Yeah, not a good shift, right?' So that's a tough line to live on all the time. I guess rightfully so, with the success of his career, but I think everyone's human.
Life without Oshie
With the big and sad news of T.J. Oshie on LTIR quotes were strong around media day about the type of teammate Oshie was on and off the ice.
Nic Dowd said per Sammi Silber of The Hockey News:
He brought a lot of intangibles... it's a little quieter. We're going to have to step up and fill that energy void. That's strictly off ice, but on ice, he's a leader, he's a guy that can play in the top six.
Dowd on being without Oshie:
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) September 19, 2024
“He brought a lot intangibles… it’s a little quieter. We’re going to have to step up and fill that energy void. That’s strictly off ice, but on ice, he’s a leader, he’s a guy that can play in the top-6:”
Ovechkin of course is up there in age too as he turned 39 the other day and he accklongldged that so hold your horses and strap along for the ride of a lifetime.
Alex Ovechkin’s full media availability following Day 1 of Training Camp at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.#ALLCAPS | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/S9LaR0bc5q
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 19, 2024
This lineup could be everchanging with the new names the team brought in so I wouldn't overthink too hard on Ovechkin leaving practice early and even if he is ruled out in the first preseason game which is this Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Here's the schedule for Friday September 20 if you plan on attending. Group A practices at the Arlington Rink at 9 a.m. before shifting to the Capitals Rink at 9:35 a.m. Group B will practice at 11:45 a.m. in the Arlington Rink before shifting o the Capitals rink at 12:20 p.m. Group C practices on the Arlington Rink at 1:45 p.m. on the Alrington Rink while they shift to the Capitals Rink at 2:20 p.m.
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