Rain followed the Washington Capitals to Annapolis, but it did little to slow a roster that has spent the offseason reshaping itself for a return to the Stanley Cup conversation.
With training camp cuts complete and the 23-man group now in place, Washington used a two-day stop in Maryland’s capital to step away from its usual routine before opening the regular season Friday against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
The visit wrapped Monday with an on-ice session at the U.S. Naval Academy, a setting that gave coach Spencer Carbery a chance to bring his finalized club together after a demanding camp.
“It was a chance, after a difficult camp and some hard roster choices, to get our final group together,” Carbery said. “We could get out of our normal surroundings, enjoy Annapolis and its history, have an off day, then come here and skate.”
New faces join a changed Capitals room
Washington was busy building its roster during the offseason. The Capitals acquired Alex Tuch from the Buffalo Sabres after he signed an eight-year, $84 million deal, and brought in Jordan Kyrou in a trade with the St. Louis Blues. Boone Jenner arrived on a four-year, $23 million contract, while defenseman Vincent Desharnais signed for four years and $16.8 million.
The Annapolis trip gave those newcomers time to meet teammates away from the rink. After taking buses from Arlington, Virginia, on Sunday morning, the club held a golf outing at Woodmere Country Club. Rain came and went, but the scramble-winning group consisted of Tom Wilson, Ilya Protas, Ryan Leonard and Dylan McIlrath.
The players later gathered to watch NFL games before a team dinner.
Defenseman Matt Roy said the transition has been smooth for the arrivals.
“A lot of guys are outgoing, so it seems easy for new players to come in,” Roy said. “Everyone is also trying to make that transition easier for them.”
Opening-night milestone for four younger Capitals
The roster also carries several players reaching a significant career marker. Protas, 20, and defenseman Cole Hutson, 20, each made brief NHL appearances late last season and are set to begin their first full campaigns in the League.
Forwards Ivan Miroshnichenko, 22, and Ethen Frank, 28, have both played games for Washington, but each has made an opening-night NHL roster for the first time.
Center Pierre-Luc Dubois said that moment should not be lost on the club’s younger players.
“You get only one first opening-night roster in your career,” Dubois said. “We are fortunate to play this game for a living, and we put in a lot of work to reach this level. For the young guys who have imagined this day their whole lives, it is special. We are all happy for them.”
Annapolis brings back Capitals memories
The Capitals have staged rookie camp in Annapolis since 2023, though Monday marked the NHL club’s first practice there since a preseason bonding visit ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, when Barry Trotz coached Washington.
The city also remains tied to one of the franchise’s more memorable events. Washington played the Toronto Maple Leafs at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in the 2018 NHL Stadium Series.
Wilson, beginning his 14th NHL season and still with the only organization he has known, recalled prior visits to Annapolis, including time spent with Naval Academy midshipmen in 2014.
“You go through your career so quickly, then you come back somewhere and realize you have been there before,” Wilson said. “The outdoor game, the team events over the years, the fan support around here — there are a lot of good memories.”
Much has changed since those earlier trips. Wilson said Alex Ovechkin looked across the table during Sunday’s dinner and noted that the two are now the only Capitals remaining from Washington’s 2018 Stanley Cup championship roster.
Building toward Friday in Carolina
The Capitals missed the playoffs last season after going 43-30-9, but the offseason additions have raised expectations around a team intent on becoming a serious Cup threat again.
Wilson believes the work away from hockey can matter as much as the talent assembled on paper.
“When you get away together, there are no distractions,” Wilson said. “You are simply spending time with each other. Even after two days, it feels like this can be a great year. If we are one of the closest groups in the League, I think we can be one of the best teams in it.”
“There is a lot of talent and skill here. If we come together, we can be a dangerous team.”
