The Capitals’ offseason shuffle is starting to look a lot more like a team again.
A few more familiar faces and one notable prospect showed up for informal skates in Washington on Thursday, with Pierre-Luc Dubois, Logan Thompson and Matt Roy joining the group, according to Monumental Sports Network’s Tarik El-Bashir. Prospect Lynden Lakovic was out there too, another sign his recovery and ramp-up are moving in the right direction.
Lakovic, Washington’s 2025 first-round pick, spent most of last season on the shelf after surgery. He was already back on the ice in a non-contact jersey at development camp, but now he seems to be pushing toward full contact and a full workload by training camp next month. The 20-year-old has aged out of juniors and is expected to take the next step with the AHL’s Hershey Bears this season.
He’s not the only one getting work in before camp opens. Martin Fehervary and new signee Alex Tuch have already been skating and practicing at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, and San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Giles, a Chevy Chase, Maryland native, has also been part of the sessions. John Carlson, who signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning this offseason, was skating in D.C. earlier this summer as well.
Goaltending Scott Murray is helping run the skates, keeping the offseason work moving along.
More Capitals are expected to join in over the next few weeks, including captain Alex Ovechkin, who is expected back in early September.
In Other News...
Nic Dowds Impact On Washington Just Got Even More Meaningful
Nic Dowds value to the Capitals has always gone beyond the faceoff circle and the penalty kill, but this latest off-ice effort gives his local impact a deeper meaning. Through Dowds Crowd, Dowd and his wife Paige have built a way for children with autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing needs to experience live hockey in a setting that feels more welcoming, and that mission has now turned into real support for the community around Capital One Arena.
The $30,000 raised by the group has been donated to KultureCity and So Kids SOAR, two local organizations that focus on sensory accommodations and adaptive sports programming. The money will help fund a new sensory room and sensory bags at Capital One Arena, while also supporting adaptive sports opportunities for children with disabilities, making Dowds outreach feel like a lasting part of the Capitals presence in Washington. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin's Red Wings Status Suddenly Carries More Tension Than Expected
The contract picture around the Capitals is getting a little more interesting as camp creeps closer, with Washington still working through extension talks with a pair of pending restricted free agents while the rest of the league settles into its own roster drama. General manager Chris Patrick has made it clear the club would like to get matters resolved before the season begins, a familiar kind of preseason housekeeping that can still linger if the timing does not line up cleanly.
For a team trying to keep its focus on the ice, the work involving Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif is part of the background noise that can become a storyline in a hurry if it drags on. Patrick has said he is hopeful something gets done before opening night, even if there is no guarantee the situation will break that way, and that uncertainty is enough to keep the discussion alive as Washington heads into the final stretch of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Face Early Pressure To Protect Two Young Pieces
The Capitals are already feeling the ripple effects of an offseason that reshaped their roster and cap picture, and now the front office is moving to secure two young pieces before anything gets messy. Restricted free agents Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif are both in extension discussions with Washington as the club tries to keep control of its own talent while avoiding unnecessary drama on the market.
General manager Chris Patrick confirmed talks are underway and made it clear the team would like to wrap things up soon. For a team still balancing its long-term build with the realities of the salary cap, getting ahead of the situation matters, especially with young players who are part of the organizations next wave. [Read more 🡒]