The hockey-starved get a reprieve next week when the Capitals host their annual rookie development camp at Kettler Iceplex. The dates run from July 9 to July 14 with practices and/or scrimmages every day. It will also be the first chance for local fans to check out 2012 first-round draft picks Filip Forsberg and Tom Wilson. Stan Galiev, one of the organization’s more intriguing prospects, will be there, too.
New Caps center Mike Ribeiro will meet fans and sign autographs at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday before the final scrimmage. Interested to get a look at Cam Schilling, the defenseman signed out of Miami (Ohio) University in the spring. He fared well for AHL Hershey in his first pro experience. Two players from last year’s camp (Dmitry Orlov and the since-traded Cody Eakin) participated last summer and saw ice time with Washington.
In the past Nicklas Backstrom, Marcus Johansson, Karl Alzner, Braden Holtby and John Carlson have all done the same, among other. Evgeny Kuznetsov was here and is now one of the world’s top prospects at age 19 – though signed with his KHL club for the next two seasons. Forsberg is still just 17 so he won’t arrive as quickly as some of those others. Wilson, a huge physical presence, still has a raw skillset. He will need some time, too.
Not to play the role of Debbie Downer here, but it’s possible this will be the last competitive environment for the organization for a while given the uncertain status of the NHL’s collective bargaining negotiations. Might be a good idea to get out of the summer heat and check out some of these prospects. Attendance has been impressive for several years now, especially on the final Saturday, which includes a Fan Fest and the annual equipment sale. From the team’s release, here’s the schedule and the tentative roster.
Capitals Summer Development Camp Media Availability Schedule
Monday, July 9 Group A & Group B at 4 p.m. (approximately)
Tuesday, July 10 Group A & Group B at 4:15 p.m. (approximately)
Wednesday, July 11 Group A at 12:15 p.m.; Group B at 12:30 p.m. (approximately)
Thursday, July 12 Group A & Group B at 4:15 p.m. (approximately)
Friday, July 13 Group A & Group B at 11:15 a.m. (approximately)
Saturday, July 14 Mike Ribeiro at 11:15 a.m.; Group A & Group B at 12:30 p.m. (approximately)
2012 Washington Capitals Development Camp
July 9-14 * Kettler Capitals Iceplex * Arlington, Va.
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate 2011-12 Team Acquired
17 Chandler Stephenson LW 5’11” 190 4/22/94 Regina (WHL) Draft ’12
24 Riley Barber RW 5’11” 194 2/7/94 USNDTP (USHL) Draft ’12
28 Jaynen Rissling D 6’4” 223 9/21/93 Calgary (WHL) Draft ’12
38 Garrett Haar D 5’11” 190 8/16/93 W. Michigan University (NCAA) Draft ‘11
39 Filip Forsberg C 6’1” 188 8/13/94 Leksand (SWE-2) Draft ’12
40 Steffen Soberg G 5’11” 187 8/6/93 Manglerud (Norway) Draft ‘11
43 Tom Wilson RW 6’3” 205 3/29/94 Plymouth (OHL) Draft ’12
45 Cameron Schilling D 6’2” 182 10/7/88 Miami Univ. (NCAA)/Hershey (AHL) FA ’12
49 Stanislav Galiev RW 6’1” 186 1/17/92 Saint John (QMJHL) Draft ’10
51 Patrick Koudys D 6’2” 198 11/15/92 RPI (NCAA) Draft ‘11
53 Travis Boyd C/RW 5’10” 185 9/14/93 Univ. of Minnesota (NCAA) Draft ’11
54 Greg Burke LW 6’3” 205 5/1/90 New Hampshire (NCAA) Draft ’08
56 Patrick Wey D 6’2” 205 3/21/91 Boston College (NCAA) Draft ’09
58 Connor Carrick D 5’11” 187 4/13/94 USNDTP (USHL) Draft ’12
59 Christian Djoos D 5’11” 158 8/6/94 Brynas Jr. (SWE-Jr.) Draft ’12
62 Thomas Di Pauli LW 5’11” 188 4/29/94 USNDTP (USHL) Draft ’12
72 Caleb Herbert C 5’10 185 10/12/91 Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) Draft ’10
78 Brandon Anderson G 5’11” 170 7/13/92 Brandon (WHL) FA ’10
79 David Civitarese C/RW 6’2” 204 6/25/89 Colorado Col. (NCAA)/Hershey (AHL)FA ’12
84 T.J. Syner C/LW 5’9” 173 10/13/88 U. of Mass. (NCAA)/Hershey (AHL) FA ’12
96 Taylor Stefishen LW 6’0” 185 8/15/90 University of Calgary (CIS) Trade ‘11
98 Barry Almeida LW 5’8” 183 11/20/88 Boston Col. (NCAA)/Hershey (AHL) FA ’12
* Roster and schedule subject to change
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