The NHL released its schedule for the 2007-08 regular season on Wednesday.
The Capitals will open on the road against Southeast Division rival Atlanta on Friday, Oct. 5. The home opener is the next night against Carolina. Those are two of 32 games against Southeast Division opponents. The Capitals play another 40 games against teams from the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic and Northeast Divisions and 10 against Western Conference teams.
Highlights include four different homestands of at least four games — one of those a five-game stretch from Jan. 9-19. Washington hosts reigning NHL MVP Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 20 and March 9.
The toughest road trip comes between March 18-29 when the Verizon Center hosts the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Caps play six straight road games during that stretch, the last four against division opponents.
VARLAMOV IN THE FOLD: The Capitals also announced the signing of 19-year-old Russian goalie Simeon Varlamov to a three-year rookie contract. The 6-foot-1, 183-pounder was a first-round draft pick in 2006, the 23rd overall. He will again spend this season in Russia, although he is not currently under contract to a team in the Russian Super League. Varlamov spent last season with Yaroslavl, where he was 15-7-6 with a 2.12 goals-against-average.
“I’m happy to sign my first NHL contract with the Capitals,” Varlamov said through a translator. “Next season I need to get tougher mentally and physically and improve my English, too. Then when I come back, whether that’s at the AHL or the NHL level, I’ll be ready.”
GETTING A LOOK: Wednesday was the first day of the Capitals’ summer developmental camp for the organization’s top prospects and recent draft picks at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington.
The coaching staff conducted morning workouts and, in the afternoon, held the first of four scrimmages scheduled through Saturday that are open to the public.
“My focus is more on the players I can sort of project are closer to being here,” said Capitals coach Glen Hanlon. “But it’s a great opportunity for evaluation to see a lot of the players who were at Hershey at the end of last season and coming through our system.”
