PHOTOS: Caps Development Camp Scrimmage

Hockey in July? Yes, definitely. I think it is safe to say that the DC area is a "hockey town." There were an estimated 3000 fans at Kettler Iceplex to watch the Washington Capitals Development Camp wrap up on Saturday, July 16, 2011 with an intrasquad scrimmage and Fan Fest. [DevCampGuide]

Head Coach Bruce Boudreau and GM George McPhee addressed the media after the scrimmage as well as several

"Nothing like hockey in July"

The players shake hands after the final scrimmage of Development Camp. (C.Nichols/Caps News Network)

Early this week at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, there were some comments and debate in the media room about how much Washington Capitals fans were going to pay attention to the upcoming development camp. After all, the week-long series of practice and scrimmages featured -- for the most part --

Capitals Re-Sign D Karl Alzner

The Washington Capitals announced today they re-signed defenseman Karl Alzner to a two-year deal.  According to reports, the 22-year old will make $1.3 million in 2011-12 and $1.27 million in 2012-13, a total of $2.57 for the two-year deal.
If the reports are correct, this is an absolute steal for GM George McPhee and makes us wonder why it took so long for the deal to get hammered out.  This is

Group B Wins Scrimmage; Sjogren, Galiev Impress; Perreault Re-signs

The first intrasquad scrimmage of the Washington Capitals development camp went pretty much as expected.  It was -- for the most part -- sloppy and disjointed, with most of the goals coming off scrums instead of being the result of skill.  But we saw an older prospect look like the more experienced hockey player that he is, we saw the offensive prodigy struggle to stay on his skates at times, and

Photos: Caps Development Camp Day 1

Monday, July 11, 2011 was the first day of Development Camp at Kettler Iceplex for the Washington Capitals. Camp will continue through Saturday, July 16 ending with Fan Fest and an intrasquad scrimmage. [DevCampGuide]

Several players talked with the media as well as Coach Bruce Boudreau, GM George McPhee and Associate Goaltending Coach Olie Kolzig. Centers Cody Eakin and Mattias Sjogren are in a

Centers Eakin and Sjogren in Battle to Impress Caps Brass

Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee said it best Monday, on opening day of the Caps summer development camp, "I think all our positions are filled and we have good depth and we're ready to go."
Coach Bruce Boudreau agreed.  "There's not a lot of holes to fill. There might be that one hole right now."
That "one hole" Boudreau referred to is his third line center.  As the NHL

Changes to Capitals Roster: Going from Finesse to Physical

GM George McPhee has been a busy guy in the last couple of weeks.
In:  Mattias Sjogren, Troy Brouwer, Jeff Halpern, Joel Ward, Roman Hamrlik and Tomas Vokoun.
Out:  Matt Bradley, Boyd Gordon, Semyon Varlamov, Tyler Sloan and Eric Fehr.  In addition to Tomas Fleischmann and David Steckel last season.  So far.
That's a quarter of the team's active roster juggled since McPhee re-upped Brooks Laich

Capitals Trade Fehr to Jets

The Washington Capitals today announced they traded winger Eric Fehr to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 entry draft and RW Danick Paquette.
The move clears $2.2 million off the Capitals' salary cap for the upcoming season.
Paquette, 20, had 13 goals and seven assists with 179 penalty minutes for the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL last season.  He was originally

Capitals D-Camp Roster and Schedule Out

The Washington Capitals announced the roster and schedule for next week's Development Camp, held at Kettler Capitals Iceplex July 11-16. The roster is highlighted with some of the brightest prospects the organization has to offer, including forwards Mattias Sjogren and Cody Eakin and defenseman Dmitri Orlov.
The 6’2”, 214-pound Sjogren (23) spent last season with Farjestad of the Swedish Elite

Making Room for Alzner

The Washington Capitals today announced they signed winger Troy Brouwer to a two-year deal, reported to be worth $2.35 million per year.  That's certainly a reasonable contract for a guy that's scored 39 goals the last two years combined, not to mention the physical aspect he brings to the game.
That leaves the Caps with one priority: Signing Karl Alzner.
With the Brouwer signing the Caps are

McPhee Drops Another Bombshell; Inks Vokoun to One-Year Deal

Just when you thought GM George McPhee was "done" making deals this off-season, he goes off and does it again.  Mid-day Saturday, on his birthday no less, McPhee signed veteran goalie Tomas Vokoun to a one-year deal, reported to be worth $1.5 million.  It was another stunning move for an organization that has now turned over a quarter of their active roster in a week's time.
Less than 24 hours

Busy Day at Kettler

CAPITALS SIGN VETERAN FREE AGENTS HALPERN, HAMRLIK AND J.WARD
The news rolled in quicker than most people could keep up with.
Jeff Halpern returned to the team he grew up with and Boyd Gordon walked.  Then, in a shock to everyone's system, Semyon Varlamov was traded away.  There was a brief lull.  Then, all hell broke loose. 
Roman Hamrlik.  Joel Ward.  A couple of veteran scorers for Hershey. 

Capitals Trade Varlamov to Colorado

Ending their involvement in the strange saga surrounding goaltender Semyon Varlamov, the Washington Capitals traded his rights to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Colorado's first round pick in the 2012 entry draft, plus a second round pick in either the 2012 or 2013 draft.  TSN reports the Capitals have their choice of the second round picks.
Colorado's first round pick could very well be

Capitals Bring Back Area Native Jeff Halpern

The NHL free agent frenzy started at noon today and it didn't take too long for the Washington Capitals to make a mark, signing veteran center, and Potomac, MD native, Jeff Halpern to a one-year deal, reported to be worth $825,000, according to TSN.
Halpern, who started his career with the Caps, will center the fourth line and be used as a faceoff specialist, much in the same role that UFA Boyd