Riley Barber (Pittsburgh, PA) has been playing impressive hockey at the Washington Capitals Summer Development Camp.  Barber, 18, was the Washington Capitals' 6th round pick, 167th overall, at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft held in June in his hometown.  The 6', 190 lb right winger spent last season with the US National Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan, posting 20 goals, 35 points, and 85 penalty minutes in 56 games.  He also won the USHL championship, the Clark Cup, in 2011 with the Dubuque Fighting Saints.  Barber's father Don played 115 NHL games between 1988 and 1992.  Don Barber also played college hockey for Bowling Green just 3 years after Capitals General Manager George McPhee did, and Riley has also chosen to play his college hockey in Ohio for the Miami Redhawks next season. 

Barber's past coaches rave about him.  Danton Cole says “he’s got a pro shot, another kid with a real high compete level and hates to lose, his battle level is real good.  He does a lot of things, he’s kind of a pro winger, he gets pucks out, he understands the subtleties of the game, he’s got a good physical aspect to his game.  As I said, he’s got an NHL shot, he’s a goal scorer.”

Here is his interview from the Washington Capitals Summer Development Camp:

How did playing youth hockey in Pittsburgh shape you?

When I started playing, my dad always coached me.  We had a great group of guys, J.T. Miller, Vince Trochek, all those guys turned out to be great players, turned out to have good careers already. We had a great team.  When it was time for me to move on because they wanted me to play down on the ‘94s and not play on the ‘93s, it was time for me to move up to Detroit and take on tougher competition as my own age group.

Do you consider yourself more of a Pittsburgh or Detroit guy?

More of a Pittsburgh guy, for sure, because that’s where I grew up.  I have a lot more friends in Michigan, but Pittsburgh I just have a strong passion for because that’s where I was born.

How was it to see your former Pittsburgh Hornets teammates J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck get drafted last year? Did it inspire you?

Oh yeah, for sure.  I texted both of them and said congrats and they did the same for me this year. It’s funny, how each path a player goes, your buddies.  It’s kinda cool to see it unfold, see where everybody goes.

What was behind your decision to go to the National Team after winning a championship in your first season with Dubuque?

It was a family thing. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in the Clark Cup playoffs.  It was only a family thing, being closer to home, and it kinda worked out.  That was the only reason.

How has your junior career prepared you for your upcoming college career at Miami?

I think it has prepared me tremendously.  I stated off in Dubuque with Jim Montgomery and he really taught me a lot of the basics of being a pro, practicing hard.  I think it transformed me playing against bigger guys, stronger guys, older guys.  I think it has prepared me very well.

Matt Gajtka contributed to this report.  Follow Andy Green on Twitter here.

Photo by Chris Gordon, RMNB

As most people continue their summer lives this week, the Capitals continue to host their annual summer development camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.  The Caps hosted the third scrimmage of Camp on Thursday afternoon, and here are some observations from that game – which team Red, headlined by Stanislav Galiev, won handily at a 6-3 final score.

Goaltender Sergei Kostenko, a seventh round pick last month, was electric in his debut.  The Russian had been unable to get his visa situation sorted out and did not report to camp until Wednesday’s practice, so this was his first opportunity to play in a scrimmage environment.  Kostenko made some very acrobatic saves, and the only goal he allowed was on a net mouth scramble that he had no chance to stop.  He also stopped first round pick Filip Forsberg on a penalty shot, and made a flashy glove save immediately after that play.  “His athleticism, he’s very quick, very mobile,” said goalie coach Dave Prior of his impressions of the young Russian.  “Even when the game was going the other way, I didn’t see any change in his game, there was still compete.  He came across as a goalie.”  Again, the Capitals may have found themselves a good European goalie late in the draft.

David Vallorani, who recently graduated from UMass-Lowell, scored another two goals in the scrimmage and has been creating every time he gets the puck in open space.  A college free agent undrafted by any team, Vallorani is probably a long-shot to get a contract offer only because they rarely get handed out.  He certainly has the attention of the coaching staff.  “A point producing guy, very noticeable,” said head coach Adam Oates.

Defenseman Garrett Haar, who was drafted by the Capitals in 2011, played well in the scrimmage.  He made some nice defensive plays, especially along the boards in his own end, and makes good decisions with the puck on the first pass and in the offensive zone, as well.  Haar has three more years of eligibility left at Western Michigan, and, as he was named to the All-Rookie team in the CCHA last year, he seems to be a big part of the Broncos’ plans for the upcoming season.  He is obviously a ways away, but he seems steady enough.

Chandler Stephenson and Riley Barber have both impressed me with their physical play all week, especially in this past scrimmage.  Both are aggressive on the forecheck, using their speed to hunt the puck effectively.  Stephenson, a third round pick this June, and Barber, a sixth rounder, are hard nosed and strong on the puck once they get it and have the potential to be energy guys at the next level.  They are playing for Regina of the WHL and Miami (OH) next year to help further their development and will probably use most, if not all, of their developmental eligibility.

Filip Forsberg is going to be a good one.  He impressed me in the first practice I saw him in on Monday.  He was quiet since then, including below average scrimmages on Monday and Tuesday, as well.  The Swede performed a lot better Thursday, making good passes from his spot on the wing and producing some nice offensive opportunities for his teammates.  He broke free on a breakaway of his own in the first period but was stopped both on the play and on the penalty shot he was awarded following it.  Nevertheless, a much better day from the top ranked European skater in this past year’s draft.

Friday is an early day for the prospects, who have a scrimmage at 9:45 AM.  Development camp concludes with FanFest and another scrimmage Saturday morning at 10 AM.

The Washington Capitals have announced the signing of unrestricted free agent left winger Wojtek Wolski to a 1-year contract worth $600,000.  This is a significant pay cut from his previous contract (2 years, $7.6 million).

Wolski, 26, spent last season split between the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers, posting a combined 4 goals and 12 points in 31 games.  The 6'3, 215 lb winger also played a 6-game conditioning stint with the AHL Connecticut Whale, posting 3 goals and 5 points, as he rehabbed his ailing groin.  Over his career, Wolski has scored 95 goals and 258 points in 424 career NHL games, plus 8 goals and 17 points in 29 playoff games.  A native of Zabrze, Poland, Wolski grew up in Canada and played his junior hockey in the OHL.  He started his NHL career in 2005 with the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him 21st overall in 2004.  Wolski posted four straight seasons of at least 28 assists and 42 points beginning in 2006-07, culminating in a 23-goal, 65-point season in 2009-10 split between Colorado and Phoenix.  He spent 2010-11 split between Phoenix and New York, posting 12 goals and 35 poitns in 73 games. 

At this price tag and term, Wolski looks like a bridge to Stanislav Galiev on the second-line wing.  Wolski should be expected to be an effective offensive player when he can stay healthy.  At $600,000, Wolski does not need to score much to be worth the money, but this contract means he has a lot to prove to get back to seven figure money.  He should be well-motivated to produce. This is also reminiscent of the signings of Jeff Friesen in 2005 and Richard Zednik in 2006, second-line wingers who get hurt.

In other news, the New York Rangers have signed Capitals unrestricted free agent defenseman Sean Collins and the Phoenix Coyotes have signed Capitals unrestricted free agent forward Joel Rechlicz. 

Follow Andy Green on Twitter here.

Washington Capitals Development Camp invitee David Vallorani finished his four year career at University of Massachusetts Lowell in March. The 5'8, 180 lb forward scored 114 points in 149 career games, finishing fourth on the River Hawks' all-time games played list and 29th in scoring.  As a freshman, the Hamilton, Ontario, native earned Hockey East All-Rookie Team and Rookie of the Month honors.  He has also has been named Hockey East Player of the Week once in every season since his freshman year.  

Photo: Christian Abraham / Connecticut Post

A small, shifty playmaker, Vallorani made several excellent passes during the Camp's opening day scrimmage.  He displayed the vision and technical passing skills of a pro player, but still has a few things to work on.  He is the kind of player who should get a pro tryout contract this season.  Here is his interview:

You fell down in drills this morning, you had a giveaway in front of your goal, and you had two chances to score and missed.  How did it feel to finally score a goal in the scrimmage?

It felt really good. I hit the post on the breakaway there. I had a great pass from Riley Barber, and I just put my head down and fired it.

How would you describe your playing style?

I’m more of a playmaker.  I like to distribute the puck, so I look to pass more than I look to shoot.

What made you choose UMass Lowell over Canadian Major Junior?

Just the education part of it, I just wanted to get my education first while playing hockey, and then continue playing wherever I can after that

How have you developed since you first arrived at UMass Lowell?

Going the college route, you develop as a player tremendously from your freshman year to your senior year.   It’s more about developing your game, the defensive part of it, those aspects.  Once you become a senior, you’ve been through the ropes, you’re a role model for the younger guys as well.

What would you say was the biggest factor in you never missing a game in college?

I don’t know, I like to play hockey.  I had a couple bumps and bruises, but I overcame those and still played every game.

What's your goal for next season?

I just finished up at UMass Lowell, so I’m looking to play anywhere I can right now.

What do you hope to show at this camp?

I’m just looking to prove myself, show I that can be a good hockey player.

Follow Andy Green on Twitter here.

The Washington Capitals have announced a new ECHL affiliate for the 2012-13 season, the Reading Royals.  No longer affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, the Royals will replace the South Carolina Stingrays as the Caps' AA minor league development team.  The Royals and Bears have a long history of working together, being geographically so close to each other, but now the Capitals can officially draw on the Royals for their needs, as well. 

Image from ReadingEagle.com

Follow Andy Green on Twitter here.

Photo by Chris Gordon, RMNB

Monday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the first day of the team’s annual summer development camp kicked off with two on-ice practice sessions and an intrasquad scrimmage.  As such, I wanted to share with you some of the observations that I had from watching the scrimmage and the sessions.  It is important to know that we are only one day into camp, but they say your first impression is the best one.  “They” say so.

Cameron Schilling is polished.  This is to be expected from a player who has played four years of NCAA hockey and a handful of AHL games under his belt, but I really liked what I saw from him.  He is confident with the puck, good defensively, and a smooth skater.  George McPhee has singled him out as a player who he thinks could contribute next year, too.  “I had a little time in Hershey and hopefully that will allow me to come up and try and compete for a spot, but obviously nothing is guaranteed,” he said.  “You don’t know what’s going to happen from here to camp.  I’m just going to come up here and work as hard as I can to try and make the team.”

Stan Galiev is the most likely player at Camp to make the team out of the gate in 2012-13.  Despite missing almost the entire season in Saint John because of a wrist injury, Galiev had an electric playoffs for the Sea Dogs, helping them go all the way to the Memorial Cup.  He has also gotten better from last season despite his injury.  Stas has good puck skills, a great shot, and is hard to knock off the puck. He skates well and hard and though he still needs to fill out his frame a bit, that will come in time.  “Just to improve my game in every area, be stronger, make smart decisions with the puck, limit mistakes and try to make the team better,” he said. “[Making the Capitals] is my dream and I’ll work hard for it.”  I think he is more likely to be on the team only because the Capitals have so many lower end defensemen that could block Schilling and need a winger badly.

I don’t know what I’m missing, but I am not quite yet sold on Tom Wilson.  Wilson is a big player, standing 6’4” and weighing over 200 pounds, and he plays like it.  The Plymouth Whaler hits everything that moves and throws his body around with a reckless abandon that any NHL team needs; I applaud physical play.  But that’s all I see right now.  Wilson’s stick skills are not that great right now and his offensive totals in Plymouth were not impressive for a first round pick either (27 points).  He is a project, and could be worth it.  He needs a big season in Plymouth.

Filip Forsberg made obvious within his first 40 minutes on ice why he was ranked so high by Central Scouting.  He is big, smooth, skilled and a good skater and at only age 17 is poised for further growth across the board.  Despite not skating in awhile and being admittedly rusty, the Swede looked at home on the wing and made some very impressive passes, especially on the breakout.  He will play one more year in Sweden and add some badly needed muscle before potentially breaking the Washington roster in two years’ time, saying “it depends on how I play.  I just have to keep focusing on the next game and the next practice.”  He impressed me and I look forward to continuing to watch his development.

The National Team Development Program does a great job. Thomas Di Pauli has a relentless motor and never stops moving, even while waiting for drills.  He works hard in the corners and battles for pucks.  Riley Barber has good stick skills and speed and wowed me with an impressive move early in the scrimmage that set up a teammate for a great chance in front.  Connor Carrick is built and also extremely skilled, and needs some polish but lived up to his scouting report.  I like his offensive game and he is able to jump into the play and not get caught out of position on defense often, which is very good.  The Capitals may have tapped a nice mine of talent here.

Development camp continues through Saturday at Kettler and is free and open to the public.

The Washington Capitals begin their annual Summer Development Camp today.  Below is the schedule and the roster of Capitals prospects expected to attend.  The final roster will also include camp invitees and will be available today. 

Capitals Summer Development Camp On Ice Schedule
Monday, July 9 Group A on ice at 9 a.m.; Group B on ice at 10:45 a.m.; Scrimmage at 3 p.m.
Tuesday, July 10 Group A on ice at 9 a.m.; Group B on ice at 10:45 a.m.; Scrimmage at 2:45 p.m.
Wednesday, July 11 Group A on ice at 8:50 a.m.; Group B on ice at 10:50 a.m.
Thursday, July 12 Group B on ice at 9:15 a.m.; Group A on ice at 10:45 a.m.; Scrimmage at 3 p.m.
Friday, July 13 Scrimmage at 9:45 a.m.
Saturday, July 14 Scrimmage at 10 a.m.

Photo from KG's District

Monday morning, the newly minted main sheet at Kettler Capitals Iceplex will welcome the 2012 edition of Washington Capitals Development Camp.  This annual summer showcase allows fans, media, and the Capitals brass to evaluate players that have spent the previous season playing in Major Junior, the NCAA, the USHL, or a foreign professional league.  You know the biggest names that will be at this year’s camp: Stan Galiev, Filip Forsberg, and Tom Wilson among others.  But below, I take a look at some of the unheralded players that will be on hand this week – and could eventually make an impact in Capital red.

Patrick Wey, D – Wey, who spent last season playing for the National Champion Boston College Eagles, is a big defenseman who was picked in the fourth round by the Capitals in 2009.  The 6’3”, 210-lb Pittsburgh native played in every game he was able to this past year for head coach Jerry York; he unfortunately missed time earlier in the season with a bad ankle injury.  Overall, he posted two goals and five assists in 32 games while registering a plus-17 rating.  Wey is farther down on the depth chart organizationally, but certainly has the talent and physical tools to one day make an impact at the NHL level. He has been named an alternate captain heading into his senior season at BC.

Thomas Di Pauli, C – One of four United States Development Program players selected by the Capitals in June’s Entry Draft, Di Pauli is one of the most interesting.  Born in Italy, he moved to the States with his mother to pursue his hockey dream in his middle school years.  Playing last year for the Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he played in 55 games and posted 11 goals and ten assists for the U-18 World Champions.  He profiles as a two-way center who is aggressive on his skates.  “Nobody works harder,” says his former coach Matt Greason of USA Hockey.  “Tommy is a warrior, he just plays extremely hard,” added Danton Cole, his current coach.  “He’s a talented kid, he’s probably one of the best faceoff guys that we’ve had come through.  Just very tenacious, the kind of kid that you win championships with.” Di Pauli is committed to the University of Notre Dame.

Cameron Schilling, D – Signed as a college free agent by the Capitals in late March, Schilling played his college hockey at Miami (OH) and played in 144 career games for the Redhawks, posting 57 total points in four seasons.  After Miami’s season ended, he went to Hershey and played out the end of the year with the Bears, where he was held pointless in seven games and posted a minus-three rating.  Overall, Schilling profiles as a steady defensive defenseman who is smart in coverage.  He isn’t a very good passer, but can shoot well and could evolve into a shutdown partner for a guy like Dmitry Orlov.  It is also important to note that George McPhee mentioned his development as one of the reasons that the team let Dennis Wideman go.

Connor Carrick, D – Another product of the National Team Development Program, Carrick is an offensive defenseman.  Last year in 57 games in Ann Arbor, he posted eight goals and 21 points as well as 46 penalty minutes; he had two goals and two assists in the U-18 World Championships.  “He’s got sick skill,” says former coach Greason.  “He always went first in our shootouts, and that’s saying something.”  An NCAA scout compares him to Dennis Wideman, but with a “bit more upside; Carrick likes to hit and be physical.”  “Really good feet, extremely strong, moves the puck real well,” said Cole.  Carrick recently altered his commitment to the University of Michigan for next season, and will instead play for the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers to develop his game in Major Junior instead.  I doubt this will have a significant impact on his NHL ETA, but it seems in the early stages like the Capitals may have gotten a steal here.  He should be very fun to watch in camp.

Group A hits the ice for their first skate Monday at 9 AM. I will be at Kettler for all your needs.

Harry Hawkings is a college student credentialed to cover the Capitals for RtR.  Follow him on Twitter here.

Alex Ovechkin is taking in Wimbledon this week. Here he is seen cheering on Russian tennis star Maria Kirilenko as she takes on Poland's Agnieszka Radwańska on ESPN2 today.

In this photo, the television announcers asked, "Alex Ovechkin, what are you chewing there? I think it's like a bottle cap or something."

Follow Andy Green on Twitter here.

Photo by the Washington Post

George McPhee cannot win.

Heading in to free agency on July 1^st, many expected the Capitals’ General Manager to make a splash – like he has in almost every other free agency period during his tenure.

But as Sunday and Monday passed, only Joey Crabb, a bottom six forward, was added to the Washington player corps.  There was no winger to replace Alexander Semin.  There was no top-four defenseman.

And for some reason, the Capitals’ fan base is in an upoar.

July 1^st is a funny day almost every summer, but this summer, it had the potential to be extra funny.  With a ridiculously thin market, players like Dennis Wideman and Paul Gaustad had already signed crazy deals as potential unrestricted free agents.  As noon passed on Sunday, the same thing began happening again.

Jiri Hudler got four years, $16 million from Calgary.  P.A. Parenteau, who has one 20-goal season at age 29, got the same.  Jason Garrison, who had 33 points last season, received a six-year. $27.6 million deal with his hometown Vancouver Canucks – and left money on the table.

“It’s a very inflated market this summer, and there aren’t very many players and a lot of teams pursuing those players.” McPhee said at a press conference Monday afternoon.  “At some point you start inventing players, making them out to be more than you should.  Sometimes it’s better to sit back and stay out of it.  It’s not a great crop of free agents this summer anyway.

“We added a skill guy in [center Mike] Ribeiro, and we expect that move is going to make us a whole lot better.  We got a pretty good hockey team here.  I don’t anticipate a lot happening.  You gotta do what you think is right in terms of dollar and term.  With respect to certain players, if it doesn’t make sense, you don’t do it.  It’s gotta be right for us.”

Contrary to what seems to be popular belief, McPhee is absolutely correct to employ this course of action.

That’s not to say that this team doesn’t need to be improved.  Of course it does.  Marcus Johansson and Mathieu Perreault are not top-six wingers on a Stanley-Cup caliber team.  But spending big money over long term on players that are not worth said money and term is always a bad idea, especially with such a thin market.  There is little to be had, and the prices go up for mediocre players as a result.

“There’s not a lot of depth,” McPhee added.  “People talk about Parise and Suter, but then where does it go after that?  There’s not a lot to talk about.  Everybody wants to do something, but you’ve gotta be careful, because we all know what it’s like to feel like you’ve gotta do something, you do something, and the end of training camp or the end of October you look at the guy and say ‘why did we do that?’”

Read on by clicking here.