Thursday Caps Clips: Is Penalty Kill Now

Your savory breakfast links:

• Out to Kettler we go for updates from Day 4 of training camp:
  • After getting his first taste of an NHL training camp - and impressing just about everyone around him - Tom Wilson was reassigned to Plymouth yesterday. [Dump 'n Chase, Caps, WaPo, WTOP]
  • From Alex Ovechkin, right-winger... to Alex Ovechkin, penalty-killer? Coach Oates says yes. [CSNW, DSP, WaPo, CBS Sports, Wash Times (and again)]
  • Continuing with the running theme of "everyone get involved", the coaching staff is giving the defensemen the green (...heh) light to jump into the play more... [WaPo, Wash Times]
  • ...and they want the goalies to play the puck more, too. Because the short, sprint-to-the-finish season won't induce enough heart attacks as it is. [CSNW]
  • Leftover thoughts on yesterday's intra-organizational scrimmage between the Caps and Reading Royals, including some great pictures. [Puckhead's Thoughts, Caps Basketball]
• Here's something novel to consider - for the first time in over a year, Saturday night could feature healthy versions of both Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom. Wow. [Sick Unbelievable]
• It's not 100% certain at this point that NHLers will even be participating at Sochi, but Ovechkin remains determined to be there - and now he's got the honor of carrying the torch. [rsport.ru, AllHockey, Puck Daddy, Alex Ovetjkin, RMNB, WaPo, Wash Times, CSNW]
• Speaking of Ovechkin in Russia, check out the best of the Great 8 32 from his time in the KHL. [Sport-Express]
• The airwaves have been packed with Caps players and brass since the start of camp - here's the latest:
  • Karl Alzner checks in with the Junkies... [106.7 the Fan (audio)]
  • ...while Marcus Johansson is Inside the Locker Room... [ESPN980 (audio)]
  • ...as is Adam Oates... [ESPN980 (audio)]
  • ...and Braden Holtby chats with LaVar and Dukes. [106.7 the Fan (audio)]
• With just a few days remaining until the season officially gets underway, the team, division and league previews are a-flying. [Sportsnet, Fox News, The Rat Trick, Caps Across the Pond]
• A look forward at the forwards... [DSP]
• ... and back (but forward) at the guys behind them. [Peerless]
• And don't sleep on the new-look Capitals just yet, a few people out there like what they see in this scrappy DC team. [Sportsnet, NHL]
• A new CBA is (finally) in place, but at what cost? [CapsCast]
• After living it up a bit too much earlier in his career, Mike Ribeiro is looking to settle down and make a home for his family in DC... [NBCW, Wash Times]
• ...while Joey Crabb is looking to forge a role with the Caps... [WaPo]
• ...and Brooks Laich is just looking forward to legally bodychecking someone again. [RMNB]
• Looking ahead to the big season opener and Saturday's opponent, the Tampa Bay Lightning. [Capitals Voice]
• The schedule is out, the die has been cast, and from where George McPhee is sitting things don't look too bad for the Caps. [WaPo]
• Things don't look too bad from where the rest of us are sitting, either - but that's just because Joe B. and Locker will be on our TV 41 times this year (at least). [Caps OT, Caps, CSNW]
• Bear tracks!
  • Tom Poti's second stint with the Hershey Bears wasn't as productive as his first, but it was perhaps more memorable as a trip to Worcester allowed him to play in front of friends and family. [Stucc]
  • Keeping tabs on current and former Hershey netminders now that the lockout has come to an end. [PennLive]
  • As the NHL takes to the ice this weekend, the AHL will be taking their game outdoors - and one of the highlights for players and fans alike is sure to be the alumni game. [LDNews, PennLive]
• Look, we love Verizon Center and seeing it mentioned as one of the sporting world's best venues is nice, but a world in which Montreal's Bell Centre ranks 72nd is a confusing one. [Stadium Journey]
• Congrats to our pals at Puck Buddys for some great exposure (SFW, don't get your hopes up). [HuffPo]
• And finally, the future Mrs. Alex Ovechkin talks about their engagement, wedding plans and tennis-hindering diamonds. [Alex Ovetjkin]