Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight’s visit with the Flyers from Vogs, AP, and Reuters, and be sure to swing by our pals over at Broad Street Hockey for the view from behind enemy lines.
- After surging to the top of the standings, the Caps now have the hard-earned luxury of using these final weeks to get ready for the postseason. [WaPo]
- How Chris Patrick, Brian MacLellan, and their front office team built the Capitals back into contenders around Alex Ovechkin’s historic chase. [The Athletic ($)]
- Congrats to Caps prospect Ryan Leonard, as the 20-year-old was named Hockey East Player of the Year and selected as a Hobey Baker Finalist! [NHL, Daily Faceoff, USCHO, BC Interruption]
- Speaking of prospects, Andrew Cristall has been putting up crazy numbers in the WHL and is a high-potential – but also high-risk – prospect. [LWoS]
- Assistant GM Ross Mahoney has vivid, fond memories of drafting the man who would go on to make history time and time again. [Regina Leader-Post]
- It’s been a bit of a winding road for Tom Wilson to become a 30-goal scorer in the NHL. [THN, Capitals Outsider]
- Logan Thompson joined Wilson in earning a milestone in the win over Detroit, the continuation of an exceptional season for the big man in net. [RMNB]
- Updates out of the GM meetings in Florida:
- With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire next September, the NHL and NHLPA are set to begin talks on a new CBA next month. [NHL]
- This summer’s draft is going to look very different, including a virtual reality room where draftees can meet their new team’s reps. [NHL]
- On the heels of this year’s 4 Nations success, the NHL is looking to reimagine the 2026 All-Star Game. [NHL]
- Updates from yesterday’s practice. [Caps video (Carbery, Caps365)]
- The NHL’s situation room is hoping to avoid the nightmare scenario of a potential challenge if Ovechkin breaks the record – but they’re ready for it. [The Athletic ($)]
- A few leftovers from Tuesday night’s win over the Red Wings. [Rink, RMNB, S&S]
- The Caps held a pop-up 50th anniversary event for fans last night in Bethesda. [Caps Outsider]
- Finally, happy 42nd birthday to Dennis Wideman!