Capitals Back In DC, Inside The Kadri Deal, NHL Updates

The Washington Capitals are starting to return to DC with training camp just weeks away, and with those informal skates comes positive news on the injury front.

Meanwhile, NHL free agency is finally starting to wind down, as Nazem Kadri finally found a landing spot. Still, there are several other updates across the league.

Here are all the latest news and notes from DC and across the NHL:

Washington Capitals Links

• Washington skaters are returning to MedStar Capitals Iceplex for informal skates, with injured Carl Hagelin among the standouts so far. (WHN)
• Here are five Capitals prospects that look like they could be major steals in the years going forward. (WHN)
• With Nazem Kadri finally signing, Washington should have reaffirmation that they made the right call not going for him in free agency. (WHN)
• The NHL has announced new COVID-19 protocols for the 2022-23 season. (NBC Sports Washington)

NHL Links

• Kadri inked a seven-year, $7 million deal with the Flames, who have made several moves and arguably came out stronger after losing Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. Calgary Flames (CHN)
• And, to make room for Kadri, the Flames sent Sean Monahan and a conditional 2025 first-rounder to the Canadiens for future considerations — and quite a bit of cap space to work with. Montreal Canadiens (MHN)
• Meanwhile, the Islanders, who were thought to be the frontrunners for the 2022 Stanley Cup Champion, missed out on him but also missed out big time by standing pat and putting everything on hold while waiting for him to decide. New York Islanders (NYIHN)
• What will the Penguins’ top-6 look like in a competitive Metropolitan Division this season? Pittsburgh Penguins (PHN)

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

• Speaking of the Canadiens, the team could again be without Carey Price for the entire 2022-23 campaign. Thoughts are with Price, who has been working hard towards a comeback and can’t seem to catch a break. One thing is certain: he’s still putting up an outstanding, stellar and memorable career and legacy with Montreal.
• The 2022 World Juniors semifinals kick off on Friday, with Canada facing Czechia — who is fresh off upsetting the USA — and Finland taking on Sweden. Capitals prospect Oskar Magnusson is the only Capitals prospect left in the WJC after Haakon Hanelt and Germany fell to Finland in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
• It’s good to see Hagelin back on the ice in the District, and it’ll be interesting to see how his recovery has gone and whether or not he’ll be ready to get back in the NHL lineup this season.
• Per PuckPedia, the first four years of the Kadri deal have a $4.5 million base salary and a $2.5 million signing bonus. Year 5 has a $6 million salary and a $1 million signing bonus. And finally, years 6-7 have a $7 million base salary. If he can’t maintain the success he found in Colorado, that deal will hurt down the road as he ages.